Do I really need a SSN before getting married?

[stevensane 10]

I arrived in the US on Sunday 30th March on a K-1 visa. We are going to get married on 25th April as my parents will be visiting from the UK at this time. According to the Office of the City Clerk of NYC (http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/marriage/license.shtml)%C2'>

I am going to call the City Clerk's office to ask, but they are closed for the weekend now so I wanted to ask if anyone has any experience of this?

My second question, relating to this, is about a SSN I got as a student in Georgia in 2007. I got a SSN in order to get a part time job while I was studying. Will I be able to use this number to get a marriage license or will it be expired (though I think I read that they don't expire)? The card has 'VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION' on it, but I don't know if that is relevant. Again, I am just hoping that someone has some experience about this as I cant check for myself now that the office is closed until Monday (today is one of those days where I wish I had done my chores in the morning rather than put it off until now!)

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

1. You do not need a SSN to get married.

2. Your old SSN is still your SSN. It is yours forever, even after death.

[stevensane 10]

1. You do not need a SSN to get married.

2. Your old SSN is still your SSN. It is yours forever, even after death.

Thanks for your continued assistance! It is much appreciated.

[Anonymous885 44]

Some states require social security card for both parties to obtain marriage license.

New York is not required social security.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No state requires a SSN to get married, if the person does not have one. There is a federal law about this.

The OP has a SSN anyway, but for others reading later...

[Anonymous885 44]

State of Michigan is required social security for both parties to obtain marriage license.

http://www.accesskent.com/Departments/CountyClerk/marriage_app.htm

You need social security for both parties or legal reason why you dont have social security.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Anonymous885

[Anonymous885 44]

Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, etc. are required Social Security Number.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Nope. If you read the legal code you will see that it is not required if the person doesn't have it. I have had this conversation many times before. Most of the times the quicky online summary doesn't have the exact information. You can read the laws of the state to see.

As I said, there is a federal law about this requiring states to do it.

Edit: In fact, your own link clearly states you don't need to have one:

Social Security Numbers. Required of both parties (or legal reason why none).

Edited April 5, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[Anonymous885 44]

Of course, you can obtain the letter from social security office why you dont have one.

I also listed few more states where it does not say legal reason why you dont have one.

All the states list above such as Indiana said "You will also be required to provide your Social Security Number".

I did not read the legal code law as well as many people who work in the courthouse. They base on the summary that states in their own websites most of the time.

Edited April 5, 2014 by Anonymous885

[Gail83 21]

Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, etc. are required Social Security Number.

You do not need an SSN to get married in Indiana. I was married in Indiana 11 days after my arrival in the USA on a K1. At that time I did not have an SSN and it was not required, I just had to show them my passport as proof of identification.

[KayDeeCee 4,895]

Harpa is correct. You do not need an SSN to marry. It does not matter what state you are in. Yes, if you search the net for marriage license requirements, it will state the SSN is needed. However, if you are a non-resident without an SSN, then you can let them know when purchasing the license and they will allow you to supply a substitute, which is typically to ask for your passport. You can call up a county clerk's office in any of those states mentioned and ask them about a non-resident with no SSN and see what they tell you.

OP > Since you already have an SSN, use that number when asked on your marriage license. When you get the EAD in your married name after filing for AOS, then take the EAD card and update your name and status with the SSA.

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based to Social Security Numbers - topic is SSN ~

[nobbie 105]

In Maryland my then fiancee got a licence while I was still in the UK awaiting interview, I did not go there or have show any ID have an SSN or even be in the country

[Hypnos 6,578]

You must provide a social security number only if you actually have one, if you don't then you obviously can't give them what you don't have. I obtained a marriage licence in TX without issue and (at the time) had no social security number. I simply informed the clerk of that, and that was it. He gave me an insert titled something like "How to obtain a social security number" or similar, so I doubt this was the first time he had heard this story.