K1 After Marriage Social Security Change

[jbarth200 2]

My question is what exactly do we need to take to the Social Security office to get my wifes name changed? I called and was told you need to take in a completed I-485 AOS change? Which seemed a little weird to me becuase that doesn't prove much. And if that is true do we fill out the I-485 with her last name she had now or my last name which is why we will be going to the Social Security office. She previously lived in the US for 2 years and had gotten a SSN. Thanks in advance.

[amuna0526 11]

Where did she do the name change, on what legal documents? Is it the marriage certificate?

[jbarth200 2]

No we have not done the name change yet that is what we need to do at the social security office, and when we filled out our marriage license we were told to use her old last name on their because we could not change her name until we got married.

[amuna0526 11]

To change the information on your Social Security number record (i.e., a name or citizenship change, or corrected date of birth) you must provide documents to prove your identity, support the requested change, and establish the reason for the change. For example, you may provide a birth certificate to show your correct date of birth. A document supporting a name change must be recent and identify you by both your old and new names. If the name change event occurred over two years ago or if the name change document does not have enough information to prove your identity, you must also provide documents to prove your identity in your prior name and/or in some cases your new legal name. If you were born outside the U.S. you must provide a document to prove your U.S. citizenship or current lawful, work-authorized status.

This info was stated on the social security card application on ssa.gov website

[jbarth200 2]

Thanks, so it sounds like we pretty much only need to take in the K1 visa and her passport and our marriage license.

[amuna0526 11]

The marriage license should have stated the new name. That way it would be easy to change it on social security card

[amuna0526 11]

document supporting a name change must be recent and identify you by both your old and new names

[jbarth200 2]

Well I'm not sure the marriage license has her new last name on their becuase they said you can only sign it with your current name, I am not sure what other documents would even support a name change.

[amuna0526 11]

What about on a marriage certificate. She can keep her last name (maiden name ) and include spouses last name. For example jane doe. Jane doe mitchell

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Not all states show the name after marriage on the marriage certificate, many do not. They would only have the names before marriage listed. It still acts as a legal name change document though. The SSA may or may not change the name using the marriage certificate. They may have you wait until after you filed for AOS in the married name and have the EAD/AP with the new married on it. You do not need to wait for the SSN to be changed in order to apply for AOS. You can still list her married name on all the AOS forms and provide her SSN where it asks. The SSN does not control name change and is not an ID card.

[nobbie 105]

Are you actually married yet, I ask as you mention marriage licence not certificate which are very different.(see post #8) Your timeline does not indicate you are married, mind you it does not show she entered the country yet either.

Marriage licence will have to be in her maiden name.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Family based AOS to SSN Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum~

[nightingalejules 678]

Do a google search on "married name change [your state]". There's probably a webpage that will tell you what order to do the name change in.

I did mine in BC, Canada (applying for CR1 visa), but here, in order to change my Social Insurance Number (the Canadian equivalent of SSN) I needed to provide government issued ID in my new name. The only thing I could apply for with just my passport and Marriage Certificate (which only showed my maiden name) was my driver's license (or Provincial ID card, if I didn't have a driver's license.) Then with that in hand, I was able to change everything else.

Your state may be like that, and you should be able to get SOME kind of ID with your passport and marriage certificate, and then use that as your "foundation ID" to update everything else.