Applying for SS a day or so before wedding..

[MichelleRenee 14]

Hey guys, I've seen a few threads similar to this but nothing with this specific question.. My fiancé will be arriving at the end of July, we are planning on getting married on or near August 19th, but we wanted to have him apply for SS first. I know that you should wait 14 days after entry to go get SS, which we plan on doing. Should we wait until we have the card to get married or does it not matter? I am assuming it's no issue to apply for SS and then get married a day or so after.. Just being overly paranoid like we all usually are with this process!! Can't thank everyone enough on this site for all their help!!

Also, I am planning on changing my last name after we get married. We are getting a new apartment at the end of August, will the name change process affect this? I don't know if it's immediate or if it's something that takes a while.. Hope this makes sense. Thanks!

Mods: please move this if I have posted it in the wrong place.

[feli114 65]

My husband didn't have his ss when we got married. Changing your last name will not affect the process.

[sweet cakes 326]

Hey guys, I've seen a few threads similar to this but nothing with this specific question.. My fiancé will be arriving at the end of July, we are planning on getting married on or near August 19th, but we wanted to have him apply for SS first. I know that you should wait 14 days after entry to go get SS, which we plan on doing. Should we wait until we have the card to get married or does it not matter? I am assuming it's no issue to apply for SS and then get married a day or so after.. Just being overly paranoid like we all usually are with this process!! Can't thank everyone enough on this site for all their help!!

Also, I am planning on changing my last name after we get married. We are getting a new apartment at the end of August, will the name change process affect this? I don't know if it's immediate or if it's something that takes a while.. Hope this makes sense. Thanks!

Mods: please move this if I have posted it in the wrong place.

With the online I-94, you don't need to wait for 2 weeks to apply for SSN, a K1 visa holder can apply anytime now until there is atleast 15 days from the I-94 validity. The next chance to apply for SSN would be when the EAD/AP card arrives.

You don't need SSN to apply for a marriage license though. No issues with using your new married name even right after you officially got married.

Edited June 27, 2014 by sweet cakes

[Marco&Bettina 502]

Is there any benefit to marrying before applying for SSN? Or for marrying after applying for SSN? Are there consequences either way?

[sweet cakes 326]

Is there any benefit to marrying before applying for SSN? Or for marrying after applying for SSN? Are there consequences either way?

I don't see any. Some have claimed they can apply in married name (a benefit for ladies) after marrying, but most are saying they had a negative experience using the married name in their SS-5, and ended up going back to SSA using the maiden name first. Then just update to the new last name after receiving the EAD/AP card.

[MichelleRenee 14]

Oh really? I knew the I-94 was online but I still thought it took a while to show up in their system when they check or whatever. That's good to hear! I didn't want to risk it and wait there for hours just to be turned away. Thank you so much!

With the online I-94, you don't need to wait for 2 weeks to apply for SSN, a K1 visa holder can apply anytime now until there is atleast 15 days from the I-94 validity. The next chance to apply for SSN would be when the EAD/AP card arrives.

You don't need SSN to apply for a marriage license though. No issues with using your new married name even right after you officially got married.

[Marco&Bettina 502]

I don't see any. Some have claimed they can apply in married name (a benefit for ladies) after marrying, but most are saying they had a negative experience using the married name in their SS-5, and ended up going back to SSA using the maiden name first. Then just update to the new last name after receiving the EAD/AP card.

That's what I've been reading over the time I've been researching this site. Thanks for confirming.

[sweet cakes 326]

That's what I've been reading over the time I've been researching this site. Thanks for confirming.

No problem.

Oh really? I knew the I-94 was online but I still thought it took a while to show up in their system when they check or whatever. That's good to hear! I didn't want to risk it and wait there for hours just to be turned away. Thank you so much!

Yes! You're very much welcome. I remember 2 or 3 mentioned here recently that they even went to SSA a day after POE, and they had no problem applying for the SSN. Just follow the guides to make sure you guys have everything in hand on your first SSA visit: http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

[Tina and Johan 206]

With the online I-94, you don't need to wait for 2 weeks to apply for SSN, a K1 visa holder can apply anytime now until there is atleast 15 days from the I-94 validity. The next chance to apply for SSN would be when the EAD/AP card arrives.

This is news to me too! woohoo!

[TBoneTX 46,137]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the "Moving Here & Your New Life" forum -- topic involves more than just the SSN. ***

[dwheels76 5,469]

No problem.

Yes! You're very much welcome. I remember 2 or 3 mentioned here recently that they even went to SSA a day after POE, and they had no problem applying for the SSN. Just follow the guides to make sure you guys have everything in hand on your first SSA visit: http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

Why is it some SS offices are just idiots and don;t know about SS processing. My friend and her fiance' went with I-94 in hand and SS office said they HAD to be married for him to get his SS# Like

So they are married nd awaiting the marriage certificate to take down there. You would think of all places California would be a bit more versed on the subject . Goodness.

[MichelleRenee 14]

I hear stories all the time about them having NO clue how this whole K1 SS process works.. Does anyone know if there's any sort of proof that I can bring that lays out all the rules in case we end up with one of the idiots? Haha I would hate to be turned away if we are in the right!!

Why is it some SS offices are just idiots and don;t know about SS processing. My friend and her fiance' went with I-94 in hand and SS office said they HAD to be married for him to get his SS# Like

So they are married nd awaiting the marriage certificate to take down there. You would think of all places California would be a bit more versed on the subject . Goodness.

[sweet cakes 326]

I know right!! It's very unfortunate indeed to be dealing with somebody in the government that are not so well-trained. A K1 visa holder is definitely eligible to apply for SSN even prior to marriage. Besides the I-94, passport + visa and a filled-out SS-5, here's a recommended print-out to bring to the SSA as well: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

Dwheels, once your friend receives their marriage cert, they just have to make sure that his wife has at least 15 days left on her I-94 on their next SSA visit. Otherwise, they will have to wait for her EAD/AP card to apply again.

Why is it some SS offices are just idiots and don;t know about SS processing. My friend and her fiance' went with I-94 in hand and SS office said they HAD to be married for him to get his SS# Like

So they are married nd awaiting the marriage certificate to take down there. You would think of all places California would be a bit more versed on the subject . Goodness.

I hear stories all the time about them having NO clue how this whole K1 SS process works.. Does anyone know if there's any sort of proof that I can bring that lays out all the rules in case we end up with one of the idiots? Haha I would hate to be turned away if we are in the right!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Why is it some SS offices are just idiots and don;t know about SS processing. My friend and her fiance' went with I-94 in hand and SS office said they HAD to be married for him to get his SS#

Other offices have told people who went after marriage that because they married, they are no longer a K1 but K3. K3 is not eligible for a SSN based on the visa. How ridiculous to think a visa can change to a different visa.

So much misinformation by untrained SSA employees.

[Tina and Johan 206]

Johan arrived in the USA Friday the 25th. We went to the ssa office today, the 28th. We didn't even have the I94 (we forgot it), but showed the stamp in his passport and it was no problem. He was told he would have his card in about 2 weeks.