Social Security # Q (received EAD card today)

[BradLina 0]

So we received our employment authorization card today. My wife had a social security number from a previous employment in the past and we requested to keep that number for this new employment card. So I want to know since we have this card can we call to have her name changed on her old social security number to her new married name? We have been waiting to for the EAD card to do the name change on her old social security card that we decided to keep rather than request for a new social security number..

[Caryh 5,206]

You cannot request a new SS number. You get one and its the only one you'll get in your life. You will also not be able to update her name on the SS card until she gets a green card and the USCIS database is updated. SSA needs to verify her status and the name with USCIS.

[subwayguy 100]

You cannot request a new SS number. You get one and its the only one you'll get in your life. You will also not be able to update her name on the SS card until she gets a green card and the USCIS database is updated. SSA needs to verify her status and the name with USCIS.

As I mentioned in another post. This is not true. SSA doesn't go and verify your name on DHS side.

I got married and next day, I walked in ssa And changed my name with my passport, i94, marriage certificate and old SSN card. They changed my name just like that.

You don't have to wait till you fill AOS.

My friend who is also on f1 visa did just the same.

If somebody tells you that you can't change it , then go speak to somebody else.

[Caryh 5,206]

As I mentioned in another post. This is not true. SSA doesn't go and verify your name on DHS side.

I got married and next day, I walked in ssa And changed my name with my passport, i94, marriage certificate and old SSN card. They changed my name just like that.

You don't have to wait till you fill AOS.

My friend who is also on f1 visa did just the same.

If somebody tells you that you can't change it , then go speak to somebody else.

F-1's apparently work different than K-1's then.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Family-based AOS to SSN Forum~

~Inquiry about SSN~

[Dave&Roza 748]

F-1's apparently work different than K-1's then.

No. Only in the training of the SSA employees. Most see more F1s than K-1s and understand how to apply the SSA rules on name change--a valid Marriage Certificate is the only document needed to change your name with the SSA. The problem comes in when the SSA employee thinks they need to verify the name or that the K-1 is no longer valid because the foreign spouse is now married. It also boils down to the fact that the SSA would like to do away with giving K-1's a SSN until they receive their GCs. So far that has not happened--yet.

Lack of proper training is the real reason.

Dave

[sweet cakes 326]

So we received our employment authorization card today. My wife had a social security number from a previous employment in the past and we requested to keep that number for this new employment card. So I want to know since we have this card can we call to have her name changed on her old social security number to her new married name? We have been waiting to for the EAD card to do the name change on her old social security card that we decided to keep rather than request for a new social security number..

Congrats on the EAD! You can now update your wife's last name on her SS card. However, this can't be done through a phone call. She has to go to SSA personally and bring a filled-out SS-5 (in married name), marriage certificate, EAD card, old SS card and her passport (with visa, in case asked).

https://www.socialsecurity.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

And yes, her SSN is hers for life.

Edited July 11, 2014 by sweet cakes

[Caryh 5,206]

No. Only in the training of the SSA employees. Most see more F1s than K-1s and understand how to apply the SSA rules on name change--a valid Marriage Certificate is the only document needed to change your name with the SSA. The problem comes in when the SSA employee thinks they need to verify the name or that the K-1 is no longer valid because the foreign spouse is now married. It also boils down to the fact that the SSA would like to do away with giving K-1's a SSN until they receive their GCs. So far that has not happened--yet.

Lack of proper training is the real reason.

Dave

Lately I've been seeing just about all the K-1s getting rejected on the name change until they get the green card. May not just be training, but a willful act since the SSA doesn't want to give the SSN to K-1s. But heck they've got SSN already, so why would they refuse the change? We didn't have any issue getting my wife her SSN with a K-1 and in her married name, but the marriage certificates are really clear and spell out the name after marriage in this state.

Edited July 11, 2014 by Caryh

[sweet cakes 326]

Lately I've been seeing just about all the K-1s getting rejected on the name change until they get the green card. May not just be training, but a willful act since the SSA doesn't want to give the SSN to K-1s. But heck they've got SSN already, so why would they refuse the change? We didn't have any issue getting my wife her SSN with a K-1 and in her married name, but the marriage certificates are really clear and spell out the name after marriage in this state.

Hey Caryh! I was able to have my last name updated after receiving my EAD, but had to wait for DHS verification because my [married] name is not yet on the SAVE database. I finally received my new SS card after 4 weeks, but it still has the "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" wording.

I was rejected initially though for the name change even if I had 18 days left on my I-94 validity when I went there with the marriage cert. I have read afterwards that this should be fine. Ohh well ....

[Caryh 5,206]

Hey Caryh! I was able to have my last name updated after receiving my EAD, but had to wait for DHS verification because my [married] name is not yet on the SAVE database. I finally received my new SS card after 4 weeks, but it still has the "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" wording.

I was rejected initially though for the name change even if I had 18 days left on my I-94 validity when I went there with the marriage cert. I have read afterwards that this should be fine. Ohh well ....

You need your green card to get rid of that statement. We got married 5 weeks after her arrival. As soon as we had the marriage certificate, we got her SSN and a state ID in her married name, with not issues. But this was a few years ago. Lately is seems more and more K-1s are getting issues with name changes and even getting their SSN.

[sweet cakes 326]

You need your green card to get rid of that statement. We got married 5 weeks after her arrival. As soon as we had the marriage certificate, we got her SSN and a state ID in her married name, with not issues. But this was a few years ago. Lately is seems more and more K-1s are getting issues with name changes and even getting their SSN.

I know actually, but the closest SSA is about an hour away, and will have to ask the husband to take a day off for that.

Yeah, been reading a lot of these issues recently, attributed mostly to incorrect I-94 name coupled with poorly trained SSA employees. Bad combo.

Edited July 11, 2014 by sweet cakes

[Mike&Gina 7]

We are another K-1 couple with no success at Social Security Office We went there yesterday and tried to get Gina's last name changed on her card to her new married name. Two different employees told us we had to wait to do it AFTER receiving the green card. We got married June 14, but they cited that her K-1 Visa "expired" June 28, and they cant do anything until they see a green card. We did show them our I-797 papers showing we are in the process of AOS. We'll just be patient and wait.....waiting has become our hobby and past time, and patience is a virtue!! lol