Social Security Number after Fiance in US

[R&S13 7]

Hello Everyone - Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

So my Fiance arrived in the US two weeks ago and I will be marrying him this upcoming Saturday the 8th of Nov. I have read many different posts regarding SSN and how to go about obtaining it for him. Can someone please tell me if he should apply for his social security number BEFORE we get married this Saturday or AFTER? I obviously cannot start with the paperwork until we make it official... I heard that if I apply for his SSN AFTER then it will take a while to get his social security card once he receives his EAD.

If he should apply before, what documentation should he take? and how long will it take for him to receive his SSN? Please help me out guys since Saturday is only a few days away.... By the way, I reside in New Jersey.

thanks so much in advance!

[TBoneTX 45,284]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Social Security Numbers subforum -- OP is past the K-1 phase. ***

[baron555 934]

Hello Everyone - Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

So my Fiance arrived in the US two weeks ago and I will be marrying him this upcoming Saturday the 8th of Nov. I have read many different posts regarding SSN and how to go about obtaining it for him. Can someone please tell me if he should apply for his social security number BEFORE we get married this Saturday or AFTER?

Doesn't matter........having a SSN is not a requirement of a marriage license.

I obviously cannot start with the paperwork until we make it official... I heard that if I apply for his SSN AFTER then it will take a while to get his social security card once he receives his EAD.

Doesn't matter.....but what does matter is he not wait until very near the expiration of his I-94 visa expiration...then SSA will not process his SSN application and he would have to wait until the GC comes.

If he should apply before, what documentation should he take?

The SSN letter that you find in the Example Forms, his BC, his passport and a copy of the NOA2. Look at the SSA website for more documentation that could be used.

and how long will it take for him to receive his SSN?

They got their within about 10 days.

Please help me out guys since Saturday is only a few days away.... By the way, I reside in New Jersey.

thanks so much in advance!

[d3adc0d3 186]

Hello Everyone - Any responses would be greatly appreciated!

So my Fiance arrived in the US two weeks ago and I will be marrying him this upcoming Saturday the 8th of Nov. I have read many different posts regarding SSN and how to go about obtaining it for him. Can someone please tell me if he should apply for his social security number BEFORE we get married this Saturday or AFTER? I obviously cannot start with the paperwork until we make it official... I heard that if I apply for his SSN AFTER then it will take a while to get his social security card once he receives his EAD.

If he should apply before, what documentation should he take? and how long will it take for him to receive his SSN? Please help me out guys since Saturday is only a few days away.... By the way, I reside in New Jersey.

thanks so much in advance!

1. Apply for his SSN before you get married, ASAP, actually; with the I-94 going electronic there is no need to wait anymore.
2. Take a copy of his I-94, his passport, and a print out of this page, which lists all the visas and the SSN eligibility, and write down his A#.
3. It depends on each SSA office. Ours took 45 minutes... others took hours. Expect it to take about 2-3 hours.

If they try to tell you he is not eligible for a SSN, show them that printout I linked, if they claim they cannot find him in the system, have them look him up by A#.

If they insist he's not eligible, insist to speak with a supervisor.

If you apply within 2 weeks of when his I-94 expires you'll have to wait until his EAD arrives. If he is changing his last name, you'll want to apply before your marriage, but in general it's best to apply before your marriage anyways, as it seems to short circuit some of the SSA agents when a K1 visa holder gets married. They seem to be under the impression that a K1 visa holder, magically loses their K1 visa status once they're married.

Once you've applied expect it to take 4-6 weeks to show up at your door.

Edited November 3, 2014 by d3adc0d3

[R&S13 7]

1. Apply for his SSN before you get married, ASAP, actually; with the I-94 going electronic there is no need to wait anymore.
2. Take a copy of his I-94, his passport, and a print out of this page, which lists all the visas and the SSN eligibility, and write down his A#.
3. It depends on each SSA office. Ours took 45 minutes... others took hours. Expect it to take about 2-3 hours.

If they try to tell you he is not eligible for a SSN, show them that printout I linked, if they claim they cannot find him in the system, have them look him up by A#.

If they insist he's not eligible, insist to speak with a supervisor.

If you apply within 2 weeks of when his I-94 expires you'll have to wait until his EAD arrives. If he is changing his last name, you'll want to apply before your marriage, but in general it's best to apply before your marriage anyways, as it seems to short circuit some of the SSA agents when a K1 visa holder gets married. They seem to be under the impression that a K1 visa holder, magically loses their K1 visa status once they're married.

Once you've applied expect it to take 4-6 weeks to show up at your door.

So it's ok if he applies for his ssn tomorrow and we get married on saturday, correct?

[d3adc0d3 186]

So it's ok if he applies for his ssn tomorrow and we get married on saturday, correct?

Yup! There should be no issue. Like I mentioned, if they give you a hard time, show them the paper I linked, if they still insist, then in return insist to speak with a supervisor. Many SSA agents seem to be clueless in regards to immigration and try to make up their own rules.

[R&S13 7]

Yup! There should be no issue. Like I mentioned, if they give you a hard time, show them the paper I linked, if they still insist, then in return insist to speak with a supervisor. Many SSA agents seem to be clueless in regards to immigration and try to make up their own rules.

Thanks so much for your help. Another question - do you think I should even bother to have him apply for the SSN prior to marriage or do it after to avoid going back to the office two times?

[d3adc0d3 186]

Thanks so much for your help. Another question - do you think I should even bother to have him apply for the SSN prior to marriage or do it after to avoid going back to the office two times?

No, if you try to go after your marriage and he's changing his last name, he won't be in the system under that name, and it's much more of a headache to get it done in his married name; plus then you risk a denial.

Their systems are set up to work with the SAVE database, which the I-94 is hooked into. If you apply for a SSN under another name that is not on his I-94 you'll likely get turned away or risk a denial.

Best bet is to get it now to avoid a potential headache later. 2 trips is better than the 5-6 some users had to take when they waited until after marriage. Even if he's not changing his last name, the SSA agents tend to get a short circuit when you get married on a K1 visa, and you still risk getting turned away and multiple trips, not to mention an incorrectly filed application which would in turn result in a denial.

Best to get it now when it's more straight forward. Don't want to complicate it for the poor lil' SSA agents.

Edited November 3, 2014 by d3adc0d3

[R&S13 7]

No, if you try to go after your marriage and he's changing his last name, he won't be in the system under that name, and it's much more of a headache to get it done in his married name; plus then you risk a denial.

Their systems are set up to work with the SAVE database, which the I-94 is hooked into. If you apply for a SSN under another name that is not on his I-94 you'll likely get turned away or risk a denial.

Best bet is to get it now to avoid a potential headache later. 2 trips is better than the 5-6 some users had to take when they waited until after marriage. Even if he's not changing his last name, the SSA agents tend to get a short circuit when you get married on a K1 visa, and you still risk getting turned away and multiple trips, not to mention an incorrectly filed application which would in turn result in a denial.

Best to get it now when it's more straight forward. Don't want to complicate it for the poor lil' SSA agents.

I'm glad you answered what if he isn't changing his name - which he isn't LOL - ok so I will send him there tomorrow and continue marrying him on Saturday. Again, thank you so much!!

[d3adc0d3 186]

you're welcome! Glad to help.

[R&S13 7]

you're welcome! Glad to help.

sorry - another follow up question... Do I need to go to the social security office with my fiancé for him to apply or can a relative take him? I ask this because I work full time and is close to impossible for me to leave from work early. Please let me know.

thank you!

[AmAjjD 33]

With our experience, it didn't matter if he got his SSN before or after marriage. We got his after we got married with no issues do to length of time between his POE and our wedding date, but you want to do it ASAP. So definitely if he has the time before you get married do it. You do not have to be there with him, anyone can take him. He just needs the necessary paperwork which you can find on the website.

[Jo Së 200]

Me and my wife went to SS office the same day we picked up our marriage certificate and applied for her SSN, we received it 10 days later by mail.

There is no difference whether you do it before or after, since Im guessing he will not be changing his last name, there will not be need for a second trip

[raven52 233]

Speaking on our personal experience, we waited until after we were married!!! WRONG! When we then went, after marriage, her married name was not in the I-94 system, and therefore we had to wait until she got the EAD/AP before we could get a SS number and card!

And, we almost made the fatal mistake of waiting too long, As SS ADM. will not process a card, IF.,.,., the I-94 will expire within 14-17 days (not quite sure on these numbers, but close) so.,.,.,.,

By all means go to SS office ASAP and take passport, I-94, marriage license, everything you have as far as concerning, his arrival in the US, Everything!

Please, do the application, BEFORE you marry! It took us 5 months, and about 10 trips to the SS office, before we got my wife's done!

[Karam and Jamie 44]

sorry - another follow up question... Do I need to go to the social security office with my fiancé for him to apply or can a relative take him? I ask this because I work full time and is close to impossible for me to leave from work early. Please let me know.

thank you!

We took his birth certificate too!