Getting Social Security Number BEFORE the card arrives?

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Hey guys!

I'm in the US on a K1 visa, my POE was on December 6th, 2014. I don't have a SSN and I'm not married to my USC fiance yet. My plan is to go to the local SSA office with my fiance tomorrow and apply for a SSN.

My question is, is there some way to get my SSN before the actual card arrives in mail (from what I have read it can take 2 weeks)? The reason I'm asking this is because in our state (Missouri; Jackson county) it is required for both applicants to provide their SSN (the card itself is not needed, only the number) when applying for a marriage license. We want to get married as soon as possible, so therefore I need to have a Social Security Number as soon as possible.

Thanks for answering.

Edited January 4, 2015 by YouAndMeForever

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hey guys!

I'm in the US on a K1 visa, my POE was on December 6th, 2014. I don't have a SSN and I'm not married to my USC fiance yet. My plan is to go to the local SSA office with my fiance tomorrow and apply for a SSN.

My question is, is there some way to get my SSN before the actual card arrives in mail (from what I have read it can take 2 weeks)? The reason I'm asking this is because in our state (Missouri; Jackson county) it is required for both applicants to provide their SSN (the card itself is not needed, only the number) when applying for a marriage license. We want to get married as soon as possible, so therefore I need to have a Social Security Number as soon as possible.

Thanks for answering.

First, they say they need the SSN, but what if you do not have one? You are from a foreign country and are getting married in the US, but have no intentions of remaining in the US so you will never apply for a SSN (Irealize that is not your case, but what if some one else wanted to get married in MO and did not have a SSN nor do they want to live in teh US). They cannot get what you do not have. It is not a requirment. If you have a SSN you provide it. If not, what can they do?

Yes, you can apply for the SSN and then go back a couple of days later and get a print out of the number. We did that for my wife as her card was mailed to us, but the USPS returned the letter because she was not listed on the mailbox. Our county courthouse wanted the wife's SSN, but we did not have it. They were okay with that. You might want to ask the county clerk directly.

Good luck,

Dave

[Zedayn 485]

An SSN is not required for the marriage license. They ask for your SSN if you have it, but it is not a requirement.

[VFittipaldi 30]

We got our SS Card within 7 days and they said it would take 2 weeks so its a short wait but i am not sure about your question, sorry. Maybe if you ask at the office he or she would tell you your number

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

First, they say they need the SSN, but what if you do not have one? You are from a foreign country and are getting married in the US, but have no intentions of remaining in the US so you will never apply for a SSN (Irealize that is not your case, but what if some one else wanted to get married in MO and did not have a SSN nor do they want to live in teh US). They cannot get what you do not have. It is not a requirment. If you have a SSN you provide it. If not, what can they do?

Yes, you can apply for the SSN and then go back a couple of days later and get a print out of the number. We did that for my wife as her card was mailed to us, but the USPS returned the letter because she was not listed on the mailbox. Our county courthouse wanted the wife's SSN, but we did not have it. They were okay with that. You might want to ask the county clerk directly.

Good luck,

Dave

Thank you so much for your fast, detailed and informative answer, Dave.

Me and my fiance will go to the SSA office in the morning tomorrow, I apply for a SSN, then we go to the courthouse immediately and apply for the marriage license. If they allow us to do so without me having a SSN then it's great, but if they are not okay with me not having a SSN then we go back to the courthouse a couple of days later with the print out of the SSN. I have read so many horror storries here about getting an SSN with a K1 visa, I really hope that everything will go smoothly.

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

An SSN is not required for the marriage license. They ask for your SSN if you have it, but it is not a requirement.

Thanks for the info! It's just very misleading that on the website of Jackson County, MO, they clearly state that providing a SSN is a requirement. This whole process is complicated already, I just got paranoid for a second.

Edited January 4, 2015 by YouAndMeForever

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

We got our SS Card within 7 days and they said it would take 2 weeks so its a short wait but i am not sure about your question, sorry. Maybe if you ask at the office he or she would tell you your number

Now I regret that I've been waiting a month to apply for a SSN, having it already would save me some stress. Me and my fiance were just too busy enjoying each other and our first Chirstmas/NYE together. Now that the Holidays are over, reality hit me and made me realize that I still haven't applied for a SSN.

Edited January 4, 2015 by YouAndMeForever

[VFittipaldi 30]

Now I regret that I've been waiting a month to apply for a SSN, having it already would save me some stress. Me and my fiance were just too busy enjoying each other and our first Chirstmas/NYE together. Now that the Holidays are over, reality hit me and made me realize that I still haven't applied for a SSN.

Don't worry about it too much once you are together things can wait. Its easier now. Kind of off topic but you guys should feel lucky that all they want is the SSN. That part is easier. In our state of Oregon you are required to have a picture ID with an address on it to apply for a marriage license. So that's a document you have to get from DMV which takes more time. We already got all that and have the marriage license in hand but it was bit more work this way.

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Don't worry about it too much once you are together things can wait. Its easier now. Kind of off topic but you guys should feel lucky that all they want is the SSN. That part is easier. In our state of Oregon you are required to have a picture ID with an address on it to apply for a marriage license. So that's a document you have to get from DMV which takes more time. We already got all that and have the marriage license in hand but it was bit more work this way.

Wow! Did you guys go to the courthouse in person to ask them about the requirements and did they tell you that it is definitely a must for her to have a SSN and a picture ID with an address on it to be able to apply for a marriage license?

[Hypnos 6,576]

Providing a social security number when applying for any kind of licence (including a marriage licence) is only a requirement if you actually have a social security number to provide, i.e. if you have one then you are obligated by law to provide it, but if you don't have one then you have nothing to provide.

In no state must you have a social security number in order to obtain a marriage licence.

In Texas I was asked for mine when I applied for a marriage licence, but since I didn't have one at the time then I told them I didn't have one; I had to show a photo ID though (my British passport). I obtained a marriage licence without further issue.

Edited January 5, 2015 by Hypnos

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Providing a social security number when applying for any kind of licence (including a marriage licence) is only a requirement if you actually have a social security number to provide, i.e. if you have one then you are obligated by law to provide it, but if you don't have one then you have nothing to provide.

In no state must you have a social security number in order to obtain a marriage licence.

In Texas I was asked for mine when I applied for a marriage licence, but since I didn't have one at the time then I told them I didn't have one; I had to show a photo ID though (my British passport). I obtained a marriage licence without further issue.

Thank you. This really makes sense!! If the requirements were really that strict, then it would be impossible for those people who come to the US with ESTA or B2 tourist visa (and end up wanting to get married to a USC) to apply for a marriage license in those "strict" states, since they are not even allowed to have a SSN or state ID at that point.

I'm not worried anymore.

Edited January 5, 2015 by YouAndMeForever

[VFittipaldi 30]

Wow! Did you guys go to the courthouse in person to ask them about the requirements and did they tell you that it is definitely a must for her to have a SSN and a picture ID with an address on it to be able to apply for a marriage license?

No. It said it on their website. They asked for the picture ID but did not actually require us to have a SSN

[raven52 233]

You are doing a very smart thing, going to the SS office, and getting your process started.

Do not make the mistake we made, got married, then applied for SSN, what a nightmare. It took months to get straight.

There was no such name in the system, for my wife's first name and her "new married name" our big mistake.

It had the name her I-94 showed. Took five trips, and a "specialist" to get her card ordered.

[lizascissors 65]

We applied for a SSN and got the card within a week. Good luck!

One thing that was kind of weird- they put my husband's first and middle name as his first name in the USCIS system - rather than a first and middle - so the guy at the office had to ask for some help because things weren't showing up correctly. Anyway - you can get a SSN. Bring your passport, birth certificate, and your I94 and you'll be fine.

Edited January 5, 2015 by lizascissors

[CowBoE 429]

Hey guys!

I'm in the US on a K1 visa, my POE was on December 6th, 2014. I don't have a SSN and I'm not married to my USC fiance yet. My plan is to go to the local SSA office with my fiance tomorrow and apply for a SSN.

My question is, is there some way to get my SSN before the actual card arrives in mail (from what I have read it can take 2 weeks)? The reason I'm asking this is because in our state (Missouri; Jackson county) it is required for both applicants to provide their SSN (the card itself is not needed, only the number) when applying for a marriage license. We want to get married as soon as possible, so therefore I need to have a Social Security Number as soon as possible.

Thanks for answering.

I looked at Jackson County's website, and it does state:

http://jacksongov.org/content/3310/3356/3358/default.aspx

3) Both must provide their Social Security numbers. (No SSN card is required.)

In my county's web site, it states:

http://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/index.aspx?page=133

All applicants that have been issued a social security number must provide their social number to the clerk at the time the application is processed. The actual card does not need to be presented.

I always thought SSN was required for the marriage license in my county,

so we got that before we filed for the marriage license...

...but after reading it more closely, it's only for people that have been issued a SS card already.

Though the web site suggests its required, if you call them,

they might tell you its not required if you don't already have one.