Obtaining a Social Security Number

[Miguelina 0]

My fiance arrived in the US about 6 weeks ago, and we have gotten married. Yeah! But we would like to apply for his Social Security Number. Can we still do this or is his K1 visa not valid because we have already married and thus have to wait for our adjustment of status to go through? We are desperate as he needs an SSN to open a bank account and get a driver's license. Any assistance would be extremely helpful. Many thanks in advance!

[TBoneTX 45,309]

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

[Zedayn 485]

Yes, just go to the SSA office and apply in VISA name.

[lizascissors 65]

Check the guides!!!

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

But you can apply to get a SSN - no big deal. Bring passport, I-94, birth certificate. Get to the office early!

[dgalster 1]

Yes, just go to the SSA office and apply in VISA name.

No, it doesn't work. If you didn't apply for SSN before marriage, they won't give you one because you are no longer in K1 status and thus don't fall into an eligible category. You can try to get an EIN instead, but that's even more trouble. Otherwise you have to wait until you get your EAD, then you can apply for a SSN.

[Zedayn 485]

No, it doesn't work. If you didn't apply for SSN before marriage, they won't give you one because you are no longer in K1 status and thus don't fall into an eligible category. You can try to get an EIN instead, but that's even more trouble. Otherwise you have to wait until you get your EAD, then you can apply for a SSN.

Your information is incorrect. Your status is still K-1 until the expiration of the I-94, and you are eligible for an SSN whether or not you marry before or after. You need to apply for the SSN in the visa name as that is the name in the SAVE database.

[dgalster 1]

Your information is incorrect. Your status is still K-1 until the expiration of the I-94, and you are eligible for an SSN whether or not you marry before or after. You need to apply for the SSN in the visa name as that is the name in the SAVE database.

Well that is not what the social security office told me, they refused to give the SSN.

[visaqueries 111]

We got married, submitted our AOS, and then applied for a SSN. We had no problems.

[ISBJORN10 5]

You can still apply for SSN if your I-94 still not expire!

Note: you have to apply for SSN at least 2-3 weeks before I-94 getting expired

[Zedayn 485]

Well that is not what the social security office told me, they refused to give the SSN.

The SSA office always seem to think they know the facts when they really don't. If they try to tell you that you are not eligible, then you simply ask them to look up your wife in the system. They have to look her up by her VISA name though, even if she changed her name through marriage. Once they find her in the system, the computer will tell her that she is eligible and you're good to go. If they refuse to look her up, then either ask for a supervisor or go to another SSA office. You have to be very proactive and confident that you are right otherwise they will just send you home.

[dgalster 1]

The SSA office always seem to think they know the facts when they really don't. If they try to tell you that you are not eligible, then you simply ask them to look up your wife in the system. They have to look her up by her VISA name though, even if she changed her name through marriage. Once they find her in the system, the computer will tell her that she is eligible and you're good to go. If they refuse to look her up, then either ask for a supervisor or go to another SSA office. You have to be very proactive and confident that you are right otherwise they will just send you home.

Well send us home they did.

So, get your SSN before marriage.

They won't give an SSN in the old name after you're married, and after you're married you're not K1 anymore.

[Zedayn 485]

Well send us home they did.

So, get your SSN before marriage.

They won't give an SSN in the old name after you're married, and after you're married you're not K1 anymore.

You are under K-1 status, regardless if you are married, until your I-94 expires. Just because you marry doesn't change the fact that you entered the US on a K-1 visa, and this is the basis for which you are applying the SSN.

They won't give an SSN if you let them tell you what's right even if they are wrong.

[ADRII15 6]

I arrived 11/9, got married 11/12 and applied for SSN 11/21. No problem . As long as the I-94 is not expired, you're good to go.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Yeah I can vouch for people here saying the SSA don't always get it right. The lady I saw gave me my SSN but she was quite reluctant to do so because she'd never dealt with temporary I-551 stamps before. She kept asking to see my Green Card and it took a bit of convincing to tell her the stamp and CR-1 visa combine to make an I-551

She also told me that since my first and middle name appear combined as a double first name in their system, that I would need to get this corrected or I would have trouble getting bank accounts and whatnot, but I haven't had any issues thus far. I did call CBP to try and rectify the record but he said it was all ok on their end, so...

Oh, the joys of government systems.

But yeah, you can get an SSN while you're in the I-94 period, then go back and update it with the EAD card later.

[p1nay 0]

Yes, you can apply but use your maiden name (your name in your unexpired I-94 , passport, and visa).

Just change it someday (when you already have your green card) into your married name. Because if you use your married name right now, then you have to wait for your status to be adjusted.