marriage before SSN

[dkalXuan 0]

is it better to have my fiance apply for the social security number BEFORE or AFTER we get married. i have read and saw to both.

We would like to married right away. and have her name changed to my last name, so i thought we could wait to file after marriage? good idea or no?

thanks

[YuAndDan 153]

Filing for SSN as soon as possible after arriving in the states is a good idea, less hassle from SSA office about the name change, you can always wait until you have the green card to get the card changed, doing 2 things at same time, change name and remove restriction note from the card.

A person can get the card replaced only a set number of time in their lifetime.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#immigration

[Cassie 8]

I always never know how to answer this, since I filed for my SSN a month after getting married and I encountered no problems. Yet others have had tons of trouble. Dunno.

[rebeccajo 14]

The key is to file with 76 days of arrival on the K1. After that, SS cannot issue a number until you possess valid EAD.

Go and get the number as soon as practical - about 2-4 weeks after arrival. It's very easy to change the card from the maiden name to the married name. If one is waiting for after the marriage to avoid that 'hassle' the short story is it's virually no hassle to do.

Edited February 11, 2007 by rebeccajo

[Nancy2015 2]

Filing for SSN as soon as possible after arriving in the states is a good idea, less hassle from SSA office about the name change, you can always wait until you have the green card to get the card changed, doing 2 things at same time, change name and remove restriction note from the card.

A person can get the card replaced only a set number of time in their lifetime.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#immigration

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#immigration

"You can replace your card or your child’s card for free if it is lost or stolen. However, you are limited to three replacement cards in a year and 10 during your lifetime. Legal name changes and other exceptions do not count toward these limits. For example, changes in noncitizen status that require card updates may not count toward these limits. Also, you may not be affected by these limits if you can prove you need the card to prevent a significant hardship."

So, these replacements don't count toward the 3-per-year, 10-per-life limit.

I wonder what happens if you lose your card 10 times. Do they actually mean they won't issue you a card any more??

[Achromatic 0]

Filing for SSN as soon as possible after arriving in the states is a good idea

But not within 14 days (normal days, not business days)... or you'll completely blow things, as they'll have to verify manually and it'll take 6 weeks+. (Normally 2 weeks, but you can go back 48 hours and ask them to print a "confirmation of ssn" letter. They might balk initially and go on about "how you can't use this as work authorization" - and in my case made a point of highlighting it - but they'll do it).

[flutter95 4]

When I arrived I was married within two weeks and I went in the following week to get my SS# and changed my name at the same time - took 3 weeks for the card to arrive in my new name. No hassles either.

[fruto123 0]

We applied SSN after two weeks of her arrival. And then we got married one week after that. We plan to wait until we get the Green Card to change the SSN name and the "work only with EAD" caption all together.

[Hershey 0]

we (my husband and i) made the mistake of going to the SSA office right after our AOS-DORA infopass/appointment day and was told to come back until after the whole AOS process has been completed. the SSA officer said that they do not wish any conflicts regarding my status to arise so it would be best if we wait until i get my green card. we could have gotten a SS number for me as soon as we got married, but i guess i didn't do enough reading at that time, hehe. if only i'd known.