Can't change to married name on SS?

[PHC1 1]

Hi, I am a bit confused... So we applied for SS for my fiancee on Sept 10th (obviously used her previous marriage name as on all the paperwork, K-1 visa, passport, etc) and went off to get married to a different state where our ceremony was planned. We come back 3 weeks later and still no SS card in the mail. We go back to the SS office today to get her name changed and to inquire if the original card was mailed out and got lost in the mail which was on hold for 3 weeks... They told us at the SS office that they can not change the name at this time as the computer will not allow them to change the name to married name due to this causing a mismatch with the immigration system. Ok... Can we have the number of the previous SS card please? NO.... this is against the law... What do we do? The answer was we have to go to the immigration office and get her name changed there first and only then can they change the name on the SS card. Does this sound right to you guys??? (Of course it was also suggested by the ss officer that we go change the foreign passport to married name now.. Obviously there was very little understanding of how the K-1 works on his part.... Can't leave the country and why would we have to go back to her country to get the passport.... LOL ) Yes, she was issued a SS number and evidently they sent the original card out which the USPS obviously never delivered) Not that we can obtain that number even in person! We were very frustrated to say the least

Edited October 7, 2015 by PHC1

[Lelyze 49]

You have to wait for your wife to get EAD in order for her name to be changed on SSC. Till then she can use her marriage certificate as a proof of a name change.

Most of SS workers are ignorant and don't understand the process or SAVE Database.

[PHC1 1]

Thank you for the reply. I am hoping the replacement SS card arrives in the mail soon then so we can send off the AOS package with the SS number on it as I am not sure if it would be a good idea to send AOS in without it since she technically has a number now?? We can't obtain the number of SS even in person and it most likely got lost in the mail the first time around!

[PHC1 1]

Also just spoke to USCIS and they said they are not even sure why they would issue my fiancee, (wife now) a SS to begin with! It seems the rules have changed??? I have read many times here on the forum to go and apply for SS asap and before getting married to avoid problems. Seems now they want the AOS first and SS comes later?

[heo luoi 206]

Odd, the guide/chart doesnt suggest that?

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

You have to wait for your wife to get EAD in order for her name to be changed on SSC. Till then she can use her marriage certificate as a proof of a name change.

Most of SS workers are ignorant and don't understand the process or SAVE Database.

[Lelyze 49]

Also just spoke to USCIS and they said they are not even sure why they would issue my fiancee, (wife now) a SS to begin with! It seems the rules have changed??? I have read many times here on the forum to go and apply for SS asap and before getting married to avoid problems. Seems now they want the AOS first and SS comes later?

That doesn't sound right, How much time does she have left on her I94? As long as she has more than 2 weeks left she should be able to obtain her ssc. Go to SS office and request to speak with someone who knows what he is doing. It took mi almost 8 weeks to get my name change after EAD because workers didn't even know what SAVE is. What was their explanation for not giving her ssn?

Also there are no problems in doing AOS before obtaining SSN.

[PHC1 1]

That doesn't sound right, How much time does she have left on her I94? As long as she has more than 2 weeks left she should be able to obtain her ssc. Go to SS office and request to speak with someone who knows what he is doing. It took mi almost 8 weeks to get my name change after EAD because workers didn't even know what SAVE is. What was their explanation for not giving her ssn?

Also there are no problems in doing AOS before obtaining SSN.

We applied for SSC 10 days after her arrival and got married approx one month after her date of entry. That is not the issue. Based on my conversation with USCIS just now it sounds like the SS comes in to play after the permanent resident card is issued. At least that is what I was told by a USCIS representative! At least as it applies to name change but they also sounded surprised that SS would issue her a card to begin with at this stage. Isn't that strange???

Edited October 7, 2015 by PHC1

[PHC1 1]

I do recall my attorney mentioning that pretty often these days SSN may not be obtained until the green card but that was before we applied for SS and a few days after my fiancee (wife now) first entered. Based on everything I read before that point I was sure it would not be a problem and it wasn't when we first applied. So basically my wife has a SSN but we can't get it until the replacement card comes in and we can't get her name changed to married name until the green card is issued...

Edited October 7, 2015 by PHC1

[Lelyze 49]

That is really strange. I had no problems obtaining my ssc with my maiden name, and I don't think they changed rules. Didn't they say they already issued her ssn and that they will resend it?

[PHC1 1]

That is really strange. I had no problems obtaining my ssc with my maiden name, and I don't think they changed rules. Didn't they say they already issued her ssn and that they will resend it?

Yes they issued a number and supposedly sent a card out which we never got (probably got lost in the mail and it wouldn't be the first time my mailman screwed up but that is a different story) so they told us they will send a replacement but when it comes to name change not until it is in the system with the immigration so they match. My conversation with USCIS today confirmed that but USCIS also said they are surprised SS would even issue my wife one to begin with for some reason... It sounds like they want the AOS package first and then one can apply for SSN.

[bowens44 214]

We had no problem getting my wife's changed. Got the cardi n her maiden and got married went back and got the change processed. We're told it can take 4 weeks for the change

We have not filed AOS yet

Edited October 7, 2015 by bowens44

[PHC1 1]

We had no problem getting my wife's changed. Got the cardi n her maiden and got married went back and got the change processed. We're told it can take 4 weeks for the change

We have not filed AOS yet

Hence my confusion today.... I also thought it would not be a problem!

[Unidentified 2,930]

It feels like when you to to the SSA office it's like a lottery, either everything will go smoothly or everything will be a mess.

I had no issues changing to my married name on the SSN card after marriage and I had not even applied for AOS yet. I just showed them our marriage certificate and passport.

[tonyb919 107]

I took my wife to the SS office this past tuesday and they insisted on putting her name on the SS card that was on her immigration documents. Now her documents show her married name, it is just that my wifes full name including middle name is spelled out on the documents.

BTW they did say to do not depend on the immigration the handling of applying for the SSN after you enter your POE.

[FoundMy#1 9]

You need to request a lost card. This will get you a card and the number.

Secondly, I'm surprised you were allowed a card under the circumstances. This should not be allowed until marriage in your case.

But either way congratulations on getting her to the USA!

Yes they issued a number and supposedly sent a card out which we never got (probably got lost in the mail and it wouldn't be the first time my mailman screwed up but that is a different story) so they told us they will send a replacement but when it comes to name change not until it is in the system with the immigration so they match. My conversation with USCIS today confirmed that but USCIS also said they are surprised SS would even issue my wife one to begin with for some reason... It sounds like they want the AOS package first and then one can apply for SSN.