Applying for a social security after arrival in US

[Hank_ 9,174]

Thank you Hank. Because we are both confused if it's a good idea to wait for SSN prior to AOS so we can put my SSN in some of the required documents AOS packet. It's gonna take weeks before i get my social security and before i can send my AOS.

No issue getting your SS card early, even if it is in your single name. The SSN is not required on any documents for AOS, it just asks IF you have it to enter it... but not required.

Thanks Hank!! my other question is, is it better to apply for a ssn before marriage? with the estimated time of arrival and wedding date there would not be enough time to get a SSN and do the AOS since right now our local offices are about 3 weeks out for a SSN. Can the name be changed on the SOcial Security card after the AOS is sent in? my Biggest concern is getting my fiancée on my medical right after marriage my yearly enroll date is sept 1st. and making sure the last name is right on the Green Card is the biggest issue.

Get the SS card before you are married is fine. After you complete AOS go back to SSA and get the name updated.

No problem with the SS card being in her maiden name for insurance and such, you have the marriage certificate ...

[Amythyst88 2]

Hank, will my SSN be in my married name if we get one in the next two weeks? We got married last May 5, 2016.

Also i used my maiden signature in our marriage license / certificate because we were not married yet when we applied for it. Can i now sign a married signature in all legal transactions here even if the one in marriage license was signed in my maiden name???

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hank, will my SSN be in my married name if we get one in the next two weeks? We got married last May 5, 2016.

Also i used my maiden signature in our marriage license / certificate because we were not married yet when we applied for it. Can i now sign a married signature in all legal transactions here even if the one in marriage license was signed in my maiden name???

Most times SSA issues the SS card in your maiden name as that is what shows up on the SAVE system, very few at SSA will issue the card with your married name until after the green card is issued. It is a minor detail to get the card changed later.

Many marriage license require the signature to be in your maiden name, that is how ours was also.

As for your name - once married use your married name/signature on ALL DOCUMENTS. For sure use your married name for AOS I-485.

[Caryh 5,206]

Thanks Hank!! my other question is, is it better to apply for a ssn before marriage? with the estimated time of arrival and wedding date there would not be enough time to get a SSN and do the AOS since right now our local offices are about 3 weeks out for a SSN. Can the name be changed on the SOcial Security card after the AOS is sent in? my Biggest concern is getting my fiancée on my medical right after marriage my yearly enroll date is sept 1st. and making sure the last name is right on the Green Card is the biggest issue.

There has been issues for some when they wait until after marriage to apply for their SS number. The clueless wonders in some of offices claim the K-1 is no longer valid, since the marriage occurred, so you're no longer eligible. This isn't true, but when they set their mind to it there isn't much you can do. We also waited until after marriage, but didn't have this issue, and they allowed my wife to have her married name on the SS card, even if her married name had not shown up in the SAVE database yet. When we went back to remove the employment note on her SS card after she got her green card, then we needed to wait for the SAVE database to be corrected. Even though they sent her green card in her married name, they failed to change the name in the SAVE database and SSA had to request they update it. Luckily we had very good people with work with at the SSA. They both knew what they were doing, and were willing to go to the effort to give a kick in the butt to USCIS when they failed to get their job done correctly.

[Hank_ 9,174]

There has been issues for some when they wait until after marriage to apply for their SS number. The clueless wonders in some of offices claim the K-1 is no longer valid, since the marriage occurred, so you're no longer eligible. This isn't true, but when they set their mind to it there isn't much you can do. We also waited until after marriage, but didn't have this issue, and they allowed my wife to have her married name on the SS card, even if her married name had not shown up in the SAVE database yet. When we went back to remove the employment note on her SS card after she got her green card, then we needed to wait for the SAVE database to be corrected. Even though they sent her green card in her married name, they failed to change the name in the SAVE database and SSA had to request they update it. Luckily we had very good people with work with at the SSA. They both knew what they were doing, and were willing to go to the effort to give a kick in the butt to USCIS when they failed to get their job done correctly.

You got lucky with the married name on the SS card too? So did my wife, she applied two days after we were married ...

[Caryh 5,206]

You got lucky with the married name on the SS card too? So did my wife, she applied two days after we were married ...

The office here really seems to have its act together. Very nice people, and if they're not sure about something, they find someone who is in the know to help them. I was actually very impressed on both our visits down there.

[Hank_ 9,174]

The office here really seems to have its act together. Very nice people, and if they're not sure about something, they find someone who is in the know to help them. I was actually very impressed on both our visits down there.

We got lucky in Tucson as well, I read of others there not getting the card in the married name ... we got an informed person that day

Of course come citizenship time my wife still had to do a separate petition for name change to "officially" change her middle name. That was done at the same time as the oath taking.

Edited May 16, 2016 by Hank_

[Caryh 5,206]

We got lucky in Tucson as well, I read of others there not getting the card in the married name ... we got an informed person that day

Of course come citizenship time my wife still had to do a separate petition for name change to "officially" change her middle name. That was done at the same time as the oath taking.

Was her middle name not matching Philippine law on the green card? I know that can be a real pain in the butt to get done in some states. I wish all states did it like Minnesota. The marriage license and certificate includes both spouses names before marriage and after marriage. It makes it very clear to everyone and allows both persons the option to change the entire name at marriage. None of this dealing petty bureaucrats saying what you can and can't do based on their opinion.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Was her middle name not matching Philippine law on the green card? I know that can be a real pain in the butt to get done in some states. I wish all states did it like Minnesota. The marriage license and certificate includes both spouses names before marriage and after marriage. It makes it very clear to everyone and allows both persons the option to change the entire name at marriage. None of this dealing petty bureaucrats saying what you can and can't do based on their opinion.

Yes her name was in the traditional Philippine format on her green card, but in reality that is not a legal name change, except for the last name (of course). So when the oath ceremony paperwork was being processed it was with her original middle name, then the attorney, representing all 41 people taking their oath that day, filed a petition for name change to officially change her middle name to the traditional Philippine format, there were 8 people that had name changes that day. The judge grants the name change then after that the oath ceremony proceeds.

In your case it may have been handled already because of the option in the marriage certificate. Time will tell

Edited May 16, 2016 by Hank_

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Phil. Regional Forum to Fam.-based AOS Forum~

~Inquiry about AOS-related processes, not country-specific~

[Caryh 5,206]

Yes her name was in the traditional Philippine format on her green card, but in reality that is not a legal name change, except for the last name (of course). So when the oath ceremony paperwork was being processed it was with her original middle name, then the attorney, representing all 41 people taking their oath that day, filed a petition for name change to officially change her middle name to the traditional Philippine format, there were 8 people that had name changes that day. The judge grants the name change then after that the oath ceremony proceeds.

In your case it may have been handled already because of the option in the marriage certificate. Time will tell

I know my wife's was a legal name change with the marriage. Name changes are based on State law, and our state allows a 100% change in the name with marriage. I know people that have even changed their first name with marriage here. My mother being one in fact.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Yes the name thing is state dependent. We were in AZ at the time and there only the last name is valid, but we did the traditional name format for AOS and it was that way with her DL in AZ, and SS card

I know my wife's was a legal name change with the marriage. Name changes are based on State law, and our state allows a 100% change in the name with marriage. I know people that have even changed their first name with marriage here. My mother being one in fact.

[Amythyst88 2]

Most times SSA issues the SS card in your maiden name as that is what shows up on the SAVE system, very few at SSA will issue the card with your married name until after the green card is issued. It is a minor detail to get the card changed later.

Many marriage license require the signature to be in your maiden name, that is how ours was also.

As for your name - once married use your married name/signature on ALL DOCUMENTS. For sure use your married name for AOS I-485.

Alright,got it. I arrived here may 5. Got married may 9. Will apply for SSN may 25. Afterwhich, once i received my SSN, there goes my AOS, coz we need a Bank Joint account. By the way, How long will it take before i receive my SSN card?

Thanks a lot Hank!

[Hank_ 9,174]

Alright,got it. I arrived here may 5. Got married may 9. Will apply for SSN may 25. Afterwhich, once i received my SSN, there goes my AOS, coz we need a Bank Joint account. By the way, How long will it take before i receive my SSN card?

Thanks a lot Hank!

Most times the card arrives within a couple weeks.

[Amythyst88 2]

Most times the card arrives within a couple weeks.

Hello again to all!

Im currently filling up the Social Securty form and bumped into tricky questions such as:

> should i fill in the "parents/ mothers father's name" in the social security form even if my parents are both in the Philippines and of course doesnt have a social security? Should i leave the area blank?

> Can i use my Full Maiden name in the "other names used and Full name at birth"? (already married now).