Social Security confusion

[Vinay 1]

hi,

I'm new to this forum. My fiance just came to the US last week and yesterday we went to the social security office to apply but their database wasn't updated yet. So we decided to wait it out for another couple of weeks till we get married then along with marriage certificate, go and apply for social security.

My question is, do I require the social security number to apply for green card(adjustment of status)? If yes, then we would have to first apply for social security after marriage then wait couple of weeks for it to arrive by mail then apply for green card.

[Jenn! 918]

No, a SSN is not required to adjust status.

[olutayo82 0]

No, SSN is not required to fill out AOS form.

Go ahead and send the 1-485 form in with the A# provided to the fiance.

[Vinay 1]

thats great. So I can apply for the green card and adjustment of status in parellel.

On the form I-485 in part 1, it asks for social security number. Do I leave it blank? Also, next to the social security field there is the A#. Is that the Immigrant visa number?

[olutayo82 0]

thats great. So I can apply for the green card and adjustment of status in parellel.

On the form I-485 in part 1, it asks for social security number. Do I leave it blank? Also, next to the social security field there is the A#. Is that the Immigrant visa number?

YES, you put NONE in the social security no section and in the A# section,

put the A#

[I'm Gone 60]

hi,

I'm new to this forum. My fiance just came to the US last week and yesterday we went to the social security office to apply but their database wasn't updated yet. So we decided to wait it out for another couple of weeks till we get married then along with marriage certificate, go and apply for social security.

My question is, do I require the social security number to apply for green card(adjustment of status)? If yes, then we would have to first apply for social security after marriage then wait couple of weeks for it to arrive by mail then apply for green card.

An individual with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence to establish his or her age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

An individual needs to provide at least two documents as evidence to establish age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card to an individual that is within 14 days of his or her alien status expiring. Until the 76th day after entry an individual with K-1 status only needs to provide an unexpired I-94 showing current K-1 status to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

Once, an individual with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, i.e. I-551, I-688B or I-766 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#C1

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

Suggest that individuals with K-1 status apply for a corrected SSN card to update the SSN record when there has been a name change due to marriage.

The applicant may submit either:

-- One legal name change document showing both the old and new names

(e.g., a court order for a name change or a marriage document). The

document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of

the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with

the Numident data; or

-- When the name change document does not show either a photograph of

the person or biographical information that can be compared with the

Numident data, then, in addition to the name change document, the

applicant must also submit two acceptable identity documents. One

of the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name

on the latest Numident record) AND the other submitted identity

document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the

corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show

either a photograph of the applicant or provide biographical

information that can be compared with the Numident data.

Note: For a marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the applicant’s name, either the applicant’s age, date of birth or parents’ names and the marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets this standard.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, SSA presumes the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

When requesting an SSN card, the documents presented, as evidence must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA will not accept uncertified or notarized photocopies as evidence.

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate (BC) in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. When a person is foreign-born, a BC may not exist, may not have been recorded shortly after birth, or the probative value of the document may not be high. In these situations, SSA can accept alternative evidence of age in order of probative value. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, e.g., a DHS document or passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203110

The documents acceptable as evidence of identity are now based on three factors: (1) the applicant’s age, (2) the applicant’s citizenship/alien status, and (3) the relative probative value of documents.

Any document used to establish identity must meet the following criteria:

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

data on the form SS-5 (e.g., the person's name, as well as age, date

of birth, or parents' names) and/or

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document should have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the SSN record, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that

establishes identity on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E

SSA will not accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card,” is the appropriate form to request an original SSN and card or corrected card.

You can request Form SS-5 by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or it can be accessed on our Website at:

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

Have your fiancé/spouse complete the Form SS-5 and take it along with the required documents, to the nearest Social Security office. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person at one of our offices.

You can obtain the address and directions to the nearest Social Security office from the Social Security Office Locator, which is available on the Internet at:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

Normally, an SSN card should be received in the mail within two weeks after the application and document(s) have been received and verified.

When an alien requests an SSN or replacement/corrected SSN card, SSA will verify his or her documents and current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA will send Form G-845 for manual verification.

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., married and is now using the married name, but has not obtained a corrected immigration document showing the new name; this is not a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes, i.e. SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an valid name change document to establish the new name.

The 14 day status expiration limit for assigning an SSN and/or issuing a card applies even if an individual submitted his or her application before being within the 14 day period and entered the 14 day period while waiting for his or her status to be verified.

All cards are mailed from Social Security Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland to the postal address provided on the Form SS-5.

You may find additional helpful information on the CIS Website at:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/hdifiance.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/LPRApplication.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/ead.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/remCond.htm

You may find additional SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...=129227,00.html

If not eligible to be assigned an SSN, your local Social Security offices can provide written notice using Form SSA-L676 to explain that an SSN cannot be assigned due to your fiancé/spouse not having provided authorization to work in the U.S. or evidence of a valid nonwork reason for needing an SSN.

The following are valid nonwork reasons:

-- Receive Social Security benefits

-- Receive Medicaid

-- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

-- Food Stamps

-- State/Local General Assistance Benefits

The IRS assigns individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) to aliens for tax purposes who are not eligible to be assigned an SSN. A Form W-7, “Application for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,” needs to be submitted to receive an ITIN.

You can download a form W-7 from the IRS Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

You may also contact the IRS ITIN office by calling 1-215-516-4846.

You can find additional information on the IRS Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html

[de&a 0]

hi,

I'm new to this forum. My fiance just came to the US last week and yesterday we went to the social security office to apply but their database wasn't updated yet. So we decided to wait it out for another couple of weeks till we get married then along with marriage certificate, go and apply for social security.

My question is, do I require the social security number to apply for green card(adjustment of status)? If yes, then we would have to first apply for social security after marriage then wait couple of weeks for it to arrive by mail then apply for green card.

Edited March 16, 2006 by madu11

[eau_xplain 2]

thats great. So I can apply for the green card and adjustment of status in parellel.

The green card is what you get when your application for adjustment of status is approved. They are not separate applications.

[Vinay 1]

thats great. So I can apply for the green card and adjustment of status in parellel.

The green card is what you get when your application for adjustment of status is approved. They are not separate applications.

I meant to say, apply for the social security and green card in parellel since the ss# is not required for green card application.

[motu 6]

The less strenuous way is to apply for the SSN after 2 weeks of arrival - that way she would be in the system. Then after you get married she can file for AOS. If she applies for EAD also then you can go back and change her name on the SSN card after receipt of EAD (else you can wait for the green card.) Some local SSN offices are more accommodating and others like Denver's are less. Good Luck (and fill out your timeline so we can know where you are at in the process - e.g. I don't know if you are married already or not. You have to be married to apply for the Green card.)

[Vinay 1]

The less strenuous way is to apply for the SSN after 2 weeks of arrival - that way she would be in the system. Then after you get married she can file for AOS. If she applies for EAD also then you can go back and change her name on the SSN card after receipt of EAD (else you can wait for the green card.) Some local SSN offices are more accommodating and others like Denver's are less. Good Luck (and fill out your timeline so we can know where you are at in the process - e.g. I don't know if you are married already or not. You have to be married to apply for the Green card.)

I'm getting married on April 3rd. I expect I'll get the marriage certificate within the next few days. Then I will be applying for the social security and AOS. Hopefully social security is not required even though it asks for it on the form(485).

What is Biometrics? Also what is the A#?