post k1

[Mumbai2Atlanta 0]

Hello All,

Me and my then-fiancee/now wife entered the US the end of November. We got married in a county court day before yesterday!

As of now, we have a marriage license. We will be able to pick up a marriage certificate on December 19.

I was reading up on the wonderful guide for AOS at http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos. However, I have a question and would appreciate if some of the veterans of the board could answer.

Q. Like I mentioned before, we got married day before yesterday. On the marriage license application, my wife indicated that she plans to take my last name as her last name. She currently has only one document that has her as her maiden name - her Indian passport. We still need to get her a SSN and do the AOS paperwork. I think it is best to do her paperwork under her new name also. What is the best course of action? Should the first thing I do is to get her new Indian passport with the changed last name. Then do the SSN and AOS paperwork?

I feel like since her passport is the only thing that identifies her, if she tries go to SSN office etc, they might refuse because of different names. Or will that not be a problem if I carry the marriage certificate?

If we get a different passport, what will happen to the visa and stamps printed in her passport?

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

Hello All,

Me and my then-fiancee/now wife entered the US the end of November. We got married in a county court day before yesterday!

As of now, we have a marriage license. We will be able to pick up a marriage certificate on December 19.

I was reading up on the wonderful guide for AOS at http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos. However, I have a question and would appreciate if some of the veterans of the board could answer.

Q. Like I mentioned before, we got married day before yesterday. On the marriage license application, my wife indicated that she plans to take my last name as her last name. She currently has only one document that has her as her maiden name - her Indian passport. We still need to get her a SSN and do the AOS paperwork. I think it is best to do her paperwork under her new name also. What is the best course of action? Should the first thing I do is to get her new Indian passport with the changed last name. Then do the SSN and AOS paperwork?

I feel like since her passport is the only thing that identifies her, if she tries go to SSN office etc, they might refuse because of different names. Or will that not be a problem if I carry the marriage certificate?

If we get a different passport, what will happen to the visa and stamps printed in her passport?

I assume her maiden name is also on her most recent immigration document, the i-94? This is what the SSA verify names against to determine eligibility.

For That reason the general guidance is to apply for a SSN before marriage and name change since you are doing it on the basis of K1 eligibility and some ppl have been informed that they are no longer eligible for a SSN under that option once married. .. and told they then need to wait for their EAD.

She SHOULD however be able to apply for SSN bringing passport, i-94 and marriage certificate. I'm afraid you won't know for sure till you try since it seems different SSA offices give different answers on this matter.

You should definitely do the AOS paperwork in her new name though, and for traveling and other identification purposes she can still use her passport... it's valid for identification together with the marriage certificate.

Also, if you travel make sure to get the ticket in her passport name or they won't let her travel.

Regarding the visa in her passport it bacame useless the day she entered since it's a one time entry visa.

Edited December 12, 2016 by Suss&Camm