What is after entry USA on k1 visa?

[scottamus 0]

My fiance has entered USA on k1 visa? 

Should we wait two weeks until he gets his social number or we get married immediately to save the time? 

[Dutchster 1,107]

Give it a few days and then go to the SSA office to get his social security number, nowadays you barely have to wait two weeks or more to be able to.
It's all fine as long as you marry within the 90 days, that will suffice the purpose of the K-1 visa.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

Get the SSN first after 14 days of entry as a K-1. If you get married first, then he/she will need to wait till he/she receives the EAD to get a SSN.

[Becci391 339]

3 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

Get the SSN first after 14 days of entry as a K-1. If you get married first, then he/she will need to wait till he/she receives the EAD to get a SSN.

That is not right.

I got married on 02/03 and applied for the SSN two weeks later. It wasn't a problem. I had my SS card in the mail a week after I applied for one.

The only thing they want to see is your marriage certificate so that your new last name will be on the Social Security Card.

 

[Dutchster 1,107]

4 minutes ago, Becci391 said:

That is not right.

I got married on 02/03 and applied for the SSN two weeks later. It wasn't a problem. I had my SS card in the mail a week after I applied for one.

The only thing they want to see is your marriage certificate so that your new last name will be on the Social Security Card.

 

Not entirely true either that other poster isn't right. In fact, it happens a lot that people marry, apply for SSN and get told they have to wait for their EAD since they are still in the DHS system as K-1 applicant and maiden name. One of my friends had that happen, too.

[Becci391 339]

8 minutes ago, Dutchster said:

Not entirely true either that other poster isn't right. In fact, it happens a lot that people marry, apply for SSN and get told they have to wait for their EAD since they are still in the DHS system as K-1 applicant and maiden name. One of my friends had that happen, too.

Yes but that's because the people working at the Social Security Office have no idea how to handle people with a K1 visa.

They wanted me to come back with my EAD so that I could get my last name changed but I did tell them that I was there two times already to get my last name changed. And this time they said that they need to verify my name with USCIS first before they can send me a new Social Security Card with my new last name. 10 days later I had the new card in the mail.

This is why you should take your marriage certificate with you because that document legally allows you to have your US-spouse's last name on the Social Security Card. You might have to tell that the person who processes your SSN application.

Edited April 6, 2017 by Becci391

[KULtoATL 1,551]

@Dutchster Thanks for clarifying because that was a common thing that I have read on VJ and also based on my correspondence with some fellow VJers.

 

@Becci391 I'm glad that you got your SSN after marriage without an issue However, that doesn't mean that SSA wouldn't deny other K-1 applicants who apply after marriage. There are inconsistent practices across the board and it does suck for us as it gets confusing sometimes and wastes a lot of time when all of us just wanna be done with the paperwork and move forward. Thanks for telling the OP that there is another way of trying to obtain a SSN though.

[Becci391 339]

20 minutes ago, KULtoATL said:

@Dutchster Thanks for clarifying because that was a common thing that I have read on VJ and also based on my correspondence with some fellow VJers.

 

@Becci391 I'm glad that you got your SSN after marriage without an issue However, that doesn't mean that SSA wouldn't deny other K-1 applicants who apply after marriage. There are inconsistent practices across the board and it does suck for us as it gets confusing sometimes and wastes a lot of time when all of us just wanna be done with the paperwork and move forward. Thanks for telling the OP that there is another way of trying to obtain a SSN though.

I know it can happen that they deny other K1 visa holders but the applicant should at least try and explain. It might not be a success for all applicants though.

[KULtoATL 1,551]

6 minutes ago, Becci391 said:

I know it can happen that they deny other K1 visa holders but the applicant should at least try and explain. It might not be a success for all applicants though.

Yes, agreed   At least we have VJ where we can learn about these things and prepare us for the potential difficulties under various circumstances. 

[geowrian 22,337]

Agree with @KULtoATL and @Dutchster. The way I see it, this is a matter of "I'm technically right" by getting it in the 90-day period but after marriage. Yes, that's what it should be, but it's also one of those things where it's not worth the fight IMHO. Get it as soon as you can and you don't have to worry about it.

Edited April 7, 2017 by geowrian

[minemar 96]

3 hours ago, Becci391 said:

That is not right.

I got married on 02/03 and applied for the SSN two weeks later. It wasn't a problem. I had my SS card in the mail a week after I applied for one.

The only thing they want to see is your marriage certificate so that your new last name will be on the Social Security Card.

 

Hi !!

 

I wanna take my fiancé's last name when we get married, so do you think it's better to marry first and then apply for the SSN with my married name, cause I've read some people had trouble getting their married name in the SSN cause they take the passport/visa name 

 

I'm wondering what's the best path to get my new name in all the important documents, hopefully someone can help me

[Becci391 339]

48 minutes ago, minemar said:

Hi !!

 

I wanna take my fiancé's last name when we get married, so do you think it's better to marry first and then apply for the SSN with my married name, cause I've read some people had trouble getting their married name in the SSN cause they take the passport/visa name 

 

I'm wondering what's the best path to get my new name in all the important documents, hopefully someone can help me

I got married first, then I applied for my SSN. I would go to to the SSA office with your original marriage certificate. If they tell you that they will send you the Social Security Card with your maiden name, it's fine. Once you receive your NOA1 for AOS, go back to the SSA office with the NOA1 and your Social Security Card and ask if they can change your name now. It worked for me. They might tell you that they have to verify your name with USCIS and will send your new card soon.

[DrEllaNJ 288]

I wasn't in this situation, but I think I'd rather get my SSN, in my maiden name if need be, then wait until I potentially get everything right the first time or be refused (as has happened to people on here). Yes, it's a pain to have to make that trip a few times, but having a SSN makes life sooooo much easier.

You'll have to go back to the SS office once you get your Green Card anyway, to get the 'only valid for work with DHS authorization' removed. so if you file all your AOS paperwork with your married name,  you can get your new name at that point. Or you can make an extra trip after getting the EAD.

Or you can do it like me, and keep using your maiden name for all official business... but that's a personal choice (my last name happens to be a lot easier to spell than my USC husband's name)

[Dutchster 1,107]

I'd also say go get the SSN first. I went back a day after my marriage to (successfully) have my name changed to my married name.

[Stagnant Sloth 5]

I went and applied for my SSN the day after arriving in the US on a K1 (before getting married). They only wanted to see my passport and the I-94. They put all the information into the computer, scanned my documents, and I received my SSN less than two weeks later in the mail.