Fiance has old Social Security Number, do we need new one?

[SkruDe 311]

Hello

 

My fiance is 22 years old.  We have went thru the K1 process and she is now residing in the USA with me.  We are now preparing the Marriage and AOS.

 

I've stumbled across a question that I haven't been able to find an answer for.  When my fiance was between the ages of 4 and 12, she resided in the USA.  She was brought here by her parents.  Her parents ended up overstaying the Visa they were on, and they all returned back to Colombia.  She was in the USA 8 years.  During those years, she received a Social Security number, and we have her original Social Security card here with us.  The card has printed on it "Valid for work only with DHS Authorization"

 

My question is......  is that social security number still good?  On the guides from K1 to AOS it always has a step to get a Social Security Number.  Do we just skip that step and use the number she got when she was a child?  Or, is no longer valid and we need a new SS number for this current, new process? 

 

Will she ever be issued a new number?  At the end of AOS process?  At citizenship? 

 

 

[Hypnos 6,576]

SSNs are issued for life, so yes you should re-use that number. 

[Scandi 4,166]

Once you get a SSN it's valid for life. So she can still use the one she has, you just need to go back to the SSA if she changes her name when you get married. And then again once she receives her greencard to remove the restrictions on the card.

[SkruDe 311]

Okay,

 

So we use the SS number she was issued as a child.  We use it for the marriage registration. (They ask for both our SS numbers here in Cleveland from what I read online)

When we get married we go to SS office to have the system updated and a new card issued with her new name.

We use that existing number we have for the AOS application and everything we need it for.

When she receives her greencard, we again return to SS office to have the restrictions taken off.

 

That is correct?

 

For someone reason I thought I heard somewhere she'd be issued a new number after her greencard?  That is not right?

 

[Scandi 4,166]

She won't be getting a new number.

 

Go to have the new info updated with the SSA in case of name change and when she receives her greencard and later citizenship.

[Hypnos 6,576]

3 hours ago, SkruDe said:

I heard somewhere she'd be issued a new number after her greencard?  That is not right?

Definitely not right. 

[SkruDe 311]

Okay, I have one last question.  Or rather, request for advice......

 

I'm going to use fake names for this example.

 

As mentioned previously, my fiance was in the USA from ages 4 to 12.  During this time she received a social security number and card.

 

The name on her SS card from back when she was a child is:  Jane Doe

But the name on the I-129F, her Passport, and her Visa is:  Jane Maria Doe Smith

 

Luckily though, when we submitted the I-129F, under "Other names used" we did write in:  Jane Doe

 

My questions are:

1. When should we change the name on the SS card?  Should we change it after marriage?  Or should we change it after she receives her Green Card?  I've read conflicting suggestions on this.
2. If we wait till Green Card to change her name on SS, are we going to run into issues with bank accounts, health insurance, drivers license, etc?  Since her married name will not appear on SS? 

 

I guess, I'm just a bit confused on when, in my situation, the SS name should be changed, and what complications I may have in my situation.

 

Thank you!

[SkruDe 311]

12 minutes ago, SkruDe said:

Okay, I have one last question.  Or rather, request for advice......

 

I'm going to use fake names for this example.

 

As mentioned previously, my fiance was in the USA from ages 4 to 12.  During this time she received a social security number and card.

 

The name on her SS card from back when she was a child is:  Jane Doe

But the name on the I-129F, her Passport, and her Visa is:  Jane Maria Doe Smith

 

Luckily though, when we submitted the I-129F, under "Other names used" we did write in:  Jane Doe

 

My questions are:

1. When should we change the name on the SS card?  Should we change it after marriage?  Or should we change it after she receives her Green Card?  I've read conflicting suggestions on this.
2. If we wait till Green Card to change her name on SS, are we going to run into issues with bank accounts, health insurance, drivers license, etc?  Since her married name will not appear on SS? 

 

I guess, I'm just a bit confused on when, in my situation, the SS name should be changed, and what complications I may have in my situation.

 

Thank you!

I failed to mention that the point of changing her name would be to acquire my last name.  Let's say my last name is:  Brown

 

ULTIMATELY, we want her name to be:  Maria Smith Brown

 

 

Sorry, so confusing are name changes 

[Hypnos 6,576]

Immediately after getting married and once you have a certified copy of your marriage certificate, go to your nearest SSA office and request a name change on her card. With an existing card sometimes they will do it, and sometimes they will want to see that new name reflected on an official document (EAD, green card, etc.). It just depends on the person on that day.

Edited October 5, 2017 by Hypnos

[SkruDe 311]

On 10/5/2017 at 12:05 AM, Hypnos said:

Immediately after getting married and once you have a certified copy of your marriage certificate, go to your nearest SSA office and request a name change on her card. With an existing card sometimes they will do it, and sometimes they will want to see that new name reflected on an official document (EAD, green card, etc.). It just depends on the person on that day.

When filling out the AOS application, we use the name she plans to change to?  My last name?  Even though it isn't changed else where officially yet??

 

As long as we put her "former names" or "other names" in the appropriate other boxes?

 

 

Thank you for your help.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Yes. 

[Scandi 4,166]

She can use her mairred name, the marriage certificate is enough proof of legal name change.

She can also use her maiden name if she'd rather do that, but it'll cost her around $500 to change the name on the card later, which makes no sense when you can just file in her married name already from the beginning.

[ac8238 8]

Hi All - I didn't want to start a new thread since this topic is thread is quite similar to my question.

 

I am in the process of doing an AOS for my spouse (work visa overstay) and in the i130/i485/i765 they ask for the SSN. As I understand it, there is only one SSN issued per person, so are there any issues if I put the SSN she received (under her maiden name)? Or should I leave it blank? Thanks for the advice. 

[Hypnos 6,576]

You should enter the number she was already assigned.