SSN before or after wedding?

[JenD 180]

My fiancé arrived in the US on Feb. 9, we are planning on getting married on Feb. 18 and both changing our names. Does he need to get an SSN before the wedding for some reason? i.e., Does the SSN have to be issues originally with the same name that's on the K-1?

 

Thanks!

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

5 minutes ago, JenD said:

My fiancé arrived in the US on Feb. 9, we are planning on getting married on Feb. 18 and both changing our names. Does he need to get an SSN before the wedding for some reason? i.e., Does the SSN have to be issues originally with the same name that's on the K-1?

 

Thanks!

Get the ssn now now now asap. You can always change the name later once you have the marriage license in hand and already married. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, JenD said:

My fiancé arrived in the US on Feb. 9, we are planning on getting married on Feb. 18 and both changing our names. Does he need to get an SSN before the wedding for some reason? i.e., Does the SSN have to be issues originally with the same name that's on the K-1?

 

Thanks!

He can get it now or wait but it will be in the name of his visa and I-94 entry document whether before or after the wedding. He loses the opportunity window to get his SSN on day 76 in the country.  Next opportunity will be after he gets EAD. 

 

If he changes his surname, then you need to get it done legally by a court and submit that to USCIS with his greencard application. They would accept taking a spouse's name, but you can't dream up a new name and think they will allow the greencard in that name. And social security will only allow whatever name his immigration records say. Until he gets EAD or a greencard, his name is as appears on his I-94. If he gets a new name on his immigration records with EAD/greencard, then Social Security will find that name in the USCIS database and change his card.

[payxibka 10,045]

4 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

He can get it now or wait but it will be in the name of his visa and I-94 entry document whether before or after the wedding. He loses the opportunity window to get his SSN on day 76 in the country.  Next opportunity will be after he gets EAD. 

 

If he changes his surname, then you need to get it done legally by a court and submit that to USCIS with his greencard application. They would accept taking a spouse's name, but you can't dream up a new name and think they will allow the greencard in that name. And social security will only allow whatever name his immigration records say. Until he gets EAD or a greencard, his name is as appears on his I-94. If he gets a new name on his immigration records with EAD/greencard, then Social Security will find that name in the USCIS database and change his card.

Depending on the state the wedding takes place...  In my state either party can change first, middle, or last via the marriage certificate...  Some states (Vegas NV?) don't allow any kind of name change

[Wuozopo 4,293]

I suppose if the marriage certificate listed the full name after marriage on it, USCIS might accept it as a name change document. My state just lists the names of the two unmarried people who applied for the license and nothing referring to name after marriage. Using one of those names works with USCIS. The way the OP described it, Mr. Smith and Miss Jones could want to be Mr. and Mrs. Khardashian after marriage. 

[Lemonslice 4,836]

6 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I suppose if the marriage certificate listed the full name after marriage on it, USCIS might accept it as a name change document. My state just lists the names of the two unmarried people who applied for the license and nothing referring to name after marriage. Using one of those names works with USCIS. The way the OP described it, Mr. Smith and Miss Jones could want to be Mr. and Mrs. Khardashian after marriage. 

That is possible in Massachusetts - I know a few people who did it.

Edited February 12, 2018 by Lemonslice

[Ontarkie 14,220]

~~Moved to SSN, from K1 P&P - as this is a SSN question not a K1 question.~~

[JenD 180]

We're getting married in California. We can change our names via the marriage license.