SSN before marriage upon entering US?

[Mrsjackson 300]

Hello, 

 

I am going to enter the US with my K1 visa in about 2 weeks. I’m a little confused about exactly what steps to take after. I know I need to get a hold of the I-94 right away. I’ve seen some people on here say that it’s best to get your SSN right away as well, however wouldn’t it be better to wait until your marriage license is issued and you have your proof of name change? I don’t know why it would be better to get the SSN in my maiden name only to have my name change shortly after? Any insight appreciated. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

10 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

Hello, 

 

I am going to enter the US with my K1 visa in about 2 weeks. I’m a little confused about exactly what steps to take after. I know I need to get a hold of the I-94 right away. I’ve seen some people on here say that it’s best to get your SSN right away as well, however wouldn’t it be better to wait until your marriage license is issued and you have your proof of name change? I don’t know why it would be better to get the SSN in my maiden name only to have my name change shortly after? Any insight appreciated. 

Because a lot of people wait weeks and months to get the ssn until they are married. At that time it is too late to get it and they get rejected. But it is a lot easier to get it in the maiden name then change it later. 

 

I always recommend to get it after entry into the USA.

[Mrsjackson 300]

4 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Because a lot of people wait weeks and months to get the ssn until they are married. At that time it is too late to get it and they get rejected. But it is a lot easier to get it in the maiden name then change it later. 

 

I always recommend to get it after entry into the USA.

Wow, I didn’t realize there was a time limit on when you could get your SSN? You mean they get rejected because they waited too long? 

[Alabamak1 688]

12 minutes ago, Mrsjackson said:

Wow, I didn’t realize there was a time limit on when you could get your SSN? You mean they get rejected because they waited too long? 

You should get it before you get married. If not, you will have to wait after EAD. Aside than that...social security is used everywhere here. Bank account, school, driver's licence, insurance. The list goes on. 

[Dutchster 1,107]

9/10 times it is a complete hassle to get your first SSN after marriage and on your married name directly. As soon as your I-94 is updated online, take it to your nearest SSA office and apply for a SSN in your maiden name. If you want to do it after marriage, that's ok but you still can't apply with your married name as your name has to match the one on the passport and I-94. Every applicant undergoes mandatory verification of status before receiving a SSN, so that's why you can't apply directly in your maiden name. 

They also won't issue a SSN if you have less than 14 days left on the I-94 as that is not enough time. Verification can take up to 14 days and if those are over, you have no status which means you aren't eligible for one anymore. 

[Dutchster 1,107]

Until you have successfully adjusted status, DHS and all systems will know you with your maiden name (if you applied for AOS with your married name). As of right now, you haven't adjusted yet so your name hasn't changed yet either.  

Edited June 3, 2018 by Dutchster

[Mrsjackson 300]

Great information, thank you all! 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

1 hour ago, Mrsjackson said:

Wow, I didn’t realize there was a time limit on when you could get your SSN? You mean they get rejected because they waited too long? 

Yes, because alot of people wait until day 70-85 to get married and THEN get a SSN in the married name. They then get rejected for not having enough time left on the 90 day valid stay. 

[Scandi 4,166]

Many people have encountered issues with getting an SSN after marriage, even in maiden name. Some SSA employers seem to think that the conditions of the visa changes after you get married and refuse to issue an SSN until you can show them your EAD, which is many months down the road.

 

Make it easier for yourself and get the SSN the first week in the US, before marriage, then you won't have any issues. Yes, you might have to go back and change your name on the SS card after the wedding, but still worth having a SSN already from the start.

 

Also, for some reason they don't always accept the marriage certificate as proof of name change either, even if they should. So even if you go back after the wedding with your marriage certificate there are no guarantees that they will issue you a card in your new name. Then you just need to wait for your EAD to have your name changed,  but at least you will have a SSN.

Edited June 4, 2018 by Scandi

[fakeplastictrees 26]

I think it might depend on where you live. I didn’t have a problem getting the SSN after marriage with my married name. I’m guessing the officer was familiar with the K1 situation cause I live in Renton WA where there is a lot of immigrants.

[Loren Y 2,755]

 

According to the SSA, You have to have proof of your prior name ( Maiden name) before you can change to your new ( Married Name) the required documents are listed below. Seems to me if you have a SS card in your Maiden name when you go to change to your married name it will be a lot easier and they can't refuse you based on their rules. So I would definitely get one in your maiden name, then change with your marriage certificate and birth certificate and first SS card as proof of previous name. Then you have all the required evidence actually more than required and you can tell them to reference RM10212.020 if they want to be difficult.

RM 10212.020 Evidence Required to Process a Name Change on the SSN When Evidence of Identity in the New Name Only is Submitted

Some name change requests may be based on acceptable name change documents that are not acceptable evidence of identity because they are too old or do not show sufficient biographical information. In these situations evidence of identity is required in addition to the name change document. Generally, we ask for evidence of identity in the prior name, to link the NH and new name to the Numident. However, we can accept evidence of identity in the new name under certain conditions. This section explains under what conditions evidence of identity in the new name is acceptable when the name change document alone is not sufficient to process a name change.

A. Evidence of name change event and new name

Always require acceptable evidence of

• the name change event, and

• new name (name to be shown on SSN card).

B. Evidence of identity in the new name

Evidence of identity in the new name (to be shown on the SSN card) which meets the requirements of RM 10210.405 can be used to process the name change when:

1. the name change document (e.g., marriage document) shows the prior name that agrees with the latest Numident record (e.g., maiden name). When the prior name shown on the name change document does not agree with the name on the latest Numident record, request prior name change documents to establish a link between the name shown on the name change document and the latest Numident record; and

2. the following identifying information from the latest Numident record propagated into the Enumeration system matches the information provided by the applicant and shown on the documents submitted:

   • SSN,

   • name(s) on latest Numident record,

   • date of birth,

   • place of birth,

   • parents’ names

NOTE: Consider the identifying information to match if there are minor spelling errors, mother’s maiden name is incorrect or unknown, or place of birth provided is County of birth instead of city.

[Paul & Mallory 1,398]

It depends on where you live.

 

We got married without my husband having his SSN yet, and getting his SSN after was no problem. Of course, since I'm the one changing my last name and not him, that wasn't a concern for us. But we called both our local Social Security Office and Probate Court to verify the procedures for both, and determined which would need to happen first. Ultimately, either could happen first, but that's the way we went for personal reasons. I definitely recommend contacting your local offices to be sure, but getting your SSN first, then marry, shouldn't be a problem regardless where you live.

[Dashinka 24,512]

20 hours ago, Alabamak1 said:

You should get it before you get married. If not, you will have to wait after EAD. Aside than that...social security is used everywhere here. Bank account, school, driver's licence, insurance. The list goes on. 

Not entirely correct.  The only thing one needs to know relative to getting a SSN from a K1 entry is that it has to be applied for with a minimum of two weeks left on the authorized stay from the I94.  It has nothing to do with the marriage date.  We actually got married two weeks after my fiancé's arrival, then applied for the SSN the following week.  We thought we could get it in her married name with the marriage certificate, but to no avail, but we did not have to wait for the EAD to get it.

 

Regardless, I always advise getting it as soon as possible upon arrival.

[Ontarkie 14,227]

~~Moved to SSN, from K1 P&P - The OP is starting to look the process of obtaining a SSN.~~

[geowrian 22,337]

I wouldn't even say it depends on where you live. Honestly, it depends on what worker you get. My wife went to the same SSA 3 times to get the SSN in her married name before they finally got a worker who agreed that the documentation was sufficient. We had an existing SS card in her maiden name already as a backup.