Apply for SSN

[M+M 55]

Hello everyone,

 

I am new to this section of visa journey, my fiance and I completed the initial steps to the K-1 visa process. Now we are in the US and working towards getting a marriage license. 

 

My fiance is trying to applying for a social security card in order to apply for the marriage license. He was told today by the social security that he has to wait until we are married to apply for a social security card. Is this true? I thought because he was a K-1 visa holder, he was able to obtain a SSN. At least that is what I understood from the "applying for a social security card" section on visa journey. Any help is appreciated. Thank you

[RJandHamid 1,133]

You are correct, he can obtain the SSN before marriage on the K1 visa. Not sure why they told him he can't, but it wouldn't be the first time they've been misinformed.

 

Also even though there is a space for SSN on the marriage license application, it's usually not required, so you should be able to marry without one if needed.

[Crazy Cat 41,848]

21 minutes ago, M+M said:

Hello everyone,

 

I am new to this section of visa journey, my fiance and I completed the initial steps to the K-1 visa process. Now we are in the US and working towards getting a marriage license. 

 

My fiance is trying to applying for a social security card in order to apply for the marriage license. He was told today by the social security that he has to wait until we are married to apply for a social security card. Is this true? I thought because he was a K-1 visa holder, he was able to obtain a SSN. At least that is what I understood from the "applying for a social security card" section on visa journey. Any help is appreciated. Thank you

He does not need a SSN to get a marriage license.....He needs his passport and maybe an English version of his birth certificate.  When does his I-94 expire?

[M+M 55]

What do you suggest I do? Should I go the social security office with him? He even gave them that memo that was linked to the "applying for a social security card" section on visa journey. 

[Crazy Cat 41,848]

Just now, M+M said:

What do you suggest I do? Should I go the social security office with him? He even gave them that memo that was linked to the "applying for a social security card" section on visa journey. 

When does his I-94 expire?

 

[tamcloud 92]

We needed a marriage certificate and the ability for them to access the updated I-94 for the social security office to accept the application. We did not need an SSN for the marriage license, just a passport and birth certificate, despite the SSN field on the application. What's required for a marriage license varies by county. Why not call and see what your county requires at a minimum? Let them know that your fiance is a foreigner. That would be simpler than fighting with the social security office, at this point, when your more immediate goal is obtaining a marriage license. 

Edited July 19, 2018 by tamcloud

[Amadia 711]

I don't believe he should encounter a refusal for a card. Read this link to see if it applies to your current situation: https://www.aarp.org/work/social-security/info-06-2012/social-security-card-non-citizen.html

[Crazy Cat 41,848]

As I posted earlier, foreign nationals do not require a SSN to get a marriage license.  In addition, if his I-94 is going to expire within a couple weeks, they will not issue a card.  In that case, he would probably have to wait for his EAD.

[RLA 323]

1 hour ago, M+M said:

He was told today by the social security that he has to wait until we are married to apply for a social security card. Is this true?

No, that is not true, although some SSA officers seem to think so.  I was also rejected on my first try.  Went again and was able to convince the officer that time.  

 

 

[ineedadisplayname 497]

Try to go to a different Social Security Administration office. You still need to have a valid unexpired I-94 tho....

 

I had no problem getting a SSN on a K1. Went an afternoon before the wedding day. They asked for my passport and I-94 No questions about wedding and stuff. The guy said lucky me he managed to verify my info in their system (I was in the country for 5 days) so no manual verification is needed and I had the "card" in a week. They don't give you a number on the spot....

At the Recorder of Deeds office when they asked if I have a SSN i told them I applied yesterday and they stamped a big NO SSN on the license and ask me to put my initials next to it...

 

If you look on this site it says you don't need to have a SSN to get married.

http://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/644

 

 

 

[M+M 55]

5 hours ago, missileman said:

When does his I-94 expire?

 

What is an I-94? Is that the stamp in your passport. If that is the case, the immigration officer stamped his passport in the crease and the stamp is unclear. The Social Security Office claims that the stamp is unreadable. 

[Crazy Cat 41,848]

6 minutes ago, M+M said:

What is an I-94? Is that the stamp in your passport. If that is the case, the immigration officer stamped his passport in the crease and the stamp is unclear. The Social Security Office claims that the stamp is unreadable. 

He can get his I-4 here:  https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search

Edited July 20, 2018 by missileman

[M+M 55]

3 minutes ago, missileman said:

He can get his I-4 here:  https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home

Thank you so much! I just access his I-94 information and I am about to print it out. Can he take this to the social security office along with the other memo and try again? 

[Crazy Cat 41,848]

I don't think you followed the guide here on VJ, because it specifically states he must have his I-94: 

 

[Crazy Cat 41,848]

2 minutes ago, M+M said:

Thank you so much! I just access his I-94 information and I am about to print it out. Can he take this to the social security office along with the other memo and try again? 

Follow the instructions here at:  http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn