Change SSN Name After Marriage?

[Tokenfreak 223]

1 minute ago, payxibka said:

Yes.  Upon ead  or green card 

OK great!  Thanks!

[Hank_ 9,174]

2 hours ago, Tokenfreak said:

So my fiancee' went to the Social security office today to change her name on the SS card and they will not let her until we have the AOS approved they told her?  Is this correct?  According to the K1 flow chart (https://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow) this was suppose to be done before the AOS?  We already submitted our AOS and used her married named   , but it isn't changed yet? SSA IS NOT HOW YOU CHANGE A PERSON'S NAME, AT SSA YOU ONLY REPORT THE NAME CHANGE Is this a problem?  Please help we don't know what to do.

 

 

 

 

Lot of guides on VJ are not very accurate nor up to date.

 

1 hour ago, Tokenfreak said:

So what do I do now that I already submitted the AOS with her named changed?  I'm so confused as I really thought she could get her SSN changed with our marriage certificate.  It makes no sense.

You do nothing, you did it correctly.  

 

1 hour ago, Tokenfreak said:

But is the AOS wrong now since we used her new married name and not maiden name?  The flowchart is wrong too and that should be move to the last step then if this is the case.  What a waste of a 2 hour drive and gas and time to get to the SS office for nothing.

You are correct to file the I-485 in her married name, that is the way it should be. 

 

Many SSA offices will not change the name on the SS card from single to married until you can present your green card (or EAD) showing the married name.   SSA goes by the name in the SAVE system .  

 

Relax and be patient ... when the EAD or green card arrive THEN go to SSA to update the name.

[Tokenfreak 223]

39 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

 

 

Lot of guides on VJ are not very accurate nor up to date.

 

You do nothing, you did it correctly.  

 

You are correct to file the I-485 in her married name, that is the way it should be. 

 

Many SSA offices will not change the name on the SS card from single to married until you can present your green card (or EAD) showing the married name.   SSA goes by the name in the SAVE system .  

 

Relax and be patient ... when the EAD or green card arrive THEN go to SSA to update the name.

Ok thanks again hank for the reassurance. We will wait on the EAD and then go back to the SSA to update her name.

[Scott Br 164]

I appreciate the question and answers here.  Going through the same thing ourselves. 

[payxibka 10,045]

7 minutes ago, Scott Br said:

I appreciate the question and answers here.  Going through the same thing ourselves. 

That's what the regional forum is all about.!! There are very few if any questions that you may have that haven't been discussed in depth here already 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

4 hours ago, Tokenfreak said:

OK cool thanks.  So once she is approved for the EAD she can get it changed? No need to wait on the AOS right?

It hasn't even been 60 days yet, but they wouldn't let her change it.  We live over 1 hour from the SS office so its a hassle to go back and forth and for me to keep taking off work.  I guess I can just wait until she has the EAD and then get it changed?

Ok good thats great as I don't want it to be rejected right off the bat. So after about 4-5 months if the EAD is approved I should be able to get it changed right without having to wait on the full AOS?

We chose no on that questions since we already had one.  As we thought we could just back to the office and it get it changed, but we were wrong.

 

4 hours ago, Tokenfreak said:

So what do I do now that I already submitted the AOS with her named changed?  I'm so confused as I really thought she could get her SSN changed with our marriage certificate.  It makes no sense.

Just go about it with her current married name and you will be fine. My wife did that with no issues at all. 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

40 minutes ago, Scott Br said:

I appreciate the question and answers here.  Going through the same thing ourselves. 

Here is how it is supposed to work. This worked for us.

 

As a K-1 Visa Holder you are eligible to receive a SSN upon producing a valid I-94 (unexpired). Do not wait until you only have a few weeks left until your I-94 expires to file for a SSN. Many SSA (Social Security Administration) offices will not allow you to file for a SSN if your I-94 is about to expire (generally 14 days prior to the expiration on your I-94). On the other hand, you should also not file for a SSN too soon either.

 

You should wait 2 weeks after you arrived in the US before applying for a SSN. UPDATE: It's been reported recently that you no longer need to wait 2 weeks till you are in the SAVE database that you can go the next business day. If you go too soon your record of arrival will not be in the SAVE-ASVI system yet (what is SAVE), and it will require manual verification from the USCIS. As this will add weeks to the period it takes to process the SSN, it is advisable to attempt to wait the two weeks to be safe. If you have waited the 2 weeks and they tell you they cannot verify your arrival record via the SAVE database, then personally return on another day to have them search again -- thus eliminating the manual verification (you don't want to do the manual verification as it adds so much more time to the process).

 

To apply for a SSN you will need to go to your local SSA office and bring the documents below. These documents are proof of your eligibility to file for a SSN:

 

The SS-5 form  download and complete the application (they have some at the office if you forget).

Your Passport (with the K-1 Visa attached)

Your valid I-94

Another form of valid ID (birth certificate will do nicely)

You should also print and bring the document RM 10211.530 , in the event that the agent is not knowledgeable that K-1/K-2 are eligible to receive a SSN.

 

Make sure to bring all the documents above because some offices have staff that are not aware that a K-1 Visa Holder is eligible to file for a SSN. A friendly reminder is a nice thing to have -- if not you could be turned away incorrectly

 

Once you have successfully applied for your SSN, the SSN card will come in the mail in about 2 weeks.

 

K2 visa holders must first have a work permit (EAD) to get a social security number.

 

After marriage

Carry your marriage certificate to the social security office to get the social security card in the new name. If you applied for a social security number before marriage, you can go back to the social security office after marriage and get your name changed on your social security card.

 

The social security card will be marked “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH USCIS AUTHORIZATION”.  That means, you need to get your EAD first before you can actually work.  Hopefully, when you submitted your AOS you included the EAD. If not you will now need to submit the paperwork for an EAD prior to working.

[payxibka 10,045]

7 minutes ago, Greenbaum said:

 

 

After marriage

Carry your marriage certificate to the social security office to get the social security card in the new name. If you applied for a social security number before marriage, you can go back to the social security office after marriage and get your name changed on your social security card.

 

 

The only caveat is that more and more SSA offices are refusing to do the above 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

4 minutes ago, payxibka said:

The only caveat is that more and more SSA offices are refusing to do the above 

I guess the only thing they can do is try. If it fails then they should follow yours and others recommendation to do it once the AOS is approved and the GC is issued.

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, Greenbaum said:

I guess the only thing they can do is try. If it fails then they should follow yours and others recommendation to do it once the AOS is approved and the GC is issued.

Don't forget EAD as it is possible at that point 

[TM92 527]

5 hours ago, Tokenfreak said:

When she has the EAD we can now from my understand correct?

Yes. But then go again after AOS is approved to remove "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" language. An unrestricted SS card is a great I-9 List C document: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents/list-documents/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Edited November 28, 2018 by TM92

[payxibka 10,045]

39 minutes ago, TM92 said:

Yes. But then go again after AOS is approved to remove "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" language. An unrestricted SS card is a great I-9 List C document: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/acceptable-documents/list-documents/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

But a green card or an EAD card is a list A document and stands alone.   No need to show  a list B document in conjunction with the list C document 

Edited November 28, 2018 by payxibka

[geowrian 22,337]

30 minutes ago, payxibka said:

But a green card or an EAD card is a list A document and stands alone.   No need to show  a list B document in conjunction with the list C document 

The issue typically arises during ROC, or if someone had to send in their green card to be fixed/replaced via an I-90 (and they didn't get an I-90 stamp or extension letter yet). Having an unrestricted card + DL comes in handy.

[payxibka 10,045]

3 minutes ago, geowrian said:

The issue typically arises during ROC, or if someone had to send in their green card to be fixed/replaced via an I-90 (and they didn't get an I-90 stamp or extension letter yet). Having an unrestricted card + DL comes in handy.

Easy peasy.  Just don't change employment during that time period.   😂

[mrsartis 10]

3 hours ago, Greenbaum said:

Here is how it is supposed to work. This worked for us.

 

As a K-1 Visa Holder you are eligible to receive a SSN upon producing a valid I-94 (unexpired). Do not wait until you only have a few weeks left until your I-94 expires to file for a SSN. Many SSA (Social Security Administration) offices will not allow you to file for a SSN if your I-94 is about to expire (generally 14 days prior to the expiration on your I-94). On the other hand, you should also not file for a SSN too soon either.

 

You should wait 2 weeks after you arrived in the US before applying for a SSN. UPDATE: It's been reported recently that you no longer need to wait 2 weeks till you are in the SAVE database that you can go the next business day. If you go too soon your record of arrival will not be in the SAVE-ASVI system yet (what is SAVE), and it will require manual verification from the USCIS. As this will add weeks to the period it takes to process the SSN, it is advisable to attempt to wait the two weeks to be safe. If you have waited the 2 weeks and they tell you they cannot verify your arrival record via the SAVE database, then personally return on another day to have them search again -- thus eliminating the manual verification (you don't want to do the manual verification as it adds so much more time to the process).

 

To apply for a SSN you will need to go to your local SSA office and bring the documents below. These documents are proof of your eligibility to file for a SSN:

 

The SS-5 form  download and complete the application (they have some at the office if you forget).

Your Passport (with the K-1 Visa attached)

Your valid I-94

Another form of valid ID (birth certificate will do nicely)

You should also print and bring the document RM 10211.530 , in the event that the agent is not knowledgeable that K-1/K-2 are eligible to receive a SSN.

 

Make sure to bring all the documents above because some offices have staff that are not aware that a K-1 Visa Holder is eligible to file for a SSN. A friendly reminder is a nice thing to have -- if not you could be turned away incorrectly

 

Once you have successfully applied for your SSN, the SSN card will come in the mail in about 2 weeks.

 

K2 visa holders must first have a work permit (EAD) to get a social security number.

 

After marriage

Carry your marriage certificate to the social security office to get the social security card in the new name. If you applied for a social security number before marriage, you can go back to the social security office after marriage and get your name changed on your social security card.

 

The social security card will be marked “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH USCIS AUTHORIZATION”.  That means, you need to get your EAD first before you can actually work.  Hopefully, when you submitted your AOS you included the EAD. If not you will now need to submit the paperwork for an EAD prior to working.

This is exactly what we did, 10 years ago. They gave me an SSN with markings and whenever i get a job, they just asked for EAD. When I finally get my naturalization, i went to back to SSA to have the markings removed.