SOCIAL SECURITY WHEN ARRIVING TO THE U.S K1 VISA!

[Mike E 11,739]

3 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Because the name change after marriage confuses some of the SS folks. Plus it can take linger as the names do not match. Mostly because some offices get confused and think the new name voids or what ever reason they come up with.

I’ve been adamant with my fiancée, now wife, that the time to change her name is naturalization.  So far she’s accepted my advice. Once she stops, I will wash my hands of the mess and let her figure out how to change her passport, EAD, AP, green card, SS card, etc.  

 

Name changes are for citizens.  Of single countries. 

[Crazy Cat 41,725]

5 minutes ago, Brazil/US2018 said:

I wouldn't be able to pull all of the people that said not to do that...but there has definitely been a few threads where several people had major problems during AOS when getting married before applying for a SSN 1st! So at this point I am not sure what to do!!

 Yes I know you have to apply for a SSN AFTER as well...but the problem seems to arise if you do not apply first! @Greenbaum any input here?

Have you read the SSN guide here on VJ?  https://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn 

[Ontarkie 14,193]

Just now, Mike E said:

I’ve been adamant with my fiancée, now wife, that the time to change her name is naturalization.  So far she’s accepted my advice. Once she stops, I will wash my hands of the mess and let her figure out how to change her passport, EAD, AP, green card, SS card, etc.  

 

Name changes are for citizens.  Of single countries. 

Except what you want your wife to is a court certified name change. Much different than taking on the spouses last name. Taking on the spouses last name is just that taking on the name. Doing a court name change what she would do at her Oath is actually changing her last name all the way to her birth certificate. There is no going back. Well there is if she takes it back to court. A spouses last name never changes your birth name and if divorce ever were to happen the person can just go back to her maiden name with the divorce certificate. 

[Ontarkie 14,193]

10 minutes ago, Brazil/US2018 said:

I wouldn't be able to pull all of the people that said not to do that...but there has definitely been a few threads where several people had major problems during AOS when getting married before applying for a SSN 1st! So at this point I am not sure what to do!!

 Yes I know you have to apply for a SSN AFTER as well...but the problem seems to arise if you do not apply first! @Greenbaum any input here?

There are tons of threads with that issue. I don't know why SS has so much issues with K1's getting married. Heck we have even seen that they told the K1 that because they got married they are now a K3 and no longer illegible. Crazy things happen. It's just easier to avoid issues be doing it before. 

[Mike E 11,739]

11 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

Except what you want your wife to is a court certified name change. Much different than taking on the spouses last name. Taking on the spouses last name is just that taking on the name. Doing a court name change what she would do at her Oath is actually changing her last name all the way to her birth certificate. There is no going back. Well there is if she takes it back to court. A spouses last name never changes your birth name and if divorce ever were to happen the person can just go back to her maiden name with the divorce certificate. 

Well since she doesn’t have a birth certificate not a real problem and even if she did, no court in Myanmar is going to recognize USA authority over their vital records. 

 

But it your point is taken. She can take (add really, since Myanmar doesn’t do the surname thing) my surname whenever she wants. And my (slightly amended) point is that it should wait until after she is a usc.   

Edited January 31, 2019 by Mike E

[Brazil/US2018 43]

3 minutes ago, missileman said:

Have you read the SSN guide here on VJ?  https://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn 

Yes...again. I understand the procedure and what to take. I need to know if it necessary to do it before or AFTER I get married as this is a bit of an issue for me since I would like to get married during a certain time of the year. So I am just trying to time everything right and be informed! Thank you!

 

Yes, I know we shouldn't plan anything and what not....its just vacation timing with work that I am trying to iron out in the middle of the summer. So since I have heard there are a lot of issue with AOS when getting married before SSN I am getting informed on what everyone has experience!

 

[Brazil/US2018 43]

1 minute ago, Ontarkie said:

There are tons of threads with that issue. I don't know why SS has so much issues with K1's getting married. Heck we have even seen that they told the K1 that because they got married they are now a K3 and no longer illegible. Crazy things happen. It's just easier to avoid issues be doing it before. 

Yes!!! I have heard that too! And it changed the entire process for them!!!  

[Ontarkie 14,193]

Just now, Brazil/US2018 said:

Yes!!! I have heard that too! And it changed the entire process for them!!!  

Oh no, I read your post wrong. The AOS process is not the one with issues. It makes no difference if you get married before or after filling for your SSN. The issue is SS offices are a bit weird and don't understand things. For AOS it's all the same as long as you marry in that 90 window. 

[Mike E 11,739]

13 minutes ago, missileman said:

Have you read the SSN guide here on VJ?  https://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn 

That guide says to bring a second ID in addition to a passport. That’s nonsense. Her national ID isn’t in English and is useless.  We didn’t bring it and we didn’t need it. A passport, a k1 visa, and I-94 was all we needed. 

Edited January 31, 2019 by Mike E

[JD2017 34]

22 minutes ago, Mike E said:

That guide says to bring a second ID in addition to a passport. That’s nonsense. Her national ID isn’t in English and is useless.  We didn’t bring it and we didn’t need it. A passport, a k1 visa, and I-94 was all we needed. 

For us they also asked for her birth certificate which we provided along with a certified translation.

[Scandi 4,154]

1 hour ago, Brazil/US2018 said:

Yes...again. I understand the procedure and what to take. I need to know if it necessary to do it before or AFTER I get married as this is a bit of an issue for me since I would like to get married during a certain time of the year. So I am just trying to time everything right and be informed! Thank you!

 

Yes, I know we shouldn't plan anything and what not....its just vacation timing with work that I am trying to iron out in the middle of the summer. So since I have heard there are a lot of issue with AOS when getting married before SSN I am getting informed on what everyone has experience!

 

Definitely before, there's absolutely no reason to wait with something that important. You can go any day you like after POE, I applied for my SSN and picked up our marriage license on the same day, that was day 4 after entry.

 

Many SSA employees seem to believe the conditions of the K-1 Visa changes once you get married and that you're no longer eligible to get a SSN. There's no reason to put yourself in a situation like that, if that happens you will have to wait for the EAD to arrive, which is around 6 months after filing. That means 6 extra months without a SSN, and that can cause extra issues in itself.

[FaithProfessoR 171]

7 hours ago, Brazil/US2018 said:

Alright everyone!

 

So I have read and re-read a lot on this and there really doesn't seem to be an agreement on this.

 

1. I have read that YES you need and should do your social security number before you get married on a K1 Visa. And many people who also said NO you do not need a social before getting married. Which one is it?

 

2. You need to wait a period of 2 WEEKS before going to apply for SSN for "everything to be in the system". Is this true?? I have read that people do wait this 2 weeks, while I have also read in many threads that no, this is not true and you can walk in an request a social security the next day. Can someone shed some light and truth on this?

Hi! I hope I can help you.

 

I work at SSA not every employee knows how to process K1 applicants (sad true) 🤦🏻‍♂️, that said... The 10 days is to give the “SAVE” system time to update. SAVE is a program that comunicates with other federal agencys. SSA uses the SNAP program to create Social Security Number and this two systems communicate to create your social. SSA is in charge on selecting the number this process is called enumeration USCIS on the other hand is the one that grants work authorization. (Getting techincal I I know) 

 

Bottom line SSA has two front types employees they are called “CS” and “CSR”. The Claim Specialist(CS) don’t know much about enumeration they primary role is to take claims for Disability or Retirement benefits. Custumer Service Representative (CSR) are more adept on doing that because they got proper training with Enumeration.

 

(At least thats what is in the paper😂) 

 

You don’t need a Social to get married

 

You need a Social to get a Bank Acct

You need a Social to get Medical Insurance

 

I have seen people that wait the whole AOS process to get a SSN

I have seen people that wait to get a EAD Card from USCIS 

I have seen people that came straight from the air port to the office. 😂

 

Bottom line is: 

 

If you are a K1 Visa Holder you are entitled to a SSN with your maiden name. Because SSA have to issue the card from the visa that matches with the SAVE system. People try everytime to get the married name from the start and is a pain.

 

My advice is to wait to get the EAD card that comes with your marry name also don’t forget to bring your marriage lic and SSA can change your last name easy.

 

After you get your Residence comeback to SSA to update your SSN number and remove the work authorize only statement that will be on your first card. 

 

If you become a US citizen come again to the SSA office to update that as well with your naturalization certificate or US passport this helps a lot because when you request any service on any state or federal agency they know that you are a citizen. 

 

SSA is the center of data base of the Federal Goverment to keep taps on people. ( I think i have wrote a lot)✌🏻

 

I hope this helps clear your question and sorry for any misspelled words. 

 

Good Day🤗

 

 

 

[Scandi 4,154]

7 minutes ago, Stel0&Ari said:

Hi! I hope I can help you.

 

I work at SSA not every employee knows how to process K1 applicants (sad true) 🤦🏻‍♂️, that said... The 10 days is to give the “SAVE” system time to update. SAVE is a program that comunicates with other federal agencys. SSA uses the SNAP program to create Social Security Number and this two systems communicate to create your social. SSA is in charge on selecting the number this process is called enumeration USCIS on the other hand is the one that grants work authorization. (Getting techincal I I know) 

 

Bottom line SSA has two front types employees they are called “CS” and “CSR”. The Claim Specialist(CS) don’t know much about enumeration they primary role is to take claims for Disability or Retirement benefits. Custumer Service Representative (CSR) are more adept on doing that because they got proper training with Enumeration.

 

(At least thats what is in the paper😂) 

 

You don’t need a Social to get married

 

You need a Social to get a Bank Acct

You need a Social to get Medical Insurance

 

I have seen people that wait the whole AOS process to get a SSN

I have seen people that wait to get a EAD Card from USCIS 

I have seen people that came straight from the air port to the office. 😂

 

Bottom line is: 

 

If you are a K1 Visa Holder you are entitled to a SSN with your maiden name. Because SSA have to issue the card from the visa that matches with the SAVE system. People try everytime to get the married name from the start and is a pain.

 

My advice is to wait to get the EAD card that comes with your marry name also don’t forget to bring your marriage lic and SSA can change your last name easy.

 

After you get your Residence comeback to SSA to update your SSN number and remove the work authorize only statement that will be on your first card. 

 

If you become a US citizen come again to the SSA office to update that as well with your naturalization certificate or US passport this helps a lot because when you request any service on any state or federal agency they know that you are a citizen. 

 

SSA is the center of data base of the Federal Goverment to keep taps on people. ( I think i have wrote a lot)✌🏻

 

I hope this helps clear your question and sorry for any misspelled words. 

 

Good Day🤗

 

 

 

Any K-1 who is changing their name when they get married should still apply for an SSN BEFORE getting married. The SS card will come in their maiden name which is perfectly fine, at least they will have a SSN that they can start using instead of having to wait 6-8 months for the EAD to arrive and THEN get a SSN. That's many months wasted where they can't open a bank account, get insurance etc.

 

Once the EAD shows up in their married name they can just go back to SSA and have the name changed. But until then it's much better to actually have a SSN, even if it's in the maiden name.

[FaithProfessoR 171]

 

7 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Any K-1 who is changing their name when they get married should still apply for an SSN BEFORE getting married. The SS card will come in their maiden name which is perfectly fine, at least they will have a SSN that they can start using instead of having to wait 6-8 months for the EAD to arrive and THEN get a SSN. That's many months wasted where they can't open a bank account, get insurance etc.

 

Once the EAD shows up in their married name they can just go back to SSA and have the name changed. But until then it's much better to actually have a SSN, even if it's in the maiden name.

If you are a K1 Visa Holder you are entitled to a SSN with your maiden name. Because SSA have to issue the card from the visa that matches with the SAVE system. People try everytime to get the married name from the start and is a pain.

 

My advice is to wait to get the EAD card that comes with your marry name also don’t forget to bring your marriage lic and SSA can change your last name easy. 

 

That’s what I said🤷🏻‍♂️

[JD2017 34]

5 hours ago, JD2017 said:

My Fiancée arrived 1/14/2019 and we went to the SS office in Albuquerque on 1/15 with the I-94 printed out from the CPB website.  We were told to come back after 10 days because it wouldn’t be in the system yet, she didn’t even try, but just told us to come back.  We went back on 1/25 and the application was processed, but we were told there was some problem or delay verifying the information and to call if we didn’t receive the SS card after 2 weeks.  She also said that this has been happening on all of her K1’s but did not go into detail about what exactly was the problem.  We had no problem getting the marriage license without a SSN, she just needed my Fiancée’s  passport with the visa inside.  I’ll try to upload later the form letter they gave us at the SS office.

Here is the letter they gave us