Wife Denied Permit Test At CA DMV, SSN Name Not Updated Since Marriage

[mogiftney 144]

We are currently waiting for our AOS interview, adjusting from K1 visa. My wife just went to the California DMV and tried to take her written permit test. They turned her away because the name on the social security card is not the same as the name on her marriage certificate. She didn’t update her name, after our marriage, with the Social Security Administration. I don’t know how we go about doing this. She really needs to drive soon. She has her EAD. If she gets her name updated and has a replacement card ordered, will it still say on that card that she isn’t allowed to work now that she has her EAD? I was told by visajourneyers a while ago to wait until we have the green card to request a new card with her updated name so I’m very confused. Thanks

Edited July 9, 2021 by mogiftney

[HRQX 4,145]

6 minutes ago, mogiftney said:

will it still say on that card that she isn’t allowed to work now that she has her EAD?

With the EAD the new SSN card will have the same work text that her current card has: "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/cards.htm

 

After getting the GC she should go in again to get a completely unrestricted SSN card.

[Pinkrlion 2,723]

If her SSN name, EAD name do not match then yes, they denied her by their rules.   It is easy to change name on SSN

[Marieke H 2,512]

The name on her EAD should be the name she wants to use (this will be the name on her greencard as well). It will be easy to have the name on the Social Security Card changed, because she now has an EAD with the correct name she will use. The SS Card will not say she is not allowed to work, it will only say that it is only valid for work with DHS authorization (and the EAD is that authorization).

[mogiftney 144]

10 minutes ago, Marieke H said:

The name on her EAD should be the name she wants to use (this will be the name on her greencard as well). It will be easy to have the name on the Social Security Card changed, because she now has an EAD with the correct name she will use. The SS Card will not say she is not allowed to work, it will only say that it is only valid for work with DHS authorization (and the EAD is that authorization).

Thank you… very helpful :)

 

 

[Scandi 4,166]

You use the EAD to change the name on her SSC, also bring the marriage certificate. Many SSAs don't allow appointments for just name changes so you might have to send the documents via mail, call your local SSA and ask how to proceed. 

The EAD won't change the text on the SSC, only the name. Once she gets her greencard she should go back again and have the work authorization text removed.

And yes, DMV here in CA always verifies the info with SSA before doing anything else. If the info doesn't match then you need to go to SSA first and fix it.