SSN before filing for Marriage License with K1 Visa

[chaydend 0]

Sorry if this has been asked 100 times, just confirming that I’m doing this process correctly. My fiancé and I are entering the US soon and are marrying within the week we arrive. Wahoo! I’m just concerned that filing for our marriage license before obtaining her SSN will cause a problem down the road? The plan is to go to the SSA office on April 30 or May 1 and then get married on May 4. 
 

Should we wait until we get to the US, go to the SSA office, then file for our marriage license? Or could I get a quick start on the process and just go ahead and apply for our marriage license now?

 

thanks in advance!

[wildbug100420 102]

7 minutes ago, chaydend said:

Sorry if this has been asked 100 times, just confirming that I’m doing this process correctly. My fiancé and I are entering the US soon and are marrying within the week we arrive. Wahoo! I’m just concerned that filing for our marriage license before obtaining her SSN will cause a problem down the road? The plan is to go to the SSA office on April 30 or May 1 and then get married on May 4. 
 

Should we wait until we get to the US, go to the SSA office, then file for our marriage license? Or could I get a quick start on the process and just go ahead and apply for our marriage license now?

 

thanks in advance!

Both parties must apply in person with identification for marriage license 

[chaydend 0]

In my state I’m able to apply online. 

[wildbug100420 102]

10 minutes ago, chaydend said:

In my state I’m able to apply online. 

Wow I would think the clerk would want to verify documents in person before issuing the license. What state?

[chaydend 0]

South Carolina. I thought the same but apparently that’s the best way now

[chaydend 0]

Here’s a link!

https://www.richlandcountysc.gov/Government/Courts-and-Judicial-System/Probate-Court/Probate-Court-Divisions/Marriage-License#:~:text=Immediately after you have successfully,Click here for the form.&text=The Marriage License Division will,hour waiting period is up.

[Scandi 4,166]

5 hours ago, wildbug100420 said:

Wow I would think the clerk would want to verify documents in person before issuing the license. What state?

They do, you just fill out the form online so everything is ready by the time you and your spouse go to the office to pick up the license - they check your ID's when you pick it up. 

[Bigdaddy288 16]

6 hours ago, chaydend said:

Sorry if this has been asked 100 times, just confirming that I’m doing this process correctly. My fiancé and I are entering the US soon and are marrying within the week we arrive. Wahoo! I’m just concerned that filing for our marriage license before obtaining her SSN will cause a problem down the road? The plan is to go to the SSA office on April 30 or May 1 and then get married on May 4. 
 

Should we wait until we get to the US, go to the SSA office, then file for our marriage license? Or could I get a quick start on the process and just go ahead and apply for our marriage license now?

 

thanks in advance!

You won't need an ssn for the immigrant. All you need is her passport for identification. 

Also when you go to ss they will ask the reason for the ssn and it won't get to you until 2 to 4 weeks from application. 

 

In my opinion take passport and get your license to marry and than go get married. Once married apply for adjustment of status. Once approved get your ssn 

[Bigdaddy288 16]

Her not having an ssn won't cause any problems. Her passport is her identification. Once she gets the residence, she can apply for job, ID or driver's license, ssn, whatever she wants. 

Edited April 23 by Bigdaddy288

[OldUser 6,636]

30 minutes ago, Bigdaddy288 said:

 In my opinion take passport and get your license to marry and than go get married. Once married apply for adjustment of status. Once approved get your ssn 

My opinion is somewhat different. Get SSN first while K-1 is valid. This would allow to add fiance to lease, bank accounts, health insurance and allowing to build evidence of bonafide marriage early in the process. Many people realize this when they get RFE during AOS and cannot get any new evidence without SSN.

Edited April 23 by OldUser

[OldUser 6,636]

32 minutes ago, Bigdaddy288 said:

Her not having an ssn won't cause any problems. Her passport is her identification. Once she gets the residence, she can apply for job, ID or driver's license, ssn, whatever she wants. 

I disagree with this statement. Having SSN solves a lot of issues. AOS can take a year or so, and not being able to drive / bank / build evidence of married life is painful. AOS is restrictive as is, it's not worth depriving the new immigrant of vital things. Using passport as ID is a bad idea in my opinion for at least three reasons:

 

1. Passport is a document for travelling outside of the US. If lost, immigrant will have issues travelling home in case of emergency.

2. Passport has endorsed immigrant visa which is proof of legal entry. If lost and if ever questioned by USCIS, it's hard to prove legal entry without it! No proof of legal entry = no adjustment in most cases.

3. Furthermore, if immigrant only has passport as ID, if lost - they have NO ID and no easy way go get a new ID. State ID / DL is a much better choice to show around. Passport is best kept safe at home when not travelling.

4. Many Americans cannot understand / don't want to / doubt foreign issued documents including passports. It's a much better idea to show state ID / DL for routine identity verification. Don't you want the immigrant to integrate in US society faster?

 

Edited April 23 by OldUser

[chaydend 0]

We either way are going to go to get her SSN first before getting married, I just wondered if applying for our marriage license before doing so could mess up the process at all. We just have a very short timeline before we have to travel to the western US where I work. So it only leaves us 10ish days (maybe can push it a little) to file for SSN, marry, then back to SSA office for name change. Just trying to expedite process by hopefully getting marriage license ready before we even arrive to the US. Wasn’t supposed to be this rushed but my date for my job changed. 

[OldUser 6,636]

2 minutes ago, chaydend said:

We either way are going to go to get her SSN first before getting married, I just wondered if applying for our marriage license before doing so could mess up the process at all. We just have a very short timeline before we have to travel to the western US where I work. So it only leaves us 10ish days (maybe can push it a little) to file for SSN, marry, then back to SSA office for name change. Just trying to expedite process by hopefully getting marriage license ready before we even arrive to the US. Wasn’t supposed to be this rushed but my date for my job changed. 

There's no issue applying for marriage license before or after applying for SSN, as far as I know.

 

Make sure to apply for SSN before marriage or at least before K-1 visa expiration though, because the next opportunity will only open in many months when receiving EAD or GC.

 

 

[chaydend 0]

So no need to have SS card in hand before filing marriage license? Thanks for the help!

[Sarge2155 4,587]

9 hours ago, OldUser said:

My opinion is somewhat different. Get SSN first while K-1 is valid. This would allow to add fiance to lease, bank accounts, health insurance and allowing to build evidence of bonafide marriage early in the process. Many people realize this when they get RFE during AOS and cannot get any new evidence without SSN.

I agree with this, as a K1 visa holder you are eligible to get a SSN, but the window is very limited. This is what we did. Get the SSN although it will be in the maiden name it will not be any problem to change to the married name later if you wish. Be sure to get your I-94 before applying for the SSN. That can be gotten from the I-94 website online be sure to print out several copies as you will need them later. SSN is most important and its a very easy process the sooner you apply. Some states do require a SSN to apply for the marriage license so you'll have to check your state requirements. The key is start building for your AOS NOW and with a SSN it makes it all the better.