SSN Query

[SL2024 65]

Hi all,

 

I have read that the recommendation is to apply and get the SSN before getting married which is what we are likely to do, however, has anybody applied for it after getting married and if so were there any issues?

 

Hope you can help!

 

 

[Dashinka 24,488]

We got married 2 weeks after my now wife arrived and since those two weeks were very busy, we left the SSA visit to after the wedding (about two weeks later).  The point is getting the SSN while the K1 entry, married or not, has more than 30 days left in their authorized stay according to their I94.

 

Good Luck!

[SL2024 65]

9 hours ago, Dashinka said:

We got married 2 weeks after my now wife arrived and since those two weeks were very busy, we left the SSA visit to after the wedding (about two weeks later).  The point is getting the SSN while the K1 entry, married or not, has more than 30 days left in their authorized stay according to their I94.

 

Good Luck!

Thank you for the advice - how long after the SSA visit did it take for you to receive your SSN?

[P055UM 281]

Yes. Got SSN in 2021 after marriage. No issues. Just do it as quickly as possible as they can only issues it while the I94 is still valid. 

[Edward and Jaycel 158]

1 hour ago, SL2024 said:

Thank you for the advice - how long after the SSA visit did it take for you to receive your SSN?

 

We just applied for my fiancee's SSN last Thursday, which was about 13 days after her entry to the country on the K-1 visa. I'll let you know how long it takes once we receive it.

 

[Ontarkie 14,218]

The issue comes from SS personnel not knowing how to process the application once married. Some think getting married voids the visa and the status. Some try to run it under the new married name and that causes issues because the name has to match the visa to be found. Once they start giving you a hard time about it it is almost next to impossible to have them see it a different way. It is easiest and safest to do so before marriage. Another option is to not mention if you married at the time of applying and confusing the SS personnel. Which will also help avoid going to different locations to get someone new and trying again. 

[Edward and Jaycel 158]

3 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

The issue comes from SS personnel not knowing how to process the application once married. Some think getting married voids the visa and the status. Some try to run it under the new married name and that causes issues because the name has to match the visa to be found. Once they start giving you a hard time about it it is almost next to impossible to have them see it a different way. It is easiest and safest to do so before marriage. Another option is to not mention if you married at the time of applying and confusing the SS personnel. Which will also help avoid going to different locations to get someone new and trying again. 

 

Agreed... that's why it is best to get it before you are married and then request updated cards through the I-765 & I-485 applications

[Monument256 8]

My husband entered country on June 10th. We got married June 13th, and went to the social security office June 14th. They ran his foreign passport number through the SAVE system and no issues! Took about 10 minutes with an agent (after waiting 3 hours to see someone). Card arrived about 10 days later in the post. I had read on a thread that you could ask them the SSN there- the agent told me that she didn’t even know the number and it would be generated that evening when the card was produced. My understanding is that obtaining a SSN before marriage has more to do with name change than anything else and/or remaining time left on K-1 visa. 

[SL2024 65]

2 hours ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

We just applied for my fiancee's SSN last Thursday, which was about 13 days after her entry to the country on the K-1 visa. I'll let you know how long it takes once we receive it.

 

 

Thank you - I really appreciate that!

[SL2024 65]

14 minutes ago, Ontarkie said:

The issue comes from SS personnel not knowing how to process the application once married. Some think getting married voids the visa and the status. Some try to run it under the new married name and that causes issues because the name has to match the visa to be found. Once they start giving you a hard time about it it is almost next to impossible to have them see it a different way. It is easiest and safest to do so before marriage. Another option is to not mention if you married at the time of applying and confusing the SS personnel. Which will also help avoid going to different locations to get someone new and trying again. 

 

Sounds like it is best to do within 2 weeks after travelling to the USA

[SL2024 65]

7 minutes ago, Monument256 said:

My husband entered country on June 10th. We got married June 13th, and went to the social security office June 14th. They ran his foreign passport number through the SAVE system and no issues! Took about 10 minutes with an agent (after waiting 3 hours to see someone). Card arrived about 10 days later in the post. I had read on a thread that you could ask them the SSN there- the agent told me that she didn’t even know the number and it would be generated that evening when the card was produced. My understanding is that obtaining a SSN before marriage has more to do with name change than anything else and/or remaining time left on K-1 visa. 

 

Did you have to prebook an appointment or did you just turn up to the Social Security Office?

[Edward and Jaycel 158]

Just now, SL2024 said:

 

Sounds like it is best to do within 2 weeks after travelling to the USA

 

I've been told to wait for 10 days after entry for the CBP & SSA systems to "sync up" and 13 days just happened to be when we got the appointment at our local SSA office after we filled out her application online. 

[Edward and Jaycel 158]

I highly recommend filling the application out online and then booking an appointment. Our local office called us to the window exactly at the time of our appointment and since we filled out her application online, the whole process took us less than 10 minutes for them to make copies of her passport & Visa, and complete the application. Also bring the I94 with you too. After filling out the application online it should give you the option to book an appointment

Edited September 16 by Edward and Jaycel

[SL2024 65]

2 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

I've been told to wait for 10 days after entry for the CBP & SSA systems to "sync up" and 13 days just happened to be when we got the appointment at our local SSA office after we filled out her application online. 

 Ahhh I see - how long does it take to fill out the application online?

[Edward and Jaycel 158]

Just now, SL2024 said:

 Ahhh I see - how long does it take to fill out the application online?

 

Took us all of 10 minutes... we did it just a few days after she arrived because we knew it would take at least a week to get an appointment