Guidance please for SSN application

[jaya_razz 20]

HELP! My friend married his fiancee BEFORE applying for SSN. This is K1 visa application.

They did a walk in today at the SSA and they were advised that they cannot issue a SSN for her coz it should have been done prior to getting married.

 

please advise.

[SalishSea 17,561]

18 minutes ago, jaya_razz said:

HELP! My friend married his fiancee BEFORE applying for SSN. This is K1 visa application.

They did a walk in today at the SSA and they were advised that they cannot issue a SSN for her coz it should have been done prior to getting married.

 

please advise.

“Please advise” about what?   

What they were told is correct.   We always tell people here on VJ to apply for the SSN immediately when arriving, before marrying.   

[jaya_razz 20]

How will this impact their SSN application? 
Do they just have to wait for her GC so she can get a SSN?

[M plus D 53]

22 minutes ago, jaya_razz said:

HELP! My friend married his fiancee BEFORE applying for SSN. This is K1 visa application.

They did a walk in today at the SSA and they were advised that they cannot issue a SSN for her coz it should have been done prior to getting married.

 

please advise.

This happens a lot. Sadly every Social Security Administration office (and employee) is different and some can be wrong.

 

Technically, you are 100% allowed to get a Social Security Number after marriage, as long as you have more than two weeks left on your status. 

Here are some comments on reddit of people who managed to do it:

• example one
• example two

In your case, I'd presume the SSA knew that she was married because of a name change? If so, be sure to bring all required documents PLUS the marriage certificate. The marriage certificate acts as proof of name change, so the  SSA can match the passport and i-94 to the new name. Like one comment of the example said, stand your ground and insist they try to create it. If they refuse, try another SSA.

 

[M plus D 53]

9 minutes ago, jaya_razz said:

How will this impact their SSN application? 
Do they just have to wait for her GC so she can get a SSN?

If they are truly unable to get a SSN in time, then yes, they will have to wait for either the Green Card or Employment Authorization Document (i.e. EAD from form i-765).

 

I would recommend trying as hard as possible to get it while on K-1, though. Because the sooner you have your SSN, the sooner you can start building a good credit score. Also, some banks require it to open or be added to accounts, and some health insurance companies might require it to be added.

[Letspaintcookies 2,300]

21 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

“Please advise” about what?   

What they were told is correct.   We always tell people here on VJ to apply for the SSN immediately when arriving, before marrying.   

What they're told is absolutely wrong. Many applied and received a SSN after getting married. Marriage has no influence on the ability to apply for a SSN as long as there's still more than 20 days from the 90 days left.

The only problem that could come up if a name change was done and the save database can't make the connection. But again that doesn't affect the ability to apply.

Edited Wednesday at 11:43 PM by Letspaintcookies

[TBoneTX 44,868]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Process forum to the Social Security Numbers subforum.

[jaya_razz 20]

3 hours ago, M plus D said:

This happens a lot. Sadly every Social Security Administration office (and employee) is different and some can be wrong.

 

Technically, you are 100% allowed to get a Social Security Number after marriage, as long as you have more than two weeks left on your status. 

Here are some comments on reddit of people who managed to do it:

• example one
• example two

In your case, I'd presume the SSA knew that she was married because of a name change? If so, be sure to bring all required documents PLUS the marriage certificate. The marriage certificate acts as proof of name change, so the  SSA can match the passport and i-94 to the new name. Like one comment of the example said, stand your ground and insist they try to create it. If they refuse, try another SSA.

 

Thank you! I appreciate your response.

Thank you everyone for your responses!

[j26 10]

I read online to wait 2 weeks after landing to apply for an SSN due to the system needing to update with the documents I had on me at POE (K1 visa.) I got married 5 days after I landed, and applied for my SSN after the 2 weeks with absolutely no issue. I made sure to take all of the correct information including my marriage certificate as I changed my last name to match my husband's so it was different than my passport and the process was seamless for me getting an SSN, I got mine in the post about a week later. I then was able to open a bank account easily. I was told by the person at the SSN office once I've got my green card to go back and change my SSN card from one where I can't work, to one that can. 

 

Not sure if it's different for each office but I had no issue at all!

[powerpuff 6,485]

Try a different office.

[Neonred 3,524]

Another option is to apply for the SSN using your maiden name.  When you get your green card go back and update the name change and request the card without the work auth notation.

[P055UM 273]

17 hours ago, SalishSea said:

“Please advise” about what?   

What they were told is correct.   We always tell people here on VJ to apply for the SSN immediately when arriving, before marrying.   

No, what they were told is not correct. You are allowed to get apply for SSN after marriage, and plenty of us here have.

 

I’ll not dispute that it is best practice to apply before, as mix ups like this can happen, but you are well within your rights to apply for SSN as a K-1 after marriage, as long as your I-94 hasn’t yet expired. 

[SalishSea 17,561]

Just now, P055UM said:

No, what they were told is not correct. You are allowed to get apply for SSN after marriage, and plenty of us here have.

 

I’ll not dispute that it is best practice to apply before, as mix ups like this can happen, but you are well within your rights to apply for SSN as a K-1 after marriage, as long as your I-94 hasn’t yet expired. 

 There are countless  posts here on VJ over the years by people who married and then were denied SS cards due to the SAVE issues.   While it’s fine in theory, our experience here has generally been the opposite.

[P055UM 273]

15 minutes ago, SalishSea said:

While it’s fine in theory, our experience here has generally been the opposite.

I agree best practice is to apply prior to marriage but the denial was in no way correct. 

 

OP should try a different office if able and still within status. 

 

I’m out. 

[M plus D 53]

14 minutes ago, P055UM said:

I agree best practice is to apply prior to marriage but the denial was in no way correct. 

 

OP should try a different office if able and still within status. 

 

I’m out. 

This is the right answer.

 

To claim that what the SSA told OP was correct, is a simplification bordering falsehood. The SSA was wrong.

But it is indeed the far more superior option to apply before marrying if you are planning to change your name.

 

They should try a different office or stand their ground regarding their elligibility.

 

Otherwise, the work-around might be to apply with the previous name that is on Passport, Birth ertificate, and i-94. Once you receive your card, immediately go to the SSA with the marriage certificate and other required documents for the name-change.

If you are still within status, the SSA must process the name change. If you are out-of-status, you cannot change it until EAD/GC. See SSA instructions (source) :

 

It's convoluted that some SSA's won't process the name change with the initial application, but alas.

Edited Thursday at 05:59 PM by M plus D