name change at Soc. Sec. office......thanks to VJ!!

[CWR 0]

Hi there,

I just wanted to post something really positive, and say thanks to everybody who keeps posting advice on this site.

After I had my biometrics appointment today, I went to the Social Security office because I wanted them to update my name from my former name to my married name. I already had a SSN from when I lived in the US last time, and I knew that I wouldn't receive a new card until I had either work authorization or my Green Card, but all my credit cards, bank account, etc. are in my new name now, and I just wanted to have the correct name registered with Social Security as well. After all, the SSN is the most important part of one's identity over here.

So, of course, the guy there asked me about my status (which is "AOS pending" or something like that) and - of course - tried to tell me that he would not be able to change the name before I got some kind of work authorization.

BUT - and this is where the applause for all of you starts - I was able to show him the printouts I made from a link that was posted on here a couple of weeks ago, where it says, that whereas it is not possible to re-issue the card, a change of name (change in NumIdent data or something) is still possible!

I explained it and handed him the printout, he looked the quoted pages up in his computer and researched for a long while, and voila: he was able to fulfil my wish and change my name. Yay

Without having read about this here on VJ, I would probably have gone there and would have been turned away. So thanks everyone, you're doing a great job here

CW

PS: Just a little note: It also did help that my I-94 hadn't expired yet.....just wanted to mention this if anyone else was planning something similar.

[Jasman0717 9]

The I-94 was helpful I would imagine. Congratulations

[Autumnal 25]

Excellent to know. Congrats to you!!

[I'm Gone 60]

Some more advice from "those people," I would call the SSA 800# 1-800-772-1213 just to review your SSN record to make sure the name change was done. If it has been done I would go into an SSA office and ask for an SSN Verification Printout. That will give you some proof of the name on your SSN record until you are eligible to be issued a SSN card with your married name. Then once you have proof of work authorization you only need to apply for a replacement card, since the name on your SSN record has already been corrected. Just take your EAD or I-551 card when you go to apply(which I assume has the same name as your SSN record).

Edited April 5, 2006 by mdyoung

[CWR 0]

Some more advice from "those people," I would call the SSA 800# 1-800-772-1213 just to review your SSN record to make sure the name change was done. If it has been done I would go into an SSA office and ask for an SSN Verification Printout. That will give you some proof of the name on your SSN record until you are eligible to be issued a SSN card with your married name.

Oooooh.....that's something I would have never thought of, thanks for the advice (and the phone number).

I guess I just assumed that since I filled out and signed the paperwork, the name change was a done deal....but you are right, one should never assume anything when dealing with official places like SSA offices.

He told me that the name change would be in effect after 48 hours, so I guess I'll wait a couple of days and call then.

Thanks again,

CW

PS: Just curious, what would be a circumstance when I might need to be able to show proof of the name on the SSN record...? Until now, I have never shown my SSN card anywhere (just rattled off the number all the time ).

[I'm Gone 60]

PS: Just curious, what would be a circumstance when I might need to be able to show proof of the name on the SSN record...? Until now, I have never shown my SSN card anywhere (just rattled off the number all the time

Other than for a job I can't think of anyone asking to see the SSN card, but with the SSN Verification Printout you would be prepare just in case.

Edited April 5, 2006 by mdyoung

[silly_chick 0]

Congrats on your success!

I couldn't change my name with SSA, because my immigration documents are in my maiden name, and of course nobody knows what a non-immigrant in the U.S. should do to change his/her name with USCIS. And since I am not applying for a GC, seems like I will have to use my maiden name for employment

Anyways, it's good to know that everything went well for you!

[sweetie7 0]

HELLO;

THAT WAS GOOD HUH... CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE TO ME THAT LINK THAT YOU'VE SAID I ALSO WANT TO READ THAT AND DO THE SAME CHANGE. MY AOS IS ALSO PENDING AS OF THIS DATE.

THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.

SWEETIE7

[I'm Gone 60]

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510#D4

RM 00203.510 Alien without Work Authorization - Nonwork Need for an SSN

4. Correcting Numident Data When a Replacement Card Cannot Be Issued

If the alien does not provide evidence of work authorization or a valid nonwork reason, explain that no replacement card can be issued.

Although a replacement card cannot be issued, the Numident can be corrected if the alien has provided documentation supporting the change (e.g., a name change).

If the alien provides documentation supporting the change, process the SS-5 to update the Numident information but suppress the issuance of a card.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

However, this is only going to work if your marriage certificate has your age or date of birth.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Name Data

The applicant may submit either:

One legal name change document showing both the old and new names (e.g., a court order for a name change or a marriage document. The document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with the Numident data; or

When the name change document does not show either a photograph of the person or biographical information that can be compared with the Numident data, then, in addition to the name change document, the applicant must also submit two identity documents listed in RM 00203.200E. One of the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name on the latest Numident record) AND the other submitted identity document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show either a photograph of the applicant or provide biographical information that can be compared with the Numident data.

a. Bride Takes Groom’s Last Name

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name (surname or family name) as her new last name. (EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she may change her name to Jane Jones.)

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband’s last name, accept the marriage document as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even if the marriage document only shows each partner’s first names, the bride’s prior surname and husband’s surname. The marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets the criteria described in RM 00203.200G.2.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#g2

2. Determine if the ID Document Has Required Information

Ask the applicant to submit one or more documents that show the person’s name AND provide:

Biographical information in addition to the person’s name that the reviewer can compare with the data on the SS-5 (e.g., date of birth, age, or parents' names) and/or

Physical information that the reviewer can compare with the applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document must have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the Numident, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, presume the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

[I'm Gone 60]

The URLs I posted may or may not work in a few days. Seems that they changed servers over the weekend and the online POMS is f*cked up.

[CWR 0]

Yes, those were exactly the things I had printed out (I had printed out the most important part in red, namely the "Although a replacement card cannot be issued, the Numident can be corrected if the alien has provided documentation supporting the change (e.g., a name change)."

And it worked great (would NOT have worked without those printouts )

[sjoefl01 1]

I tried to show them the "numident " quote also and they wouldn't hear of it. They refused to look at the printout of their web site. When I asked to speak to the supervisor I was told that I was talking to the supervisor.

Hi there,

I just wanted to post something really positive, and say thanks to everybody who keeps posting advice on this site.

After I had my biometrics appointment today, I went to the Social Security office because I wanted them to update my name from my former name to my married name. I already had a SSN from when I lived in the US last time, and I knew that I wouldn't receive a new card until I had either work authorization or my Green Card, but all my credit cards, bank account, etc. are in my new name now, and I just wanted to have the correct name registered with Social Security as well. After all, the SSN is the most important part of one's identity over here.

So, of course, the guy there asked me about my status (which is "AOS pending" or something like that) and - of course - tried to tell me that he would not be able to change the name before I got some kind of work authorization.

BUT - and this is where the applause for all of you starts - I was able to show him the printouts I made from a link that was posted on here a couple of weeks ago, where it says, that whereas it is not possible to re-issue the card, a change of name (change in NumIdent data or something) is still possible!

I explained it and handed him the printout, he looked the quoted pages up in his computer and researched for a long while, and voila: he was able to fulfil my wish and change my name. Yay

Without having read about this here on VJ, I would probably have gone there and would have been turned away. So thanks everyone, you're doing a great job here

CW

PS: Just a little note: It also did help that my I-94 hadn't expired yet.....just wanted to mention this if anyone else was planning something similar.

[I'm Gone 60]

I tried to show them the "numident " quote also and they wouldn't hear of it. They refused to look at the printout of their web site. When I asked to speak to the supervisor I was told that I was talking to the supervisor.

I would have tried another SSA office. Unless you had submitted an application, you could have kept trying SSA offices until one input the name change. This is kind of a loophole in SSA policy and very few people apply just to correct the name on the SSN record. Most people also want the card.

[Autumnal 25]

Try another office if yours is uncooperative and there's another in the area. No reason to endure if you don't have to.

[yogib37 3]

Hi there,

I just wanted to post something really positive, and say thanks to everybody who keeps posting advice on this site.

After I had my biometrics appointment today, I went to the Social Security office because I wanted them to update my name from my former name to my married name. I already had a SSN from when I lived in the US last time, and I knew that I wouldn't receive a new card until I had either work authorization or my Green Card, but all my credit cards, bank account, etc. are in my new name now, and I just wanted to have the correct name registered with Social Security as well. After all, the SSN is the most important part of one's identity over here.

So, of course, the guy there asked me about my status (which is "AOS pending" or something like that) and - of course - tried to tell me that he would not be able to change the name before I got some kind of work authorization.

BUT - and this is where the applause for all of you starts - I was able to show him the printouts I made from a link that was posted on here a couple of weeks ago, where it says, that whereas it is not possible to re-issue the card, a change of name (change in NumIdent data or something) is still possible!

I explained it and handed him the printout, he looked the quoted pages up in his computer and researched for a long while, and voila: he was able to fulfil my wish and change my name. Yay

Without having read about this here on VJ, I would probably have gone there and would have been turned away. So thanks everyone, you're doing a great job here

CW

PS: Just a little note: It also did help that my I-94 hadn't expired yet.....just wanted to mention this if anyone else was planning something similar.

yes that is right. He did not know that but if you did not have it I am sure you would of been sent walking. He was totaly wrong. I know cause I just went thru the same game you just did this week.

The lady knew that so she just said that my wife will not get her card back until she gets her EAD. She then said that She can only change her name which she did. she printed it out and made my wife sign the paper to verify that it was right (which it was not) so she redid it and my wife sign it..got the paper thta states it has been changed. I know it was cause she used it at the DMV and it is link to the SSA..