When is it best to apply for SSN

[lavander 0]

hi guys just quick question my fiance and I are gettin married by end of month i'm just wonderin when is it best to apply for SSN before or after the wedding?thanks

lavander

[Cécy 44]

You should do it if I remember correctly within 70 days from entry.

Check the rules in your state: does (s)he needs the SSC to apply for marriage license: if so apply about 2 weeks after entry (it takes some time for the date to be updated and accessible to Social Security).

If not and if the foreign citizen is a woman and wants to use her married name you can do it after the wedding but make sure it's long enough before the I-94 expires or else they won't accept it and you'll have to wait until you get EAD or GC. Some people have had problems getting the name changed after the marriage, for others none, so it really is up to you.

Edited September 12, 2007 by Cécy

[TracyTN 237]

In your situation, assuming you'll want to take your husband's name, I would go in after you are married and apply for the card in your married name. So long as your I 94 is not more than 70 days old at that time. If it will be, I would go in before hand.

Be sure and download/print the document in my signature when you go to apply. A lot of SSA offices aren't even aware that K1s can indeed get SSNs.

Edited September 12, 2007 by TracyTN

[YuAndDan 153]

The SSA office is less likely to give a K-1 problems if SSN is applied for before marriage in maiden name. That being said we filed for SSN a few weeks after marriage in married name and our local SSA office gave us no problems.

You need to file for SSN within 75 days of entry, after that you need EAD or Green-card to apply for SSN

[payxibka 10,045]

hi guys just quick question my fiance and I are gettin married by end of month i'm just wonderin when is it best to apply for SSN before or after the wedding?thanks

lavander

Apply anytime between day 1 and day 76 after entry. The two week suggestion is to allow time for the data to get into the SSA system from USCIS in order to process your card, but does not preclude you from applying earlier. Apply for the SSN in the name that that the USCIS has ....

Edited September 12, 2007 by fwaguy

[Shub 78]

I applied for my SSN before getting married, and everything went well for me. Just wait a week or two after her entry into the US so that she's "in the system" as they say, then go to the SSA, apply, and you're good to go. The card will take a week or two to get to your door. The SS-5 application form does not ask about the applicant's marital status, so I guess it doesn't really matter as long as she can prove her identity.

I personally found it best to go to the SSA as soon as possible after entering the US, but being male, I didn't have a name change to take into consideration. Just make sure to go there early enough before the expiration date of the I-94 in her passport.

Edited September 12, 2007 by Shub

[Jasman0717 9]

Claudeth applied for her card two weeks after she arrived and received it a week later. That seemed to work best for us.

[busycharlie 0]

You should do it if I remember correctly within 70 days from entry.

Check the rules in your state: does (s)he needs the SSC to apply for marriage license: if so apply about 2 weeks after entry (it takes some time for the date to be updated and accessible to Social Security).

If not and if the foreign citizen is a woman and wants to use her married name you can do it after the wedding but make sure it's long enough before the I-94 expires or else they won't accept it and you'll have to wait until you get EAD or GC. Some people have had problems getting the name changed after the marriage, for others none, so it really is up to you.

You are so right about some having problems changing the name after the marriage while others haven't had this problem. Unfortunately we had that problem. My wife MJ applied after we were married and she applied on her 12th day being in the U.S. but there was no way that employee at the SS office was going to use her married name. Basically it came down to the immigration system showing her maiden name. The employee said unless it showed her married name in that system already there was no way she was going to change it. I see many people here on VJ that have had no problem doing that. My plan is to go to a few different offices after she gets her card and try to get her name changed. Maybe we will get lucky and find an office that isn't up to date on all of this stuff.

Charlie

[I'm Gone 60]

You are so right about some having problems changing the name after the marriage while others haven't had this problem. Unfortunately we had that problem. My wife MJ applied after we were married and she applied on her 12th day being in the U.S. but there was no way that employee at the SS office was going to use her married name. Basically it came down to the immigration system showing her maiden name. The employee said unless it showed her married name in that system already there was no way she was going to change it. I see many people here on VJ that have had no problem doing that. My plan is to go to a few different offices after she gets her card and try to get her name changed. Maybe we will get lucky and find an office that isn't up to date on all of this stuff.

Go back to the office with the marriage certificate (if it has her age or date of birth), I-94 and passport and ask to see the office manager.

C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security 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, SSA presumes 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.

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Name Data:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

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

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE:

http://web.archive.org/web/20051002025945/.../lnx/0100203735

E. PROCEDURE—ONLINE SAVE QUERY RESPONSE INFORMATION DOES NOT AGREE WITH IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT

1. Name

e. Applicant Has Changed His/Her Name But SAVE Query Response Shows Old Name

In some cases, the applicant may have changed his/her name after DHS issued the immigration document (e.g., he/she has married and is now using the spouse’s last name) but does not present an immigration document showing the new name. In these cases, the DHS system reflects the new name only when the person provided the name change information to DHS and requested to have his/her immigration record changed to show the new name. When the SAVE query response shows the old name that is shown on the immigration document presented and not the new name on the identity document presented, do not consider this a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes.

RM 00203.735 was taken off the SSA Website when it was updated, but it still says about the same as this previous version.

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

Point out to them that the record can be corrected even if she didn't have an I-94

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510

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

D. PROCEDURE - SSN CARD REQUEST BY ALIEN NOT AUTHORIZED TO WORK

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. (suppress issuance of the card, and see RM 00202.320 for providing SSN Verification Printouts.)

Edited September 13, 2007 by I Quit

[JJWashington 0]

we plan to apply within 2 weeks of his arrival

[busycharlie 0]

You are so right about some having problems changing the name after the marriage while others haven't had this problem. Unfortunately we had that problem. My wife MJ applied after we were married and she applied on her 12th day being in the U.S. but there was no way that employee at the SS office was going to use her married name. Basically it came down to the immigration system showing her maiden name. The employee said unless it showed her married name in that system already there was no way she was going to change it. I see many people here on VJ that have had no problem doing that. My plan is to go to a few different offices after she gets her card and try to get her name changed. Maybe we will get lucky and find an office that isn't up to date on all of this stuff.

Go back to the office with the marriage certificate (if it has her age or date of birth), I-94 and passport and ask to see the office manager.

C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security 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, SSA presumes 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.

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Name Data:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

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

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE:

http://web.archive.org/web/20051002025945/.../lnx/0100203735

E. PROCEDUREâ€"ONLINE SAVE QUERY RESPONSE INFORMATION DOES NOT AGREE WITH IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT

1. Name

e. Applicant Has Changed His/Her Name But SAVE Query Response Shows Old Name

In some cases, the applicant may have changed his/her name after DHS issued the immigration document (e.g., he/she has married and is now using the spouse’s last name) but does not present an immigration document showing the new name. In these cases, the DHS system reflects the new name only when the person provided the name change information to DHS and requested to have his/her immigration record changed to show the new name. When the SAVE query response shows the old name that is shown on the immigration document presented and not the new name on the identity document presented, do not consider this a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes.

RM 00203.735 was taken off the SSA Website when it was updated, but it still says about the same as this previous version.

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

Point out to them that the record can be corrected even if she didn't have an I-94

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510

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

D. PROCEDURE - SSN CARD REQUEST BY ALIEN NOT AUTHORIZED TO WORK

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. (suppress issuance of the card, and see RM 00202.320 for providing SSN Verification Printouts.)

I'm printing this and going in armed. Thanks so much for all of the info.

Take Care,

Charlie

[lavander 0]

thanks guys, i decided to apply immediately after the wedding thanks again!