Pre AOS Jitters

[Buxton babe 0]

With the help of VJ, I have managed to a smooth sailing so far with my K1 process, because I have faithfully followed the guides http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=k1flow

I now find myself getting a lot of different information from goverment representataives that conflicts with the advice on VJ.

I applied for a SS # before marriage but we were refused as there was a name discrepancy.

In a previous post I mentioned how the name on the departure stub of the I-94 differed from the name at the top of the form ( fiance put maiden name and soon to be married name on the I-94)

We managed to get a new I-94 issued and was able to apply for a SS number today.

Problem # 1: The new I-94 does not have the EAD stamp, and the immigration officer insists we do not need it as K1 holders are work authorised (YES, I have read all the arguments)

Problem # 2: As we are now married we applied for the SS number in the married name using the marriage certificate as proof of name change. The Officer refused and issued it in the maiden name as that was the name on the I-94 and in the system. I told him I was returning to change the name in ten days, he said "ok, but didnt advise it untill the green card was issued" Im still trying to get my head around that one.

I am still determined to follow the guides, but now find myself off track with all this differing information that is being sent our way.

Any thoughts?

[YuAndDan 153]

Forget problem #2, we to waited until after marriage to apply for SSN, did this to avoid having to get a name change after my wife gets her REAL EAD card in the mail in married name. It makes no difference what is on the SSN maiden name or married name, if maiden name, just wait until after getting Green-Card, that way you can do 2 things at the same time, Remove the “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.” and get name changed at same time. SSA will only issue a set number of cards in a lifetime.

Problem #1 The stamp is only a 90 day one, and the vast majority of K-1 holders do not get it anyway, apply for the Real EAD card ASAP.

[meauxna 15]

With the help of VJ, I have managed to a smooth sailing so far with my K1 process, because I have faithfully followed the guides http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;page=k1flow

I now find myself getting a lot of different information from goverment representataives that conflicts with the advice on VJ.

I applied for a SS # before marriage but we were refused as there was a name discrepancy.

In a previous post I mentioned how the name on the departure stub of the I-94 differed from the name at the top of the form ( fiance put maiden name and soon to be married name on the I-94)

We managed to get a new I-94 issued and was able to apply for a SS number today.

Problem # 1: The new I-94 does not have the EAD stamp, and the immigration officer insists we do not need it as K1 holders are work authorised (YES, I have read all the arguments)

Problem # 2: As we are now married we applied for the SS number in the married name using the marriage certificate as proof of name change. The Officer refused and issued it in the maiden name as that was the name on the I-94 and in the system. I told him I was returning to change the name in ten days, he said "ok, but didnt advise it untill the green card was issued" Im still trying to get my head around that one.

I am still determined to follow the guides, but now find myself off track with all this differing information that is being sent our way.

Any thoughts?

Without digging up the official docs that say so...

1- You are SOL on the work auth stamp. Sorry.

2- What is unclear? SSA must verify the individual's status with DHS (USCIS). CIS has you as Joe Maiden Name. SSA will only know you as Joe Maiden Name. When you have a DHS document with your married name, you can use that to change your SS card.

The first document you'll have will be an EAD (use your married name when you adjust status I-485) or a Green Card. When you've been issued one of these docs, USCIS will update your status and a couple of weeks after that, SSA will be able to verify the new status.

What happens in 10 days?

[Buxton babe 0]

[Without digging up the official docs that say so...

1- You are SOL on the work auth stamp. Sorry.

2What happens in 10 days?

1) To my shame I have been her 18 years and dont know what S.O.L. is

2) We were told that the SS card will arive in ten days time.

Thanks for the additional insights above, we will proceed with the EAD asap, before/while getting the AOS docs ready.

[Krikit 1,164]

I waited until I was married to apply for my SSN in my married name. Some people have had problems with this and some have not. I did not. But that's just because I stood my ground until the clerk went to find someone who was familiar with K1 visas.

When I was researching this, mdyoung (now I_Quit) who works for the SS administration, I believe, gave me this advice....

If you get turned down when applying after getting married. You still have the option of going to another SSA office and just applying with your maiden name or asking for the office manager at the original office an plead your case. (link to originating thread http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=37422&st=0)

If you check his posts you will find a number of references to the type of misinformation coming out of the SS offices.

Give mdyoung's advice a try and ask to speak with the office manager. Really, the worst case scenario is that you wait until you receive your EAD or CPR. Good luck.

Edited April 23, 2007 by Krikit

[rebeccajo 14]

Why don't I get this?

I never understand fussing over the SS card being in the married name.

Female US citizens have this 'problem' everyday. While we KNOW we need to get the name changed after marriage (or divorce or any other life-altering-legal-name-change event), we don't lay awake in bed at night and fret over it. Most of us eventually meander on over to the SS office with whatever official document we need to prove the new name, fill out a form, and leave. Our employers never ask us to see the new card - no 'authority figure' comes along to check our name - no 'boogey man' ever seems to show up at our door.

I'm not mocking the OP. Not at all. It is something that needs tended too. But insofar as 'immigration paperwork' goes, I really feel we all have bigger fish to fry than a name change on the SS card.

In other words - don't sweat the small stuff!

[flutter95 4]

Just to add my experience...I applied about 2 and a half weeks after arrival, was already married and applied for the card/changed name in same day, just had to show the marriage cert. and had the card come in new name.

That was that!

[meauxna 15]

1) To my shame I have been her 18 years and dont know what S.O.L. is

2) We were told that the SS card will arive in ten days time.

Thanks for the additional insights above, we will proceed with the EAD asap, before/while getting the AOS docs ready.

ha ha.. SOL = $hit Outta Luck. ie, no EAD for you now til you get the one that comes from AOS. The K-1 is still employment authorized, but has no document to prove it. It's still good enough to get your SS# with tho!

I wouldn't be too concerned about the urgency of changing your name on the SS card--soon, your other ID will over ride that anyway, you are allowed to use different names (ie, it is OK that you have documents in 2 names) and all the stuff Rebecca said.. the most important thing about a Social Security card is THE NUMBER. It never changes, and you do not show your SS card here as any type of ID. The only time you might ever *have to* show it would be using it as a hiring document for employment (and even then you can use alternate documents).

The number on the other hand, is required for so many things--it is much better to get *a* social security number as soon as you can, and sort the other stuff later.

If you want to search out I_Quit's old posts, he does have the details of the type of marriage certificate that can be used to support a name change *on your SS record* (it needs parent's names or something similar.. don't remember) and as I recall, it only updates your record.. they will NOT issue a new card until they've got a DHS document to match.

r-jo, I think the confusion comes from how other countries use similar docs.. We just don't use it as a nat'l ID here, and I think that is a hang up for newcomers.

Buxton, don't sweat the little things too much.. apply for the EAD if that was your plan and you want to, otherwise, carry on. Try not to worry too much about this phase either.. you will *always* have the opportunity to correct errors (if there were any) when it comes to interview. Focus on getting your I-864 complete since that seems to be the cause of many RFEs, and make sure you've got the medical documented correctly.

And enjoy it all together!

[walls1010 3]

I waited until I was married to apply for my SSN in my married name. Some people have had problems with this and some have not. I did not. But that's just because I stood my ground until the clerk went to find someone who was familiar with K1 visas.

When I was researching this, mdyoung (now I_Quit) who works for the SS administration, I believe, gave me this advice....

If you get turned down when applying after getting married. You still have the option of going to another SSA office and just applying with your maiden name or asking for the office manager at the original office an plead your case. (link to originating thread http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=37422&st=0)

If you check his posts you will find a number of references to the type of misinformation coming out of the SS offices.

Give mdyoung's advice a try and ask to speak with the office manager. Really, the worst case scenario is that you wait until you receive your EAD or CPR. Good luck.

The same with me, no problem using my married when I applied my SS# by showing my passport (in maiden name) and marriage certificate. The same thing when I went to renew my SS card after I got my GC.

[Kat And Russ 0]

When I went to get my ss number... I was told all the same things as you. I printed off the policy that i was given on here and they eventually did it for me.

I then went back once we got married to chnage my name... and the lady very rudely told me it was against the law for me to have a SS number without my EAD... even though it was she, who processed the first application. ANYWAY lucky we had spoken to a lovely lady on a previosu visit to the ss office and we asked to talk to her, she changed the name for us and everyhting was sorted. It basically depends on who you get in the office, and if they have evr dealt with a K1 visa before. I also think it depends if they have eaten lunch or not yet... makes them moody and wanting to get rid of awkward applications heheh!

Good luck!!!

[rebeccajo 14]

*winks at meauxna*

I'm such a wise-a$$ sometimes, aren't I?

I work with a woman who has been married to her husband for 11 years. She's getting close to retirement age. A few months ago, she gathered up her marriage license and headed on over to the SS office. I guess she figured since she'll be 'signing up' soon she better get her papers sorted!

More than once on VJ, I've waxed on about how the CO (at my husband's visa interview) and the CBP officer (when we entered the US) BOTH admonished me to do TWO things for my husband once we got back home. The first was to make sure I adjusted his status. The second was to make sure I took him to the Social Security office.

I agree with meauxna. Get the number. As soon as realistically possible (which is usually 3 to 4 weeks after US entry). Getting the name changed later on isn't a big deal.

It cracks me up how the USC husbands on VJ post about taking their foreign wives to the SS office after the marriage to 'save the hassle' of filling out papers twice. Men. They have one surname their whole life. They haven't a clue. Changing my name on my SS card was infinitely easier than it was changing it on my gas bill.

[Ladylethal 12]

I agree with Rebeccajo, once you have the SSN number, no need to fret over changing to married name or taking the work authorization heading out.

I got my GC almost a month ago, went to the SSN office but it wasn't working. Then I haven't thought about it since. One day I have free time and feel like driving there, I'll do it, but I'm really not in a hurry. That would be to take the heading out 'cus I didn't change my name when I got married.

[Krikit 1,164]

Why don't I get this?

Speaking only for myself and not on behalf of others....

I left my home, my career, my family and friends to move to another country. When I needed something I knew where to find it. When I was sick I went to the doctor. When something went wrong, I knew who to call.

Begin the K1 process. Get scrutinized at every turn, strip naked for the medical exam, be interrogated at each US POE until the approval.

Come to the US. I no longer exist. I can't apply for a job until (among other things) I have an SSN. I can't get credit because I have no history, but I need an SSN to apply. I can't open a bank account because I need an SSN. I can't get a medical appointment because I'm an unknown and I don't have an SSN.

Try and get mobile phone service without an SSN. Try and get a bank/telephone/utility company customer service centre to respond to a query without the last 4 digits of an SSN. Now try and do all that when some of your ID states one name, and some states another. Couple that with the transition to a new country.

We are raw from the pain of leaving our homes and loved ones and we are unfamiliar with the territory and the rules. Having to visit State and Federal Offices to establish our existence, and cart around original documentation and explain our situation to every official; and, typically, having to explain the rules to that very same official who has the ability to approve or deny the next stage in our progress, is stressful and exhausting. I, for one, have no intention of going through each stage more than once if I can in any way eliminate that.

Hopefully, you can begin to see why having official US documentation in the proper name is important. It is drilled into us from the beginning of the visa process, and reinforced when we come here. If I had grown up in the US, I would already be established and the correct name on my SSN would not be an issue. But I didn't, and it is.

Just a little insight. I hope the above does not sound harsh, but these seemingly minor issues to some have a tendency to build and mount into larger obstacles to others.

[~krakatoa~ 27]

Krikit spoke for my behalf too Thanks! I wanted to vent out the same sentiment..

Anyway, I got in the US 3 weeks ago, went up to the SS office, got the SS card after three days in the mail, under the maiden name.

After a week, I married my love, went back yesterday to the same local SS office, applied for a corrected card with my married name, and got the application receipt. It took me about 3 minutes, they asked for the passport again and of course the marriage certificate.

I went to the DMV, CA local office. I had them verify my SS number (still under my maiden name) but they issued me a receipt for the state/national ID anyway under my married name. The DMV supervisor told me the SS married name would show up in the federal agency's database within the next 72 hours. I don't mind, just as long I get at least a piece of " US identity/identification acceptable" to even the pettiest transactions as banks and cellphones..

Edited April 24, 2007 by mysticbluerose

[rebeccajo 14]

Sorry. I was trying to give a little insight on how 'minor' this is to most American woman. I was hoping it might make it seem less scary.