SSN - Told I Can't Apply For One As Married on K1 Visa

[Anna Grant 169]

Help!

I entered the US on 27 June on a K1 visa. I didn't apply for an SSN as I was getting married in 2 weeks and I know that it takes 2 weeks for my entry details to filter down to SS. I also wanted my SSN card in my married name (after waiting this long to get married!)

We had a lovely wedding on Friday and I sent off all the AOS stuff yesterday.

So I completed the SSN form, checked all the paperwork I needed and went to the local SS office this morning. After queuing for an hour, I was told that I couldn't have an SSN as I had married my fiance and was no longer a K1! She told me I was now a K3!

I tried arguing with them but they were adamant. They also typed some stuff in from my passport into her computer, so I'm pretty sure I can't go anywhere else. I should have asked to speak to a supervisor but I was quite upset by this time. At least I got the name of the person who dealt with me.

So. Where do I go from here? I could wait for the EAD to come through and then go back. However, I do desperately need to get out to work (if at all possible) as our savings have been severely depleted by the year long wait to get to this stage. Waiting for the EAD would add another 2 weeks onto the process waiting for the SSN.

[slowlyman 118]

Have a look at this guide. http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

It has a few good ideas for dealing with this situation.

[Anna Grant 169]

Have a look at this guide. http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

It has a few good ideas for dealing with this situation.

Yes, I had read that before going to the SS office. It was being told that I no longer qualified as a K1 as I had got married that threw me. I had all the info printed out but she told me that I was now a K3. I said 'I'm not, I'm a K1.' She told me 'You stopped being a K1 when you got married. It says 'Fiancee' and you're now a 'spouse'.'

[lost_at_sea 995]

Yes, I had read that before going to the SS office. It was being told that I no longer qualified as a K1 as I had got married that threw me. I had all the info printed out but she told me that I was now a K3. I said 'I'm not, I'm a K1.' She told me 'You stopped being a K1 when you got married. It says 'Fiancee' and you're now a 'spouse'.'

Ask for her supervisor next time. You're entitled to an SSN.

[hmh33 117]

Yes, the clerk was wrong and acting outside her authority.

[Anna Grant 169]

So - should I go back? Or phone?

Edited July 16, 2013 by Anna Grant

[Dave&Roza 748]

So - should I go back? Or phone?

First , I would e-mail the main SSA office on their website and recount as much of your last visit as possible i.e. date, time, name of person you spoke to, local office, etc. They should send you an e-mail outlining what you need to do inorder to properly train this person. If you do not get an e-mail from teh SSA main office, I would go back and apply in your maiden name as that is the name on your visa, I-94, and passport. After you get the number you can go back and change the last name and with teh GC get the "NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WORK WITHOUT DHS AUTHORIZATION" removed. Right now the number is the most important thing to get. Worry about the name later. This person was so wrong on so many accounts:

1) the K-1 visa expired the day you entered the US.

2) getting married does not magically change a K-1 to a K-3 and actually the K-3 is no more as it is clsoed and you continue on a CR-1/IR-1 which also can get a SSN

3) you can apply for the SSC in your married name by using a Marriage Certificate as the official name change document (after all how does a USC woman change her name?)

Always go in person to the SSA as they cannot do anything for you unless you are standing right in front of them.

Ask for a supervisor and if that does not work ask for that person's supervisor, and if that does not work have them go up the chain using their phone, but this will take some time so be prepared. Hopefully you will get a letter. You can do an advanced search here on VJ and look for author I'M GONE who used to work for the SSA and had many good posts on how to get them to do their jobs.

Good luck,

Dave

Edited July 16, 2013 by Dave&Roza

[Anna Grant 169]

First , I would e-mail the main SSA office on their website and recount as much of your last visit as possible i.e. date, time, name of person you spoke to, local office, etc. They should send you an e-mail outlining what you need to do inorder to properly train this person. If you do not get an e-mail from teh SSA main office, I would go back and apply in your maiden name as that is the name on your visa, I-94, and passport. After you get the number you can go back and change the last name and with teh GC get the "NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WORK WITHOUT DHS AUTHORIZATION" removed. Right now the number is the most important thing to get. Worry about the name later. This person was so wrong on so many accounts:

1) the K-1 visa expired the day you entered the US.

2) getting married does not magically change a K-1 to a K-3 and actually the K-3 is no more as it is clsoed and you continue on a CR-1/IR-1 which also can get a SSN

3) you can apply for the SSC in your married name by using a Marriage Certificate as the official name change document (after all how does a USC woman change her name?)

Always go in person to the SSA as they cannot do anything for you unless you are standing right in front of them.

Ask for a supervisor and if that does not work ask for that person's supervisor, and if that does not work have them go up the chain using their phone, but this will take some time so be prepared. Hopefully you will get a letter. You can do an advanced search here on VJ and look for author I'M GONE who used to work for the SSA and had many good posts on how to get them to do their jobs.

Good luck,

Dave

Thanks. That's really helpful. I have sent a message using the link you provided and I'll see what happens from there.

[Darnell 8,478]

i suggest never applying in married name, if you want a ssn # next day.

WHY? clerk cannot find you in the SAVE db via married name.

go back in person, ask for a supervisor, apply in VISA NAME.

go back the next day, ask for the SSN #. If there were any problems, you will learn of it on the 2nd day.

Once you get the card in hand, go back and ask for a name change.

Sorry you had troubles - applying in married name in the time window you are in, is very troublesome and mostly results in grief. Add to it the incompetent SSA clerk, and you've just experienced a world of hurt and bruising with the SSA.

Seriously, go back and get a supervisor. Apply in Visa Name.

Post-Scriptum - it is exceptionally rare to fix anything via telephone. Must to go in person, get a supervisor, at the SSA office.

Edited July 16, 2013 by Darnell

[Anna Grant 169]

i suggest never applying in married name, if you want a ssn # next day.

WHY? clerk cannot find you in the SAVE db via married name.

go back in person, ask for a supervisor, apply in VISA NAME.

go back the next day, ask for the SSN #. If there were any problems, you will learn of it on the 2nd day.

Once you get the card in hand, go back and ask for a name change.

Sorry you had troubles - applying in married name in the time window you are in, is very troublesome and mostly results in grief. Add to it the incompetent SSA clerk, and you've just experienced a world of hurt and bruising with the SSA.

Seriously, go back and get a supervisor. Apply in Visa Name.

Post-Scriptum - it is exceptionally rare to fix anything via telephone. Must to go in person, get a supervisor, at the SSA office.

Thanks. Will I get into trouble for applying in visa name when I tried today in my married name? How do I explain why I'm asking for a supervisor tomorrow if I apply in my visa name?

[Lisa-O 8]

Help!

I entered the US on 27 June on a K1 visa. I didn't apply for an SSN as I was getting married in 2 weeks and I know that it takes 2 weeks for my entry details to filter down to SS. I also wanted my SSN card in my married name (after waiting this long to get married!)

We had a lovely wedding on Friday and I sent off all the AOS stuff yesterday.

So I completed the SSN form, checked all the paperwork I needed and went to the local SS office this morning. After queuing for an hour, I was told that I couldn't have an SSN as I had married my fiance and was no longer a K1! She told me I was now a K3!

I tried arguing with them but they were adamant. They also typed some stuff in from my passport into her computer, so I'm pretty sure I can't go anywhere else. I should have asked to speak to a supervisor but I was quite upset by this time. At least I got the name of the person who dealt with me.

So. Where do I go from here? I could wait for the EAD to come through and then go back. However, I do desperately need to get out to work (if at all possible) as our savings have been severely depleted by the year long wait to get to this stage. Waiting for the EAD would add another 2 weeks onto the process waiting for the SSN.

Hi Anna,

I was K1 got married and was accepted for a SSN, just make sure you apply for it within the 90 days of your I-94. You won't be allowed to work until you have your green card so there isn't a huge benefit to having your SSN. I used mine to apply for my driving license here. Good luck

[Darnell 8,478]

Thanks. Will I get into trouble for applying in visa name when I tried today in my married name? How do I explain why I'm asking for a supervisor tomorrow if I apply in my visa name?

Trouble? no.

explain? tell the supervisor the clerk you dealt with is utterly confused about how to handle new immigrants holding K-1 visas and you need an accurate SAVE db lookup done in VISA Name and/or A#.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Help!

I entered the US on 27 June on a K1 visa. I didn't apply for an SSN as I was getting married in 2 weeks and I know that it takes 2 weeks for my entry details to filter down to SS. I also wanted my SSN card in my married name (after waiting this long to get married!)

We had a lovely wedding on Friday and I sent off all the AOS stuff yesterday.

So I completed the SSN form, checked all the paperwork I needed and went to the local SS office this morning. After queuing for an hour, I was told that I couldn't have an SSN as I had married my fiance and was no longer a K1! She told me I was now a K3!

I tried arguing with them but they were adamant. They also typed some stuff in from my passport into her computer, so I'm pretty sure I can't go anywhere else. I should have asked to speak to a supervisor but I was quite upset by this time. At least I got the name of the person who dealt with me.

So. Where do I go from here? I could wait for the EAD to come through and then go back. However, I do desperately need to get out to work (if at all possible) as our savings have been severely depleted by the year long wait to get to this stage. Waiting for the EAD would add another 2 weeks onto the process waiting for the SSN.

Oh Geez! I warned you of that exact scenario in my email to you

[Anna Grant 169]

Oh Geez! I warned you of that exact scenario in my email to you

Yes you did and I made a wrong choice.

However, the conversation with the person at the SSA started like this:

Me - 'I would like to apply for a SSN. I have my passport which includes my visa and I-94. I entered on a K1 visa on 27 June"

Her - 'Have you got married subsequently?'

Then I really had no choice but to say 'Yes on 12 July'. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned it was a K1 visa. Maybe that was what triggered the 'marriage' question. But she would have seen it was a K1 visa as soon as she opened the passport.

[Darnell 8,478]

any news? did you go back today, get a supervisor human?