Name Change After Marriage--different thread

[Stevephoto 230]

Hi Everyone!

I just read through a 2 year old thread on this topic and this is slightly different--sorry if this has been addressed before...

Joan arrived on K-1 in June and we got her SSN in her maiden name with no problem. We were married in August and she received her EAD in November (just saw that her GC is in the mail!) She got a part time job--so far so good. Her boss asked her to call SSA to verify that she was working--there is a mismatch with her number. No big deal because it was time to change her name on her SSN card. We go to SSA on Friday after Thanksgiving (closed!!!). Joan returns by herself on Monday (I think she did a great job!). She wrote her SSN number on the form and showed them the marriage certificate and EAD. The clerk said that the number did not match what is on file (he did ask her for her mother's maiden name so he had the correct file). I'm thinking "of course the number doesn't match her name--that is what she is there for--to change her name!"). She received a letter stating that she applied for an SSN on December 2nd and she would be issued a card within 4 weeks once her papers are verified through USCIS/DHS. That part makes sense--they need to make sure that she is legitimate. Here's the question: are they going to re-issue her old number with her new name (without the authorized to work with DHS approval condition) or are they issuing a brand new number? That would not make any sense to me. The good news is the letter states that she can legally work during this process so I think her job is safe.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Stevephoto 230]

Update: I called SSA today and was told that indeed the request was probably processed incorrectly. We have to go back to SSA to fix it...

[Stevephoto 230]

Hi again everyone,

We really need your help. Joan was told that she will lose her job in two days if SSA does not verify that she and her SSN are legal to work. I still think it is an issue with the name change but what are the things we need to say/ask to make sure that whatever SSA needs to log in to the system is done tomorrow so she does not lose her job?

[Hank_ 9,174]

Hi Everyone!

I just read through a 2 year old thread on this topic and this is slightly different--sorry if this has been addressed before...

Joan arrived on K-1 in June and we got her SSN in her maiden name with no problem. We were married in August and she received her EAD in November (just saw that her GC is in the mail!) She got a part time job--so far so good. Her boss asked her to call SSA to verify that she was working--there is a mismatch with her number. No big deal because it was time to change her name on her SSN card. We go to SSA on Friday after Thanksgiving (closed!!!). Joan returns by herself on Monday (I think she did a great job!). She wrote her SSN number on the form and showed them the marriage certificate and EAD. The clerk said that the number did not match what is on file (he did ask her for her mother's maiden name so he had the correct file). I'm thinking "of course the number doesn't match her name--that is what she is there for--to change her name!"). She received a letter stating that she applied for an SSN on December 2nd and she would be issued a card within 4 weeks once her papers are verified through USCIS/DHS. That part makes sense--they need to make sure that she is legitimate. Here's the question: are they going to re-issue her old number with her new name (without the authorized to work with DHS approval condition) or are they issuing a brand new number? That would not make any sense to me. The good news is the letter states that she can legally work during this process so I think her job is safe.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

YES they will issue a new card with the same number, in her married name, and without the limitation for working stamped on it.

(My wife has yet to update her SS card, it still has that work limitation stamp... ... and yes, she is working)

[Stevephoto 230]

YES they will issue a new card with the same number, in her married name, and without the limitation for working stamped on it.

(My wife has yet to update her SS card, it still has that work limitation stamp... ... and yes, she is working)

Thanks Hank...we are waiting for a call back from SSA. We need them to verify the SSN number for Joan's employer. I hope that is not going to be a problem...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Hi again everyone,

We really need your help. Joan was told that she will lose her job in two days if SSA does not verify that she and her SSN are legal to work. I still think it is an issue with the name change but what are the things we need to say/ask to make sure that whatever SSA needs to log in to the system is done tomorrow so she does not lose her job?

What exactly is wrong with her SSN? It doesn't matter if the names changed, the number is the same. What sort of mismatch are we talking about?

How long has she had the job?

They changed the SS system a couple years ago, and now the numbers are generated randomly (before they were in order and organized by state). Some people with those new SSNs have had some trouble because some of the "systems" don't register the SSNs properly and a verification can result in something like "authorization unknown." A lot of people had that problem working at Target, if you want to search for how they fixed it.

Another possibility is that the employer ran a credit report, and her credit report came up empty/blank. The employer may be stupid and think that means that something is wrong, if s/he doesn't understand how those work. Your wife won't have a credit report yet because she hasn't been here long, and it is not needed to be employed, but it has become some of the standard part of a background check for many employers.

So what exactly is the mismatch? Is it something internal with the SSA? Her number is wrong somehow? You will need to pinpoint the problem to find the solution. Good luck.

[Stevephoto 230]

What exactly is wrong with her SSN? It doesn't matter if the names changed, the number is the same. What sort of mismatch are we talking about?

How long has she had the job?

They changed the SS system a couple years ago, and now the numbers are generated randomly (before they were in order and organized by state). Some people with those new SSNs have had some trouble because some of the "systems" don't register the SSNs properly and a verification can result in something like "authorization unknown." A lot of people had that problem working at Target, if you want to search for how they fixed it.

Another possibility is that the employer ran a credit report, and her credit report came up empty/blank. The employer may be stupid and think that means that something is wrong, if s/he doesn't understand how those work. Your wife won't have a credit report yet because she hasn't been here long, and it is not needed to be employed, but it has become some of the standard part of a background check for many employers.

So what exactly is the mismatch? Is it something internal with the SSA? Her number is wrong somehow? You will need to pinpoint the problem to find the solution. Good luck.

Hi Harpa!

Thanks. Joan has had the job for only 1 week. I'm not sure what the problem is...only that the numbers/files (SSN/EAD) don't match. Her boss has asked her to call SSA and have them verify the legal status of her number but it has to be in the system so he can access it via computer. I called SSA yesterday but of course they couldn't give me specifics. The lady did say that the letter sounded like they were processing a brand new card/number which is not correct. It has to be fixed in two days or she will lose her job. SSA just called and we have to go back to the local office...

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Well go to the local office, and if you don't know by then, ask the work specifically what the issue is. Don't take "numbers don't match" for an answer. You have to pinpoint the problem to fix it.

SSN is not tied to the EAD so there is no verification connected between the two.

Edited December 4, 2013 by Harpa Timsah

[DavenRoxy 1,073]

Not sure what the "number mismatch" is. I'd go to the SSA with her current card and your marriage cert, passport, etc. and ask what is going on. The only thing that should change is the name. EAD is only an authorization to work until the GC is received, and shouldn't be tied to the SSN, AFAIK.

The way I'd do it is... go to the SSA office, present her ID, and ask for a printout of her SSN. They should give you a paper with her name and SSN on it. If it matches her current card with maiden name, then good on them. If it matches her current card but has married name, the change has been made. Either way, the card she holds matters not (when is the last time you actually showed someone your SSC?)... but the employer SHOULD be able to verify based on the number. If he's being silly about the last name not macthing, showing HIM the marriage cert and old passport should suffice to keep him happy and legal until this is resolved.

[Stevephoto 230]

Not sure what the "number mismatch" is. I'd go to the SSA with her current card and your marriage cert, passport, etc. and ask what is going on. The only thing that should change is the name. EAD is only an authorization to work until the GC is received, and shouldn't be tied to the SSN, AFAIK.

The way I'd do it is... go to the SSA office, present her ID, and ask for a printout of her SSN. They should give you a paper with her name and SSN on it. If it matches her current card with maiden name, then good on them. If it matches her current card but has married name, the change has been made. Either way, the card she holds matters not (when is the last time you actually showed someone your SSC?)... but the employer SHOULD be able to verify based on the number. If he's being silly about the last name not macthing, showing HIM the marriage cert and old passport should suffice to keep him happy and legal until this is resolved.

Well go to the local office, and if you don't know by then, ask the work specifically what the issue is. Don't take "numbers don't match" for an answer. You have to pinpoint the problem to fix it.

SSN is not tied to the EAD so there is no verification connected between the two.

YES they will issue a new card with the same number, in her married name, and without the limitation for working stamped on it.

(My wife has yet to update her SS card, it still has that work limitation stamp... ... and yes, she is working)

A huge thanks all three of you for taking the time to respond to my panicked shout out. Apparently SSA wanted to verify the documents that Joan submitted to show legal residence before they would release the new card with her new name. I'm not sure if that counts as a verification between the two (I agree with you Harpa, there "should" not be any relationship or problem between the two). That is where the 4 week time frame came from. Fortunately the name checked out with USCIS and SSA updated the name in there system today (WHEW!). Joan's boss will be able to verify the SSN within 48 hours so her job should be OK.

Thanks again for the support, wisdom and well wishes. Joan and I greatly appreciate all of you.