K-1 Visa / Marriage License, but she already has an SSN?

[steppz 2]

Hello fellow VJ'ers! I've scoured the internet as well as many of the posts on this forum, but can't find an exact fit for our situation. Hoping that someone with a similar experience can chime in!

 

My fiancee was recently approved for her K-1 (yay!), but given her history as a college student in the U.S. several years ago, she already has an SSN and the SSN card reads "Not authorized for work without.." From what I understand, once your assigned an SSN, that's your SSN for life. To add, her last name is already the same as mine, as we're both of Asian descent (lots of similar last names and all). 

 

The plan is for her to come to the U.S., get married through a civil ceremony on Day 1 or 2, and then go to the SSA office for a replacement SS card in about 2 or 3 weeks. My questions are the following:

 

1. We are planning to get the marriage license and civil ceremony in New York City. Should she use her existing SSN for purposes of applying for the Marriage License? Or should we not use her SSN until we get her replacement SS card, and just get married using other identification?
2. Can we use her existing SSN for purposes of a bank account, driver's license, EAD/AP, etc.?
3. Do we even need to go to the SSA office or get her a replacement card until we go through the AOS process?
4. Given that we have the same last names already, do we need to go to the SSA office for any other reason?

 

Thank You all and look forward to your responses!!

[DrEllaNJ 288]

she can and should use her existing SSN - it's hers for life! Congrats, that makes your life a lot easier.

 

But she can't get the SSN card reissued without the "only valid with DHS permission" card until she gets her Green Card. She can use it to work though in combination with her EAD (so only after she gets that).

 

And she won't need to change her last name - even better!

 

Personal experience: I still use the SSN I got when I was a college student, and only recently changed the card after getting the Green Card.

Edited February 15, 2017 by DrEllaNJ

[YecaCruz 374]

What a unique situation! Kind of lucky in a way. You are right when you say that the SSN that you have is yours for life and won't ever change. So you can use that for the marriage license, bank account etc. I don't see a reason to go to the office for a replacement card as when she gets married her name isn't actually going to change and the words "not authorized for work" won't be able to be removed until you get the EAD or greencard.

 

Have you called the SSA office and asked them? That would be the best way to get answers as I'm honestly just going off of "what I know". If it gives you peace of mind to go do all that then I don't think it will hurt anything, just might add unnecessary trips across town though.

 

Congratulations on the k1 approval!

[EM_Vandaveer 2,368]

4 minutes ago, JJGussiaas (Gush) said:

What a unique situation! Kind of lucky in a way. You are right when you say that the SSN that you have is yours for life and won't ever change. So you can use that for the marriage license, bank account etc. I don't see a reason to go to the office for a replacement card as when she gets married her name isn't actually going to change and the words "not authorized for work" won't be able to be removed until you get the EAD or greencard.

 

Have you called the SSA office and asked them? That would be the best way to get answers as I'm honestly just going off of "what I know". If it gives you peace of mind to go do all that then I don't think it will hurt anything, just might add unnecessary trips across town though.

 

Congratulations on the k1 approval!

Only with the GC can you remove the "authorized to work only...." wording. The EAD IS the authorization so while one is still on the EAD, the wording on the SSN card stays.

[steppz 2]

Thank You all for your responses! Will definitely call the SSA to double-check!