Hello all! I haven't really posted on this site for about a month, now that my hubby is here lol Anyways, He arrived April 21th, we got married April 28th, and then May 9th we went to the Social Security office to get my name changed and Dave to apply for his SSN. Anyways, they said they can't give him a number until he has documents that he can work. I just knew we had to have this, and I said aren't we supposed to have the SSN to APPLY for the EAD and crap? She gave me the number to homeland security, and that woman there was very rude, she said we didn't have to have it. She said that it's really up to the Social Security office on whether or not they give you one. So, has this happened to anyone else? It was a bit frustrating, especially since we thought we had to get one before sending in the papers. Which of course we've slacked on getting all the other info, hopefully we'll be sending it away this weekend.

Good luck to everyone around here!

It has happened to a lot of people - although my husband was one of the lucky ones to get his. However, a guy who lives in our area - also from Brazil - went to get his SSN the same day and was told that his name is not in the system. He arrived in the U.S. the day before my husband.
Makes no sense.
Your husband can apply for AOS and EAD without his SSN.

I went to my local SSA yesterday. I arrived in the states just 9 days ago and the guy found me on the system and requested my number - told me I'd get the card within 2 weeks and if I wanted to know the number before then, to go back to the office on Tuesday and they would be able to let me know it. I have heard that some people in SSA are unaware that K1 holders are entitled to a SSN so maybe if you tried another office then they would issue one. But as you guys are now married, I'm not sure where that would leave you - I've heard that it is harder to get one once married than before.

Tam,
My husband applied for his SSN on a Monday and it was in our mailbox by Friday/Saturday of that same week. It probably won't take you two weeks .
I'm the USC and when I changed my name after we got married it took longer

YEY! lol

Even mine (which took longer) was in the mail in 7-8 days

Isnt the deal that if you come in on a K1 you have to apply for a SS# BEFORE you get married?

They are right, he cannot have a social security number until he shows that he's allowed to work in the US by the DHS (different visas have different requirements). He will have to wait until he gets his GC or his EAD. and No, he doesnt need a SS# to apply for AOS.

No, it is better to apply for your SSN after marriage if your name is going to change as a result of the marriage. So you save yourself a hassle applying after getting married in that case.

We did that without any problem at all.

Of course we have a smaller Social Security Office to deal with, but the original poster apparently got someone who didn't know what he/she was doing. The card which should have been issued to the OP's husband/fiance would read right on the front IF AUTHORIZED TO WORK BY HOMELAND SECURITY.

The process went smoothly and quickly for us. We went back 2 days later also and they gave us her number prior to receiving the card.

You as a K-1 are technically work authorized according to the SSA. And they should issue you a SSN that states "with DHS documentation" or something like that. You must be clear to the SSA that you are K-1 and ask to speak to someone else in their office if the person you are dealing with still thinks that you're not entitled to a SSN. You can also take in information from the guides here to show your claims. I know that the guy I was talking to was refusing me til I insisted that as a K-1 I am entitled to a SSN.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10096.html
http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf...TYmcF9wYWdlPTE*
Good luck,
Kristina

Well either go back to the SSA office with his documents and ask to speak with the office manager and ask him or her to read RM 00203.500 C1

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#C1

C. Policy - Employment Authorization by Class of Admission

The following policy applies to employment authorization by class of admission:

1. Aliens Work Authorized Without Specific DHS Authorization

The following sections list nonimmigrants, by alien class of admission codes, who are authorized to work in the U.S. without specific authorization from DHS. The person’s I-94 will not have the DHS employment authorization stamp and the alien will generally not have an EAD.

K-1 Fiancé(e) of U.S. citizen

Or go to another SSA office and hope they don't have their head up their @ss

That's incorrect.

I knew that people had had problems before and had to take in papers from the SSA website trying to show them they were incorrect. I told my husband I know why they have a guy sitting there with a gun because I was about to go postal on them. lol I think I'll call again on Tuesday, see what we can do, but the paperwork is about ready to ship off anyways. Thanks for all the replies!

elgringo,

No, this is not true, although it's a good idea because there are some SSA people at some SSA offices that think it's true.

Yodrak

ready4one,

I disagree. There are SSA offices where applying for a SS card after marriage, especially when a name change is involved, is a real hassle because the people do not know the correct policy.

On the other hand, there is much less often a hassle at any SSA office when a K1 applies prior to marriage, as long as the person's information has been entered into the USCIS' SAVE data base (that's why it's recommended to wait for 2 weeks after entry).

Yodrak

I totally understand your situation. Definately, take the forms that say K1 visa applicants are eligible to get a SSN. That's what we had to do because they didn't want to give my husband a SSN. Often, they are unaware of the fact that K1's are eligible for a number. Oh and the guy we went too, was a total jerk because he told my husband that he wasn't eligible for a number simply because he married a U.S. citizen. Then he had to eat his own words, and process our application after he saw that he was eligible, serves him right