QUOTE(lostunderwaves @ Jun 2 2007, 05:43 AM)

QUOTE(72maureen @ May 31 2007, 04:54 AM)

I couldnt even get my husband on my bank account since he does not have a SSN yet. Immigration wants this proof to support the marriage but they make it so difficult to meet their demands.
You should shop around for different banks. Many don't require a social security number from the second person for a joint account (for example, if you have an ssn, you can apply for the account and just add your husband on it). We did this-- I applied for the account and added my husband-- they just noted his passport number.
... and I managed to open a bank account myself without an SSN two days after I got here - with US Bank, they just got me to go in and show my passport and visa and opened up an account for me, and my debit card arrived in the mail a few days later. I also took along a copy of the lease for our apartment as soon as my name was on it (they just asked if I could bring in 'some kind of proof of address' when I could!), and once I got my SSN, I got them to update my details.
I think that was sheer luck, mind you, and that I might just have happened across a super-helpful bank employee, but being able to open a bank account so easily definitely impressed me - I was half expecting I'd have to wait weeks! I've since gone in to the same branch and opened a joint account for me & my husband (they just got me to take a photocopy of his drivers license), and I've applied for a (secured... sigh) credit card with them, too. All very easy!

Um, as for the OP's actual question... like Karin und Otto says, it varies from state to state (and maybe even from county to county?) - we applied for our marriage license online, and the webform did require an SSN... but I called them to ask what I should do, and they said 'oh, just enter zeros if you don't have a social security' - getting a marriage license without an SSN was also no problem whatsoever! So, Alameda... try Googling 'marriage license' and your state & county, and you should find the info you need, or at least a contact number of someone who can tell you the answer...