I am planning to get my fiancee apply for the social security number immediately after she arrives (like in 2 days). Just wanted to check if it is possible, are there any restrictions?

I read on some other forum that she can apply only after 2 weeks after she arrives.

It is best to wait a few weeks before you apply to make sure they have all her information in the system.

I'd say wait a couple of weeks but not much after that. I tried to get my wife a social security number after we were married but because her K-1 visa had expired and the green card had not yet been approved, they wouldn't issue her a card. From what I've seen the SSA offices around the country do things differently, so good luck.

I think the two systems that you are trying to relate are not all connected.
Her arrival information would be with USCIS and possibly with state department. The
social security system is not at all connected with these.

That may be your opinion, but I disagree.
Have you heard of the SAVE system:
Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlement
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD
So, here, the general recommendation is to wait until your fiancée is in the system, which takes a few weeks from arrival. If she is not in the system, SSA will have to do a manual verification with USCIS and that takes a lot longer than just being entered into the system.

I took Claudeth to the SSA office two weeks after she arrived in the U.S. It was quick and she received her card a week later.

So, Jasman, Claudeth got her first SS card 2 weeks after arriving in the USA (before your marriage) in her maiden name and then (i assume) she went back again some months later after your marriage to get a second SS card with her new married name? Is that correct? When she went back the second time, had she already received her EAD or was that a "non-issue" since the second was simply a 'name change' to her already existing SSN? Thanks for sharing the additional info.

My wife did exactly what you just described.
Caveat:
1. EAD or green card will be needed to get a social security card if you apply with less than a certain amount of days left on your I-94. Caution for the wise do it sooner than later, because not having a social security number can hinder your ability to get a driver's license, bank account, and other state benefits / privileges. Unless you get married within 2 weeks, don't try to be efficient in terms of trips to the SS office.
2. EAD will not fix the words "not valid without work authorization" - only a green card or a naturalization certificate can do that.

Actually, we went back after we received the marriage certification from the Recorders office thinking that would be all they needed. Nope, they need something official from the USCIS so about 9 weeks later when her EAD arrived we went back. They took all the information and then we waited about six weeks to receive the new card with her married name in the mail. The more difficult assignment was getting her passport renewed in her married name You ain't seen nothing until you have seen Filipino red tape

Satellite, what is that less then certain amount of days on I-94? how many?

I don't know about that. Officially the only way to change a Russian International Passport into one's married name for someone who married in the US is to:
1. Get Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate.
2. Get it apostilled.
3. Get both documents translated (properly)
4. Get all three documents certified by the Russian consulate.
5. Take these documents to Russia.
6. Go to the ZAGS and register those documents.
7. Wait many for the ministry of internal affairs to issue wife a new Internal Passport.
8. Get a local propiska in the New Internal Russian passport.
9. Take internal passport to passport authority to make a new Internal Passport showing married name.
So Jasman07017, how does that compare?

I don't know for sure, I think 30 days before expiration of the I-94, ask in the AOS forum.

I'm printing that out and showing it to my husband who is wondering why my passport is still in my maiden name

The important thing is to apply before the I-94 expires

Thanks Jasman and Satellite for the info!

Actually, Jasman, I would put myself pretty high on the list of experience dealing with filipino red tape, having lived there for a year and then also helping my gal navigate this process! (hehehe)

Salellite: I liked your Russian example of beaurocracy for reissuing the passport with married name! 2 things come to mind in reading your list and thinking about doing that process in the Philippines:

1. You were able to articulate an actual process to be followed! Therre is no such thing in the phillipines! The process and requirements depend entirely on the person you happen to draw at the office you happen to go to on the day you happen to go there!!!

2. You gotta make sure your budget has enough to cover the "tipping" required!! (wink, wink!!)

Jasman, when you went back to the SSA office the second time with your marriage certificate, what was their rationale for requiring something from USCIS? She already had a SSN, you were just requesting a name change due to marriage, right? Or where you wanting them to ALSO remove the "Not Valid without Work Authorization" language from the card? Was the your removal request why they wanted something from USCIS? I just cant understand why they wouldnt process an existing SSN name change due to marriage as long as the second SSN Card continued to have the "No Valid with out Work Authorization" comment on it also. Could you elaborate a bit more on that? Thanks!!!!

I think it's 21 days.

Anyone think it's mere coincidence that a large number of beautiful young ladies from both the P.I. and the FSU end up here in the U.S. after reading about the "hardships" to legally comply with?

The systems seem pretty similar in concept and in practice. I've had several buddies marry girls from the P.I. and hearing their stories of the VJ process prepared me well for my trip through the Russian side of the immigration forums.

Satellite is 100% accurate.

Dwayne

Yes, Satellite is 100% accurate. We had an issue at the SSA office when she wasn't updated in the SAVE system yet. We had to wait until two weeks after the EAD was issued in order to change her name. She already had a SSN assigned, but wasn't able to change her last name or get a new card, or anything else for that matter, until SAVE was updated. The folks at the SSA office said they couldn't do anything at all without a proper document from USCIS or something on their screen saying there was an update in the SAVE sysetm.

Basically, she can get an SSN and card when she first arrives (she may or may not have applied for one during the interview process) but then she must wait until after the update in the SAVE system to get her name changed. Also the EAD/temp. EAD stamp plays a part in all of this.