After K1, Driver's license question after EAD before GC

[chok 2]

Hello,

We are now in the process of getting my wife’s Green Card. She already got her EAD with married name. My wife SSN still has her maiden name and with not allowed to work note (she got SSN after arriving as k1).

Can she get a Driver’s license just with EAD and SSN with maiden name?

Also, can she change her SSN name now to married name with just EAD and marriage certificate?

We were from the K1-process btw and we are now happily married

Thank you.

Edited July 23, 2014 by chok

[Ian H. 207]

I just answered a similar question. She should have applied for the SSN in her married name. Did she apply for the SSN before or after the marriage? If it was before the marriage it's ok, if it was after the marriage they may hassle you and ask why she didn't apply for the SSN in her married name. You wouldn't be able to apply for a DL with the EAD in one name and the SSN in another even if you show your marriage cert. The best course of action would be to change her name with social security and wait for the new card to arrive. It's fairly painless and the new card should arrive in less than a week. You can try to go to the DMV with the EAD and SSN and marriage cert, but depending on the state they may not let you.

[chok 2]

Hi ianhalliwell186,

Thanks for the quick response. Yeah, she applied for the SSN before the marriage. We just want her to get a learner's permit so she can start to study driving here in the states. I think you are right to change her SSN name to married before going to DMV. So we can change the SSN name now with just EAD(married name) and marriage certificate right? Will the note in the SSN about work authorization go away with just EAD?

Thanks

[sweet cakes 326]

Hello,

We are now in the process of getting my wife’s Green Card. She already got her EAD with married name. My wife SSN still has her maiden name and with not allowed to work note (she got SSN after arriving as k1).

Can she get a Driver’s license just with EAD and SSN with maiden name?

Also, can she change her SSN name now to married name with just EAD and marriage certificate?

We were from the K1-process btw and we are now happily married

Thank you.

Congrats on the recent wedding!

From my experience here in NJ, I was asked by DMV to return only after having updated my SS card to my new married name. I wasn't able to take both the knowledge and vision tests for a learner's permit until I received my new SS card. You may check with your local DMV if a maiden named SS card is acceptable.

Yes, she can update the SS card last name with the EAD and marriage cert. Fill out a SS-5 with the new married name, and bring her passport as well.

[Ian H. 207]

If she would have had a permit already you would've just needed the marriage cert, but the DMV is always a hassle. You guys will be fine. Just go in with the EAD, passport, old ssn card and marriage cert and the process will be a breeze. As for the letters on the card they will stay for now because she isn't a permanent resident yet. They only go away when she gets her green card. Then she has to go in again to report when she becomes a USC. As for the DMV, it's always better to go with the updated SSN, like I said you can try going before the new card arrives, but if they try to match it electronically it might not go through. They are issuing new SSN cards fast nowadays, when my aunt changed her card to her married name the card came the next day. I was flabbergasted.

Hi ianhalliwell186,

Thanks for the quick response. Yeah, she applied for the SSN before the marriage. We just want her to get a learner's permit so she can start to study driving here in the states. I think you are right to change her SSN name to married before going to DMV. So we can change the SSN name now with just EAD(married name) and marriage certificate right? Will the note in the SSN about work authorization go away with just EAD?

Thanks

[Pitaya 2,576]

~Moved from Fam.based AOS to Moving to the US and Your New Life in America Forum~

~Similar topics are often discussed at this forum~

[mcuzin1985 13]

All you should need to change the name on the SS card is the marriage certificate. They do not need her EAD Card to complete this.

[Ian H. 207]

Actually they'll ask her for it anyway because they'll want to see a piece of id. Since she's a new immigrant she doesn't have a license or state id yet.

All you should need to change the name on the SS card is the marriage certificate. They do not need her EAD Card to complete this.

[khwaidee1 196]

In California the names must match on the GC and SS card to get a license. We found out the hard way but a simple fix with a trip to the SS office.

[mcuzin1985 13]

Actually they'll ask her for it anyway because they'll want to see a piece of id. Since she's a new immigrant she doesn't have a license or state id yet.

The piece of ID will be her passport which matches her original SS card. Most people do not wait to get a new SS card that far along in the process, or at least my Wife didnt and most people didnt either.

Hope this helps OP.

[chok 2]

Thanks guys for the reply. We went to the SS Office and we were able to change my wife’s name to married but they said it might take 4-6 weeks to receive the card.

I called DMV and explain everything and the phone rep said my wife can get Driver’s License/Learner’s Permit with just EAD and SS card with maiden name as long as she brings the receipt from SS that she changed her name. (I'm thinking maybe they will check in the system)

We were hoping there will be no hassle when we go to DMV sometime next week. We really want to get her permit now so she can start studying. Will post an update for anyone in similar situation.

[Ian H. 207]

That's great! This is why I always tell people to check just to make sure. I know for a fact that here in NY they would let you apply for a DL if your SSN has a different name as long as you have the document that proves the change, a marriage cert in your case. They HAVE to tell you 4-6 weeks, ridiculous by the way, but in my experience it usually takes less than one week. Also since you haven't gone to the DMV make sure you ask to speak to a supervisor if they give you a hard time. Sometimes they may tell you one thing on the phone and still give you problems in person. Again good luck!

Thanks guys for the reply. We went to the SS Office and we were able to change my wife’s name to married but they said it might take 4-6 weeks to receive the card.

I called DMV and explain everything and the phone rep said my wife can get Driver’s License/Learner’s Permit with just EAD and SS card with maiden name as long as she brings the receipt from SS that she changed her name. (I'm thinking maybe they will check in the system)

We were hoping there will be no hassle when we go to DMV sometime next week. We really want to get her permit now so she can start studying. Will post an update for anyone in similar situation.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

You guys will be fine. Just go in with the EAD, passport, old ssn card and marriage cert and the process will be a breeze.

You can't say this with authority without knowing the state in which the OP is applying.

Actually they'll ask her for it anyway because they'll want to see a piece of id.

You can't say this with authority without knowing the state in which the OP is applying.

[Ian H. 207]

SSA is a federal office, therefore the rules apply in uniform throughout all the 50 states. No matter which state you live in, got married in, or the like. I have gone in 5 times, including for myself, to change the name with SSA. Also 3 out of those five times we did it in NJ even though we live in NY. Also I do not make this stuff up as you get the information for yourself in the SSA website and marriage cert is all you need to change name, plus a piece of government issued id to prove who you are, it doesn't HAVE to be the EAD. I just mentioned she could use that since she already has it, it doesn't matter what she uses. It's not the same as if I would have told her wait for your EAD to arrive because otherwise you can't change your name without it.

You can't say this with authority without knowing the state in which the OP is applying.

You can't say this with authority without knowing the state in which the OP is applying.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

but the DMV is always a hassle. You guys will be fine. Just go in with the EAD, passport, old ssn card and marriage cert and the process will be a breeze.

Edited July 25, 2014 by TBoneTX