Changing name after marriage

[RevGreen 86]

After arrival (but before we married) my wife obtained a SSN & card with her maiden name. We married last week, and today attempted to change the name on her SS card. Our local SS Office stated they can't change the name until it's been changed with DHS.

 

Any experience with this? Does this mean we need to also obtain her ID and license with her maiden name? Wait until AOS is completed to change her name to her married name? If that's the case, what do use for filling out the AOS / AP documents we will be sending in? Her married name or maiden name.

Edited August 6, 2018 by RevGreen

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

16 minutes ago, RevGreen said:

After arrival (but before we married) my wife obtained a SSN & card with her maiden name. We married last week, and today attempted to change the name on her SS card. Our local SS Office stated they can't change the name until it's been changed with DHS.

 

Any experience with this? Does this mean we need to also obtain her ID and license with her maiden name? Wait until AOS is completed to change her name to her married name? If that's the case, what do use for filling out the AOS / AP documents we will be sending in? Her married name or maiden name.

When did your wife come into the USA? If it's after the 90 day period then you will have to wait for the AP.

[RevGreen 86]

14 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

When did your wife come into the USA? If it's after the 90 day period then you will have to wait for the AP.

It's not 90 days yet, we still have 2 weeks or so.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

10 minutes ago, RevGreen said:

It's not 90 days yet, we still have 2 weeks or so.

Still not enough time left in 90 day window. Once it gets down to about 2 weeks left the SSA won't do anything. So now you have to wait, but don't worry because it's not a big deal. 

[Jaquelly 1,647]

Just now, Cyberfx1024 said:

Still not enough time left in 90 day window. Once it gets down to about 2 weeks left the SSA won't do anything. So now you have to wait, but don't worry because it's not a big deal. 

Most of the time you have to wait for your NOA1 from your AOS to get a license in your state. 

 

You'll get there, RevGreen.

[RevGreen 86]

Just now, Cyberfx1024 said:

Still not enough time left in 90 day window. Once it gets down to about 2 weeks left the SSA won't do anything. So now you have to wait, but don't worry because it's not a big deal. 

So what about other documents? Should we just continue using her maiden name until the process is done, and then worry about changing it?

[p-ana 933]

They usually want to see a government issued ID with her new married name to change it at the ssa. So you should apply for ead, ap and aos in her married name if that’s what she wants, and when she gets her ead/ap card, she can use that to change her name on the ss card. It’s that or else wait for the green card

[RevGreen 86]

1 minute ago, Jaquelly said:

Most of the time you have to wait for your NOA1 from your AOS to get a license in your state. 

 

You'll get there, RevGreen.

Our local office said we only need the I94 /NOA2, Marriage Cert / SS Card / proof of address

[Jaquelly 1,647]

Just now, RevGreen said:

Our local office said we only need the I94 /NOA2, Marriage Cert / SS Card / proof of address

 

In Texas, at least, my husband had to wait for his NOA1 for the AOS. I am not sure what it is in Kentucky to get her license. 

 

Also, when we went to get his SSA registered, they took his paperwork but said that it might take a few weeks for it to be issued since they couldn't verify it against the DHS system.

 

This is totally normal. I am sorry they didn't take her application, but you'll get there.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

1 hour ago, RevGreen said:

So what about other documents? Should we just continue using her maiden name until the process is done, and then worry about changing it?

Until you get the SSN card changed then yes.

Edited August 6, 2018 by Cyberfx1024

[Diane and Chris 651]

Yes, we’ve had experience with this. Go back to SS office or to a different one. Bring your marriage certificate showing name change and apply for card with new name. Talk to a supervisor if necessary. 

 

Immigration status

To prove your U.S. immigration status, you must show us your current U.S. immigration document, such as:

• Form I-551 (Lawful Permanent Resident Card, Machine Readable Immigrant Visa);
• I-766 (Employment Authorization Document, EAD, work permit); or
• I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) or admission stamp in the unexpired foreign passport.

This is from the social security web site. You can get a corrected card. You do not have to wait for your EAD. 

[Diane and Chris 651]

17 hours ago, RevGreen said:

Our local office said we only need the I94 /NOA2, Marriage Cert / SS Card / proof of address

I would highly encourage you to get DL as soon as you get new social security card!

[Diane and Chris 651]

17 hours ago, RevGreen said:

So what about other documents? Should we just continue using her maiden name until the process is done, and then worry about changing it?

Use her married name on all AOS paperwork, EAD and AP.  Very important to do this in order to prevent headaches down the road for name change with USCIS. Good luck!

[RevGreen 86]

So I still don't fully understand.

 

As of now she is allowed to get a license and ID card, but the names have to match.

 

SS Office won't let us change the name.

 

We will keep her maiden name on SS and her state ID card. We will file EAD / AOS paperwork using her married name. At a later date we will then change her SS info & state ID info to reflect the married name.

[Nouchigang 200]

Hello,

 

I am very surprised SSA would not let your wife change her last name using her I94 and marriage license and passport, because that's all that is needed.

Maybe try to go to a different SSA and try it there, but go before it is 2 weeks before the expiration date. I didnt know about that rule, so I went a few days before the expiration of my I94 and couldnt do it, so I had to wait until I got my EAD to change my SS card.

 

I was able to change my SS card with my EAD in maiden name, passport in maiden name and marriage certificate, and the application they make you feel out. Thats very weird.

I think you met with an ignorant person, try talking to a supervisor

 

Good luck