Change of name? SSN questions?

[Greenmind 0]

At which point in the process is the change of name easiest? My fiance arrived here on Wednesday under a K1 and we're going to the courthouse next week to get officially married. How exactly does one change their name and does it create problems with the immigration process?

Right now I'm just trying to avoid using my lawyer since he likes to charge for everything... I plan to let him go next week. Last month he called me to ask me about how things are going... The conversation lasted about 2 minutes. Then I received a bill for $25 which ticked me off.

Once we're married we were planning on changing her name, filing for a SSN, and then starting the rest of the process.

[TracyTN 237]

Its not really hard to do a name change on an SSN, but I would still wait and apply for her SSN in her married name. That would just avoid you applying, then applying AGAIN with the name change. It'd just be more heartache and hassle.

[mrswooten4ever 0]

Once we're married we were planning on changing her name, filing for a SSN, and then starting the rest of the process.

Sounds just fine. There is nothing that has to be done legally other than getting married for her to use your name,then she can get her ssn in her married name and file for AOS.

Good Luck

Adele

[Greenmind 0]

Once we're married we were planning on changing her name, filing for a SSN, and then starting the rest of the process.

Sounds just fine. There is nothing that has to be done legally other than getting married for her to use your name,then she can get her ssn in her married name and file for AOS.

Good Luck

Adele

So once we're married she can take my last name and use her last name as her middle name since Turkish people don't have middle names?

[I'm Gone 60]

At which point in the process is the change of name easiest? My fiance arrived here on Wednesday under a K1 and we're going to the courthouse next week to get officially married. How exactly does one change their name and does it create problems with the immigration process?

Right now I'm just trying to avoid using my lawyer since he likes to charge for everything... I plan to let him go next week. Last month he called me to ask me about how things are going... The conversation lasted about 2 minutes. Then I received a bill for $25 which ticked me off.

Once we're married we were planning on changing her name, filing for a SSN, and then starting the rest of the process.

Do not need a lawyer to submit an SSN application. I would apply with the maiden name and once the SSN has been assigned and you are married for corrected card with the married name. Even if you wait until after getting married, if the marriage certificate doesn't have the person's age or date of birth, still going need to apply with maiden name and wait until an EAD is issued with the married name.

An individual with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence to establish his or her age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

An individual needs to provide at least two documents as evidence to establish age, identity and current lawful employment authorized status.

SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card to an individual that is within 14 days of his or her alien status expiring. Until the 76th day after entry an individual with K-1 status only needs to provide an unexpired I-94 showing current K-1 status to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

Once, an individual with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, i.e. I-551, I-688B or I-766 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants:

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

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

Suggest that individuals apply for a corrected SSN card to update the SSN record when there has been a name change due to marriage.

The applicant may submit either:

-- One legal name change document showing both the old and new names

(e.g., a court order for a name change or a marriage document). The

document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of

the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with

the Numident data; or

-- When the name change document does not show either a photograph of

the person or biographical information that can be compared with the

Numident data, then, in addition to the name change document, the

applicant must also submit two acceptable identity documents. One

of the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name

on the latest Numident record) AND the other submitted identity

document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the

corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show

either a photograph of the applicant or provide biographical

information that can be compared with the Numident data.

Note: For a marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the applicant’s name, either the applicant’s age, date of birth or parents’ names and the marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets this standard.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, we presume the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

When requesting an SSN card, the documents presented, as evidence must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA wll not accept uncertified or notarized photocopies as evidence.

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate (BC) in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. When a person is foreign-born, a BC may not exist, may not have been recorded shortly after birth, or the probative value of the document may not be high. In these situations, SSA can accept alternative evidence of age in order of probative value. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, e.g., a DHS document or passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203110

The documents acceptable as evidence of identity are now based on three factors: (1) the applicant’s age, (2) the applicant’s citizenship/alien status, and (3) the relative probative value of documents.

Any document used to establish identity must meet the following criteria:

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

data on the form SS-5 (e.g., the person's name, as well as age, date

of birth, or parents' names) and/or

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document should have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the SSN record, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application, taking into consideration the applicant's situation and exploring what evidence is available for the person.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that

establishes identity on our Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E6

SSA will not accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card,” is the appropriate form to request an original SSN and card or corrected card.

You can request Form SS-5 by calling the SSA toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or it can be accessed on our Website at:

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

Have your fiancé/spouse complete the Form SS-5 and take it along with the required documents, to the nearest Social Security office. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person at one of our offices.

You can obtain the address and directions to the nearest Social Security office from the Social Security Office Locator, which is available on the Internet at:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

Normally, an SSN card should be received in the mail within two weeks after the application and document(s) have been received and verified.

When an alien requests an SSN or replacement/corrected SSN card, SSA will verify his or her documents and current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA will send Form G-845 for manual verification.

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., married and is now using the married name, but has not obtained a corrected immigration document showing the new name; this is not a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes, i.e. SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an acceptable legal name change document to establish the new name.

The 14 day status expiration limit for assigning an SSN and/or issuing a card applies even if an individual submitted his or her application before being within the 14 day period and entered the 14 day period while waiting for his or her status to be verified.

All cards are mailed from Social Security Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland to the postal address provided on the Form SS-5.

You may find additional helpful information on the CIS Website at:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/hdifiance.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/LPRApplication.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/ead.htm

http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/remCond.htm

You may find additional SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...=129227,00.html

If not eligible to be assigned an SSN, Social Security offices can provide written notice using Form SSA-L676 to explain that an SSN cannot be assigned due to your spouse not having provided authorization to work in the U.S. or evidence of a valid nonwork reason for needing an SSN.

The following are valid nonwork reasons:

-- Receive Social Security benefits

-- Receive Medicaid

-- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

-- Food Stamps

-- State/Local General Assistance Benefits

The IRS assigns individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) to aliens for tax purposes who are not eligible to be assigned an SSN. A Form W-7, “Application for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,” needs to be submitted to receive an ITIN.

You can download a form W-7 from the IRS Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

You may also contact the IRS ITIN office by calling 1-215-516-4846.

You can find additional information on the IRS Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html

[sukie175 0]

Sounds like you have a good plan - I got mine before I married and then changed my name on the SSN beofre the I94 expired. But just go straight for the married name now.

[I'm Gone 60]

Sounds like you have a good plan - I got mine before I married and then changed my name on the SSN beofre the I94 expired. But just go straight for the married name now.

Yeah and when did you do this?

Section 7213(a)(1)(B) of Public Law 108-458, The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), required SSA to establish minimum standards for verification of documents or records submitted by applicants to establish eligibility for original or replacement SSN cards

The changes took affect for applications submitted December 17, 2005 and later.

[Greenmind 0]

Well I called and in my state they have the parent's names, maiden name, and the date of birth on the marriage license.

I was planning on going to go get the marriage license next week, then becoming legally married in front of a judge, then if it has the info required I'll just have her apply for her SSN with her married name using the marriage license as ID.

I also read that it's a bad idea to apply for an SSN number until a few weeks after arrival in the states.

The post you gave mdyoung looks very imformative but I'm having a difficult time understanding why it would be a bad idea to just apply with the marriage license name for the first card. I blame this on the fact that it's Friday afternoon and I'm at work!

[Rocio 0]

after marriage i did it

[Jasman0717 8]

[I'm Gone 60]

The post you gave mdyoung looks very imformative but I'm having a difficult time understanding why it would be a bad idea to just apply with the marriage license name for the first card.

Not so much of a bad idea, but things are less complicated if you apply with the maiden name and that matches the name on the I-94 and hopefully everything is OK with SAVE. If you apply with the married name, some people in some SSA offices are going to send the G-845 for manual verification because SAVE shows the maiden name, even though that's not cause to send the G-845.

If they can verify her "Temporary Employment Authorized" status through SAVE this may stop them from sending the G-845 if applying with the married name as long as she hasn't been here 76 days:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

E. PROCEDURE—ONLINE SAVE QUERY RESPONSE INFORMATION DOES NOT AGREE WITH IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT

1. Name

e. Applicant Has Changed His/Her Name But SAVE Query Response Shows Old Name

In some cases, the applicant may have changed his/her name after DHS issued the immigration document (e.g., he/she has married and is now using the spouse’s last name) but does not present an immigration document showing the new name. In these cases, the DHS system reflects the new name only when the person provided the name change information to DHS and requested to have his/her immigration record changed to show the new name.

When the SAVE query response shows the old name that is shown on the immigration document presented and not the new name on the identity document presented, do not consider this a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes. See RM 00203.200 when the applicant presents an identity document in the new name that is more recent than the immigration document to determine if the identity document is acceptable. Tell the applicant he/she must report the name change to DHS so that DHS can update its records.

NOTE FROM ME: Procedure tells the SSA office to tell you to report the name change to DHS, not that the application can't be processed and that's just what you will be doing when the AOS paper work is submitted.

[myfellah 0]

Good Luck! These people will give you much needed information. I'm the USC so it wasn't hard at all for me to change my name.

Doreen

[janda 0]

Well I called and in my state they have the parent's names, maiden name, and the date of birth on the marriage license.

I was planning on going to go get the marriage license next week, then becoming legally married in front of a judge, then if it has the info required I'll just have her apply for her SSN with her married name using the marriage license as ID.

I also read that it's a bad idea to apply for an SSN number until a few weeks after arrival in the states.

The post you gave mdyoung looks very imformative but I'm having a difficult time understanding why it would be a bad idea to just apply with the marriage license name for the first card. I blame this on the fact that it's Friday afternoon and I'm at work!

why is it bad to apply for an SSN number until a few weeks after arrival into the states? My fiance arrived on a friday, and we applied for her SSN the following monday. Was that a bad thing to do? The lady at the SSN office said that we'd recieve her card in 2 weeks. It will be 2 weeks on monday, but no card yet...

Edited May 1, 2006 by janda

[Vinay 1]

why is it bad to apply for an SSN number until a few weeks after arrival into the states? My fiance arrived on a friday, and we applied for her SSN the following monday. Was that a bad thing to do? The lady at the SSN office said that we'd recieve her card in 2 weeks. It will be 2 weeks on monday, but no card yet...

It takes the SSN office a couple of weeks after your arrival to update their system with your info. If you apply for an SSN regardless then they have to manually verify your info with USCIS by filling out a form which can take upto ten weeks. So its advisable to only apply after their database is updated.

[I'm Gone 60]

why is it bad to apply for an SSN number until a few weeks after arrival into the states? My fiance arrived on a friday, and we applied for her SSN the following monday. Was that a bad thing to do? The lady at the SSN office said that we'd recieve her card in 2 weeks. It will be 2 weeks on monday, but no card yet...

It takes the SSN office a couple of weeks after your arrival to update their system with your info. If you apply for an SSN regardless then they have to manually verify your info with USCIS by filling out a form which can take upto ten weeks. So its advisable to only apply after their database is updated.

It allows for immigration to enter info into their system, so that when SSA querys SAVE they can verify your work authorized status. However, SSA procedure says for them to hold off sending the G-845 if they check SAVE and they can't verify the applicant's status and the applicant hasn't been in the U.S. for 10 days. Then recheck SAVE after the person has been here 10 day, then send the G-845 for manual verification if SAVE does verify.

Waiting 10 to 14 days probably isn't going to hurt anything, but is not required.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents

C. PROCEDURE—VERIFYING AN IMMIGRATION DOCUMENT

STEP 2

Is the immigration document presented one that is acceptable to SSA ?

If yes, go to step 3.

STEP 3

Is the acceptable immigration document submitted an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency?

If yes, go to step 4.

STEP 4

Is the acceptable immigration document current (not expired)?

If yes (the document has not expired), go to step 5.

STEP 5

Will the acceptable immigration document expire within 14 calendar days, or will the applicant’s immigration status expire within 14 calendar days?

If no is the answer to both of these questions is no, go to step 6.

STEP 6

Does the document appear genuine?

If yes, go to step 7.

STEP 7

Does the immigration document show an alien registration number (A-number) or an admission number?

If yes, go to step 8.

STEP 8

Query SAVE online and review the SAVE query response. Does the online SAVE query response data exactly match all the information on the immigration document presented and does the SAVE query response confirm the immigration status shown on the immigration document?

If yes, go to step 9.

If no, go to step 10 if one or more of the following apply:

The SAVE query response does not confirm the immigration status shown on the immigration document.

The SAVE query response Eligibility Statement line shows the message “Institute Additional Verification.”

The SAVE query response information does not match all the information on the immigration document presented.

STEP 9

Complete processing the SS-5

STEP 10

Has the applicant been in the U.S. 10 calendar days or more?

If no, hold the SS-5 until the applicant has been in the U.S. for 10 calendar days. Then, go to step 11.

STEP 11

Is the acceptable immigration document still current (not expired) and will it still be current (not expired) in 14 calendar days?

If yes, go to step 12.

STEP 12

Requery SAVE online. Review the SAVE query response. Does the SAVE query response data now confirm the immigration status shown on the immigration document submitted and does the SAVE query response information exactly match all the information on the immigration document presented?

If yes, go to step 13.

If no, request DHS to manually verify the immigration document and the person’s immigration status. Take these steps:

Complete Form G-845, Document Verification Request;

Explain on the G-845 that the SAVE query response does not confirm the applicant’s immigration status or that the SAVE data disagrees with the immigration document;

Attach a clear, legible copy of the immigration document; and

Send it to the appropriate DHS, USCIS office.

STEP 13

Does the G-845 response (or subsequent SAVE query) confirm the information and the immigration status shown on the immigration document presented?

If yes, continue processing the SS-5.