K1 marriage and SSN

[Thewhites 0]

I just got married! YAY!

I have been looking around but I don't seem to see my situation.

Can I apply for my SSN after I get married on a K1 visa? A lot of places seem to say no.. but it seems odd that I can't. I know that I can't work until I get my EAD but I woudl like to get banking things and whatnot situated before my husband is deployed.

[Muh and me 18]

I just got married! YAY!

I have been looking around but I don't seem to see my situation.

Can I apply for my SSN after I get married on a K1 visa? A lot of places seem to say no.. but it seems odd that I can't. I know that I can't work until I get my EAD but I woudl like to get banking things and whatnot situated before my husband is deployed.

you have to wait for your EAD.

[payxibka 10,044]

you have to wait for your EAD.

WRONG!!!! You have until day 76 of entry to apply for SSN regardless of your post entry marital activity

PS this is talked about everyday... do a google search and you will get lots of information

Edited September 13, 2008 by fwaguy

[katiushka 1]

well... i went to the social security office after getting married with a valid I-94 and they told me that as soon as i am married i am not a K1 anymore and they can not give me a SSNuntil i get inmigration aproval for my new status (AKA work permit o green card).... then, yesterday at infopass office i asked about it again and they told me that i need to wait for my work permit.....

some people was telling me to go to the SSA and dont say i was already married...... personally i am afraid they will consider that fraud. i prefer to wait a little more than getting in trouble with the governement.

and yes.... it's a pain in the *** because i cant get bank accounts, driver license, etc.......

bye

K.

[Thewhites 0]

well... i went to the social security office after getting married with a valid I-94 and they told me that as soon as i am married i am not a K1 anymore and they can not give me a SSNuntil i get inmigration aproval for my new status (AKA work permit o green card).... then, yesterday at infopass office i asked about it again and they told me that i need to wait for my work permit.....

some people was telling me to go to the SSA and dont say i was already married...... personally i am afraid they will consider that fraud. i prefer to wait a little more than getting in trouble with the governement.

and yes.... it's a pain in the *** because i cant get bank accounts, driver license, etc.......

bye

K.

thankyou! yeah this whole thing is confusing. Especially with the whole status changing after marriage stuff. Thanks for clearing it up for me. It seems that all the millions of places it's written about on here are all BEFORE marriage with a K1. Anyway.. thanks! Let the waiting game begin!

[beejay 123]

We were able to get the SSN after we got married (entered on K1). We brought the marriage certificate to show proof of name change and had SSN issued in new name. All before we had filed for AOS.

[beejay 123]

and congratulations!

[nra19 0]

We were able to get the SSN after we got married (entered on K1). We brought the marriage certificate to show proof of name change and had SSN issued in new name. All before we had filed for AOS.

Same here. Got social after marriage... no problems.

[michellemilitza 1]

Hey congrats!!

about the SSN situation....technically your fiance/e was able to get it within 2 weeks of his arrival regardless if you guys were married or not.........that's what my fiance (now husband) did, we waitined about 2 and a half weeks he applied, and they didn't give hima any problems, and he got his social.......but we did have to wait a loooooooong time (it was only 6 weeks but I'm not a very patient person) so you can try and apply, the worst they can say is No, half of the employees are unaware that a K1 can get a social before their EAD. Hope this helps

[I'm Gone 60]

I just got married! YAY!

I have been looking around but I don't seem to see my situation.

Can I apply for my SSN after I get married on a K1 visa? A lot of places seem to say no.. but it seems odd that I can't. I know that I can't work until I get my EAD but I woudl like to get banking things and whatnot situated before my husband is deployed.

It should make no difference if as a K-1 you apply before or after you are married, but if you go to apply and have a problem e-mail SSA right away:

http://www.ssa.gov/feedback/

Be sure to explain that you have K-1 status, what office you are dealing with and your phone number. They are pretty good about responding within a few days.

Edited September 13, 2008 by I Quit

[Abby-Ron 8]

I just got married! YAY!

I have been looking around but I don't seem to see my situation.

Can I apply for my SSN after I get married on a K1 visa? A lot of places seem to say no.. but it seems odd that I can't. I know that I can't work until I get my EAD but I woudl like to get banking things and whatnot situated before my husband is deployed.

Unfortunately many K1 visa holders who are in the US now do not know that once you are married, you are out of status and not considered on K1 visa anymore. Having that said, once you are married or "out of status", you cannot apply for Drivers License/State ID as well as SSN since you are technically "out of status". I learned this the hard way, as on the day of our marriage, we went to SSA (just next door) to the city hall where we had a civil marriage, and SSA said that I could not get a SSN since I was already married. But fortunately, since we got married on the same day, they did not have a record yet, so I ended up using my maiden name to apply for the card. You can try using your maiden name if your I-94 has not yet expired. That is the route we took (thats what SSA told us to do). So I was able to get my SSN card and then change it to my married name once I got my EAD card. I wish more people knew that once you marry in the US under K1 visa, you lose your K1 status and hence are not treated like K1 but "out of status" and have no legal document presence in the US (although you are not here illegally).

[I'm Gone 60]

Having that said, once you are married or "out of status", you cannot apply for Drivers License/State ID as well as SSN since you are technically "out of status". I learned this the hard way, as on the day of our marriage, we went to SSA (just next door) to the city hall where we had a civil marriage, and SSA said that I could not get a SSN since I was already married. But fortunately, since we got married on the same day, they did not have a record yet, so I ended up using my maiden name to apply for the card. You can try using your maiden name if your I-94 has not yet expired. That is the route we took (thats what SSA told us to do). So I was able to get my SSN card and then change it to my married name once I got my EAD card.

The SSA office that told you that didn't know what they were talking about. To be assigned an SSN or to be issued a replacement card all that matters is the I-94 is not expired or within 14 days of expiring at the time they are going to clear the application. K-1 status lasts 90 days, so you have 76 days to get an SSN or a name changed card based on the K-1 status using the I-94. If anyone tells you anything different they have no idea what they are talking about.

[EmilyM 0]

Like others are saying, if you have 76 days left on your k-1 visa, you should be okay. But if you do not, then you need to wait for your EAD to come in the mail. I got my SSN before marriage, and after I tried to change my name but I only had 30 days left on my k-1 so they said to come back when I had my employment card or some other documentation that shows I'm in status again.

You can still open a bank account without a SSN, provided its not a joint account (at least thats what my bank told me, but you can ask your preffered bank they may have different rules for opening an account)

Good luck and congratulations on your marriage!

[I'm Gone 60]

Like others are saying, if you have 76 days left on your k-1 visa, you should be okay. But if you do not, then you need to wait for your EAD to come in the mail. I got my SSN before marriage, and after I tried to change my name but I only had 30 days left on my k-1 so they said to come back when I had my employment card or some other documentation that shows I'm in status again.

Well you were told wrong. If you had 30 days left, you had only been here 60 days and had 16 days to go before you needed an EAD card.

You don't need to have the full 76 days to apply. You could apply of the 75th day and have the application processed if your status was verified at the time you applied and they cleared the application right away.

It's 14 days before your status expires. 90 minus 14 equals 76. That is the cutoff point for a K-1 to use the I-94.

Edited September 13, 2008 by I Quit

[tomliz 0]

i came here last April 18,2008 and and i went to SSN office April 21 and applying for SSN and I received that two weeks they allowed but i think not all states..I am in indiana..After married i went back to change my SSN surname but the same number again you dont have to wait that you married or change the status..

best regards,

liza