When to apply for SSN

[bluenoser77 0]

Hello all,

Hope your journeys are going well. I'm excited to say that after receiving my K-1 visa last week, I'm about to send off my AOS, EAD and AP docs soon after we marry this Tuesday.

I'm confused, however, about when to apply for the SSN. On the K-1 flowchart, it suggests applying for the SSN right away, then get married, then change name on SSN then apply for AOS, EAD and AP. Unless people take longer to get married, I don't see any other reason for applying for the SSN in that order, am I right?

Can anyone tell me if it matters when one applies for the SSN? I plan to do it right away, but I'm prioritizing the others (AOS, EAD, AP) because they take longer to process and I want to be able to work asap- I also need to be able to leave the states soon in order to attend our religious wedding ceremony in Canada in July (that would be nice, wouldn't it?)

Thanks in advance for any info.

Cheers

[alex and astrid 38]

If your state does not require a SSN to get a wedding licence then I don't think you have to do it in that order. But, as soon as your have the certificate of marriage, getting a SSN should be on the of the first things you do. Some SS offices won't issue you a number if your I-94 is near the end of it's validity.

[paulmherrie 1]

I did apply my SSN after 2 days of arriving on K1 visa. But the SS field office told me to get back after 2 weeks because I still don't have any record from them. They gave me a specific date to come back (march 1, 2010) and I was able to apply for my SSN. I was able to get my card after 2 weeks from that date.

After we got married last march 25, 2010, we went to the same field office today. I simply present our marriage certificate, my ss card and my passport. They ask for my greencard and we simply said that it still in process and we are just waiting for my medical transcription, and they simply amend my records to my married name. No forms to fill up, they will simply ask you some questions to verify your record.

[Mike B. 231]

I did apply my SSN after 2 days of arriving on K1 visa. But the SS field office told me to get back after 2 weeks because I still don't have any record from them. They gave me a specific date to come back (march 1, 2010) and I was able to apply for my SSN. I was able to get my card after 2 weeks from that date.

After we got married last march 25, 2010, we went to the same field office today. I simply present our marriage certificate, my ss card and my passport. They ask for my greencard and we simply said that it still in process and we are just waiting for my medical transcription, and they simply amend my records to my married name. No forms to fill up, they will simply ask you some questions to verify your record.

Was your I-94 still valid? When my wife (then fiancee) got her SSN, she was told that she could not update her name with the SSA unless she had at least two weeks left on her I-94 and her name had already been changed in USCIS' database. Now we've applied for AOS, but her I-94 has expired.

[paulmherrie 1]

Was your I-94 still valid? When my wife (then fiancee) got her SSN, she was told that she could not update her name with the SSA unless she had at least two weeks left on her I-94 and her name had already been changed in USCIS' database. Now we've applied for AOS, but her I-94 has expired.

Yes it is still valid.. my I-94 is until May 14.

[Nik+Heather 121]

I guess it doesn't really matter if you get your SSN before or after marriage, but you will save yourself a headache if you do the initial application in your maiden name and then change it to your married name with the certificate.

The woeful training of some of the staff members in the SSA offices is nightmarish enough just trying to deal with the rare K-1 visas, but if you try to get a K-1 a SSN AND change her name at the same time you're really throwing a wrench into the already rusty works!