Is SS# required for AOS paperwork?

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

My wife arrived in the U.S. on a K-1 fiancee visa. We married on August 4, 2010, but did not file the Adjustment of Status paperwork yet. She and I waited until after we received our marriage license to apply for a Social Security number so that we would only have to do it once. The problem with that is that we will not receive the Social Security card (and number) for about 2 weeks, which will be on or after the 90-day deadline for the K-1 visa.

Do we need to fill in the Social Security number on the paperwork for the Adjustment of Status or is it okay to leave that blank even though we've already applied for it?

More importantly, should we use my fiancee's maiden name (which appears on all documents that we will submit, including passport and birth certificate) or should we use her new married name (which does not appear on any official document yet -- the first document on which it will appear will be on the Social Security card which we will receive in 2 weeks).

[Bobby+Umit 161]

My wife arrived in the U.S. on a K-1 fiancee visa. We married on August 4, 2010, but did not file the Adjustment of Status paperwork yet. She and I waited until after we received our marriage license to apply for a Social Security number so that we would only have to do it once. The problem with that is that we will not receive the Social Security card (and number) for about 2 weeks, which will be on or after the 90-day deadline for the K-1 visa.

Do we need to fill in the Social Security number on the paperwork for the Adjustment of Status or is it okay to leave that blank even though we've already applied for it?

Leave blank unless you have it. (not really needed at this point)

More importantly, should we use my fiancee's maiden name (which appears on all documents that we will submit, including passport and birth certificate) or should we use her new married name (which does not appear on any official document yet -- the first document on which it will appear will be on the Social Security card which we will receive in 2 weeks).

We used the married name on all documents we submitted - that way - all USCIS stuff is in her married name (which she is using now). The marriage certificate is proof of name change.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You do not need SSN to file for AOS. The blank is there for people who already have one like people who have been here and are adjusting from another visa. She should file in her married name. The marriage license shows the name change. They will "get it" that she got married to the person listed on her paperwork as her spouse. On G325A she can list maiden name for "other names."

[Karen_and_Jay 2]

Thanks!

She should file in her married name. The marriage license shows the name change. They will "get it" that she got married to the person listed on her paperwork as her spouse.

Technically, the marriage license only shows her maiden name, not her new married name. Apparently the name change isn't official until she applies for some official document (usually the Social Security card) in her new married name. I would think it would be pretty easy for them to "get it", but are you sure they don't need a document with her married name explicitly spelled out?

Edited August 25, 2010 by Karen_and_Jay

[ATLR 2]

Thanks!

Technically, the marriage license only shows her maiden name, not her new married name. Apparently the name change isn't official until she applies for some official document (usually the Social Security card) in her new married name. I would think it would be pretty easy for them to "get it", but are you sure they don't need a document with her married name explicitly spelled out? No, you do not need any 'official' document yet to prove her name change. The officers will get it when they see the marriage cert.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thanks!

Technically, the marriage license only shows her maiden name, not her new married name. Apparently the name change isn't official until she applies for some official document (usually the Social Security card) in her new married name. I would think it would be pretty easy for them to "get it", but are you sure they don't need a document with her married name explicitly spelled out?

Let's say she is Karen Jones and you are Jay Smith. The marriage certificate says Karen Jones and Jay Smith were married.

The new Mrs. Karen Smith applies for AOS as Karen Smith. Her sponsor/spouse/petitioner is listed as Jay Smith. She lists her "other names" as Karen Jones.

They look at the marriage certificate and see that the former Karen Jones is now married to Jay Smith and thus has his last name. That's how it works. If she applied as Shirley Sue Smith or something other than taking her husbands surname, then it would require some kind of legal action for an official court sanctioned name change.

The comment about it not being official until she applies for some official document---how is she going to do that, except by showing the marriage certificate, which is exactly what she will do with USCIS. When a woman marries a man, it is assumed that she is Mrs. Husband'sName. Some women (me) choose not to change and therefore do not get a bank account, credit card, Petco Pals card, etc in her hubby's name. They never adopt the hubby's name on anything from official stuff to signing up to win free dinner at Walmart.

Just use the name and show you got it by marrying hubby and it's your name.

[1HappyGuy 45]

You can wait for the SSN to arrive. The 90 day requirement is for the two of you to get married. You can apply for AOS almost anytime, although waiting a lot longer can be a problem. If you want to wait for the SSN, then get everything else prepared in the name she wants and will use in the future. It will make things much easier later.

I'm not advocating waiting a long time after marrying to file for AOS, but just clarifying that the 90 day requirement is to be married. Just get everything organized and an ready to go except for the SSN. Then fill in the number when it arrives and include a copy with your AOS papers.

Best of luck the remainder of your journey.

[SALLY AND MIKE 0]

My wife arrived in the U.S. on a K-1 fiancee visa. We married on August 4, 2010, but did not file the Adjustment of Status paperwork yet. She and I waited until after we received our marriage license to apply for a Social Security number so that we would only have to do it once. The problem with that is that we will not receive the Social Security card (and number) for about 2 weeks, which will be on or after the 90-day deadline for the K-1 visa.

Do we need to fill in the Social Security number on the paperwork for the Adjustment of Status or is it okay to leave that blank even though we've already applied for it?

More importantly, should we use my fiancee's maiden name (which appears on all documents that we will submit, including passport and birth certificate) or should we use her new married name (which does not appear on any official document yet -- the first document on which it will appear will be on the Social Security card which we will receive in 2 weeks).

i dont have social security number when i file my AOS...I cannot get a SS# here in our state,,even i have all the documents needed,,,,the woman said in SSN office i need to wait my EAD approved or green card,Coz the immigration did not know yet that im married,,,so she tell me to process first the AOS,or if have EAD i will back there to get if i have...

[Darnell 8,479]

You can wait for the SSN to arrive. The 90 day requirement is for the two of you to get married. You can apply for AOS almost anytime, although waiting a lot longer can be a problem. If you want to wait for the SSN, then get everything else prepared in the name she wants and will use in the future. It will make things much easier later.

I'm not advocating waiting a long time after marrying to file for AOS, but just clarifying that the 90 day requirement is to be married. Just get everything organized and an ready to go except for the SSN. Then fill in the number when it arrives and include a copy with your AOS papers.

Best of luck the remainder of your journey.

K-1 visa holders 'have a window of time' in which they CAN apply, and get, a SSN from a SSA office.

It's 14 to 15 days after POE date, up to 74 days past POE date.

Prior, not find K-1 visa holder in SAVE database, as SAVE is never updated in real time.

AFTER, some federal regs/guidelines state the K-1 visa holder isn't eligible, until have EAD or GC in hand.

I'm not sure what I'm replying to, here, but that 'window of time' is important, regardless of marriage status.

[Megs 0]

My AOS interview is on the 7th and i am wondering if it is alright to go ahead without my new maiden name on my SSC? All other documentation has my new maiden name, as well as other evidence. Minus my passport.