Application of Social Security Number for married person

[cutie bear 2]

I have been seeing post of people having difficult time applying Social Security number after getting married to the USC. I would like to share my experience and the things I did when I applied for SSN.

First Application: JUNE 22, 2011 at Chicago

Documents: passport, marriage certificate, I-94, birth certificate and SS form.

What Happened: : The man behind the desk told me he can process my SS application but it would bear my MAIDEN NAME. I told him I want to use my husband's last name that's why I brought my marriage certificate but he insist that he cannot do that because there will be discrepancies in the SS database and Immigration database. The best thing to do is go to DHS and register my new name (my name + my husband's last name). So I went to the immigration office and made an infopass. The lady told me that I need to have at least my EAD or GC so I can apply for SSN. I didnt believe this so I went home told my husband, did my research and emailed the SS website.

Second Application: July 22, 2011 at Aurora, IL

Documents: passport, marriage certificate, I-94, birth certificate and SS form. I also brought with me the email i receive from SS and all my research.(Posted below)

What Happened: : It was very quick and easy. the lady read my application, ask me several questions (similar to the questions found in the I-485 forms). She gave me a letter that indicates the proof that I have applied for a SSN (the name in the letter shows my name + my husband's last name) and I could call after 7 working days to check with them if my number is already available in the system. She told me that my card will arrive after 2 weeks. After 7 working days I came back together with my husband to get a print out of my Social security number because we need to apply for a joint bank account. When I came there, we waited for our number to be called, I was asked when is birthday and my name and he then handed me a print-out of social security number. Less than 2 weeks later, I have my social security card showing my new name.

Here's the email I have received from SS and I think would be very useful for all those who will apply for social security number after getting married:

An individual that entered the United States with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence at one of our offices 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.

Example: If the immigration document, for example, Form I-94, Form I-551, Form I-766, is used to establish work authorization and identity, the alien must provide another document to establish age.

We 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 that entered the United States with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, for example, Form I-551, Form I-766, to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 10211.420 Employment Authorization for Non-immigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211420

RM 10211.025 Evidence of Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Status for an SSN Card:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211025

Note: Marriage does not affect an individual with K-1 status's eligibility to be assigned an SSN, or issued a card.

We accept all marriage documents issued within the 50 United States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

RM 10212.025 Evidence of Name Change based on a US Ceremonial Marriage:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212025

We can accept a name change document based on marriage as evidence of the new name to be shown on the card, if the new name can be derived from the marriage document.

Any of the following changes to the last name, using the names shown on the evidence, are permitted:

-- bride takes the groom’s last name;

-- groom takes bride’s last name;

-- spouse or takes the other parties’ last name;

-- spouse or takes one part of the other parties’ compound surname;

-- compound name (with or without hyphen) of each spouse’s original

surname for either or both parties.

Example:

Lisa Foster submits evidence of the name change event, her US ceremonial marriage to Bryan Lee-Walsh. She wants to change her surname to a compound surname, Foster Lee, with only part of Bryan’s surname. Since this new name can be derived from the prior names shown on the marriage document, the marriage document is acceptable evidence of the new name. We may also change Lisa’s surname to one of the following if she requests it:

-- WALSH,

-- LEE-WALSH (or reverse, with or without space or hyphen),

-- LEE FOSTER (with or without space or hyphen, Foster Lee could also

have a hyphen or not have a space)

-- FOSTER WALSH (or reverse, with or without space or hyphen)

-- FOSTER LEE WALSH (in any order, with or without spaces or hyphens)

The marriage document can also be used as acceptable evidence of identity, if it shows Lisa’s prior name (Lisa Foster) and either her age, birth date, or parents’ names, that matches the data on the SSN record, and the marriage took place within the prior two years.

RM 10212.055 Evidence Required to Process a Name Change on the SSN based on Marriage, Civil Union and Domestic Partnership:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212055

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

A foreign-born person’s legal name is the name shown on his or her immigration document, for example, Form I-94.

If the required documents show clearly different names, we cannot accept the evidence to process the application. In these situations, the applicant must submit evidence showing the same name, or submit evidence of a name change that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

RM 10212.001 Defining the Legal Name for an SSN:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212001

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

If an acceptable evidence document is in a language other than English and no other acceptable document is available, we will have the foreign language document translated by an authorized translator.

SSA translators comprise two groups:

-- Field office and Payment Center employees who volunteer their

services as translators

-- Central Translation Section translators who hold actual translator

positions.

GN 00301.340 Authorized Translators Defined:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200301340

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. In some situations we can accept alternative evidence of age. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, for example, foreign passport.

You can find links to detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on our Web site:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110210250

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

Primary Identity Evidence for an alien:

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551

Stamp in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when the I-

551 Permanent Resident Card has not yet been issued)

-- Form I-94, Arrival/departure Record in combination with an

unexpired foreign passport

-- Form I-766, Employment Authorization card in combination with an

unexpired foreign passport

Note: Document must be unexpired

Secondary Identity Evidence for an alien:

-- Unexpired valid U.S. driver’s license (excludes licenses known to

be suspended or revoked)

-- U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same

State agency which issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with

issuing authority over the State’s identity card and not expired)

-- Marriage document showing in addition to the applicant’s name

either the applicant’s date of birth (DOB) or age

-- Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or

letter providing extract data from the medical record showing in

addition to the applicant’s name, the applicant’s DOB or age

-- Health insurance or Medicaid card showing, in addition to the

person’s name, either a photograph of the person or his/her DOB

-- School identity card or record (for current school year) showing,

in addition to the applicant’s name, either a photograph of the

applicant or the applicant’s DOB

-- Life insurance policy for the person showing his/her age or DOB.

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application.

[HappyDancer 7]

I never had any problems getting my SSN after I got married. For some reason, the SS office are not updated on what they should be doing. Glad you got everything straightened out.

[cutie bear 2]

I never had any problems getting my SSN after I got married. For some reason, the SS office are not updated on what they should be doing. Glad you got everything straightened out.

I always had this impression that everything here in the US is updated and organize (if that's the right word to describe it). So when I apply for a social security and got contradicting instructions and saw the experiences of fellow VJ members, I was so disappointed. Well, I learned my lesson, I have to do some research before walking in a government facility.