SSA experience

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Do you think it's better to apply for a SSN before or after marriage? Just so my name will be correct on my card.

I think before.

SSN is often a problem because there are so many offices and so many workers that may or may not be familiar with K1. Less chance of hassle in my opinion to get it 10-14 days after arrival in the name exactly as you wrote it on the I-94 card. Even if you got married already, get the maiden name because that's whats entered in the database. The number counts, not the name at this early point in your US life. You'll want the card updated and a new one sent when you remove the "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" marking on the card, so you'll be going back anyway. Change your name at that time. When you have EAD or a greencard, the database will have your new status and new last name that they will again have to verify.

Interesting side story about SS card-- my husband's first card (on K1) came straight from the I-94...JOHN SMITH. His green card was issued JOHN P. SMITH, so his updated SS card read the same. When we went back last year to show his naturalization certificate and change his status to US citizen, they had to issue a new card because it had to match his status documentation in the database which was JOHN PAUL SMITH as written on the naturalization certificate.

Edited April 21, 2013 by Nich-Nick