SSN on DS-230

[Jughead 3]

As we're now in the long wait for NOA2, my wife and I decided to start preparing what we can now for NVC while we wait and want to know if anyone has knowledge on this or has/had a similar situation.

On form DS-230, question 43a asks if you have ever applied for a SSN. My wife, who is currently in Japan, worked in the US and during that time was issued a SSN and card in her maiden name. So she will need a new card with her married name once she moves here (which is the name we've been using on all the forms).

In question 43a it says, "Would you like to receive a replacement card?" If she checks "Yes" would they send her a new card with her current SSN and her married name?

Or is it better to go to the local SSA office after she moves here and get a new card with her married name? If that is the better option, would she check "No" to 43b Consent to Disclosure?

[speedwell 224]

As we're now in the long wait for NOA2, my wife and I decided to start preparing what we can now for NVC while we wait and want to know if anyone has knowledge on this or has/had a similar situation.

On form DS-230, question 43a asks if you have ever applied for a SSN. My wife, who is currently in Japan, worked in the US and during that time was issued a SSN and card in her maiden name. So she will need a new card with her married name once she moves here (which is the name we've been using on all the forms).

In question 43a it says, "Would you like to receive a replacement card?" If she checks "Yes" would they send her a new card with her current SSN and her married name?

Or is it better to go to the local SSA office after she moves here and get a new card with her married name? If that is the better option, would she check "No" to 43b Consent to Disclosure?

She will have the same number, except if she requests it and the following circumstances apply: http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/79/~/request-for-a-different-social-security-number

As for changing her name on it, that is done by presenting her original marriage certificate to the SSA and requesting the name change. They will send her a replacement card if she checks Yes, but since they have no way of knowing which name she prefers to use (it's a different agency from the USCIS), it will be in her old name. There's nothing wrong with that. She can take the card to the SSA with the marriage certificate and have it changed. Or she can check No and just go to the SSA with the marriage certificate and request the new card. It is really a matter of preference and whether she needs her card ASAP or can wait until later.

Someone who has actually been in this situation should correct me if they know it worked differently for them. This is the way it worked for a couple people I know.

Edited February 9, 2013 by speedwell

[Jughead 3]

She will have the same number, except if she requests it and the following circumstances apply: http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/79/~/request-for-a-different-social-security-number

As for changing her name on it, that is done by presenting her original marriage certificate to the SSA and requesting the name change. They will send her a replacement card if she checks Yes, but since they have no way of knowing which name she prefers to use (it's a different agency from the USCIS), it will be in her old name. There's nothing wrong with that. She can take the card to the SSA with the marriage certificate and have it changed. Or she can check No and just go to the SSA with the marriage certificate and request the new card. It is really a matter of preference and whether she needs her card ASAP or can wait until later.

Someone who has actually been in this situation should correct me if they know it worked differently for them. This is the way it worked for a couple people I know.

Thanks, speedwell. Based on what you're saying I think it would be better to go to the SSA office. She still has her social security card with her maiden name on it, so we don't need a replacement with the same name.

As for our marriage certificate, it is in Japanese and it has her maiden name on it. Are we allowed show something else? Her visa and green card will have her married name on them and she'll be updating her passport soon. Would any of those work?

[speedwell 224]

Thanks, speedwell. Based on what you're saying I think it would be better to go to the SSA office. She still has her social security card with her maiden name on it, so we don't need a replacement with the same name.

As for our marriage certificate, it is in Japanese and it has her maiden name on it. Are we allowed show something else? Her visa and green card will have her married name on them and she'll be updating her passport soon. Would any of those work?

You will be asked to provide a certified translation of that marriage certificate at some point during the immigration process. You may already have this. You may need it to update her passport. The passport should be good enough evidence, but I would take the marriage cert and translation with you ALSO. The flunkies in the SSA office near me, while often well-meaning, are not very creative.

[Jughead 3]

You will be asked to provide a certified translation of that marriage certificate at some point during the immigration process. You may already have this. You may need it to update her passport. The passport should be good enough evidence, but I would take the marriage cert and translation with you ALSO. The flunkies in the SSA office near me, while often well-meaning, are not very creative.

Is the marriage cert and translation useful even though it has her maiden name on it? Her married name does not appear on it.

[speedwell 224]

Is the marriage cert and translation useful even though it has her maiden name on it? Her married name does not appear on it.

I wasn't aware that any marriage certificate had the wife's married name on it. Mine doesn't!

Well, to be precise it doesn't have the name on it that I had after the wedding. It has my married name from my previous marriage because I had not taken back my maiden name. The point is, it is not usual to have the name after marriage on the marriage certificate.

Edited February 9, 2013 by speedwell

[speedwell 224]

I wasn't aware that any marriage certificate had the wife's married name on it. Mine doesn't!

Well, to be precise it doesn't have the name on it that I had after the wedding. It has my married name from my previous marriage because I had not taken back my maiden name. The point is, it is not usual to have the name after marriage on the marriage certificate.

I just dug out my other marriage certificates from my two previous marriages (shut up, haha) and looked at them, and neither of them have my married name on them, either.

[Jughead 3]

I wasn't aware that any marriage certificate had the wife's married name on it. Mine doesn't!

Well, to be precise it doesn't have the name on it that I had after the wedding. It has my married name from my previous marriage because I had not taken back my maiden name. The point is, it is not usual to have the name after marriage on the marriage certificate.

I just dug out my other marriage certificates from my two previous marriages (shut up, haha) and looked at them, and neither of them have my married name on them, either.

Makes perfect sense and I don't know why I didn't think of that! +1 for common sense.

When we were at the embassy in Tokyo to get our marriage license, they told us that they can notarize the marriage certificate with the translation. I think I'll have my wife do that before she comes here so it shows the embassy supports the translation and hopefully that will make things easier when we go to the SSA office.

[speedwell 224]

Makes perfect sense and I don't know why I didn't think of that! +1 for common sense.

When we were at the embassy in Tokyo to get our marriage license, they told us that they can notarize the marriage certificate with the translation. I think I'll have my wife do that before she comes here so it shows the embassy supports the translation and hopefully that will make things easier when we go to the SSA office.

It was a good question. I wonder how many people would get it right if you put it on a game show. I bet most of them would think, sure, why wouldn't it be on there?

Your suggestion is a good idea. Not absolutely necessary, since a translation certification just needs to say a couple of standard things (there are other recent threads here that explain exactly what the language should say), but if it's easy for her to do, I say definitely go for it. Cheers!

[ndu26 114]

LOL. the certs do not show the female's last name in her married name but simple deduction by whoever looks at it should be that the husband's last name will now be the new last name if she chooses to change.

Even with checking all of that on the DS 230, most people still have to go down to their local SSA office to get their card process initiated especially if they dnt receive the card 2-3 weeks after arrival. and speedwell is right , go with your marriage cert.

Edited February 10, 2013 by ndu26

[Jughead 3]

LOL. the certs do not show the female's last name in her married name but simple deduction by whoever looks at it should be that the husband's last name will now be the new last name if she chooses to change.

Right. Common sense totally dictates that, but mine seemed to completely lapse for a moment

One more question, since she already has a SSN and doesn't need a replacement card, is it OK to check "No" under 43b: Consent to Disclosure?

[speedwell 224]

Right. Common sense totally dictates that, but mine seemed to completely lapse for a moment

One more question, since she already has a SSN and doesn't need a replacement card, is it OK to check "No" under 43b: Consent to Disclosure?

What? No. Check the YES box. It's not just for the SSA. It's consent to share the information with all agencies involved in processing. Think like a bureaucrat. Are you trying to hide something? lol...

Edited February 10, 2013 by speedwell

[Jughead 3]

What? No. Check the YES box. It's not just for the SSA. It's consent to share the information with all agencies involved in processing. Think like a bureaucrat. Are you trying to hide something? lol...

Of course not! LOL. But thanks for clearing that up. I was thinking YES would be right but the way they word the statement makes it sound like you shouldn't if you don't need a SSN/card.

[dwheels76 5,468]

I just dug out my other marriage certificates from my two previous marriages (shut up, haha) and looked at them, and neither of them have my married name on them, either.

LOL now that made me for real laugh. U funny. Sometimes u got to laugh to not go cuckoo. Hehe