Updating SSN after marriage problems

[memmy 3]

Hi guys,

After I filed my AOS papers and received my Notifications and biometrics appointment, I went to SS office to update my SSN card. I've had American SSN card since 2006, when I was an exchange student. From the very beginning, the officer dealing with me had an attitude and was making comments that had nothing to do with anything, e.g. "Why do you apply for your SSN renewal so far? You arrived to country 2 months ago. And you got married a month after you arrived. Wow, love makes wonders" Things like that. Very unpleasant experience. I tried to explain him that K1 requirements give us 90 days to get married, Anyways, at first he told me he could not renew my SSN card in my married name ( I use the same, just add husband's there), before my I-94 expires in 10 or 12 days. Then he gave me letter stating that I should receive an updated SSN card in 10 days. 28 days passed, no card arrived. I went to that SS office again, a more friendly lady dealt with me, said that my SSN card was being investigated..... ( THAT"S CRAZY), because previous officer was afraid I was stealing somebody's number. That's just insane. I presented him all valid info, visas, documents, never violated anything in my life. So, she called him, he was mad at me for coming over again, at first told me my last name was too long, then told me he had to check my application again, then told me he could not update my SSN card without a letter from Immigration Services saying what status I have. He even mentioned me having to renew my K1 visa status..... I asked him how I could renew K1 ( fiance visa) status, if i am already married and filing for AOS. CRAZY! So, he told me to come back again when I get my temporary green card. Was that legal? If my SSN is my number for life, why can't I update it to my new hyphenated last name, if I had my SSN card, my passport, and marriage licence? Can anybody explain me that? Thanks!

Edited August 31, 2013 by memmy

[TBoneTX 45,453]

*** Thread moved from main AOS/Family-Based forum to the Social Security Numbers subforum. ***

(Organizer hat off)

When any governmental employee gives you trouble like that, politely say, "Sir, you sound like we need your supervisor out here with a blank complaint form. Please call him or her to come to us immediately." That should shock them back into courtesy.

[memmy 3]

*** Thread moved from main AOS/Family-Based forum to the Social Security Numbers subforum. ***

(Organizer hat off)

When any governmental employee gives you trouble like that, politely say, "Sir, you sound like we need your supervisor out here with a blank complaint form. Please call him or her to come to us immediately." That should shock them back into courtesy.

From what I understood, he filed me as "needs investigation", then blocked my application for renewal. All that was done after he gave me letter that I Would get my renewed SSN in 10 days. He also kept saying that "love is for life, not for 90 days. why such a hurry" Such a rude man...

[Bayareaguy 156]

Sickening.

I suppose this is also due to poor training. Give me a break. I will be prepared to read them the riot act at the first sign of unproffesional behavior when it is our turn to deal with these clowns.

[memmy 3]

Sickening.

I suppose this is also due to poor training. Give me a break. I will be prepared to read them the riot act at the first sign of unproffesional behavior when it is our turn to deal with these clowns.

Yeah.... next time I go there, hopefully with my temporary green card that will have my new last name, there will be some result.... If he is rude to me again, I will file a complaint. The most annoying thing is that I have all visas proving I was exchange student in past, an issued in 2006 SSN card, and so on.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Besides his lack of comunication skills, good manners and rude attitude, he may had some points. One thing is having your last name update it and a different thing is having your immigrations status update it at the SSN. You won't have an update social (to LPR) until you actually receive your green card. Filling for AoS means nothing to them yet, cause is not granted it, yet. In my case, I came here on a k1 visa too. I tried to get a SSN once I got here but I rather to wait to be married so I didn't have to go to the SSN several times, just to have my name changed. I got married a month later and a few weeks later went to get my social. They couldnt gave it to me cause my i94 was about to expire. Not only that but my marriage certificate wasn't enough to had my new name on my card. I needed an ID showing my new name. So basically I waited to get my work permit to get it, and once I got my GC I updated my immigration status to LPR. Even when I had a bumpy ride to get my ssn, at least they were very very gentle and polite with me. So maybe the smart thing to do is wait for your EAD or GC to have everything update

[Andrea&Henry 311]

And about your double last name, Is not the first time I read or known people who had issues with it. 2 family members of my husband did that, but they always have issues cause usually only the first last name is the one people takes in consideration. They had so many kind of issues that one of them got sick of it and decided to take her husband last name a remained with only one. Hope you have better luck

[memmy 3]

Besides his lack of comunication skills, good manners and rude attitude, he may had some points. One thing is having your last name update it and a different thing is having your immigrations status update it at the SSN. You won't have an update social (to LPR) until you actually receive your green card. Filling for AoS means nothing to them yet, cause is not granted it, yet. In my case, I came here on a k1 visa too. I tried to get a SSN once I got here but I rather to wait to be married so I didn't have to go to the SSN several times, just to have my name changed. I got married a month later and a few weeks later went to get my social. They couldnt gave it to me cause my i94 was about to expire. Not only that but my marriage certificate wasn't enough to had my new name on my card. I needed an ID showing my new name. So basically I waited to get my work permit to get it, and once I got my GC I updated my immigration status to LPR. Even when I had a bumpy ride to get my ssn, at least they were very very gentle and polite with me. So maybe the smart thing to do is wait for your EAD or GC to have everything update

Yes, I see your point, but..... friend of mine filed for SSN 2 weeks after she got married ( her I-94 was not expired and was a month from being expired) andthey issued her SSN. Also. my current SSN says "Valid for work only with DHS approval." Our new SSN card will say the same, and as an approval we will have work permit. So, there is no real issue there. Also, if it was not possible to issue me a renewed SSN card ( in my case, just add with a hyphen my husband's name), then why did he give me a letter saying I would receive in in 10 days? What he did was he gave me letter, then after I left, filed me for investigation, because he assumed there could be some fraud. Too sad he did not had enough knowledge of over 5 visas in my passport to realize that I got my SSN over 6 years ago and all was good.

And about your double last name, Is not the first time I read or known people who had issues with it. 2 family members of my husband did that, but they always have issues cause usually only the first last name is the one people takes in consideration. They had so many kind of issues that one of them got sick of it and decided to take her husband last name a remained with only one. Hope you have better luck

Thank you! Good luck with you getting your SSN too!

[memmy 3]

And about your double last name, Is not the first time I read or known people who had issues with it. 2 family members of my husband did that, but they always have issues cause usually only the first last name is the one people takes in consideration. They had so many kind of issues that one of them got sick of it and decided to take her husband last name a remained with only one. Hope you have better luck

Also, if it is ok, can you share what kind of issues they had with their double last name? One of the reasons I opted for it was that at least somehow that could be helpful while travelling and using my passport from homecountry ( that is still in my maiden name), while having GC in a married name,

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Yes, I see your point, but..... friend of mine filed for SSN 2 weeks after she got married ( her I-94 was not expired and was a month from being expired) andthey issued her SSN. Also. my current SSN says "Valid for work only with DHS approval." Our new SSN card will say the same, and as an approval we will have work permit. So, there is no real issue there. Also, if it was not possible to issue me a renewed SSN card ( in my case, just add with a hyphen my husband's name), then why did he give me a letter saying I would receive in in 10 days? What he did was he gave me letter, then after I left, filed me for investigation, because he assumed there could be some fraud. Too sad he did not had enough knowledge of over 5 visas in my passport to realize that I got my SSN over 6 years ago and all was good.

Thank you! Good luck with you getting your SSN too!

I see your point too! Maybe he is just an as.....! You should take that letter and try to talk to a supervisor or go to another ssn office. In my homecountry we have a saying "....don't talk to the clowns, talk to the ring master...." You may have better luck! This guy doesn't know what he is doing. And thank you but I got my ssn almost a year ago also my gc. I'm 2011 k1 visa applicant but thanks anyways :) dont worry too much, everything is gonna turn out well

[memmy 3]

I see your point too! Maybe he is just an as.....! You should take that letter and try to talk to a supervisor or go to another ssn office. In my homecountry we have a saying "....don't talk to the clowns, talk to the ring master...." You may have better luck! This guy doesn't know what he is doing. And thank you but I got my ssn almost a year ago also my gc. I'm 2011 k1 visa applicant but thanks anyways dont worry too much, everything is gonna turn out well

Thanks for encouragement! I was a K1 visa holder too, but now am adjusting my status. And you are right, it is better to go to another place. I liked your saying about a ring master!)))))) Did you have to go to an interview after they sent you a temporary GC?

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Thanks for encouragement! I was a K1 visa holder too, but now am adjusting my status. And you are right, it is better to go to another place. I liked your saying about a ring master!)))))) Did you have to go to an interview after they sent you a temporary GC?

ahahahaj I know you will love it! Well about my green card, I didnt have an interview. One of the advantage of adjusting from a k1 visa is having your GC's interview waive. But it's basically a lottery. You don't decide if your having it or not it's totally up to them... And if you have an interview, it's always before getting the GC not after, and if you get the GC approval without being call to an interview it's because you are all set and they dont need anything else from you. About the 2 last name issues, we basically at documents. Sometimes people missed the (-) between the names and usually ended in people using only the 1st one. It was basically typo issues but a name can change things one of them

Didn't have the whole name in the mortgage contract and she had some issues with the bank later on just because of the (-). It was insignificant stuff but very annoying! In the end, of my husband's cousin change it to only one last name to make her life less complicated. But let me tell you something: if the only reason you are having a double name it's because of your passport, don't worry about that. A lot of women here takes their hubby's last name and still have a passport with maiden name. Just make sure to travel with a copy of you wedding certificate. I traveled 3 times out of the country since I got my GC, and never ever had issues. I buy mu tickets with my maiden name and that's it. And when I come back to the States, I guess they have my info with both of my name so is not a problem.

[memmy 3]

ahahahaj I know you will love it! Well about my green card, I didnt have an interview. One of the advantage of adjusting from a k1 visa is having your GC's interview waive. But it's basically a lottery. You don't decide if your having it or not it's totally up to them... And if you have an interview, it's always before getting the GC not after, and if you get the GC approval without being call to an interview it's because you are all set and they dont need anything else from you. About the 2 last name issues, we basically at documents. Sometimes people missed the (-) between the names and usually ended in people using only the 1st one. It was basically typo issues but a name can change things one of them

Didn't have the whole name in the mortgage contract and she had some issues with the bank later on just because of the (-). It was insignificant stuff but very annoying! In the end, of my husband's cousin change it to only one last name to make her life less complicated. But let me tell you something: if the only reason you are having a double name it's because of your passport, don't worry about that. A lot of women here takes their hubby's last name and still have a passport with maiden name. Just make sure to travel with a copy of you wedding certificate. I traveled 3 times out of the country since I got my GC, and never ever had issues. I buy mu tickets with my maiden name and that's it. And when I come back to the States, I guess they have my info with both of my name so is not a problem.

Oh, ok, thanks a lot for explaining! Yeah, one of the main reasons I chose a double last name was to travel, and I also have diplomas in the US and back home in my maiden name. Instead of changing name on all of them, I decided to have two last names. But now I see what kind of a problem it is:( I guess I will live like that for 3-4 years, and if I decide to pass naturalization, I can switch to just my husband's last name.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

Oh, ok, thanks a lot for explaining! Yeah, one of the main reasons I chose a double last name was to travel, and I also have diplomas in the US and back home in my maiden name. Instead of changing name on all of them, I decided to have two last names. But now I see what kind of a problem it is:( I guess I will live like that for 3-4 years, and if I decide to pass naturalization, I can switch to just my husband's last name.

I still think is a great idea having both of them but is good having the pro and cons, so you can take the best desicion. In my case, my husband's last name was already too long and complicated to added also mine so I just took his I'm too lazy maybe :) but I love share that bond with him and makes me feel so special that we are both under the same name in the end, it's a very personal desicion, but whatever you choose I bet you will not encounter no problems at all! Good luck with you whole process dear!! If you have doubts just write me!

[memmy 3]

I still think is a great idea having both of them but is good having the pro and cons, so you can take the best desicion. In my case, my husband's last name was already too long and complicated to added also mine so I just took his I'm too lazy maybe but I love share that bond with him and makes me feel so special that we are both under the same name in the end, it's a very personal desicion, but whatever you choose I bet you will not encounter no problems at all! Good luck with you whole process dear!! If you have doubts just write me!

Thank you!