4 days after our marriage FEDS won't let K1 bride apply for a Social Security Number

[msamulski 0]

I posted about this a few days ago.

I didn't think this would become such a big mistake. I married my K1 fiancee last week. This week we went to the Federal Building so that she could apply for a Social Security card. BIG MISTAKE when I tried to have her apply for her Social Security Number in her non-maiden name (I showed the clerk a certified copy of our marriage abstract). They told us that the marriage has CHANGED her status and that her K1 documentation is no longer valid with regard to her right to apply for a Social Security Number. They told us we will now have to wait until we complete the AOS process before she can apply for a Social Security Number.

The real hurt is this:

Our marriage also put into motion my 30 day "life event" enrollment period which will allow me to add her and my new K2 son on my company health care insurance. I attempted to enroll my wife and child in my health care insurance this week, but the health care insurer will NOT let me enroll my dependents unless they have a Social Security Number. This "life event 30 day enrollment period" will now expire in 20 days. The next open enrollment for my health care insurer is not until next April.

Do I take my K1 wife back to the Federal Building and have her try to apply for a Social Security Number again (but this time attempt to conceal our recent marriage and have her apply with her maiden name)? Will they have a partially filled out application that reveals that I stated that we were already married.

If we concealed our August 31st marriage to get her a social security number, could it risk our AOS process?

The thought of having to wait for 8 more months to get her, and her son, included on my health care insurance makes me sick.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

The marriage does not invalidate her K-1 entry status. Too many SSA works have no idea about immigration and tell people this nonsense all the time. I have seen people say they were even told they were now a K-3 instead, which is absurd.

If there is still time on the I-94, then go and apply again with the maiden name that matches her visa. No need to state you are married. She can get the name changed later. You can ask to speak with a supervisor if you still run into people that do not know what they are doing, Some people have even had luck going to the main SSA website and contacting them about their situation and troubles getting an SSN that they are eligible for.

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to Social Security Numbers ~

[Hypnos 6,576]

1) They're talking out of their ###.

2) You are fully entitled to a social security number, whether you married or not, up until 14 days before your I-94 expires.

3) Ask to talk to a supervisor if they keep giving you this same #######.

[Pangga&Shine 7]

Download & Printout this

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

Good Luck

GOD Bless

Mr Pangga

Edited September 7, 2013 by Pangga&Shine

[didopage 337]

Apply with her maiden name. You will not be lying to them, it doesn't matter if you apply with her maiden or married name anyway. What matters is to get a SSN. She can update her name later.

Don't worry about the AOS process, it's not related. She does not need a SSN to apply for AOS.

[bby zoey 1]

You should have done this, you should have applied first with a maiden name showing the SSA a valid passport with attached I-94 with 14days allowance before expiring then after the wedding you went back again to SSA and apply for a name change showing them the marriage certificate. Thats what I did. No problem with my application for SS#.

Simple, no hassle.

[milimelo 4,205]

SSN is not required for health insurance purposes. Get them to use her passport number as a unique identifier.

[himher 634]

The insurance company is blowing smoke. Mine tried the same thing. It's the same as enrolling a newborn - you rarely get a SS number within 30 days but they have to enroll a newborn from day one pending the receipt of the card. You have a qualifying life event and they HAVE to honor their own terms. Get with HR and explain to them that you expect them to.

[Darnell 8,478]

I say go back, show passport, visa, and I-94.

Ask for clerk to look up in SAVE database, Visa Name and/or A#.

Apply in VISA name.

Then go back next day, either getting the number or learning of new problems.

Clerk get confused, appear brain dead? Ask for supervisor to perform SAVE database lookup.

Edited September 7, 2013 by Darnell

[cleverodra 1]

Hello all,

I wonder, how long should a K1 applicant wait before applying for a SS number after POE?

Thanks in advance

[vbtwo 54]

Hello all,

I wonder, how long should a K1 applicant wait before applying for a SS number after POE?

Thanks in advance

The prevailing thing seems to be wait around 2 weeks. I don't know if the recent automated I-94 thing changed it so you don't have to wait. You can apply earlier, but if they can't find you in the computer it will take longer, so if you come and they can't find you, just tell them you'll come back later instead of making them request info from USCIS or whoever which takes forever.

[msamulski 0]

Please do not move my posting because I want more feedback before traveling back down to the Federal building tomorrow.

I didn't think this would become such a big mistake. I married my K1 fiancee last week. This week we went to the Federal Building so that she could apply for a Social Security card. BIG MISTAKE when I tried to have her apply for her Social Security Number in her non-maiden name (I showed the clerk a certified copy of our marriage abstract). They told us that the marriage has CHANGED her status and that her K1 documentation is no longer valid with regard to her right to apply for a Social Security Number. They told us we will now have to wait until we complete the AOS process before she can apply for a Social Security Number.

The real hurt is this:

Our marriage also put into motion my 30 day "life event" enrollment period which will allow me to add her and my new K2 son on my company health care insurance. I attempted to enroll my wife and child in my health care insurance this week, but the health care insurer will NOT let me enroll my dependents unless they have a Social Security Number. This "life event 30 day enrollment period" will now expire in 20 days. The next open enrollment for my health care insurer is not until next April.

Do I take my K1 wife back to the Federal Building and have her try to apply for a Social Security Number again (but this time attempt to conceal our recent marriage and have her apply with her maiden name)? Will they have a partially filled out application that reveals that I stated that we were already married.

If we concealed our August 31st marriage to get her a social security number, could it risk our AOS process?

The thought of having to wait for 8 more months to get her, and her son, included on my health care insurance makes me sick.

[annerobin12 9]

She should've applied for a SSN in her maiden name or they should've told her to do so. Once she has her SSN she can get the name changed but then you have a number and you can always prove her name change with your marriage certificate. It's not like you're doing something illegal! That's how you're supposed to do it. Get married, apply for SSN in maiden name, then get a new card with married name on it.

[MmmBlondie 8]

Ive had a lot of problems with getting my SSN (should get it tuesday finally after waiting since March) but I came to the US on a K1 Visa. I applied once with my maiden name then with my married name. As long as her I-94 is still valid in her passport from POE she should be able to apply for a SSN. If it is expired then yes she will have to wait until AOS.

[annerobin12 9]

And getting married didnt change her status.

I tried to get my card in my married name (because I didn't know they can't do it all at once) but it wasn't a big deal. They looked at the paper I filled out and our marriage certificate and told me that everything in their computer (info from uscis) is in my maiden name so they have to do it in 2 separate steps. That's how it's done and what they told you is BS. Don't worry, you'll be just fine. Maybe go to a different office and let her apply in her maiden name, then go back and change her name!

As long as her I-94 is still valid (I believe 2 weeks is the minimum) she can apply.