Order of events, marriage first or apply for SSN

[CG&LGG 27]

I am new to this website so I am sure this question has been asked but I just wanted to verify.

Upon entering the US on the K1 visa, does my fiancé apply for a SSN first or do we get married first? After reading a few things I am confused. Some say you get married first and some say you apply for a SSN 2 weeks after entering the US and then get married (like the timeline says).

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

[Pitaya 2,577]

Welcome to the forum.

easily accessible at the top of the forum page. In particular, the K1 Flowchart: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1flow

Good luck on your visa journey.

[hardrockangel 21]

Welcome to the forum..apply first her ssn..once you get married change her last name to her married name..watch your I-94 also upon changing the last name..goodluck?

[baron555 934]

I am new to this website so I am sure this question has been asked but I just wanted to verify.

Upon entering the US on the K1 visa, does my fiancé apply for a SSN first or do we get married first? After reading a few things I am confused. Some say you get married first and some say you apply for a SSN 2 weeks after entering the US and then get married (like the timeline says).

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

These are exclusive events. You don't need one for the other, so your choice. Should wait about 2 weeks after entry to apply for the SSN.

Most counties want some proof of residence in the county before they issue a marriage license, establishing a bank account and having the name added to the utility bills is what we did.

[sexymackeral 14]

I am new to this website so I am sure this question has been asked but I just wanted to verify.

Upon entering the US on the K1 visa, does my fiancé apply for a SSN first or do we get married first? After reading a few things I am confused. Some say you get married first and some say you apply for a SSN 2 weeks after entering the US and then get married (like the timeline says).

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Congrats! The order doesn't really matter (unless it's a female and she is changing her name- to make the process easier) and with the 1-94 electronic now, we went to get my fiance's SSN the day after he arrived and had no problems at all! We didn't even have to wait 2 weeks.

As far as getting a marriage license, check with the county where you plan to marry- but I wouldn't think you have to be a resident of the county where you get married (i.e. show utility bills and other things that would require a SSN). I mean just think of all the people that have weddings outside where they live....not to mention Vegas weddings! We got married in Florida, where I'm originally from, but I don't reside there. It would've been cheaper to get married in Florida if we were residents, but it was in no way a requirement to be a resident to get married there.

Good luck and congrats again!

[dgalster 1]

I am new to this website so I am sure this question has been asked but I just wanted to verify.

Upon entering the US on the K1 visa, does my fiancé apply for a SSN first or do we get married first? After reading a few things I am confused. Some say you get married first and some say you apply for a SSN 2 weeks after entering the US and then get married (like the timeline says).

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

We waited until after marriage and it caused a problem. The SS office refused to grant a SSN because they said she was not K1 anymore and thus not eligible until she got her EAD. We are still waiting for the EAD. Members here (you can search for my posts) have argued that the SS office was wrong and I should have insisted but I don't think it would have done any good.

I think you're better off doing it in her old name before marriage and then changing the name afterwards, as the VJ Guides recommend.

[baron555 934]

We waited until after marriage and it caused a problem. The SS office refused to grant a SSN because they said she was not K1 anymore and thus not eligible until she got her EAD. We are still waiting for the EAD. Members here (you can search for my posts) have argued that the SS office was wrong and I should have insisted but I don't think it would have done any good.

I think you're better off doing it in her old name before marriage and then changing the name afterwards, as the VJ Guides recommend.

Well, yes, changing can factor into the decision. We never did that and didn't have a problem applying for the SSN first and then became married during it's processing.

[-Shana- 152]

I heard it's a bit easier doing it before you get married, since the people who work at the office that deal with SSN's generally don't know what day it is.

Is it still best to wait 10 days once you arrive before applying for a SSN, or because the I-94 is electronic now did that change?

[joyceyang1902 0]

There was thread that covered all of this and was a huge help to us. It included what databases the SS office workers need to use, and how to tell when they have made a mistake (we actually had to cover this with the employee during our second visit to the 2nd office).

We just went through this process in November and ended up using three! SS offices. The first office gave the absolutely not possible after marriage answer. However, the official SS answer was sent to us by submitting the question to the SS national office from their "contact us" link on their .gov website. The most important piece of that reply: "Note: Marriage does not affect an individual with K-1 statuss eligibility to be assigned an SSN, or issued a card.

We suggest that individuals with K-1 status apply for a corrected replacement SSN after marriage to update the SSN record to reflect the married name.

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

Bottom line, expect it to be a struggle but as long as you apply for the card before day 76 of entering the US, their policy is that the k-1 (fiancé or spouse) is entitled to a number.

If we had to do it over again, we'd have gotten the SSN 10 days-ish, after entry (before marriage) and then just taken the marriage license to the office to update the name. Know that the fiancé does not require any "special" verification. If the employee does their job correctly, they should say: "expect the card in 7-10 days". If they give you a sheet saying they need to verify info with homeland, ask to verify the information they entered (this was the problem they had with us) and try again. (The other thread covers this error in detail)

[joyceyang1902 0]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

The how-to guide

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Whether or not you marry first, you should apply for the SSN in the maiden name. It can help you avoid delays and hassles that way. After you file for AOS and get your EAD or green card, then go back to the SSA and change it to the married name.

Since the I-94s are now electronic, there is no longer a need to wait 2 weeks for the data to be entered by hand into the system. It is already in there now from scanning your passport.

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Social Security Numbers - topic about SSN~

[Marco&Bettina 502]

Whether or not you marry first, you should apply for the SSN in the maiden name. It can help you avoid delays and hassles that way. After you file for AOS and get your EAD or green card, then go back to the SSA and change it to the married name.

Since the I-94s are now electronic, there is no longer a need to wait 2 weeks for the data to be entered by hand into the system. It is already in there now from scanning your passport.

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Social Security Numbers - topic about SSN~

^This. We applied for my then-fiancee's SS Card 2 days after her POE. It would've been earlier had her arrival not been as late in the day as it was on Dec 31 & the very next day being a Holiday.

Edited January 28, 2015 by Marco&Bettina

[CowBoE 429]

Some counties require Social Security Number to file for marriage license.

Also, the county office hassled us lightly on wanting to see her US ID or

any type of official bill with her name and current address, but she just came to US

and she had neither.

So it took some explanation and showing them the K-1 VISA, I-94, and their manager

was able to override the clerk in accepting the marriage license request.

The sequence that we took was...

1) Fiancee arrived to US

2) Applied for SSN

3) Applied for marriage license

4) Got married and received marriage certificate

5) Filed for AOS, EAD, and AP

We tried to get her last name changed 2 times at the SSA office,

after the marriage but it failed. In fact, talking to the clerk, it is set up to reject,

so we plan to return to change her last name after she get EAD.

[CG&LGG 27]

Thank you all so much for your help! I really appreciate it!

I thought with the I-94s being electronic that we could do it earlier than 2 weeks after POE. So I think we will apply for his SSN a few days after POE just so I can be assured its his I-94 is in the database, then apply for our marriage license.

Thanks again for all the input!!

[Mike-eeh and Odie 193]

Here's the deal. You should apply for SSN as soon as she gets in to the USA. Why? Because if you wait until you get married, chances are your beneficiary's I-94 will have expired.

If that happens then your beneficiary cannot apply for SSN until you complete the AOS forms and EAD card is in hand, which can take between 3 - 6 months depending on your service center.

IMO, I would apply right away. Some company's health insurance plans would require your spouse to have a SSN number to be added. In addition, for most financial institutions, you cant add your spouse on to your credit cards or bank accounts, or mortgages without a SSN.