Informing Homeland Security that we got married

[Bandaria 70]

I came to the US on a K1 visa, and got married within a week.

We still haven't applied for the AOS, and are filling forms/gathering documents etc.

In the meanwhile, I went to the SSN office to get my Social security number.

And the person processing my application asked me if I had "told homeland security that we got married", since the k1 visa has that whole 90 day condition.

He said that my application would not go through unless homeland security knew we were married.

What specifically was he referring to?

Did he mean my AOS process?

Or is there a step here that I am missing, where I need to somehow register my marriage with them?

(please note that we have a registered marriage certificate)

[Redlove76 28]

That's strange. B/c when we got married we didn't have to notify no one, and we were able to get his SS within 2 weeks of him arriving and we were not even married when we applied or his SS. Why don't you try speaking to a supervisor in the SS?

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

Once the I-94 card is expired (really 2 weeks before it expires), a K-1 needs a valid EAD to get a SSN.

Your POE date was 1-10-15 right ? That means your I-94 is still valid and you have a right to receive a SS card.

You don't inform or "register" your marriage with homeland security that you are married, the lady who told you that is crazy and does not

understand her job. Ask for a supervisor and try again.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 print out and take with you.

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

[KayDeeCee 4,892]

No need to inform anyone. If you are applying for the SSN after marriage and changing name, then try applying again in maiden instead. Probably less of a hassle for it to match the name on your visa. Once you apply for AOS in your married name, then you can go back to the SSA with your EAD or green card and change the name on your SSN.

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to Social Security Numbers - topic about SSN~

[Hypnos 6,576]

In much the same way that I don't ask my mailman about this weird looking rash on my arm, you shouldn't take immigration advice from a social security employee.

[Bandaria 70]

That's strange. B/c when we got married we didn't have to notify no one, and we were able to get his SS within 2 weeks of him arriving and we were not even married when we applied or his SS. Why don't you try speaking to a supervisor in the SS?

Once the I-94 card is expired (really 2 weeks before it expires), a K-1 needs a valid EAD to get a SSN.

Your POE date was 1-10-15 right ? That means your I-94 is still valid and you have a right to receive a SS card.

You don't inform or "register" your marriage with homeland security that you are married, the lady who told you that is crazy and does not

understand her job. Ask for a supervisor and try again.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 print out and take with you.

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

No need to inform anyone. If you are applying for the SSN after marriage and changing name, then try applying again in maiden instead. Probably less of a hassle for it to match the name on your visa. Once you apply for AOS in your married name, then you can go back to the SSA with your EAD or green card and change the name on your SSN.

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to Social Security Numbers - topic about SSN~

Awesome, thank you guys so much! It's what I had originally thought, but then you see someone say things like this to you confidently and begin to doubt your own knowledge and research.

The Social Security guy did put my application through, but with a snarky comment about how it will probably not clear the checks and get put on hold if I don't inform homeland security of my marriage.

So hopefully the application should go through without a hitch and I'll get my card in the mail in 4 weeks.

Edited February 3, 2015 by Bandaria

[Darnell 8,478]

the clerk was a tardo.

If you apply in visa name, no worries.

if you applied in married name, you wasted your time - go back and apply in VISA name.

Since you've already applied, well, you can go back into the SSA office and either:

1. get the number or

2. learn of new problems.

I say go back, today or tomorrow, and see what's up.

Edited February 3, 2015 by Darnell

[Bandaria 70]

the clerk was a tardo.

If you apply in visa name, no worries.

if you applied in married name, you wasted your time - go back and apply in VISA name.

I did apply in Married name, but I took my I-94 and passport etc in my Visa name, with my marriage certificate as proof of name change.

They didn't have a problem with the name part, they were just questioning me about whether I got married and told homeland security about it.

Do you think the name will be a problem?

[Darnell 8,478]

oops.

go back and ask for your number, in person.

report back, when able.

[Bandaria 70]

In much the same way that I don't ask my mailman about this weird looking rash on my arm, you shouldn't take immigration advice from a social security employee.

Touche.

[Darnell 8,478]

I did apply in Married name, but I took my I-94 and passport etc in my Visa name, with my marriage certificate as proof of name change.

They didn't have a problem with the name part, they were just questioning me about whether I got married and told homeland security about it.

Do you think the name will be a problem?

yes, a huge problem.

the clerk mentioned 'Homeland Security ' in a sentence, so I assume that your application is going out for DHS verification, which is the kiss of death.

read here?

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

the fix? go back, new application, apply in visa name, ask for the supervisor within the first 2 minutes, claiming error on application the first time.

[Bandaria 70]

yes, a huge problem.

the clerk mentioned 'Homeland Security ' in a sentence, so I assume that your application is going out for DHS verification, which is the kiss of death.

read here?

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

the fix? go back, new application, apply in visa name, ask for the supervisor within the first 2 minutes, claiming error on application the first time.

I was given a letter stating:

"Before we can issue you a social security number card, we must verify the document(s) you gave us to show your alien status with the federal, state, or local office in the united states that issued the document(s). This may take up to 4 weeks.

If that office verifies the authenticity of your document(s) we will mail you a social security number card. If that office does not verify that document(s), you are not eligible for a social security number card and we will inform you of this in writing."

[Darnell 8,478]

sorry. doesn't matter. you are eligible for a ssn during a specific window, from day 1 of the POE up to day 76 past the POE date.

is easier for you to go back to the ssa office, re-apply in visa name.

[Bandaria 70]

sorry. doesn't matter. you are eligible for a ssn during a specific window, from day 1 of the POE up to day 76 past the POE date.

is easier for you to go back to the ssa office, re-apply in visa name.

Ugh, that is so annoying!

But may I ask why you say that the DHS verification is "the kiss of death"?

If I am eligible, then won't verification just prove that and approve my application?

[Darnell 8,478]

because it takes time to get the DHS Verification back into the SSA office. The paper you have claims 4 weeks. It won't be 4 weeks. More like 8.

Meanwhile, you have 76 days in which you are eligible to apply and receive a SSN.

if i were in yer shoes, after reading my how-to,

i'd get back into the SSA office and re-apply in VISA name,

knowing full well that I can change the name with SSA when I have a EAD or green card in the married name, easily.

Then go back the next day, get the # or learn of new problems.

you really need a supervisor this next visit. Kiss of Death? Yes, you miss the window on your eligibility to apply for a SSN as a K-1 visa holder. DHS verification is not fast or efficient, even the ssa clerks that get the notices back rarely take action the same day the DHS notices are returned to the SSA office.

Look, if yer verified in the SAVE database via yer visa name or A#, go get yer SSN in yer VISA name, nowish. today-ish. tomorrow ok also, but I worry you might still not want to do it.

Death, Kiss of = DHS verification comes back on or after day 76 past the POE date.