Social Security number

[kap6unka 1]

Hi, I have one more question. I am on k1 visa here, we already got married. Can I apply for social security number? A lawyer told me that I can not apply until I have EAD or Green Card, is this true?

[Darnell 8,478]

check the ssn sub-forum, quickly !

[YouAndMeForever 1,022]

Hi, I have one more question. I am on k1 visa here, we already got married. Can I apply for social security number? A lawyer told me that I can not apply until I have EAD or Green Card, is this true?

You should have applied BEFORE you got married. Now you will have to wait for EAD to be able to apply for one.

Good luck.

Edited March 5, 2015 by YouAndMeForever

[Zedayn 485]

Hi, I have one more question. I am on k1 visa here, we already got married. Can I apply for social security number? A lawyer told me that I can not apply until I have EAD or Green Card, is this true?

Yes you can apply for your SSN. You only need to wait until you have your EAD if your I-94 is already expired or there is 2 weeks or less remaining until it expires.

Be sure to apply in VISA name.

You should have applied BEFORE you got married. Now you will have to wait for EAD to be able to apply for one.

Good luck.

Not true. You can apply for the SSN before or after marriage. You need to apply before the I-94 expires though.

[kap6unka 1]

Yes you can apply for your SSN. You only need to wait until you have your EAD if your I-94 is already expired or there is 2 weeks or less remaining until it expires.

Be sure to apply in VISA name.

Not true. You can apply for the SSN before or after marriage. You need to apply before the I-94 expires though.

I am bit confused now. My I-94 expires in april. I am only preparing to apply for AOS, AP and EAD (so don't have an EAD yet) - can I apply for SSN since my I-94 is still valid?

[Zedayn 485]

I am bit confused now. My I-94 expires in april. I am only preparing to apply for AOS, AP and EAD (so don't have an EAD yet) - can I apply for SSN since my I-94 is still valid?

YES!

You don't need to file AOS first.

[clairainette 31]

I am bit confused now. My I-94 expires in april. I am only preparing to apply for AOS, AP and EAD (so don't have an EAD yet) - can I apply for SSN since my I-94 is still valid?

If your I-94 is still valid, you CAN apply for a SSN!

I applied for mine the day after we got married (I thought it was easier because I didn't want to go back after the wedding to change my last name on my SSN card).

As a K1 visa holder, you can even apply for your SSN the day after you arrived in the USA. As long as your I-94 is valid, you're good! No need to have your GC or EAD.

[Name Display 15]

I was told by one SS office, that I needed to wait for my EAD and my I-94 was NOT expired. (like you I did not apply before I got married. I got married the day after I arrived, and I arrived in the weekend).

Then I moved to another town (my I-94 was already expired) and was told by this other SS office that I could have applied for one while my I-94 was not expired.

I was just a little bit mad with the first office....

I can't tell you anything for sure, if your I-94 is still valid, but call to more than one office if you have a negative answer from one. Because from my own experience, they don't have the same info from town to town, and some people in the office really brush you off without really checking your real options.

Long story short because of some lazy butt that didn't check information correctly I lost my chance to have a SSN before the EAD.

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

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

[CowBoE 429]

Hi, I have one more question. I am on k1 visa here, we already got married. Can I apply for social security number? A lawyer told me that I can not apply until I have EAD or Green Card, is this true?

Did you change your last name to his on marriage certificate?

If so, I think you might have to wait for the EAD or GC.

Or...you can bring your passport and I-94 and apply for SS card under your old maiden name,

and then change the last name after you get EAD or GC.

[Sunnyland 639]

If your i94 expires in April, then hurry up and apply for your ssn now. Bring your i94 card, passport and marriage certificate when you visit your nearest ssn office.

Make sure which last name you will be using...Maiden name or married name.

If you will be using your married name, make sure your AOS papers also reflect that. So you don't have your ssn under maiden name and your EAD, AP and GC under married name or viceversa. You can always change it later anyways but then you have to spend time in changing it.

Check the ssn site.

http://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/

[Sunnyland 639]

Did you change your last name to his on marriage certificate?

If so, I think you might have to wait for the EAD or GC.

Or...you can bring your passport and I-94 and apply for SS card under your old maiden name,

and then change the last name after you get EAD or GC.

Sorry, in what part of the marriage certificate you changed your last name? I got married in the courthouse in Ft Lauderdale and in my marriage certificate only shows the groom's name and bride's name (maiden last name of course), along with other court details. No name changed there.

Later on, with that (passport and i94) I went to the ssn office and they asked me which name I would use, I chose married name. That's why they need the marriage certificate to proceed with the change in your ssn card. Of course if you apply for the ssn before you marry, then you will have to use your maiden name and change it later to married name on the card in case you want to.

[CowBoE 429]

Sorry, in what part of the marriage certificate you changed your last name? I got married in the courthouse in Ft Lauderdale and in my marriage certificate only shows the groom's name and bride's name (maiden last name of course), along with other court details. No name changed there.

Later on, with that (passport and i94) I went to the ssn office and they asked me which name I would use, I chose married name. That's why they need the marriage certificate to proceed with the change in your ssn card. Of course if you apply for the ssn before you marry, then you will have to use your maiden name and change it later to married name on the card in case you want to.

Yeah...this is all inconsistent from one SSA office to another, and one county to another.

In some counties, they allow the wife to have the husband's last name on the marriage certificate,

but in our county, they refused.

In addition, my wife got her SS card immediately after she arrive (before the marriage),

and after the marriage, we went back with the marriage certificate to change her last name,

but after 2 weeks, they asked us to provide the marriage certificate (again...since they made

the copy when we were there before), so we went in and did that.

After another 5 to 6 weeks, we heard nothing, and when we went to SSA office,

they didn't even have our (request) case online anymore. The worker there tells us

that when it's rejected its removed from their system.

Upon further complain about the situation (for not informing us of rejection and the reason),

the clerk explains that this is pretty much how it's being processed...

...meaning, anyone wishing to change their last name prior to getting their EAD/GC card,

it gets rejected.

So we just received EAD card and applied for name change last week...and waiting.

You know what's funny?

This time they took her SS card. The previous time, they didn't. So these guys knew

that it was going to get rejected, but they put through the request anyway.

What a messed up inefficient process this is....

[Sunnyland 639]

Yeah...this is all inconsistent from one SSA office to another, and one county to another.

In some counties, they allow the wife to have the husband's last name on the marriage certificate,

but in our county, they refused.

In addition, my wife got her SS card immediately after she arrive (before the marriage),

and after the marriage, we went back with the marriage certificate to change her last name,

but after 2 weeks, they asked us to provide the marriage certificate (again...since they made

the copy when we were there before), so we went in and did that.

After another 5 to 6 weeks, we heard nothing, and when we went to SSA office,

they didn't even have our (request) case online anymore. The worker there tells us

that when it's rejected its removed from their system.

Upon further complain about the situation (for not informing us of rejection and the reason),

the clerk explains that this is pretty much how it's being processed...

...meaning, anyone wishing to change their last name prior to getting their EAD/GC card,

it gets rejected.

So we just received EAD card and applied for name change last week...and waiting.

You know what's funny?

This time they took her SS card. The previous time, they didn't. So these guys knew

that it was going to get rejected, but they put through the request anyway.

What a messed up inefficient process this is....

Nothing surprises me anymore regarding the ssn. My journey was a torture to get it. I had to do the paperwork 3 times! Several calls, long time waiting, several visits to the ssn office. When I finally received it by mail I thought it was a joke. LOL I have heard of lot of people having trouble in getting the ssn...Even when you do the right thing, they mess it up sometimes.

Edited March 6, 2015 by Chris & Isa

[CowBoE 429]

Nothing surprises me anymore regarding the ssn. My journey was a torture to get it. I had to do the paperwork 3 times! Several calls, long time waiting, several visits to the ssn office. When I finally received it by mail I thought it was a joke. LOL I have heard of lot of people having trouble in getting the ssn...Even when you do the right thing, they mess it up sometimes.

We've made 5 visits so far, and once she gets the green card,

we have to go back at least 1 more time to remove the work conditions printed on the card.

After you get the initial card, why can't rest of it be done via online???