SSN, Health Insurance for AOS?

[AoiHana35 1]

Hi everyone! My fiance just arrived on Sept 1st to America. We applied for our marriage license and are picking it up in a few days. We are getting married on September 16th.

We did not apply for a SSN (Social Security Number) for her yet as we'd like to just do it once with the married name (is that okay to do?) once we have the marriage certificate. I heard you shouldn't apply for SSN until 3 weeks after arrival anyway to make sure you're in the system.

Once we have the marriage certificate I can get her on the health insurance.

Is SSN and Health Insurance required before filing AOS? or can I file ASAP so that we are under the 90 day window to get married? What else is needed for AOS?

Thanks!

Edited September 5, 2015 by AoiHana35

[D.Ba 85]

Get short-term health insurance for the gap! Not for AoS, but for her, and for you. It's only maybe 100 for those 2 weeks, please don't skip.

[Rexchi 4]

Insurance should also accept your A# until you get your SS number. That is what happened for my husband.

[coa24 69]

Supposedly you are not allowed to get SSN if you got it after you are married. You will have to wait until you have your green card. However, I was able to get my wife her SSN after we were married and before filing for AOS, so I do believe there is a chance in getting it with your married name....if not, you will have to wait until after the green card is issued, I think.

[Maria4Garrett 5]

I applied SSN after marriage and before AOS. Just bring your electronic I-94, passport and certified true copy of marriage license in applying SSN then your wife can have her SSN in her married name.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

SSN not needed for AOS.

Some people get knowledgeable SSA workers and can get the SSN in married name, exactly as the person above described. However, it is more typical to get an SSA worker that does not know their job, and will insist on you needing the EAD or green card in married name first. It can be less of a hassle to get the SSN in maiden name, whether married or not yet, then get the name changed on it later with the EAD in married name. You can try it first with just the marriage certificate(not license), and maybe get lucky.

Supposedly you are not allowed to get SSN if you got it after you are married. You will have to wait until you have your green card. However, I was able to get my wife her SSN after we were married and before filing for AOS, so I do believe there is a chance in getting it with your married name....if not, you will have to wait until after the green card is issued, I think.

Of course you are allowed to get an SSN if married. Getting married does not make someone ineligible for an SSN.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

If you need to add her to certain important items such as banking, then getting the SSN is important before you get married. If you are not adding her to such things as bank accounts until you are married then you can wait to do your SSN till after marriage. To receive your SSN prior to your marriage, you just need to wait two weeks before you go to SSA as your SAFE file needs to be updated. Also, be sure to have your I-94 with you. Remember that you have to have at least 14 days remaining on the I-94 for SSA to issue you the SSN.