Social Security Number

[yuna628 9,547]

Hi Yuna, what is that SSA printout that I should have?

This one. https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

[CharlieTanger 76]

We are now married. I now assume to get the "official" name change we have to go back to the SS office and apply for a new card in the new last name. Is this correct?

This is how you OFFICIALLY change a name, right?

Edited December 17, 2015 by CharlieTanger

[yuna628 9,547]

We are now married. I now assume to get the "official" name change we have to go back to the SS office and apply for a new card in the new last name. Is this correct?

This is how you OFFICIALLY change a name, right?

Correct. Take your certified copy of a marriage certificate and the form. Should get the card in the same amount of time. Make sure to also change it with banks, credit cards, paypal, bills, etc aswell.

[Pennycat 880]

Correct. Take your certified copy of a marriage certificate and the form. Should get the card in the same amount of time. Make sure to also change it with banks, credit cards, paypal, bills, etc aswell.

Can you take the marriage certificate to SSA anytime? As in.... wait until naturalization or something? My fiancé wants to change his name but is paperwork avoidant and seems to think there will be fewer headaches waiting until naturalization (because that's what our priest told us) while I disagree. Strongly.

[yuna628 9,547]

Can you take the marriage certificate to SSA anytime? As in.... wait until naturalization or something? My fiancé wants to change his name but is paperwork avoidant and seems to think there will be fewer headaches waiting until naturalization (because that's what our priest told us) while I disagree. Strongly.

I don't know how it would work changing your name as the husband/immigrant. I can only tell you from the American wife perspective. If he already has his social security number under his current name and you are still waiting through the green card process I'm not entirely sure he can change anything regarding it just yet. As the American spouse though, you're fairly free to tweak it unless you're going through some sort of court-related name changing process I think? Updating my social to my married name was important to do, as the state refused to change my ID unless this was done, and the bank needed such proofs too.

[Pennycat 880]

I don't know how it would work changing your name as the husband/immigrant. I can only tell you from the American wife perspective. If he already has his social security number under his current name and you are still waiting through the green card process I'm not entirely sure he can change anything regarding it just yet. As the American spouse though, you're fairly free to tweak it unless you're going through some sort of court-related name changing process I think? Updating my social to my married name was important to do, as the state refused to change my ID unless this was done, and the bank needed such proofs too.

Nope, didn't bother with SSN at first. Poor excuse of "busy" but honestly we have been really, really busy (holidays, wedding planning, no car and the offices are all several public transit transfers away, he's still getting comfortable with transit, me with two jobs etc). So really, this would be a first time SSN, we will ahve a marriage certificate so in theory he could do one of three things in the surname area:

1. Paternalname Maternalname

2. Wifepaternalname Maternalname

3. Maternalname (only)

#1 is what is on passport/visa. #3 is on bank account (despite my protests). I think that he eventually wants #2 (which wouldn't mess with bank stuff because that Maternalname won't be going anywhere and at the bank they were perfectly a-ok with choosing one or the other), but is cool with #3. But now the priest has scared him about changing to anything other than #1, and no amount of me saying "this priest does not know what he is talking about" is getting through.

Honestly, I'm not too bothered. He can do what he likes. But I know for sure that he wants either 2 or 3 eventually and what I do NOT want to do and will be super pissed about if it happens, is that NOT changing now, when we have to opportunity to start totally fresh with the desired name, has a domino effect so that in X number of years when he feels not "in danger" or whatever nonsense the priest spouted we are running all over town paying tons of money, spending a lot of time and maybe needing a court order to do what could be VERY EASILY done right now. That, and I need to give the priest the script for the end of the ceremony and I'd like to know what name he's going with.