Apply for SSN

[M+M 55]

Yeah, I didn't follow that one, I followed the link that was under the guides. Thanks for directing me to this one. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

You don’t need SSN to get married in any state. You also don’t need to be married to get a SSN. The person at your local office is probably not familiar with the rules in their own job which is very common in social security. Just go get married cause that’s fast and can be done in like a day then take your marriage license and shove it on their face and get your SSN. I only suggest marriage first because that’s faster and it takes about 2 weeks to get your social. 

[doggieandsam 765]

a k1 is allowed to get an SSN. i got mine a day after i POE'd a K1. so try again at the social security office, maybe you will get a better officer who knows the process this time around. or if that doesn't work, try at another SSA office.

 

act fast though, since the SSA needs at least 2 weeks left on the I-94 for them to accept your SSN application. if the time left on the I-94 is less than that, then they will not be able to issue you an SSN and so you will then need to wait to apply during AOS or after you get your EAD in hand. 

[TNJ17 1,329]

If your I-94 is expiring soon you will not be allowed to get a SSN until EAD. At this point I would just check the box on the AOS forms asking USCIS to issue you a SSN. Also, if your I-94 is expiring soon your most pressing issue isn’t SSN. It’s getting married to fulfill the requirements of your visa. Remember you need to get married before your I-94 expires or you have to go back and start the process all over again. 

[doggieandsam 765]

1 minute ago, TNJ17 said:

Just go get married cause that’s fast and can be done in like a day then take your marriage license and shove it on their face and get your SSN. 

You can also do this (well, except the shoving part) but know that there is some risk that the SSA office may not be able to issue the SSN after you have already gotten married, especially if you are changing names and especially because you are no longer a "k1" visa holder at that point. In order for them to be able to issue the SSN, they need to check the DHS database (or whatever the immigration database is called) and they need to be able to find you there ie match your name and legal presence to know if you are eligible for the SSN. 

 

it's late where i am so i hope my rambling made sense.

[TNJ17 1,329]

1 minute ago, doggieandsam said:

You can also do this (well, except the shoving part) but know that there is some risk that the SSA office may not be able to issue the SSN after you have already gotten married, especially if you are changing names and especially because you are no longer a "k1" visa holder at that point. In order for them to be able to issue the SSN, they need to check the DHS database (or whatever the immigration database is called) and they need to be able to find you there ie match your name and legal presence to know if you are eligible for the SSN. 

 

it's late where i am so i hope my rambling made sense.

You can still apply for a ssn under your maiden name even if you are married and have decided to change your name. You have to wait for USCIS to change your name in their system in order to get a ssn under your new married name. But that doesn’t happen until USCIS has processed and approved your aos under your new married name which takes forever. I know that for a fact because I wanted to get a new ss card with my new last name and was shot down because of that. But my SS card with my maiden name is just as good. 

[geowrian 22,335]

2 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

You can still apply for a ssn under your maiden name even if you are married and have decided to change your name. You have to wait for USCIS to change your name in their system in order to get a ssn under your new married name. But that doesn’t happen until USCIS has processed and approved your aos under your new married name which takes forever. I know that for a fact because I wanted to get a new ss card with my new last name and was shot down because of that. But my SS card with my maiden name is just as good. 

That's a common line, but many have done exactly that so long as the I-94 still has at least 2 weeks left on it. It took my wife 3 stops at the SSA to get an employee that was able to issue the SSN in her married name (without having an EAD/AP/etc. yet). She already had an SSN in her maiden name, from before we married and she entered on the K-1.

Edited July 20, 2018 by geowrian

[doggieandsam 765]

5 minutes ago, TNJ17 said:

You can still apply for a ssn under your maiden name even if you are married and have decided to change your name. You have to wait for USCIS to change your name in their system in order to get a ssn under your new married name. But that doesn’t happen until USCIS has processed and approved your aos under your new married name which takes forever. I know that for a fact because I wanted to get a new ss card with my new last name and was shot down because of that. But my SS card with my maiden name is just as good. 

yeah i got you. i only wanted to point out to OP so they are aware that there is *some* risk they may not be successful should they wait until right after getting married but before AOS/getting their EAD to file for their SSN.

[Alabamak1 688]

@M+M use a different social security agency if you had a problem getting a social security #. We didn't need that printout from the social security website to tell them. The person was very aware about this possibility under k-1.  

[Scandi 3,971]

Oneof the big issues (if not THE issue) seems to be that you didn't bring the i-94. Bring it when you give it another try, and ask for a supervisor if the employee doesn't know their own rules.

 

My recommendation above is only valid if you still have at least 2 more weeks left on your i-94.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,370]

3 hours ago, TNJ17 said:

If your I-94 is expiring soon you will not be allowed to get a SSN until EAD. At this point I would just check the box on the AOS forms asking USCIS to issue you a SSN. Also, if your I-94 is expiring soon your most pressing issue isn’t SSN. It’s getting married to fulfill the requirements of your visa. Remember you need to get married before your I-94 expires or you have to go back and start the process all over again. 

I don't know why this myth is prevalent. If the K1 holder & petitioner marry AFTER the 90 days are up, they can still file for AOS. The difference is that they have to file I-130 with the I-485.

[nullaccount234 882]

7 hours ago, EM_Vandaveer said:

I don't know why this myth is prevalent. If the K1 holder & petitioner marry AFTER the 90 days are up, they can still file for AOS. The difference is that they have to file I-130 with the I-485.

Isn't the I-130 concurrently with the I-485 only for situations when a K1 was not approved before? Such as if the foreigner adjusted from F1 or VWP or B1/B2.

[Crazy Cat 39,340]

11 hours ago, M+M said:

Yeah, I didn't follow that one, I followed the link that was under the guides. Thanks for directing me to this one. 

Please let us know how it turns out...........your experience will be helpful to others.....

[Jeanne Adil 1,651]

go back to the office with your documents and get a different SS person  / some don't know this aspect of the job

ask to speak to the supervisor

i never showed SS card to marry (NY state)

[geowrian 22,335]

53 minutes ago, LizM said:

Isn't the I-130 concurrently with the I-485 only for situations when a K1 was not approved before? Such as if the foreigner adjusted from F1 or VWP or B1/B2.

One can do AOS upon entry on a K-1 and marriage within the 90 days. In which case the I-129F is the underlying petition.

One can also do AOS just as a normal spouse of a USC, in which case they need an I-130 as the underlying petition. This can be filed concurrently with the I-485. it still applies to a K-1 entrant that marries after the 90 days. It's just a waste of money/effort/stress to wait over 90 days.