Refusal for Name change on social security card

[Kanja 201]

Hello All,

 

been quite a while.

 

hope everyone is well. I had some questions about the social security card process as my sister in law has immigrated on a k1 visa through my brother.

 

She applied and received a social security card shortly after she arrived in the USA. 
 

yesterday she had an apppintment to change her last name, she had her marriage certificate with her. The agent told her she can’t change her name until she receives her green card with her new name on it.

 

this doesn’t seem right, but she was by herself and didn’t feel empowered to advocate for herself so she left.

 

is this accurate? If not, what is the right protocol? If this happens again what should she do or what should she do when she makes the next appointment. By the way, when making the appointment she was only told to bring the marriage certificate and application and social security card. 

[powerpuff 5,888]

~ Topic moved from K1 Fiancé Visa forum to SSN forum ~
 

If you search VJ, you will see many threads discussing this very issue and how SSA refuses to change the name until either EAD or GC was shown along the marriage certificate. I didn’t even bother going to SSA office after I got married, I went after receiving my GC. You friend should wait until she receives either and then go again.

[Kanja 201]

Thanks so much!

 

so frustrating especially with wait times of green card. 

[Crazy Cat 39,206]

51 minutes ago, Kanja said:

Thanks so much!

 

so frustrating especially with wait times of green card. 

But, had she waited, she might not have gotten a SS number for many. many months.  She did the right thing by applying for her SSN right after arrival.  

[Kanja 201]

Good point. We pushed to get that appointment 

[little immigrant 800]

9 hours ago, Kanja said:

Hello All,

 

been quite a while.

 

hope everyone is well. I had some questions about the social security card process as my sister in law has immigrated on a k1 visa through my brother.

 

She applied and received a social security card shortly after she arrived in the USA. 
 

yesterday she had an apppintment to change her last name, she had her marriage certificate with her. The agent told her she can’t change her name until she receives her green card with her new name on it.

 

this doesn’t seem right, but she was by herself and didn’t feel empowered to advocate for herself so she left.

 

is this accurate? If not, what is the right protocol? If this happens again what should she do or what should she do when she makes the next appointment. By the way, when making the appointment she was only told to bring the marriage certificate and application and social security card. 

I had the same thing happening to me. However the agent then found a field that says "other names" and he updated it that way and I got my SSN card with the date of my marriage. 

[Kanja 201]

13 minutes ago, little immigrant said:

I had the same thing happening to me. However the agent then found a field that says "other names" and he updated it that way and I got my SSN card with the date of my marriage. 

Oh wow- good to know 

[Scandi 3,970]

Same for me, I updated my name when I received my EAD (that way I had an ID in my new name, and that's what SSA wanted to see, marriage certificate only wasn't enough apparently). Wasn't a problem for me, my SSN was still valid and very useful for all purposes before AND after my name change. 💁‍♀️

Edited April 2, 2022 by Scandi

[Kanja 201]

50 minutes ago, Scandi said:

Same for me, I updated my name when I received my EAD (that way I had an ID in my new name, and that's what SSA wanted to see, marriage certificate only wasn't enough apparently). Wasn't a problem for me, my SSN was still valid and very useful for all purposes before AND after my name change. 💁‍♀️

Thank you! 

[mytruelove18 607]

19 hours ago, Kanja said:

Hello All,

 

been quite a while.

 

hope everyone is well. I had some questions about the social security card process as my sister in law has immigrated on a k1 visa through my brother.

 

She applied and received a social security card shortly after she arrived in the USA. 
 

yesterday she had an apppintment to change her last name, she had her marriage certificate with her. The agent told her she can’t change her name until she receives her green card with her new name on it.

 

this doesn’t seem right, but she was by herself and didn’t feel empowered to advocate for herself so she left.

 

is this accurate? If not, what is the right protocol? If this happens again what should she do or what should she do when she makes the next appointment. By the way, when making the appointment she was only told to bring the marriage certificate and application and social security card. 

That is the process in most ss office, i did the same thing. Got my ssn before get married then when i got my green card i went back to change my name

[Bob in Boston 618]

On 4/1/2022 at 6:35 AM, Kanja said:

Hello All,

 

been quite a while.

 

hope everyone is well. I had some questions about the social security card process as my sister in law has immigrated on a k1 visa through my brother.

 

She applied and received a social security card shortly after she arrived in the USA. 
 

yesterday she had an apppintment to change her last name, she had her marriage certificate with her. The agent told her she can’t change her name until she receives her green card with her new name on it.

 

this doesn’t seem right, but she was by herself and didn’t feel empowered to advocate for herself so she left.

 

is this accurate? If not, what is the right protocol? If this happens again what should she do or what should she do when she makes the next appointment. By the way, when making the appointment she was only told to bring the marriage certificate and application and social security card. 

This is wrong. Marriage Cert allows you to change to married name. We did it. Passport and green card in maiden name. State ID and SSN in married name. 

[Kanja 201]

12 hours ago, Scandi said:

Same for me, I updated my name when I received my EAD (that way I had an ID in my new name, and that's what SSA wanted to see, marriage certificate only wasn't enough apparently). Wasn't a problem for me, my SSN was still valid and very useful for all purposes before AND after my name change. 💁‍♀️

 

1 hour ago, Bob in Boston said:

This is wrong. Marriage Cert allows you to change to married name. We did it. Passport and green card in maiden name. State ID and SSN in married name. 

That’s what I thought, Bob. Is there something we can cite when trying to do this again? You get different information depending on who you speak to. Thanks.

[Bob in Boston 618]

42 minutes ago, Kanja said:

Is there something we can cite when trying to do this again?

In Mass on the Marriage Certificate it says name to be taken after marriage.... What does yours say. Immigration does not make you change to your married name. Only difference here I see is you changed your Passport Name. I would point to that. Tell them you would like a second opinion from a supervisor. Have them show you the rule in writing that says green card has to match the married name. Like I said, we did it. And when We got green card we changed the social security card to get rid of work authorized only buy DHS logo and got a clear SS card in her married name. You also need to change it for tax purposes.

[Kanja 201]

Bob, interestingly enough- they got married in Mass. 😀, so it says the same thing.

 

good idea about asking for a supervisor. Unfortunately they don’t let me or her husband in the office with her because of these Covid rules and she is intimidated to ask for supervisor etc- but I will continue to coach her on these things. 

4 minutes ago, Bob in Boston said:

In Mass on the Marriage Certificate it says name to be taken after marriage.... What does yours say. Immigration does not make you change to your married name. Only difference here I see is you changed your Passport Name. I would point to that. Tell them you would like a second opinion from a supervisor. Have them show you the rule in writing that says green card has to match the married name. Like I said, we did it. And when We got green card we changed the social security card to get rid of work authorized only buy DHS logo and got a clear SS card in her married name. You also need to change it for tax purposes.

 

[Bob in Boston 618]

3 minutes ago, Kanja said:

good idea about asking for a supervisor. Unfortunately they don’t let me or her husband in the office with her because of these Covid rules and she is intimidated to ask for supervisor etc- but I will continue to coach her on these things. 

SS says they are going to be open as normal again in April. We went to the Norwood Ma Office if thats any help. Their Marriage Cert is a legal name change.

Need to Change Your Name on Your Social Security Card?Social Security Matters (ssa.gov)

Edited April 2, 2022 by Bob in Boston