SSN: Will It Be Too Problematic To Remove First Name?

[Howy 3]

Hello, all. Just had a question on something someone here might have already went through.

 

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I can change my name through Social Security to whatever I want it to be (?). My K1 visa and CFO certificate is approved (yay!), and flight is nearing, and I’ll eventually get to applying for my SSN soon.

 

I have two first names like many Filipinos. I really want to get rid of my first first name and only keep my second first name (Howard), but is that recommended to do? In general with immigration? Will it cause any problems for when I later on return to the Philippines and my name is different there, or when I give my birth certificate anywhere during the immigration process and they see the name is different there?

 

Hope someone has experience on this to share. Thank you.

[TBoneTX 45,536]

Thread is moved from the K-1 Case Progress subforum to the Social Security Numbers subforum.

[top_secret 2,450]

After you marry you can take your spouse's last name if you choose to.  Some states would also allow you to change your middle name according to Philippine customs.  Some states would not allow you to change your middle name.  So it depends on the state for middle names.  I don't think there are any circumstances where you can change your first name by marriage.  It would require a legal name change by the laws of whatever state you are living in.

[J.M. 242]

The number holder’s (NH) first and last name on his or her SSN card must agree with the first and last name shown on the document submitted as evidence of identity or legal name. A middle name or suffix is not considered part of the legal name. It does not matter if the middle name or suffix is included, omitted, or incorrectly shown on an SSN card.

For SSN purposes, a NH’s legal name consists of the first (or given name) and last (or family name or surname) that is used to sign legal documents, deeds, or contracts.

The SSN card has two lines for the NH’s name with 26 spaces on the first line for the NH’s first and middle names and 26 spaces on the second line for the last name and suffix, if any. Neither the first or last names shown on the SSN card should be reduced in length, unless it exceeds the 26-character limit. Therefore, omit middle names, middle initials, and suffixes if they prevent you from showing as many characters as possible for the first and last names.

[W199 337]

21 hours ago, top_secret said:

After you marry you can take your spouse's last name if you choose to.  Some states would also allow you to change your middle name according to Philippine customs.  Some states would not allow you to change your middle name.  So it depends on the state for middle names.  I don't think there are any circumstances where you can change your first name by marriage.  It would require a legal name change by the laws of whatever state you are living in.

Nope, I waa able to do it.

 

First, the SSA allowed my Wife to change her middle and last name per the Philippines custom. Though, they didn’t seem to care what we chose for a name.

 

I then asked them to swap my first and middle last name to match my passport, DL, etc… Previously they told me I needed a court ordered name change for this.  But now they agreed to do it based on the marriage certificate which had my first name swapped just like my passport. I then received a new SSN card with my first name changed

[rmarkwallace 7]

You also want to apply for the social security card immediately.  You will need the number to file a joint return or open a bank account. Social Security will stamp it "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" but you can have that fixed at the local social security office after your arrival. For tax purposes, you got married the date of the wedding, not the date that you arrived in the US.  If the petitioner files as single after the wedding it will trigger fraud investigations.

[J.M. 242]

5 hours ago, W199 said:

First, the SSA allowed my Wife to change her middle and last name per the Philippines custom. Though, they didn’t seem to care what we chose for a name.

 

I then asked them to swap my first and middle last name to match my passport, DL, etc… Previously they told me I needed a court ordered name change for this.  But now they agreed to do it based on the marriage certificate which had my first name swapped just like my passport. I then received a new SSN card with my first name changed

For both of these name changes, you provided valid documentation that allowed the name change.   The OP wants to drop his "first" first name.  That will be difficult if the identity document he provides lists that as his first name.

[milimelo 4,502]

6 hours ago, rmarkwallace said:

You also want to apply for the social security card immediately.  You will need the number to file a joint return or open a bank account. Social Security will stamp it "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" but you can have that fixed at the local social security office after your arrival. For tax purposes, you got married the date of the wedding, not the date that you arrived in the US.  If the petitioner files as single after the wedding it will trigger fraud investigations.

A K-1 arrival will only ever get SSN with restriction until they return with an EAD or a green card. 

[W199 337]

On 5/16/2024 at 11:14 PM, J.M. said:

For both of these name changes, you provided valid documentation that allowed the name change.   The OP wants to drop his "first" first name.  That will be difficult if the identity document he provides lists that as his first name.

True, good point. My marriage certificate showed my first name change already. Hence, SSA accepted that as a first name change. But I never technically never made a legal name change. The passport agency allowed me to swap my first and last name as shown on my BC as a well as the RMV.  Only the SSA didn’t allow that until I showed them

the marriage certificate which had less strict name change standards. Seems like a loop hole.

[Howy 3]

Hey, update on this for anyone who may come across the post in the future: after marrying, I was only able to change my last name legally through the courthouse and social security. In our state here, we are required to file a petition for modifying our first name in any sort of way. So yes, I CAN change my first name and remove one of them, but it will mean going through another process aside from marriage. Hope this helps.