Loni

I don't think they do. I don't think the guy working there was telling me the correct information. But the DMV in Alabama requires your drivers license to be in the same name as your SSN. I cannot get the SS office to change my name with my marriage certificate or even the proof from immigration that I've applied for adjustment of status in my new married name. I don't know if it's a state thing or if things have just changed since. But it's a big headache.

Thank you for posting that link. I will try that.

I'm new to all of this. I though I'd post this and see if anyone else has had problems with this as well, or if anyone has any other advice. I am having difficulty in getting a SSN card and Alabama state drivers license in my new married name. The drivers license seems to be needed everywhere to change my name elsewhere. And the SSN is needed to get a drivers license, as well as apply for credit card under new name.

I arrived in the US from Canada on a K1 visa on March 25,2016. On May 5th, we were married at the courthouse, and were able to receive our marriage certificate the same day. The next day we went to the Social Security office to apply for a card, but they said that since I'm in the system on my maiden name, they could only issue it in that name. They said to come back after I receive the card in the mail, bring that and my marriage certificate, and then they can change it to the married name.

In the meantime, while waiting, I had also received my I-797C (receipt notice) from immigration regarding my adjustment of status application. So I brought that in as well with all my other documents on my second visit. Now I'm being told they could not change it to my married name until I have a state drivers license in the new name. I asked to speak to a supervisor. I explain to him that I'm being batted back and forth between the DMV and the Social Security office. Each office is saying I need the other in the new name first. I showed him all my papers. The recent I-797C is even addressed to me in my new married name. This supervisor says they cannot process my name change until I have a green card.

The next day, I tried the DMV again. My husband and I had talked with a state trooper previously at the DMV office explaining to him my situation and which documents I had, and we were told that once I receive the notice that I had applied for adjustment of status, and I should be able get a drivers license in my new name. It was an all day wait at the DMV. When I finally saw someone, she said I could not get a drivers license until my SSN was correct. I told her what we were told on our previous visit. She went to talk to the state trooper, which was a different guy that day, and she came back and said she can issue me a license, but it will be in my maiden name. I need to have the SSN corrected to my new name before they can issue me a drivers license that name. So I was able to finally get an Alabama drivers license, but it is still in my old name.

I have been told to try to get my passport name updated, and that it might help. I have looked into that, but besides having the marriage certificate, they also require me to have ID in my new name before they will issue me a passport in my new name.

I don't know if there is anything else I can do, other than wait for a green card, and get my name changed then. It seems like an awfully long time to wait in order to change your name. I'm going to get an EAD before the green card. Do you think I should try going to the Social Security office with that and maybe get someone that would accept that?