No SS#, No marriage

[tonado]

This may affect some of us who might have tough time getting SS #.

 

 

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles...riage_licenses/

 

"NASHVILLE, Tenn. --A federal law that requires people to supply their Social Security number when applying for a marriage license has forced thousands of couples around the country, particularly illegal immigrants, to put their wedding plans on hold."

[mchina34]

This may affect some of us who might have tough time getting SS #.

 

 

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles...riage_licenses/

 

"NASHVILLE, Tenn. --A federal law that requires people to supply their Social Security number when applying for a marriage license has forced thousands of couples around the country, particularly illegal immigrants, to put their wedding plans on hold."

 

good idea.

[Randy W]

Title 42 USC Chapter 7, Subchapter IV, Part D, Sec. 666(a)(13) was enacted in 1996:

 

(13) Recording of social security numbers in certain family matters.¡ª Procedures requiring that the social security number of¡ª

( A ) any applicant for a professional license, driver¡¯s license, occupational license, recreational license, or marriage license be recorded on the application;

( B ) any individual who is subject to a divorce decree, support order, or paternity determination or acknowledgment be placed in the records relating to the matter; and

( C ) any individual who has died be placed in the records relating to the death and be recorded on the death certificate.

For purposes of subparagraph (A), if a State allows the use of a number other than the social security number to be used on the face of the document while the social security number is kept on file at the agency, the State shall so advise any applicants.

 

but SS says

If you check "Legal Alien Not Allowed to Work," you must provide a document from a U.S.

Federal, State, or local government agency that explains why you need a Social Security number

and that you meet all of the requirements for the U.S. government benefit. NOTE: Not all U.S.

State or local benefits are acceptable for non-work SSN purposes. Contact SSA to see if your

reason qualifies.

If you check "Other," you must provide a document from the U.S. government agency that

explains why you need a Social Security number and that you meet all of the requirements for a

Federal benefit except for the number.

Edited July 12, 2007 by Randy W (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

I have no problems with the illegals having a hard time getting the SSN, and having that as a road block in other endeavors like marrying an illegal alien.

 

The pain is with some SSA office workers failing to understand that a person entering the USA on a K-1 legally is entitled a SSN, and the primary reason K-1 is allowed the SSN is the other federal law requiring both parties getting married to provide their SSNs to marry.

 

What is stupid about the person in the article is that they very well could just go to another state like Nevada, and get married. Not all states enforce that federal law when marrying.

[Guest Mike and Lily]

That's fine and dandy as long as SSN's can be obtained for legal immigrants in a reasonable period of time. K-1 visa holders may find themselves in a catch-22 if it takes longer than 90 days to get a SSN.

[warpedbored]

I wonder how those of you saying this is a good thing would feel if you weren't allowed to marry your sweetheart in China. Or if you decided to go to some other foreign country to have your wedding and they wouldn't let you because you aren't legal to work in that country. What on earth does immigration have to do with marriage anyway? They are two completely different things. Now we have the government telling us who we can or can't marry? you should be able to marry anyone you want. Whether or not they can adjust status is a very different thing.

[dnoblett]

That's fine and dandy as long as SSN's can be obtained for legal immigrants in a reasonable period of time. K-1 visa holders may find themselves in a catch-22 if it takes longer than 90 days to get a SSN.

A K-1 can apply for SSN 2 weeks after entering the country because K-1 is "Work authorized", and SSA tends to have it in their hands 1 to 2 weeks after that. Not 90 days.

 

Only problems are with people at the local SSA office that are not familiar with K-1 visa, the solution is to go to another SSA office.

 

We applied for SSN and received the card a week later.

 

You must be thinking EAD, that can take up to 90 days to get.

[lostinblue]

With this law then would you have easier time to get SS number ???

 

If you check "Legal Alien Not Allowed to Work," you must provide a document from a U.S.

Federal, State, or local government agency that explains why you need a Social Security number

 

A federal law that requires people to supply their Social Security number when applying for a marriage license

[dnoblett]

With this law then would you have easier time to get SS number ???

 

If you check "Legal Alien Not Allowed to Work," you must provide a document from a U.S.

Federal, State, or local government agency that explains why you need a Social Security number

 

A federal law that requires people to supply their Social Security number when applying for a marriage license

Correct more ammunition when dealing with some of the bone-heads at SSA. Though K-1 is a "Legal Alien Allowed to Work"

[Randy W]

This law would throw a curve ball at those who wish to get married and then get an SS card in the married name.

 

Don't forget, though, that it's widely interpreted as meaning that SS numbers must be collected from those who have them - and NOT as saying who can or cannot get married.

[pkfops]

So as long as you sister has a SSN it's ok to marry her in Tenn?

[SirLancelot]

This law would throw a curve ball at those who wish to get married and then get an SS card in the married name.

 

Don't forget, though, that it's widely interpreted as meaning that SS numbers must be collected from those who have them - and NOT as saying who can or cannot get married.

 

 

This does get to the crux of the issue. It serves two purposes, one is to make sure that those who have SS# will offer them and two is that it will stop illegal immigrants from marrying.

 

Two foreigners who enter the US legally with a valid I-94 can get married everywhere. To the best of my knowledge, there isn't one county who will deny two adults who legally entered the US from marrying, even if they don't have SSNs. There are some visitors who come to the US to get married, and they have absolutely no need for a SSN and couldn't apply for one even if they wanted one. Those folks do NOT need SSNs to get married. They simply show their passport with a valid visa and the I-94. They are eligible to marry without SSNs in all the states.

 

It's only the illegal immigrants who can't produce a valid visa and un-expired I-94 who are having trouble.

 

Now as to Carl's point of whether it's ethical or moral to deny anyone marriage based on their illegal status, that is certainly debatable. I would propose that they be allowed to marry, but then promptly deported for entering illegally or for over-staying their visa.

 

As to Mike and Lily's point of "K-1 visa holders may find themselves in a catch-22 if it takes longer than 90 days to get a SSN." This is an irrelevant point. K-1 visa holders enter into the country legally, they have a valid visa with a valid I-94 during their initial 90 days. You need NOT have a SSN to marry, so long as you provide the foreign passport with a valid visa and valid I-94. You do not need a SSN. If you get married after 90 days, you'll have much bigger problems to worry about when you adjust status as the requirement of a K-1 is that you marry within 90 days of entry. No one should be waiting for a SSN to get married if s/he is on a K-1. Do NOT wait until after 90 days to get married.

 

One does NOT need SSN to marry, nor does one need SSN to adjust status. It would be nice if you had it, but it's NOT required.

 

Bottom line: the law does not and could not prevent a legally present foreigner from marrying a USC, or from marrying another legally present foreigner.

Edited July 17, 2007 by SirLancelot (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

One state that sometimes refuse to perform a marriage without both parties providing an SSN is Minnesota. A month or so ago I read of a person on VJ having the usual problem getting SSN for their fiancee from the SSA office in Minnesota, and trying to explain that they could not get married per state and federal laws in MN requiring the SSN, and the moron at the SSA office still would not issue a number.

 

From the marriage license paperwork in MN:

TENNESSEN WARNING FOR THE COLLECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON THE MARRIAGE APPLICATION

Each applicant is required to provide his or her social security number on the marriage license application by Federal and State law [Title 42, United States Code, Section 666 (a) (13) (A); Minnesota Statutes section 144.223 and section 517.08, subdivision 1a (1997)]

 

http://www.co.lake-of-the-woods.mn.us/imag...Application.pdf

 

But that state is also confused too: A different application from another county has this wording:

TENNESSEN WARNING FOR THE COLLECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS:

If you have a Social Security Number you are required by federal....

http://www.co.blue-earth.mn.us/dept/licens...application.pdf

 

So you can see there is quite a problem interpreting the wording of the law.

[SinoTexas]

FYI....

Marriage Requirements

As aye,

Jim

[SirLancelot]

Dan, you're right. MN does have some counties with very draconian wording to their SSN disclaimer.

 

http://www.mnweddingminister.com/HennCoLocations.html

 

Some counties are better than others.

 

But I still maintain that if you go to that county (Lake of the Woods County) and show them that you're in the country legally with a non-expiring I-94, that they can't prevent you from marrying. MN has no residency laws. So anyone can travel to that state to get married. You needn't be a resident of their state, nor even a resident of the US.

 

Luckily, there are more enlightened counties in MN which don't have these draconian SSN disclaimers. As there are no residency requirements in MN, anyone in MN can just go to another county to register to marry.

 

 

One state that sometimes refuse to perform a marriage without both parties providing an SSN is Minnesota. A month or so ago I read of a person on VJ having the usual problem getting SSN for their fiancee from the SSA office in Minnesota, and trying to explain that they could not get married per state and federal laws in MN requiring the SSN, and the moron at the SSA office still would not issue a number.

 

From the marriage license paperwork in MN:

TENNESSEN WARNING FOR THE COLLECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS ON THE MARRIAGE APPLICATION

Each applicant is required to provide his or her social security number on the marriage license application by Federal and State law [Title 42, United States Code, Section 666 (a) (13) (A); Minnesota Statutes section 144.223 and section 517.08, subdivision 1a (1997)]

 

http://www.co.lake-of-the-woods.mn.us/imag...Application.pdf

 

But that state is also confused too: A different application from another county has this wording:

TENNESSEN WARNING FOR THE COLLECTION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS:

If you have a Social Security Number you are required by federal....

http://www.co.blue-earth.mn.us/dept/licens...application.pdf

 

So you can see there is quite a problem interpreting the wording of the law.