How to Change a Name on a Social Security Card
There are number of reasons as to why a person needs to change their name on a Social Security card. It could be due to identify theft or simply changing their legal name. Whatever the reason maybe, there are a set of rules that must be followed to accurately change a name on a Social Security card.
- Gather all documents that show who you are. This includes your marriage or divorce license, a Certificate of Naturalization, a court order name change document and a United States driver’s license. All the forms of identification must be current, show your name, date of birth or age and a recent photograph. Other forms of identification are acceptable such as a United States passport, a state-issued non-driver identification card or an employee identification card. The documents must be either originals or certified copies.
- Check to see what your current citizen status is. If you were not born in the United States, then you will be required to show your current United States immigration document, which is the I-94. For students, you must show your I-20 and for exchange visitors, you must show your DS-2019.
- Complete an application for a Social Security card. Be sure to have all the documents handy when completing the application. The application can be located at the Social Security federal website. It can be downloaded and saved for easy printing. Fill out all necessary forms.
- Take the completed application to a local Social Security office. If there is not an office in your area, then the application can be mailed in. Once the identification documents have been verified, then your new Social Security Card will arrive within 10 business days. The new card will have the same number, but the name will be changed.