[2xaround]

We are in the process of completing our dd's readoption/legal name change. I understand that once this is completed I have to request a new COC with her new legal name. However, does anyone know if I have to have the new COC to apply for her social security card or will the old COC and legal documents showing her new name suffice?

[Mindybeth6]

You do NOT need a new COC. You need the readoption paperwork and a new BC from your state, if that's how they do it here. So for example we take in the old SS card with her old name on it, her new Ohio BC with her new name, and her readoption decree showing that her name was legally changed.

[DPline]

What I did was get my kids' Social Security numbers with their old COC, and then went back after the legal name change and just changed their name with SSA. That way they already had a SS# and were listed as US Citizens, and it was just a matter of changing their name with SSA. (For which you only need the name change documents.)

Some offices are fine with issuing a number in the new name and still listing the child as a citizen with the old COC and using the name change documents, but some offices have been known to be a pain about it.

The other alternative is to wait, go in after the name change is complete and get the number, and if they give you a hard time about the COC, just wait and go back and have your child's status changed once you have the new COC in hand.

[skiouro]

All I did was take in the paperwork from GT, her passport, and my DL and they gave me a SSN. It took less than 2 weeks

[DPline]

Originally Posted by skiouro

All I did was take in the paperwork from GT, her passport, and my DL and they gave me a SSN. It took less than 2 weeks

Any child entering on an IR3 or IR4 visa can get a SS# from the day they enter the US, but unless you show SSA a COC, your child will be listed as a legal resident, not a citizen. SSA can not determine citizenship status from the child's visa type. They must see a COC if your child was born outside of the US. Not to say that one office or another has not made an expecption, but if you did not show them a COC I would definetly make sure your child is listed as a citizen and not a legal resident.

[2xaround]

Originally Posted by DPline

What I did was get my kids' Social Security numbers with their old COC, and then went back after the legal name change and just changed their name with SSA. That way they already had a SS# and were listed as US Citizens, and it was just a matter of changing their name with SSA. (For which you only need the name change documents.)

Some offices are fine with issuing a number in the new name and still listing the child as a citizen with the old COC and using the name change documents, but some offices have been known to be a pain about it.

The other alternative is to wait, go in after the name change is complete and get the number, and if they give you a hard time about the COC, just wait and go back and have your child's status changed once you have the new COC in hand.

Thanks for the info.

My plan was to complete the readoption/legal name change and then go to the social security office to get her social security number taken care of. I just wanted to avoid two trips. However, my concern was that not having the new COC with her new legal name would be a problem. Guess I'm going to find out if our local office is easy to deal with or wants to make it more difficult.