getting entered into DEERS

rangergirl18

Hi ladies.  I'm wondering if any of you who have already been through the process can give me some insight on what kind of papers will be necessary to be entered into DEERS after we are married.  (We are army if it makes any difference).  Because of our overseas PCS in October we need to get the ball rolling after the wedding as soon as possible.  Do you know if my name will need to be changed with social security and have a new card in hand to be entered or will the marriage certificate be enough?  We are getting married next Friday and because of the holiday there will be a delay in mail and I'm sure also in government functioning   When we pick up our license I plan to ask if it can be hand delivered back to speed up the process, but I was reading that it can take up to 10 days from the time SS receives your paperwork that you get your new card.

Any personal experience or info that you have to share would be helpful.  I plan to ask FI but sometimes details get lost on him (he says I worry about details too much) and I'm sure someone out there has been through this already.  Thanks!

Beachy730

We were PCSing about a month after our wedding, so we wanted to get everything done quick.  We asked out clerk's office if we could speed up the license process for the military, and they were very helpful.  They had us take our signed license home with us, and bring it in person the Monday after the weddning for them to process it immediately.  So we told our priest, and he just gave it right back to us after the ceremony.  I went in Monday morning and they processed it within 15 minutes.  Your first official copy is included, but we paid $10 to get a second official copy made.  We had to send an official copy to H's command, so we wanted a second one to use in the meantime. 

DEERS and my ID was the first thing we did after that.  I brought my license and SS card in my maiden name, and I think I might have brought my birth certificate too just to be safe.  Once I had my dependent ID I used that and carried a photocopy of my marriage license with em everywhere.  I went to SS a few days later, and I think my new card came within 2 weeks.  I didn't get a new license until we moved and got it in WA with my married name.

My best recommendation is to get 2 official copies of your license, and make a photocopy that you can keep in your wallet until you get everything switched over.

SamiJoeB

They gave us like 6 copies of our marriage license, all for free, because we were dual military.  I didn't know that they would do that, but I called her ma'am and she asked if I was in the military (Who knew that proper manners were a clue!?) I told her that we both were so she gave us 6 certified copies (with the seal embossed).  I'm not sure if this was just a WA thing or not, but I mean it never hurts to ask right?

As for the SS card, I applied on a Monday, and got my new card on Saturday.  I'm not sure why it was so speedy fast, but it was for me! My passport also only took like 3 days but thats because there's a US passport office in Seattle.

HTH

KendallR10

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_getting-entered-deers?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:f8315325-1cfe-4ba7-94b1-12e7e89aba30Post:54df2e47-ed09-4938-8261-3ddcf5d77cff">Re: getting entered into DEERS</a>:
[QUOTE]They gave us like 6 copies of our marriage license, all for free, because we were dual military.  I didn't know that they would do that, but I called her ma'am and she asked if I was in the military (Who knew that proper manners were a clue!?) I told her that we both were so she gave us 6 certified copies (with the seal embossed).  I'm <strong>not sure if this was just a WA thing or not</strong>, but I mean it never hurts to ask right? As for the SS card, I applied on a Monday, and got my new card on Saturday.  I'm not sure why it was so speedy fast, but it was for me! My passport also only took like 3 days but thats because there's a US passport office in Seattle. HTH
Posted by SamiJoeB[/QUOTE]
I don't think it is. They told FI and I that we could get 3 copies for free because he was military. This was back when we were JOP this last december

LetsHikeToday

We got one marriage certificate back right away, day of.

We took that, my birth certificate, and license to enroll in DEERS. I didn't have my new name on my Social Security card yet (I actually hadn't changed my name yet) but the guy still put my married name on my military ID. I don't know if everyone would do that but we HAD to go to the base that day because it was the only day my H had off. We couldn't have waited for me to go to Social Security.

kara811

You'll need to have a certified copy of your marriage certificate and at least 2 forms of ID when you go into DEERS. I was told by them it was better if the other form of your ID is your actual SS card, but it's not needed as long as you know your number. 

I guess other PPs got lucky with their marriage certificates because we had to pay for all our copies and I believe it was $15 each, we originally got 2 but since H's ship was gone at the time and we couldn't get to it, we ordered another set. Our marriage bureau takes up to 10 days to process the licenses and have the certificates available. 

I hadn't changed my name with SS either since we were in Japan, so my military ID is still in my maiden name. When I did go to change it a month ago, it took almost 2 weeks to get my new ID. H and I are going into DEERS this week to have my name changed on my ID finally! He's quite excited! 

rangergirl18

thanks for the help ladies!  i think if we can get the certificate right away we should be good.  if i have to go under my current name and then change it later thats fine.  it sounds like they will accept the marriage license  though w/o the name change so it should all work out.  ill let you know if i do run into any issues though at any point.