Hi,
We just received the EAD card on Thursday and we went to SSA office on Friday to apply for SSN. Well... the clerk there wasn't able to verify the EAD card (he said it was too new, just one week old what? ) so he gave us a receipt saying that the SSN will be issued in no more than 6 weeks... Did anyone had a problem like this?
I've read that most of the people got the SSN in one week or less... Did you let your EAD card to "age" ... get older... so the government computers can exchange the information ? Or maybe because of the holidays, the computers have some days off and they didn't have enough time to exchange EAD numbers and information...
Thanks.

You don't even need the EAD card, if you came in with a K-1. I lost the useful link that explains this (K-1 is "work authorized" for this purpose, even though you can't work without EAD). Most SSA workers don't know this, though, so you have to print off the rules and point at it for them.

We went with my husband's green card and we got the same receipt you did - he got his card in 2 weeks. They probably just have to manually verify the info because you may not be in the system, not too big a worry. If a month or so goes by without it, then I'd start to worry.



The OP arrived in July, at this point, she/he most certainly does need an EAD for an SSN.

Hi,
We are 6 months away from the date of entry in the US, do K1 espired 3 months ago. When my fiancee first arrive in the US, based on K1 visa she had the right to work and she could apply for SSN back then. She was authorized to work for the 3 month of K1 validity. However, we didn't do that, we got married and now once we received EAD we applied for SSN.

The purpose of SSN is to pay taxes, and receive benefits, and you cannot do that if are not authorized to work. After K1 expired, my fiancee lost her right to work till EAD approval came through.

Thank you for your insight, but is doen't apply to our case.
C & V

OK! This is more like it! Yes, that's what the clerk sait that he had to manually verify the information. However, the statement on the receipt that it takes about 6 weeks to resolve kind of upset me.

We will wait and see!
Thanks Meow Mix!

A Happy New Year to ALL of you!
C&V

Right. Sorry. I did not notice the dates on the timeline. Many people incorrectly believe that they have to wait the three months for the EAD to get approved before applying for SSN.

Hopefully it will be straightened out for you soon! And congrats on your journey so far

C&V, if you don't hear back from SSA after 4 weeks, suggest that you go back to the SSA office and follow up on result of manual verification.

It's been 6 weeks since we applied for SSN. About 2 weeks ago (when we reached the 4 weeks since we applied for SSN) we went back to the SSA office, and the same idiot clerk told us the same old story : "The EAD card didn't verify, and until it verifies it is nothing we can do about it! " Crazy people.... I read that Social Security Administration and USCIS have a partnership on a website named "E-verify" where employers can get in there for a fee, and electronically verify the applicants EAD cards.
I don't understand how comes they cannot verify the document their partner issued...
We set an infopass to check on USCIS and ask them why their card is not recognized by SSA...
We will probably go back to SSA soon because it is way out of line....

When I crossed the border on my K-1, I waited 2 weeks before going into SS to apply for the card. The 2 weeks let my data get transferred into their system. Thus when I applied, it was a simple process. Got the card 6 days later.

Probably the same thing with the EAD situation. You went in one day after getting it, so you weren't in their database. So now since it had to be manually processed, it actually ends up taking longer than if you'd waited the 2 weeks.

It's a dumb situation. You'd think their data would be accurate at least to the day. But it's not.

When you apply SSA verifies you through SAVE. If the initial verification doesn't work, they send a secondary electronic request. Normally that comes back pretty fast. Where things get bogged down is that sometimes the response from the secondary request if to see the documents and then they are sent under cover of form G-845. Some immigration offices still process those locally, but a lot of them now are mailed to Los Angles, CA for processing. The bad thing about putting it in the mail is the SSA office doesn't check that it got to the verification office and the verification office doesn't check to see if it made it back to the SSA office.

I would find out where in the verification process you are.

I got my 90 day EAD card in JFK,applied for an SSN shortly after and guess what I never got it!!
They told me to extend the K1 visa (retards dont know what they are talking about),so I will be going with the EAD card of my AOS.

If you do go back, I would find another SSA office in your area and go there....sometimes its a matter of getting to someone who cares to do a little more work than what is strictly in their job description. And as it is said in your wife's part of the world "incercare moarte n-are"!

FYI - Your fiancee could have received her SS# and card about 2 weeks after entering the US on her K-1. K-1 visa holders, because the visa is 'inherently' work authorized, are eligible to apply and receive an SS card. When you get it, the card does have a big red sentence on it....something to the effect of "valid for work only w/ DHS authorization" but you do have an SS card...which is useful for more than just work and pay taxes....you can use it to add your fiancee to bank accounts, insurance benefits, etc. So many K-1ers find it beneficial to go ahead and get the SS card first, before marriage, before AOS.

Good luck,
-P

If there is an application pending you can't go somewhere else an apply. Will need to see how this one plays out.

I got my SSN 5 days after entering..

I dont know why people dont get it when they first enter and save themselves the headache later on..

When we changed Claudeth's name on her SSN it took about six weeks for SSA to verify everything with the USCIS

Did it take 6 weeks or that's how long it took from the time the application was submitted until the card was received? Could have been sitting on someone's desk for 5 weeks. Said it I don't know how many times, people can't compare their application time to anyone else. The main thing is to keep after the SSA office to make sure they do what they are supposed to do and follow up when they are supposed to.

Claudeth applied for a card about two weeks after she arrived. We received the card a week later. After we were married we tried to change the name but they needed something from the USCIS in her married name. We waited until her EAD came and then went back. They submitted the paperwork but still have to received an official statement from the USCIS which probably took about five weeks and after six weeks the card with her married name arrived. The lady at the local SSA office told us that six weeks was about standard, at least for their office.

Hi Everyone,
My wife finally received the SSN after 2 months and a half of struggle. After our second unsuccesful visit with SSA, when she learned that she is still not into that SAVE system, we had an Infopass with USCIS to ask what is going on. At her 2nd visit at SSA she was lucky to bump into a romania clerk at the counter there. He listen to her and give us a note to show at the Info pass so they klnow what's wrong. He took our home phone number and he said that he will check again the SAVE system after our infopass and if her profile will be up he will let us know.
We went to USCIS and the lady there was like" Nothing is wrong here... look at these screens, this is what SSA see when they get into SAVE... and she pass really quick through cheking different bokes to pass from one screen to another in that really old DOS based computer program ... She couldn't give us any real advice but to wait because everything seems to be fine.... IT was weird how the very next day, the guy at SSA called us leaving a message that her profile magically showed up and the application is approved. My wife received SSN 6 days later in the mail.... what an adventure...

Thanks everyone,
C&V

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Wow, sorry to hear that you had to deal with such a long delay just for an SSN and SS card. Glad to hear that you were able to work it out.

Everyone remember this when someone asks how long does it take to get an SSN.

Yes, True! Thanks for your feedback!
If they are able to verify the EAD electronically on SAVE system, then you will receive thet SSN in about 5-6 days. If they cannot verify the EAD through the automatic system, then you better check with USCIS and SSN every other week.
Vik

Hi, so what do you suggest? How long should I go to the SSA to apply SSN after received EAD? It's about the tax return thing, cause our accountant filed the tax for my husband just a few days ago (he's just filled my SSN column as "Applied For"), and now I know my EAD just approved yesterday. I heard that if I got my SSN#, I should update the Federal and State Tax Dept. Thanks in advance!!

I received my EAD in the mail and went in person to my local SS office today. The clerk gave me the puzzling response that she could not verify my EAD in my married name and asked if I recently changed my name. The frustrating thing about all this is that I changed my name A YEAR AGO ... before even attending my K3 interview in Montreal and every official document the US gov't has issued in the last year is in my MARRIED name.... including my visa and EAD!!!! So why they would still have my maiden name on whatever ancient database they consult to verify this info is beyond me. Yet another speedbump in this crazy road!!!
Mo

I would go as soon as you get the card. Not a tax expert, but I don't think you can put "applied for" on the 1040. You either need to provide an SSN or ITIN. The "applied for" only works for an employer filing a W-2 and the worker hasn't been assigned an SSN.

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http://www.ssa.gov/employer/hiring.htm

What if the worker doesn't have a Social Security number when wage reports (Forms W-2) are due to Social Security?

Paper Filers: If the worker applied for a card but didn't receive the number in time for filing, enter "Applied For" in Box a.
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http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...d=96696,00.html

When Claiming Exemptions for Dependent or Spouse:

You generally must list on your individual income tax return the social security number (SSN) of any person for whom you claim an exemption. If your dependent or spouse does not have and is not eligible to get an SSN, you must list the ITIN instead of an SSN.
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You might not be aware of this, but to get the tax rebate payment you need to have an SSN and if you file married jointly and only one person has an SSN neither of you aren't eligible to receive a payment.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=179181,00.html

Q. I have an ITIN, but my spouse has a valid Social Security number. Can we get a payment?

A. If you and your spouse file a joint return, you will not get a stimulus payment. If your spouse files a separate return, your spouse may qualify for a payment, based on his or her income deductions and credits.

I got mine 1 month after applying with K-1... but I guess my new SSN adventure is going to start