Hi!!! Ive been here in the US as a permanent resident for about a month now... I signed up for an SS card/number together with the immigration application. Ive read that the card should arrive within 3 weeks of entry.... My ss card hasnt arrived yet. Is this situation common or do i really have to go to the nearest SS office to apply personally. What was the longest waitng time for an SS card which was applied for together with the immigration process coz i knw this option was asked in come of the immigration application form and that the INS will forward our paperwork directly and file for a ss card. Hope someone can shed some light thanks

do you mean you ticked the box when filling out the Visa application? if so, i don't believe that really works. You will have to go down to your local SSA office to apply for one. application can be found here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...om&page=ssn

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RM 00202.315 Enumeration At Entry
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100202315

Answer "Yes" to Questions 33a. and 33b.on Form DS-230 when applying for an immigrant visa.

You will then need to allow at least 3 weeks to see if the Enumeration At Entry process works. If you don't receive your SSN card within 3 weeks it's time to head on down to your friendly neighborhood
SSA office.

Find office:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

If you have been assigned an SSN the office can provide you with the
number. However, it is has been over 14 days from the day the SSN was
assigned and you haven't received the card you will probably need to
apply for a replacement card.

Take proof of age, identity and work authorized alien status. Proof of
age is not needed for a replacement card.

Birth certificate, passport and I-551 card or MRIV with temporary I-551
language should be enough to take into the SSA office.

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410
RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien
Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence

B. KINDS OF EVIDENCE ESTABLISHING LAPR STATUS

-- I-551, Permanent Resident Card
-- Machine Readable Immigrant Visa with Temporary I-551 Language

Note: The MRIV shows the alien's identification number ("A" number) as the "Registration Number" in the upper right-hand corner of the MRIV.

If you apply in the SSA office for an original SSN or replacement card
the SSA office will try to verify your status through the SAVE system
while your are in the office. If they can't, they will send a form G-845
to immigration for manual verification.

If the SSA office does send the G-845, I suggest that you go back to the
SSA office no more than once a week with your documents to (1) ask them to
check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come
back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by
calling or sending another mark "second request."
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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720
RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents
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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735
RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE
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After having waited at least 30 days and your local SSA office doesn't seem too concerned about following up on the G-845 you can try contacting the SSA Regional Office (RO) responsible for your state:

http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/natlpocontacts.html

Refer them to this:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203740
RM 00203.740 Requesting Additional (Manual) Verification By DHS

B. PROCEDURE – HOW TO REQUEST MANUAL VERIFICATION

STEP 6

DHS should respond to SSA within 15 federal work days after receiving
the Form G-845. If DHS does not respond within 15 federal work days from
the receipt of the G-845 from SSA, follow-up with the DHS, USCIS
Immigration Status office. (Allow 15 days plus five additional federal work days of
mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS.

Follow local practice to follow-up with DHS. Some SSA offices have an
arrangement with the DHS, USCIS office to telephone for the follow-up
contact; other SSA offices send a copy of the original G-845 annotated
“second request.”) If the DHS response is still not received within 15
federal work days after the follow-up contact (if the follow-up is by
mail allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845
to be received at and returned from DHS), make a second follow-up
contact. If the DHS response is not received within 15 federal workdays
(again, if the follow-up is by mail, allow five additional federal work
days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from
DHS), after two follow-ups, contact the RO. Also report to the RO any
trend that shows a serious deviation by DHS from the above time frames.
The RO will consult with central office.
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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203001
RM 00203.001 Evidence Required for an SSN Card

C. POLICY - EVIDENCE FOR AN ORIGINAL OR NEW SSN

1. Work Authorized SSN Card

An alien allowed to work must provide evidence establishing age, identity and work authorized lawful alien status.
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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203020
RM 00203.020 Number of Documents Required for an SSN Card

2. Original (and new SSNs)

At least two documents are required and should be requested.

b. Aliens

A foreign born individual should always be requested to submit a foreign
birth certificate if one is in his/her possession or if one can be
easily obtained. However, if a foreign birth certificate does not exist
or cannot be obtained, accept alternative evidence of age.

The DHS document (e.g., I-551, I-94, or an employment authorization
document) establishes lawful alien status or work authorization and
either identity or age. If the DHS document is used to establish alien
status and identity, the alien must provide another document, such as a
passport or birth certificate, to establish age.
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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200
RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card
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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203030
RM 00203.030 Requesting Documents for an SSN Card

B. POLICY - FORM OF EVIDENCE

Evidence must be:

The original document, or a copy certified by the issuing agency or
custodian of the original record. Uncertified photocopies and notarized
copies are not acceptable.

A receipt from DHS showing the alien applied for the document is also
not acceptable. The applicant must present the actual document.
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