I went to get my Social Security Office last week and was denied as I don't have work authorization. I told them all about what their policies say and that others with K1's are getting SSN... but still I was denied.

I just called the Toll Free Number and talked to a right ######! Even stating their policy to them...she said that I am not allowed a SSN. I mentioned about others with the exact documentation I have getting a SSN.....and she cut in in a very bitchy rude way and said "Well we are not talking about them....we are talking about you! I don't know what my neighbours doing!"


So yeah i'm starting to think it's not worth the hassle... will probably just wait till I have my green card now....eh.

Go back to the office you were at and insist on getting a supervisor. The people you were speaking to were obviously numbskulls. Print this and bring it along with you, along with your visa documentation. Regardless of whether you're married or not, you're still able to get a SSN if your I-94 is valid:

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants

It IS worth the hassle, as SSNs are used for many reasons.

I'd do exactly what Nini & Bee suggested. Or go to a different SSA office than the one you went to before. If the first person you see there does not help, ask to speak to a manager or supervisor.

Denied? Outright as in told "Go away - you can't have one" ?? or are we missing some details here?

Yep. The lady said that the computer wont let her go any further without work authorization or a green card, So I will have to deny you at this time.
The letter I received says:

We cannot give you a Social Security card at this time because:

Your documents show that you are not allowed to work in the U.S. and you do not have a vaild reason to get a non-work Social Security Number.

We had the same problem, JandC, and it took printing their own policy to show them and going to a different SS office to fix it. If they still give you grief, ask to speak to a supervisor. If they give you grief, get your senator's office involved.

One other thing, it helps if you don't tell them you're married yet. For some reason, they think that as soon as you get married that your K-1 status is void. Unless they ask you directly, don't tell them you were just married.

I'm sorry but may I ask, what SS office did you go to? (I noticed on your signature that your POE was Houston, did you visit any of the SS offices in Houston?) We went to the SS office downtown and had no problem applying for M's card. He received it in the mail about 2 1/2 weeks later. If you haven't tried that office and you live in Houston, you should try going there. But as others suggested, print out, and take with you, the documentation showing that K-1's are SS# eligible.

Good luck!
-P

Yeah my POE was in Houston but I actually live in Louisiana. Though if we can't get a SSN here, I might just consider venturing your way LOL

Thanks for your help

I went to the Social Security Office again today....and was finally given a SSN. I didn't need any of the RM print outs....the only thing different was the woman who delt with me....she knew what she was doing!!! WOOT!!!

I am guessing you got the EAD stamp for 90 days when you enterd right?

Nope.

Most likley thats why you got refused. The people with the K1 Visa that want an SSN# got an EAD Stamp at the POE.
Without that I dont think you will get one,you are probably going to wait until you do your AOS

That's not true. My husband didn't get the EAD stamp at POE - nor is it required for K1ers to obtain an SSN.

K1ers are work authorized for SSA's purposes just by nature of entering the US on a K1. They don't need to do or get anything further to receive an SSN. Unfortunately, most SSA offices aren't aware of this, so its a good idea to print off the document below and take it with you to the SS office.

Section C is the pertinent part for K1ers:

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#C1

Then I ask myself why you are given a stamp at some POE's...
You probably could get a SSN card but not with the permission to work,there are 3 differant types. Most likley they will issue one so but now with a work permit.

There are 3 different types of what?

The work authorization stamp at POE has nothing at all to do with getting an SSN.

Some folks want the 90 day POE stamp (given only at JFK to my knowledge) simply so they can work until the EAD applied for with AOS is approved.

If you get an SSN card as a K1er prior to getting your work authorization (as my husband did), it has a statement on the card that you need further work authorization from DHS (aka the EAD). You can get this statement removed from the SS card only when you have received your green card.

When a K1er presents their SS card (with the DHS work authorization notation) to an employer, it is incumbent upon that employer to verify that the potential employee is truly work authorized. The normal way this would be done is by seeing either the EAD stamp from POE, or the EAD card - whichever the person happens to have.

Yup yup yup....thats all totally right. Thanks for your help, TracyTN.

I don't have an EAD.....and I was finally given a SSN today YAY!

Glad you got it, JandC!

To me it was funny that first time was easy and I got my SSN, but after my GC they wanted to give me trouble and not remove the DHS warning 'cus my visa was expired. I said "whaaaa?!?!" why would you need to look at my visa, I have a GC!!! And the lady was VERY rude and kept saying my visa wasn't valid and I was explaining to her and she got angrier 'cus she said I was telling her how to do her job, until someone else came behind her and looked at my GC, called her to a corner, and she came back and said I'd receive the SSN in the mail in 2 weeks. She didn't even apologize for being rude since it was her mistake, she just kept on being rude as if she had done me a favor and let that one pass.

Doesn't surprise me at all. Unfortunately, a lot of SSA workers seem ignorant to the rules/issues surrounding new immigrants' SSNs.

Who is it that has the link to that memo in their siggy?

We wouldn't have gotten a SS# without that memo! Luckily for us, the people we dealt with were EXTREMELY nice, they just didn't know that they could do it. Unfortunate, of course, but they were at least trying to do their job well...without complete info of course.

Now the DMV...that's another story!

JandC: Congrats on finally getting the SSN!!

Did you end up going to a different office or the same one? Which one was the office that the lady was rude?

I used to have that link in my sig - took it down when I stopped posting as much.