Hi all,

Well we went to the local SSA office yesterday (Thursday) to apply for the SSN. I had already filled the form out and had everything with me, EAD, Passport, Marriage Licence etc etc. The woman did a few minutes of typing on her computer and said that they needed to send the application off for manual verification. Well, I was slightly annoyed at this point as my EAD was approved on March 28th according to their records, although it took awhile for me to get the notice and to receive the EAD. I asked if they needed to do the manual revification because I was not in the SAVE system yet. She said, that wasn't the problem, I WAS in the SAVE system, but still they needed to send it off and not to expect to hear anything for 6-8 weeks. I asked why it would take so long, I thought that it would take a couple of weeks at most and she got rather sarcastic at that point and said, that is just how long it takes!!!!

Is this right? Am I going to have to wait another 2 MONTHS for the SSN, even though according to her I am in the SAVE system? I even politely asked if she would check the computer again in a few days in case something changes, she flatly refused and told me that it was standard procedure and basically not contact them until the 8 weeks are up!! The way she was speaking to me made me think she suspected that my EAD wasn't genuine and that I had put it together myself or something like that!! I left the office pretty upset. I didn't lose my temper, nor was I rude at any point, I was just rather tearful as we walked out, our financial situation without me working is now pretty dire, and I'm finding it very stressful. I don't know, perhaps I'm over-reacting and this is normal procedure?

Any comments or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thank you
Kate

Im no expert but the same thing happened to me! I went in with my EAD so I could change my SSN from my maiden name into my married name. I was also treated really rudely and felt tearful when I went out of the office. I made another trip today after going in 6 weeks ago. They said that the immigration status has just come through today so it will take another 2 weeks to get the card. 8 weeks in total so you may have to wait that long too.

Yes it takes that long. Even though You have the document in hand (EAD) They still have to verify it manually if it is not in the system already. I went through the same thing with my stepdaughter. My wife came on a K-1 before we got married she got her SSN in her maiden name and it was a simple name change after being married. If the office is not too go in and have them check there system. It should not be a problem. I did this and was able to cut the time in half with my stepdaughter.

The thing is that they told me I AM in the SAVE system? Does this not make a difference? I thought if you were in the SAVE system it took a couple of weeks and they didnt have to verify anything?

Even though your name and date of birth could come up in SAVE when they enter your A# it has to show you as "Temporary Employment Authorized" for them to clear the application. If it says “Institute Additional Verification” they have to send the G-845. Even if it says "Temporary Employment Authorized" your name could be spelled wrong or your date of birth is wrong, which would also be reason to send the G-845.

Without looking at the SAVE query it's hard to know for sure what's the problem.

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735
RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification by SAVE

If the SSA office does send the G-845, suggest that she 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."

After having waited at least 30 days and your local SSA office doesn't
seem concerned about following up on the G-845 she can try contacting
the SSA Regional Office (RO) responsible for your state:

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

Refer them to this:

https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/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.

Hi after less than 2 hours we came up to the window and she asked if i have the marriage application even if i have the marriage license because she said my name was different from what they have in their records! DUH?! i gave her my passport aside from GC,marriage license/certificate. Because filipino's adapt their surname as middle name when they get married. Then she said "Oh you used your surname as middle name when u got mrried" She's an idiot. Such incompetent person. But i got my ss card after less than 2 weeks. Goodluck to you hope you get yours soon.

Thank you for this additional info, that is very helpful. I will certainly be following them up on this, or perhaps even go in and ask to speak to someone else, especially if there is no action after the 30 days. What really got me was that the SSA woman asked me "What do you need the SSN for?" I was like WTF?! What do you think I need it for you idiot (NB I DIDN'T say that, but that's what I was thinking). I did however say that I needed it to be able to work, to put on our joint account, get a DL, so I can drive here and get on the insurance etc.......(you know, pretty much everything)!!! What the heck did she mean "What do you need the SSN for?" Does it make a difference what I need it for?

Sorry for the rant, and thank you to all who replied, you experiences and information is as usual very helpful.

Kate

She is using her EAD card you had your I-551 card and they seem to get the I-551 info into SAVE and for some reason EAD info doesn't seem to get updated to SAVE most of the time. So you can't compare what happen to you to her situation.

It looks like you were in the SAVE system, but your employment authorized status (EAD issuance) was not. The SSA person probably did not do a good job of explaining it to you in the first place, and then was rude by asking "what do you need it for?" Pretty pathetic. I hope the card does not take long to arrive. Manual verification took around 5 wks in my case.