Social Applied for Before Green Card

[bradcanuck 1]

I have called USCIS and SSA and both have been no help. I received my SSN yesterday but it has restrictions on it. It states it can only be used for employment purposes and any employer has to check with DHS to make sure it is valid.

If I take my greencard to the SSA office, can they clear the restrictions? I don't think this can be used for anything I need like bank accounts, health insurance, etc. Let me know if anyone has experienced this before.

[john_and_marlene 162]

You are not understanding the restriction. The SSN is valid for everything EXCEPT work unless accompanied by documentation authorizing you to work (EAD or GC)

Yes, you can have the restriction removed using your permanent residence card.

[bradcanuck 1]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh no way. Okay thank you. Wow that was an insanely fast reply. Cheers!

[I'm Gone 60]

I have called USCIS and SSA and both have been no help. I received my SSN yesterday but it has restrictions on it. It states it can only be used for employment purposes and any employer has to check with DHS to make sure it is valid.

If I take my greencard to the SSA office, can they clear the restrictions? I don't think this can be used for anything I need like bank accounts, health insurance, etc. Let me know if anyone has experienced this before.

The restriction on the SSN card only means you can't use the card as proof of authorization to work. It does not otherwise affect the card or number.

For about the millionth time, don't give them your old SSN card until you receive the new one. You don't have to give it up no matter what the SSA office says.

RM 00201.080 Field Office (FO) Disposal of Returned Social Security Number (SSN) Cards:

http://web.archive.org/web/20060210014436/.../lnx/0100201080

2. Card Returned With Request For Replacement Card or New SSN

If the applicant has a card and requests a replacement card (duplicate or corrected) or a new SSN:

-- Ask the applicant to return the old SSN card. (If the applicant does not have the card with him or her, remind the applicant to return the old card to SSA for destruction or to keep the old card in a secure place [not in a wallet or purse]).

NOTE: Do not forcefully confiscate the SSN card if the applicant refuses to relinquish it. Similarly, return the old SSN card if the applicant requests that it be given back.

[Carlawarla 1]

I got my GC one day, took it to SSN the next, had a new SSN in my married name with no restrictions a week later. They didn't want or take my old one. Just had to show it.

Edited January 24, 2008 by Carlawarla

[bradcanuck 1]

Thank you. I tried to open a bank account today and the number came back invalid. So either they haven't updated it yet or I need to get the restrictions removed.

[bradcanuck 1]

Bank denied. Tried JC Penney, denied. Tried to get a free credit report - DENIED.

Looks like my number doesn't exist with any credit agencies and I've had no luck trying to find out how to get it added.

[bichon82 0]

Bank denied. Tried JC Penney, denied. Tried to get a free credit report - DENIED.

Looks like my number doesn't exist with any credit agencies and I've had no luck trying to find out how to get it added.

Geez!!!!!!!!!! Good to hear that i'm not the only one! I thought that they had messed up my thing but since you have the same problem I think it's cos we're not officially permanent residents yet! If any one can tell us why this is happening ... please do!

[Jasman0717 8]

With the GC you can have the restriction removed

[athena_ny 1]

Bank denied. Tried JC Penney, denied. Tried to get a free credit report - DENIED.

Looks like my number doesn't exist with any credit agencies and I've had no luck trying to find out how to get it added.

You just recieved your SSN a few days ago, that's probably why.

We had all kinds of problems with the power company when my husband got his SSN - and they were exceptionally rude about it, asking if it was a fake card, if he stole someone else's SSN. I got on the phone and tore them a new one.

He couldn't even get a Walmart store card at first. but then he went and talked to someone at Bank of America who had helped our friend get a credit card, and he got one...which they just raised the limit to 1500 on.

However, we had opened a bank account before the power company situation and the bank (actually, credit union) was able to pull his report and see that he didn't have one.

Bank denied. Tried JC Penney, denied. Tried to get a free credit report - DENIED.

Looks like my number doesn't exist with any credit agencies and I've had no luck trying to find out how to get it added.

Geez!!!!!!!!!! Good to hear that i'm not the only one! I thought that they had messed up my thing but since you have the same problem I think it's cos we're not officially permanent residents yet! If any one can tell us why this is happening ... please do!

Brad and my husband are/were permanent residents when they were having issues.

[bichon82 0]

well i actually have had my SSN for nearly 2 months now and the power company wasn't even able to make an indentity match. I'll go into the SS office next week and let you all know what they say. They know me there already as I visited the office 2 times a week for 2 months due to some moron putting me into the SAVE system as a B1 instead of a K1 when I entered in Colorado. Oh yeah ... for all those ABOUT to enter the US... just double check the handwriting of the immigration officer at your POE as if they have a habit of writing very curly K's this might happen to you too believe me .. it's practically impossible to change it once it's put in incorrectly in the SAVE system.

[Abio105 0]

Thank you. I tried to open a bank account today and the number came back invalid. So either they haven't updated it yet or I need to get the restrictions removed.

When I first got my SSN, I wasn't able to open my bank acct b/c they hadn't gotten the updates of new numbers from SSA. You will have to wait about a month before trying to open major accounts, credit cards, etc. It's annoying, but I just had to wait it out.

[Converse34 1]

What we have been doing is adding my husband's name to my accounts rather than trying to open credit solely in his name. With the electric, I just called up and added him so that both our names are on the account. I even added him as a secondary card holder to my chase credit card account way before we ever had a SSN. Same with AMEX. They don't need it for a secondary card holder. The bank was also no issue. We didn't have the SSN right away and they said bring it in when you have, but again, I was simply adding him and not opening his own.

I know it varies by state, but I found this route much more successful than trying to establish items in his name only. Now that his credit will be established with the help of my own credit, it should be much easier to get things in his name.

[I'm Gone 60]

SSN

Area Group Serial (AAA-GG-SSSS)

SSA puts out a High Group list that lists the highest Group that has been assigned within each SSN Area. Either your SSN has been assigned from a Group within your SSN Area that has just started to be used or these people are using an old list to verify your SSN. See if yours is on the 01/2008 list with an * next to it. If it is they are using an old list. If it's not there hopefully, it will be on the next list, which will probably come out next month.

January 2008:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/highgroup.txt

Links to the other lists:

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

The Social Security number consists of nine (9) digits. The first three (3) digits denote the area (or State) where the application for an original Social Security number was filed.

Within each area, the group number (middle two (2) digits) range from 01 to 99 but are not assigned in consecutive order. For administrative reasons, group numbers issued first consist of the ODD numbers from 01 through 09 and then EVEN numbers from 10 through 98, within each area number allocated to a State. After all numbers in group 98 of a particular area have been issued, the EVEN Groups 02 through 08 are used, followed by ODD Groups 11 through 99.

Within each group, the serial numbers (last four (4) digits) run consecutively from 0001 through 9999.

SSN - Order of Issuance:

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

Not sure if it will do you any good, but SSA offices can give you an SSN Verification Printout, which will verify your SSN and the name on that record.

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https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100202320

RM 00202.320 Issuing Numidents and SSN Verification Printouts