SSN Question

[bassagitator 1]

Hello:

I have a question. Do I really need a passport to get a social security Number?? Or can I simply take my EAD, Birth certificate, and Marriage liscense in and get one? Please let me know.

[chris39 0]

Good question, my wife does not have her passport. Was wondering the same thing.

[reijoandedlet 0]

why the both of u dont have a passport? when i applying in SSN the first thing they look was a passport.. cause they want to see the visa stamp..'

[chris39 0]

why the both of u dont have a passport? when i applying in SSN the first thing they look was a passport.. cause they want to see the visa stamp..'

My wife made a mistake and overstayed. We got married and were heading home when INS pick her up. I bonded her out and we are in the process of adjusting her status.

[bassagitator 1]

I have a question. Do I really need a passport to get a social security Number?? Or can I simply take my EAD, Birth certificate, and Marriage liscense in and get one? Please let me know. I never had a canadian Passport when I came into the US. It was prior to the new law going into affect.

So can anyone answer this?!

[antda 13]

Hi Bassagitator,

I think I know why you would ask such a question, and other VJers would be confused with such. Could it be because that your came here to the USA from Canada without a visa or a passport (Canadians are exempt from such), and therefore don't have your passport with you to apply for an SSN with?

As likewise, I did the visitor's visa to AOS, thing too (though I did have my Canadian passport with me).

If your passport is still in Canada, you should ask someone in Canada to mail it and/or give it back to you, as you definitely need it for identification and/or travel purposes. If you don't have a Canadian passport, I would strongly suggest that you have such now, and you can apply for one while you are here in the USA.

For more information as to what identification you need for an SSN, you can look at and fill out the following forms from the SSA. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf

And yes, it does say that a foreign passport along with a work authorization (EAD) and/or your green card (I-551) is needed, if you don't have other US identification and/or a US driver's license (lol...you need an SSN before you get a US driver's license, go figure, as getting that was easier than getting a SSN).

And yes too, having an SSN is very important here in the USA, as it is asked for a lot around here for financial, work, and other purposes (lol...unlike the Canadian SIN, which is never really asked for).

On a side-note: When I applied for my SSN, I had to wait until after I got my green card, to do so. And even after that, there was still a delay, as they wanted to see the actual green card/I-551 (I did not have/apply for an EAD), with my Canadian passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate, Canadian identification, etc. They didn't even care/take into account that there was a valid I-551 stamp in my passport which I got after I was approved for the AOS interview, before they could issue me an SSN. So even with my foreign passport with the stamp in it, it didn't help, as they wanted the actual green card, hence the 8 week delay....

See my VJ timeline below (the link is on my signature) for more information about my situation.

Anyways, I hope this helps. Good luck in getting your passport, and your SSN. And good luck with the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant (Lol...oh the SSN woes.....)

P.S. On your VJ timeline, you might want to change your category to "other visa", and fill that out accordingly instead, if you entered as a visitor instead of a K3 visa. Thanks.

I have a question. Do I really need a passport to get a social security Number?? Or can I simply take my EAD, Birth certificate, and Marriage liscense in and get one? Please let me know. I never had a canadian Passport when I came into the US. It was prior to the new law going into affect.

So can anyone answer this?!

Edited September 21, 2008 by AntandD

[bassagitator 1]

Hi Bassagitator,

I think I know why you would ask such a question, and other VJers would be confused with such. Could it be because that your came here to the USA from Canada without a visa or a passport (Canadians are exempt from such), and therefore don't have your passport with you to apply for an SSN with?

As likewise, I did the visitor's visa to AOS, thing too (though I did have my Canadian passport with me).

If your passport is still in Canada, you should ask someone in Canada to mail it and/or give it back to you, as you definitely need it for identification and/or travel purposes. If you don't have a Canadian passport, I would strongly suggest that you have such now, and you can apply for one while you are here in the USA.

For more information as to what identification you need for an SSN, you can look at and fill out the following forms from the SSA. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.pdf

And yes, it does say that a foreign passport along with a work authorization (EAD) and/or your green card (I-551) is needed, if you don't have other US identification and/or a US driver's license (lol...you need an SSN before you get a US driver's license, go figure, as getting that was easier than getting a SSN).

And yes too, having an SSN is very important here in the USA, as it is asked for a lot around here for financial, work, and other purposes (lol...unlike the Canadian SIN, which is never really asked for).

On a side-note: When I applied for my SSN, I had to wait until after I got my green card, to do so. And even after that, there was still a delay, as they wanted to see the actual green card/I-551 (I did not have/apply for an EAD), with my Canadian passport, marriage certificate, birth certificate, Canadian identification, etc. They didn't even care/take into account that there was a valid I-551 stamp in my passport which I got after I was approved for the AOS interview, before they could issue me an SSN. So even with my foreign passport with the stamp in it, it didn't help, as they wanted the actual green card, hence the 8 week delay....

See my VJ timeline below (the link is on my signature) for more information about my situation.

Anyways, I hope this helps. Good luck in getting your passport, and your SSN. And good luck with the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant (Lol...oh the SSN woes.....)

P.S. On your VJ timeline, you might want to change your category to "other visa", and fill that out accordingly instead, if you entered as a visitor instead of a K3 visa. Thanks.

I have a question. Do I really need a passport to get a social security Number?? Or can I simply take my EAD, Birth certificate, and Marriage liscense in and get one? Please let me know. I never had a canadian Passport when I came into the US. It was prior to the new law going into affect.

So can anyone answer this?!

Thanks!!

[antda 13]

You're welcome . Good luck getting your SSN!!

Thanks!!