Frustration and Delays with Social Security

[paumanda 0]

Dear Helpful Fellow VJ'ers

Firstly I have looked into this matter myself by searching the various forums, looking up info on websites and forms etc. but I have the distinct feeling I am being fed a load of BS by the social security people so wanted to get some advice on how to proceed.

I applied for my Social Security Number on the 21st of April (I entered the US on a K-1 Visa) and I was given a letter confirming my application but, oddly I thought, it said it will take 4 weeks for me to receive one because they have to confirm it with the federal state.

I patiently waited four weeks and phoned the main SS helpline and they said that because I was not born in the us it may take up to six weeks because they have to confirm it with the USCIS. I waited some more and phoned my local office four times since and every time they take my details and say that they will pass on my details to their supervisor. I have not had anyone call me back.

So today I got very frustrated and tried phoning twice. I directly but politely asked to speak to a supervisor, but every time I made the request the guy was deliberately evasive and said, for example, "of course you can speak to a supervisor, when they call you back". The guy would then start thanking me for my call and start hanging up on me at every opportunity. This was extremely frustrating and repeatedly took me off guard and I found it to be even worse than if he was directly rude to me.

I phoned the main office again and the guy I spoke to was a lot more helpful and even he was surprised at how long it had taken but, again, suggested that it could be delayed with the USCIS (He gave me their number and i tried calling them but that was useless). So he suggested that I visit the original office I applied to and that should get things done faster.

So I will be heading there tomorrow and wanted to be as prepared as possible for any BS they might throw at me.

Any advice or suggestions or insight into whats going on? Anything they might try to throw at me that you can give me a heads up on? All advice and help is appreciated!

Thanks

[YuAndDan 153]

Have you married Yet?

USCIS has told SSA to treat K-1 as work authorized for one reason only, to be able to marry, some states require that the persons applying for a marriage license have an SSN.

If you are married, the apply to adjust status, and for EAD, you can use EAD or Green-card to get SSN. Keep in mind this is what K-3 holders need to do. And more than likely the SSN will show up in the mail while you are waiting for AOS or EAD.

If you have not married and live in a state like TN, or other state that requires SSN, go back to the SSA office, and demand to talk to a supervisor and explain that you NEED the SSN in order to satisfy the requirements of teh K-1 (Marriage within the 90 days). Bring a copy of this page from SSA.GOV. https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500 (Point to section C)

[paumanda 0]

Thank you for your response!

Yes we are now married

My primary issue right now is that we are trying to get an apartment and I would like to get my learners permit. In PA I need to have a health check on my learners permit and I believe i need a SSN to get put onto my wifes health insurance. Perhaps I can get these things without an SSN but it is becoming increasingly difficult and frustrating every time someone needs it. So even if I dont HAVE to have it, it is very difficult not to have one, especially when there is no real reason why I shouldn't have one.

Can I get all of these things without an SSN? Or am I doing the right thing by chasing this?

[YuAndDan 153]

Thank you for your response!

Yes we are now married

My primary issue right now is that we are trying to get an apartment and I would like to get my learners permit. In PA I need to have a health check on my learners permit and I believe i need a SSN to get put onto my wifes health insurance. Perhaps I can get these things without an SSN but it is becoming increasingly difficult and frustrating every time someone needs it. So even if I dont HAVE to have it, it is very difficult not to have one, especially when there is no real reason why I shouldn't have one.

Can I get all of these things without an SSN? Or am I doing the right thing by chasing this?

Note, most states want More than SSN, they also want evidence of legal presence (Usually EAD card, Green-card, I-94 valid 1 year or longer (K-3)), Most states allow you to use a foreign driver's license until you have evidence of legal presence.

[JeremyR 8]

If the ultimate aim of getting the SSN now is to get a learner's permit or driver's license then you don't strictly need a SSN (according to the PA DMV website, see here - PDF document, page 8, requirements for K-1 holders). What you need is an SSN, a letter stating the SSA hasn't made a decision or a letter denying an SSN. So if you can get one of those two letters, you should be sorted (although presumably you'd have to stump up for the medical )

You're quite lucky, in most states, K-1's have to wait until they have their EAD to get a license. In any case, you need to get it done before your I-94 expires, if that happens before the DL is issued, you'd need to wait until the EAD arrives as well.

[I'm Gone 60]

Can I get all of these things without an SSN? Or am I doing the right thing by chasing this?

When am I legally required to provide my Social Security number:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf....php?p_faqid=78

Well if you want an SSN you are doing the right thing in following up, but at this point you are running out of time. You should have started a month ago with going into the office.

To you and everyone else, calling the SSA 800 for the status of your SSN application when your immigration status needs to be verified is a total waste of time and calling the office where you applied isn't of much use either unless someone in the office has given you their number and told you to call.

[sunshine2 0]

Dear Helpful Fellow VJ'ers

Firstly I have looked into this matter myself by searching the various forums, looking up info on websites and forms etc. but I have the distinct feeling I am being fed a load of BS by the social security people so wanted to get some advice on how to proceed.

I applied for my Social Security Number on the 21st of April (I entered the US on a K-1 Visa) and I was given a letter confirming my application but, oddly I thought, it said it will take 4 weeks for me to receive one because they have to confirm it with the federal state.

I patiently waited four weeks and phoned the main SS helpline and they said that because I was not born in the us it may take up to six weeks because they have to confirm it with the USCIS. I waited some more and phoned my local office four times since and every time they take my details and say that they will pass on my details to their supervisor. I have not had anyone call me back.

So today I got very frustrated and tried phoning twice. I directly but politely asked to speak to a supervisor, but every time I made the request the guy was deliberately evasive and said, for example, "of course you can speak to a supervisor, when they call you back". The guy would then start thanking me for my call and start hanging up on me at every opportunity. This was extremely frustrating and repeatedly took me off guard and I found it to be even worse than if he was directly rude to me.

I phoned the main office again and the guy I spoke to was a lot more helpful and even he was surprised at how long it had taken but, again, suggested that it could be delayed with the USCIS (He gave me their number and i tried calling them but that was useless). So he suggested that I visit the original office I applied to and that should get things done faster.

So I will be heading there tomorrow and wanted to be as prepared as possible for any BS they might throw at me.

Any advice or suggestions or insight into whats going on? Anything they might try to throw at me that you can give me a heads up on? All advice and help is appreciated!

Thanks

Maybe my experience can help... I was told the same thing - 4 weeks to get SSN. After 6 weeks, we had not heard anything so we went back to the office. I was told that they try to check first electronically i.e. emailing immigration or whoever. After 1 month, because they had not heard back then they had to try by paper mail. My SSN came in the mail after about 7 weeks I think. Not SSA fault; as I've discovered in the driving license process, USCIS just are not up to date with putting your status onto any system and they are not quick to respond to requests from other organizations. You just need to be patient; your SSN will arrive soon!

[BermyCat 1]

I was in the same situation. They had to confrim my visa was legit by mail and my SSn came in about seven weeks.

Hopefully, you'll get yours soon.

~ Catherine

[paumanda 0]

Update: Thanks to everyone for the help and advice. The last two posters were absolutely correct in regards to delays etc. After emailing Social Security I received a call that my number had been assigned and I am just waiting to receive the card in the post. in the meantime they have informed me that I can go into my local office and ask for a print out of my assigned Social Security number. So ill go in today and get that.

I Quit is absolutely correct that you need to chase it if you are late; the SS guy warned me that because I am coming up to 72 days from entry I may not receive my card in time. If it gets too close I believe I cannot receive my card until I have adjusted my status.

Thanks all

[I'm Gone 60]

I Quit is absolutely correct that you need to chase it if you are late; the SS guy warned me that because I am coming up to 72 days from entry I may not receive my card in time. If it gets too close I believe I cannot receive my card until I have adjusted my status.

It's 76 days. If your number was assigned, a card should be on it's way. Where you would run into a problem would be if you don't receive that card in 14 days, since you couldn't apply for a replacement based on your K-1 status at that point.