Social Security update after Naturalization

[vicsing2004-ss 0]

Hi, I was naturalized as a US Citizen yesterday. I was told to go to the local Social Security Office and update my records there as well. I do understand WHY I need to do this but do I have to do this in person or can I do it online or fill in a form (SS-5?) and mail it to them?

I have missed work many times waiting in line during the greencard process and then again during the naturalization process i..e, finger printing, interview, the oath, passport etc etc. I am very proud to be an American but I dont want to miss work and wait in line any more.

Has anyone had any experience in updating the SS records without going in person?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

While you can do this change by mail it is not at all recommended. You need to provide them with your original citizenship certificate and it is far too easy for it to be lost in the process of mailing it in and then returning it to you. While I appreciate that it is time-consuming and costly to stand in line to update this information, it may ultimately be much more time-consuming and costly for you to request a new Certificate of Citizenship to replace the one that has gone missing. When you go they will make a copy of your citizenship document and return it immediately to your possession.

You will have to apply for your US passport in person and again, those hours may be during work hours as well. They will actually take your Citizenship document and include it with your application for citizenship so it will be out of your possession for several weeks to a month or so while you wait for your passport.

You will also need to update your DL showing them the original citizenship certificate and again, at least in Georgia, this must be done in person.

These visits should be the last time you will need to wait in line, however, so you are near the end.

Congratulations on your citizenship .

[ELW 5]

I think you need to go in person, because they need to see your Naturalization Certificate and other forms of ID. I have researched a number of places but I haven't found anywhere so far that says you can do it by mail.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You will also need to update your DL showing them the original citizenship certificate and again, at least in Georgia, this must be done in person.

There's a new one!

Why, Kathryn, would one go to the DMV?

Here in California all DLs look exactly the same and no DL has any other purpose than being a form of ID and showing permision to drive a motor vehicle.

Enlighten me!

All:

You can request as many authorized copies of you CoC as you like directly from USCIS. They come without the photo and a remark "authorized copy" on it.

Edited October 23, 2010 by Just Bob

[Kathryn41 3,205]

There's a new one!

Why, Kathryn, would one go to the DMV?

Here in California all DLs look exactly the same and no DL has any other purpose than being a form of ID and showing permision to drive a motor vehicle.

Enlighten me!

All:

You can request as many authorized copies of you CoC as you like directly from USCIS. They come without the photo and a remark "authorized copy" on it.

Well, that is what I thought as well. My DL wouldn't expire for several years (I renewed it right after the Removal of Conditions was approved). Then, when I registered to vote I received back a statement that there was a discrepancy between my immigration status on my DL and on my registration and unless I cleared it up the discrepancy would be reported to the proper authorities (immigration/ICE) for appropriate follow up - and until it was cleared up, I was not allowed to vote!

So, I went into the Elections office, showed them my Certificate of Citizenship so I would be allowed to vote, then went to the DDS (Department of Driver's Services) and showed them my Certificate as well so that they could update the information in their database. They had to verify the legitimacy of the Citizenship certificate as well with USCIS, which they did while I waited, and then re-issued me a new DL since Georgia is updating all of their DL to a new biometrics system. So, the reason to update your DL? To make sure when you use your DL for identification - for whatever reason - it matches your correct immigration status - or it may come back tto bite you.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Here is a useful website for new citizens - step 5 addresses the SSN. Step 2 addresses authorized copies. You are allowed to make authorized copies yourself - you don't get them from USCIS as they do charge for additional copies and they are not cheap. We were actually told by the Director of the Atlanta USCIS who administered our citizenship oaths to make several copies for ourselves and to keep one in a safe place in case we ever had to request a new certificate. http://www.newcitizen.us/after.html

Edited October 23, 2010 by Kathryn41

[franklocks 0]

Hi, I do not know how busy your local SS office looks like, but I can say that it is not time consuming at all, at least to my case. I spent less than 10 minutes in the office. I was given an express status when I checked in, and explained my issue to the officer. It is worth trying. Good luck!

Hi, I was naturalized as a US Citizen yesterday. I was told to go to the local Social Security Office and update my records there as well. I do understand WHY I need to do this but do I have to do this in person or can I do it online or fill in a form (SS-5?) and mail it to them?

I have missed work many times waiting in line during the greencard process and then again during the naturalization process i..e, finger printing, interview, the oath, passport etc etc. I am very proud to be an American but I dont want to miss work and wait in line any more.

Has anyone had any experience in updating the SS records without going in person?

[NickD 203]

Dug out my wife's last SS application from my computer, changed her status to US citizen and the date, had her sign it and took that and her naturalization certificate to our SS office. They copied her certificate, kept the application and returned her certificate back to me. Took me about two minutes.

My wife works in town, our SS office is in the county seat some 40 miles away, I had to go there on business. Just saying if you can't do it, maybe a trusted friend or relative can, you don't have to show up in person yourself.

Our DMV in Wisconsin does not want to see your certificate, just tell you to check you are a US citizen block.