SSN question

[silvana.toma 15]

SO..after waiting 5 weeks for the ssn card they finally were able to verify my information. I read here on visa journey that your local ssn office can give you the number so you don't have to wait for the card to be mailed to you, in case you are in a hurry. Well...i asked this lady from my ssn office and she said she can not do that, that i will have to wait for the card to arrive.

So..my question is if other local offices are giving out thye number prior to the card why wouldn't all of them have the same procedures?

Edited March 16, 2011 by silvana.toma

[gap1 21]

I have a question on this as well.

My fiance already had a SSN assigned to him when he was on a student visa here in 2007 (he was allowed to work on campus, so they issued him a card). I know that once you get a number, it's yours for life.

He went to the SSN office today (he has been back in the country on a K-1 for three weeks tomorrow) and, even though he still isn't showing up in the system, they said he can use his former number and just sent away for a replacement card. They didn't manually process him (I warned him against letting them do that), but since he didn't need a new number they were able to issue his card.

I'm a bit confused on this because I haven't read about any other instances of this happening. They said he can go ahead and use his original number (since he's keeping the same number) for bank accounts, IDs, etc...just not for working obviously.

Is this normal? I'm just worried that people in the office don't know what they're doing from reading horror stories. Also, is it normal to still not be in the system after three weeks?

[ryna 132]

SO..after waiting 5 weeks for the ssn card they finally were able to verify my information. I read here on visa journey that your local ssn office can give you the number so you don't have to wait for the card to be mailed to you, in case you are in a hurry. Well...i asked this lady from my ssn office and she said she can not do that, that i will have to wait for the card to arrive.

So..my question is if other local offices are giving out thye number prior to the card why wouldn't all of them have the same procedures?

Did you speak to her in person or over the phone? They can NOT give them out over the phone..

[silvana.toma 15]

I have a question on this as well.

My fiance already had a SSN assigned to him when he was on a student visa here in 2007 (he was allowed to work on campus, so they issued him a card). I know that once you get a number, it's yours for life.

He went to the SSN office today (he has been back in the country on a K-1 for three weeks tomorrow) and, even though he still isn't showing up in the system, they said he can use his former number and just sent away for a replacement card. They didn't manually process him (I warned him against letting them do that), but since he didn't need a new number they were able to issue his card.

I'm a bit confused on this because I haven't read about any other instances of this happening. They said he can go ahead and use his original number (since he's keeping the same number) for bank accounts, IDs, etc...just not for working obviously.

Is this normal? I'm just worried that people in the office don't know what they're doing from reading horror stories. Also, is it normal to still not be in the system after three weeks?

I read it can take up to 6 weeks to verify the information. Does he still need to go through the verification process?

I feel a lot of people don't really know everything there is to know about their job.

To me it makes sense to just replace the card instead of applying for a new one, as i'm sure there is only one issued for life.

Well..hopefully some other people with more experience can shed some light on our situations here...

[silvana.toma 15]

Did you speak to her in person or over the phone? They can NOT give them out over the phone..

Right..and i understand that, that's why i asked her if i come to the office if they will give it to me, and she said no, and gave me a buncg of explanation why...bla bla...

I think when i get the ssn card i will go celebrate..as it has been such a pain in my ####to get this.My green card process went smoother than getting a ssn card...

[ryna 132]

Right..and i understand that, that's why i asked her if i come to the office if they will give it to me, and she said no, and gave me a buncg of explanation why...bla bla...

I think when i get the ssn card i will go celebrate..as it has been such a pain in my ####to get this.My green card process went smoother than getting a ssn card...

Hmmmm.. I do understand your desire to know it now though. After 4 visits to the SSA office, my wife's SSN # was finally issued almost 7 weeks later.

You'll have it in the mail soon!

[silvana.toma 15]

Hmmmm.. I do understand your desire to know it now though. After 4 visits to the SSA office, my wife's SSN # was finally issued almost 7 weeks later.

You'll have it in the mail soon!

Because i was told i can ask for it, and because my husband will finally be able to file his taxes. Obviously i can wait, but i thought hey...if i can do it sooner why wait?

[gap1 21]

I read it can take up to 6 weeks to verify the information. Does he still need to go through the verification process?

I feel a lot of people don't really know everything there is to know about their job.

To me it makes sense to just replace the card instead of applying for a new one, as i'm sure there is only one issued for life.

Well..hopefully some other people with more experience can shed some light on our situations here...

I'm not sure. He said the guy seemed to know what he was doing, and that he was in agreement that he shouldn't try to be processed manually since it's a huge pain and can cause problems. He then took all of his info and copied it, sent it to Buffalo (their processing office) and said he can go ahead and use his current number and that an updated card would arrive in 4 weeks. It sounds normal since he's not getting a new card...but I'm so confused because I thought he had to be in the immigration system before they could do anything? Is it because he already went through this process back in 2007 they don't need to verify it all again?

[silvana.toma 15]

I'm not sure. He said the guy seemed to know what he was doing, and that he was in agreement that he shouldn't try to be processed manually since it's a huge pain and can cause problems. He then took all of his info and copied it, sent it to Buffalo (their processing office) and said he can go ahead and use his current number and that an updated card would arrive in 4 weeks. It sounds normal since he's not getting a new card...but I'm so confused because I thought he had to be in the immigration system before they could do anything? Is it because he already went through this process back in 2007 they don't need to verify it all again?

If that's what the guy said i would go with what he sais, they are the pro's in this, so worst case scenario you were just doing what a gov agent was telling you to do...

I would do exactley as they say, and if something goes wrong it's not your fault...

[Dave&Roza 748]

Roza arrived on the 22nd of December. Married on the 30th of December. Went to the local SSA office on 10th of January. Was told card would be mailed in two weeks. After waiting three weeks went back to local SSa office and asked about the card. Was given a print out with the SSN on it. Still no card as of 4th or March. Went back to see what was going on and had card mailed to the local SSA office as we believe the letter carrier was returning all mail addressed to Roza.

Ask the post office about this. Even though their website states all mail addressed properly will be delivered DO NOT BELIEVE IT. The clerk at the post office ask me if Roza's name was on the mail box. I asked what does that have to do with anything as it states all properly address mail will be delivered regardless of the name on the letter. It would appear that there are some person withinthe USPS to take it upon themselves to filter what mail gets delivered and if the name is not on the mailbox it could get returned and since the SSA does not use a delivery method that has any kind of tracking you never know what happened to the SSC.

It should take only two weeks for the immigrant to be in the SAVE database. If you go into the local office and they say they cannot find you. Take your application back say, "Thank you." and leave. Come back in a week and try again. Otherwise they must do secondary verification which can take up to two weeks and if that does not work they must do a manual verification which takes even longer. If you already have a SSN you do not need to apply again. In fact applying for a second SSN will cause all kinds of problems. The SSN is for life and once you have a number it is yours regardless of how you obtained it.

Why does this part of the process have to be such a PITRA. It seems to be dependent on the training each local office receives.

Good luck to all.

Dave

[gap1 21]

Roza arrived on the 22nd of December. Married on the 30th of December. Went to the local SSA office on 10th of January. Was told card would be mailed in two weeks. After waiting three weeks went back to local SSa office and asked about the card. Was given a print out with the SSN on it. Still no card as of 4th or March. Went back to see what was going on and had card mailed to the local SSA office as we believe the letter carrier was returning all mail addressed to Roza.

Ask the post office about this. Even though their website states all mail addressed properly will be delivered DO NOT BELIEVE IT. The clerk at the post office ask me if Roza's name was on the mail box. I asked what does that have to do with anything as it states all properly address mail will be delivered regardless of the name on the letter. It would appear that there are some person withinthe USPS to take it upon themselves to filter what mail gets delivered and if the name is not on the mailbox it could get returned and since the SSA does not use a delivery method that has any kind of tracking you never know what happened to the SSC.

It should take only two weeks for the immigrant to be in the SAVE database. If you go into the local office and they say they cannot find you. Take your application back say, "Thank you." and leave. Come back in a week and try again. Otherwise they must do secondary verification which can take up to two weeks and if that does not work they must do a manual verification which takes even longer. If you already have a SSN you do not need to apply again. In fact applying for a second SSN will cause all kinds of problems. The SSN is for life and once you have a number it is yours regardless of how you obtained it.

Why does this part of the process have to be such a PITRA. It seems to be dependent on the training each local office receives.

Good luck to all.

Dave

Great. That's what I thought. So, since he already has a SSN and the office has verified he can use it, we don't need to worry about him being in the system? What exactly is "the system" anyway? Is this just for people needing a new SSN or will him not being in it cause us problems for the AOS?

He is so excited. Now that we know he can use the original SSN (he kept the original card), he went to the DMV and got his first proper American ID today without any issues.

Edited March 16, 2011 by gap1

[I'm Gone 60]

So, since he already has a SSN and the office has verified he can use it, we don't need to worry about him being in the system?

If he was previously assigned an SSN and still has the card, both are still valid. No need to get a replacement card unless the card has “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT” printed on it.

What exactly is "the system" anyway?

SSA taps into the immigration SAVE system to verify immigration status.

Is this just for people needing a new SSN or will him not being in it cause us problems for the AOS?

For any alien applying for a new SSN or replacement card. Has nothing to do with AOS.

[gap1 21]

Well, his card would have "not authorized for employment without DHS approval" on it either way since he still can't work until we've turned in our AOS. He went ahead and got a replacement card anyway.

I wish VJ would be a bit more clear on this. We wasted quite a bit of time with forms and trips to the SSN office when it turned out we could have used his original card all along. Ah well.

Edited March 18, 2011 by gap1

[Darnell 8,478]

you can't get the number the same day

but you can usually go back NEXT day, they can give you the # (not the card)

it's good to go back next day, also - as IF there is any problem, you'll discover it then (SAVE database mismatch, untrained SSA employees, etc etc)

[I'm Gone 60]

I wish VJ would be a bit more clear on this. We wasted quite a bit of time with forms and trips to the SSN office when it turned out we could have used his original card all along.

Sorry I try to answer them as fast as I can. LOL