K2 Social Security

[Lina y Mario 0]

My stepson, who came into the US on a K2 visa, received his EAD already. His I-94 has already expired. Does he need to wait to have his passport stamped after the interview so that he can get a social security number, or is the EAD enough? Please advise.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

The EAD is enough - though it will say "not valid without DHS authorization." The number remains the same, but it is a good idea to update his status with the SSA one he gets his perm resident status. Good luck.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The EAD is enough - though it will say "not valid without DHS authorization." The number remains the same, but it is a good idea to update his status with the SSA one he gets his perm resident status. Good luck.

It shouldn't say "not valid". The EAD IS DHS authorization.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It shouldn't say "not valid". The EAD IS DHS authorization.

Yes, I meant the SS Card will say such - poor writing

SS cards received through EAD will have the designation on it, and the designation won't be taken away until GC is presented.

Edited May 17, 2011 by Harpa Timsah

[kptaylor 5]

So let me get this straight. Once my K2 stepson receives his EAD/AP card, he can go to the SS office and get his SS# assigned? I thought he'd have to wait for the green card before he could get his SS#. If this is true he will be very happy since he's wanting to start working so he can save for a car.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Yes, I meant the SS Card will say such - poor writing

SS cards received through EAD will have the designation on it, and the designation won't be taken away until GC is presented.

I was talking about the SS card. It shouldn't say "not valid for employment without DHS authorization". The EAD isn't simply permission to get a Social Security number - it's permission to work.

That said, it's distinctly possible that SSA will issue a card with the "not valid" statement to someone with an EAD. The level of ineptitude they are capable of is mind boggling. I'm still amazed at how badly they screwed up my wife's SSN.

[Ironman140 45]

The Government screw up??????

NEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happens

I was talking about the SS card. It shouldn't say "not valid for employment without DHS authorization". The EAD isn't simply permission to get a Social Security number - it's permission to work.

That said, it's distinctly possible that SSA will issue a card with the "not valid" statement to someone with an EAD. The level of ineptitude they are capable of is mind boggling. I'm still amazed at how badly they screwed up my wife's SSN.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

The Government screw up??????

NEVER !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happens

Would you believe they issued her a valid Social Security number without bothering to check if anyone else had been (illegally) using the number?

I had to file a paper tax return last year because my wife, being a new immigrant, didn't have a prior year's AGI - this meant we couldn't use eFile. Since we filed a joint return last year, I figured we could use eFile this year. I was surprised when the IRS computers rejected my return claiming there was a duplicate Social Security number. Thinking this was obviously another IRS screwup, I filed another paper return without any problems.

Two weeks later we get the annual Social Security statement for my wife. Lo and behold - it shows more than 20 years of work history! This is for someone who first set foot on US soil in December, 2009!

We called the 800 number on the statement. After much consternation, they determined that the number belonged to someone else. They said we had to go to the local SSA office and get it straightened out.

The clerk at the local SSA office confirmed that someone else had been illegally using that number for more than 20 years AND filing tax returns using that number. Apparently, SSA policies won't allow them to simply erase the work history of someone who technically qualifies for retirement benefits, even if they've been using a number illegally for so long. We had to fill out a new application for a new number.

Now I get to explain to the IRS why my wife's Social Security number has changed - something which is theoretically impossible.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

I was talking about the SS card. It shouldn't say "not valid for employment without DHS authorization". The EAD isn't simply permission to get a Social Security number - it's permission to work.

That said, it's distinctly possible that SSA will issue a card with the "not valid" statement to someone with an EAD. The level of ineptitude they are capable of is mind boggling. I'm still amazed at how badly they screwed up my wife's SSN.

Your wife came with a K1 - so maybe this is unfamiliar to you, but yes, SS cards applied for based off an EAD have the "not valid" on them. My understanding is that the alien's SS needs this on it because the EAD is temporary and their status itself does not give them any work rights - their employers need to see the EAD. A GC holder's SSN is not tied to an EAD anymore - so only then it is taken off. I imagine this is to prevent people who get student visa SSNs for OPT, for instance, and overstay and use that SS card and their Driver's license to prove their status for the I-9 employment eligibility form. People whose statuses are only temporary get SS cards with "not valid" on it - even if the means by which they got the SS card is showing work authorization.

And wow, the story about your wife's SSN is incredible... I hope they catch the person who was using that number!!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Your wife came with a K1 - so maybe this is unfamiliar to you, but yes, SS cards applied for based off an EAD have the "not valid" on them. My understanding is that the alien's SS needs this on it because the EAD is temporary and their status itself does not give them any work rights - their employers need to see the EAD. A GC holder's SSN is not tied to an EAD anymore - so only then it is taken off. I imagine this is to prevent people who get student visa SSNs for OPT, for instance, and overstay and use that SS card and their Driver's license to prove their status for the I-9 employment eligibility form. People whose statuses are only temporary get SS cards with "not valid" on it - even if the means by which they got the SS card is showing work authorization.

My step-kids both came with K2's. They both got SS cards using their EAD's. They didn't have the "not valid" statement on them. Of course, this was a few days after the green card interview. We just didn't want to wait for the green cards since they'd received the EAD's the week before.

My wife applied for her SS card about 3 weeks after she arrived in the US, and the first card did have the "not valid" statement on it. Curiously enough, we applied for a replacement card when she got her green card, and the replacement card ALSO had the "not valid" statement on it. We had to go back and apply AGAIN for another replacement card before they finally got it right. Actually, I guess they didn't actually get it right the third time, either.

And wow, the story about your wife's SSN is incredible... I hope they catch the person who was using that number!!

They obviously know where he or she is. Based on his/her income, I'm presuming he got most or all of his withheld taxes refunded.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I was talking about the SS card. It shouldn't say "not valid for employment without DHS authorization". The EAD isn't simply permission to get a Social Security number - it's permission to work.

That said, it's distinctly possible that SSA will issue a card with the "not valid" statement to someone with an EAD. The level of ineptitude they are capable of is mind boggling. I'm still amazed at how badly they screwed up my wife's SSN.

Jim I'm a little confused... Until someone gets a GC the SSN will say "not valid without DHS authorisation" meaning you need to show the EAD in order to work using that SSN. Your statement about seems to say that that ISN'T right but it is right. The restriction will be removed once the GC is presented (proving legal status)... this is always talked about on here so is this wrong?

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Jim I'm a little confused... Until someone gets a GC the SSN will say "not valid without DHS authorisation" meaning you need to show the EAD in order to work using that SSN. Your statement about seems to say that that ISN'T right but it is right. The restriction will be removed once the GC is presented (proving legal status)... this is always talked about on here so is this wrong?

My understanding was that it would only say "not valid" if you applied for the SS number on a basis that made you eligible for a number, but not necessarily eligible to work. I'll be happy to retract that if somebody has link to the policy that explains this.