Applying for SSN - Questions

[monyfer 27]

My fiance has been in the U.S. almost a week. I know they say to wait about two weeks to go apply for the SSN, but I wonder if we will be ok after a week.

I was looking at the SS5 form and it is not clear to me on the "Citizenship" line if we check off "Legal alien allowed to work" or "Legal alien not allowed to work". We have not married or filed for AOS quote yet. We do not have EAD or anything. Which one would it be?

Thank you.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

If memory serves me - I believe I picked "Legal alien not allowed to work"

[Ben and Jill 37]

My fiance has been in the U.S. almost a week. I know they say to wait about two weeks to go apply for the SSN, but I wonder if we will be ok after a week.

I was looking at the SS5 form and it is not clear to me on the "Citizenship" line if we check off "Legal alien allowed to work" or "Legal alien not allowed to work". We have not married or filed for AOS quote yet. We do not have EAD or anything. Which one would it be?

Thank you.

You should choose legal alien "allowed" to work...that's what Ben and I did and we had no issues. If you read over the SSN application form, it explains both choices and I believe the "not allowed to work" doesn't apply for us. You can try to go apply for the SSN now...you may have to wait a little longer to receive the card though if his name is not in the system yet. Good luck!

[JeannieL 44]

Wait at least 10 business days so that the packet from POE has time to get into the system. If you go too early and it is not in the system you will have a longer wait for the SSN. You will use the Legal Alien not allowed to work, because you cannot work until you get work authorization...EAD.

Edited October 25, 2011 by JeannieL

[Inky 1,111]

Legal alien allowed to work.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

[Inky 1,111]

Wait at least 10 business days so that the packet from POE has time to get into the system. If you go too early and it is not in the system you will have a longer wait for the SSN. You will use the Legal Alien not allowed to work, because you cannot work until you get work authorization...EAD.

the SSN papers clearly state you select as a K-1 legal alien ALLOWED to work.

Please see https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

Scroll down to K-1.

[Ben and Jill 37]

Wait at least 10 business days so that the packet from POE has time to get into the system. If you go too early and it is not in the system you will have a longer wait for the SSN. You will use the Legal Alien not allowed to work, because you cannot work until you get work authorization...EAD.

You are correct that you can't work without EAD, but the social security card will state that specifically on the card itself. I don't have Ben's card with me to read exactly what it says, but we checked "allowed" to work and had no issues. I will look at the card tonight to see exactly what it says.

the SSN papers clearly state you select as a K-1 legal alien ALLOWED to work.

Please see https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

Scroll down to K-1.

Thank you, Inky...I knew I was right, LOL.

[JeannieL 44]

the SSN papers clearly state you select as a K-1 legal alien ALLOWED to work.

Please see https://secure.ssa.g.../lnx/0110211530

Scroll down to K-1.

When I went in to the SS office the woman who waited on me selected the box not allowed to work....So I guess either way the card comes back saying with work authorization.....Since that is how mine came back too.

[aashug 0]

My fiance arrived in the U.S. on Oct 9, 2011. On Oct 11, 2011 I took him to the social security office and he was given a receipt stating that he will hear from Social Security with in 4 weeks. However, last night he received his Social Security Card which states "Only for Work".

[Ben and Jill 37]

When I went in to the SS office the woman who waited on me selected the box not allowed to work....So I guess either way the card comes back saying with work authorization.....Since that is how mine came back too.

Wow...really? Yes, Ben's also says something about work authorization as well (although I can't remember for the life of me the "exact" words, LOL). Anyway, we learn something new every day right? I am not surprised about the woman at the SS office checking the other box...LOL.

[JeannieL 44]

Wow...really? Yes, Ben's also says something about work authorization as well (although I can't remember for the life of me the "exact" words, LOL). Anyway, we learn something new every day right? I am not surprised about the woman at the SS office checking the other box...LOL.

There are so many correct and incorrect answers for everything in this process....I would have to say the DMV was the worst experience of it all so far. ....Anyway I just checked my SSN card and it says.....Valid for work only with DHS authorization. It's in my maiden name because when I went back to change it after we were married they said they couldn't do it until I got my EAD which I am hoping will come very soon :-)

[Ben and Jill 37]

There are so many correct and incorrect answers for everything in this process....I would have to say the DMV was the worst experience of it all so far. ....Anyway I just checked my SSN card and it says.....Valid for work only with DHS authorization. It's in my maiden name because when I went back to change it after we were married they said they couldn't do it until I got my EAD which I am hoping will come very soon :-)

Ben's card says the same thing I believe....thank you for checking, it was driving me nuts, lol. Yes, there are a lot of variables in this process...I'm surprised I'm still sane although I'm sure my husband would beg to differ, haha. He's so calm and cool...you can definitely tell I'm the American! I've read so many different scenarios about the social security office though...I think that's got the top rank for inconsistency. I hope you get your EAD very soon, and good luck with everything and God bless.

[JeannieL 44]

Ben's card says the same thing I believe....thank you for checking, it was driving me nuts, lol. Yes, there are a lot of variables in this process...I'm surprised I'm still sane although I'm sure my husband would beg to differ, haha. He's so calm and cool...you can definitely tell I'm the American! I've read so many different scenarios about the social security office though...I think that's got the top rank for inconsistency. I hope you get your EAD very soon, and good luck with everything and God bless.

Isn't insanity an outcome for many in this journey :-) Kenny is the American in our family and he is the calm cool one (most of the time). Best of luck with your AOS too, I see you filed shortly after we did. A friend of mine that had her biometrics a week before me just received notification that her AP and EAD were approved. So I'm hoping next week will be my week.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

You immigrate to the U.S. with a K-1, which is a non-immigrant visa.

You need to state that you are authorized to work, but you are not authorized to work.

Don't try to make sense out of this, or you will experience brain bleeding.

Generally speaking, any experience with immigration, SSA, and DMV is harmful to a person' sanity.

[KayDeeCee 4,903]

My fiance arrived in the U.S. on Oct 9, 2011. On Oct 11, 2011 I took him to the social security office and he was given a receipt stating that he will hear from Social Security with in 4 weeks. However, last night he received his Social Security Card which states "Only for Work".

You should not have received one that reads "For Work Only." You should go to the SS office and get it straightened out.