SSN of foreign spouse required for USC to be active duty soldier?

[MeishaKay 0]

Hi everyone,

I am living in the US with my USC husband. We are waiting on my EAD to request a SSN. Last week, he signed an Army active duty contract that will see him sent to military school on Sept 11, 2012 for at least 2 months. My husband was told by Military Entrance Processing Command (MEPS) that, in order for him to be able leave for active duty on Sept 11, I needed to have a SSN. Has anyone else been in this situation? Is it a really requirement that a foreign spouse already living in the States have a SSN for a soldier to become active? I don’t understand why I would need one by that day since I am not permitted to accompany him to military school and therefore there is no military housing benefit, etc. Also, what about soldiers who are already active and marry non USC who are able to live with them in the US while their documents are processed?

Thanks to all in advance.

Meisha Price

[F & J 21]

Hi! I think it's for the purpose of enrolling you into DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) as a dependent so you can receive Tricare benefits and also so he can receive BAH (Basic Allowance for Housing) at the "with dependent" rate.

Any changes that impact you or your family (e.g., marriage, birth, divorce, death) need to be reported to DEERS so that eligibility can start or stop under DoD and Service guidance.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status.

My husband was already in the Army before we got married and he had to enroll me in DEERS right after we got married and they required my social security card.

I just called and asked my husband - he is Active Duty Army - and he sent me this:

4. Guidance counselors (GC) are required to scan in all dependant's (including spouse) social security cards or numidents. All social security cards/numidents will be scanned into the folder listed under core documents as "Dependents SSN Cards". Note: unlike the dependent birth certificates there will only be a single folder for all SSN cards.

5. All Future Soldiers (FS) who have dependents are required to hand carry copies of their dependent's SSN cards or numidents in order to enroll their ependents into DEERS. FSs who arrive at the RecBn without copies of these documents may not be allowed to enroll into the DEERS system.

a. FSs who are married to overseas personnel that have no SSN cards may submit an exception to policy (ETP) to USAREC G-3. Submit the ETP via a normal workflow. All documentation should be scanned in ERM to support the ETP. IE: Dependents Birth Certificate, passport, marriage certificate and SF 86.

b. All ETPs submitted will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Not all ETPs will be approved.

Edited August 15, 2012 by F & J

[AF-Wife 181]

You do not need a SSN. You will be able to get enrolled into DEERS & get an ID Card for 3 months. When those 3 months are up, you will have to go on base again and get a new one reissued for another 3 months. They will need your passport & birth certificate (I believe) it's been almost a year that I've done this and I am speaking from my own experience. But knowing the military, one base doesn't know what the others do.

[mrsGORE 13]

I was able to enroll in DEERS,Tricare,Life insurance with my passport and Visa only..

they issued me dependent ID too without asking if I have SSN..

[MeishaKay 0]

Thank you all for replying!!!

F&J, Could you please tell me where I can find this information:

a. FSs who are married to overseas personnel that have no SSN cards may submit an exception to policy (ETP) to USAREC G-3. Submit the ETP via a normal workflow. All documentation should be scanned in ERM to support the ETP. IE: Dependents Birth Certificate, passport, marriage certificate and SF 86.

Also, what do the following stand for: ETP, USAREC G-3, ERM and SF 86…. too many Army acronyms!!

After we got married, we went to an Army office and I was issued with an ID card. My ID card has the same expiry date as my husband’s Army ID card. I took my birth certificate, passport and our marriage certificate. Does this mean I am already enrolled in DEERS or is this a completely different process altogether?

Thanks again!

Meisha

Edited August 16, 2012 by MeishaKay

[MeishaKay 0]

Great news! I just called DEERS and they said they could expedite me a Foreign Identification Number that I could use for all Army purposes until I get my SSN!!!

Thank you for all your help!!!

[F & J 21]

You do not need a SSN. You will be able to get enrolled into DEERS & get an ID Card for 3 months. When those 3 months are up, you will have to go on base again and get a new one reissued for another 3 months. They will need your passport & birth certificate (I believe) it's been almost a year that I've done this and I am speaking from my own experience. But knowing the military, one base doesn't know what the others do.

You're right! That's what we did the first time - they (the personnel at the Military ID facility) did ask my husband to fax a copy of my SSN card though. Then we went back and I got my new ID with the same expiration date as my husband's ID. Please note that this was back in 2009 when I first got my ID and I believe the MILPER (Military Personnel) message above was issued in March(?) 2012.

Thank you all for replying!!!

F&J, Could you please tell me where I can find this information:

Also, what do the following stand for: ETP, USAREC G-3, ERM and SF 86…. too many Army acronyms!!

After we got married, we went to an Army office and I was issued with an ID card. My ID card has the same expiry date as my husband's Army ID card. I took my birth certificate, passport and our marriage certificate. Does this mean I am already enrolled in DEERS or is this a completely different process altogether?

Thanks again!

Meisha

I'm sorry! I didn't even think about the acronyms...LOL. I think I learn a new one everyday! Yes, you were enrolled in DEERS when your ID card was issued. I have no idea why they need your SSN now @_@ I asked hubby again and he said maybe it's just for verification purposes? I do know that they have to scan in dependent SSN cards into the soldier's file now though.

Okay, as for acronyms:

ETP = Exception to Policy

USAREC = U.S. Army Recruiting Command

ERM = Electronics Records Management

SF 86 = Standard Form 86 (Questionnaire for National Security Positions)

Oh, also, that info was from a MILPER (Military Personnel) message from USAREC (U.S. Army Recruiting Command) earlier this year.

Great news! I just called DEERS and they said they could expedite me a Foreign Identification Number that I could use for all Army purposes until I get my SSN!!!

Thank you for all your help!!!

Yay!!! I'm glad it got sorted out!

Edited August 16, 2012 by F & J

[MeishaKay 0]

Thanks F & J!!!

Even better than getting a Foreign Identification Number, today I received notice that my EAD has been approved!!! SOOOO happy!!!

[F & J 21]

Thanks F & J!!!

Even better than getting a Foreign Identification Number, today I received notice that my EAD has been approved!!! SOOOO happy!!!

YAY!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! And once you receive your EAD card, you'll be able to get your SSN! ^_____^