Have we made a huge mistake with Social Security Number???

[raven52 233]

My fiancé arrived through P.O E. of Atlanta on April 24. Due to scheduling conflicts, we were not married until June 22. We had a wonderful wedding, and honey moon. We went to SS today, and was told that you must apply to SS at least 14 days before the I-94 would expire which is July 22, so we were within the "window, and a very nice lady helped us, file the paperwork at SS.

Then the troubling part, was she said she had to send the ALL THE INFORMATION TO Dept. of Home Land Security, for approval, all documents met her approval, but she then said that Dept. of Homeland Security, would send a for 551, and she could come back to ss to get her card. I have NEVER heard of form 551.,.,.,.,and comments are appreciated.

Note, our AOS was filed 2nd day air, on July 3, and we think the AOS file is good, but you just never know. We are just wondering about this process of going to Dept. of Homeland Security, as we have not heard of that getting a ss card. And a 551??? Very un-sure.

[Pitaya 2,577]

in particular, the AOS Guide for K-1

I-551 is also known as a Green Card, you can also get a I-551 stamp in your passport. However, the Green Card is usually more common. Social Security is a separate US Government agency, check out the Social Security sub-forum for more information.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/156-social-security-numbers/

Good luck.

Edited July 6, 2013 by A&B

[raven52 233]

My fiancé arrived here on April 24, and due to scheduling conflicts, we did not get married until June 22. We went on our honey moon, came back filed the complete AOS file to Chicago, and went to the SS office today. We found out that we were barely within the limit to file for the SS card, as you must have 14 days, left on your I-94, to apply for the SS card, but we were ok and the nice lady took all of our documents, and said we should be fine.

Then she said she had to send the file to Department of Homeland Security, for approval, and they would send her a card, either I-551 or I-556, do not remember, as I was trying to figure out sending the SS information to Homeland Security. She said we should receive the ""card"" from Homeland Security in a few days, and bring that in and they would issue the SS card. HAS anyone else had a similar experience?? Comments appreciated.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Duplicate topics have been merged together and both moved to the Social Security Numbers forum as a more appropriate location for this topic.

It is not necessary to post the same topic in more than one location, nor to post it twice in the same forum. It will not get you an answer faster.

[Dave&Roza 748]

My fiancé arrived through P.O E. of Atlanta on April 24. Due to scheduling conflicts, we were not married until June 22. We had a wonderful wedding, and honey moon. We went to SS today, and was told that you must apply to SS at least 14 days before the I-94 would expire which is July 22, so we were within the "window, and a very nice lady helped us, file the paperwork at SS.

Then the troubling part, was she said she had to send the ALL THE INFORMATION TO Dept. of Home Land Security, for approval, all documents met her approval, but she then said that Dept. of Homeland Security, would send a for 551, and she could come back to ss to get her card. I have NEVER heard of form 551.,.,.,.,and comments are appreciated.

Note, our AOS was filed 2nd day air, on July 3, and we think the AOS file is good, but you just never know. We are just wondering about this process of going to Dept. of Homeland Security, as we have not heard of that getting a ss card. And a 551??? Very un-sure.

My fiancé arrived here on April 24, and due to scheduling conflicts, we did not get married until June 22. We went on our honey moon, came back filed the complete AOS file to Chicago, and went to the SS office today. We found out that we were barely within the limit to file for the SS card, as you must have 14 days, left on your I-94, to apply for the SS card, but we were ok and the nice lady took all of our documents, and said we should be fine.

Then she said she had to send the file to Department of Homeland Security, for approval, and they would send her a card, either I-551 or I-556, do not remember, as I was trying to figure out sending the SS information to Homeland Security. She said we should receive the ""card"" from Homeland Security in a few days, and bring that in and they would issue the SS card. HAS anyone else had a similar experience?? Comments appreciated.

The I-551 is the document number for the GC which is what you applied for by submitting the AOS. The SSN is a number that was originally used for tax purposes and getting retirement benefits. It has become a pseudo national ID number. Not sure what the SSA lady was taking about. She accepted your SSN application, but it sounds like she needed to do a verification with the information. I would go back and see if they can print out a copy of the SSN. If not, you now may have to wait for the EAD (Employment authorization) or GC (Green Card--I-551) before being allowed to get a SSN.

Good luck,

Dave

[Kathryn41 3,205]

It sounds like the person you spoke to might be confused.

Yes, your K-1 sponsored spouse is eligible to receive a SSN as long as there is at least 14 days validity left on the I-94 issued upon her entry to the US. All applications for a SSN that are not made by a US citizen have to be checked first against the Department of Homeland Security's database to ensure that the applicant is indeed eligible for the SSN card.

Once SSA receives verification that your wife is eligible for a SSN, then SSA will issue a SSN card - usually in a week to ten days - that will have a stamp on the back stating they are only authorized to work with proper authorization from DHS.

The 'green card' - proof of permanent residency in the US - is actually form No. 551. It can be issued as an actual credit card sized card or it can be issued as a stamp in a passport. They are both the same thing and they are proof that the individual has permission from USCIS/DHS to live in the US.

Once your spouse receives her green card she would then go back to SSA and have her information updated with SSA, requesting a new SSN card that is 'unrestricted'.

It sounds like the person you spoke to is confused because it sounds like she said your wife will need to bring back her green card in order to get her SSN card. That is not true - as long as there is at least 14 days of validity left on the I-94 when the verification goes through, she should receive her card in the mail shortly afterwards. If there is less than 14 days of validity left on the I-94 then she would not be eligible to receive her SSN card until she gets either her work permit or her green card.

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, i say go back on Monday.

K-1 visa holders do not have I-551 document.

However - you must bring an I-94 - its quite possible you weren't issued this at the POE and you must get the electronic version and PRINT IT OUT to paper.

Apply in VISA name - do not apply in married name - as it usually 'auto-triggers' the SSA employee to force the application into 'DHS Verification Mode' as they cannot find you by your married name in the SAVE DB. They can certainly find you by VISA name and/or A#, so that's a plus.

Seriously - go back on Monday, and get a supervisor, and try again. DHS Verification is the kiss of death, for your exact visa type, given your exact calendar, as it takes 30 days on the verification from DHS. IMO, the human you talked to got confused. Get another human on Monday.

Edited July 6, 2013 by Darnell

[UK_Fan 192]

I think she meant to tell him to come back when she has her GC in order to update her file and the SS card, because right now she has that "valid for work with authorization only"

[Darnell 8,478]

is it? i not read anything about an actual SSN assigned or a SSN card issued, so is no 'printing' on the card to speak of , the card is non-existent at the moment.

[himher 634]

My fiancé arrived through P.O E. of Atlanta on April 24. Due to scheduling conflicts, we were not married until June 22. We had a wonderful wedding, and honey moon. We went to SS today, and was told that you must apply to SS at least 14 days before the I-94 would expire which is July 22, so we were within the "window, and a very nice lady helped us, file the paperwork at SS.

Then the troubling part, was she said she had to send the ALL THE INFORMATION TO Dept. of Home Land Security, for approval, all documents met her approval, but she then said that Dept. of Homeland Security, would send a for 551, and she could come back to ss to get her card. I have NEVER heard of form 551.,.,.,.,and comments are appreciated.

Note, our AOS was filed 2nd day air, on July 3, and we think the AOS file is good, but you just never know. We are just wondering about this process of going to Dept. of Homeland Security, as we have not heard of that getting a ss card. And a 551??? Very un-sure.

I believe she is saying that they will not issue the SS card until the green card comes in. You can get it earlier if you get an EAD card. You did not make a huge mistake you just missed the window.

Edited July 7, 2013 by himher