Got Social Security Card only 12 days after POE

[CowBoE 429]

Here is the timeline on getting the Social Security card:

09/13 - POE

09/16 - Learned that I-94 web site doesn't show her US entry

09/17 - Went to CBP office to get her I-94 updated

09/18 - Went to Social Security office to apply for Social Security card

09/19 - Applied for marriage license (via online)

09/25 - Received Social Security Card

09/26 - Planning to pick up marriage license

I know VJ site advises to wait 2 weeks before going to the Social Security Office,

but since I took the week off, I went there anyway to ask if her record showed up in SAVE-ASVI system.

The clerk told me "NO".

So I said, I will come back in 2 weeks because I don't want further delay by applying too early

(meaning...she's not in their system yet).

The clerk chuckled and said "She will never get in the system until you apply,

so if you wait 2 weeks, you are just delaying the process. If you apply now,

likely you will get it in 5 to 7 working days, but it can take 2 weeks."

I'm baffled at this point. The clerk asks "What do you want to do? It's up to you."

So I asked again "Are you sure all is OK for her to get the card in 2 weeks?"

She said "Yes, likely you will have it in 5 to 7 days."

By now, she is getting annoyed at my challenging questions because I'm not fully trusting her answers.

Because she sounded so confident, I said "Ok...let's do it", and sure enough

we got the card in exactly in 5 working days.

Tomorrow, we are going to pick up the marriage certificate, which I had already applied online

but they required social security card in our county.

That said, I'm not challenging the question to wait 2 weeks after POE before applying for Social Security card,

but it sure looks you can apply just few days after POE in some situations...like us.

Just trying to share my experience for the benefit of future SS card applicants.

Edited September 26, 2014 by DualityOneness

[ash&ot2012 3]

Thanks for info,quick question what did u take to social security office?

[steve n songsang 45]

songsang got her S.S.# application approved ONE day after POE, (Chicago office) with copy of I-94, passport, and completed S.S. application form.

[ash&ot2012 3]

Great thanks, we will go this up coming week :-)

[CowBoE 429]

Thanks for info,quick question what did u take to social security office?

She took her passport & I-94 (US POE entry) print out...that's it.

[Darnell 8,478]

as one of the authors of the 2 week rule,

I must say -

tis time for an edit on the howto.

[steve n songsang 45]

Darnell....actually, you might still be correct which is why I stressed that we dealt with the Chicago office who are probably more knowledgeable about K-1 S.S.# applicants then other offices. Waiting a few days to get the I -94 in the system, for example, might still be the best way to go, especially since nothing is really gained by getting a S.S.# as quickly as possible, we just wanted to relate our experience with the Chicago office.

[Darnell 8,478]

ya, I need to update it:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

[RandyW 149]

ya, I need to update it:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

The 14 days prior to the I-94 expiration is actually official policy

SSA - Assignment of Social Security Numbers to Non-citizens with Fiance Visas. This document refers to the policy of issuing SSN's ONLY within the first 76 days of a K-1's arrival (i.e., NOT within 14 days of the I-94 expiration: "SSA policy states field office personnel should not process an SSN application when an individual's DHS document or immigration status has expired or will expire within 14 calendar days.").

I believe the initial period BEFORE you can apply is simply a matter of waiting for when it actually shows up in the system - 2 weeks simply gives you a reasonable expectation that it WILL be in the system (not always the case, however). Anything LESS than two weeks and it may or may not have made it there. If it's NOT there yet, they may or may not require an additional trip to resubmit the application.

There's no change in policy there, although it may be MORE likely nowadays that it would show up in LESS than the 2 weeks. The electronic I-94 may or may not be a factor here.

Edited September 28, 2014 by RandyW

[Darnell 8,478]

Sorry Randy - 'wait 2 weeks after POE date' -> means to wait 2 weeks after arrival, cause it used to take time for the SAVE database to sync up from the POE event.

With almost instant I-94s now, SAVE is updated within 48 hours of POE event, so my instruction on 'wait 2 weeks after POE event' won't be needed anymore.

It's not a change in policy with SSA or USCIS - it's the 'record availability' in the SAVE database after POE event - that window has diminished, greatly, with the electronic I-94 system feeding in almost real time into the SAVE database.

SSA clerks use SAVE database to determine eligibility. Find the record there on day 3 past POE event? Hey ! Stellar !

Unsure where you were trying to ding me about 14 days at the end of the window - that's a given/known and always has been.

[RandyW 149]

Sorry Randy - 'wait 2 weeks after POE date' -> means to wait 2 weeks after arrival, cause it used to take time for the SAVE database to sync up from the POE event.

With almost instant I-94s now, SAVE is updated within 48 hours of POE event, so my instruction on 'wait 2 weeks after POE event' won't be needed anymore.

It's not a change in policy with SSA or USCIS - it's the 'record availability' in the SAVE database after POE event - that window has diminished, greatly, with the electronic I-94 system feeding in almost real time into the SAVE database.

SSA clerks use SAVE database to determine eligibility. Find the record there on day 3 past POE event? Hey ! Stellar !

Unsure where you were trying to ding me about 14 days at the end of the window - that's a given/known and always has been.

Please re-read - I think we said the same thing. "SSA clerks use SAVE database to determine eligibility. Find the record there on day 3 past POE event? Hey ! Stellar !"

Whenever it shows up, you're good to go.

The 14 days prior to the I-94 expiration is actually official policy - I don't think you disagree here, either.