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dhlunar

Does it really take two weeks to get a SS card in the mail?

By dhlunar in Social Security Numbers

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dhlunar Collaborator

dhlunar   25

Posted
Filed: IR-5 Timeline
Posted

We have been having issues with applying for health benefits under the ACA for my in-laws who arrived as new immigrants into the US about a week and a half ago. We don't know if they were denied due to not having a SSN or not being in SAVE. My wife called USCIS yesterday and they provided her a different telephone number for SAVE. My wife called the second number and the agent told my wife that they can't release information on if they are in the system except to agencies that are approved to use SAVE. So, the agent recommended that they go to SSA to see if there is any issues with them getting cards.

So I took them to a local SSA office today. We were in and out within 30 minutes. When we went to the check-in desk I explained to the agent that they don't speak English, arrived on IR-5 immigrant visas about a week and a half ago and haven't received their GC yet. (We took their passports with immigrant visa, Immigrant Fee receipt notice from ELIS, and birth certificates.) The check-in agent looked at their immigrant visas and said it was ok since it had the endorsement (CBP admitted stamp) and he didn't need anything else. I also let him know they already filled out the SS-5. So I was given tickets to wait for another agent.

One agent handled my mother-in-law and another agent handled my father-in-law. Luckily there was really no communication needed since I don't speak their first language, but was willing to call my wife at work if needed to translate. The agent that handled my mother-in-law was done first and asked me to review a sheet with the information entered. He gave her a receipt saying she applied for a card, and I ask him if they do a SAVE check there and he said yes. I then ask if the card should come in about a week and he said a couple of weeks. The agent that handled my father-in-law had me review his sheet also and handed us his receipt and said that he should get the card in 7 to 10 days. The receipts said 2 weeks.

So my question is does it take two weeks to get the card or do people usually get them sooner?

Here is the information regarding the cases for my in-laws (wife, their daughter, is the petitioner under the IR-5 category, Parents of a USC):

Submit I-130 (2 petitions) to USCIS on May 30, 2013

USCIS approved the cases on March 10, 2014.

Received notice online from USCIS the cases were sent to NVC on March 17, 2014.

NVC received the cases on March 28, 2014

The case numbers were created on Monday, April 28.

We received the numbers by phone on Friday, May 2.

DS-261 became available on both cases late in the evening on Friday, May 2. Both DS-261 filed on Saturday, May 3.

Received emails to my wife regarding AOS at around 8am on Wednesday, May 7. At the same time received emails that were cc of letters sent to my in-laws. However, the date of all of the letters was Monday, May 5.

Received emails regarding the Immigrant Visa Fee at around 11:15am on Wednesday, May 7. IV fees became available online at around 1pm on Wednesday, May 7. Date of invoice was Tuesday, May 8.

Paid all the fees on Wednesday, May 7 at around 1:15pm.

All fees marked as paid and DS-260 become available sometime late on Friday, May 9.

Dropped off IV and AOS packages (in two different envelopes - 1 for AOS and 1 for IV documents) at the local post office at around 2pm on Saturday, May 10.

Submitted DS-260 (for both cases) around 10am on Sunday, May 11.

Both document packages received by NVC on Monday, May 12 (according to Post Office Tracking - one around 1pm and the other around 4pm. Don't know why they got separated.)

Received checklist email for both cases at 4pm on Thursday, June 12 regarding the IV civil documents

Wife called NVC in the afternoon of Friday, June 13 to inquire about the checklist. Told by a representative they are normal and automatic and not to worry. AOS under review. Call back after Tuesday, June 24.
Received a checklist for my father-in-law on Monday, June 16. NVC reviewed his AOS paperwork, but waiting for the documents the requested the week before.

Wife called NVC in the morning of Tuesday, June 17. Told by the agent they don't have the document requested for dad, and they don't have the AOS package for her mom.

Put in a request with our Senator to get more information. Response was mother-in-law is documentary complete and father-in-law was in document review for the military document.

Wife called NVC on the morning of Tuesday, July 1 and spoke with a supervisor regarding her dad's military document. Supervisor said she would look into it.

Supervisor called us and left a voicemail on the morning of Wednesday, July 9 and stated they have located my father-in-law's military documents. Case sent back to document review.

Per conversation with an agent, the expedited request originally requested by email on July 7, was sent to the Embassy on Thursday, July 10.

Received by postal mail on Thursday, August 21 from our Senator regarding the response of another inquiry. Still the same.

Early in the morning on Friday, August 22:

Wife calls the Embassy and was told the IV section doesn't accept calls, and was given a number in the states that turned out to be scheduling assistance for NIV interviews.

Called NVC as soon as they opened and was told the Embassy denied the expedite request, but the case was completed by NVC on Monday, August 18. Wife inquired about interview scheduling, and was given some good information.

At 5 PM on Thursday, September 11, received the interview letters. Interview is scheduled for the morning of October 9.

Mother-in-law approved. Father-in-law placed in Administrative Processing due to follow-up TB test.

CEAC stated ISSUED for my mother-in-law on October 15. DHL had the package for pick up on October 17 but called the wrong number. Package picked up on October 27.

On December 11 mother-in-law received a phone call from the Embassy that the medical is back for my father-in-law and to DHL his passport to them. Passport sent on December 12.

On December 18 CEAC updated to ISSUED for my father-in-law. My wife is happy!!!! Embassy said they gave it to DHL on December 19

Due to a DHL delay the package did not become available for pick up until December 24. USCIS Immigrant Fee paid the same day.

POE: JFK Terminal 1 - December 26, 2014 - They are finally here!!!

Took them to a local SSA office to get SSN on January 6, 2015. Cards received on January 10, 2015.

Green Cards received by priority mail on January 23, 2015 (four weeks after arrival).

Both went to motor vehicles and got state issued ID cards on April 11, 2015.

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kzielu Experienced

kzielu   1,147

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Poland
 Timeline
Posted

So my question is does it take two weeks to get the card or do people usually get them sooner?

One data point - after naturalization went to SS office to update status on December 30th, got the new card yesterday. Took exactly 7 days.

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apple21 Veteran

apple21   953

Posted
Filed: F-2A Visa Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted

The 2 weeks is only an estimate. When I applied for my SS the officer told me it can take up to 4 weeks. I got the SS card in 18 days.

:wub:10-year GC holder :wub:

My Parents’ B2 Tourist Visa Application - APPROVED

 

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dhlunar Collaborator

dhlunar   25

Posted
Filed: IR-5 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for the reply.

I read in this forum and on others that it is possible to go back to the SS office with ID and the receipt before the card comes to get the number? Is this true and/or has anyone tried it? The deadline to get health insurance with the state health insurance exchange to start on Feb 1 is Jan 18. The agency handling the exchange refuses to process their application without a SSN. I informed a representative at the agency the federal law states if you have a SSN you need to provide it. However, I explained the law doesn't say anything about denying coverage for not having a SSN.

Here is the information regarding the cases for my in-laws (wife, their daughter, is the petitioner under the IR-5 category, Parents of a USC):

Submit I-130 (2 petitions) to USCIS on May 30, 2013

USCIS approved the cases on March 10, 2014.

Received notice online from USCIS the cases were sent to NVC on March 17, 2014.

NVC received the cases on March 28, 2014

The case numbers were created on Monday, April 28.

We received the numbers by phone on Friday, May 2.

DS-261 became available on both cases late in the evening on Friday, May 2. Both DS-261 filed on Saturday, May 3.

Received emails to my wife regarding AOS at around 8am on Wednesday, May 7. At the same time received emails that were cc of letters sent to my in-laws. However, the date of all of the letters was Monday, May 5.

Received emails regarding the Immigrant Visa Fee at around 11:15am on Wednesday, May 7. IV fees became available online at around 1pm on Wednesday, May 7. Date of invoice was Tuesday, May 8.

Paid all the fees on Wednesday, May 7 at around 1:15pm.

All fees marked as paid and DS-260 become available sometime late on Friday, May 9.

Dropped off IV and AOS packages (in two different envelopes - 1 for AOS and 1 for IV documents) at the local post office at around 2pm on Saturday, May 10.

Submitted DS-260 (for both cases) around 10am on Sunday, May 11.

Both document packages received by NVC on Monday, May 12 (according to Post Office Tracking - one around 1pm and the other around 4pm. Don't know why they got separated.)

Received checklist email for both cases at 4pm on Thursday, June 12 regarding the IV civil documents

Wife called NVC in the afternoon of Friday, June 13 to inquire about the checklist. Told by a representative they are normal and automatic and not to worry. AOS under review. Call back after Tuesday, June 24.
Received a checklist for my father-in-law on Monday, June 16. NVC reviewed his AOS paperwork, but waiting for the documents the requested the week before.

Wife called NVC in the morning of Tuesday, June 17. Told by the agent they don't have the document requested for dad, and they don't have the AOS package for her mom.

Put in a request with our Senator to get more information. Response was mother-in-law is documentary complete and father-in-law was in document review for the military document.

Wife called NVC on the morning of Tuesday, July 1 and spoke with a supervisor regarding her dad's military document. Supervisor said she would look into it.

Supervisor called us and left a voicemail on the morning of Wednesday, July 9 and stated they have located my father-in-law's military documents. Case sent back to document review.

Per conversation with an agent, the expedited request originally requested by email on July 7, was sent to the Embassy on Thursday, July 10.

Received by postal mail on Thursday, August 21 from our Senator regarding the response of another inquiry. Still the same.

Early in the morning on Friday, August 22:

Wife calls the Embassy and was told the IV section doesn't accept calls, and was given a number in the states that turned out to be scheduling assistance for NIV interviews.

Called NVC as soon as they opened and was told the Embassy denied the expedite request, but the case was completed by NVC on Monday, August 18. Wife inquired about interview scheduling, and was given some good information.

At 5 PM on Thursday, September 11, received the interview letters. Interview is scheduled for the morning of October 9.

Mother-in-law approved. Father-in-law placed in Administrative Processing due to follow-up TB test.

CEAC stated ISSUED for my mother-in-law on October 15. DHL had the package for pick up on October 17 but called the wrong number. Package picked up on October 27.

On December 11 mother-in-law received a phone call from the Embassy that the medical is back for my father-in-law and to DHL his passport to them. Passport sent on December 12.

On December 18 CEAC updated to ISSUED for my father-in-law. My wife is happy!!!! Embassy said they gave it to DHL on December 19

Due to a DHL delay the package did not become available for pick up until December 24. USCIS Immigrant Fee paid the same day.

POE: JFK Terminal 1 - December 26, 2014 - They are finally here!!!

Took them to a local SSA office to get SSN on January 6, 2015. Cards received on January 10, 2015.

Green Cards received by priority mail on January 23, 2015 (four weeks after arrival).

Both went to motor vehicles and got state issued ID cards on April 11, 2015.

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kzielu Experienced

kzielu   1,147

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Poland
 Timeline
Posted

Thanks for the reply.

I read in this forum and on others that it is possible to go back to the SS office with ID and the receipt before the card comes to get the number? Is this true and/or has anyone tried it? The deadline to get health insurance with the state health insurance exchange to start on Feb 1 is Jan 18. The agency handling the exchange refuses to process their application without a SSN. I informed a representative at the agency the federal law states if you have a SSN you need to provide it. However, I explained the law doesn't say anything about denying coverage for not having a SSN.

Some people succeeded with it, I personally (3.5 years ago) was flat out refused and told to wait for the card in mail. Doesn't hurt to try though.

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