TN-1 -> EAD -> GC... changing SSN?

[ngc5914 1]

Hello All,

For background: My wife (Canadian citizen) and I (American citizen) got married at the courthouse Sept 2015, and submitted an I-130/I-485 concurrently with priority date Nov 9 2015. After the checks were cashed 3-4 days later, we received the receipts/NOAs around Nov 16 2015 and she did the biometrics appointment as scheduled on Dec 9 2015. As of today, the I-485 is still pending with case status "ready to be scheduled for an interview" (since Dec 14 2015), while the I-130 shows case status "received" (unchanged since Nov 9).

She has been in the USA on a TN-1 status with the same company since Dec 2013; it is valid thru Dec 2016. A better employment opportunity for her came up in our city right before the holidays, and she also wants to return to Canada to finalize some arrangements for our Jul 2016 wedding reception (which is mostly planned & booked already). So, we submitted the I-765/I-131 for EAD/AP separately on Dec 14 2015 (case status still at "received" for both of these). We did not submit I-765/I-131 with I-485/I-130 as we didn't think there was a need for it given the 8+ months we had til the Canadian reception and her existing job.

She now has an SSN/card that she got soon after she entered the country on TN-1 status; the number starts w/ 7 (indicating non-res alien?) and clearly states "valid for work only with DHS authorization".

My question is this: will she need to get a new SSN after receiving the EAD and/or GC? Or, will her existing SSN this become her permanent number, so she will only need to get a new card with the same number but no restrictions?

I am also concerned about this as tax time is coming up and this will be the first time we file taxes jointly. I want to be sure we don't do anything that endangers the still-pending I-485/I-130.

THANK YOU!

[aaron2020 11,651]

SSN are for life. She will get a new card without the restrictions.

The 7 denotes the SS area where she first got her SSN. The first 3 digits denotes the area. Nothing to do with her status. Just where the SSN was first issued.

File your joint return using her SSN.

[ngc5914 1]

thank you kindly, aaron2020!

[Cheezees 1,514]

I still have and use my SS card with that statement on it that i received when i was on an F1 visa and I have never had any problems thereafter. I actually never plan on getting a new one.

[aaron2020 11,651]

I still have and use my SS card with that statement on it that i received when i was on an F1 visa and I have never had any problems thereafter. I actually never plan on getting a new one.

The restrictions on the SS card is meaningless when the holder is an LPR or US citizen. People like to get the language removed because they think it's better. You are correct in that it doesn't matter as evidence by the fact that you have never had any problems. Unfortunately, there are employers out there who are ignorant of the law and have misconceptions about the I-9.

[Cheezees 1,514]

In NYC (where immigrants are a dime a dozen) when I was doing my undergrad I asked the HR lady if I needed to show DHS authorization for my on-campus job (I was a newbie to the system) and she actually laughed at me and said verbatim "Dem words don't mean nothing". Hahahaha!

Edited January 12, 2016 by Cheezees

[aaron2020 11,651]

In NYC (where immigrants are a dime a dozen) when I was doing my undergrad I asked the HR lady if I needed to show DHS authorization for my on-campus job (I was a newbie to the system) and she actually laughed at me and said verbatim "Dem words don't mean nothing". Hahahaha!

Your HR lady is an idiot. The law requires US employers to verify a person is authorized to work with the I-9.

[Cheezees 1,514]

No, that's not what she meant. I thought I needed to contact DHS personally to get authorization in addition to submitting my SS card, I-20 form, proof of registration, etc.

[aaron2020 11,651]

No, that's not what she meant. I thought I needed to contact DHS personally to get authorization in addition to submitting my SS card, I-20 form, proof of registration, etc.

The card said the holder requires work authorization from DHS, not that anyone has to contact DHS. Work authorization is based on status. For an F-1 student, your F-1 visa was your work authorization from DHS to work for your school.

[Cheezees 1,514]

Yes, I know. I was just explaining the miscommunication to you. Relax

Edited January 12, 2016 by Cheezees

[aaron2020 11,651]

Yes, I know. I was just explaining the miscommunication to you. Relax

I am relaxed.

Your school already had your F-1 visa on file, so that is why you didn't need to show your work authorization.

Clarifying what you were saying so others don't misinterpret your response to mean that your employer did not care if you had work authorization or not.

[Cheezees 1,514]

You win?

[aaron2020 11,651]

You win?

Not about winning. This is not a pissing contest. Just trying to clarify what you posted. Read your first post. You mentioned she laughed when you asked about SHOWING DHS WORK AUTHORIZATION. You did not mention anything about mistakenly believing you had to contact DHS until I posted your HR lady was an idiot. Then you posted you meant CONTACTING DHS.

Edited January 12, 2016 by aaron2020

[Cheezees 1,514]

I tried to clarify my (no your) miscommunication twice. However I found your responses unnecessarily pedantic. No need to beat me over the head with the info. I'm sure this is not the way you view it. Let's just move on from this.

[aaron2020 11,651]

I tried to clarify my (no your) miscommunication twice. However I found your responses unnecessarily pedantic. No need to beat me over the head with the info. I'm sure this is not the way you view it. Let's just move on from this.

Read your first post. Where did you say anything about contacting DHS? If left alone, the impression is that the HR lady laughed when you asked about SHOWING DHS AUTHORIZATION. You were the one miscommunicating. Project all you want.