Denied SSN for K1--now what?

[araxoolie 69]

So my wife (who arrived on a K-1 in late December and married me in January) applied for an SSN shortly after we married (the plan was to do it beforehand, but then the shutdown mucked that up). At the SSA, they said they needed to verify her status with DHS before they could give her the SSN, which sounded reasonable to me, so I didn't think much of it. Now we've received a letter from the SSA saying they won't issue her a card because she apparently doesn't qualify. I know the SSA often (mistakenly) thinks that's the case with K-1 visas, but because it took them four weeks to send us that letter, we're just about out of time to appeal or apply again. Is it even worth appealing at this point? Is there anything else we can do other that grumble about it and wait for the EAD?

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

11 minutes ago, araxoolie said:

So my wife (who arrived on a K-1 in late December and married me in January) applied for an SSN shortly after we married (the plan was to do it beforehand, but then the shutdown mucked that up). At the SSA, they said they needed to verify her status with DHS before they could give her the SSN, which sounded reasonable to me, so I didn't think much of it. Now we've received a letter from the SSA saying they won't issue her a card because she apparently doesn't qualify. I know the SSA often (mistakenly) thinks that's the case with K-1 visas, but because it took them four weeks to send us that letter, we're just about out of time to appeal or apply again. Is it even worth appealing at this point? Is there anything else we can do other that grumble about it and wait for the EAD?

Unfortunately you will have to wait for the EAD now to get a SSN.

[Just Paul 4,591]

Sorry, most SSA offices weren't shut down.   You should have gotten the SSN before you were married with her maiden name.  Now you get to wait for the EAD. 

[KlametJourney 11]

K1 is not eligible for SSN, all it does for you is to allow you to legally enter the U.S.A, after you are married and submit your AOS package and received an EAD then you go back and ask for SSN.

[Daniela M_______ 409]

2 minutes ago, yumitho said:

K1 is not eligible for SSN, all it does for you is to allow you to legally enter the U.S.A, after you are married and submit your AOS package and received an EAD then you go back and ask for SSN.

This is not true. Check https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 K1 IS eligible for SSN.

[KlametJourney 11]

5 minutes ago, Daniela M_______ said:

This is not true. Check https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 K1 IS eligible for SSN.

Stand corrected, thanks for that information.

[samuelam 19]

13 minutes ago, yumitho said:

K1 is not eligible for SSN, all it does for you is to allow you to legally enter the U.S.A, after you are married and submit your AOS package and received an EAD then you go back and ask for SSN.

That is not true. K1 visa could apply for SSN - SSA just need to verify your I-94.

[beloved_dingo 1,932]

14 minutes ago, yumitho said:

K1 is not eligible for SSN, all it does for you is to allow you to legally enter the U.S.A, after you are married and submit your AOS package and received an EAD then you go back and ask for SSN.

Edit: Already answered. Carry on. 

Edited March 5, 2019 by beloved_dingo

[Dashinka 23,247]

43 minutes ago, araxoolie said:

So my wife (who arrived on a K-1 in late December and married me in January) applied for an SSN shortly after we married (the plan was to do it beforehand, but then the shutdown mucked that up). At the SSA, they said they needed to verify her status with DHS before they could give her the SSN, which sounded reasonable to me, so I didn't think much of it. Now we've received a letter from the SSA saying they won't issue her a card because she apparently doesn't qualify. I know the SSA often (mistakenly) thinks that's the case with K-1 visas, but because it took them four weeks to send us that letter, we're just about out of time to appeal or apply again. Is it even worth appealing at this point? Is there anything else we can do other that grumble about it and wait for the EAD?

It most likely isn't worth it at this point, but assuming you have more than two weeks left on your now wife's I94 you can certainly try applying again.  If you choose this route, then maybe speak with a supervisor at the SSA.

 

Otherwise, you can wait until the EAD or GC is received.

 

Good Luck!

[Celie 793]

33 minutes ago, Daniela M_______ said:

This is not true. Check https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 K1 IS eligible for SSN.

this is such a good link! Thank you! I'm printing this out and taking combat boots to the office when my fiance arrives in case they try to give me trouble lol

[Daniela M_______ 409]

2 minutes ago, celie&joseph said:

this is such a good link! Thank you! I'm printing this out and taking combat boots to the office when my fiance arrives in case they try to give me trouble lol

You can also find the step by step guide in here: https://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn/

[jeine 74]

10 hours ago, araxoolie said:

So my wife (who arrived on a K-1 in late December and married me in January) applied for an SSN shortly after we married (the plan was to do it beforehand, but then the shutdown mucked that up). At the SSA, they said they needed to verify her status with DHS before they could give her the SSN, which sounded reasonable to me, so I didn't think much of it. Now we've received a letter from the SSA saying they won't issue her a card because she apparently doesn't qualify. I know the SSA often (mistakenly) thinks that's the case with K-1 visas, but because it took them four weeks to send us that letter, we're just about out of time to appeal or apply again. Is it even worth appealing at this point? Is there anything else we can do other that grumble about it and wait for the EAD?

Almost the same to what happened to me, I applied after we got married, ended up getting a call from them telling me that DHS can’t verify my documents so I just applied SSN thru the EAD form. I received my SS Card 7 working days after I received my EAD.

[geowrian 22,335]

It sounds like you had to go through manual verification, and the period for which you are eligible for an SSN expired before that completed (90 days from entry - 14 days of legal status required = 76 days of eligibility from date of POE).

Gotta wait until you have an EAD or green card now.

[Icamarn 91]

On 3/5/2019 at 11:53 PM, jeine said:

Almost the same to what happened to me, I applied after we got married, ended up getting a call from them telling me that DHS can’t verify my documents so I just applied SSN thru the EAD form. I received my SS Card 7 working days after I received my EAD.

 This ia what happened to me. I’m so frustated with this SSN. First I went to the office and the lady told me I wasn’t elegible to apply for a SSN and I had read a lot about it in this forum so I was sure I could but I couldnt prove it. So I print out that link that someone had posted here and went again. I applied for a SSN January 31st. They told it was up to 4 weeks. I went after 4 weeks without receiving anything and they told me it can take up to 6 weeks. Come back again if I don’t receive it. I waited the 6 weeks and came back again and she told me it was still pending with DHS. By this time (March 15) I already knew I wasnt going to be able to apply for a SSN because my I-94 expires March 29. 

I just received a call saying I cant get my SSN because my I-94 is expiring within 2 weeks.

 

The thing is that I already filed for EAD and AOS but I didnt check the box where they ask you if you need a SSN, since I was waiting...

So I would have to go again to the SSA whenever I receive my EAD? 

[jeine 74]

21 hours ago, Icamarn said:

 This ia what happened to me. I’m so frustated with this SSN. First I went to the office and the lady told me I wasn’t elegible to apply for a SSN and I had read a lot about it in this forum so I was sure I could but I couldnt prove it. So I print out that link that someone had posted here and went again. I applied for a SSN January 31st. They told it was up to 4 weeks. I went after 4 weeks without receiving anything and they told me it can take up to 6 weeks. Come back again if I don’t receive it. I waited the 6 weeks and came back again and she told me it was still pending with DHS. By this time (March 15) I already knew I wasnt going to be able to apply for a SSN because my I-94 expires March 29. 

I just received a call saying I cant get my SSN because my I-94 is expiring within 2 weeks.

 

The thing is that I already filed for EAD and AOS but I didnt check the box where they ask you if you need a SSN, since I was waiting...

So I would have to go again to the SSA whenever I receive my EAD? 

Yes