Getting your Social Security Number (SSN)

[AlexDRavn92 37]

Hello VisaJourney,

 

I am moving to the states in the end of October and have tried to figure out the whole SSN thing.

 

To my knowledge i would receive the SSN within 2 weeks, but is there anyway that i can get the actual number before?

Because to open a bank account, get drivers license and start my job i would need to have the SSN.

But it seems like a long time to wait a couple of weeks, to even open bank accounts and get a permission to drive.

 

Anybody knows if i can go to the local office and get the number, call or any way else?

[Crazy Cat 39,227]

If you checked the box on the DS-260 to receive a Social Security card, you will likely receive it in a few weeks after arrival......There is no faster way.  No, you can not get your SS card at a local post office.  The Social Security Administration is a whole separate division of the US government.

[USS_Voyager 1,971]

3 hours ago, AlexDRavn92 said:

To my knowledge i would receive the SSN within 2 weeks

Uhm that’s actually optimistic. In fact, I’ve never heard of anybody receiving it in two weeks. Three weeks is the minimum. In fact, that’s what the guy at the local Social Security Office told me, it usually takes 3-4 for information from immigration to transfer to the Social Security Administration.

 

You can go to the local office directly and if a number has been issued, they will tell you. If the number is issued, you will receive it in 3-4 days in the mail anyway.

[gonzolux 82]

5 hours ago, AlexDRavn92 said:

Hello VisaJourney,

 

I am moving to the states in the end of October and have tried to figure out the whole SSN thing.

 

To my knowledge i would receive the SSN within 2 weeks, but is there anyway that i can get the actual number before?

Because to open a bank account, get drivers license and start my job i would need to have the SSN.

But it seems like a long time to wait a couple of weeks, to even open bank accounts and get a permission to drive.

 

Anybody knows if i can go to the local office and get the number, call or any way else?

I know we just have to wait, but I am struggling with this too! My husband arrives in less than a week, and we are trying to line up all the steps. Some banks let you open an account without an SSN? But those may require an ITIN which would probably take even longer to get than the wait for the already applied for SSN. Sorry I don't know a solution but this is definitely an issue! 

[Ontarkie 13,916]

~~Moved to SSN, from IR1/CR1 - as the question is about getting a SSN~~

[AlexDRavn92 37]

8 hours ago, missileman said:

If you checked the box on the DS-260 to receive a Social Security card, you will likely receive it in a few weeks after arrival......There is no faster way.  No, you can not get your SS card at a local post office.  The Social Security Administration is a whole separate division of the US government.

I know i can't get it at the local post office.

But what I meant was, if i went to the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, they might have the number in their system and could tell me the number.

But of course not hand me the actual card.

6 hours ago, USS_Voyager said:

Uhm that’s actually optimistic. In fact, I’ve never heard of anybody receiving it in two weeks. Three weeks is the minimum. In fact, that’s what the guy at the local Social Security Office told me, it usually takes 3-4 for information from immigration to transfer to the Social Security Administration.

 

You can go to the local office directly and if a number has been issued, they will tell you. If the number is issued, you will receive it in 3-4 days in the mail anyway.

Perfect, I will definitely try that!

Thank you.

[carmel34 3,531]

1 hour ago, AlexDRavn92 said:

I know i can't get it at the local post office.

But what I meant was, if i went to the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, they might have the number in their system and could tell me the number.

But of course not hand me the actual card.

My husband arrived in the US two months ago.  He checked the box on the DS-260 to have the SS card mailed to him after POE.  The day after he arrived, we went to the SSA office and asked if he could apply for a SSN to speed up the process and they said that since the DS-260 box was checked, that he could not submit a duplicate request, to wait for the card to arrive in the mail.  They could not tell us the number because it had not yet been issued.  So we went home expecting to wait 2 or 3 weeks, and his SS card arrived a week later.  You can open a bank account at some banks without a SSN, all you need is your foreign passport.  For a driver's license, depending on the state you will need the SSN, evidence of residency, and the CR-1/IR-1 visa validated with entry stamp at POE.  Green cards are taking up to four months after POE.  Good luck!

[Crazy Cat 39,227]

2 hours ago, AlexDRavn92 said:

I know i can't get it at the local post office.

But what I meant was, if i went to the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, they might have the number in their system and could tell me the number.

 

Yea....I think I misread your post....LOL.......anyway, my wife received her Social Security card 11 days after POE.......and I doubt you can start a job without the actual card........good luck.

[Sarge2155 4,570]

I hope you get it soon.

Edited October 21, 2019 by Sarge2155

[Mrs Ryan Carreras 247]

14 hours ago, AlexDRavn92 said:

if i went to the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office, they might have the number in their system and could tell me the number.

I was able to get my daughters ss number before I had it in hand at the health department. 
I think it depends on where you live and how lenient they are to give it out. 
I had to provide my drivers license or “form of ID” and they were able to do a search for it and tell me when issued and wrote down the number for it. 
It may be be different when going through immigration, that I am unsure as she was a USC. It shouldn’t but can’t say for sure. 
You could definitely try and see if they can do the same for you.
Yes, it was the health department and not the social security office but the lady must have had a database to be able to give me the information.
Most govt offices are pretty close in proximity for my area so it was convenient for me.
Just throwing out what I recently did and if you need it prior, it wouldn’t hurt to at least try if your making a trip to the ss office as well.

 
Good luck and hope you can get this soon. 
 

Edited October 21, 2019 by Sarah n Ryan