Unable to retrieve Social Security Statement for I-944 due to SSN was inactive for many years

[m911 11]

Hello VJ community,

I hope you are staying safe and healthy!

 

I have a confusing situation here. I've arrived under K1 visa and now we are getting all the paperwork together for the AOS.

The problem is that I have SSN but it was issued 10 years ago when I came to the US as an exchange student (J1 visa) in 2010.

Since all these years I haven't used it, there is no records or statement for my SSN.

I've already spoken to three different people from SSA office and they all say they can't help me even though they can "see" my SSN in their system

I've also spoke to the USCIS customer service but they also don't know what should I do.

 

Is there anyone with the similar experience or any ideas?

 

Thank you!

 

Edited June 3, 2020 by m911

[Villanelle 4,123]

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf

[m911 11]

13 minutes ago, Villanelle said:

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10081.pdf

Hi Villanelle,

Thanks for that. I tried these steps but unfortunately none of it worked for me. 

As they explained me in SSA Customer service, the online tool doesn't work because I don't have a state ID.

And when I asked them to mail me my Statement they said there is none available since the SSN was not in use.

[Fr8dog 386]

Not sure if this helps.

I got my SSN in 1992 and left the US in 1997 (J-1 and M-1)

After getting back here in 2015 (K-1), I went to the SS office and requested a new card as I had lost the original one. Not including the long wait till it was my turn, the whole thing took me less than 10 minutes. I had the new card in the mail several days later.

[Villanelle 4,123]

After you’ve gathered your documents or made a list of all of
the information you can remember, contact Social Security.
We’ll work with you to correct your record. This process could
take some time, depending on the information you bring to us
about your missing earnings. We may have to contact your
employers or have you contact them.

 

Are you saying you gathered the evidence listed in the link and/or made a list and have requested help from SSA to correct your record and 3 people have attempted to correct it and told you they can not? Because they way its written it seems youve spoken to 3 people asking for your records and were told 3 times they can not find them to give to you. You must get it corrected. If you have attempted to get it corrected and they refuse thats a different situation. You would have documentation stating this which would also explain how to appeal if you dont agree with their decision. You probably could also reach out to a liaison for help- but they are only going to help you if you have a problem with the process of getting it corrected, not help because SSA cant find it if that makes sense.

[m911 11]

2 hours ago, Villanelle said:

After you’ve gathered your documents or made a list of all of
the information you can remember, contact Social Security.
We’ll work with you to correct your record. This process could
take some time, depending on the information you bring to us
about your missing earnings. We may have to contact your
employers or have you contact them.

 

Are you saying you gathered the evidence listed in the link and/or made a list and have requested help from SSA to correct your record and 3 people have attempted to correct it and told you they can not? Because they way its written it seems youve spoken to 3 people asking for your records and were told 3 times they can not find them to give to you. You must get it corrected. If you have attempted to get it corrected and they refuse thats a different situation. You would have documentation stating this which would also explain how to appeal if you dont agree with their decision. You probably could also reach out to a liaison for help- but they are only going to help you if you have a problem with the process of getting it corrected, not help because SSA cant find it if that makes sense.

Thanks for trying to help, Villanelle!

Probably I didn't describe the whole situation accurate.

The thing is, when I talk to the SS office, they CAN see my SSN in their system (my name and etc.)

What they say is there is no "Statement" to print out/mail to me, because all these years I haven't used it (I only used in in 2010, when i was at the exchange program)

And when I requested if they can provide any document that reflects, that there is no Statement, they said there is no such document and they can't help me.

The whole situation is even harder since the SS offices are closed UFN.

[m911 11]

14 hours ago, Fr8dog said:

Not sure if this helps.

I got my SSN in 1992 and left the US in 1997 (J-1 and M-1)

After getting back here in 2015 (K-1), I went to the SS office and requested a new card as I had lost the original one. Not including the long wait till it was my turn, the whole thing took me less than 10 minutes. I had the new card in the mail several days later.

Thanks for that,

I do have my SSN, the only thing is that they can't print out any statement since I never used it since 2010.

[Villanelle 4,123]

1 hour ago, m911 said:

Thanks for trying to help, Villanelle!

Probably I didn't describe the whole situation accurate.

The thing is, when I talk to the SS office, they CAN see my SSN in their system (my name and etc.)

What they say is there is no "Statement" to print out/mail to me, because all these years I haven't used it (I only used in in 2010, when i was at the exchange program)

And when I requested if they can provide any document that reflects, that there is no Statement, they said there is no such document and they can't help me.

The whole situation is even harder since the SS offices are closed UFN.

Ok I think you are still a bit confused so Im going to try to explain better. 

 

For context- Everyone only gets one SSN. You get one SSN and use it your entire life. Sometimes people on temp visas get a SSN and then later immigrate and are able to obtain a second different SSN- that is an error, it rarely happens and when it does it will eventually be corrected. In order to get SS benefits (typically when you retire) you need enough credits. The SSA gives you credits based on your work. You earn one credit for every quarter in which you earn at least $1,410 to a maximum of four credits a year. When you work in the US your employer will report to SSA (under your SSN) and SSA will use that information to determine how many credits you have. It is important to check your SS record periodically to make sure all your earnings have been reported and you received the correct amount of credits on your SS earnings record. The amount of SS $ you get in the future depends on how much you earned and having enough credits to get benefits. 

 

So you work. It gets reported on your SS earnings record. You can get a copy of your earning record at any time from SSA. Based on what you posted SSA is telling you they do not have an earnings record for you. You asked 3 times now. You can ask 1000 times more. They dont have any earning record for you. THIS IS THE PROBLEM. You worked right? You were paid? How were you paid? W2s? cash? ever file tax returns here or overseas that reflected this income? You should have an earnings record. Re- read the link again. It explains HOW TO CORRECT your earnings record. You need to correct your earnings record. When you make a formal request in attempt to correct your earnings record they will reply with a formal answer either correcting it or explaining why they are not going to correct it. If they decline to correct your record the denial will explain any appeal process if you disagree with them. Again its important for your earnings record from SSA to reflect correct information so you get the proper benefits when its time. 

 

 

 

[m911 11]

38 minutes ago, Villanelle said:

Ok I think you are still a bit confused so Im going to try to explain better. 

 

For context- Everyone only gets one SSN. You get one SSN and use it your entire life. Sometimes people on temp visas get a SSN and then later immigrate and are able to obtain a second different SSN- that is an error, it rarely happens and when it does it will eventually be corrected. In order to get SS benefits (typically when you retire) you need enough credits. The SSA gives you credits based on your work. You earn one credit for every quarter in which you earn at least $1,410 to a maximum of four credits a year. When you work in the US your employer will report to SSA (under your SSN) and SSA will use that information to determine how many credits you have. It is important to check your SS record periodically to make sure all your earnings have been reported and you received the correct amount of credits on your SS earnings record. The amount of SS $ you get in the future depends on how much you earned and having enough credits to get benefits. 

 

So you work. It gets reported on your SS earnings record. You can get a copy of your earning record at any time from SSA. Based on what you posted SSA is telling you they do not have an earnings record for you. You asked 3 times now. You can ask 1000 times more. They dont have any earning record for you. THIS IS THE PROBLEM. You worked right? You were paid? How were you paid? W2s? cash? ever file tax returns here or overseas that reflected this income? You should have an earnings record. Re- read the link again. It explains HOW TO CORRECT your earnings record. You need to correct your earnings record. When you make a formal request in attempt to correct your earnings record they will reply with a formal answer either correcting it or explaining why they are not going to correct it. If they decline to correct your record the denial will explain any appeal process if you disagree with them. Again its important for your earnings record from SSA to reflect correct information so you get the proper benefits when its time. 

 

 

 

Okay, I got it now and will try it! Thanks so much!