Updating with Social Security office after naturalization - questions

[wbeem 568]

To those of you who have already been naturalized, did you skip out the SSA visit while most of them are not doing in person right now? I wanted to update my DL with DMV as my understanding is that they want us to do so once we are citizens. My local office is doing online only and want you to print and sign the form and mail in all your original documents. The reviews on their site for people actually getting them back or managing to contact anyone by phone to find out where their certificate and license is ... well let's just say I'm not willing to go that route.  I see there are some offices a few hours away that will do in person by appointment only, which would be fine with me. Do you have to go to the office nearest you, or can you go to any office? I know people do name changes and things too so I assume someone here has some info.  Thanks

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@wbeem

 

i updated SSA and DMV after greencard and after naturalisation. With offices closed, I wouldn’t worry about it right now. I certainly wouldn’t drive hours to find an open office just for that. Not a critical or time sensitive issue. 
 

And FYI, you can go to any SSA office to do business. We go to SSA and DMV at small offices  near our former residence two counties away because they are so much more efficient than than those in the big city. Then we visit friends in my wife’s home town. (Well make that pre-Covid. We don’t go anywhere now)

 

Just wait and do it later.

 

Edit to add: Congratulations on getting to citizenship. I remember you from K1 in the UK FORUM.

Edited February 1, 2021 by Wuozopo

[jxn 86]

Just for my own knowledge… what happens if you don't update your citizenship status at the SSA? For proof of employment, you can show your Social Security card with the restrictive text and proof of work authorization, such as your naturalization certificate or U.S. passport. Of course one should go to the SSA and update the information, but what problems arise if you don't? Thanks!

[EternalForeigner 57]

1 hour ago, jxn said:

Just for my own knowledge… what happens if you don't update your citizenship status at the SSA? For proof of employment, you can show your Social Security card with the restrictive text and proof of work authorization, such as your naturalization certificate or U.S. passport. Of course one should go to the SSA and update the information, but what problems arise if you don't? Thanks!

Per the USCIS:

Quote

If your record has not been updated, this may impact the information your employer receives about your work eligibility.

I believe the impact is that there are some jobs that require citizenship to be eligible. There are also certain benefits only available for citizens.

 

Also, is it mandatory to change your driver's license or state ID after naturalization? Or can you just update your record with the DMV without getting a new card?

Edited February 1, 2021 by EternalForeigner

[jxn 86]

55 minutes ago, EternalForeigner said:

Per the USCIS:

I believe the impact is that there are some jobs that require citizenship to be eligible. There are also certain benefits only available for citizens.

 

Also, is it mandatory to change your driver's license or state ID after naturalization? Or can you just update your record with the DMV without getting a new card?

I get that everyone should go to the SSA to update their status post-naturalization, but I don't know of any examples where a problem would arise if you don't update your status that showing your American passport wouldn't fix, such as government jobs requiring citizenship. There probably are systems where eligibility for benefits is checked via the SSA record as opposed to other means, but I just want to know specifically what those are out of curiosity.

 

I doubt it's mandatory anywhere to renew your driver license after naturalization but many people do it for two reasons—one being those who change their name with naturalization and need their ID updated to reflect that, and the other being people whose IDs/licenses are valid not for the full standard period (in my state it's eight years for adults) but rather for the period of a foreigner's authorized stay (so if you have the two-year conditional green card some states would only give you until that expiration date). I can imagine there are some people who get their ID valid for two years with the conditional card, then extend it with the I-751 Removal of Conditions Notice of Action that extends the validity of the card for one year beyond expiration, and then they are eligible to naturalize under the three-year rule before they ever would have needed to renew their ID with the ten-year permanent green card.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

2 hours ago, jxn said:

Just for my own knowledge… what happens if you don't update your citizenship status at the SSA? For proof of employment, you can show your Social Security card with the restrictive text and proof of work authorization, such as your naturalization certificate or U.S. passport. Of course one should go to the SSA and update the information, but what problems arise if you don't? Thanks!

I’m not employed by anyone (I consult, I have had to prove work eligibility to the companies I contract to) but so far my problems with no update have been ....exactly zero. So... I’m also interested to hear if anyone has had any problems!

[Wuozopo 4,293]

I think most people,don’t even know to update. I updated with DMV strictly to be able to do things online. My state requires LPRs to go in person with their greencard to renew, change their address or anything else. Citizens can do a lot of that online and skip the hassle and long lines at the DMV. I wanted them to have on record that I was a citizen.

Texas DMV (and the SSA) both use the SAVE database to check with USCIS. You can’t simply show your naturalzation certificate. They have to fnd your name in the system. Additionally, they issued me new SS card and DL to match the name USCIS had for me. My first had my I-94 name (first last). My greencard had a middle initial so new card and DL. Citizenship had all names fully spelled out so new card and DL to match. 

[xyz12345 260]

On 1/30/2021 at 10:11 PM, wbeem said:

To those of you who have already been naturalized, did you skip out the SSA visit while most of them are not doing in person right now? I wanted to update my DL with DMV as my understanding is that they want us to do so once we are citizens. My local office is doing online only and want you to print and sign the form and mail in all your original documents. The reviews on their site for people actually getting them back or managing to contact anyone by phone to find out where their certificate and license is ... well let's just say I'm not willing to go that route.  I see there are some offices a few hours away that will do in person by appointment only, which would be fine with me. Do you have to go to the office nearest you, or can you go to any office? I know people do name changes and things too so I assume someone here has some info.  Thanks

no name change/FL resident here. I didn't update my DL with DMV after naturalization because during that time I still had more than a year remaining on my DL. When the time of renewal came this year though, I got a mail from DMV saying that I qualified to renew by mail since I had real ID already. I had already updated my citizenship with SS before then.

 

I remember from back then that after naturalization that we're supposed to do SS and then DMV. For me, updating citizenship with SS is more important (to get it over with) than updating citizenship with DMV. You can always wait (even years) until SS accepts in person visits unless you need something from them asap.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

I think most people,don’t even know to update.

At the ceremony I went to they told us to do it, had a slide or two about it as part of the bit the presentation about “what to do next”.  There was absolutely nothing about updating anything at the dmv though, maybe that’s state dependent

[millefleur 5,047]

**Moved from US Citizenship General Discussion to Passports, etc. - What to do now that you are a US citizen**

[cj201 0]

I haven't updated either. Since becoming a citizen I registered to vote, and will be filling taxes soon. I can't imagine sending in the certificate through mail and hoping it returns. From what I've been reading on here, a lot of people have not updated yet and there's no rush. I spoke with a SS agent a while ago and they said some people don't even update after many years and still do normal life stuff. I am hoping the SS offices do open back up to the public soon though. 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, cj201 said:

I can't imagine sending in the certificate through mail and hoping it returns.

I felt that way when I had to send mine off to get my US passport. It was just days after receiving it and (gulp) I didn’t want to part with it. I came back to me just fine.

[Suze1 366]

IT IS WHAT IT IS - MOVING FORWARD NONETHELESS

Given that nobody has any idea when covid-related closings might end, decided to go ahead and get the SSA and DMV citizenship update done as things currently permit.

Called my local SSA last week. They re-confirmed what they had said earlier - "Mail in the naturalization certificate or passport, and we will process it and send it back to you".

Decided to send the passport.

Will let you know how it goes -

 

STATUS

01/29/2021 Friday  - Mailed the form and passport to the local SSA Office via USPS

02/01/2021 Monday - USPS shows package was received

02/02/2021 Tuesday - Spoke with local SSA Office. Was told that receipt was not in their system yet; said could take 7-10 days to be scanned and put in the system; another 7-10 days for work-at-home SSA agent to process it.

Edited February 2, 2021 by Suze1

[Suze1 366]

On 2/2/2021 at 2:53 PM, Suze1 said:

IT IS WHAT IT IS - MOVING FORWARD NONETHELESS

Given that nobody has any idea when covid-related closings might end, decided to go ahead and get the SSA and DMV citizenship update done as things currently permit.

Called my local SSA last week. They re-confirmed what they had said earlier - "Mail in the naturalization certificate or passport, and we will process it and send it back to you".

Decided to send the passport (cheaper/easier to get a new one, no emotional attachment to it..hee hee, not going to need it anytime soon...smile, etc.).

Will let you know how it goes -

 

STATUS

01/29/2021 Friday     - Mailed the form and passport to the local SSA Office via USPS

02/01/2021 Monday - USPS shows package was delivered

02/02/2021 Tuesday - Spoke with local SSA Office. Was told that receipt was not in their system yet; said could take 7-10 days to be scanned and put in the system; another 7-10 days for work-at-home SSA agent to process it.

UPDATE:

Received the passport back today, hand delivered via UPS!!!!

Only took 5 days total!!! And that includes over the weekend!

 

STATUS

01/29/2021 Friday           - Mailed the form and passport to the local SSA Office via USPS

02/01/2021 Monday       - USPS shows package was delivered

02/02/2021 Tuesday       - Spoke with local SSA Office. Was told that receipt was not in their system yet; said could take 7-10 days to be scanned and put in the system; another 7-10 days for work-at-home SSA agent to process it.

02/03/2021 Wednesday -  RECEIVED PASSPORT BACK and LETTER saying we would receive the SS card within two weeks!!!

 

Glad that is over!!!

Next - DMV!

 

Edited February 3, 2021 by Suze1

[gregcrs2 1,778]

26 minutes ago, Suze1 said:

UPDATE:

Received the passport back today, hand delivered via UPS!!!!

Only took 5 days total!!! And that includes over the weekend!

 

STATUS

01/29/2021 Friday           - Mailed the form and passport to the local SSA Office via USPS

02/01/2021 Monday       - USPS shows package was delivered

02/02/2021 Tuesday       - Spoke with local SSA Office. Was told that receipt was not in their system yet; said could take 7-10 days to be scanned and put in the system; another 7-10 days for work-at-home SSA agent to process it.

02/03/2021 Wednesday -  RECEIVED PASSPORT BACK and LETTER saying we would receive the SS card within two weeks!!!

 

Glad that is over!!!

Next - DMV!

 

Congrats!  Did you only send the passport and form SS-5?  I thought they required secondary identification such as a driver license.