Updated My SSN with SSA and it was simple

[Eli_za 50]

On 10/5/2021 at 1:45 PM, EternalForeigner said:

I got it done today through my local office. I called them on Wed. Sep. 22 and they put me in line to be called for an appointment. They called me yesterday Mon. Oct. 5 and said I could come the next day (this morning). They said it'll take 2-4 weeks to get my new card.

Last time I called they told me I have to mail my certificate (honestly don’t feel comfortable doing so).   In person appointments are not giving in my area. (Houston, Tx). 
 

what state are you at? 

[EternalForeigner 57]

9 minutes ago, Eli_za said:

Last time I called they told me I have to mail my certificate (honestly don’t feel comfortable doing so).   In person appointments are not giving in my area. (Houston, Tx). 
 

what state are you at? 

I'm in the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, and I got it done at a small suburban office. When I tried to call in September, the call wasn't even going through, and then it was giving me an error message like I was trying to call a disconnected line. So I dialed the number probably about 30 times in a span of 15 minutes to make it go through. And after going through the usual "press X" messages, I think it took 5-10 minutes to talk to a person.

 

What you can do is try to call a different office that's within driving distance from you and see if they're taking in-person appointments. And if they do offer appointments, ask them how long it'll take for them to call you for an appointment. In my case, they said a week, but it actually took a week and a half.

[Eli_za 50]

1 hour ago, EternalForeigner said:

I'm in the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, and I got it done at a small suburban office. When I tried to call in September, the call wasn't even going through, and then it was giving me an error message like I was trying to call a disconnected line. So I dialed the number probably about 30 times in a span of 15 minutes to make it go through. And after going through the usual "press X" messages, I think it took 5-10 minutes to talk to a person.

 

What you can do is try to call a different office that's within driving distance from you and see if they're taking in-person appointments. And if they do offer appointments, ask them how long it'll take for them to call you for an appointment. In my case, they said a week, but it actually took a week and a half.

Thank you for the thought. I initially called all of the surrounding areas back in July and none of them were given in person appts. 
 

I will start trying again and hopefully I’ll get lucky to get an appt. 🙏

[bing10 114]

So I just finished the process of updating the SSA. Thanks to @seetsuh for documenting it so well. I used the exact same letter template and process as outlined earlier in the thread.

Here's my full timeline:

 

09/27/21: Mailed letter, passport card & SS-5 form to Columbus Ohio SSA office
10/01/21: Received Passport card back (by UPS)
10/08/21: Online status changed to "Updating information" *
10/14/21: Received letter (from Columbus SSA) saying new SSN card has been ordered and should receive within 2 weeks
10/15/21: Online status changed to show that I'm a US citizen *
10/15/21: Received new SSN card (from Baltimore SSA)

* - A useful way to check that SSA has correctly updated your information is by logging in to the online site, and click 'Replace your Social Security Card', once they have updated the citizenship status, it will allow you to order a new card, otherwise it reports that you are not a US citizen. I checked this a couple of times a day after mailing the documents to see when it had been updated.

How it is displayed before the update:

 

How it is displayed during the update:

 

 

How it is displayed after the update:

[Sherja 17]

I did the same thing followed instructions from here I mailed my passport card and a letter and copy of passport and citizenship certificate and my nys Id and I received my documents back then I received a new ssn card in the mail .. thank you all I love visajourney.com .

[seetsuh 20]

23 minutes ago, bing10 said:

So I just finished the process of updating the SSA. Thanks to @seetsuh for documenting it so well. I used the exact same letter template and process as outlined earlier in the thread.

Here's my full timeline:

 

09/27/21: Mailed letter, passport card & SS-5 form to Columbus Ohio SSA office
10/01/21: Received Passport card back (by UPS)
10/08/21: Online status changed to "Updating information" *
10/14/21: Received letter (from Columbus SSA) saying new SSN card has been ordered and should receive within 2 weeks
10/15/21: Online status changed to show that I'm a US citizen *
10/15/21: Received new SSN card (from Baltimore SSA)

* - A useful way to check that SSA has correctly updated your information is by logging in to the online site, and click 'Replace your Social Security Card', once they have updated the citizenship status, it will allow you to order a new card, otherwise it reports that you are not a US citizen. I checked this a couple of times a day after mailing the documents to see when it had been updated.

How it is displayed before the update:

 

How it is displayed during the update:

 

 

How it is displayed after the update:

I am glad I was able to help and other people on here, I feel like I did a good contribution. The information about checking status online is very useful, I did not know about that prior. I think anyone doing the process should use the online feature to see if their status has changed and able to order a new card.

Edited October 15, 2021 by seetsuh

[Sherja 17]

I agree 👍🏾. It’s very useful.

[Eli_za 50]

1 hour ago, bing10 said:

So I just finished the process of updating the SSA. Thanks to @seetsuh for documenting it so well. I used the exact same letter template and process as outlined earlier in the thread.

Here's my full timeline:

 

09/27/21: Mailed letter, passport card & SS-5 form to Columbus Ohio SSA office
10/01/21: Received Passport card back (by UPS)
10/08/21: Online status changed to "Updating information" *
10/14/21: Received letter (from Columbus SSA) saying new SSN card has been ordered and should receive within 2 weeks
10/15/21: Online status changed to show that I'm a US citizen *
10/15/21: Received new SSN card (from Baltimore SSA)

* - A useful way to check that SSA has correctly updated your information is by logging in to the online site, and click 'Replace your Social Security Card', once they have updated the citizenship status, it will allow you to order a new card, otherwise it reports that you are not a US citizen. I checked this a couple of times a day after mailing the documents to see when it had been updated.

How it is displayed before the update:

 

How it is displayed during the update:

 

 

How it is displayed after the update:

Did you send your passport card instead of naturalization certificate???

[bing10 114]

4 minutes ago, Eli_za said:

Did you send your passport card instead of naturalization certificate???

 

Yes, just passport card exactly like @seetsuh described.

Edited October 15, 2021 by bing10

[Pupmom 24]

Passport card works in Charlotte! Sent the passport card, letter and form to SSN 10 days ago. Got my passport card back today. New SSN card to follow! This was a breeze! My dad is the old fashioned must go in person and get it updated kind. He will now follow the same process! 

[Scandi 3,970]

On 10/15/2021 at 9:00 AM, Eli_za said:

Did you send your passport card instead of naturalization certificate???

If you had a name change they're likely going to want to see the certificate too, not just a passport (card). 

[Scandi 3,970]

On 10/7/2021 at 5:38 PM, Eli_za said:

Thank you for the thought. I initially called all of the surrounding areas back in July and none of them were given in person appts. 
 

I will start trying again and hopefully I’ll get lucky to get an appt. 🙏

Yes keep calling if you haven't received an appointment yet, things will change with time. I became a citizen in March this year and my SSA refused to give me an appointment and wanted me to send my originals via mail, which I refused to do.

So I waited and called again now in the beginning of October. This time they asked me to fax the documents (they asked for naturalization certificate, drivers license, name change document and the SS-5 form), which I did that same day and I also faxed a copy of my US passport even if they didn't ask for it. They got back with me via a phone call a week later to set up an appointment for me to come in and show my originals, which I did and everything went really smooth, took like 5 minutes or so. 

At the actual appointment they specifically asked for the original Naturalization Certificate, name change document, US passport and driver license. They took new copies of them. I was informed they normally don't send out a new SS card but if I wanted one they could certainly order one for me, which I obviously want since I had a name change. The card showed up a week later, in my new name. Very easy and positive experience, so glad I waited until they allowed me to go in person, saved me some stress, I do not want to mail my certificate.

[cosmonauts 125]

I just wanted to join in thanking @seetsuh! I mailed the exact letter template + passport card on 11/01/21 to the Pomona, CA SSA office. I received a response on 11/05 saying I would receive my new card in two weeks.

(note that I did not have a name change)

[Suudsu 66]

On 3/27/2021 at 8:00 PM, seetsuh said:

The whole process took a week, I first applied for my passport and passport card, I then filled out the SSN application and mailed it off with a letter stating that I am updating my citizenship status and included my passport card as evidence of citizenship. So if anyone is worried about SSA loosing their naturalization certificate, you don't have to mail that, just mail your passport card if you applied for one.

This is a great tip. Worked for me. I mailed my SS-5 application to my local SSA office, a cover letter and passport card on the Monday, received the passport card back safely via UPS Express on the Thursday.

 

Find your local office using the office locator (bottom of the page).

https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/

[JourneyFromA2 85]

Just went thorough the same thing:

 

11/08/2021:  Mailed letter, passport card and SS-5 form to Fort Wayne, IN SSA office

11/15/2021:  Received passport card back via USPS

11/20/2021:  Received letter from Fort Wayne, IN SSA stating that I should receive my new card in 2 weeks (letter dated 11/17/2021)

I checked SSA's site and in the "Request a Replacement Social Security Card" section shows that it is currently being updated and new information should be available after November 25, 2021.

 

 

 

On 10/15/2021 at 10:54 AM, bing10 said:

So I just finished the process of updating the SSA. Thanks to @seetsuh for documenting it so well. I used the exact same letter template and process as outlined earlier in the thread.

Here's my full timeline:

 

09/27/21: Mailed letter, passport card & SS-5 form to Columbus Ohio SSA office
10/01/21: Received Passport card back (by UPS)
10/08/21: Online status changed to "Updating information" *
10/14/21: Received letter (from Columbus SSA) saying new SSN card has been ordered and should receive within 2 weeks
10/15/21: Online status changed to show that I'm a US citizen *
10/15/21: Received new SSN card (from Baltimore SSA)

* - A useful way to check that SSA has correctly updated your information is by logging in to the online site, and click 'Replace your Social Security Card', once they have updated the citizenship status, it will allow you to order a new card, otherwise it reports that you are not a US citizen. I checked this a couple of times a day after mailing the documents to see when it had been updated.

How it is displayed before the update:

 

How it is displayed during the update:

 

 

How it is displayed after the update: