Confused.. will having SSN card provide ability to work

[BigBuford 3]

Hey all - good news.  My spouse's green card arrived just recently in the mail.  She now needs to apply with the local social security administration office to get a green card.  Will having the SSN card/number automatically allow her to work if she wanted to?

 

Background

• My spouse did AOS to get her green card
• During the green card interview, the IO confirmed we wouldn't be getting an SSN card automatically as part of being approved for the green card since we never submitted an i-765 form
• I called the SSA office yesterday and spoke to an employee who took down her information and his manager will call us back to schedule an appointment.  He mentioned the purposes of having the SSN would be 1- tax related for filing joint tax returns with me  2- health insurance purposes.  This part confuses - could you have an SSN card but not be allowed to work?

 

Not sure what's going on with SSA and their covid protocols but I find it very efficient that I can't directly schedule an appointment with an employee and that a manager has to call us back to schedule the appointment.

[mushroomspore 3,044]

5 minutes ago, BigBuford said:

Hey all - good news.  My spouse's green card arrived just recently in the mail.  She now needs to apply with the local social security administration office to get a green card.  Will having the SSN card/number automatically allow her to work if she wanted to?

 

Background

• My spouse did AOS to get her green card
• During the green card interview, the IO confirmed we wouldn't be getting an SSN card automatically as part of being approved for the green card since we never submitted an i-765 form
• I called the SSA office yesterday and spoke to an employee who took down her information and his manager will call us back to schedule an appointment.  He mentioned the purposes of having the SSN would be 1- tax related for filing joint tax returns with me  2- health insurance purposes.  This part confuses - could you have an SSN card but not be allowed to work?

 

Not sure what's going on with SSA and their covid protocols but I find it very efficient that I can't directly schedule an appointment with an employee and that a manager has to call us back to schedule the appointment.

Google "Form I-9" and that document will show you what documents or combination of documents are accepted by employers as proof of employment authorization. An SSN alone is not enough. It needs to be presented with a driver's license or other state/government-issued ID, I believe. A green card by itself is allowed. However, an employer is NOT allowed to request specific documents. For example, an employer cannot demand me to show my green card specifically if I decide to only show my SSN and driver's license. Just keep that in mind because sometimes, employers will ask for specific documents because they want to know about your immigration status. This is considered illegal.

[Crazy Cat 41,979]

The green card, itself, is authority to work.  The Social Security card will be required for employers to pay your spouse.

[BigBuford 3]

@mushroomspore @luckycat  thanks so much.. this is great news.  Hopefully 1- it won't take long to get an appointment w SSA  2- won't take too long to process and receive the SSN card b/c I already filed our joint tax return for 2020 and I realized my spouse won't be getting the 3rd stimulus check b/c we used her TIN on the tax return.  So once we get her SSN card, I'm going to file an amendment with the IRS to use her SSN number on the return.  Hopefully, this will allow her to get the $1400 stimulus check.

[Jenkitkat 3]

4 hours ago, BigBuford said:

Hey all - good news.  My spouse's green card arrived just recently in the mail.  She now needs to apply with the local social security administration office to get a green card.  Will having the SSN card/number automatically allow her to work if she wanted to?

 

Background

• My spouse did AOS to get her green card
• During the green card interview, the IO confirmed we wouldn't be getting an SSN card automatically as part of being approved for the green card since we never submitted an i-765 form
• I called the SSA office yesterday and spoke to an employee who took down her information and his manager will call us back to schedule an appointment.  He mentioned the purposes of having the SSN would be 1- tax related for filing joint tax returns with me  2- health insurance purposes.  This part confuses - could you have an SSN card but not be allowed to work?

 

Not sure what's going on with SSA and their covid protocols but I find it very efficient that I can't directly schedule an appointment with an employee and that a manager has to call us back to schedule the appointment.

Go ahead and take your spouse to get an SSN dont forget to bring the green card as the officer gonna need that. She can do whatever she wants now. When she applies for a job all she needs is her green card to present, if she will travel outside the country she will present her green card and passport. She doesnt need the AED and travel document anymore as she has her green card on hand already. In short she can do whatever she wants now.