SSN after entry on K-1

[Ian88 41]

What is the best route for obtaining my Social Security Number after entry on a K-1 visa?

 

I have read that you can wait two weeks then apply for it; however, I see an option to obtain one during the I-485 AoS application - there is an option to check a box in the form.

 

Thanks

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@Ian88
Get it immediately. A K1 has 76 days to get one, then your window closes. How long are I-485s taking now…over a year?  A SSN is useful for many things so having one ASAP is the best idea.

 

Appointments are sometimes hard to get. Get started, even before you marry.

Edited January 24, 2022 by Wuozopo

[Ian88 41]

@Wuozopo 
Thanks. Do you know anything about having to wait a couple weeks? I read it is something to do with my info being put into a system or something?

 

 

[CMJuilland 485]

The general rule is to wait about 10 business days to allow all systems to update.  However, I would second @Wuozopo’s advice to get it asap - and if the only appointment you can get is before the 10 business days after entry are up, go anyway and bring all of your paperwork with you (print I94, passport with visa, etc.). 

I don’t know if this is still true, but when I came here, I had to get my SSN before I got married; otherwise, they would have made me wait until AOS. 

Edited January 24, 2022 by CMJuilland

[Wuozopo 4,293]

14 minutes ago, Ian88 said:

@Wuozopo 
Thanks. Do you know anything about having to wait a couple weeks? I read it is something to do with my info being put into a system or something?

 

 

 I don’t read the ssn forum anymore so I think 2 weeks is a myth. Long ago, we filled in a card on the plane for our entry. That had to be sent physically from the airport to a central US data entry location and hand entered to create the I-94 record in the USCIS database. Thus the “wait 2 weeks” advice. Once that became automated, a scan of your passport at the airport creates your your I-94 and enters you into the database. It could be there before you drove home from the airport. 
It shouldn’t take “systems” 2 weeks to update. We’re not old school paper forms and hand data entry anymore.

Edited January 24, 2022 by Wuozopo

[Wuozopo 4,293]

@Ian88

 

As to SSN before marriage. Some SSA workers are just not trained well for K1s. They say if you are now married, you are no longer K1 but a K3. No way! Your visa can’t change to a K3. A K1 is eligible , married or not, during their 90 days, but once you get to 2 weeks of your 90 days ending, they won’t issue one. So 76 days you can get one.

 

The reason forum people say say go before marriage is to avoid any uninformed SSA clerk situations like above. If you get any flack that you are not eligible, ask to see a supervisor and tell them you will wait there as long as it takes. Don’t let them bluff you into leaving thinking you are not eligible or a supervisor is not available.
 

Another thing is fill out the application SS-5 https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

Put your name exactly as it appears on your passport and I-94.

On #5, tick “Legal Alien allowed to work”. Yes, that’s the right box. Trust me. It’s too long of an explanation. 

Edited January 24, 2022 by Wuozopo

[Mike E 11,740]

Yes 2 weeks is myth.  OP your POE was January 16 per your timeline and you should go apply asap you give totaled a chance at getting REAL ID before day 30.  
 

Before my then fiancée entered the USA in 2019, I poured  over the various opinions on VJ. While some insisted you had to wait 10 business days,  most recent experiences from 2019 were than 2 business days was enough time.  
 

So after printing the online I-94, we headed to the SSA office 2 days after POE.  
 

Naturally we were told that SSA could not verify her status. Naturally we received  a  letter 2 weeks later saying it would take 2 more weeks.  
 

And of course 2 days after that her SS card arrived in the mail.  
 

So my advice is to start 2 working days after POE.  There is no benefit to further delay. Yes you might end up with an incompetent SS worker but that can happen 2 days later or 14 days later.  

Edited January 24, 2022 by Mike E

[P055UM 286]

All good advice here. I would add that as far as I know you still need to make an appointment to go to the Social Security Office. So even if you're within two weeks of arrival, there is nothing to stop you calling and seeing what they have to say. My local office insisted on a two week wait, but you might have more luck. In any case, I called back once I had been here two weeks (a Monday) and got an appointment for Friday of the same week. Good luck!

[Ian88 41]

Thanks for the advice - I have an appointment for today. The SSA offices are still closed because of covid but they do have one person working on-site for cases that require an interview. 
 
They asked me to bring my passport with the visa in it and the completed SS5 form. They said I didn’t need to bring the I-94 as they will just print it off for me there, but I do have a copy just in case.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, Ian88 said:

Thanks for the advice - I have an appointment for today. The SSA offices are still closed because of covid but they do have one person working on-site for cases that require an interview. 
 
They asked me to bring my passport with the visa in it and the completed SS5 form. They said I didn’t need to bring the I-94 as they will just print it off for me there, but I do have a copy just in case.

Don’t forget to ask for a supervisor if a clerk tries to send you away saying you are not eligible. You are definitely eligible. The guide on Visa Journey suggests printing this SSA document to take with you in case the clerk isn’t familiar with K1. The K1 line confirms a K1 is “Legal alien allowed to work” and tells the clerk to enter N as the PRA code. 
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

[Ian88 41]

Hi all - appointment went smoothly. The clerk did ask me for a copy of my marriage certificate, which they guy in the phone said I wouldn’t need. I advised him of this and he looked something up and told me I was good to go. Scanned my documents and I was done. 
 

One more question - I wish to be added to my Wife’a Health Insurance but she only has 30 days from the date of marriage to do it. They require my SSN which should arrive in time; however, a called and inquired as to our options of not. They said they can accept my ‘9-digit tax ID number’ in lieu of a SSN and it should be in my paperwork somewhere - anyone got any ideas on this?

 

Thanks.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

10 hours ago, Ian88 said:

Hi all - appointment went smoothly. The clerk did ask me for a copy of my marriage certificate, which they guy in the phone said I wouldn’t need. I advised him of this and he looked something up and told me I was good to go. Scanned my documents and I was done. 
 

One more question - I wish to be added to my Wife’a Health Insurance but she only has 30 days from the date of marriage to do it. They require my SSN which should arrive in time; however, a called and inquired as to our options of not. They said they can accept my ‘9-digit tax ID number’ in lieu of a SSN and it should be in my paperwork somewhere - anyone got any ideas on this?

 

Thanks.

Press them on the ID number. You do not have an ITIN number either.  Explain that you are brand new in the country and have no SSN, ITIN, or driver license yet. They can’t make you have a SSN that they use as your insurance number.  They can use your passport number or assign you some random number. Tell them to check higher up or with their insurance carrier on how to handle new immigrants. 
 

The US is not like the UK where everybody in the country  has a NHS number for health insurance. Insurance comes under state governments. The purpose of a SSN is not for health insurance. They can assign you something in lieu.

Edited February 5, 2022 by Wuozopo

[Ian88 41]

Quick up date on this. I received my SSN 45 days after I had my appointment at the SSA. They didn’t require anything further after my initial appointment (they said they might).

 

In other news, I received my EAD 39 days after filing. My card arrived this morning. 

Edited March 22, 2022 by Ian88

[gus_mili 46]

9 hours ago, Ian88 said:

Quick up date on this. I received my SSN 45 days after I had my appointment at the SSA. They didn’t require anything further after my initial appointment (they said they might).

 

In other news, I received my EAD 39 days after filing. My card arrived this morning. 

Congrats, that's great news! We're a few months behind you, so it's interesting to see the timeframes for SSN etc.

 

Regarding the EAD did you expedite it as that was really quick?

Edited March 22, 2022 by gus_mili

[Raft 4]

2 hours ago, gus_mili said:

Congrats, that's great news! We're a few months behind you, so it's interesting to see the timeframes for SSN etc.

 

Regarding the EAD did you expedite it as that was really quick?

Just for my understanding ,family immigrant visa category get SSN and green card with similar timeline and same process ?