Social Security address delivery questions

[Gaiden79 28]

Hi all,

 

I am unsure which forum to post this in so hopefully I chose the right one. 

 

My wife just entered the US on her IR-1 visa from the Philippines a few days ago and I also moved fairly recently too and didn't update my address yet with immigration. On her DS-260 I had selected the option for her to get her social security number right away.

 

From what I understand the SSA is supposed to mail her ss card to her a few weeks after entering the US and at the point of entry an immigration officer asked my wife her current address and appeared to update it on the spot. 

 

My questions are:

 

1). Would the address the immigration officer took from my wife be the one the SSA uses to mail her card to her?

 

Or 

 

2). If that isn't the case then how do we update our current address quickly so it doesn't go to my old address. 

 

Thank you so much!

[pushbrk 13,587]

14 minutes ago, Gaiden79 said:

Hi all,

 

I am unsure which forum to post this in so hopefully I chose the right one. 

 

My wife just entered the US on her IR-1 visa from the Philippines a few days ago and I also moved fairly recently too and didn't update my address yet with immigration. On her DS-260 I had selected the option for her to get her social security number right away.

 

From what I understand the SSA is supposed to mail her ss card to her a few weeks after entering the US and at the point of entry an immigration officer asked my wife her current address and appeared to update it on the spot. 

 

My questions are:

 

1). Would the address the immigration officer took from my wife be the one the SSA uses to mail her card to her?

 

Or 

 

2). If that isn't the case then how do we update our current address quickly so it doesn't go to my old address. 

 

Thank you so much!

Yes, it should go to the address she gave at POE, but it would be prudent to put in a change of address with the Post Office too.

[hunny&me 285]

Just in case you want to be sure that her address is updates with USCIS:  https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange

Also, automatic issuance of SSN for some.   If SSN has not been received (maybe 3 weeks after arrival), apply in person at a local SSA office or contact SSA.

Edited June 17 by hunny&me

[S2N 243]

1 hour ago, hunny&me said:

Just in case you want to be sure that her address is updates with USCIS:  https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange

Also, automatic issuance of SSN for some.   If SSN has not been received (maybe 3 weeks after arrival), apply in person at a local SSA office or contact SSA.

My understanding is that SSA gets immigrant’s information from CBP and not USCIS, so the USCIS address change probably wouldn’t have an impact on this. Still good to check and update if needed, though.

[hunny&me 285]

10 minutes ago, S2N said:

My understanding is that SSA gets immigrant’s information from CBP and not USCIS, so the USCIS address change probably wouldn’t have an impact on this. Still good to check and update if needed, though.

 

Just found this >>> https://www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa/Handout_11_1.html   "We will mail your SSN card to the U.S. mailing address where the Department of Homeland Security will send your Permanent Resident Card. You should receive your Social Security card within 3 weeks after you arrive."  IMPORTANT: Call us if you do not receive your Social Security card after 3 weeks or if you change your mailing address after arrival in the United States. If you call us, please have this letter with you. It will help us answer your questions.

[Gaiden79 28]

On 6/17/2025 at 12:08 PM, pushbrk said:

Yes, it should go to the address she gave at POE, but it would be prudent to put in a change of address with the Post Office too.

Thank you, I'm glad that it's updated at the POE.

[Gaiden79 28]

On 6/17/2025 at 12:16 PM, hunny&me said:

Just in case you want to be sure that her address is updates with USCIS:  https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange

Also, automatic issuance of SSN for some.   If SSN has not been received (maybe 3 weeks after arrival), apply in person at a local SSA office or contact SSA.

Good idea, thank you I will check on this.

On 6/17/2025 at 2:20 PM, hunny&me said:

 

Just found this >>> https://www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa/Handout_11_1.html   "We will mail your SSN card to the U.S. mailing address where the Department of Homeland Security will send your Permanent Resident Card. You should receive your Social Security card within 3 weeks after you arrive."  IMPORTANT: Call us if you do not receive your Social Security card after 3 weeks or if you change your mailing address after arrival in the United States. If you call us, please have this letter with you. It will help us answer your questions.

Very useful thank you!

[Ontarkie 14,931]

~~Moved to SSN, from IR1/CR1 P&P-as the topic is about SS~~

[Gaiden79 28]

On 6/17/2025 at 12:16 PM, hunny&me said:

Just in case you want to be sure that her address is updates with USCIS:  https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange

Also, automatic issuance of SSN for some.   If SSN has not been received (maybe 3 weeks after arrival), apply in person at a local SSA office or contact SSA.

So I looked into it and the USCIS requires you to login to your USCIS account to do the address change. Will it be under the account I made for the I-130 to petition my wife or does my wife need to make her own account to update address? Thank you!

[OldUser 9,658]

10 hours ago, Gaiden79 said:

So I looked into it and the USCIS requires you to login to your USCIS account to do the address change. Will it be under the account I made for the I-130 to petition my wife or does my wife need to make her own account to update address? Thank you!

Immigrant should open their own USCIS account. Online change of address (AR-11) is for immigrant. She'd need her own account also to renew green card (I-90) or file for naturalization (N-400)

 

As a sponsor, you're also required to update USCIS with your address changes by filing I-865 within 30 days of moving. It's paper only as of today.

[nelmagriffin 167]

Hello!

Both DS 260 forms were checked (that green card and SS cards to be mailed once here). On the tenth day, my first sibling and I we went to the SS office and showed his passport just because we have not received the cards yet. The lady told us to get an SS form to fill and sign, but we already printed, filled with all the details. His SS was delivered days after and green card months later after inquiring.

My other second sibling both the green card and ss were delivered under ten days.

Edited June 23 by nelmagriffin

[Gaiden79 28]

On 6/22/2025 at 5:49 AM, OldUser said:

Immigrant should open their own USCIS account. Online change of address (AR-11) is for immigrant. She'd need her own account also to renew green card (I-90) or file for naturalization (N-400)

 

As a sponsor, you're also required to update USCIS with your address changes by filing I-865 within 30 days of moving. It's paper only as of today.

Oh thank you for clarifying that. So would the AR-11 address change be for her Green Card delivery or is that already updated at the POE that is also for her SS delivery? 

[Gaiden79 28]

On 6/23/2025 at 5:55 AM, nelmagriffin said:

Hello!

Both DS 260 forms were checked (that green card and SS cards to be mailed once here). On the tenth day, my first sibling and I we went to the SS office and showed his passport just because we have not received the cards yet. The lady told us to get an SS form to fill and sign, but we already printed, filled with all the details. His SS was delivered days after and green card months later after inquiring.

My other second sibling both the green card and ss were delivered under ten days.

Thanks for sharing that! Just wondering, the Green Card is delivered automatically, they didn't apply in the US?

[OldUser 9,658]

12 minutes ago, Gaiden79 said:

Oh thank you for clarifying that. So would the AR-11 address change be for her Green Card delivery or is that already updated at the POE that is also for her SS delivery? 

I'd file AR-11. An LPR is required to file AR-11 whenever address changes. I'm not aware of any alternative ways of fulfilling this requirement, such as talking to CBP at POE. It does't hurt doing it online. It only takes a minute. You can save confirmation that's shown after submitting the request.

Edited June 24 by OldUser

[Gaiden79 28]

2 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I'd file AR-11. An LPR is required to file AR-11 whenever address changes. I'm not aware of any alternative ways of fulfilling this requirement, such as talking to CBP at POE. It does't hurt doing it online. It only takes a minute. You can save confirmation that's shown after submitting the request.

Thanks, I'll do just that.