SSN issues, issuing a cautionary tale while venting.

[Syndine 21]

Hello everyone, not sure if this fits well here or not, but wanted to offer up a cautionary tale in regards to the Social Security Administration and our struggles amid our AoS application.

 

I finally moved in with my Fiancé in the US on Nov 21 2025 on a K-1 Visa, we waited 2 weeks after my entry and headed to the local SSO here in Memphis, and were promptly turned around with the information that we needed to book an in person appointment in order to be let into the building and see anyone, so we went home and scheduled that visit at the earliest available time, today Feb 4th. We got married on December 27th and thus decided to bring our marriage certificate, my i-94 and my passport along with us. I got promptly denied an SSN at the SSO since my I-94 was only valid for another 14 days. So now we are looking into alternatives on how best to procure an SSN. So my caution for those doing the K-1, note when your I-94 expires, and if your local Social Security Office can't see you for 2 months, look into other SSO's that might be able to. Hind sight is 20/20 and all that! and good luck out there.

[Boiler 48,685]

You need EAD

[P055UM 373]

Yeah, getting an SSN as a K-1 is a horrible minefield that isn’t gonna be changed any time soon.

 

Hopefully your EAD will come soon, so you can then use that to get the SSN. Good luck!  

[JeanneAdil 7,474]

married before end of 2025 , your wife can add you to income taxes that are due by 15th of April

she can put no number in the ss space (as some have been successful this) or you fill out the W2 for a ITIN 

That will help when you go to AOS interview

If EAD comes first use that for social security 

if ITIN comes 1st that can be used for bank account 

 

the above issues are why spouse visa is superior

on top of the immigrant can work after entering with the I 551 stamp on visa

 

not knowing your state you may have the same issue at the DMV

[alliejourney 162]

For any others stumbling across this thread, the 2 weeks wait to make an appointment at your local SSA office is no longer necessary in most cases. Whenever your I-94 is updated with your most recent entry using the K1 visa, you can make your appointment. Because the system is all digital now, we were literally able to get an appointment and go less than 12 hours after my now husband arrived in the country. 

 

Thanks for sharing OP, I think the timing of acquiring an SSN is one of the biggest mistakes/pitfalls I see people make and it's really unfortunate because if you don't manage to get one it can put a damper on a lot of things like being able to get a driver's license, bank accounts, etc. 

[Lemonslice 5,415]

55 minutes ago, alliejourney said:

For any others stumbling across this thread, the 2 weeks wait to make an appointment at your local SSA office is no longer necessary in most cases. Whenever your I-94 is updated with your most recent entry using the K1 visa, you can make your appointment. Because the system is all digital now, we were literally able to get an appointment and go less than 12 hours after my now husband arrived in the country. 

 

Thanks for sharing OP, I think the timing of acquiring an SSN is one of the biggest mistakes/pitfalls I see people make and it's really unfortunate because if you don't manage to get one it can put a damper on a lot of things like being able to get a driver's license, bank accounts, etc. 

With the delays to get appointments in some locations, the American fiancé could even make the appointment before the immigrant arrives - then cancel it if the i-94 needs to be corrected.  The SSN is such a useful piece of the puzzle for the immigrant, too many people forget to plan for it. 

[mam521 2,936]

4 hours ago, alliejourney said:

Thanks for sharing OP, I think the timing of acquiring an SSN is one of the biggest mistakes/pitfalls I see people make and it's really unfortunate because if you don't manage to get one it can put a damper on a lot of things like being able to get a driver's license, bank accounts, etc. 

Many banks will allow bank accounts can still be opened with an ITIN.  The trigger, especially for larger banks, is actually legal status and it's validity period. 

 

The same applies for driver's licenses.  Many states are requiring SAVE verification and irrespective of having a SSN or ITIN, a person who has entered the period of authorized stay with no legal status (K1 visa holders after their I-94 expires but their AOS paperwork has been filed) will not be able to get a driver's license until EAD or their greencard are approved, granting them legal status in the US and triggering an update to their SAVE account.  If they do manage to get a state license, it will expire when their I-94 expires.  

[alliejourney 162]

3 hours ago, Lemonslice said:

With the delays to get appointments in some locations, the American fiancé could even make the appointment before the immigrant arrives - then cancel it if the i-94 needs to be corrected.  The SSN is such a useful piece of the puzzle for the immigrant, too many people forget to plan for it. 

That's a REALLY good idea. I'm lucky to live a podunk area where appointments are almost always free same day, lol. But yes definitely a good idea for busier areas!

[alliejourney 162]

1 minute ago, mam521 said:

Many banks will allow bank accounts can still be opened with an ITIN.  The trigger, especially for larger banks, is actually legal status and it's validity period. 

 

The same applies for driver's licenses.  Many states are requiring SAVE verification and irrespective of having a SSN or ITIN, a person who has entered the period of authorized stay with no legal status (K1 visa holders after their I-94 expires but their AOS paperwork has been filed) will not be able to get a driver's license until EAD or their greencard are approved, granting them legal status in the US and triggering an update to their SAVE account.  If they do manage to get a state license, it will expire when their I-94 expires.  

Good points - that actually did remind me that we were still not able to acquire his bank accounts or driver's license until we had his EAD as proof of legal status. Still, I feel it's worthwhile to acquire the SSN ASAP instead of waiting for one with the green card! 

[mam521 2,936]

1 hour ago, alliejourney said:

Good points - that actually did remind me that we were still not able to acquire his bank accounts or driver's license until we had his EAD as proof of legal status. Still, I feel it's worthwhile to acquire the SSN ASAP instead of waiting for one with the green card! 

As soon as you get EAD, you can get a SSN.  After the greencard is issued, you just let the SSA know and they'll update the card.  Or, like in my case, you don't bother updating the information with the SSA until you naturalize.  

[Ontarkie 15,116]

~~Moved to SSN, from AOS Family K1/K3 P&P- as the topic is about the ssn~~

[OldUser 11,248]

On 2/5/2026 at 11:15 AM, mam521 said:

As soon as you get EAD, you can get a SSN.  After the greencard is issued, you just let the SSA know and they'll update the card.  Or, like in my case, you don't bother updating the information with the SSA until you naturalize.  

For anybody employed, I highly recommend removing restrictions on SS card when getting GC.

 

This eliminates any potential paranoia from HRs who are obsessed with GC expiration dates and worry too much when conditional GC expires. I just always showed unrestricted SS card and DL for I-9 and never GC to avoid this issue

Edited 6 hours ago by OldUser

[mam521 2,936]

1 hour ago, OldUser said:

For anybody employed, I highly recommend removing restrictions on SS card when getting GC.

 

This eliminates any potential paranoia from HRs who are obsessed with GC expiration dates and worry too much when conditional GC expires. I just always showed unrestricted SS card and DL for I-9 and never GC to avoid this issue

You are not required to show your SS card at any point.  Employers are required to fill out form I-9 for each employee to verify identity and work eligibility.  There is an option for an employer to use SSNVS, but that just checks that a name and SSN match for wage reporting.  Many employers now use E-Verify to ensure the I-9 information is correct, ensuring that a person has legal authorization to work.  Many larger companies have outsourced I-9 verification to authorized representatives like Equifax.  As per I-9 instruction, you can provide a List A document OR you can provide a combination of a List B and List C document.  The SS card is a List C document and is simply an option when combined with a List B document.  An I-797B or I-797D would be required to get a SSN in the first place, so are a great List C document to present.  

 

It is imperative that people understand what an employer can actually ask to see and what the company's data retention policies are.  For a while, there seemed to be a number of HR persons who didn't read the instructions and failed to accept an endorsed MRIV I-551.  A lot of VJ people didn't think they could begin work because the physical green cards were slow to print and the SSA were one of the slowest agencies to come out of COVID restrictions.  You can 100% begin work without a SSN if you can present a List A document or a List B and C document and that List A document does NOT need to be a printed GC and the List C does NOT have to be a SS card.  You do have to provide the employer the SSN when you get it because they are required to report your wages, but the employer doesn't need it for day 1.  

 

If you're curious about the instructions, they are here: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9.pdf

 

Between SAVE verification and E-Verify, there's a lot of records available to ensure status and work authorization are kosher.  

[OldUser 11,248]

3 hours ago, mam521 said:

You are not required to show your SS card at any point.  Employers are required to fill out form I-9 for each employee to verify identity and work eligibility.  There is an option for an employer to use SSNVS, but that just checks that a name and SSN match for wage reporting.  Many employers now use E-Verify to ensure the I-9 information is correct, ensuring that a person has legal authorization to work.  Many larger companies have outsourced I-9 verification to authorized representatives like Equifax.  As per I-9 instruction, you can provide a List A document OR you can provide a combination of a List B and List C document.  The SS card is a List C document and is simply an option when combined with a List B document.  An I-797B or I-797D would be required to get a SSN in the first place, so are a great List C document to present.  

 

It is imperative that people understand what an employer can actually ask to see and what the company's data retention policies are.  For a while, there seemed to be a number of HR persons who didn't read the instructions and failed to accept an endorsed MRIV I-551.  A lot of VJ people didn't think they could begin work because the physical green cards were slow to print and the SSA were one of the slowest agencies to come out of COVID restrictions.  You can 100% begin work without a SSN if you can present a List A document or a List B and C document and that List A document does NOT need to be a printed GC and the List C does NOT have to be a SS card.  You do have to provide the employer the SSN when you get it because they are required to report your wages, but the employer doesn't need it for day 1.  

 

If you're curious about the instructions, they are here: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9.pdf

 

Between SAVE verification and E-Verify, there's a lot of records available to ensure status and work authorization are kosher.  

Not sure I agree with you

 

I-9 instructions say:

 

"Employees may present one selection from List A or a

combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C."

 

List B - DL

List C - SS card

 

Those to be presented as List B + List C if don't want to show list A document (GC). I am advocating for List B + List C to avoid showing  GC which causes headache.

 

My reply was to your suggestion to not bother with removing conditions on SS card until becoming a citizen which I disagree with.

 

I am not talking about providing other list C docs such as Native American Tribal Travel document because it does not apply to most people I'm addressing this message to (GC holders)

Edited 1 hour ago by OldUser

[Boiler 48,685]

Never used my card, they gave me the number when I applied and I filed it somewhere when I received it.