Go to the SS office (you'll be astounded at the number of people in there who have not even bothered to get out of their pajamas!!!) and take all of your papers, as much as possible including something to confirm your address.
Now here is the trick:
Your SS card can take a while to get to you but there is a short cut to getting the actual SS number. Before you leave ask for the phone number at the SS office, and call back in about 5 days and simply ask: "Has a number been allocated to me yet?" They can't obviously give it to you over the phone but they can say yes or no.
If they say yes, go back to the SS office and you can get a print-out before you get your card which will say something along the lines of: "The following number has been allocated to XXXXXXX XXXXXX"
This will allow you to get on with your life quicker and could save you two weeks, maybe more. Worked for me and worked for another friend of mine from South America.
Good Luck, let me know if you have any questions.
H1983 got a reaction from Brother Hesekiel in SSN and confused