DAnSA

You are NOT a K-3, you are a K-1. You are correct, your status has not changed.
What you need to do is go back to the SSA and apply in your VISA name. If they give you the run around and say you are a K-3 again, then just ask them to search for your VISA name in their computer. Your name will show up as eligible to receive an SSN. If they refuse to look you up, ask for a supervisor or go to a different SSA office.

We are just a little bit behind you. We are finishing out things with NVC and they should be sending the case over to the local embassy (Japan in our case) soon. My wife calls the (Tokyo) embassy public assistance office about once a week to see if they have anything new on our case. We gave up waiting for the various offices to contact us...and we contact them asking them whats up with out case. We usually just get a run around or unclear answers but it seems to be better than waiting. Sometimes we've been told to please wait some more....then in a day some email will come from them. I'm not sure if the public relations people really know what the actual case workers are doing in the other rooms. It sometimes seems that they don't. I would recommend you contact the Sydney people regularly by email, phone, and old fashioned paper mail if you must. Keep knocking (nicely) and every now and again you will get answers and can better plan and predict your next steps. Good Luck!

Yes they are, I've spoken to them 3 times since Friday. When you hear that message with the websites you need to hang up and call again. Sometimes it takes a lot of tries (last time it took me 18 attempts) before you get the message that allows you to get into the hold queue.