Cynthia_Aussie

On 2/21/2021 at 1:19 AM, HRQX said:

The Government says to do the following: "You should advise your coverage provider that you do not have an SSN or TIN and give them the date of birth for each covered individual." https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/questions-and-answers-about-reporting-social-security-numbers-to-your-health-insurance-company

Thanks for this. After MANY discussions with the HR department of my husband's employer and also the insurer, I finally have coverage on my husband's plan without a SSN. We spoke to 2 different representatives from the insurer who kept advising us that I cannot have health insurance without a SSN, so we kept pushing back. After pushing for an investigation into the case through the employer's HR department, the insurer has finally admitted that their representatives were misinforming us and I qualify for retrospective coverage (thank goodness). 

@naturalgurl4, you must book an interview in MD. You can't just show up to the SSN office - the buildings are locked so no one can get in without an appointment. Call, call, call, call and call. I had to call daily for 2 weeks just to get the right information on how to book an appointment. The phone operators each told me something different (all incorrect) until I finally got to speak with a supervisor.

Don't believe what  you're told by the first operator! Call back again to see if you get the same info (and each SSN office is different in how they operate too). I tried to book an appointment with the Abingdon SSN office. They requested that I fax all my details (who the hell has a fax anymore). I also tried the Towson office and they required me to email my information to the supervisor. I couldn't even get the right email to send my details to from the operators, they gave me 3 different (and incorrect) email addresses for the supervisor. I finally managed to speak with that particular supervisor on the phone just to get his email address.

I applied to both SSN offices in the hopes that 1 would get back to me sooner. Towson SSN office got back to me within 1 week after I finally received the right email address for the supervisor. Abingdon office got back to me 6 weeks after I faxed them (by then I had already had my interview with Towson). 

BEST OF LUCK! I hope you have much better luck than I did. I was ready to rip my hair out with rage. 

On 2/11/2021 at 8:31 PM, Nette1 said:

Hello..i am also from maryland state. I just processed my ssn at Glen Burnie office last january 6. They told me it will take 4-6weeks to process because DHS need to verify my documents before they will release ssn and as k1 the officer told me that my visa is non immigrant and we not eligible for a ssn. But then she still took my documents and gave me a receipt eith reference number on it. I kept on traking my case and checking on SAVE as well as with the office and they keep on telling me also that my case stil under review eventhough I can see from the SAVE that my case was already returned in the agency and my next step is to contact the local agency. 

 

February 8, i contacted the ssa office again and tole me that it shows 'mismatched' and so DHS did not approved it. The officer asked me if my documents are all k1 and told him i submitted everything with visa stamp k1 visa class and i94 also k1 class of admission. He told me that he will try to submit 'retry for initial verification' and after that i checked from SAVE that i have 2 case verification one which is case under review with max 6 days left and one with case returned to agency. 

 

Next day i called again and asked, another officer talked again to the officer who process my application and told me to wait for another 4-6 weeks again because my case still under verification in DHS.

 

Now i am totally confused because I am worried if my i94 will expire and just waiting for this verification from DHS. 

Hi lovely, I wish I had more information but I really have nothing beyond what I've posted. I've just contacted USCIS to see what they say. They've recommended that I sent a letter with my receipt number for the I-765 for me to get my social security number with my work permit. Beyond that, I've heard nothing and don't know what to do. I can't believe that DHS can take so long to confirm. Best of luck to you. Hang in there!

@Villanelle thank you so much for this. 

I had been checking the SAVE link for the past 6 weeks. For the past 6 weeks it has been saying, 'SAVE has returned your case to Maryland Social Security Administration, SSA (single sign-on).' With that info, I've been contacting my local SSA office and the general SSA hotline. Local SSA office kept telling me, they don't care what the SAVE website was saying, it was still 'stuck with DHS'. The general SSA hotline couldn't help me at all. They advised me that they can't help me unless I already have a SSN. It was the same response across multiple agents for both points of contact. I felt like I just had to wait it out and hope for the best as no one was giving me any information on where to go next. From reading the forum, it seems like that's all you can do with SSA. 

The I-94 has my correct name, DOB and passport number. There are no errors on it so don't know what could be the issue there? 

My husband and I agreed that I will use my maiden name for this round of paperwork to make matters easier. I will adjust to my married name at a later date (happy to wait for ROC). Thank you for flagging this though. 

Thank you so much again. I'm hanging out by my mailbox, waiting for the mail out receipt from USCIS as recognition of my i-765. Then I can photocopy that and send along an amendment (noted about making that super clear it's an amendment and NOT a new filing). 

1 hour ago, Villanelle said:

I wish you would have posted about this as it was occurring- most likely we could have helped you but unfortunately at this point in time you are going to have to wait for the EAD to be issued to get a SSN. 

 

I wouldnt bother attempting to amend the 765 you already filed to check the box you need a SSN. I mean you can try but I personally dont think its worth the hassle and it has low odds of actually working. FYI when you check that box it simply generates your info in the SS system after the EAD is approved. You would be doing the same thing once its approved and because you wont get any confirmation they amended your 765 once the EAD is approved you are going to end up needing to contact SSA to see if they got the info from USCIS so why bother trying to amend it when you are going to have to follow up anyway>?

 

 Did you apply for the SSN with the maiden name? Did you use your new married name on the AOS?

Thanks for this. I used my maiden name for all of the paperwork. 

I might still try following up with the I-765 anyway. Based on your info: if it works - then it's saved me a step (info already in the system for SSA, much easier when dealing with SSA agents over the phone who just want to deflect); if it's not worked - it's no different to my situation now. 

Ah the joys of the process. Need the patience of a saint. 

30 minutes ago, ifyU said:

you should be able to get health insurance without an SSN. I got health insurance, driver's license, rented a house, bought a car before my SSN came as the SSN office was closed.

Thanks for that. I'll try the previous suggestion of asking them to use a placeholder SSN until I get a real one. 

Which state are you in pretty please? In the state of Maryland, I can't get a license without a SSN. The DMV won't even give me an appointment for my driver's knowledge test without one. I know it varies state to state. 

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

SsN is not a requirement for health insurance,  if they insist,  give them a placeholder SSN

Thank you! We are trying to contact the HR department of my husband's company so that they can assist. So far Blue Shield (his insurer) won't accept it without a genuine SSN. I'll raise this possibility of a placeholder SSN with the HR department and see what they say. 

1 hour ago, Greenbaum said:

We have found many of the agents at SS have no idea how a K-1 who is wanting a SSN is to be processed. There is a forum here on VJ that outlines and has discussion. You may want to check that out and see what others are experiencing. We recommend that you get a SSN just after you arrive in the states; first week or two. Then after marriage return to SS and update your marriage with a name change. I wish you luck but don't give up. 

Thank you for commenting. I followed all the advice on the forum here: calling non-stop, bringing the SSA POMS with me to the interview etc. All of those tips worked wonderfully.

However, the part that tripped me up is the long hold with DHS to approve my status (so that SSA can issue me a SSN). I noticed several people with green cards had that issue, but that was fixed by contacting USCIS. I'm on a K1 and now my I-94 has expired... I don't know where to go from here? 

Hi guys, I've scoured this forum for SSN info + many others. I'm hoping someone can help me with the next step. I think I know what needs to happen but am a little stressed given the rubbish experience with SSA so would appreciate advice / confirmation. Thanks all. 

• Oct 20, 2020:      Entered USA on K1 visa. 
• Nov 14, 2020:     Married my US hubby.  
• Nov 16, 2020:     Appointment for SSN with Towson office in Maryland. 
• Nov 23, 2020:     SSA sent me a letter to say my application has been received.
  • Thereafter, I've called every 5 - 7 days, chasing my SSN. I was consistently told that it's been held up with Department of Homeland Security and waiting for DHS to approve. I don't understand why there could have been such a hold up? 

• Dec 20, 2020:     USCIS confirmed that they received my AOS bundle of paperwork.
  • I had selected NO for SSN with the I-765 (employment authorization) as I had already started the process with SSA. 

• Jan 2021:             Kept calling Towson SSA office, still being told it's been held up with DHS. 
• Jan 17, 2021:      My I-94 expired on this date. 
• Jan 19, 2021:      Finally got through to someone at Towson SSA. Says my application is still being held up with DHS for approval. However, as my I-94 has expired, 'it is likely that I will be rejected by DHS and therefore be rejected for SSN' (quoting the SSA agent on the phone). 

Without SSN I can't get a license in the state of Maryland + can't be on my husband's health insurance (this is the part I'm the most stressed by). 

So now I am thinking my only step is to call USCIS and see if I can resubmit my I-765 to request for SSN with it. Is this right? Any other grand ideas? 

Thanks in advance for any help. 

4 hours ago, Rlewis said:

Gosh I'm sorry you are having such a hard time!

May I ask which state/city you are doing this in?

I'm in Maryland. Called the Towson Social Security office today. Am going to try and call another social security office tomorrow and see if they they schedule appointments in another way. This is so frustrating.  

On 10/28/2020 at 11:41 AM, S&Y said:

when i called our local office it was a 866 number. Im in Indianapolis. I will see if theres another one.

Hi lovely, I crossed into US on 20 Oct 2020 and am now in the process of calling around SS offices for an appointment. There is so much misinformation. This is me trying just my local social security office (after being hung up on several times). 

• Operator 1:  Refused to listen to me and advised me that I cannot get a SSN. I referred him to RM 10211.530 but he refused to look it up.
• Operator 2: Gave me an email address of a supervisor for me to email. I got off the phone, proceeded to email all the info to this email address..... 'Your message wasn't delivered to X because the address couldn't be found, or is unable to receive mail.'
• Operator 3: Took my details and advised me she would email the office supervisor to contact me for an appointment. 
•  

I am hoping that operator 3 is correct. If I don't hear back in a day or two then I'll try another SS office. 

Just a tip for anyone phoning around, DO NOT mention K1 visa unless prompted. I was given a hard time due to the operator's misunderstandings of the K1 visa. Just say, "I need to apply for my social security number for the first time. Could I please make an appointment?" 

Good luck everyone! 

On 6/22/2020 at 5:03 PM, Tjg312 said:

Hey there,

I did get a RFE for birth certificate(I sent it, but i'm guessing they didn't like that we translated it ourselves, so I just got it done by another company), but nothing at all about that.

I got confirmation of RFE received and nothing else, so I'm guessing since I didn't get an RFE for that with my birth certificate one we're good

Hi there, 

Just touching base to see you didn't get any further RFE re: your wife translating the diplomas herself? My transcripts are in English so if you didn't receive a RFE for the translated transcripts then that's a good sign for me! Thanks muchly  

Hi guys, I have a translated copy of my birth certificate from Chinese to English. When it was translated in 2015, I went through a translation agency in Australia - NAATI (NAATI is the national standards and certifying authority for translators and interpreters in Australia). 

The translated version of my birth certificate has the translator's name, accreditation number with NAATI and also date of translation. I know this doesn't follow USCIS's recommended format of having a signature & address etc. However, in you experience, do you think it will suffice if I compile information like this: 

- copy of the translated birth certificate

- a print out from NAATI's website of who they are (i.e. THE certifying authority for translators in Australia) 

- a print out of the translator's profile from NAATI's website (only shows email & Australia mobile number). 

Thank you for your input. Just wanting to make sure to dot my i's and cross my t's.