My spouse (a conditional permanent resident through the CR-1 process) never received a SS card despite checking the box on the DS-260. They are out of the US at the moment but we want to apply for the card ASAP as soon as they are back.
I am wondering if applying online will speed up the process any, since that can be started in advance of my spouse’s return.
This page mentions that “You can…Request a Social Security number for the first time” online, and the questionnaire does not seem to screen out our case. After a few basic questions we are sent to the online service page which specifies:
Here are the pros and cons that I see of doing the online application versus just filling out the SS-5 paper form:
Pros:
- The request is already in the system once we go to the local office.
- Data entry (presumably) doesn’t have to be done by someone else and would be less prone to error.
Cons:
- This may be less familiar to the SSA staff at the local office and we would plan to bring a completed SS-5 form anyway just in case.
- The SSA online service link above periodically goes down; there may be technical issues with the system.
However, I am not sure about the following:
- Submitting online may help to get a SS number assigned faster, even if the card itself isn’t sent out until later. Or, it may not make any difference at all.
- We don’t know if it matters that the box for a SS card was checked on the DS-260, even if a card never arrived, and whether submitting the form online would create a duplicate request in the system.
- In spite of going through the screening questionnaire, we’re not sure if the online application is truly appropriate for this situation (non-citizen applying for a SS number for the first time).
Either method requires going to an office in person, so that’s a wash.
If anyone has any experience with the online application, let me know. I tried to search the forum but did not find any mention of it.
