LiCaoli

I went to the SS office for my appointment today! It was super fast (5 minutes) and everyone was kind. They said I should receive the card in the mail within 2 weeks. 

I went to the SS office for my appointment today! It was super fast (5 minutes) and everyone was kind. They said I should receive the card in the mail within 2 weeks. 

Did they give you your SSN?  My wife also received her green card before her EAD and AP were approved.  I wasn't sure if USCIS was going to send the approval to the SS office or not.  I was going to wait a week to see if anything arrived in the mail.  

hi everyone!
 
I had my SS office appointment today, so I'm posting my final timeline for reference. I did apply for both work and travel permits, but I got neither. I wish you all good luck!
 
Jul. 27, 2020 - Case was received.
Aug. 06, 2020 - We accepted the fingerprint fee for your Form I-485.
Jan. 05, 2021 - Bio appointment (Greer, SC) / Case updated to fingerprints taken.
Jan. 12, 2021 - Ready to schedule interview.
Jan. 21, 2021 - We scheduled an interview for your Form I-485.
Feb. 25, 2021 - Interview (Nashville, TN).
Feb. 25, 2021 - New card is being produced.
Feb. 26, 2021 - Case was approved. (I-130 was approved on the same day).
Mar. 02, 2021 - Card was mailed to me.
Mar. 03, 2021 - Card was picked up by the United States Postal Service.
Mar. 05, 2021 - Card was delivered.
Mar. 08, 2021 - SS office appointment.

I went to the SS office for my appointment today! It was super fast (5 minutes) and everyone was kind. They said I should receive the card in the mail within 2 weeks. 

Congrats!!!

Mine's coming today!! 😀

Awesome! I'm glad it worked out for you! I should get my GC tomorrow, so I'm really excited!

Thanks. This motivated me to call again. They said to just email a copy of my documents and they will call me to arrange an appointment! Much better than mailing all these important things. And you're right, we're supposed to carry our green card at all times. I was thinking a copy would suffice for this, but apparently not! 

I've been noticing that many new immigrants that need to apply for the first time for their Social Security number/card are having a hard time getting an in-person appointment at the their local Social Security office, since the offices are closed for walk-in service due to Covid pandemic. 
 
The alternative these offices are suggesting is mailing your ORIGINAL documents, such as Permanent Resident card, Passaport and sometimes even Birth Certificates. To me, that sounds like a terrible idea, can you imagine the headache in case your documents get lost? I'm not sure how big of a risk it actually is, but I surely don't want to find out. That said, here is some information to try and convince your SS office to get you and in-person appointment. But first, if the person who answers the phone is not wiliing to help you, get their supervisor to talk to you.
 
IT'S THE LAW:  You can't mail your GC since Section 264(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.) requires all lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to have “at all times” official evidence of LPR status.   (e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties
Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
 
USCIS 'Welcome to the United States A Guide for New Immigrants' states that:  As a permanent resident, you must: Carry proof of your permanent resident status at all times
Page 14: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-618.pdf
 
Here are two articles about the topic:  “If you decide to carry a copy of your green card instead of the original because you want to keep the original safe, you will be violating the law.”
 https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-i-really-need-carry-green-card-me.html
           
 “Do you have to carry my green card around with you? Card holders are required under law to have their green cards on them at all times to prove their legal status. If you are detained, Federal law enforcement has the authority to demand that you demonstrate your legal status. Failing to have your green card on your person is considered a misdemeanor.
Practically speaking, chances are that you will likely not get into trouble if you happen to have it on your person. Immigration authorities do have limited resources and will likely not waste them on prosecuting people for not carrying their green cards at all points in time. But, especially in this tumultuous political climate, it is advisable to carry it with you at all times as is required by law.”
https://www.borderwise.co/learn/greencards/everything-a-green-card-holder-should-know
 
I hope that helps!

I forgot to say that USCIS guide for new immigrants say:
 
As a permanent resident, you must:
● Carry proof of your permanent resident status at all times.
 
Page 20: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/M-618.pdf
 
AND
 
After We Grant Your Green Card
We issue a Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) to all permanent residents as proof that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. If you are a permanent resident age 18 or older, you are required to have a valid Green Card in your possession at all times.
 
AND check this website:
 
If you are 18 or older, you do have to carry your green card with you. Section 264(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.) requires all lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to have “at all times” official evidence of LPR status. 
Failing to have your green card with you is a misdemeanor and if you are found guilty you can be fined up to $100 and put in jail for up to 30 days. (I.N.A. Section 264(e).) A copy is not good enough, because the law does not use the word “copy” or refer to “other evidence” of LPR status.
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/do-i-really-need-carry-green-card-me.html
 

My local SSA is only open for "dire need" appointments. So, I may take a chance and mail documents by certified insured mail! 

My I-485 was approved last week and card was mailed yesterday. I was thinking that SSN would come automatically because I recall checking box to request this, but now I'm realizing that was on the I-765, not the I-485. 

So, is it correct that I have to apply to SSA for an SSN? Also, it looks like offices are still closed (since March 2020). I'm a little wary of mailing green card, birth certificate, passport, etc. to SSA in order to get SSN. Have others done this? 

Thanks for your advice! And sorry if this is in the wrong place, couldn't find my answer elsewhere.

We had our interview today at the Nashville office. It was super quick and easy, even though I was expecting some scrutiny (since I came to the US on a B2 visa and I never got my EAD/SS number, meaning no bank accounts in our names, no bills in my name, no drivers license etc etc). The officer never said expressly that the green card was approved, but he did say everything looked good and that he would recommend the approval. An hour later, I checked the case status and it was updated to “new card being produced”!
 
We are happy and glad everything went well, but I’m still anxious about getting my SS number and being able to work! 
 
Good luck, everyone!
 

Congratulations! ROC next  
 
Congrats! I'm adjusting from B2 as well. 
 
Thank you  
 
Congrats! Most people get their SSN 2 weeks after getting EAD. I wonder when we could call them to check if we're already in their system.

Congratulations!!

We had our interview today at the Nashville office. It was super quick and easy, even though I was expecting some scrutiny (since I came to the US on a B2 visa and I never got my EAD/SS number, meaning no bank accounts in our names, no bills in my name, no drivers license etc etc). The officer never said expressly that the green card was approved, but he did say everything looked good and that he would recommend the approval. An hour later, I checked the case status and it was updated to “new card being produced”!
 
We are happy and glad everything went well, but I’m still anxious about getting my SS number and being able to work! 
 
Good luck, everyone!
 

We had our interview today at the Nashville office. It was super quick and easy, even though I was expecting some scrutiny (since I came to the US on a B2 visa and I never got my EAD/SS number, meaning no bank accounts in our names, no bills in my name, no drivers license etc etc). The officer never said expressly that the green card was approved, but he did say everything looked good and that he would recommend the approval. An hour later, I checked the case status and it was updated to “new card being produced”!
 
We are happy and glad everything went well, but I’m still anxious about getting my SS number and being able to work! 
 
Good luck, everyone!
 

I just had a miracle 🙏
 
 
New Card Is Being Produced
On February 25, 2021, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number MSCXXXXXXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
 

We had our interview last Thursday in Boise and the status was changed to "New Card is being Produced"  today.
 
We went through both the I 130 and I 485 during the interview.  He only asked the basic questions, how did you meet, where did you go on your first date, when did you propose, have you met his/her family.    It would have been approved on the spot if I knew the difference between divorce papers and divorce decree as submitted my divorce papers from my previous marriage.   The interviewer gave us a RFE for the divorce decree as we were leaving and I mailed it to the field office the next day.  

We had our interview today at the Nashville office. It was super quick and easy, even though I was expecting some scrutiny (since I came to the US on a B2 visa and I never got my EAD/SS number, meaning no bank accounts in our names, no bills in my name, no drivers license etc etc). The officer never said expressly that the green card was approved, but he did say everything looked good and that he would recommend the approval. An hour later, I checked the case status and it was updated to “new card being produced”!
 
We are happy and glad everything went well, but I’m still anxious about getting my SS number and being able to work! 
 
Good luck, everyone!
 

We had our interview today at the Nashville office. It was super quick and easy, even though I was expecting some scrutiny (since I came to the US on a B2 visa and I never got my EAD/SS number, meaning no bank accounts in our names, no bills in my name, no drivers license etc etc). The officer never said expressly that the green card was approved, but he did say everything looked good and that he would recommend the approval. An hour later, I checked the case status and it was updated to “new card being produced”!
 
We are happy and glad everything went well, but I’m still anxious about getting my SS number and being able to work! 
 
Good luck, everyone!
 

I filed for both travel and work authorization with my i485 and still didn't get them, even though I already have my interview schedule for the next week, so it's not guaranteed 765/131 would be faster. After my case updated to “ready to be scheduled for an interview" it didn't take long until the interview was actually scheduled. Good luck!

Received our EAD and AP combo card in the mail today. Altogether, it took 213 days from filing to receiving (we did not expedite) which is bonkers to think about as I know in the past applicants received it within 1 to 2 months of filing, but I suppose it makes sense considering all that's happened in the US the past year.

Now waiting on the SSN and AOS interview. 

Hoping things go smoothly for everyone else as well. 
 

Approximately 2 weeks. 

7 days after.