SSN in New Jersey

[Sprailenes 47]

I went to file my SSN applicaton in NJ today. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I wasn't in the system, even though I entered the U.S. almost 3 weeks ago. I know I don't want them to file manually as that'll take forever, but when I told her I'd just come back in a couple of days, she wasn't having any of that. She said that made no sense and blah, blah, blah. I don't know what the heck she did. So, I'm not sure if I'll get my SSN in a week like everyone else or if I'm outside the process now. She told me it could take a week, two weeks, two months. There's no telling. Wah. I keep tellling myself I can't worry about it, but I probably will.

I waited 8 months and I still wasn't in the system.

Edited August 22, 2008 by Sprailenes

[SonoranSongbird 3]

She actually told him to leave it blank. It could be that the person who actually processed it for him (which was not the woman at the counter we spoke to initially) filled in the right box.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

I applied for my SSN last week, hopefully I get it soon

Our marriage certificate came a few days ago so we are going to file for AOS very soon!

[Gypsyangel 11]

Make sure you get it as soon as you can after you arrive - the longer you wait the more hassles you encounter and time runs out 2 weeks before your I-94 date.

What happens if you've applied for it and it just doesn't arrive? Is there anything you can do? I feel like I can't do much of anything until I get it. The crazy woman at the SS office told me to call back in a month if I didn't have it. I applied 2.5 weeks after arriving and I've been waiting about 2.5 weeks since I applied.

I'm trying not to, but I'm obsessing over this.

[Gypsyangel 11]

I went to file my SSN applicaton in NJ today. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I wasn't in the system, even though I entered the U.S. almost 3 weeks ago. I know I don't want them to file manually as that'll take forever, but when I told her I'd just come back in a couple of days, she wasn't having any of that. She said that made no sense and blah, blah, blah. I don't know what the heck she did. So, I'm not sure if I'll get my SSN in a week like everyone else or if I'm outside the process now. She told me it could take a week, two weeks, two months. There's no telling. Wah. I keep tellling myself I can't worry about it, but I probably will.

I waited 8 months and I still wasn't in the system.

Yikes. That's terrible. What did you do to get into the system?

[thetreble 19]

I don't want to sound like an ####### but did any one read what I had posted on the first page? When I went to apply for my SSN in New Jersey the lady gave me a piece of paper that said "the current waiting time is 13 weeks. Please do not contact us before then to ask about your number". So I didn't.

It took me months, like Nevada, to get my card. Unlike other states which seem to process cards in a matter of a few weeks, NJ has a lot of immigrants. So, the lady told me that I would have to wait awhile because they have been in a back log for years.

My advice would be to just be patient. There is nothing you can do about an SSN but call and inquire what the status of your number is.

Edited August 23, 2008 by thetreble

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

The piece of paper the lady gave me said 6 weeks.

She told me 4.

Who knows. I'm just going to wait patiently for mine.

[Sprailenes 47]

I went to file my SSN applicaton in NJ today. It didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I wasn't in the system, even though I entered the U.S. almost 3 weeks ago. I know I don't want them to file manually as that'll take forever, but when I told her I'd just come back in a couple of days, she wasn't having any of that. She said that made no sense and blah, blah, blah. I don't know what the heck she did. So, I'm not sure if I'll get my SSN in a week like everyone else or if I'm outside the process now. She told me it could take a week, two weeks, two months. There's no telling. Wah. I keep tellling myself I can't worry about it, but I probably will.

I waited 8 months and I still wasn't in the system.

Yikes. That's terrible. What did you do to get into the system?

I never was in the system, they put me in the system when I got my green card approved.

[Sprailenes 47]

You guys just moved to the most densely populated state, its going to take a while.

Mine took 6 weeks from the day I went and applied. I applied the day my green card was approved. They took a copy of my passport and the stamp and all that stuff and sent it to immigration to make sure it was all legit and then sent me my SSN 6 weeks later.

I still got a job and told my employer that my SSN was coming, I still got a pay cheque. The only thing I couldn't do was get a Commerce bank account, or a state drivers license.

It all falls into place. It really does.

[Texanadian 10]

The answers are pretty much right in this thread. What most people don't know is that there are actually 3 different types of Social Security cards.

• 1) Regular
• 2) Valid for work only with DHS authorization.
• 3) Not valid for employment

1) This is for US citizens or green card holders. Refugees as well. This is the name and number only card that your American spouse will have. Good for permanent work in the US. Visajourney people can file for this after getting their AOS approved (you must bring the actual green card with you)

2) This is the card that K visa holders get no matter which checkbox they choose on the application. This card is given out to people who are legally allowed to work in the US on a temporary basis. Social Security considers a K-1 visa to be valid for work until it expires.......unfortunately to actually get a job, you'll need to show something with DHS authorization (I-94 stamp or EAD or Green card)

3) Not applicable to Visajourney people. This is primarily for opening a US bank account, applying for assistance. Various non employment deals where you need a social security card (driver's license etc)

I can't even remember which checkbox I selected when I filled out my SS form the first time. I'd recommend choosing the legally allowed to work box. Why not? The K-1 is the overall reason that determines you getting the SS card. So the boxes don't matter.

Texas has as many immigrants as any state. It took me about 2 hours each time I went there to apply. The first time for my newly across the border SS card (with DHS authorization only bit on it) and later after the green card arrived, I went back and got the DHS bit taken off. I didn't have to get it taken off. But I just prefer not having it on there.

On a side note, I had to laugh when I went to open a US bank account. I did it the day I received my 1st SS card (which took about 8-9 days to receive after applying for it). I walked into the bank, open the account. They asked me what I did for work. I told them I can't work at the moment as my SS card says with DHS authorization only (I didn't get the I-94 stamp at the border). My banker looked at my SS card and said "Wow, I didn't even notice that part.".....Didn't notice it? How could you miss it?

[Sprailenes 47]

I remember feeling totally hopeless at my bank, she told me my visa expired and I told her: "Well thats why I have the green card" and she said: "Well your visa expired" and I tried to explain the process for her and all she kept saying was that the visa in my passport had expired, well duh its a 90 day visa dumb ###!

BUT then I went to a different branch and had a guy from another country and he was asking me about my "AOS" and all that stuff and I was like: "Here's someone who speaks my language!"

He was really helpful and I didn't have to explain a thing to him.

[Texanadian 10]

What a goof. You're showing him the green card and he wants a visa? LOL

[Sprailenes 47]

Yea I had my green card, but no SSN, and she took what I had in my passport as what was true and fact. She ignored my green card. It was so discouraging, here I finally had what I had worked for and they wouldn't even give me a freaking moment of their time and listen to how things work in immigration. I called her an idiot and withdrew what money I had put in there, because they let me deposit the money in that branch, and took it to another branch.

She tried apologizing and I didn't even accept it, I just kept calling her an idiot.

Edited August 24, 2008 by Sprailenes

[davidm1982 0]

Just to clarify - if you are a K-1, then you write 'Yes" under alien authorized to work on the SSN form. The classification IS work authorized, however, work is only permitted if you ALSO have physical proof from USCIS such as the stamp or the EAD. It means you are allowed to apply for proof of work eligibility. If you write "No", your SSN will be denied as it is available for work authorized individuals only. Make sure you get it as soon as you can after you arrive - the longer you wait the more hassles you encounter and time runs out 2 weeks before your I-94 date.

Without wanting to add further complications into everything, I have a related New Jersey social security number thread.

I am entering the country on Sept 17 (with K1 visa) and we are getting married on November 8. Looking at the New Jersey requirements for a marriage license it says that a SSN is needed, but from everthing on here it seems that it might be cutting things a bit fine to wait for mine to be processed and arrive. Does anybody know if the SSN requirement would apply in our case or if it is only for US citizens? All help much appreciated!

David

[thetreble 19]

Just to clarify - if you are a K-1, then you write 'Yes" under alien authorized to work on the SSN form. The classification IS work authorized, however, work is only permitted if you ALSO have physical proof from USCIS such as the stamp or the EAD. It means you are allowed to apply for proof of work eligibility. If you write "No", your SSN will be denied as it is available for work authorized individuals only. Make sure you get it as soon as you can after you arrive - the longer you wait the more hassles you encounter and time runs out 2 weeks before your I-94 date.

Without wanting to add further complications into everything, I have a related New Jersey social security number thread.

I am entering the country on Sept 17 (with K1 visa) and we are getting married on November 8. Looking at the New Jersey requirements for a marriage license it says that a SSN is needed, but from everthing on here it seems that it might be cutting things a bit fine to wait for mine to be processed and arrive. Does anybody know if the SSN requirement would apply in our case or if it is only for US citizens? All help much appreciated!

David

I did not have a SSN at the time of my marriage. You just leave it blank. The clerk will be okay with that.