Social Security Number

[I'm Gone 60]

here is a copy of a directive from social security that you may want to print and take with you

http://www.kamya.com/ssn/em00154.pdf

EM-00154 is so old and outdated.

RM 00203.500 C1 is current procedure

[Maeve 2]

Hi, here is the link to the document that shows K1 is eligible for SSN without EAD or work auth.

SSN guidelines

You can try to take this paper back to the clerk who has no clue and his supervisor, but i would call the national office 1-800-772-1213, dont use the automated system, speak to a rep and they will call your local office. then go back to your local office.

ROTFLMAO You would be lucky to find a 800 number rep that know a K-1 from a K-9 and if the field office doesn't have a clue the 800 number sure isn't going to over rule the office manager.

I Quit is right!!! I wasted waaaay too much time in that stupid phone system - both calling hte local office and the naotional one - *no one* knew what they were talking about!

[TexPamp 0]

So what I am able to gather from responses here and similar postings is a matter of convincing, tricking, hoping and a luck of the draw to get someone to issue a SSN.

One of the links provided pretty much says the clerk is correct another says he is wrong. There has to be something rock solid.

I think tomorrow we will go to another office and say we need SSN for the purposes of putting Sweety on the lease and bank account and credit cards. Maybe this will ring a bell with them that SSN is also for identification purposes and not just employment. The only problem with that is the majority of the population here on the border is Hispanic and sympathys run deep for illegals (Mexican) and not much understanding for Filipinas who come here legally.

TexPamp

[I'm Gone 60]

I think tomorrow we will go to another office and say we need SSN for the purposes of putting Sweety on the lease and bank account and credit cards. Maybe this will ring a bell with them that SSN is also for identification purposes and not just employment.

TexPamp

That is a losing strategy, since getting a lease, bank account or obtain credit are not valid non work reasons to be assigned an SSN.

RM 00203.510 Alien without Work Authorization - Nonwork Need for an SSN

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510

The only valid nonwork reasons are:

-- Federal statute or regulation requires that the alien provide his/her SSN to get the particular benefit or service to which he or she has otherwise established entitlement;

-- State or local law requires the alien who is legally in the U.S. to provide his/her SSN to get public assistance benefits to which the alien has otherwise established entitlement and for which all other requirements have been met.

This is what you want to go with

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500

C. Policy - Employment Authorization by Class of Admission

The following policy applies to employment authorization by class of admission:

1. Aliens Work Authorized Without Specific DHS Authorization

The following sections list nonimmigrants, by alien class of admission codes, who are authorized to work in the U.S. without specific authorization from DHS. The person’s I-94 will not have the DHS employment authorization stamp and the alien will generally not have an EAD.

K-1 -- Fiancé(e) of U.S. citizen

[chris4gretchen 1]

Hi, here is the link to the document that shows K1 is eligible for SSN without EAD or work auth.

SSN guidelines

You can try to take this paper back to the clerk who has no clue and his supervisor, but i would call the national office 1-800-772-1213, dont use the automated system, speak to a rep and they will call your local office. then go back to your local office.

ROTFLMAO You would be lucky to find a 800 number rep that know a K-1 from a K-9 and if the field office doesn't have a clue the 800 number sure isn't going to over rule the office manager.

That is quite incorrect as i PERSONALLY know 3 different couples that DID call the 800 number and the National office DID call the local office and they were able to go a second time and get their SSN number. That is what the 800 number is for. Perhaps you are confusing it with the USCIS 800 number where they dont know what is going on.

Chris

[chris4gretchen 1]

they are suppose to give you a SSN card because some state require a SSN number to get a marrigae license. I know the state and county I love in have the following requirements

SSA isn't supposed to give you an SSN. You either provide proof of work authorized status or a valid non work reason for needing an SSN and going married isn't a valid reason.

and this also is incorrect. My wife has her SSN and we dont have EAD or AOS yet. There are hundreds of K1's that have their SSN number and dont have EAD or AOS yet. The valid reason to get her SSN is to have it for opening bank accounts, health insurance, tax purposes, state IDs and the SSN card was asked for at a recent AOS interview from friends of ours who are on a K1. You are giving out alot of incorrect info and should recheck your sources..

In fact my wife has her SSN card in her maiden name, and in her married name and we have yet to get approved for EAD or AOS. the link that i posted is correct.

Chris

Edited October 6, 2008 by chris4gretchen

[I'm Gone 60]

That is quite incorrect as i PERSONALLY know 3 different couples that DID call the 800 number and the National office DID call the local office and they were able to go a second time and get their SSN number. That is what the 800 number is for. Perhaps you are confusing it with the USCIS 800 number where they dont know what is going on.

So you are saying that you know of 3 people that tried to apply for an SSN and the SSA office turned them away. Then they called 1-800-772-1213 and the agent called the SSA office to tell them they were wrong and the people went back to the SSA office and based on the call made by the 800 number agent the application was accepted?

[I'm Gone 60]

they are suppose to give you a SSN card because some state require a SSN number to get a marrigae license. I know the state and county I love in have the following requirements

SSA isn't supposed to give you an SSN. You either provide proof of work authorized status or a valid non work reason for needing an SSN and going married isn't a valid reason.

and this also is incorrect. My wife has her SSN and we dont have EAD or AOS yet. There are hundreds of K1's that have their SSN number and dont have EAD or AOS yet. The valid reason to get her SSN is to have it for opening bank accounts, health insurance, tax purposes, state IDs and the SSN card was asked for at a recent AOS interview from friends of ours who are on a K1. You are giving out alot of incorrect info and should recheck your sources..

If a K-1 is assigned an SSN it's because for SSN purposes SSA considers proof of unexpired K-1 status, i.e. the I-94, work authorization, not because they needed it for bank accounts, health insurance, tax purposes, state IDs.

Yeah I guess I better brush up on my SSN info. LOL

[I'm Gone 60]

This is a good source of K-1 and SSN info if you need to brush up on the incorrect info you have been given.

http://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/audittxt/A-08-07-17044.htm

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

ASSIGNMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS TO NONCITIZENS WITH FIANCÉ VISAS

May 2008

[NicoNShawn 2]

This is a good source of K-1 and SSN info if you need to brush up on the incorrect info you have been given.

http://www.ssa.gov/oig/ADOBEPDF/audittxt/A-08-07-17044.htm

OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

ASSIGNMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS TO NONCITIZENS WITH FIANCÉ VISAS

May 2008

There seems to be lot of arguing between 2 people who basically agree on the same thing, K-1 visa holders are eligible to obtain a social security number.

I looked over a lot of the links and information made available by the SSA, and have come to a conclusion as to the grounds for approval for a K-1 visa holder. The bottom line seems to be that K-1 visa holders are eligible for work after arriving in the US. If you look to RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants, under section C1, it states that K-1 visa holders are eligible to work "without specific DHS authoriazion."

It also stated in the audit report linked in the post above, that:

"Under §205©(2)( B )(i)(I) of the Social Security Act, SSA is required to assign SSNs 'to aliens at the time of their lawful admission to the United States either for permanent residence or under other authority of law permitting them to engage in employment in the United States. . . .' Because Federal law authorizes K 1 visa holders to work incident to their visa status, K 1 visa holders are eligible for SSNs."

I think that the confusion that comes from this issue is due to the scarcity of availability of this information. Not many people seem to know that they can work after entering on a K-1 visa. We received our visa last week, and I don't remember anyone at the embassy informing us that my fiancee could.

Edited October 6, 2008 by NicoNShawn

[TracyTN 237]

If a K-1 is assigned an SSN it's because for SSN purposes SSA considers proof of unexpired K-1 status, i.e. the I-94, work authorization, not because they needed it for bank accounts, health insurance, tax purposes, state IDs.

[RaTBoX 1]

I looked over a lot of the links and information made available by the SSA, and have come to a conclusion as to the grounds for approval for a K-1 visa holder. The bottom line seems to be that K-1 visa holders are eligible for work after arriving in the US. If you look to RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants, under section C1, it states that K-1 visa holders are eligible to work "without specific DHS authoriazion."

It also stated in the audit report linked in the post above, that:

"Under §205©(2)( B )(i)(I) of the Social Security Act, SSA is required to assign SSNs 'to aliens at the time of their lawful admission to the United States either for permanent residence or under other authority of law permitting them to engage in employment in the United States. . . .' Because Federal law authorizes K 1 visa holders to work incident to their visa status, K 1 visa holders are eligible for SSNs."

I think that the confusion that comes from this issue is due to the scarcity of availability of this information. Not many people seem to know that they can work after entering on a K-1 visa. We received our visa last week, and I don't remember anyone at the embassy informing us that my fiancee could.

The Social Security Agency is not the agency who authorizes any individual to work. Their internal policies (which is all the RM document is, an internal memo for the working of the SSA, not a federal law about which classes of aliens are legally allowed to work) may see a K1 holder as employment authorized for the purpose of obtaining an SSN, but this has no actual bearing on their employment authorization which is granted and maintained by USCIS. People don't seem to realize that these two different branches of the government are responsible for different things. Just because one branch of the government says it's true for their internal policies, doesn't make it true in terms of federal law.

Not many people know that they can work, even less people know that the law says K1 holders must obtain documentary proof of their employment authorization if they wish to see employment.

[chris4gretchen 1]

That is quite incorrect as i PERSONALLY know 3 different couples that DID call the 800 number and the National office DID call the local office and they were able to go a second time and get their SSN number. That is what the 800 number is for. Perhaps you are confusing it with the USCIS 800 number where they dont know what is going on.

So you are saying that you know of 3 people that tried to apply for an SSN and the SSA office turned them away. Then they called 1-800-772-1213 and the agent called the SSA office to tell them they were wrong and the people went back to the SSA office and based on the call made by the 800 number agent the application was accepted?

Yes that is correct. The national office called the local office and explained what the rules are for K1 and the couples went back to the same office and got their SSN card.

Chris

[chris4gretchen 1]

There seems to be lot of arguing between 2 people who basically agree on the same thing, K-1 visa holders are eligible to obtain a social security number.

I was stating that the local SSA office was incorrect in refusing to give the SSN number when the I-94 was valid and not about to expire in 2 weeks to the OP, though it has happened many times in the past and the couples / SSA had to educate a local office. I was also stating that K1's are eligible for SSN without EAD or AOS or green card, and you didnt need a work reason to get one as I Quit was referencing.

Chris

Edited October 6, 2008 by chris4gretchen

[I'm Gone 60]

That is quite incorrect as i PERSONALLY know 3 different couples that DID call the 800 number and the National office DID call the local office and they were able to go a second time and get their SSN number. That is what the 800 number is for. Perhaps you are confusing it with the USCIS 800 number where they dont know what is going on.

So you are saying that you know of 3 people that tried to apply for an SSN and the SSA office turned them away. Then they called 1-800-772-1213 and the agent called the SSA office to tell them they were wrong and the people went back to the SSA office and based on the call made by the 800 number agent the application was accepted?

Yes that is correct. The national office called the local office and explained what the rules are for K1 and the couples went back to the same office and got their SSN card.

I guess it could happen, but knowing the SSA 800 people I still find it very hard to believe that it happened and 3 times.