Funny thing happened at SSA

[saraswati007 0]

You know, it could be racism, but I think the bigger culprit here is bureaucracy. And that, I'm afraid is a universal truth.

I'm a US citizen, very well educated, etc. etc., and man, oh man, I have had to push and prod and demand and question when dealing with the state and federal government. It's just part of the deal, I think - the huge machine, full of millions of little cogs working at the windows, who have no idea what the rules and regulations are because no one really knows.

And before you start thinking that the US is unique in this -- I've lived in England and Italy and India, too. They were ALL just as bad. In England I could never get a bank account, in Italy I had to go seven times to the police station before someone could give me proper registration information, and in India.... don't even get me started. You might as well bring a briefcase of cash to dole out the bribes to get anything done there.

And racism - yes, the US has a horrific history (I'm brown, of Indian descent), but the racism I encountered in the UK was just as vile, possibly worse, because it was so heavily coupled with classism, and the racism I've seen in Asia -- of lighter skinned people against their darker skinned countrymen is shameful. Skin bleaching??? GIVE ME A BREAK. I give the Italians a thumbs up here; they seemed the most laid back.

Take it all with a grain of salt, please. At least we're this far through the process, and the end is in sight.

The only thing I can be proud of being a Filipino.. Most of our people are educated person...no body has the right to be little us..

There is lot of american that does not have a degree nor even have a college level..(sorry for other US person in VJ) but this is reality,,I am just referring to those people who work in some offices that does not know what their doing..Instead of asking co workers for verification, they will still be an arrogant and believe they know what they are talking about..Its so pathetic..

so for the newcomers dont be shy and dont belittle yourself.. learn how to speak out.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The only thing I can be proud of being a Filipino.. Most of our people are educated person...no body has the right to be little us..

There is lot of american that does not have a degree nor even have a college level..(sorry for other US person in VJ) but this is reality,,I am just referring to those people who work in some offices that does not know what their doing..Instead of asking co workers for verification, they will still be an arrogant and believe they know what they are talking about..Its so pathetic..

so for the newcomers dont be shy and dont belittle yourself.. learn how to speak out.

There are ignorant, lazy, uneducated people everwhere, here in the US as well as the Phillipines. And I'm sure that there are lots of people in the Phillipines with no college education. There is a reason that Manila is a high fraud rate consulate, just as a few others around the world are. What happened to you is quite common, too many people that work for the gov. don't really know their jobs well.

[richo 0]

OK well today my husband came home early. I asked if we can go to SSA to verify if I was cleared already so I can get a printed certificate with my SSN on it. Btw, I applied last week oct. 15. Anyways, so I told my hubby that we will just try to see if I can get a printed certification if not then that's fine. Now, we walk in and get a number, I stayed inside my hubby walked outside the office due to an urgent phone call. While he was talking outside in the phone, my number was called and so I go ahead and proceeded to the window without him. I showed the lady a piece of paper given by them the first time I went in there..so she type..look at the monitor...type...look at my paper..after 2 to 3 minutes ..this is what she told me..YOU'RE NOT CLEARED YET..DHS HAVEN'T PUT YOU IN THE SYSTEM YET..AND BESIDES YOU JUST APPLIED OCT. 15 YOU SHOULD WAIT MORE..LIKE 6 WEEKS. I tried to ask one more time if i can just at least get a printed certification with my SSN with it for my nursing license exam and so I can be put in my husband's insurance too..BUT ITS A BIG NO..AND I HAVE TO WAIT. Ok fine, i went outside then my hubby ask what happened i said the lady told me that i have to wait. And then he said what?? that's it? I want a definite answer. Let's go back. I said no its ok. Well he insisted.....

NOW! My husbands turn, we got a new number and ask to go to the LADY NEXT TO THE WINDOW OF WHO I JUST TALKED TO..So she can see and overhear of course. Then my husband talks...etc..this and that..DHS gave her EAD already...she wont be able to work because employer asking SSN..she'll have her licensure exam soon...i can't put her in my medical insurance...THEN! THE WHOLE STORY CHANGES. THIS LADY SAID THAT THE FIRST TIME I WENT THERE WHICH IS ON OCT. 15 , DHS HASN'T CLEARED MY NAME YET NOW ON OCT, 21 WHICH IS TODAY...DHS ALREADY CLEARED IT! WELL HOW ABOUT THAT! She gave me a new piece of paper and told me to come back on thursday to get my printed certification with SSn and the card will follow shorthly within a week or two..SO FROM DHS NOT CLEARED MY NAME YET TO DHS CLEARED IT TODAY?!!?? FROM 6 WEEKS TO 2 WEEKS AND WILL GET A PRINTED CERTIFICATION 2 DAYS FROM NOW

WELL HOW ABOUT THAT FOR A NICE AFTERNOON AT SSA Oh and btw, my hubby (WHITE-US citizen) WAS NOT WITH ME THE FIRST TIME I APPLIED I GUESS YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT THE LESSON OF THIS STORY

I am telling you now, this will not be the first time and the last time you will experience meeting those kind of stupid people. You will be strong and will know how to be sarcastic and fight for what is right.. You will learn how to defend yourself later on as times goes by.

One american friend of mine told me that if you want to be heard, you need to think like an american, and you have to act like an american.. Dont let someone humiliate you,.. you need to speak up for yourself. I said how? Be an arrogant in the right way.. THen later on I realized he was right I have to be that way in the sense that I have to answered them in a right or else I wont get the answer I need.

I had apply for a position before for I was already an employee of this company but I was considered a Foreign National, so I was employed though subcontract.. When I received my greencard, I did apply for a US admin position.. the HR Manager told me that I can not be hired for that position because I was a foreign national only a US person can get that position.. I dont know what to say that time, so I just accepted whatever she said to me, but on my mind, I told myself I will research this and prove to them that by US labor law immigrants enjoy the same right as US person, provided that the position does not required clearance.. After searching several information online, I gathered every information that pertains to an immigrant and showed it to her. But this time she have another excuse, she said I can not be hired due to some export regulation.. And you know what when she said that I showed him an article on line pertaining on the regulation.. that an immigrant is considered a US person!... She did not say anything after that,, I told my supervisor I believe I am qualified enough to be considered even just an applicant for that position... Even him he did not say anything.. I filed a complaint of discrimination in our own ombudsman and guess what? The senior HR came to me and apologize for what happened., he said that it is okay now to hire an immigrant..My mind says only now? it is in the law.. you can not discriminate someone based on their origin, race, religion etc..(but i did not utter anything back, i just let him talk)... they fired the HR Manager due to a lot of people complaining about her but no body say anything.. After the persistence I had applying for different position.. I got an offer and now working for a better paying job..

The thing on this is, if you know something you want, dont be ashame, learn how to speak out.

Thank you!!! I need to gather all my strength will be having an interview soon at UCLA and i feel like I need to exert more effort since im a foreign educated Rn like I feel i really need to stepped up and TALK! You're right you can't reach their level if you don't act likeone. But I hope in the process I will still be a better person and not just an arrogant one. But just be assertive, especially with my rights. I'm not that mad, since even in my country there's discrimination and I don't believe its stupidity in her part.. Because when we come back my hubby is talking to the security guard telling that he wanted a straight answer...so the security said to get a number again and then he walk inside the office talked to the lady that I talked then said to talked to ANOTHER LADY which is beside her..SO its not stupidity in her part, anyways this are the situations that I know happened to everyone not just me. Im happy because I will have it on tomorrow :-) I just though i'd share it to my VJ family, guess I want other's experience or opinion aobut it. Have a nice day everyone

And 1 more thing, I opened this thread to not cause argument attacks to any other race..or to my own race..i just told this story as an experience and I learned from it.. So next tiime I know what to do. Bring my hubby (just kidding).

Edited October 22, 2008 by richo

[richo 0]

Oh I remember I can't bring my hubby with my job interview, hehe

[TrueNorth 0]

I don't agree that this was discrimination. It's more like a less informed or intelligent worker the first time. I went to the Dept of Homeland Security here in TX and there was a hispanic woman at the window who demanded our I94 even though hubby is Canadian and they don't get one. Was THAT discrimination or was she just ignorant about her job? We also saw a hispanic man there who also didn't know his butt from his elbow concerning Canadians. Hubby and I are both white. Was it racism? I don't think so. I think they were just completely not informed on how to deal with Canada as opposed to Mexico. We went to the Border and Customs at the airport and talked to 2 white people and 1 hispanic person, all were nice, all helped us, ESPECIALLY the hispanic guy. So don't jump to thinking it's gotta be racism. Sometimes it is just people are not knowing their jobs. We've all seen this in action when dealing with USCIS matters across the board. You always get a different answer depending who you talk to.

[richo 0]

I don't agree that this was discrimination. It's more like a less informed or intelligent worker the first time. I went to the Dept of Homeland Security here in TX and there was a hispanic woman at the window who demanded our I94 even though hubby is Canadian and they don't get one. Was THAT discrimination or was she just ignorant about her job? We also saw a hispanic man there who also didn't know his butt from his elbow concerning Canadians. Hubby and I are both white. Was it racism? I don't think so. I think they were just completely not informed on how to deal with Canada as opposed to Mexico. We went to the Border and Customs at the airport and talked to 2 white people and 1 hispanic person, all were nice, all helped us, ESPECIALLY the hispanic guy. So don't jump to thinking it's gotta be racism. Sometimes it is just people are not knowing their jobs. We've all seen this in action when dealing with USCIS matters across the board. You always get a different answer depending who you talk to.

Im sorry i have to disagree with you. The girl know what she was talking about. She said what she was seeing onthe monitor. SHE JUST WANTED ME TO WAIT. Those comments that she said like BESIDES ITS JUST OCTOBER 15 THAT YOU APPLIED YOU HAVE TO WAIT MORE. She said I was not cleared yet by the DHS. Its clearly their system is centralize for sure she would see if its cleared or not. Im not demanding for the SSN card. But just the printed ceritfication with SSN on it. She said that i can't have that because im not cleared by the DHS yet. Now here comes the window beside her.THIS TIME WITH MY HUBBY... the other lady was looking on the monitor.. NOW ITS A DIFFERENT STORY..SHE SAID OCT. 21 WHICH IS TODAY (YESTERDAY) DHS HAS CLEARED ME?!!!? So they are looking at different information in their centralized system??!! That can't be ANd actually i didnt say racism.. i say discrimination and that is broad :-) OH wait maybe in my subconscious mind I did because i termed my hubby "white" ANyways, back to normal

[Completely 3]

You know, it could be racism, but I think the bigger culprit here is bureaucracy. And that, I'm afraid is a universal truth.

I'm a US citizen, very well educated, etc. etc., and man, oh man, I have had to push and prod and demand and question when dealing with the state and federal government. It's just part of the deal, I think - the huge machine, full of millions of little cogs working at the windows, who have no idea what the rules and regulations are because no one really knows.

And before you start thinking that the US is unique in this -- I've lived in England and Italy and India, too. They were ALL just as bad. In England I could never get a bank account, in Italy I had to go seven times to the police station before someone could give me proper registration information, and in India.... don't even get me started. You might as well bring a briefcase of cash to dole out the bribes to get anything done there.

And racism - yes, the US has a horrific history (I'm brown, of Indian descent), but the racism I encountered in the UK was just as vile, possibly worse, because it was so heavily coupled with classism, and the racism I've seen in Asia -- of lighter skinned people against their darker skinned countrymen is shameful. Skin bleaching??? GIVE ME A BREAK. I give the Italians a thumbs up here; they seemed the most laid back.

Take it all with a grain of salt, please. At least we're this far through the process, and the end is in sight.

The only thing I can be proud of being a Filipino.. Most of our people are educated person...no body has the right to be little us..

There is lot of american that does not have a degree nor even have a college level..(sorry for other US person in VJ) but this is reality,,I am just referring to those people who work in some offices that does not know what their doing..Instead of asking co workers for verification, they will still be an arrogant and believe they know what they are talking about..Its so pathetic..

so for the newcomers dont be shy and dont belittle yourself.. learn how to speak out.

And racism - yes, the US has a horrific history (I'm brown, of Indian descent), but the racism I encountered in the UK was just as vile, possibly worse, because it was so heavily coupled with classism, and the racism I've seen in Asia -- of lighter skinned people against their darker skinned countrymen is shameful. Skin bleaching??? GIVE ME A BREAK. I give the Italians a thumbs up here; they seemed the most laid back.

I am not even talking about racism..

But you know what since you point one, how about you guys trying to be dark by putting a tanning lotion and be in the sun for a longer period of time trying to look tanned by just get pigmentation at all.?

You are right that you can find stupid people all over the world, but dont attack me because of my own opinion.. I am just giving the OP based on the observation i had for the past 10 yrs dealing with the USC.

Edited October 23, 2008 by Completely

[bassagitator 1]

I highly DOUBT that it was discrimination. I was told the EXACT same thing whenI applied for my SSN. That they had to wait for DHS to clear,my name, and put my name into the computer and it could take up to 6 weeks.

I really wish people would stop playing the racism card, just because things don't go there way!!!! It gets old after a while!

[bassagitator 1]

I highly DOUBT that it was discrimination. I was told the EXACT same thing whenI applied for my SSN. That they had to wait for DHS to clear,my name, and put my name into the computer and it could take up to 6 weeks. The DHS and SSN Office computers are linked, so until the DHS does there job the Social Security office can't do their job!

I really wish people would stop playing the racism card, just because things don't go there way!!!! It gets old after a while!

But no matter what ANYONE on here tells you, you are going to believe its racism! So all the power to you. But the minute you point figers there are 3 pointing back at you!

[richo 0]

I highly DOUBT that it was discrimination. I was told the EXACT same thing whenI applied for my SSN. That they had to wait for DHS to clear,my name, and put my name into the computer and it could take up to 6 weeks. The DHS and SSN Office computers are linked, so until the DHS does there job the Social Security office can't do their job!

I really wish people would stop playing the racism card, just because things don't go there way!!!! It gets old after a while!

But no matter what ANYONE on here tells you, you are going to believe its racism! So all the power to you. But the minute you point figers there are 3 pointing back at you!

If that is the case that its the same . THEN WHY IS IT THAT THE STORY CHANGES WHEN MY HUSBAND COMES IN WITH ME? BTW, ITS THAT SAME DAY THAT THE STORY CHANGES!!!!! JUST A FEW MINUTES!!! HMMP

Edited October 23, 2008 by richo

[Eric-Pris 1,606]

If you went back to THE SAME employee with your husband, and she said that you were cleared, then you'd have a better argument as far as discrimination. But you didn't, you went to a different employee. Like others have said, many government employees are clueless. She either didn't know what she was doing, was too lazy to ask for help, so she gave the easiest and most convenient response. This happens ALL THE TIME!!!

[richo 0]

If you went back to THE SAME employee with your husband, and she said that you were cleared, then you'd have a better argument as far as discrimination. But you didn't, you went to a different employee. Like others have said, many government employees are clueless. She either didn't know what she was doing, was too lazy to ask for help, so she gave the easiest and most convenient response. This happens ALL THE TIME!!!

Opinions are welcome thank you!!!!! with exclamation mark like you guys put!!!

[saraswati007 0]

This was not an attack on you or your right to have an opinion. And I have the right to mine. It was simply an observation from someone who has lived here in the US and abroad, and found many similarities in how bureaucracies operate around the world.

And tanning - yes, it's stupid. I don't tan. I don't have to, I'm already brown since I was born that way. So please lay back on the "you guys" language. The point is that tanning or skin bleaching, whatever, but there is a very common need to change appearance for social reasons, and I think they are all stupid.

You know, it could be racism, but I think the bigger culprit here is bureaucracy. And that, I'm afraid is a universal truth.

I'm a US citizen, very well educated, etc. etc., and man, oh man, I have had to push and prod and demand and question when dealing with the state and federal government. It's just part of the deal, I think - the huge machine, full of millions of little cogs working at the windows, who have no idea what the rules and regulations are because no one really knows.

And before you start thinking that the US is unique in this -- I've lived in England and Italy and India, too. They were ALL just as bad. In England I could never get a bank account, in Italy I had to go seven times to the police station before someone could give me proper registration information, and in India.... don't even get me started. You might as well bring a briefcase of cash to dole out the bribes to get anything done there.

And racism - yes, the US has a horrific history (I'm brown, of Indian descent), but the racism I encountered in the UK was just as vile, possibly worse, because it was so heavily coupled with classism, and the racism I've seen in Asia -- of lighter skinned people against their darker skinned countrymen is shameful. Skin bleaching??? GIVE ME A BREAK. I give the Italians a thumbs up here; they seemed the most laid back.

Take it all with a grain of salt, please. At least we're this far through the process, and the end is in sight.

The only thing I can be proud of being a Filipino.. Most of our people are educated person...no body has the right to be little us..

There is lot of american that does not have a degree nor even have a college level..(sorry for other US person in VJ) but this is reality,,I am just referring to those people who work in some offices that does not know what their doing..Instead of asking co workers for verification, they will still be an arrogant and believe they know what they are talking about..Its so pathetic..

so for the newcomers dont be shy and dont belittle yourself.. learn how to speak out.

And racism - yes, the US has a horrific history (I'm brown, of Indian descent), but the racism I encountered in the UK was just as vile, possibly worse, because it was so heavily coupled with classism, and the racism I've seen in Asia -- of lighter skinned people against their darker skinned countrymen is shameful. Skin bleaching??? GIVE ME A BREAK. I give the Italians a thumbs up here; they seemed the most laid back.

I am not even talking about racism..

But you know what since you point one, how about you guys trying to be dark by putting a tanning lotion and be in the sun for a longer period of time trying to look tanned by just get pigmentation at all.?

You are right that you can find stupid people all over the world, but dont attack me because of my own opinion.. I am just giving the OP based on the observation i had for the past 10 yrs dealing with the USC.