Nightmare trying to get a SSN

[Rob&Dawn 1]

I apologise as i know that have been numerous posts about problems getting a SSN but i'm going a round in circles now...

At POE i asked the immigration guy when i could apply and he said on the 10th day of you being here.

So on the 10th day i went to the Social Security office closest to us, i had the SS-5, my birth certificate & passport with I-94. I was told by the lady that on a K1 i couldn't get a SSN!

So i came home and printed off all the information from VJ on K1's can get a SSN, should have taken it 1st time around!

Back to the SS office the next day armed with all the documents required and the information on Employment authorization for nonimmigrants (RM 00203.500) and the memo. The girl i saw this time input all the information and gave me a letter saying it had all been forwarded to Homeland Security to determine if i could get a SSN and i should hear something within 4weeks.

So 4days later i get a letter from the social security office to say that they cannot give me a SS card at this time because Homeland Security have verified my status as a n alien nonimmigrant not authorized employment in the United States.

I tried calling the social security office and everytime i got through and said what the problem was they hung up on me!

So yesterday i went to a larger social security office close to a Military base, thought they may have more experience of K1's, took all paperwork with me and waited 2hours. When i got to the window and presented all the paperwork the girl input everything. She then advised that it would be forwarded to Homeland Security for them to decide and i would hear back within 4weeks.

I showed her all the paperwork showing a K1 could get a SSN and she said she didn't know of many successful people getting it on a K1 regardless!

Well this morning i received a call from the social security office to say NO i couldn't get a SSN!

What am i doing wrong?? does anyone know of an office in NC that does approve SSN for K1's i'm willing to travel to get this sorted out!!

As i have been told that SC have changed the requirements for getting married and we both must have SSN to get married! We'd booked the wedding when we had been told that i didn't need one so now i'm freaking out!!

[Zoe and Hal 0]

I apologise as i know that have been numerous posts about problems getting a SSN but i'm going a round in circles now...

At POE i asked the immigration guy when i could apply and he said on the 10th day of you being here.

So on the 10th day i went to the Social Security office closest to us, i had the SS-5, my birth certificate & passport with I-94. I was told by the lady that on a K1 i couldn't get a SSN!

So i came home and printed off all the information from VJ on K1's can get a SSN, should have taken it 1st time around!

Back to the SS office the next day armed with all the documents required and the information on Employment authorization for nonimmigrants (RM 00203.500) and the memo. The girl i saw this time input all the information and gave me a letter saying it had all been forwarded to Homeland Security to determine if i could get a SSN and i should hear something within 4weeks.

So 4days later i get a letter from the social security office to say that they cannot give me a SS card at this time because Homeland Security have verified my status as a n alien nonimmigrant not authorized employment in the United States.

I tried calling the social security office and everytime i got through and said what the problem was they hung up on me!

So yesterday i went to a larger social security office close to a Military base, thought they may have more experience of K1's, took all paperwork with me and waited 2hours. When i got to the window and presented all the paperwork the girl input everything. She then advised that it would be forwarded to Homeland Security for them to decide and i would hear back within 4weeks.

I showed her all the paperwork showing a K1 could get a SSN and she said she didn't know of many successful people getting it on a K1 regardless!

Well this morning i received a call from the social security office to say NO i couldn't get a SSN!

What am i doing wrong?? does anyone know of an office in NC that does approve SSN for K1's i'm willing to travel to get this sorted out!!

As i have been told that SC have changed the requirements for getting married and we both must have SSN to get married! We'd booked the wedding when we had been told that i didn't need one so now i'm freaking out!!

I can't really help as I'm not in NC, but I got mine straight away - only took a couple of minutes, no questions so you should be able to get one... good luck!

[Mononoke28 135]

It sounds like the USCIS hasn't entered your K1 visa entry in the system, that's just my guess. If that's the case, the SSA cannot give you a SSN unless your entry info appears in the system and this can take anywhere from 2-7 weeks. Call the USCIS to find out this information and then go to another SSA office. You still have time to get your number since they can assign you one until 2 weeks before your I-94 expires.

Diana

[Rob&Dawn 1]

It sounds like the USCIS hasn't entered your K1 visa entry in the system, that's just my guess. If that's the case, the SSA cannot give you a SSN unless your entry info appears in the system and this can take anywhere from 2-7 weeks. Call the USCIS to find out this information and then go to another SSA office. You still have time to get your number since they can assign you one until 2 weeks before your I-94 expires.

Diana

Thanks Diana

I will call them tomorrow to double check.

I got the impression everything was in the system when i went in on the 10th day but perhaps i misunderstood.

[Elghazi2008 4]

It sounds like the USCIS hasn't entered your K1 visa entry in the system, that's just my guess. If that's the case, the SSA cannot give you a SSN unless your entry info appears in the system and this can take anywhere from 2-7 weeks. Call the USCIS to find out this information and then go to another SSA office. You still have time to get your number since they can assign you one until 2 weeks before your I-94 expires.

Diana

Thanks Diana

I will call them tomorrow to double check.

I got the impression everything was in the system when i went in on the 10th day but perhaps i misunderstood.

You may have to go back to the SSA office AGAIN so that they can tell you whether or not you are even in the system yet. If they are still refusing you a SSN, I would definitely go to a higher court and get some letters written to your Congressman or Senator. I don't know if that will help, but at least you can say you tried.

[Elghazi2008 4]

And of course, like others have advised me before, you can always elope across the border and then come back home for a family ceremony just for show. It's legal to do that :-) Don't get too upset JUST YET, you still have options :-)

[melusine 5]

You need to marry I think. They want to have a proof you married but after they can say your I94 is too old (most probably)

Then, you might have to wait for your AOS/Green Card

Also you don't want to elope outside US, you will not be able to come back and will nee to do it all over again...

Very bad idea. You need to marry in US.

Edited March 20, 2009 by melusine

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Yes, I was hoping that the border referred to was the NC/SC one!

[BermyCat 1]

You need to marry I think. They want to have a proof you married but after they can say your I94 is too old (most probably)

Then, you might have to wait for your AOS/Green Card

Also you don't want to elope outside US, you will not be able to come back and will nee to do it all over again...

Very bad idea. You need to marry in US.

A K-1 holder does not need to get married before applying for their SSN. You do need to apply within 76 days of entering the US.

I have know idea why you ae being given such a hard time in NC. There doesn't seem to be any reason at all why they wouldn't give you your SSN. Maybe try writing your congressman's office as someone suggested.

Good luck,

Catherine

[anitacastillo 0]

The SS card you will get as a K-1 before your green card arrives will state "not valid for work without DHS authorization."

The people are talking to may not understand that you want this "restricted" SS. I suggest you speak with a supervisor.

I'm sorry you are having this problem --- brilliance of govt employees who cannot follow their own rules.

[CaptainRubyHeart 1]

I took my husband to get his social security card about a month after he entered the U.S. on his K-1 visa. All he needed to do was turn in his SS5 and show his I-94 and his approved K-1 visa.

Whether or not you need a social security number to apply for a marriage license depends on what county you're in. For example, in my area (Houston, TX), you both need to have a social security number to apply for a license in Fort Bend County, but neither of you need it if you apply in Harris.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Hopefully, things will get straightened out.

[Reba 2]

It is likely that the brown envelope that you handed over to USCIS when you came across the border has not yet made it into the system for the SSA to be able to verify your status with HSA. Unfortunately, if HSA hasn't updated your file, SSA won't issue you a number, regardless of which office you go to. You could call the State Senators' offices to see if someone there could help, but how quick they can help is another matter.

Which county in SC are you getting married in? I find it hard to believe with the tourism industry that any county would require both parties to have a SSN in order to apply for a marriage license! South Carolina "destination weddings" are popular even for non-Americans, it would be crazy to limit themselves to such a law.

You should be able to just sign a waiver at the registrar's/licensing office stating you are not an American citizen, and therefore do not have a SSN, and they should be standard forms right there with the license applications AFAIK. That's all I did when I got married in NC, and pretty much every other VJ couple I've known as well. I just showed my passport and said I'm not eligible for SSN, so don't have one.

[NatPatBen 3]

I took my husband to get his social security card about a month after he entered the U.S. on his K-1 visa. All he needed to do was turn in his SS5 and show his I-94 and his approved K-1 visa.

Whether or not you need a social security number to apply for a marriage license depends on what county you're in. For example, in my area (Houston, TX), you both need to have a social security number to apply for a license in Fort Bend County, but neither of you need it if you apply in Harris.

I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. Hopefully, things will get straightened out.

Glad you posted this, as I'm in Houston, too. I'll make sure to apply for the marriage license in Harris county if we don't have the SSN in time.

[Krikit 1,165]

Moving this to the Working & Travelling forum. Maybe "I Quit" will see your thread. Or you could do a search for his posts, Dawn. He works for the SSO. Good luck.

Moving this to the Working & Travelling forum. Maybe "I Quit" will see your thread. Or you could do a search for his posts, Dawn. He works for them. Good luck.

[WROCLAW 0]

good luck