SSN

[Fuzzness 2]

applied for SSN June 2nd and got it today June 30th. If they tell you two weeks, they are lying

[I'm Gone 60]

If you are told 2 weeks and they aren't sending off for verification of status, unless the card gets lost in the mail you should receive it within 2 weeks. If the send off for verification and tell you 2 weeks, I would say that's overly optimistic. LOL

Edited June 30, 2006 by mdyoung

[Dixie_Peach 1]

congrats joel!

[Marilyn. 340]

I got mine in a week

Congrats on the SSN

[Cygnet 0]

Congratulations, Joel!

[Fuzzness 2]

now comes the seemingly impossible task of establishing credit. they cant find my credit that i built up in canada (although i've been with RBC my entire life and i have outstanding credit there). i cant even get a satellite dish because they cant find my credit. any ideas? anyone ever brought credit from canada to the us?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations, Joel

No, credit ratings don't transfer. You can try and ask them to check Equifax Canada and go so far as to provide them with the link, but they may not do so. It is, unfortunately, a clean slate in the US even coming from such a close neighbour as Canada. What we did when I arrived here is to buy a car for me with my husband and I both listed on the loan application. It must be working - I am getting all sorts of junk mail credit card applications now asking me to take out their credit cards. You could try taking out a small bank loan with Karen listed as a co-payer and then pay it back in order to start working on your own credit rating in the US. Good luck!

Oh, I also kept one of my Canadian credit cards and maintain that bank account, originally because I knew I would be getting an income tax refund direct deposited by Canada Revenue Agency and I didn't want the hassle of trying to get a cheque for Canadian funds cashed in the US , but I have used that credit card a number of times, making sure I pay off the balance each month by bank transfer from the Canadian account. It has proved handy when I have wanted to purchase anything in Canadian funds and I have it either delivered to me here in the US or if the delivery fees are outrageous, to a friend or family member still in Canada who then mails it to me.

[Fuzzness 2]

I have a platinum visa with RBC that I still use... you need outstanding credit to get a platinum visa.. but apparently that don't matter at all.

I also am considering opening an account with Centura bank which is partnered with RBC, in the hopes that they would find my credit with RBC and have it spill over to the american system. don't know if that will work though.

We are probably going to buy a satellite dish. i'll have to pay for the equipment, but it is a start.

[evilcanuck 0]

I got mine pretty quick, but here is a tip for new brides, if you want to change your name on the SSN after you get it make sure you go before your k-1 expires, I went after and they wont change it because I am 'out of status' So I have to wait until the AOS to have it changed, wish I wouldhave known b4...

[laura428 0]

I have a platinum visa with RBC that I still use... you need outstanding credit to get a platinum visa.. but apparently that don't matter at all.

I also am considering opening an account with Centura bank which is partnered with RBC, in the hopes that they would find my credit with RBC and have it spill over to the american system. don't know if that will work though.

We are probably going to buy a satellite dish. i'll have to pay for the equipment, but it is a start.

Right there with you... platinum Avion Visa with RBC, and excellent credit, but doesn't matter south of the border. I did find out from our mortgage broker down there, however, that if you can provide copies of your Canadian credit reports, along with letters of support from your banker (showing mortgage payment history and such), that it can help quite a bit. (But you have to find someone who will go the extra mile for you.)

Also... spoke with RBC a few months back about Centura. We were thinking about applying for a mortgage through them, but were told that they broke off from RBC last year. Not sure if it's just the mortgage branch that's no longer affiliated, but you might want to double-check.

If you have a tough time getting anything at all, one place to start is a secured credit card. Seems ridiculous to have to go that route after having a platinum visa, I know, but it's a start. Here's a link to the best ones:

http://www.bankrate.com/brm/rate/cc_rateho...amp;max_recs=50

We're doubly doomed after getting horrible advice from my US banker five years ago. After I moved to Canada, I was told that I could not have US-based credit cards while living out of country (which I now know to be totally bogus, but I was young and uninformed, argh). So, although my US credit history is great, I've had no revolving US-based credit for the last five years. And with no revolving credit, reditors now look at me like a blank slate - it's so odd b/c I can pull up a great credit score, but only one out of the three credit agencies gives me one... the other two give me a big fat zero, and it's this combined score (which results in zero) that creditors would see. So my husband and I should be able to rely on my credit, we're both starting from scratch.

Edited July 1, 2006 by laura428

[MaryandMian 1]

Congratulations Joel.

Mary

[Fuzzness 2]

well we are ordering a satellite dish. they will let me have it if i buy the equipment so thats what we're doing. i also am getting a credit card from Belk. I will buy something with the credit card and pay it off right away and that will start my credit on the plus side.

[jen&darcy 0]

Congratulations!

Sorry I am a little behind in reading!

[I'm Gone 60]

I got mine pretty quick, but here is a tip for new brides, if you want to change your name on the SSN after you get it make sure you go before your k-1 expires, I went after and they wont change it because I am 'out of status' So I have to wait until the AOS to have it changed, wish I wouldhave known b4...

You just need an EAD card, don't necessarly need to wait for the I-551 card.

You need to go at least 14 days from when the I-94 expires and even then you better pray they don't send of for status verification or you are screwed. I would say to be some what safe a month left on the I-94 would be good.

You may still be able to change the name on your SSN record without the EAD or I-551, just won't be issued a card. If your marriage certificate has your age or date of birth you should be able to do it.

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510#D4

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

D. PROCEDURE - SSN CARD REQUEST BY ALIEN NOT AUTHORIZED TO WORK

4. Correcting Numident Data When a Replacement Card Cannot Be Issued

If the alien does not provide evidence of work authorization or a valid nonwork reason, explain that no replacement card can be issued.

Although a replacement card cannot be issued, the Numident can be corrected if the alien has provided documentation supporting the change (e.g., a name change).

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http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Data

The applicant may submit either:

One legal name change document showing both the old and new names (e.g., a court order for a name

change or a marriage document. The document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of

the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with the Numident data...

a. Bride Takes Groom’s Last Name

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands,

Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name

(surname or family name) as her new last name.

EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she may change her name to Jane Jones.

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband's last name, accept the marriage document

as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even

if the marriage document only shows each partner's first names, the bride's prior surname and

husband's surname. The marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the

old and new names when it meets the criteria described in RM 00203.200G.2.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#G2

2. Determine if the ID Document Has Required Information

Ask the applicant to submit one or more documents that show the person's name AND provide:

Biographical information in addition to the person's name that the reviewer can compare with the

data on the SS-5 (e.g., date of birth, age, or parents' names) and/or

Physical information that the reviewer can compare with the applicant (e.g., physical description,

photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document must have the person's name as well as information that can be

compared to the Numident, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or

parents' names).