Applying for Passport / Social Security Number

[hearsay 1]

After naturalization is it necessary to change the status of your social security number BEFORE applying for a passport? Does the social security number stay the same or do they change it?

[antda 13]

Hi Waiting4visas,

I asked a similar question awhile ago on VJ, as I wasn't sure about the answer myself either. And from the answers I received, from other Vjers, the answer to your questions would be:

No, you don't have to change your social security number, or the actual card itself, as that stays with you for the rest of your life in the USA, just like any other US Citizen and/or Permanent Resident.

However, you have to inform social security of your new US Citizenship status, as that can have an affect on many things while you are here in the USA. After all, one uses their social security number so much around here for so many things....

If I were you, I would inform social security of your new citizenship status, in case the passport office cross-references your immigration status with the SSA. It shouldn't take too long to do, and you can probably get it done in a day or so, by just showing them your naturalization certificate and other identification. This is what I plan to do as soon as I'm done with oath ceremony....

As for apply for a passport, you can do that probably at the same time or shortly afterwards. And based on what I read, you should get your passport within a few weeks after applying for it. However, you have to send in your original naturalization certificate in the mail, no photocopies, for that (yet another reason why to do the other stuff first, and then apply for a passport).

Hope this helps. Good luck on the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant

After naturalization is it necessary to change the status of your social security number BEFORE applying for a passport? Does the social security number stay the same or do they change it?

Edited July 3, 2009 by AntandD

[Stella08 0]

I applied for my passport first. I didn't have time to go to both offices (post office and Social Security Office) the same day and getting my passport fast was just a much higher priority for me. After I got my naturalization certificate back, I went to the Social Security Office and updated my status there. No problem at all. The SSN stays the same, but you get a new social security card anyways.

I have heard from people who went to the Social Security Office right after the oath and who couldn't update their status because the officer couldn't confirm their naturalization yet. Sometime the certificate is not sufficient, they also check their system and usually it takes USCIS about 10 days to update the info.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

By the way here is the VJ Guides answer to this SSA/Citizenship question and other Citizenship questions:

http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-na...zation.html#8.3

8.3)...Special Note: Be sure to notify the Social Security Administration after Naturalization

Note....Go to your SSA office after your Naturalization and show them your Naturilazation Certificate so that the SSA computer system knows you are a citizen so that when other government agencies try to confirm your citizenship status with the SSA they can actually confirm it instead of saying you aren't one, thus resulting in your having to go through additional time and trouble in order to prove it to a whole bunch of different people/agencies

Hope this helps too. Thanks to VJ administration (Captain Ewok?) for those answers too!

Ant

Edited July 3, 2009 by AntandD