Social Security Number Question on DS-230

[nocturnalbeat 0]

For those of you that have relatives who have completed their immigrant visa process, how reliable is the DHS or embassy on forwarding the information to the SSA so that they can issue a social secuirty number? Questions 43a and 43b on form DS-230 have such option yet I have heard of people whom a social security number was never issued and that they had to co and apply themselves.

Please advice. Thanks!

Edited August 6, 2009 by nocturnalbeat

[TayRivers 4]

For those of you that have relatives who have completed their immigrant visa process, how reliable is the DHS or embassy on forwarding the information to the SSA so that they can issue a social secuirty number? Questions 43a and 43b on form DS-230 have such option yet I have heard of people whom a social security number was never issued and that they had to co and apply themselves.

Please advice. Thanks!

My parents checked the box for a SSN to be issued to them. They arrive tomorrow so we will wait for two weeks and if they have not come then we will take a trip to the local SSA office and apply in person.

I guess it does no harm to check the box and if nothing comes you can still do a walk in to your local SSA office and get one that way.

[Picaraz 0]

Hi Nocturnalbeat!

Based on my experience, I would recommend not to check those boxes.

On form DS-230, my dad checked the box that he wanted SSA to issue him a SSN and send him a card but he never got one. We had to go and apply in person, so he got his SS card a week AFTER we applied.

However, we were unable to go and apply for a new SSN for exactly 3 weeks after his arrival in the U.S because that's the time you have to wait for the SS card to arrive in the mail (that's if you marked that option on DS-230)

If you did not check that box, then you can apply for a SSN the day after your relative arrives.

It's all on the SSA website, just type "enumeration-at-entry" on the search box.

So it depends on you, does your relative need to know his/her SSN as soon as he gets to the States or can he/she wait 3+ weeks?

Good luck!!!

[US math guy 0]

BTW, from the standpoint of someone who did check the DS-230 box, evidently in some cases the Social Security card can even arrive BEFORE the applicant enters the U.S. Or that is what has happened in my wife's case. But others I know who have entered the U.S. are going through the 3-week wait referred to above and are not happy about it.

So this is one of the dice-rolling choices.

[vveell 1]

Hi Nocturnalbeat!

Based on my experience, I would recommend not to check those boxes.

On form DS-230, my dad checked the box that he wanted SSA to issue him a SSN and send him a card but he never got one. We had to go and apply in person, so he got his SS card a week AFTER we applied.

However, we were unable to go and apply for a new SSN for exactly 3 weeks after his arrival in the U.S because that's the time you have to wait for the SS card to arrive in the mail (that's if you marked that option on DS-230)

If you did not check that box, then you can apply for a SSN the day after your relative arrives.

It's all on the SSA website, just type "enumeration-at-entry" on the search box.

So it depends on you, does your relative need to know his/her SSN as soon as he gets to the States or can he/she wait 3+ weeks?

Good luck!!!

What would you recommend to do? Check the box NO, when they ask whether you want SSA to assign a SSN and issue the card?

Wouldn't they conclude that you don't want the SSN to be assigned for you at all?

[US math guy 0]

I see no reason that you could not skip checking the box asking for the SS#, if that makes you feel more comfortable. It just means if the applicant needs it at all, he or she would have to wait until they are actually in the U.S. to apply.

Myself, I would reommend requesting for most applicants electing early receipt of the SS # on the DS-230, despite the risks involved.

[Picaraz 0]

Hi Vveell,

Yes, you can check "No" to that question. Don't worry, it won't have a negative impact. It's on the SSA website "Enumeration at Entry."

If you check "No" to that question, you can apply for a SSN immediately after your arrival in the U.S.

Whereas if you checked "Yes," you have to wait 3 weeks for the SS card to arrive in the mail. But, if it never arrives, then you go to the SS office and apply in person.

We went to the SS office twice after my dad's arrival but both times they told us to come back in 3 weeks We checked "Yes"

Good luck!!!

[vveell 1]

Hi Vveell,

Yes, you can check "No" to that question. Don't worry, it won't have a negative impact. It's on the SSA website "Enumeration at Entry."

If you check "No" to that question, you can apply for a SSN immediately after your arrival in the U.S.

Whereas if you checked "Yes," you have to wait 3 weeks for the SS card to arrive in the mail. But, if it never arrives, then you go to the SS office and apply in person.

We went to the SS office twice after my dad's arrival but both times they told us to come back in 3 weeks We checked "Yes"

Good luck!!!

Hi, Picaraz,

Thank you very much for the response. Hope your father is doing good hear.