Refused Social Security Number

[Sherri and Matt 1]

Matt arrived on the 23rd of this month with a K-1. We tried to apply for a SS# for him and the lady refused to even consider the possibility that he was eligible for a card. She said he would not be eligible until after he adjusts status and gets his green card. I did print the link from the guides section and took that with us and she barely glanced at it and tossed it aside. I asked for her supervisor and she left and then came back and said he was not available and he would call me. Of course he did not call me. Hers was the only window, only person I saw (other than the burly security guard sitting in the back eyeing me as I was clearly not happy even though I was smiling and pleasant as I told her she was WRONG.) She was condescending, arrogant and talked down to me as though I were stupid and even said "and you work where?"

Any advice as to what else we could try?

[Jamaican JNR 2]

Matt arrived on the 23rd of this month with a K-1. We tried to apply for a SS# for him and the lady refused to even consider the possibility that he was eligible for a card. She said he would not be eligible until after he adjusts status and gets his green card. I did print the link from the guides section and took that with us and she barely glanced at it and tossed it aside. I asked for her supervisor and she left and then came back and said he was not available and he would call me. Of course he did not call me. Hers was the only window, only person I saw (other than the burly security guard sitting in the back eyeing me as I was clearly not happy even though I was smiling and pleasant as I told her she was WRONG.) She was condescending, arrogant and talked down to me as though I were stupid and even said "and you work where?"

Any advice as to what else we could try?

The visa stamp in the passport along with his birth certificate should be good enough; I came here and use my immigrant visa with BC and applied... i received it in the mail 4-5 days later.

I would go to a different SSC office.

[john & jean 37]

k1 is not an immigrant visa, therein lies the problem!!!!

[JeremyR 8]

He is eligible as you know. Did you demand to see her supervisor? Next time you go, be armed with the printouts from the SSA website that show K-1's are eligible (I can't remember the link but I'm sure someone will give you it).

One word of warning though, it's only been a week (just over) so he might not be in the immigration SAVE database yet. If he's not, they won't approve the application there and then and there will likely be a few weeks delay while they get the OK from USCIS. If you wait a few more days, you can be pretty certain he'll be in the database and their computer will say 'Yes'...

[JeremyR 8]

k1 is not an immigrant visa, therein lies the problem!!!!

That's irrelevant, K-1's can receive an SSN. The card will be marked "Not valid for work without DHS authorization" but he is entitled to a number.

OP, this is the link to the SSA rules:

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500

It's Section C, "Policy - Employment Authorization by Class of Admission" that you'll need to show them. Realistically though, if you go back, you should get a different person, who will hopefully know what they're doing and you won't have any further problems.

[Edit to clarify]. The SSA page shows K-1s as being eligible to work without specific DHS authorization (an EAD) but this is not the case. They are eligible for the SSN though.

Edited September 1, 2009 by JeremyR

[Tim & Cai 15]

Matt arrived on the 23rd of this month with a K-1. We tried to apply for a SS# for him and the lady refused to even consider the possibility that he was eligible for a card. She said he would not be eligible until after he adjusts status and gets his green card. I did print the link from the guides section and took that with us and she barely glanced at it and tossed it aside. I asked for her supervisor and she left and then came back and said he was not available and he would call me. Of course he did not call me. Hers was the only window, only person I saw (other than the burly security guard sitting in the back eyeing me as I was clearly not happy even though I was smiling and pleasant as I told her she was WRONG.) She was condescending, arrogant and talked down to me as though I were stupid and even said "and you work where?"

Any advice as to what else we could try?

WOW Ther's a Goverment employee for you.

I would call the 800 number for Social Security. There number is 1-800-772-1213.

Good luck and God bless

Tim

[Otto 83]

The SSA clerk is wrong (as you already know) - next time you go (and I would defiantly go back), if you get this kind of reaction, ask to speak with a supervisor.

PRINT THIS and bring it with you - have the SSA clerk read their own directives.

Edited September 1, 2009 by Otto und Karin

[brnidokiegurl 0]

i would let someone know about the attitude also some pleople cant seem to realize how much we actually study this stuff and know what we are talking about, everyone has a boss...

[Sherri and Matt 1]

Thanks for all the responses. I did demand her supervisor and she told me he was unavailable. I also tried to show her the printed section you guys mentioned and she just tossed it aside. We showed her his Visa his I-94 his BC...everything and she was just completely adamant he was not eligible and she refused to really look at anything. She would not even look him up to see if DHS had forwarded his info yet.

I have good news though. We went back today and settled in for a long wait. She was once again the only person there at one of only 2 windows in the office, so I was just dreading it. I did notice new posters everywhere that had exactly what a non-citizen needs to show to get a SS card. I was even more irritated that the same info I tried to tell her was now posted all over the place. When she called us up to the window she immediately apologized and said she was wrong. She had printed the same exact thing I had tried to show her the first time, and she immediately started the process to get him a card. I don't know if she researched it on her own, or if she did ask her supervisor. All his info was in the system and we had no other problems.

Matt thinks that this prompted them to look a little more closely at the issue, and that is why the new posters are up. It is just so frustrating to have someone on a power trip, convinced you have no idea what you are talking about, even when you prepared ahead of time and brought proof! She could have at the very least looked at the info I brought her. At least it's all worked out now. It's also nice to have that kind of verification that VJ is spot on this stuff and the link I found here was what she used as well.

you all.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Matt arrived on the 23rd of this month with a K-1. We tried to apply for a SS# for him and the lady refused to even consider the possibility that he was eligible for a card. She said he would not be eligible until after he adjusts status and gets his green card. I did print the link from the guides section and took that with us and she barely glanced at it and tossed it aside. I asked for her supervisor and she left and then came back and said he was not available and he would call me. Of course he did not call me. Hers was the only window, only person I saw (other than the burly security guard sitting in the back eyeing me as I was clearly not happy even though I was smiling and pleasant as I told her she was WRONG.) She was condescending, arrogant and talked down to me as though I were stupid and even said "and you work where?"

Any advice as to what else we could try?

Typical untrained government worker who makes their own rules. I am very excited about them handling my health care, you?

Go back and see the superviosr or go to another SS office (you can use any SS office in the USA) A K-1 is absolutely entitled to a SSN. Personally, I would take GREAT staisfaction in seeing her supervisor and then informing the ....woman where I work and asking her why I know more about her job than she does? But that's just me.

DO NOT LEAVE until you get your SSN, wait until the end of the day if needed to see a supervisor

Edited September 1, 2009 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks for all the responses. I did demand her supervisor and she told me he was unavailable. I also tried to show her the printed section you guys mentioned and she just tossed it aside. We showed her his Visa his I-94 his BC...everything and she was just completely adamant he was not eligible and she refused to really look at anything. She would not even look him up to see if DHS had forwarded his info yet.

I have good news though. We went back today and settled in for a long wait. She was once again the only person there at one of only 2 windows in the office, so I was just dreading it. I did notice new posters everywhere that had exactly what a non-citizen needs to show to get a SS card. I was even more irritated that the same info I tried to tell her was now posted all over the place. When she called us up to the window she immediately apologized and said she was wrong. She had printed the same exact thing I had tried to show her the first time, and she immediately started the process to get him a card. I don't know if she researched it on her own, or if she did ask her supervisor. All his info was in the system and we had no other problems.

Matt thinks that this prompted them to look a little more closely at the issue, and that is why the new posters are up. It is just so frustrating to have someone on a power trip, convinced you have no idea what you are talking about, even when you prepared ahead of time and brought proof! She could have at the very least looked at the info I brought her. At least it's all worked out now. It's also nice to have that kind of verification that VJ is spot on this stuff and the link I found here was what she used as well.

you all.

Congratulations!

I typically have no problem with ignorant, untrained people. It is not their fault they are ignorant and untrained, and certainly I have been in positions where I was ignorant or untrained. Where I have a BIG problem is when they start making up new laws to cover their ignorance rather than ask a question of a supervisor. Whatever happened to that anyway?

2 weeks ago I had a similar problem getting our K-2 son's drivers lisence. He doesn't have an SSN yet as he cannot get one until AOS. K-1s can, K-2s cannot. But an SSN is not needed for a driver's lisence. The clerk said it was. No, it isn't. Here is your wall chart showing what is needed, SSN is NOT on the list of requirements, only proof that a foreign national can stay minimum 180 days and a K-2 with a receipt for AOS CAN remain legally for more than 180 days. I asked for the supervisor. Sure enough, he gets to take his test. Not 15 minutes later, while he was taking his test, another woman comes in...recent K-1, married and filed for AOS but no SSN. The SAME clerk tells her she cannot get a lisence without an SSN!!!!!!!! So I approached the woman, from Colombia as it turns out, and inform her. She asks for the supervisor and AGAIN the clerk is told it is OK, and to give her an exam. THAT is not ignorant and not stupid, it is just plain malicious!!!!!

Never back down from these two bit mini-dictators, never leave until you get what you KNOW is right

[rebeccajo 14]

k1 is not an immigrant visa, therein lies the problem!!!!

wot? that doesn't have anything to do with being able to get a social security number....

[Otto 83]

Thanks for all the responses. I did demand her supervisor and she told me he was unavailable. I also tried to show her the printed section you guys mentioned and she just tossed it aside. We showed her his Visa his I-94 his BC...everything and she was just completely adamant he was not eligible and she refused to really look at anything. She would not even look him up to see if DHS had forwarded his info yet.

I have good news though. We went back today and settled in for a long wait. She was once again the only person there at one of only 2 windows in the office, so I was just dreading it. I did notice new posters everywhere that had exactly what a non-citizen needs to show to get a SS card. I was even more irritated that the same info I tried to tell her was now posted all over the place. When she called us up to the window she immediately apologized and said she was wrong. She had printed the same exact thing I had tried to show her the first time, and she immediately started the process to get him a card. I don't know if she researched it on her own, or if she did ask her supervisor. All his info was in the system and we had no other problems.

Matt thinks that this prompted them to look a little more closely at the issue, and that is why the new posters are up. It is just so frustrating to have someone on a power trip, convinced you have no idea what you are talking about, even when you prepared ahead of time and brought proof! She could have at the very least looked at the info I brought her. At least it's all worked out now. It's also nice to have that kind of verification that VJ is spot on this stuff and the link I found here was what she used as well.

you all.

[Faith in destiny 0]

My fiancee (now my wife) applied for SSN the second week after she arrived with no problem. The clerk started processing her application right away when he saw her K-1 status. So K-1 visa holder is definitely eligible to apply for SSN. You may also print this out to show it to the clerk when you go back to SSA office again http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf...amp;p_topview=1.

Good luck with your application

[Gemmie 142]

Glad you got it sorted and she apologised for her mistake.

The clerk at our office didn't seem to know anything either, and kept telling me to speak to "immigration".