Disapointed with Social Security

[julis82 10]

I received my Green Card last friday and i already have a job offer.

Today i went to the Social Security Office to request my SSN.

After over an hour waiting, i was finally applying.

Well, i thought that i would not have any problems, but in the end they told me that they need to verify the documents that i've showed, and that process can take up to 4 weeks.

Can someone tell me why? I went thru this process over 18 months and now that i finally have have a life they delay for another month?

That's just not fair...

[Otto 83]

There are dozens of threads on this exact subject in the "Working and Traveling..." forum - mostly responded to (eventually) by "I QUIT" who is very knowledgeable on the subject. (I know, you've already received your PR/Green Card, but the answer will still apply.)

**Moving thread to "Working & Traveling..."

Edited February 16, 2010 by Otto und Karin

[I'm Gone 60]

I received my Green Card last friday and i already have a job offer.

Today i went to the Social Security Office to request my SSN.

After over an hour waiting, i was finally applying.

Well, i thought that i would not have any problems, but in the end they told me that they need to verify the documents that i've showed, and that process can take up to 4 weeks.

Do you know why they couldn't verify your status while you were in the office with the initial verification? I would find that out first. Your name can be off by one letter and still be accepted as verified.

The next step is a secondary electronic verification request. Figure on that taking a week for the SSA office to receive a response. If it verifies they can clear the application. If the response is that immigration wants to see the document, a photocopy of the front and back of the document is mailed along with Form G-845. Figure on that taking a month. So worse case you could be waiting over a month, but hopefully it will only take another week.

You need to make sure they do the steps if needed in the required time frame and check to see if they have received a response.

[julis82 10]

Basicly the problem was that in my green card has my married name and my passport as my single name.

I don't have any other documentation that states my married name. That was the problem.

I know that won't be a problem, i was surprised to take that long.

Do you know why they couldn't verify your status while you were in the office with the initial verification? I would find that out first. Your name can be off by one letter and still be accepted as verified.

The next step is a secondary electronic verification request. Figure on that taking a week for the SSA office to receive a response. If it verifies they can clear the application. If the response is that immigration wants to see the document, a photocopy of the front and back of the document is mailed along with Form G-845. Figure on that taking a month. So worse case you could be waiting over a month, but hopefully it will only take another week.

You need to make sure they do the steps if needed in the required time frame and check to see if they have received a response.

[TracyTN 237]

You don't have a marriage certificate that you could have taken along? That would have shown your maiden name and your husband's name (married name) and possibly cleared up confusion between the GC and your passport.

[I'm Gone 60]

The Form I-551 (Green Card) is the identity document and is considered your legal name. If that matches SAVE the application can be processed. The SSA office is verifing the immigration document not the passport.

RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200

J. Procedure - verifying specific kinds of identity documents

3. Foreign passport

In almost all situations when a foreign passport is submitted as evidence of identity, the applicant will also submit a U.S. immigration document. SSA has no means to verify a foreign passport. However, if DHS verifies the immigration document submitted, presume the foreign passport is authentic.

Because the Department of State and the DHS are trained in examining foreign passports and determining the authenticity of foreign passports, and the Department of State examined the foreign passport when issuing the visa and DHS again examined the foreign passport when admitting the person to the U.S., SSA can presume the foreign passport is authentic when the U.S. immigration document is verified.

a. Foreign passport can be presumed to be authentic

If the foreign passport can be presumed to be authentic based on the verification of the immigration document by DHS, continue processing the SS-5.

b. Foreign passport cannot be presumed to be authentic

If the foreign passport cannot be presumed to be authentic (generally, because the person did not submit an immigration document), tell the person he/she must submit another document listed in RM 00203.200E as evidence of identity.

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Name Data

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and DHS issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, presume the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change (e.g., marriage) that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

In cases where an alien applies for a replacement SSN card and submits an immigration document showing a name that is different from the name on the prior Numident record, accept the immigration document as evidence of the legal name. In these cases, the prior SSN card may have been issued in a name that was not the NH’s legal name.

[TracyTN 237]

Ah, thanks for the clarification, I Quit!

[julis82 10]

I do have a marriage certificate and i even brought with me, but they only asked for my passport and green card.

You don't have a marriage certificate that you could have taken along? That would have shown your maiden name and your husband's name (married name) and possibly cleared up confusion between the GC and your passport.

[I'm Gone 60]

I do have a marriage certificate and i even brought with me, but they only asked for my passport and green card.

RM 00203.210 Changing Numident Name Data

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

C. Procedure - Immigration Document as Evidence of Legal Name

In cases where an alien applies for a replacement SSN card and submits an immigration document showing a name that is different from the name on the prior Numident record, accept the immigration document as evidence of the legal name. In these cases, the prior SSN card may have been issued in a name that was not the NH’s legal name.

That's why they were only interested in your Form I-551 and passport. If you had married after the I-551 was issued and it was in your maiden name, then the marriage certificate would establish the name change.

[M.O 6]

they say that but for most of the people is about 2 weeks...Good luck