Social Security Number help

[h1a1 5]

I arrived in the US (POE in Orlando) the middle of March on a K1 Visa. I applied for a SSN on April 9th which was kind of a hassle because the woman didn't seem to know what she was doing. I hadn't heard back from them so went into the social security office today for an update. They said they have no record of me applying (even though I showed them a confirmation letter the original woman had printed off for me in April with a reference number). So they tried to find me in the system (SAVE I presume?) and they said they couldn't. They said they couldn't verify my I-94 and I need to go to immigration to sort that out. He said I can come back after that and apply again. Or I can go back with my birth certificate as well as my passport and they'll send off a manual application which would take 10 weeks. He said that it's possible that will just be canceled anyway if when they verify me with immigration there's no record of me in the system.

So, what do I do? Did POE possibly mess up? Should I make an infopass appointment or something? Or is it possible the social security office are giving me misinformation?

Does anybody know who I should try calling to verify if there is a problem with my I-94 record?

I don't ~need~ a social security number right now because I'm not working of course until my EAD is processed but I may as well get it out of the way now.

I haven't sent off AOS yet (we got married in April) but will in the next couple of weeks. If immigration have no record of me coming to the US then that'll be a problem for AOS surely.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Since you are not planning on working until you get your EAD, you can wait until you receive your EAD to return to the SSA office. At that point, they will issue you a work letter, and you are set until the SSN card arrives. After you get your LPR (green card) you get to go back to have the restrictions removed from your SSN card.

You still have your I-94, right? You will need to photocopy both sides of that to send along with your AOS application.

Edited May 26, 2010 by ##########

[h1a1 5]

Yeah I'm not so concerned about the social security card number. If I called USCIS would they be able to look me up over the phone? I'm concerned about having issues with AOS if POE did something incorrectly. I checked my I-94 and I spelled everything correctly but that doesn't mean they didn't make typos when they entered me into the system.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I wouldn't worry as long as the POE stamped your date of entry correctly. That is about all the USCIC is concerned with, as far as that document is concerned. For the AOS, it is the USC's turn to shine, and demonstrate 1) that you got married within the 90 day window, and 2) your income is sufficient to support you both (and others in the household).

Edited May 26, 2010 by ##########

[Otto 83]

** Topic may be better suited in "Working & Traveling During US Immigration" (rather than"..new life in America"); moving thread there.

[I'm Gone 60]

From and including: Monday, March 15, 2010

To, but not including : Wednesday, May 26, 2010

It is 72 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date

So based on the date that you actually arrived, you are either out of luck on getting an SSN based on your K-1 status or very close. Since, once you have been here 76 days, you can no longer use your I-94 with K-1 status as evidence of work authorization.

The system SSA uses to verify your status is probably not the only system immigration has to track you, so I wouldn't worry about the SSA office not finding any information on you affecting you AOS. You will need to send a copy of your I-94, marriage certificate and I believe the approved K-1 petition with your AOS application, so they will figure it out.

Now as far as the SSN application, it seems you were told a bunch of BS. The office tries to verify your status while you are in the office, if that doesn't work, they do a secondary electronic verification request and that normally comes back in around a week. If the response to that is that immigration wants to see a copy of your I-94, a photocopy of the front and back of the I-94 is sent with Form G-845 to immigration. If it doesn't come bacx within a month, there is a phone number the SSA office can call to try to resolve things, so 10 weeks is BS.

Edited May 26, 2010 by I Quit

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

We had an issue with Josephs last name being wrong in "the database" , It was correct everywhere else including the I 94. It took 3 trips to the SS office, an info pass appointment and a letter to the congressman to get it moving. Basically you have to get it corrected in the system. We were told we could have gone to an "inspection point" ( airport with immigration ) and asked to speak to an officer to re validate the data in the system. If you are close to a location where you can do that it is probably the easiest way.

[h1a1 5]

From and including: Monday, March 15, 2010

To, but not including : Wednesday, May 26, 2010

It is 72 days from the start date to the end date, but not including the end date

So based on the date that you actually arrived, you are either out of luck on getting an SSN based on your K-1 status or very close. Since, once you have been here 76 days, you can no longer use your I-94 with K-1 status as evidence of work authorization.

The system SSA uses to verify your status is probably not the only system immigration has to track you, so I wouldn't worry about the SSA office not finding any information on you affecting you AOS. You will need to send a copy of your I-94, marriage certificate and I believe the approved K-1 petition with your AOS application, so they will figure it out.

Now as far as the SSN application, it seems you were told a bunch of BS. The office tries to verify your status while you are in the office, if that doesn't work, they do a secondary electronic verification request and that normally comes back in around a week. If the response to that is that immigration wants to see a copy of your I-94, a photocopy of the front and back of the I-94 is sent with Form G-845 to immigration. If it doesn't come bacx within a month, there is a phone number the SSA office can call to try to resolve things, so 10 weeks is BS.

Yeah after Friday it will be too late to get a social security number based on K1 (he told me that) which is why I went the first time in early April but they messed up. I don't think they even processed my application. She took a copy of my I-94 and passport the first time I applied in April. I don't think it was sent off or it was "lost". The guy yesterday said it must have been deleted out of the system because immigration don't have a record of me but that's nonsense. I hate when people give misinformation... when they act like they know what they are talking about when they so do not.

[And_Sam 44]

We are still waiting for my husband's SS number and GC. After 3 trips to the SS office, FINALLY somebody found him in the system. Apparently the homeland security and USCIS decided to put his paperwork under 2 different names.

So..SS office had to notify Homeland Security to find WHICH name they want him to be under. Either the SS number name will change OR USCIS will have to issue him a new GC under the name that matches. What a mess!!!!

[newlyweds2010 208]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the point of obtaining a SSN if you don't have the EAD yet?

I'm asking because I barely arrived in the US and am trying to figure out whether or not I should do a trip to the nearest SSA office to apply for it.

[h1a1 5]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the point of obtaining a SSN if you don't have the EAD yet?

I'm asking because I barely arrived in the US and am trying to figure out whether or not I should do a trip to the nearest SSA office to apply for it.

It's needed if you're signing a new lease on an apartment (which I am) but I'll be okay because my friend's father owns the building so they are processing our application without it. Some banks want you to have a social security number if you want to open an account with them. Also I guess you're need one for health insurance.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

It is handy for opening accounts and it saves the wait when the EAD arrives. Plus it helped us discover the name error in the database in a painless way.