information on ssn

[suzique3 0]

ok anyone out there, I need some information with regards to a social security number. My son and I come over on July 10 and after reading the posts on visa journey it had said to maybe wait for approx. 2 weeks before applying for a ssn so that we would be in the system and it would take less time. We did that. We went to the Social Security office, and the gentleman there told us that we could not get a ssn because we came over on a k1 k2 visa and that these were vistor's visas. He said that we had to go to the federal court building in Detroit and go the IRS office there and they would assign us a tax id number but we could not get a ssn. I showed him the i94 and he apparently looked something up on Yahoo search (my son could see the screen) and then proceded to tell us that we could not get a social security number.

Has anyone else experienced this. The thought of going to Detroit is not a pleasant one, I try only to do it out of necessity.

[candn 17]

ok anyone out there, I need some information with regards to a social security number. My son and I come over on July 10 and after reading the posts on visa journey it had said to maybe wait for approx. 2 weeks before applying for a ssn so that we would be in the system and it would take less time. We did that. We went to the Social Security office, and the gentleman there told us that we could not get a ssn because we came over on a k1 k2 visa and that these were vistor's visas. He said that we had to go to the federal court building in Detroit and go the IRS office there and they would assign us a tax id number but we could not get a ssn. I showed him the i94 and he apparently looked something up on Yahoo search (my son could see the screen) and then proceded to tell us that we could not get a social security number.

Has anyone else experienced this. The thought of going to Detroit is not a pleasant one, I try only to do it out of necessity.

Please see the following link:

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10096.html

You need to show authorization to work and immigration status. Also read the Guide on VJ. You apply AFTER marriage.

[arya 22]

No, he was wrong. You should go back there and ask to speak to a manager. You can definitely get a SSN with your K1 visa and it's better to do it before the marriage. I am from Detroit area and I applied for my SSN 3 days after I got here. If they are giving you trouble, go to a different SSA office. And K1 is not a visitor's visa! He has no idea what he's talking about!

[suzique3 0]

No, he was wrong. You should go back there and ask to speak to a manager. You can definitely get a SSN with your K1 visa and it's better to do it before the marriage. I am from Detroit area and I applied for my SSN 3 days after I got here. If they are giving you trouble, go to a different SSA office. And K1 is not a visitor's visa! He has no idea what he's talking about!

that is what I told him, I showed him my visa and my i 94. he said that I could not get it until my fiancee applied for aos after we were married, but everything that I have read so far said to apply for a ssn when I arrived, just wait for about 2 weeks to make sure that you were in the system.

i am going to call the 800 number and see what I can find out. (although I had to know it, so far thru this journey i have hit every speed bump. Why change it now, lol. I will report back when i find out more

[I'm Gone 60]

Suggest that individuals that have entered the United States with non immigrant status wait at least 10 calendar days before submitting a Social Security number (SSN) application to allow the Department of Homeland Security time to record entry into their database, but individuals are not required to wait 10 days before applying.

An individual that entered the United States with K-1 or K-2 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence at one of our offices to establish his or her age, identity, and current lawful employment authorized status.

An individual needs to provide at least two documents as evidence to establish age, identity, and current lawful employment authorized status.

Example: If the immigration document, for example, Form I-94, Form I-551, Form I-766, is used to establish work authorization and identity, the alien must provide another document to establish age.

SSA will not assign an SSN or issue a card to an individual that is within 14 days of his or her alien status expiring. Until the 76th day after entry an individual with K-1 status only needs to provide an unexpired I-94 showing current K-1 status to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

Once, an individual that entered the United States with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, for example, Form I-551, Form I-766, to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 10211.420 Employment Authorization for Non-immigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211420

RM 10211.025 Evidence of Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) Status for an SSN Card:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211025

The parent applying on behalf of a minor child also must provide proof of his or her identity. However, a child of any age can sign and submit his or her own application.

From the first day of entry into the United States, children that have entered with K-2 status must provide a Form I-766 or I-551 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

Note: Marriage does not affect an individual with K-1 status's eligibility to be assigned an SSN, or issued a card.

Suggest that individuals apply for a corrected SSN card to update the SSN record when there has been a name change due to marriage.

We accept all marriage documents issued within the 50 United States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

RM 10212.025 Evidence of Name Change based on a US Ceremonial Marriage:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212025

SSA can accept a name change document based on marriage as evidence of the new name to be shown on the card, if the new name can be derived from the marriage document.

Any of the following changes to the last name, using the names shown on the evidence, are permitted:

-- bride takes the groom’s last name;

-- groom takes bride’s last name;

-- spouse or partner takes the other parties’ last name;

-- spouse or partner takes one part of the other parties’ compound

surname;

-- compound name (with or without hyphen) of each spouse’s or partner’s

original surname for either or both parties

Example:

Lisa Foster submits evidence of the name change event, her US ceremonial marriage to Bryan Lee-Walsh. She wants to change her surname to a compound surname, Foster Lee, with only part of Bryan’s surname. Since this new name can be derived from the prior names shown on the marriage document, the marriage document is acceptable evidence of the new name. We may also change Lisa’s surname to one of the following if she requests it:

-- WALSH,

-- LEE-WALSH (or reverse, with or without space or hyphen),

-- LEE FOSTER (with or without space or hyphen, Foster Lee could also

have a hyphen or not have a space)

-- FOSTER WALSH (or reverse, with or without space or hyphen)

-- FOSTER LEE WALSH (in any order, with or without spaces or hyphens)

The marriage document can also be used as acceptable evidence of identity, if it shows Lisa’s prior name (Lisa Foster) and either her age, birth date, or parents’ names, that matches the data on the SSN record, and the marriage took place within the prior two years.

RM 10212.055 Evidence Required to Process a Name Change on the SSN based on Marriage, Civil Union and Domestic Partnership:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212055

This is in addition to proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Generally, a foreign-born person’s legal name is the name shown on his or her immigration document, for example, Form I-766.

When the name shown on the immigration document differs from the name shown on other evidence submitted for an SSN, we process the application in the name on the immigration document as long as the name can be derived from the other evidence, for example, a foreign passport.

If the required documents show clearly different names, we cannot accept the evidence to process the application. In these situations, the applicant must submit evidence showing the same name, or submit evidence of a name change that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

RM 10212.001 Defining the Legal Name for an SSN:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212001

When requesting an SSN card, the documents presented, as evidence must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. SSA cannot accept uncertified or notarized photocopies as evidence.

If an acceptable evidence document is in a language other than English and no other acceptable document is available, SSA will have the foreign language document translated by an authorized translator.

SSA translators comprise two groups:

-- Field office and Payment Center employees who volunteer their

services as translators

-- Central Translation Section translators who hold actual translator

positions.

GN 00301.340 Authorized Translators Defined:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200301340

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. In some situations SSA can accept alternative evidence of age. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, for example, foreign passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Web site:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203110

The documents acceptable as evidence of identity are now based on three factors: (1) the applicant’s age, (2) the applicant’s citizenship/alien status, and (3) the relative value of documents.

Primary Identity Evidence for an alien:

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551

Stamp in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when the I-

551 Permanent Resident Card has not yet been issued)

-- Form I-94, Arrival/departure Record in combination with an unexpired

foreign passport

-- Form I-766, Employment Authorization card in combination with an

unexpired foreign passport

Note: Document must be unexpired

Secondary Identity Evidence for an alien:

-- Unexpired valid U.S. driver’s license (excludes licenses known to be

suspended or revoked)

-- U.S. State issued non-driver identity card (issued by the same State

agency which issues driver’s licenses/State-level agency with

issuing authority over the State’s identity card and not expired)

-- Marriage document showing in addition to the applicant’s name

either the applicant’s date of birth (DOB) or age

-- Certified copy of medical record (clinic, doctor, or hospital) or

letter providing extract data from the medical record showing in

addition to the applicant’s name, the applicant’s DOB or age

-- Health insurance or Medicaid card showing, in addition to the

person’s name, either a photograph of the person or his/her DOB

-- School identity card or record (for current school year) showing, in

addition to the applicant’s name, either a photograph of the

applicant or the applicant’s DOB

-- Life insurance policy for the person showing his/her age or DOB.

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application.

RM 10210.405 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110210405

RM 10210.420 List of Documents in Priority of Acceptability for Use as Evidence of Identity:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110210420

SSA cannot accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as evidence of an immigration document, or an immigration document with a “valid from” date in the future.

Exception: We can accept an expired I-551 card accompanied by a Form I-797C (Notice of Action) stating, “Your conditional resident status is extended for a period of one year as evidence of LPR status.

Take the required documents to the nearest Social Security office or Card Center. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person, even if a parent has signed the applicant.

You can obtain the address and directions to the nearest Social Security office from the Social Security Office Locator, which is available on the Internet:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

Applicants who live or receive mail in the Brooklyn, NY, Queens, NY, Phoenix, AZ, Orlando, FL, Sacramento, CA, or Las Vegas, NV area should apply at their local Social Security Card Center.

Individuals residing in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area should apply at the Twin Cities Card Center.

Card Center Information:

http://www.ssa.gov/cardcenters/cardcenterinfo.html

Normally, an SSN card should be received in the mail within two weeks after the application and required document(s) have been received and verified.

However, when an alien requests an SSN or replacement card, SSA must verify his or her documents/current status with the appropriate bureau of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). If the initial online verification is not possible through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA may need to send a Form G-845 to the appropriate DHS Status Verification Office (SVO) for manual verification.

Social Security field offices can submit an additional electronic online verification, which with the majority of applications eliminates the need to send a Form G-845 along with a copy of the applicant’s immigration documents.

However, some applications still require a copy of the immigration document(s) to be mailed to the appropriate DHS SVO along with Form G-845 for manual verification.

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, for example, Form I-94, was issued, for example, married and is now using the married name, but has not obtained a corrected immigration document showing the new name; this is not a name discrepancy for enumeration purposes, that is, SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an acceptable legal name change document to establish the new name.

The 14 day status expiration limit for assigning an SSN and/or issuing a card applies even if an individual submitted his or her application before being within the 14 day period and entered the 14 day period while waiting for his or her status to be verified.

SSA offices can also assist applicants by issuing a notice acknowledging the SSN application while documents are being verified.

RM 10205.215 Acknowledgement Requested for an Application for an SSN Card:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110205215

All cards are mailed from Social Security Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland to the postal address provided on the Form SS-5.

If ineligible to be assigned an SSN, Social Security offices can provide written notice using Form SSA-L676 to explain that an SSN cannot be assigned due to your fiancé/spouse not having provided authorization to work in the United States for SSN purposes, or evidence of a valid nonwork reason for needing an SSN.

Needing an SSN for school aid or enrollment, tax purposes, private health insurance, banking, credit cards, loans, or to be issued a state professional or driver’s license are NOT valid non work reasons for needing an SSN.

RM 10211.610 Valid Reasons to Assign an SSN for Nonwork Purposes:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211610

RM 10211.615 Invalid Nonwork Reasons for SSN Assignment:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211615

The IRS assigns Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers to aliens for tax purposes who are not eligible to be assigned an SSN. A Form W-7, “Application for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number,” needs to be submitted to receive an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

You can download a form W-7 from the IRS Web site:

http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/index.html

You can contact the IRS ITIN office by calling 1-800-908-9982.

You can find additional information on the IRS Web site:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96287,00.html

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1915.pdf

When am I legally required to provide my Social Security number:

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/78

[suzique3 0]

thank you 'I quit' - I sure hope you did not type all of that lol

Just to let everyone know, I just got off the phone with the local ssn office. It took a long time, but I am going there to get my ssn today. The gentleman that I spoke to yesterday was adamant that I could not get a ssn on a K1 visa. I called and went over all the information that I had. This included all the information from their website, (from I quits post though they have changed it slightly - although it is all the same information). So after going over everything a couple of times and then asking for a number of the head office so I could clarification of their website information, I was told that I could get my ssn number but not my son ( I knew that though).

So in case anyone else goes thru the same hassle (ok speed bump) then you know, you can definitely get a ssn with a K1 visa.

Thank you everyone for you for input.

[I'm Gone 60]

thank you 'I quit' - I sure hope you did not type all of that lol

I did once upon a time. ctrl C and V are my friends. LOL

This included all the information from their website, (from I quits post though they have changed it slightly - although it is all the same information).

Some of the info I have paraphrased to make easier to understand from POMS, but the overall gist of the procedure hasn't been changed.

[suzique3 0]

Just a quick note to let you know I went down and got my ssn. Ok I started the process apparently they have to do it manually even though I waited the two weeks, they could not find me in the system. (like I had said in a previous post I think I have hit every speed bump there is to hit)

Hopefully though I will see something in four weeks or so. (just in time to do a name change - lets see how that one goes lol)

thank you everyone again,