When does my husband need to apply for SSN number?

[sammy060382 1]

Hi there,

Let me apologize first if this seems like a stupid question, but I am a bit unsure of the whole process, so I might as well ask.

My husband is currently applying for his green card and we are at the point where we are about to send back the DS-230 form. We currently reside in Canada and will be moving to the United States shortly before his interview.

Obviously, you need a SSN number to work in the U.S. and I want to make sure that as soon as my husband receives his IV, he is able to work in the United States (i'm unsure if I can support him for an extended period of time by myself).

Thus, I am wondering at what point he should be applying for his SSN number. Should he be doing it now? How long is the whole application process? I'm assuming it can't be nearly as long as the process to obtain a green card.

Thanks in advance,

- Sam

[payxibka 10,047]

Hi there,

Let me apologize first if this seems like a stupid question, but I am a bit unsure of the whole process, so I might as well ask.

My husband is currently applying for his green card and we are at the point where we are about to send back the DS-230 form. We currently reside in Canada and will be moving to the United States shortly before his interview.

Obviously, you need a SSN number to work in the U.S. and I want to make sure that as soon as my husband receives his IV, he is able to work in the United States (i'm unsure if I can support him for an extended period of time by myself).

Thus, I am wondering at what point he should be applying for his SSN number. Should he be doing it now? How long is the whole application process? I'm assuming it can't be nearly as long as the process to obtain a green card.

Thanks in advance,

- Sam

after arrival or just "tick" the automatic SSN issuance box on the DS-230 Part II. It typically arrives 3 weeks or so after arrival

[Ning 619]

Hi there,

Let me apologize first if this seems like a stupid question, but I am a bit unsure of the whole process, so I might as well ask.

My husband is currently applying for his green card and we are at the point where we are about to send back the DS-230 form. We currently reside in Canada and will be moving to the United States shortly before his interview.

Obviously, you need a SSN number to work in the U.S. and I want to make sure that as soon as my husband receives his IV, he is able to work in the United States (i'm unsure if I can support him for an extended period of time by myself).

Thus, I am wondering at what point he should be applying for his SSN number. Should he be doing it now? How long is the whole application process? I'm assuming it can't be nearly as long as the process to obtain a green card.

Thanks in advance,

- Sam

He will have to have the green card to get the S S card. Once he has entered the USA & has the G card he can go to a Social Security office to apply for the card. He will need his B certificate, passport & G card to show the officer. The actual application takes 10 minutes.

My wifes card came about 3 weeks after visiting the S S office. We had ticked the box but we still had to go in person to show her I D.

Edited August 2, 2010 by Ning

[OBX 51]

Hi there,

Let me apologize first if this seems like a stupid question, but I am a bit unsure of the whole process, so I might as well ask.

My husband is currently applying for his green card and we are at the point where we are about to send back the DS-230 form. We currently reside in Canada and will be moving to the United States shortly before his interview.

Obviously, you need a SSN number to work in the U.S. and I want to make sure that as soon as my husband receives his IV, he is able to work in the United States (i'm unsure if I can support him for an extended period of time by myself).

Thus, I am wondering at what point he should be applying for his SSN number. Should he be doing it now? How long is the whole application process? I'm assuming it can't be nearly as long as the process to obtain a green card.

Thanks in advance,

- Sam

I am wondering how it is you both will be "moving" before the interview?

Edited August 2, 2010 by OBX

[Carolina+James 1]

Please don't apologize for asking questions, this is what this place is for!

I needed a SSN # to be added to my husband's bank account. Maybe not all banks will ask for it, check yours.

[sammy060382 1]

I am wondering how it is you both will be "moving" before the interview?

Hi,

We haven't for sure decided what we will do, but the plan right now is to move our furniture down before the interview, but he will still reside in Canada until the interview.

Thaks for the responses but I am a bit confused by the responses - the responses from both of you sound fairly easy, but they are two completely different ways to apply for the SSN. I'm assuming if you don't check off that you want to automatically enroll for a SSN on the DS-230 Part II form, then you will need to do what Ning has specified. Does that sound right?

Thanks again,

- Sam

[payxibka 10,047]

Hi,

We haven't for sure decided what we will do, but the plan right now is to move our furniture down before the interview, but he will still reside in Canada until the interview.

Thaks for the responses but I am a bit confused by the responses - the responses from both of you sound fairly easy, but they are two completely different ways to apply for the SSN. I'm assuming if you don't check off that you want to automatically enroll for a SSN on the DS-230 Part II form, then you will need to do what Ning has specified. Does that sound right?

Thanks again,

- Sam

The auto function does not seem to work 100% of the time.... if you check the auto function and it does not arrive in 3 weeks then you go to the SSA to find out what happened...

[OBX 51]

Hi,

We haven't for sure decided what we will do, but the plan right now is to move our furniture down before the interview, but he will still reside in Canada until the interview.

Thaks for the responses but I am a bit confused by the responses - the responses from both of you sound fairly easy, but they are two completely different ways to apply for the SSN. I'm assuming if you don't check off that you want to automatically enroll for a SSN on the DS-230 Part II form, then you will need to do what Ning has specified. Does that sound right?

Thanks again,

- Sam

Okay I understand now

Re: the SSN - We did check off the box on the DS-230 but as payxibka posted it certainly is not a foolproof method. Three weeks after my POE I went to the local office with my passport, birth certificate and filled in application form. SSN Application

I had my card 6 days later. Good luck!

Edited August 2, 2010 by OBX

[Darnell 8,479]

He will have to have the green card to get the S S card. Once he has entered the USA & has the G card he can go to a Social Security office to apply for the card. He will need his B certificate, passport & G card to show the officer. The actual application takes 10 minutes.

My wifes card came about 3 weeks after visiting the S S office. We had ticked the box but we still had to go in person to show her I D.

Sorry, not need green card, if CR-1/IR-1 visa holder. There is stamp in the passport , given during POE, that validates the VISA to be used as a temporary I-551 document, up to 1 year .

to the OP - basically, show up at any SSA office with Passport and Birth Certificate, and apply. You'll need to remind the front desk clerk to LOOK HIM UP in the SAVE database. If he can't be found in the SAVE database - do not apply - come back a week later, try again. Keep trying until he's found in the SAVE database, then let the application go through. Once he's found in SAVE, and he applies, he can come back to that same SSA office 2 days later, receive the SSN (but not the card, that'll come in the mail)

If any SSA clerk mumbles 'Need USCIS/DHS electronic verification' - Stop - as something's wonky - verify with a supervisor that he is or is not in SAVE - and if NOT, come back later. If he IS in the SAVE database, and something is wrong (middle name spelled wrong, wrong date of birth, etc etc) - this 'problem' can not be fixed at SSA - will have to go elsewhere to fix the record.

[Ning 619]

Sorry, not need green card, if CR-1/IR-1 visa holder. There is stamp in the passport , given during POE, that validates the VISA to be used as a temporary I-551 document, up to 1 year .

to the OP - basically, show up at any SSA office with Passport and Birth Certificate, and apply. You'll need to remind the front desk clerk to LOOK HIM UP in the SAVE database. If he can't be found in the SAVE database - do not apply - come back a week later, try again. Keep trying until he's found in the SAVE database, then let the application go through. Once he's found in SAVE, and he applies, he can come back to that same SSA office 2 days later, receive the SSN (but not the card, that'll come in the mail)

If any SSA clerk mumbles 'Need USCIS/DHS electronic verification' - Stop - as something's wonky - verify with a supervisor that he is or is not in SAVE - and if NOT, come back later. If he IS in the SAVE database, and something is wrong (middle name spelled wrong, wrong date of birth, etc etc) - this 'problem' can not be fixed at SSA - will have to go elsewhere to fix the record.

Darnell is correct about the G card. I should have qualified my answer. However I would caution you to make sure that the S S office you choose issues cards. Where we live I found there are many offices but only one verifies the info & then orders the cards.

We ran into the " save " situation for our daughters card & had to return as Darnell said. On second trip there was no problem.

[Armenia 18]

Sorry, not need green card, if CR-1/IR-1 visa holder. There is stamp in the passport , given during POE, that validates the VISA to be used as a temporary I-551 document, up to 1 year .

to the OP - basically, show up at any SSA office with Passport and Birth Certificate, and apply. You'll need to remind the front desk clerk to LOOK HIM UP in the SAVE database. If he can't be found in the SAVE database - do not apply - come back a week later, try again. Keep trying until he's found in the SAVE database, then let the application go through. Once he's found in SAVE, and he applies, he can come back to that same SSA office 2 days later, receive the SSN (but not the card, that'll come in the mail)

....

What is the SAVE database? What does SAVE stand for?

[Darnell 8,479]

More info on SAVE - http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=1721c2ec0c7c8110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextoid=1721c2ec0c7c8110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

Edited August 2, 2010 by Darnell

[Armenia 18]

More info on SAVE - http://www.uscis.gov...0004718190aRCRD

Thanks. Found info here http://www.uscis.gov...0004718190aRCRD