Social Security Card?

[walkerr06 0]

Hi everyone!

My fiance had his visa interview today and passed (yay!) and now we are just waiting for him to receive his visa in the mail and get himself over here. As part of that, I've been trying to get everything organized for our next steps (we have actually already filled out most of the EAD, G325, and I-184 documents - go us!).

I had a question about the social security card business, though. I notice that a lot of the timelines suggest applying for a card almost immediately after he's entered. However, I was wondering:

* Does he really need a card now? Couldn't we just wait until after he receives his EAD and apply for a card then? I spoke with an agent on the phone today and he said it was unlikely Chuck would be issued a card, as he's technically "not allowed to work." The agent suggested I just wait until he received the EAD.

* If we were to apply for a card for him, I know he has to send in all of his original materials, and that it takes awhile for processing to take place. We are planning on a honeymoon that requires air travel, so he'll need his passport. I guess I'm just afraid that we'll end up sending in his information and then we'll need it for our honeymoon, and not have it.

* I read the social security card guidelines here that suggested printing out the regulations and taking them in to show that a K1 visa applicant can apply for a social security card. Has this worked for others?

If anyone has any advice about this step of the process, what you did, what worked, what didn't, etc., I would love to hear it! It seems like this is the last "confusing" piece of paperwork to deal with -- the immigration forms themselves were pretty straightforward.

Thanks!

Becki

[I'm Gone 60]

Does he really need a card now?

Must have now, No Should apply ASAP, Yes. SSN is asked for when applying for a lot of things

Couldn't we just wait until after he receives his EAD and apply for a card then? I spoke with an agent on the phone today and he said it was unlikely Chuck would be issued a card, as he's technically "not allowed to work." The agent suggested I just wait until he received the EAD.

I assume this was someone on the SSA 800#? Regardless, they didn't know what they were talking about. He is eligible to be assigned an SSN based on his K-1 status and providing his I-94 as evidence up until he has been here 76 days. After he has been here at least 10 days go apply.

* If we were to apply for a card for him, I know he has to send in all of his original materials, and that it takes awhile for processing to take place. We are planning on a honeymoon that requires air travel, so he'll need his passport. I guess I'm just afraid that we'll end up sending in his information and then we'll need it for our honeymoon, and not have it.

He has to apply in person at an SSA office and they will make photocopies and give the documents right back.

* I read the social security card guidelines here that suggested printing out the regulations and taking them in to show that a K1 visa applicant can apply for a social security card. Has this worked for others?

The office should know the procedure, but it can't hurt. Print section C1

RM 10211.420 Employment Authorization for Non-immigrants"

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211420

If anyone has any advice about this step of the process, what you did, what worked, what didn't, etc., I would love to hear it! It seems like this is the last "confusing" piece of paperwork to deal with -- the immigration forms themselves were pretty straightforward.

After he has been here at least ten days, have him go into an SSA office with his I-94, passport and if he has one handy his birth certificate. They must first verify his K-1 status, if he is lucky they will be able to do it while he is in the office. If they can and clear the application right away he should have his SSN card within a couple weeks. If they can't verify his status they will submit a secondary electronic verification request. Figure on that taking at least a week. After a week go back to the office and ask if they have received a response. If yes and it verifies they process the application. If immigration wants to see his I-94, a photocopy of the I-94 is mailed along with Form G-845. Figure on that taking a month. After a month go back to the office and ask if the G-845 has come back. If it has and his status has verified, the application is processed. If it hasn't come back they have a number to call to find out what is going on with the G-845.

It's just that simple and good that you ask before he applied.

Edited September 21, 2010 by I Quit

[walkerr06 0]

Thanks so much! I thought it sounded like the man on the phone didn't really know what he was talking about, especially when I said "well, he will probably need his SS card to get a joint bank account with me so that we can prove we've mingled our assets for our AOS," and the guy said "well, just have him deposit money in your account, that proves mingling of assets."

Pffft.

Anyway, awesome advice! I am no longer so worried about this.

[wpsmith623 0]

So here's the thing. We did that. I had the print out saying K-1's can get a card and had to speak with the SS agent and he said that my now husband should get his card in 8 weeks. We wanted to at least get car insurance and his driver's license started. I knew that it would say on the card that it would not be valid for work without the EAD (I have seen these SS Cards at work- I'm in HR). Unforunately, 8 weeks came and went and we didn't get the card. We called the 800# and they are ABSOLUTELY no help. So we went back to the SS office and they said to wait until he had his EAD. We waited for that and then went back with his EAD (I admit I dropped him off at the office so I could go on to work). They ignored his EAD and said, sorry your K-1 is expired. So I had to take off the morning the next day and tell them that Homeland Security okayed him for his EAD and that seems strange that SS won't give him a job so he can use his EAD to get a job! Needless to say, after much prodding, redoing the application and bringing in out I-797, they said that it should be two weeks.

So, you can go ahead and apply for the card, but be prepared not to receive it. They apparently LOVE to do that. I just wanted you to be aware that this might happen and if they don't send him his card, to just wait until you get the EAD approved.