Social Security nonsense... again

[h1a1 5]

I applied for a SSN back in April based against my K-1 status. They told me it would take around 4 weeks to process. I went back after about 6 weeks and surprise, surprise there was no trace of my application and it was too late to apply against my K-1 status as my I-94 was about to expire. In April they couldn't find me in the SAVE system so they said they were going to send off copies of my documentation to immigration. They didn't.

I applied again today as I have recently been issued my EAD. Once again they couldn't find me in SAVE. They guy went into the back office to see if he could find any trace of my previous application. He couldn't. I asked him if he could send off the secondary electronic verification to confirm my identity/status with immigration. He said they don't do that (LIES!) and took copies of my documents (EAD, birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate), gave me a letter with a reference number and said it would take about 4-12 weeks and that they mail it into immigration. I asked once again about the secondary electronic verification and he said "This is the first application we have from you on file so we do it this way and then if they ask for any other information we can send that electronically". So is he doing the G-845 first?

I'm sick of this! Oh and he was a manager so there was no use me asking for a manager to show the correct way to do it.

I'll probably get my GC before my SSN and they will conveniently lose my info again and I'll have to reapply again, and again, and again it seems.

Edited September 21, 2010 by h1a1

[h1a1 5]

Oh and I don't know why they are so obsessed with knowing my father's name. Without going into details it is UNKNOWN. It's on my birth certificate as UNKNOWN. Every time I go they seem so confused by that. Heck, although my mother definitely is not one of them I'm pretty sure they get white trash people going in all of the time with kids by different parents... is it so shocking? Today the guy at social security was like "Have you ever applied for a SSN using your father's name?" AFTER we'd already had the conversation about the fact I don't KNOW it!

It only takes one look at me and a listen to my accent and vocabulary to see that despite being raised only by my mother I am not a poor, skanky freeloader.

Ugh!

[nickbits 43]

That sucks. Getting my wife's SSN was one of the main things I was concerned about. When we went to the office 2 weeks after POE, she wasn't in save and told us they had to do the manual verification and gave us the same reference letter/number thing you got. Luckily they must have re-checked the SAVE after a couple days because she had her SSN in about a week.

I'm not too sure on how SAVE works but I think they can search by I94# or A#? Have you tried having them look for both numbers? They didn't ask us for her A# when they couldn't find the I-94.

Hopefully you get it all sorted out soon.

[h1a1 5]

I-94 is now irrelevant for me in regards to social security as it's expired but yes, they've looked using all information. It's just frustrating because they don't know how to do their job properly. The guy today said to me "Why hasn't immigration applied for a social security number for you?" So I explained that they don't do that with K-1 visa holders and he said "They do for some K-1 people. I've seen that happen..." So I was like oh really... no use arguing over that piece of misinformation.

I'll contact the congressman here after a month if I don't hear anything and they are still telling me lies and misinformation.

[I'm Gone 60]

At which SSA office did this take place?

[h1a1 5]

At which SSA office did this take place?

The Port St Lucie office. This one: SAINT LUCIE PLAZA

7151 SO US HWY 1

PORT ST LUCIE, FL 34952

[SuperDuper! 230]

I applied for a SSN back in April based against my K-1 status. They told me it would take around 4 weeks to process. I went back after about 6 weeks and surprise, surprise there was no trace of my application and it was too late to apply against my K-1 status as my I-94 was about to expire. In April they couldn't find me in the SAVE system so they said they were going to send off copies of my documentation to immigration. They didn't.

I applied again today as I have recently been issued my EAD. Once again they couldn't find me in SAVE. They guy went into the back office to see if he could find any trace of my previous application. He couldn't. I asked him if he could send off the secondary electronic verification to confirm my identity/status with immigration. He said they don't do that (LIES!) and took copies of my documents (EAD, birth certificate, passport, marriage certificate), gave me a letter with a reference number and said it would take about 4-12 weeks and that they mail it into immigration. I asked once again about the secondary electronic verification and he said "This is the first application we have from you on file so we do it this way and then if they ask for any other information we can send that electronically". So is he doing the G-845 first?

I'm sick of this! Oh and he was a manager so there was no use me asking for a manager to show the correct way to do it.

I'll probably get my GC before my SSN and they will conveniently lose my info again and I'll have to reapply again, and again, and again it seems.

Try to be positive and believe good things will happen to you. You'd be surprised at the results.

What about the receipt they give everyone who applies for a SS card? Everytime we have applied for the SS card, and then married name update, we have gotten a receipt documenting what was done, and when the card should be mailed out.

Edited September 22, 2010 by Hopp

[Darnell 8,479]

they should find you in the SAVE system via yer visa name OR the A#. Sometimes a look up via the A# will actually reveal the spellings errors stored in the SAVE system, done at POE.

If they still can't find you - you should check in with SAVE - at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=1721c2ec0c7c8110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextoid=1721c2ec0c7c8110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

Edited September 22, 2010 by Darnell

[h1a1 5]

Yep, I showed them that receipt. It had a reference number on there and they claim reference number didn't bring anything up in the system. No trace of the application. As far as they are concerned my first trip to the office didn't happen even though I have that receipt!

Today they gave me pretty much the same receipt today with a reference number. Ugh.

[h1a1 5]

they should find you in the SAVE system via yer visa name OR the A#. Sometimes a look up via the A# will actually reveal the spellings errors stored in the SAVE system, done at POE.

If they still can't find you - you should check in with SAVE - at http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=1721c2ec0c7c8110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextoid=1721c2ec0c7c8110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

Yes they should find me but they are refusing to do the secondary electronic verification. They're sending the G-845 and are saying that's the only process they do. Complete misinformation. I could tell them until I'm blue in the face about SAVE but they're telling me I'm wrong. Nobody at that office can help me and the nearest other office is over an hour away and I don't have the transportation. My husband works full time and I have to rely on friends to take me to places.

I wonder if I contact the congressman for my area they might be able to inquire as to why that office isn't doing things properly?

[Darnell 8,479]

I know it's a bit of minutae -

but

if you go back, ask to be looked up in SAVE again, via A# . If they can't find you by A# - something is really busted with SAVE.

[NVC FAN :( 18]

not sure how to take the white trash comment. i could think of a couple names of ppl from your country too

[h1a1 5]

[quote name=NVC FAN ' timestamp='1285143192' post='4199099]

not sure how to take the white trash comment. i could think of a couple names of ppl from your country too

So could I but that guy probably hasn't heard of them. He was suggesting I was beneath him which was completely out of order as he knows nothing about my family situation. And I wasn't about to explain it to him in a room full of people.

[Lorenzoid 12]

Based on my experience, Social Security Office clerks are some of the least competent civil servants in the government's employ. Compared with SS office clerks, USCIS personnel look like rocket scientists. Sorry you had to endure this.

[Darnell 8,479]

I wonder if I contact the congressman for my area they might be able to inquire as to why that office isn't doing things properly?

Ya, some one at the Congressman's office will look into it, but be prepared to be writing, much. Postal letters, believe it or not, cut a swath that the telephone just doesn't do.

At this point, you might want to contact the Inspector General's Office , specifically the Office of Investigations. You can file a report online at https://www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htm using the 'serious misconduct' category - as the fellow you are dealing with is just 'doing it wrong'. Can also review fax/telephone #'s at http://www.ssa.gov/oig/guidelin.htm

Alternatively, everyone has a boss, yes? You can find out who this fellow reports to, and send off a letter directly to that person.

Also alternatively, you really should go to a different office, and apply. I understand transportation is a problem, but you should be able to find something, somewhere, through one of the larger churches in your area.

Edited September 22, 2010 by Darnell