Best Way to Get a SSN

[Mark UK 3]

DA,

Within the next three weeks or so, I'm hoping that I'll be receiving my K-1 visa through the post from the London Embassy. Fingers (and everything else!) crossed.

I've heard that the best way to get a 90-day temporary EAD is to go through JFK, though it's by no means certain the immigration chaps will give me one. Anyway, despite being on the other end of the country, I'll be trying to fly from Heathrow to JFK and on to Pittsburgh.

Again, fingers crossed that I get the EAD.

Assuming that I do, before I get a job under the EAD, I will need a SSN? Obviously, I won't be able to get a full-time job until I have my more 'permanent' temporary EAD when I apply for the AoS after we're married, but I work in IT so I might be able to do the odd little short-term contract here and there. It would be a big help if I could.

I've been told that I've got to be very careful about the timing of getting the SSN. Apparently, I CAN apply for the SSN under my K-1 visa but as that technically expires when we're married, we should wait until I've got the SSN before we marry. Else I've been told I might not get my SSN until I become a permanent resident - another 18 months away according to the CIS!

Also, I've been told that if I time the request wrong and I'm not in their system (SAVE, I think?) when I apply, they will have to perform checks on me which can take three months.

Which will make getting the 90-day EAD completely pointless.

We were hoping to get married and go on honeymoon in the week I arrive (we've been waiting for so long to get married!), but if it makes a big difference if we wait two weeks whilst I get my SSN, then we can wait until then.

Does anyone have any advice? I'll be living near Pittsburgh. If anyone has any experience of that location, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks a lot,

Mark

[Kez/JWolf 6]

You are best to wait 2 weeks after you arrive here to apply for your SSN, so that your details will be in the SAVE system.... your K1 expires as soon as you enter the country... its the date on your I-94 that is important... you must apply for your SSN before day 76 (14 days before expiry) on your I-94 or you will be refused a SSN until you have 1 year EAD or Greencard...

Keep in mind that if you start work using the temp 90 day EAD you will have to stop work when this expires and wait for the 1 year EAD that you will file for along with your AOS... it is taking between 70 - 90 days to get the 1 year EAD, so you will need to file for AOS as soon as you can after getting married...

Hope this helps

Kezzie

[Mark UK 3]

You are best to wait 2 weeks after you arrive here to apply for your SSN, so that your details will be in the SAVE system.... your K1 expires as soon as you enter the country... its the date on your I-94 that is important... you must apply for your SSN before day 76 (14 days before expiry) on your I-94 or you will be refused a SSN until you have 1 year EAD or Greencard...

Keep in mind that if you start work using the temp 90 day EAD you will have to stop work when this expires and wait for the 1 year EAD that you will file for along with your AOS... it is taking between 70 - 90 days to get the 1 year EAD, so you will need to file for AOS as soon as you can after getting married...

Hope this helps

Kezzie

Hi, Kezzie. Thanks for replying. I'm thinking of doing short-term work - if I can find any! - whilst under the temporary EAD and only finding permanent work once I have the one-year EAD. It's less hassle that way.

Is there any way of checking whether I'm in the SAVE system? And when you say 'wait 2 weeks' - is that waiting 2 weeks before I apply at the Pittsburgh office?

Also, if we got married before I applied for my SSN, would that cause problems?

I've not heard of the I-94!

We plan on applying for the AoS pretty much the day after we're married with the assumption that we can apply for the EAD at the same time - and then leave on honeymoon! I should probably read up on what we need to provide for that as we don't want to be waiting for paperwork to come through, etc like we have on the K-1!

Too much to remember and think about!

[rebeccajo 14]

Kezzie is correct. You have to wait a couple of weeks for your entry into the country to be in the system. Then it will be a bit more time before you receive the number. But once this is all done, you might have time to work for a few weeks before your initial I-96 expires.

Where in Pittsburgh? We live in Northern West Virginia.

[I'm Gone 60]

An individual with K-1 status applying for a work authorized SSN must present evidence 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.

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.

RM 00202.115 Form SS-5 Item 3 — Citizenship:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100202115

B. PROCEDURE - ANSWER TO ITEM 3

2. Legal Alien Allowed to Work

The applicant should check this block if he/she alleges to be a lawfully admitted alien with work authorization.

Once, an individual with K-1 status has been in the United States 76 days he or she will need another document, i.e. I-551, I-688B or I-766 to establish employment authorized status for SSN purposes.

RM 00203.500 Employment Authorization for Nonimmigrants:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203500#C1

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

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

“If the applicant has no immediate need for the SSN and the translation can be done promptly or the foreign language document is the only evidence available; have the document translated by an authorized translator and use the document as evidence.”

“If the applicant has a pressing need for an SSN, and evidence other than the foreign language document is available; request other evidence and process the application without the foreign language document.”

RM 00203.040 Reviewing SSN Evidence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203040#B3

GN 00301.340 Authorized Translators Defined:

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

If a foreign-born person has the foreign birth certificate (BC) in his/her possession or can easily obtain a copy, he or she must submit it as proof of age. When a person is foreign-born, a BC may not exist, may not have been recorded shortly after birth, or the probative value of the document may not be high. In these situations, SSA can accept alternative evidence of age in order of probative value. The alternative evidence of age may be less than a year old, e.g., a DHS document or passport.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that establishes age on the SSA Website at:

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 probative value of documents.

Any document used to establish identity must meet the following criteria:

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

data on the form SS-5 (e.g., the person's name, as well as age, date

of birth, or parents' names) and/or

-- The document provides information the reviewer can compare with the

applicant (e.g., physical description, photograph).

NOTE: A non-picture identity document should have the person's name as well as information that can be compared to the SSN record, the applicant or other documents submitted (e.g., age, date of birth, or parents' names).

However, the acceptability of an identity document must be evaluated on a case by case basis by the office processing the application, taking into consideration the applicant's situation and exploring what evidence is available for the person.

You can find detailed information regarding evidence that

establishes identity on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200#E6

SSA will not accept an application filing receipt or notice of action as proof of current lawful employment authorized status.

Form SS-5, “Application for a Social Security Card,” is the appropriate form to request an original SSN and card.

You can request Form SS-5 by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 or it can be accessed on the SSA Website at:

http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html

Complete the Form SS-5 and take it along with the required documents, to the nearest Social Security office. Individuals age 12 or older applying for an original SSN and card must apply in person at one of our offices.

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 at:

http://www.ssa.gov/locator

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

When an alien requests an SSN or replacement/corrected SSN card, SSA will verify his or her documents and current status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, SSA will send Form G-845 for manual verification.

RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720

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.

If the SSA office does send the G-845, suggest that you go back to the SSA office no more that once week with your documents to (1) ask them to check SAVE again (2) ask if they sent a G-845 (3) if yes, did it come back (4) after 30 days ask if they have followed up on the G-845 by calling or sending another mark “second request.”

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203735

RM 00203.735 Requesting Online (Primary) Verification By SAVE

You can try calling the SSA Regional Office if you have waited at least 30 days and your local SSA office doesn't seem to be concerned about following up on the G-845

http://www.ssa.gov/otherssasites/

Refer them to:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203740

RM 00203.740 Requesting Additional (Manual) Verification By DHS

Step 6

DHS should respond to SSA within 15 federal work days after receiving the Form G-845. If DHS does not respond within 15 federal work days from the receipt of the G-845 from SSA, follow-up with the DHS, USCIS Immigration Status office. (Allow 15 days plus five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS. Follow local practice to follow-up with DHS.

Some SSA offices have an arrangement with the DHS, USCIS office to telephone for the follow-up contact; other SSA offices send a copy of the original G-845 annotated “second request.”) If the DHS response is still not received within 15 federal work days after the follow-up contact (if the follow-up is by mail allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), make a second follow-up contact. If the DHS response is not received within 15 federal workdays (again, if the follow-up is by mail, allow five additional federal work days of mail time for the G-845 to be received at and returned from DHS), after two follow-ups, contact the Regional Office (RO). Also report to the RO any trend that shows a serious deviation by DHS from the above time frames. The RO will consult with central office.

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

You may find additional SSN and employment information on the Internal Revenue Service Website at:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/intern...=129227,00.html

[jen&darcy 0]

Well this kind of stinks. We were hoping to go to the social security office right after he gets here because we can't apply for a marriage license until he has a SSN #.

Time to change the wedding date AGAIN!

Edited August 31, 2006 by jen&darcy

[Kristin.l.m 0]

Well this kind of stinks. We were hoping to go to the social security office right after he gets here because we can't apply for a marriage license until he has a SSN #.

Time to change the wedding date AGAIN!

Ah, but isn't the joy of this process learning how to be truly flexible? I find it's mostly been an exercise in learning how to relinquish control to massive external forces

Somebody else will probably shoot me down instantly on this one, but back when he was just my boyfriend, my now-hubby Jan studied here for 4 years (worked on campus as a work-study), returned to Denmark for 6 months, then applied to come back permanently through the K-1 program. While on his visa interview at the US Embassy in COpenhagen, they asked him if he wanted his same SSN from the time he spent here as a student (apparently it mysteriously "went away" when his student visa expired). He said yes, and as a result we didn't have to go through the SSN mess when he arrived and were able to get married in Vegas a few days later (poor guy had TERRIBLE jetlag, way worse than normal!) I don't know for certain -- don't get your hopes up because I'm quite possibly wrong and somebody else probably knows better.... but maybe the process of getting a SSN can be initiated on the embassy interview?

Also, I don't get why a US SSN is needed to get married. International couples get hitched in Las Vegas all the time without getting a US SSN and they certainly don't have US SSNs in order to do so. They can't get one if they're only here for a few days, plus they have no grounds to get one if they don't intend to be residents. Sure, there is a blank for SSN on the Clark County marriage license application, but the instructions don't specify that it must be a US SSN.

[I'm Gone 60]

Somebody else will probably shoot me down instantly on this one, but back when he was just my boyfriend, my now-hubby Jan studied here for 4 years (worked on campus as a work-study), returned to Denmark for 6 months, then applied to come back permanently through the K-1 program. While on his visa interview at the US Embassy in Copenhagen, they asked him if he wanted his same SSN from the time he spent here as a student (apparently it mysteriously "went away" when his student visa expired). He said yes, and as a result we didn't have to go through the SSN mess when he arrived and were able to get married in Vegas a few days later (poor guy had TERRIBLE jetlag, way worse than normal!) I don't know for certain -- don't get your hopes up because I'm quite possibly wrong and somebody else probably knows better.... but maybe the process of getting a SSN can be initiated on the embassy interview?

Also, I don't get why a US SSN is needed to get married. International couples get hitched in Las Vegas all the time without getting a US SSN and they certainly don't have US SSNs in order to do so. They can't get one if they're only here for a few days, plus they have no grounds to get one if they don't intend to be residents.

If he was assigned an SSN through his previous immigration status that number was always his and valid. The embassy had nothing with him keeping that number. If he didn't have the originally issued card he did or will need to apply for a replacement card if he wants a card.

A person can only be assigned an SSN or issued a replacement card when they are age 18 or older and issued a immigrant visa and ALL types of K visas are nonimmigrant.

Because the issuing of marriage licences is a state or county regulated matter, so the requirements are going to be different depending on where you plan to marry. They should contact the local court house, since other that have found out after speaking with someone there that an SSN was not require even though other info said it was.

[jen&darcy 0]

I called the courthouse and the website both say that you need a SSN#. Unfortunately, when you call there you can't just hit zero to speak to somebody. There is no number to them directly. Only option would be for me to drive downtown and ask in person.

[Kez/JWolf 6]

I would drive down town and ask.... here in MA it says you need a SSN but when we went to the town hall we were told a SSN is not required for non-usc.... just a passport as ID

Kezzie

Edited August 31, 2006 by Kezzie

[KarenCee 3]

I've not heard of the I-94!

The I-94 is stapled into your visa when you get it. It's a white piece of paper and it's very important. It has the date of expiry which is when you must apply for a SSN.

[martinez30 0]

We got married in Pennsylvania and my husband did not need his SSN to apply for the marriage lisence. The thing is, if you HAVE an SSN, you are legally required to give it, if you do not, you can still apply, no problem. The issue is witholding your SSN number. At least that is how it was in PA.

Edited September 4, 2006 by martinez30

[Cassie 8]

I would drive down town and ask.... here in MA it says you need a SSN but when we went to the town hall we were told a SSN is not required for non-usc.... just a passport as ID

Kezzie

Agreed. I was asked for an SSN when we went to get ours. When we explained the situation, my passport sufficed.

To the OP: you won't be able to apply for AOS until you have your marriage certificate in hand (they ask for a copy), which in some places takes a couple of weeks to get back. I'd go on the honeymoon and deal with the paperwork afterwards!