Manual Verification of SSN

[Roosterwife 0]

Hello VJ-ers

I am a UKC living here in South Florida on an H1-B, married in July to a USC and about to file for my AOS.

Last month I went to my local SS office to change my name to my husband's. They took copies of my docs and told me they had to send them to Miami for manual verification, which could take 4-6 weeks. They also gave me a letter confirming my visit and their request for manual verification.

I called the SSA today, but they were unable to give me an update and said I would have to go back to my local office or enquire in writing. (The only thing they could confirm was that my SSN is still linked to my maiden name, so I'm presuming the change has still not bee made

Does anyone know why this would have happened in the first place? Why wouldn't they be able to verify my status on the computer? I've been here, paying taxes and working legally since April 2003, for goodness sake!

I am really trying to avoid taking the time off work to go back to the SS office and am also a bit concerned that somehow this will affect/delay my AOS application. Although I have changed my bank accounts to my new name with just the marrige certificate, there are many things I cannot change into my new name (DL, payroll, phone bill, FPL bill, etc) because they require my SSN to be in the same name, so this is holding me up.

I also wanted to get a new UK passport (so that I will have at least one official picture ID with my new name) but am not sure how long they will need to keep the original marriage cert. and I would hate to be without it at this point. Perhaps any other UKCs can comment?

Can I anybody shed any light on the situation or give me a real idea of how much longer this is going to take?

thanks

[I'm Gone 60]

Hello VJ-ers

I am a UKC living here in South Florida on an H1-B, married in July to a USC and about to file for my AOS.

Last month I went to my local SS office to change my name to my husband's. They took copies of my docs and told me they had to send them to Miami for manual verification, which could take 4-6 weeks. They also gave me a letter confirming my visit and their request for manual verification.

I called the SSA today, but they were unable to give me an update and said I would have to go back to my local office or enquire in writing. (The only thing they could confirm was that my SSN is still linked to my maiden name, so I'm presuming the change has still not bee made

Does anyone know why this would have happened in the first place? Why wouldn't they be able to verify my status on the computer? I've been here, paying taxes and working legally since April 2003, for goodness sake!

I am really trying to avoid taking the time off work to go back to the SS office and am also a bit concerned that somehow this will affect/delay my AOS application. Although I have changed my bank accounts to my new name with just the marrige certificate, there are many things I cannot change into my new name (DL, payroll, phone bill, FPL bill, etc) because they require my SSN to be in the same name, so this is holding me up.

If your work authorized H-1B status comes up in SAVE (your maiden name is correct (allowed to have one letter off) and your date of birth is correct) and you presented the unexipired I-94 with H-1B status, with your marriage certificate and the marriage certificate shows your age or date of birth there should not been any reason to send off to verify anything.

When you go back to the office ask to see the SAVE query and/or ask why the G-845 was sent. If what I listed above applies start yelling for the office manager, because it shouldn't have been sent.

Make sure they tried the A# and I-94# in SAVE if you have both.

For name change/correction applicant may submit either:

-- One legal name change document showing both the old and new names

(e.g., a court order for a name change or a marriage document). The

document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of

the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with

the Numident data; or

-- When the name change document does not show either a photograph of

the person or biographical information that can be compared with the

Numident data, then, in addition to the name change document, the

applicant must also submit two acceptable identity documents. One

of the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name

on the latest SSN record) AND the other submitted identity

document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the

corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show

either a photograph of the applicant or provide biographical

information that can be compared with the Numident (SSN record)

data.

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name (surname or family name) as her new last name. (EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she may change her name to Jane Jones.)

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband’s last name, accept the marriage document as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even if the marriage document only shows each partner’s first names, the bride’s prior surname and husband’s surname.

Note: For a marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the applicant’s name, either the applicant’s age, date of birth or parents’ names and the marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets this standard.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, SSA presumes the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change, e.g., marriage that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

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

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

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

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., 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, i.e. SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an acceptable legal name change document to establish the new name.

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.

[Roosterwife 0]

The woman told me that from what she saw on the computer, it seemed as if I was not here on an H visa but should have had "some other type of visa or work authorisation" She couldn't say what other visa it should have been.

I sat in front of her for almost an hour and she did confer with a colleague and a supervisor, who told her to request manual verification. BTW, she noticed that SSA had my birth month wrong in the system and was able to change that with no problem, but the system just wouldn't accept the name change, for some reason.

I can't believe I have to go back there again - it's really inconvenient to get time away from work. Perhaps I'll just wait a few more weeks and hope that the new card turns up in the mail.

In the meantime, I think I will go ahead and get my new UK passport so that at least I have valid photo ID in my married name (as I know I can't get a new DL since my current one expires when my H1-B does, in December). Can this work?

This shouldn't affect my AOS application, right?

Hello VJ-ers

I am a UKC living here in South Florida on an H1-B, married in July to a USC and about to file for my AOS.

Last month I went to my local SS office to change my name to my husband's. They took copies of my docs and told me they had to send them to Miami for manual verification, which could take 4-6 weeks. They also gave me a letter confirming my visit and their request for manual verification.

I called the SSA today, but they were unable to give me an update and said I would have to go back to my local office or enquire in writing. (The only thing they could confirm was that my SSN is still linked to my maiden name, so I'm presuming the change has still not bee made

Does anyone know why this would have happened in the first place? Why wouldn't they be able to verify my status on the computer? I've been here, paying taxes and working legally since April 2003, for goodness sake!

I am really trying to avoid taking the time off work to go back to the SS office and am also a bit concerned that somehow this will affect/delay my AOS application. Although I have changed my bank accounts to my new name with just the marrige certificate, there are many things I cannot change into my new name (DL, payroll, phone bill, FPL bill, etc) because they require my SSN to be in the same name, so this is holding me up.

If your work authorized H-1B status comes up in SAVE (your maiden name is correct (allowed to have one letter off) and your date of birth is correct) and you presented the unexipired I-94 with H-1B status, with your marriage certificate and the marriage certificate shows your age or date of birth there should not been any reason to send off to verify anything.

When you go back to the office ask to see the SAVE query and/or ask why the G-845 was sent. If what I listed above applies start yelling for the office manager, because it shouldn't have been sent.

Make sure they tried the A# and I-94# in SAVE if you have both.

For name change/correction applicant may submit either:

-- One legal name change document showing both the old and new names

(e.g., a court order for a name change or a marriage document). The

document must also show either (1) a description or photograph of

the person or (2) biographical information that can be compared with

the Numident data; or

-- When the name change document does not show either a photograph of

the person or biographical information that can be compared with the

Numident data, then, in addition to the name change document, the

applicant must also submit two acceptable identity documents. One

of the submitted identity documents must show the old name (the name

on the latest SSN record) AND the other submitted identity

document must show the new name (the name to be shown on the

corrected SSN card). The identity documents submitted must show

either a photograph of the applicant or provide biographical

information that can be compared with the Numident (SSN record)

data.

In all 50 U.S. States (this means the 50 States, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa) the bride may take her husband's last name (surname or family name) as her new last name. (EXAMPLE: Jane Doe married John Jones and she may change her name to Jane Jones.)

Interim Guidance: If the bride wants to take her husband’s last name, accept the marriage document as a legal name change for the bride if the new name can be derived from the marriage document; even if the marriage document only shows each partner’s first names, the bride’s prior surname and husband’s surname.

Note: For a marriage document or marriage record to be acceptable as an identity document it must show, in addition to the applicant’s name, either the applicant’s age, date of birth or parents’ names and the marriage document alone can be accepted as evidence of identity for both the old and new names when it meets this standard.

When issuing immigration documents, the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security issue them in the person’s legal name. The legal name is also generally the name in which the foreign passport was issued.

When an alien applies for an SSN card, SSA presumes the name on the immigration document is the legal name unless the applicant presents evidence of a legal name change, e.g., marriage that occurred after the immigration document was issued.

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

You can find detailed information regarding changing SSN record (Numident) data on the SSA Website at:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

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

Note: If the applicant has changed his/her name after an immigration document, i.e. I-94, was issued, e.g., 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, i.e. SAVE clearance, if the applicant can provide an acceptable legal name change document to establish the new name.

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.