Social Security Update

[Nyte 1]

Hello everyone! Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but a quick cursory search didn't yield any hits ...

When you update your social security records, does the SSA need to keep the original naturalization certificate? We're trying to determine if we want to handle SS before we apply for a passport.

Thanks much!

[v333k 59]

I think they need to see it and make a copy of it... but they will not keep it with them. I remember when I did my GC I thought I had to go and make changes at the SS office. They said that only when naturalizing but they asked me to come about a week after being naturalized so I am in the system and they can verify quickly.

I recommend you call your local office and ask them these questions... each place could handle things differently.

hope this helps.

[Doug & Pam 3]

When i went to Social Security office to update mine they simply made a photo copy of the certificate but she said they usually do not even need to do that but because I had just received my citizenship the records were not in the system yet (takes a week to 10 days she said). She gve me back the original right away though.

[Nyte 1]

Thanks for the help!!

[NickD 203]

Hello everyone! Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but a quick cursory search didn't yield any hits ...

When you update your social security records, does the SSA need to keep the original naturalization certificate? We're trying to determine if we want to handle SS before we apply for a passport.

Thanks much!

Absolutely not, don't even have to go to your SS office, could mail in your certificate with the application, and pray you get it back. Good reason why to take it in, in person, and leave with it. Bad enough you have to mail it in to the DOS for your passport, but at least you will get your passport back while praying your certificate is not lost being sent in a plain brown envelop with untraceable first class postage.

SS keeping track of your US citizenship is fairly new, but don't think they automatically update you. We still had to go in with the certificate and application showing the US citizenship status.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

Apply for a passport book and a passport card first. As soon as you have your passport book, put it away safely. As soon as you have your CoN back, put it in the bank safe. Once you have your passport card, put it in your wallet and use it for SSA, DMV, and bank purposes. When you are done with that, put the card in another safe place, away from the passport book.

http://www.newcitizen.us/after.html

[bigdog 377]

Make a good color copy for them and take the original, pretype the application. It takes about two weeks to update the system., so they can find you.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Make a good color copy for them and take the original, pretype the application. It takes about two weeks to update the system., so they can find you.

They have to make the photocopy themselves to maintain the chain of evidence. It doesn't do any good to make copies ahead of time, unless you are mailing off the original to get your passport. We did everything that we needed the original for first, and then applied for the passport. No need for the passport card, unless you plan on visiting countries on a regular basis where you can actually use the passport card. The new passport book contains a chip and does everything and more that the passport card does.

Edited September 5, 2011 by Crusty Old Perv

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I personally dropped by the SSN office on the way home from my oath ceremony. I had prefilled the form and had it ready. They made a quick change in the system and took a photocopy....done like dinner.

[Nyte 1]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I posted this question just to ensure that the SSA would not need to retain my wife's CoN. Beyond that, I agree with Bob about applying for both the Card and Passport Book if finances allow. This affords the new citizen three distinct pieces of citizenship proof (plus, the passport cards just look cool IMO).

We'll be applying for my wife's new passport this week ... our fingers are crossed that the CoN makes it back to us.

[NickD 203]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I posted this question just to ensure that the SSA would not need to retain my wife's CoN. Beyond that, I agree with Bob about applying for both the Card and Passport Book if finances allow. This affords the new citizen three distinct pieces of citizenship proof (plus, the passport cards just look cool IMO).

We'll be applying for my wife's new passport this week ... our fingers are crossed that the CoN makes it back to us.

Knowing the date of your oath ceremony gives one time to fill out he US passport and SS applications. That was done before hand. Three years ago, wife wanted her passport first, got around to SS about a month later. But was told this year at my stepdaughters' oath, the SS is now keeping track of US citizenship. Since she is in college, had her sign the application, got there at 7:55 AM, they are to open at 8:00 AM, but unlike a store wanting to get your business, opened more like 8:08 AM, but I was the first in line. Well not a bit deal, only one other couple there. Was in and out in two minutes with her certificate in my hand. Yes they insisted on copying the certificate with their dirty copy machine instead of taking a nice clean colored copy I prepared for them.

This I could do for her, but she has to be present for her passport application, gave her certificate back to her. Was given the impression that the USCIS will notify SS about citizenship that the DOS has access to and will not issue a passport until at least ten days has passed before they would approve it. She got around to applying for her passport in her college town two weeks later. But they still wanted her certificate to be mail in for proof. Wonder about that, why do they need your certificate if you are already in the database? But she used her permanent address and it was eventually sent back to us. So its locked up with her mothers'.

Can appreciate the degree of paranoid in wanting to carry a passport card as proof of citizenship, but was born and raised here and certainly don't leave the house with my birth certificate. Don't even bother taking my drivers' license, the only other proof of ID I have unless I am going to drive. Don't even need that with a credit card, never was asked to see it. A naturalized citizen also doesn't require to any carry proof of citizenship, but you sure did as a LPR.

Still taking me time to get use to not recording trips or searching for evidence, been brainwashed by the USCIS. But is our lives for over six years when dealing with the USCIS.

[Nyte 1]

Still taking me time to get use to not recording trips or searching for evidence, been brainwashed by the USCIS. But is our lives for over six years when dealing with the USCIS.

This is so so so true!!!

It is taking time for us to get used to being just normal citizens, not worrying about saving every shred of evidence.

Edited September 5, 2011 by Nyte

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

This is so so so true!!!

It is taking time for us to get used to being just normal citizens, not worrying about saving every shred of evidence.

One nice thing about being a citizen, you no longer have to prove your legal presence to any law enforcement official. And once you make all the rounds, not to the DMV or SSA.