Social Security Question

[Benjamin44 10]

Hi all,

So, I thought some of you could help me with this. As everyone knows, the Social Security Card is supposed to come in the mail. However, it has now been 5 weeks since I entered at my POE, and it hasn't arrived yet, and the SSA says that if it doesn't come within 3 weeks, you're supposed to go in to take care of it.

I went in a few days ago, to my local SSA branch. I was told that my application is actually in the system, the guy even found it, but he can't tell me what the status is or what will happen with it. He just said that right now, for some reason, there is no answer yet to my application, and he doesn't know why this has happened. He also said that all he can do for me is start the application again- but not by opening a new application, since then I might get 2 SS numbers. Instead he said he wants to add my info into the existing applucation, so that it gets processed, because if he doesn't do that, he can't find out the status of the application. Since this didn't seem to make sense, I was afraid this might somehow mess up my original application and actually delay me, so I didn't want to do it until I came here and asked what I should do. In the meantime, he gave me the reference number to the application that is still open for me, that was opened on my behalf by the DHS when I entered at POE.

Any ideas how to proceed? Should I go back now and check on the status, it has been over a week since I've been in so maybe it's different now? Maybe somebody else there will know better than the guy I got last time? Or should I just do what the guy says, "update" the application that way and see what happens?

Any ideas would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks in advance!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Hi all,

So, I thought some of you could help me with this. As everyone knows, the Social Security Card is supposed to come in the mail. However, it has now been 5 weeks since I entered at my POE, and it hasn't arrived yet, and the SSA says that if it doesn't come within 3 weeks, you're supposed to go in to take care of it.

I went in a few days ago, to my local SSA branch. I was told that my application is actually in the system, the guy even found it, but he can't tell me what the status is or what will happen with it. He just said that right now, for some reason, there is no answer yet to my application, and he doesn't know why this has happened. He also said that all he can do for me is start the application again- but not by opening a new application, since then I might get 2 SS numbers. Instead he said he wants to add my info into the existing applucation, so that it gets processed, because if he doesn't do that, he can't find out the status of the application. Since this didn't seem to make sense, I was afraid this might somehow mess up my original application and actually delay me, so I didn't want to do it until I came here and asked what I should do. In the meantime, he gave me the reference number to the application that is still open for me, that was opened on my behalf by the DHS when I entered at POE.

Any ideas how to proceed? Should I go back now and check on the status, it has been over a week since I've been in so maybe it's different now? Maybe somebody else there will know better than the guy I got last time? Or should I just do what the guy says, "update" the application that way and see what happens?

Any ideas would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks in advance!

I think you should go back in, check on the status and whether or not you get the same guy, take their word for it - if they say they can add info and it will trigger your application to get moving - believe them. Either way, you don't have your SSN so prod them to do something. They're the experts, if he seems unsure, ask if you can speak to a supervisor or if he thinks it will help you to speak to a supervisor who can offer more suggestions.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Card did not arrive becuase the wonderful USPS sent it back would be my guess. During this entire process we expect the USPS to deliver mail addressed to us, but they have this little known policy that the carriers need to know who is living at an address or they will return the mail to the sender. This happened to us. This is especially true if the last name is different--i.e wife keeps maiden name or husband's name is taken by wife and it was her residence before the marriage. Go to the local post office and make certain they know who is living at this address. They have a form where you can select all mail addressed is to be delivered.

In the mean time you can go to the SSA office and get a printout with the SSN on it and use that until the card arrives.

Good luck.

Dave

[pocheros 101]

Card did not arrive becuase the wonderful USPS sent it back would be my guess. During this entire process we expect the USPS to deliver mail addressed to us, but they have this little known policy that the carriers need to know who is living at an address or they will return the mail to the sender. This happened to us. This is especially true if the last name is different--i.e wife keeps maiden name or husband's name is taken by wife and it was her residence before the marriage. Go to the local post office and make certain they know who is living at this address. They have a form where you can select all mail addressed is to be delivered.

In the mean time you can go to the SSA office and get a printout with the SSN on it and use that until the card arrives.

Good luck.

Dave

Yes- I went to the SSN office recently to apply and the lady asked me if my mailbox had my name attached to it because they deliver the cards through certified mail. To be extra careful they added "Care of <my husband's name>" so my card wouldn't be returned.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Ahh - I had forgotten about the mail thing......something we don't talk about much here, but you should do is go to the post office and register your name at the address you live at. Some folks get mail without any troubles, but in some cases the the PO doesn;t deliver government mail unless the person's name is registered.

[kaibosh 3]

Hi all,

So, I thought some of you could help me with this. As everyone knows, the Social Security Card is supposed to come in the mail. However, it has now been 5 weeks since I entered at my POE, and it hasn't arrived yet, and the SSA says that if it doesn't come within 3 weeks, you're supposed to go in to take care of it.

I went in a few days ago, to my local SSA branch. I was told that my application is actually in the system, the guy even found it, but he can't tell me what the status is or what will happen with it. He just said that right now, for some reason, there is no answer yet to my application, and he doesn't know why this has happened. He also said that all he can do for me is start the application again- but not by opening a new application, since then I might get 2 SS numbers. Instead he said he wants to add my info into the existing applucation, so that it gets processed, because if he doesn't do that, he can't find out the status of the application. Since this didn't seem to make sense, I was afraid this might somehow mess up my original application and actually delay me, so I didn't want to do it until I came here and asked what I should do. In the meantime, he gave me the reference number to the application that is still open for me, that was opened on my behalf by the DHS when I entered at POE.

Any ideas how to proceed? Should I go back now and check on the status, it has been over a week since I've been in so maybe it's different now? Maybe somebody else there will know better than the guy I got last time? Or should I just do what the guy says, "update" the application that way and see what happens?

Any ideas would be greatly apprecaited.

Thanks in advance!

Hi there, hope you've got this all sorted out, quick question for you tho, Im going to just take my application to the local SS office since it's close by, what ID did you bring with you? I was planning on bringing my CDN passport with K! visa in it as well as my canadian Drivers license, will that be enough?

Thanks

[ralyse 31]

Hi there, hope you've got this all sorted out, quick question for you tho, Im going to just take my application to the local SS office since it's close by, what ID did you bring with you? I was planning on bringing my CDN passport with K! visa in it as well as my canadian Drivers license, will that be enough?

Thanks

I don't have a DL, so I had my birth certificate and SIN card with me as well as my passport but all they asked for was the passport and the forms.

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Try going TO the SS-office and ask about your number.

[BellasCanadian 0]

Do they give you a SS number on the spot when you apply .. or do you only know what it is when you receive it in the mail? How long does that usually take?

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Do they give you a SS number on the spot when you apply .. or do you only know what it is when you receive it in the mail? How long does that usually take?

You find out once you receive it in the mail from what I remember - takes 1-2 weeks by mail after you've applied at the SS Office

[ralyse 31]

Do they give you a SS number on the spot when you apply .. or do you only know what it is when you receive it in the mail? How long does that usually take?

In the mail, mine took just over a week.

[BellasCanadian 0]

thanks guys!! last question ... do you check off "legal alien not allowed to work" on the application?

[pocheros 101]

thanks guys!! last question ... do you check off "legal alien not allowed to work" on the application?

No, you check off legal alien ALLOWED to work By the way, they asked me for additional ID besides my passport, so I brought my birth certificate.

[ralyse 31]

No, you check off legal alien ALLOWED to work By the way, they asked me for additional ID besides my passport, so I brought my birth certificate.

I'd checked not allowed...

[pocheros 101]

Huh, weird, I thought they wouldn't issue it to you if you checked off "not allowed" going by what I've read from previous threads... Everyone's experience is different.

Edited October 4, 2011 by pocheros