How long did you take off from work when your loved one arrived?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The only problem we ran into was that the bank wouldn't accept the interim "work letter" as showing her as having a valid SSN. We had to wait for her card to arrive in the mail for the bank to put her on my bank account. I should dig that up again. It looked to me as if someone with that letter could show it to an employer and use it for work authorization. If I remember right, it said something like the person listed on the letter was work authorized, but not yet verified by the DHS.

Bank issue. Our bank asked only for ID and there was a place to fill in an SSN. We did. You have the option of going along with the bank or changing banks.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

It took a little longer when she applied for an unrestricted card and when she became a USC, more than a month in both cases. We went to the SSA office on the way back from the oath ceremony.

Alla never changed her restricted card and has never shown it to anyone. It is not needed for employment, or anything else I have found yet, she just shows her green card.

The "restriction" is that she needs another form of authorization...Green card! It is really kind of a non-restriction because even a citizen has to show something besides a SS card.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10096.html

If you are not an immigrant or did not apply for a Social Security number on your immigrant visa application, you must have your papers from DHS showing your U.S. immigration status and authorization to work in the United States. Then you should apply for a Social Security number and card by visiting an office. We recommend you wait 10 days after arriving in the United States to apply for a Social Security number. This will make it easier for us to verify your DHS documents online, which will speed processing of your Social Security number application. Applying for a Social Security number and card is free. To apply:

Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5);

Show us at least two original documents proving your:

Identity,

Work-authorized immigration status, and

Age; and

Take your completed application and original documents to your local Social Security office.

All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. We also cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.

We may use one document for two purposes. For example, we may use your DHS work permit as proof of both your identity and work-authorized immigration status. Your birth certificate or passport may serve as proof of age. However, you must provide at least two separate documents.

We will mail your number and card as soon as we have all of your information and have verified your documents with the issuing offices.

Identity and work-authorized immigration status

To prove your identity and work-authorized immigration status, show us your current U.S. immigration documents and your unexpired foreign passport. Acceptable immigration documents include your:

Form I-551 (includes machine-readable immigrant visa);

Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) showing DHS work authorization; or

Forms I-766 (Employment Authorization card).

"recommend" does not mean you "must" wait 10 days. Outdated info the SAVE system has been improved. We had no trouble getting it the next day after arrival

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5);

"recommend" does not mean you "must" wait 10 days. Outdated info the SAVE system has been improved. We had no trouble getting it the next day after arrival

True. Now, they don't even require the filling out of any forms at all. Drop in, get a number from the machine, them the technician will ask you a few questions, and enter your information into their system.

Edited December 19, 2011 by Crusty Old Perv

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

**** Posts containing name calling and those quoting same removed. Stick to the facts, please. Acceptable parts of posts returned below ****

IF some clown at Social Security gave Alla her number the day after arrival, that was a MISTAKE. A one-off. An error on the part of the clerk at Social Security.

I took Kira to the Soc. Sec. office the day after she got here, we took a # and when we went up to the counter she showed the gal her passport with stamp and she gave her her SSN right there. It's a temporary thing until you get the card in the mail. That piece of paper worked to get her on my bank account and to get her a state ID and the following week a state drivers permit.

So I'm not sure how Gary is giving bad advice. How else does someone go about getting their SSN without going to the Soc. Sec. office where they are going to print that number out for whoever. Are you saying people shouldn't go to the SS office and get a SSN? If so that sounds like bad advice.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

"recommend" does not mean you "must" wait 10 days. Outdated info the SAVE system has been improved. We had no trouble getting it the next day after arrival

It. Was. An. Error.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Go to SS the day after arrival and file the application. Go back the second day and they will give you the number. It may be available the same day as Kip says, we were told to come back the next day and we did. You get the card in about a week, but you can get the NUMBER the next morning. Alla had her CARD in the mail exactly one week after arrival. We were married 9 days after her arrival and her SSN is entered on the marriage license application.

*shrugs*

If I took your advice and went to the SS office the day arrival and came home empty-handed, it wouldn't be big deal. The SS office is a 10 minute drive from my house.

For other people, it might mean missing work.

It's pretty incredible to me that you have continued with this story of yours for ages when the proof is out there that you are wrong.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Also removed from this dialogue was my admission to Kip that I had never before noticed Kira's entry was CR1. So this was my error. Because she was a CR1 entrant she was eligible for a number immediately.

[tmma 467]

I took 3 weeks off because I wanted time w/Mark alone before family started coming in for the wedding & Christmas holidays.

It's our 5th wedding anniversary on the 21st December!

As for the SSN--Mark landed 9th December on K-1 and we went to the SS office afew days after. He wasn't in the SAVE system yet, so we went back 23 December, he was in the SAVE system and he got a receipt for the application and the actual card came in 16th January.

Edited December 19, 2011 by tmma

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Also removed from this dialogue was my admission to Kip that I had never before noticed Kira's entry was CR1. So this was my error. Because she was a CR1 entrant she was eligible for a number immediately.

I admit I didn't read a few of the post on here thoroughly enough to realize it was K1 and not CR1. If I had known it was K1 I would have shut up about it. I'm a blank on K1 rules and regs other than I know it's a fiancee visa and the people have 90 days to get married from the time of the POE.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

*shrugs*

If I took your advice and went to the SS office the day arrival and came home empty-handed, it wouldn't be big deal. The SS office is a 10 minute drive from my house.

For other people, it might mean missing work.

It's pretty incredible to me that you have continued with this story of yours for ages when the proof is out there that you are wrong.

Because you got an untrained clerk and did not ask for a supervisor.

K-1s are eligible for SSNs upon arrival until day 76 of the I-94. After day 76 you need to wait for a green card or EAD. K2s MUST wait for a green card or EAD. K3s must wait for a green card or EAD.

You are transposing your inability to get things done onto others and should not do that.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

K1s are eligible immediately and default classifed as "work eligible" even though they are not, so that they CAN get an SSN right away. Why?

Because some states required an SSN to get a marriage license and without the ability to get a marriage license a K1 could not meet the obligation of their visa. This is why K1s are eligible and k2s and K3s are not. K2s and K3s never had any need for a marriage license in the US.

If someone contends that a K1 is NOT eligible right away that person should post information showing when they ARE eligible.

An old recommendation that no longer applies to the system used is simply passing on outdated, inaccurate information.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Also removed from this dialogue was my admission to Kip that I had never before noticed Kira's entry was CR1. So this was my error. Because she was a CR1 entrant she was eligible for a number immediately.

SS Administration considers the CR-1 and K-1 in the same classfication.

If the K-1 is not eligible immediately, please link to rules stating when it is eligible.

[luckytxn 2,265]

We went about day 3 or 4 to get her SS#. The card arrived in about a week. We were K1.

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

Gary, I never said a K1 is not eligible to receive a number.

*sigh*