After Citizenship - Social Security Question

[prashp1 0]

Hello. I became Citizen on Friday April 13, 2012. Today I went to the Social Security Office to let them know about my immigration status changed and they told me to come back on May 3, 2012. They said the immigration information from Department of Homeland security takes 3 weeks to receive on their computers and if they take my application right now then it will take 3 - 4 weeks to process and better to come back on May 3.

Did anyone have this kind of situation? Now what should I do? Go again or apply for a US Passport?

[karin_brenig 18]

yes, this is normal expected behavior - SS administration is a little slow..............

You can do other things first.

Like get a new (or amended) unrestricted drivers license, tell your employer, and register to vote.

Wait with your passport application until after SSA gets their stuff done, because when you apply

for the passport you have to send your original CoN away in the mail and it will take 6-8 weeks to get it back.

DMV and SSA only make copies and don't take your original CoN away from you.

[v333k 59]

Yes - it takes time. when I went to get my SS updated, my service person was a rude guy telling me that he knows his job as he's been doing it for many years since I went there "early".

Edited April 16, 2012 by v333k

[UMUC 3]

Hello. I became Citizen on Friday April 13, 2012. Today I went to the Social Security Office to let them know about my immigration status changed and they told me to come back on May 3, 2012. They said the immigration information from Department of Homeland security takes 3 weeks to receive on their computers and if they take my application right now then it will take 3 - 4 weeks to process and better to come back on May 3.

Did anyone have this kind of situation? Now what should I do? Go again or apply for a US Passport?

[TimeTravel 78]

apply for a US Passport?

Yes, you can since you have Naturalization certificate in your hand.

[UMUC 3]

Big congratulations to you!

I have my BIOmetrics this week and i need ask how early you have to arrive at the local office

[randye80 24]

At my wife's Oath Ceremony on 4/12/12 (Fresno, CA) they told everyone to wait about 30 days before visiting the Social Security office, because it takes a few weeks to get the database updated.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Odd - they just tooka photocopy of my certificate and told me it would be perhaps a few weeks before the Department could update my status. I guess each office is different in terms of how they handle new citizens.

[rjp44 1]

Big congratulations to you!

I have my BIOmetrics this week and i need ask how early you have to arrive at the local office

Just be there by the appointed time. When you get interview notice it will tell you to not be there earlier than 30 min. before time.

[prashp1 0]

Big congratulations to you!

I have my BIOmetrics this week and i need ask how early you have to arrive at the local office

Thank You.

I would say for Biometrics 5 - 10 mins early would be fine. For our Biometrics we were late by 10 mins because of traffic and they said it was fine.

[lubnajavid 20]

im a little confused here - i am a LPR - will apply for N-400 also. But i have a full valid SSN right now - that is how i am able to work and pay taxes etc.

its unrestricted as far as i know as it doesnt say anything about it being restricted on it.

So - why does the OP need to wait on the SSA for anything? Surely they were LPR also? which means an unrestricted SSN too?

[prashp1 0]

I have heard it's better to do SSA first and then US passport.

I have heard that sometimes the US passport processing will get delayed or sent back since their database won't be able to confirm the immigration status of US citizenship - which comes from SSA. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

I am not sure if I should apply for a US passport or wait until SSA part is completed.

[nwctzn 55]

I have heard it's better to do SSA first and then US passport.

I have heard that sometimes the US passport processing will get delayed or sent back since their database won't be able to confirm the immigration status of US citizenship - which comes from SSA. Does anyone know if this is true or not?

I am not sure if I should apply for a US passport or wait until SSA part is completed.

I applied first for the passport and I know many people who got their passports prior to their SSA update.

Here is what I did: Applied for US passport with regular service. Received the passport in 4 weeks. Went to the SSA with my US passport and updated my SSN info.

--

Edited April 16, 2012 by nwctzn

[randye80 24]

im a little confused here - i am a LPR - will apply for N-400 also. But i have a full valid SSN right now - that is how i am able to work and pay taxes etc.

its unrestricted as far as i know as it doesnt say anything about it being restricted on it.

So - why does the OP need to wait on the SSA for anything? Surely they were LPR also? which means an unrestricted SSN too?

The Social Security Administration (and also your state's Motor Vehicle Department) have you listed in their records as a Legal Permanent Resident Alien. Once you become a citizen, it is advisable to update your status. Otherwise, years from now, when you apply for SS benefits, or try to renew your driver's license, you won't be asked to produce your current greencard to prove that you are still a LPR.

[Dana-Mića 51]

I didn't change my SS status thing until a few months after i became a citizen just because it wasn't my first priority but when I did it was real quick minus waiting on the big line.