problems with the DS-260 option about SSN

[D&Q 8]

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to share an experience my husband and I had with the whole Social Security card. When I (petitioner) was filling out the DS-260 for my husband I checked the option that stated if I wanted them share his information with the social security office so he can receive his social security card in the mail after he has entered the US. Well, since I had checked that option we were waiting for his number in the mail, he received his green card but no social security card. We decided to go to the social security office and find out well, it turns out that his information was not in their system. So, we had to reapply for a number.

I just wanted to share this with everyone so if you checked that option on the DS-260 or the DS-230 and have not yet received your social security card and it has been a while don't wait more just go to your local social security office and find out maybe your information is not in their system just how my husbands information was not.

Has anyone else had this type of experience?

[JohnC. 0]

Hi D&Q,

Sorry to hear that. But thank you so much for sharing your experience regarding social security card. This indeed, will be of great help to those who are applying the same services to the US.

GOd Speed!..

JohnC.

[D&Q 8]

Hi D&Q,

Sorry to hear that. But thank you so much for sharing your experience regarding social security card. This indeed, will be of great help to those who are applying the same services to the US.

GOd Speed!..

JohnC.

Your welcome! :]

[yachachiq12 43]

Same happened to us. When I posted about it in 2011, the response was that this happens from time to time.

[Aschenbecher 16]

Same happened to us. When I posted about it in 2011, the response was that this happens from time to time.

does this happen often or is it rare ?

Just wondering , caus we selected the option in our ds-230 also.

[KrystelKyle 16]

OP,

I absolutely agree with you my hubby(the petitioner) checked the box but when I received my green card and waited for another week for the SSN that never came in the mail, We decided to go to the nearest SSA office here and glad that I was on their system and didn't took to long. I received my SSN card in the mail 3-4days after I applied for it

[Darnell 8,478]

Yep, this 'pattern' of not receiving a SSN hasn't changed this year or last.

It's like a really cool 'carrot on a stick' scenario...

Seriously, it's 'hit or miss' on receiving one - I say go to a local SSA office 2 weeks after POE date, see whats what (in the SAVE database system with a SSA clerk) and apply..

[jorgegoco 2]

Yep, this 'pattern' of not receiving a SSN hasn't changed this year or last.

It's like a really cool 'carrot on a stick' scenario...

Seriously, it's 'hit or miss' on receiving one - I say go to a local SSA office 2 weeks after POE date, see whats what (in the SAVE database system with a SSA clerk) and apply..

Just wanted to update this thread... it's 2014 and DHS/USCIS still apparently has issues with the SSN requests from the DS-260.. My husband entered 3 weeks ago and we went to the SS office and they still have nothing on record for him. It's such a pain because you can't do ANYTHING without a SSN. What is the point of having the option on the form if it only works some of the time?

[apple21 953]

My husband and our 3 kids didn't have any issues receiving their SS cards back in 2011.

Unfortunately, I was in the same situation as D&Q. After waiting for the SS card for more than 2 weeks, we decided to make a follow-up and alas my SS was not processed at POE. Had to apply for it myself.

When you go to the SSA office, bring your passport and original birth and marriage certificates.

[Sukie 1,460]

We had the same problem. I had even been told to gently remind the CBP officer that we had checked the box on the form. He then said, "Oh, you can just go to your local office and get one." Sure enough, my spouse's did not come through.

Now...somewhere I read that when you check the box on the DS-260, you should allow "two to three weeks" for your card to arrive. My suspicion is that your request, which is (supposed to be) generated at the POE by the officer by ticking a box on their input screen, goes into a queue where a SSN clerk somewhere wades through the requests, and this queue is taking forever.

If getting to your local Social Security office is NOT an issue, then don't check the box on the DS-260 and take care of it yourself. You'll get the card in about a week!

Your I-551 stamp in your passport is proof of age and ID, but it might be good to bring your birth certificate with you, if you have one. If a clerk says your passport stamp isn't good enough, ask for a supervisor, and then if you STILL have problems, tell them to look it up in their own manual. Better yet, print and carry this document with you: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf

Please remember - the I-551 machine readable visa in your passport, together with the stamp you received at POE is supposed to be accepted by the Social Security office. You do NOT need the wallet-sized "Green Card". Some clerks do not understand this.

Sukie

[bdrew612 1,071]

We had the same problem. I had even been told to gently remind the CBP officer that we had checked the box on the form. He then said, "Oh, you can just go to your local office and get one." Sure enough, my spouse's did not come through.

Now...somewhere I read that when you check the box on the DS-260, you should allow "two to three weeks" for your card to arrive. My suspicion is that your request, which is (supposed to be) generated at the POE by the officer by ticking a box on their input screen, goes into a queue where a SSN clerk somewhere wades through the requests, and this queue is taking forever.

If getting to your local Social Security office is NOT an issue, then don't check the box on the DS-260 and take care of it yourself. You'll get the card in about a week!

Your I-551 stamp in your passport is proof of age and ID, but it might be good to bring your birth certificate with you, if you have one. If a clerk says your passport stamp isn't good enough, ask for a supervisor, and then if you STILL have problems, tell them to look it up in their own manual. Better yet, print and carry this document with you: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10096.pdf

Please remember - the I-551 machine readable visa in your passport, together with the stamp you received at POE is supposed to be accepted by the Social Security office. You do NOT need the wallet-sized "Green Card". Some clerks do not understand this.

Sukie

I remembered you mentioning this a couple months ago and when my husband entered on Monday, I made a point to ask about that. He told me they don't handle that and we need to go to the office, but if we requested for it to be generated on the DS-260, then we should have no issues.

So either the CBP was lying to us or some policy had changed that hasn't trickled down to us 'common folk' yet (neither of which would surprise me).

POE was so anti-climatic I swear something wasn't processed correctly...

[metuzuner 1]

Had the same problem with my father and mother's cases.

Father entered the US and never received the SSN. So, knowing that we took my mother to the social security office 2 days after POE to apply for a number but her request was denied based on the grounds that she has to wait 3 weeks after POE before she can apply for a social security number. 3 weeks later still no SSN. I called the local SS office and was lucky to get a very nice lady who apparently deals with these situations. She looked up both my father and mother's information and told me that they never received the information from NVC. She also stated that this is very common and 50% of the time they do not receive the information for persons who check the box on ds260.

[Sukie 1,460]

Had the same problem with my father and mother's cases.

Father entered the US and never received the SSN. So, knowing that we took my mother to the social security office 2 days after POE to apply for a number but her request was denied based on the grounds that she has to wait 3 weeks after POE before she can apply for a social security number. 3 weeks later still no SSN. I called the local SS office and was lucky to get a very nice lady who apparently deals with these situations. She looked up both my father and mother's information and told me that they never received the information from NVC. She also stated that this is very common and 50% of the time they do not receive the information for persons who check the box on ds260.

I actually think it only works well about 25% of the time. We waited only 11 days after POE, and the local SSN office was fabulous. My spouse got her card 3 days later!

Sukie in NY

[bappi48 4]

Does this option SSN is working now on DS-260? anyone?

[Sukie 1,460]

does this happen often or is it rare ?

Just wondering , caus we selected the option in our ds-230 also.

It is quite common. If your card doesn't come within about 2 weeks of POE, then go to your local office. I even reminded the Immigration Officer at POE - because they have to do something when you are at POE to connect your info to the Social Security Administration. Still, two weeks later, when we checked with our local office, we were NOT in the system.

Be proactive.

Sukie in NY