SSA Psycho Lady tells us that the procedures described here for obtaining a SS# are all wrong...

[Matt & Zhenya 1]

I brought Zhenya back from Russia on November 14th, 2012. When filling out our paperwork we received from the Embassy there was a box which said "automatically apply for a Social Security Card?" and I checked "Yes" for Zhenya.

We waited 2 weeks and nothing arrived, so we went to the local Scranton, PA SSA Office. Told them about it and they said "there is no such question on any document...you must come here to apply" - So, we said Fine, no problem and we filled out the paperwork and gave it to them on the spot. They said we would have the Card in 4-5 days.

We waited a couple weeks and went back to the office...the lady we say this time was very nice and seemed intelligent...she looked Zhenya's name and birthdate in the system and said that she needed to send all of our paperwork to homeland security so they could check it and that we would have the SS Card in 10 days. She said it was likely due to the fact that Zhenya's first name is spelled incorrectly on her Passport.

We waited 2 or 3 weeks and when nothing came...this morning we went down to the Scranton SSA Office to find out what is going on becuase we called SSA on the phone and they said "Only the local office can help you with this in person"

So, this morning we go, sit down across from this woman and she asks for Zhenya's Passport...I hand it to her...she opens it, looks at the visa inside and says "Oh! You're a K-1!" ... We say "Yes".

She says "Well, have you gotten married and applied for adjustment of Status?" and I reply "Yes, we have gotten married, but have not applied for AOS yet because we want to use our marriage Certificate to change her name legally with you, the SS Office, before applying for AOS under the wrong name" - She says..."You can not get a SS# if you came here on a K1 Visa until you have completed your AOS and been CLEARED by Homeland Security" - So I reply to her while smiling and trying to be pleasant "No, I'm sorry that is incorrect, We already applied for the SS Card, after speaking to many other K-1 Visa recipients who have done this before us and we know that it can be done and is done everyday...and the employees in your office here have agreed with this and helped us apply already...so, can you please type her name into the computer and tell us the status of her card?" She screams in a low voice "I WAS AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER BEFORE WORKING HERE...i KNOW HOW THIS WORKS AND YOU CAN NOT COME IN HERE AND TELL ME HOW TO DO MY JOB - I HAVE THE COMPUTER IN FRONT OF ME AND I CAN SEE THAT SHE IS NOT IN THE SYSTEM (BUT SHE HAD NOT TOUCHED THE KEYBOARD SINCE WE SAT DOWN) - She continues "SHE WAS DENIED...AND WHEN YOU ARE DENIED THEY SIMPLY SHRED THE REQUEST...SO, YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR YOUR AOS AND THEN AFTER YOU ARE CLEARED BY HOMELAND SECURITY WE CAN ISSUE A SS CARD." I tried a couple more times to reason with her...she got her "Supervisor" involved who happened to be walking by and her supervisor agreed with her - Seeing we were getting no where, I took Zhenya's passport and we left.

Now what do we do? Have I misunderstood this whole part of the process? Am I crazy?

Any advice or help you can give is much appreciated.

-Matt and Zhenya

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Okay, that DS form does not work for K-1s, so that is a dead end. Yes you must apply in person. It is much simpler to apply in maiden name, get the number, and then change it later. If her name is not matching up in their system then you might have to wait until EAD.

[Krikit 1,165]

Moving from K-1 Process to the SSN section. Sorry you got a psycho. Good luck!

[Darnell 8,479]

whoops. ouch.

K-1 visa holders have a window in which to apply, a duration of time.

Miss that window? Can't apply again till EAD in hand.

IMO, that worker (well, all of them really) were stupid and

your lass should have applied in VISA name , having a SAVE database look up at SSA in VISA Name or A# (both are on the VISA).

more info here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/ So if you read the K-1 section, you'll get some idea of what should have transpired, and do some triage on yer own for figuring out exactly what happened.

Good Luck !

[Matt & Zhenya 1]

Sorry, I wasn't more clear...

She DID apply in Visa Name...and then it was sent to Homeland Security for a check - we were told 10 days - and that was many weeks ago

We are only changing name AFTER she gets her ssn card - but we need the card to do that.

What should we do now?

[Darnell 8,479]

sorry, don't see it in yer timeline, but what's her POE date?

Also, did you READ the content in that link I provided? applying in visa name isn't the same thing as having a clerk FIND HER in VISA name in the SAVE database, alas.

Edited January 18, 2013 by Darnell

[Darnell 8,479]

---

did you review this? http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

and print out RM 10211.530 to bring with you ? It smells like a SAVE database lookup was not performed, or the results were not given to you.

Knowing the results of the SAVE database lookup, in realtime at the SSA office, is a major fork, a decision tree for 'whats next' .

[soon2batexan 3]

I came up against something similar when I applied (we're also a K-1 couple). We hadn't even been married two full days when I called the SSA to see if I was in their database yet before heading to the office. Can't recall if I called the local office or main #, but the lady was friendly and helpful. We hadn't filed our marriage cert. yet with the County Clerk because it was early Monday morning and the Clerk's office wasn't open 'til Tuesday. As I was talking to her and mentioning the K-1 status etc, I think I asked something about whether to file in my married or maiden name, at which point a red flag must've gone off because her tone changed and she sounded concerned. She said something like "You're married? Oh I don't think you can file if you're already married. You'll have to wait til you complete AOS". Of course, no one tells you to file for your SSN PRIOR to the marriage ceremony, and you're right - the immigration forms give the impression you'll be issued one automatically. Anyway, I think I replied "Really? We were only married the day before yesterday.." and then I'm sure God put it on my heart to add "..and we haven't even registered our marriage with the county/state yet". The lady replied, "Hmm. Well if you haven't filed it formally yet, you might be okay. But you need to apply immediately or else you'll end up waiting". So we went to the office that very day and filed using the maiden name, then just changed it a couple months later. Phew!

I can understand your frustration. I'm sure there are some wonderful people working there, but it can be incredibly difficult and an utter nuisance trying to get what you need sometimes. The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing..I don't think the agencies communicate at all really, and their policies counter each other's at times so you wind up going in circles. It's tough enough for a foreign fiance or spouse to get set up here, which is made worse if there are issues with SS that leave you basically stuck until at least the EAD stage. Hang in there. Maybe try another office or apply in maiden name?

[Krikit 1,165]

something like "You're married? Oh I don't think you can file if you're already married. You'll have to wait til you complete AOS". Of course, no one tells you to file for your SSN PRIOR to the marriage ceremony, and you're right - the immigration forms give the impression you'll be issued one automatically. Anyway, I think I replied "Really? We were only married the day before yesterday.." and then I'm sure God put it on my heart to add "..and we haven't even registered our marriage with the county/state yet". The lady replied, "Hmm. Well if you haven't filed it formally yet, you might be okay. But you need to apply immediately or else you'll end up waiting". So we went to the office that very day and filed using the maiden name, then just changed it a couple months later. Phew!

I can understand your frustration. I'm sure there are some wonderful people working there, but it can be incredibly difficult and an utter nuisance trying to get what you need sometimes. The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing..I don't think the agencies communicate at all really, and their policies counter each other's at times so you wind up going in circles. It's tough enough for a foreign fiance or spouse to get set up here, which is made worse if there are issues with SS that leave you basically stuck until at least the EAD stage. Hang in there. Maybe try another office or apply in maiden name?

That's because it's not true.

[Matt & Zhenya 1]

Thank you so much for all of your comments everyone! - Zhenya's SS card arrived at the house today!

[Dave&Roza 748]

Thank you so much for all of your comments everyone! - Zhenya's SS card arrived at the house today!

Congrats. So how is her first name spelled?

Dave

[Matt & Zhenya 1]

Dave,

Great question! It's spelled correctly...Evgenia

Even though her passport was Evgeniia

Go figure.

We are happy! Tomorrow we return to see our favorite lady at the SS office to get her name changed before we file the AOS.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I brought Zhenya back from Russia on November 14th, 2012. When filling out our paperwork we received from the Embassy there was a box which said "automatically apply for a Social Security Card?" and I checked "Yes" for Zhenya.

We waited 2 weeks and nothing arrived, so we went to the local Scranton, PA SSA Office. Told them about it and they said "there is no such question on any document...you must come here to apply" - So, we said Fine, no problem and we filled out the paperwork and gave it to them on the spot. They said we would have the Card in 4-5 days.

We waited a couple weeks and went back to the office...the lady we say this time was very nice and seemed intelligent...she looked Zhenya's name and birthdate in the system and said that she needed to send all of our paperwork to homeland security so they could check it and that we would have the SS Card in 10 days. She said it was likely due to the fact that Zhenya's first name is spelled incorrectly on her Passport.

We waited 2 or 3 weeks and when nothing came...this morning we went down to the Scranton SSA Office to find out what is going on becuase we called SSA on the phone and they said "Only the local office can help you with this in person"

So, this morning we go, sit down across from this woman and she asks for Zhenya's Passport...I hand it to her...she opens it, looks at the visa inside and says "Oh! You're a K-1!" ... We say "Yes".

She says "Well, have you gotten married and applied for adjustment of Status?" and I reply "Yes, we have gotten married, but have not applied for AOS yet because we want to use our marriage Certificate to change her name legally with you, the SS Office, before applying for AOS under the wrong name" - She says..."You can not get a SS# if you came here on a K1 Visa until you have completed your AOS and been CLEARED by Homeland Security" - So I reply to her while smiling and trying to be pleasant "No, I'm sorry that is incorrect, We already applied for the SS Card, after speaking to many other K-1 Visa recipients who have done this before us and we know that it can be done and is done everyday...and the employees in your office here have agreed with this and helped us apply already...so, can you please type her name into the computer and tell us the status of her card?" She screams in a low voice "I WAS AN IMMIGRATION OFFICER BEFORE WORKING HERE...i KNOW HOW THIS WORKS AND YOU CAN NOT COME IN HERE AND TELL ME HOW TO DO MY JOB - I HAVE THE COMPUTER IN FRONT OF ME AND I CAN SEE THAT SHE IS NOT IN THE SYSTEM (BUT SHE HAD NOT TOUCHED THE KEYBOARD SINCE WE SAT DOWN) - She continues "SHE WAS DENIED...AND WHEN YOU ARE DENIED THEY SIMPLY SHRED THE REQUEST...SO, YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR YOUR AOS AND THEN AFTER YOU ARE CLEARED BY HOMELAND SECURITY WE CAN ISSUE A SS CARD." I tried a couple more times to reason with her...she got her "Supervisor" involved who happened to be walking by and her supervisor agreed with her - Seeing we were getting no where, I took Zhenya's passport and we left.

Now what do we do? Have I misunderstood this whole part of the process? Am I crazy?

Any advice or help you can give is much appreciated.

-Matt and Zhenya

Ask for a supervisor. Ask for a supervisor of the supervisor. Go as far as needed and DO NOT LEAVE until they accept her application. K-1s are eligible for SSNs. From day 1 until day 76 of their I-94.

Thank you so much for all of your comments everyone! - Zhenya's SS card arrived at the house today!

Sorry I was late posting. You will run into these idiots in other offices. Be prepared.

Sorry, I wasn't more clear...

She DID apply in Visa Name...and then it was sent to Homeland Security for a check - we were told 10 days - and that was many weeks ago

We are only changing name AFTER she gets her ssn card - but we need the card to do that.

What should we do now?

I would hold off on the name change until you have her green card in the new name. Makes no difference either way but why deal with morons when you do not have to?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

We are happy! Tomorrow we return to see our favorite lady at the SS office to get her name changed before we file the AOS.

You don't need the SSN to apply for AOS, and you don't need your SSN in your married name in order to put the married name or SSN on the forms.

I agree with Gary to wait to change it until you have at least the EAD because otherwise it will be a pain. The only reason I would change it now is if you were married in 2012 and thus will file taxes married... though it doesn't really matter. I personally filed my first return married joint in my maiden name. It never affected my processes.

Also, I would call the SSA main line and make a complaint about that local office, that person you spoke to and that supervisor. They need to be re-trained.

[Matt & Zhenya 1]

Thanks, Gary! ... Thanks, Vanessa and Tony!

Then, Today we will file for AOS and leave the name change until later.

What would we do without you guys?

-M & Z