Delay getting social security card

[EricaandHafedh 23]

Hey guys, I wanted to see if anyone else was waiting extra time to get their social security cards. My husband arrived on k-1 visa on September 17th, we got married on October 19th and applied for the card on October 21st and still waiting ( we were planning to go 2 weeks after his arrival but that was the first day of the government shutdown and they weren't issuing them). I called the SSA but they were useless and told us to go into an office which we are doing tomorrow. I'm just worried they'll have lost the record or something and now it's less than 2 weeks before the end of his 90 days (we did already sent in AOS paperwork if that matters) anyone experiencing these delays? Thanks in advance!

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Progress to SSN sub-forum~

~inquiry about SSN, Past K-1~

[Hypnos 6,576]

The only way to find out what's going on is by going to an SSA office in person; they won't / can't tell you anything over the phone.

Since there are now less than 14 days remaining on the I-94 then you may have to wait until you have an EAD.

[EricaandHafedh 23]

That's what I hope doesn't happen. However they did give us a letter when we applied showing that we did apply on that date so hopefully that will be enough to show them that it's their mistake

[Hypnos 6,576]

They won't care about when you applied. Most likely the delay was caused by them needing to manually verify the documents you presented with DHS. If, on the day the verification comes back positive (or if for some reason they fail to verify the documents) there are less than 14 days left on the I-94 then they cannot issue the social security number.

[Darnell 8,478]

yikes, oops, and ouch.

[EricaandHafedh 23]

so we waited until after the first 2 weeks to avoid the verification and now we're getting screwed anyway. Gotta love this bureaucracy

[Darnell 8,478]

IME, if you had gone back the next day, you would have learned of either

--the number or

--further problems.

Basically, the SSA human has to perform a SAVE database lookup on the applicant, in either

VISA Name or Visa # (A#) or both.

when you go back on Thursday, ask for that, and ask what the problem is (mis-spelling on name, transposed digits in A#, clerk get it wrong, DHS verification never filed, etc) after the SAVE lookup is completed.

Sure, it'll mean talking with a supervisor, but it's so worth it, given yer exact 'at the edge' timeline.

[KimberlyAhmed 28]

Same thing happened to Ahmed. We applied as soon as we got our marriage certificate, which was two weeks after he came to the USA. Went to the SSA office and called numerous times in a month and half time frame. We and ended up doing an info pass to our local immigration office and they said to file the AOS, as it appears his file from POE was lost(talk about panic mode). They said they could not do an investigation until 6 months had passed for the lost file, but by filing AOS, it would actually start an investigation as to where the file was. Two weeks after we filed and received the NOA1 for AOS he received his card in the mail.

I know you filed AOS already, so maybe the infopass will provide some info.

Edited December 5, 2013 by KimberlyAhmed

[thebeat4c 2]

I am the petitioner of a k1 visa. My husband and I went into a social security office about a month ago. I have yet to receive my number. I tried calling and the lady explained that it could take up to 8 weeks for a number if you are here on a k1. Not really too sure what's going on. I hope I get my SSN soon.

[Lynkali 163]

I am the petitioner of a k1 visa. My husband and I went into a social security office about a month ago. I have yet to receive my number. I tried calling and the lady explained that it could take up to 8 weeks for a number if you are here on a k1. Not really too sure what's going on. I hope I get my SSN soon.

I suspect that if it's really taking 8 weeks, then something has gone wrong in the SAVE lookup or some other database. There's NOTHING about a K-1 that should take any extra time.

We walked into the SSN office on a Tuesday (about a month after POE on his K-1, we waited because of the shutdown in October), and had the SSN card delivered in the mail the following Monday -- six days later. No delay whatsoever, and there really is no reason why you should have to wait. I suggest you ask for a SAVE database lookup to see if there's some issue with your name or entry.

[Darnell 8,478]

I am the petitioner of a k1 visa. My husband and I went into a social security office about a month ago. I have yet to receive my number. I tried calling and the lady explained that it could take up to 8 weeks for a number if you are here on a k1. Not really too sure what's going on. I hope I get my SSN soon.

ouch.

smells like the clerk sent it out for DHS verification, and never heard back, or someone else dropped the ball.

suggest you go in, in person, apply in visa name, ask for save database look up before going through with the rest of the process.

DHS verification USUALLY is the kiss of death, for a k-1 visa holder, prior to having EAD or Greencard in hand. I have to think either:

--you applied in married name or

--clerk was incompetent or

--clerk not actually do a save database look up on you or

--clerk just fobbed you off.

Seriously, go in again.

[thebeat4c 2]

ouch.

smells like the clerk sent it out for DHS verification, and never heard back, or someone else dropped the ball.

suggest you go in, in person, apply in visa name, ask for save database look up before going through with the rest of the process.

DHS verification USUALLY is the kiss of death, for a k-1 visa holder, prior to having EAD or Greencard in hand. I have to think either:

--you applied in married name or

--clerk was incompetent or

--clerk not actually do a save database look up on you or

--clerk just fobbed you off.

Seriously, go in again.

I did apply in my married name. Is that a problem? I was hoping to have it in my married name.. so that I wouldn't have to change it in the future. Please let me know if it was necessary to apply in my maiden name.

I will go back on Monday and ask about their save database... and perhaps apply again if I need to.

[Darnell 8,478]

yep, that's a problem.

why? can't find you via 'that name' in the SAVE database,

so the ssa clerk pitches it out for DHS verification.

Now, if you haven't filed for AOS yet, USCIS doesn't have any record of that new 'married' name.

It really is best to apply in VISA name, first go-round, as it's EASY to get it in the VISA name.

Then come back with EAD or green card in hand, ask for a name change, showing the federally-issued hunk o plastic that has the changed name in it.

[thebeat4c 2]

yep, that's a problem.

why? can't find you via 'that name' in the SAVE database,

so the ssa clerk pitches it out for DHS verification.

Now, if you haven't filed for AOS yet, USCIS doesn't have any record of that new 'married' name.

It really is best to apply in VISA name, first go-round, as it's EASY to get it in the VISA name.

Then come back with EAD or green card in hand, ask for a name change, showing the federally-issued hunk o plastic that has the changed name in it.

OK i see. I have applied for my AOS though, in my married name. When i go back to the office on monday.. I will ask about my original application... and if something is wrong then I wil just apply in my maiden name. Thanks for your time and help with this.