Problems getting SSN for Permanent Residents/I-601 waiver people?

[jorgegoco 2]

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I went through a lengthly hardship waiver process when he received a 10 year ban for overstaying his tourist visa. The waiver got approved in September, he had to do another interview and medical test, and he finally entered the country January 25th 2014. I paid the fee for his greencard on January 19th per the instructions. We checked off YES on the DS-260 immigrant visa app and waited 3 weeks for the SSN per the instructions, but no card. We went to the office numerous times and finally just applied for a number at the 3 week mark with all his original documents again. They gave him a receipt - but apparently he still does not have "clearance from DHS" and that can take up to 8 weeks?? I've called USCIS, social security admin, and gone to the local office several times but they all say a different thing and cannot now confirm if he will be issued a number or not, if or not it will be mailed, they have no idea. This is really hard because I really am economically and medically in a difficult situation and my husband cannot work and we cannot file our taxes or get health insurance without the SSN. Does it really take 8 weeks to get an answer from USCIS on if they sent his info to the SSA or not? Any ideas on why this is happening? Is it because he was a I-601/I-212 ?

[Hypnos 6,578]

No, it's more likely DHS just being DHS.

You should contact one of your congressional representatives to get this straightened out for you.

Edited March 3, 2014 by Hypnos

[jorgegoco 2]

No, it's more likely DHS just being DHS.

You should contact one of your congressional representatives to get this straightened out for you.

I'm trying that now, thanks for the suggestion. My husband just went back to the SSA office today and they state his application was never submitted even though they gave him a receipt and that they can submit it again... which of course will not help. When I talked to DHS their response was simply that most people in the SSA are not trained properly or know what they are doing.

[srloring13 12]

You should be able to get health insurance without a SSN. I was able to get coverage for my husband and we are still waiting for his SSN.