SSN : Have to wait 21 days from the date you entered U.S to apply for one?

[vkrishn 97]

So wife did say "yes" in DS 260 where it asks whether you need an SSN. She entered U.S on April 10th and we went to the SSN office today at San jose, CA. Lady at the counter took her passport with I-551 stamp and told us your SSN process has not started at all and you need to apply for one and then told us to wait 21 business days from the time you enter the country to apply for SSN. Is that really the case?

I asked why can't we apply now and what will the 21 day wait do? In the sense if the process had already started then it makes sense to wait but since the process has to start now why wait 21 days and she told me that is pretty much the procedure.

Is this different compared to people on K-1 visa? Wife entered on F2A with an I-551 stamp in the passport and wonder if the 21 day rule applies only to immigrant Visa.

Looks like saying "yes" on the DS 260 form is a hit or a miss and a miss for us.

Edited April 22, 2014 by vkrishn

[Anonymous885 44]

It takes sometime to have your wife's information in their database. My wife came to US on Saturday and she applied on next Monday. They said her name is not in the system yet, however my wife was still submitted the application. We went back to SSA office two days later and they gave her a number.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

~ Moved from Moving Here and Your New Life in America to Social Security Numbers - topic is SSN ~

[Aidee Alcantar 5]

Most likely it's not on their system. They 21 days it's so they don't end up giving you two numbers, so just wait a little more. I entered the US on the 9 of this month and yesterday I received mine. Hopefully you guys get yours soon.

[Pitaya 2,577]

Yes, it does seem like a hit or miss thing.

Take a look at this Guide from Darnell, an old VJ veteran, it may be of use to you:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

Good luck on your immigration journey.

[vkrishn 97]

It takes sometime to have your wife's information in their database. My wife came to US on Saturday and she applied on next Monday. They said her name is not in the system yet, however my wife was still submitted the application. We went back to SSA office two days later and they gave her a number.

That's the thing. Even though wife arrived on April 10th, they asked to wait 21 business days to apply and they refused to take the application now. Which city SSN office did you go to?

Most likely it's not on their system. They 21 days it's so they don't end up giving you two numbers, so just wait a little more. I entered the US on the 9 of this month and yesterday I received mine. Hopefully you guys get yours soon.

Congrats. One less headache to deal with. :-)

I asked the person at the counter if she could tell me if my wife's SSN is in process and she told me that nothing has started for my wife. In the sense absolutely no info and need to apply at the SSN office and wait for 21 business days to apply.

[vkrishn 97]

Yes, it does seem like a hit or miss thing.

Take a look at this Guide from Darnell, an old VJ veteran, it may be of use to you:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/

Good luck on your immigration journey.

Thanks.

[Anonymous885 44]

M wife applied in Gainesville, FL.

[kiky 11]

We were told ten business days after my husband arrived in the country when we went to apply just a week after he arrived. She wouldnt even attempt to look him up in the system. We went back the following monday and had no problem! Card came on tuesday!

[jese_1981 1]

its really annoying that it hasn't arrived yet. But I guess you should wait upto 3 weeks or a little more otherwise she might land up getting 2 SSN's. Mine was pretty fast. Got it in 11 days after my POE.

[carton025 38]

as a rule, from my personal experience only, 10 business days or 2 weeks (calendar days) is all that is needed for the SSA (social security administration) to get your info. needed to issue you a SSN and card. But, maybe 21 days, bussines or calendar days are needed now. If I were you I would just keep trying to apply for it. After all, you have nothing to lose by trying and everything to lose by not getting the SSN and card by the expiration of you visa.

Best of luck!

[Girl from Celebes 588]

So wife did say "yes" in DS 260 where it asks whether you need an SSN. She entered U.S on April 10th and we went to the SSN office today at San jose, CA. Lady at the counter took her passport with I-551 stamp and told us your SSN process has not started at all and you need to apply for one and then told us to wait 21 business days from the time you enter the country to apply for SSN. Is that really the case?

I asked why can't we apply now and what will the 21 day wait do? In the sense if the process had already started then it makes sense to wait but since the process has to start now why wait 21 days and she told me that is pretty much the procedure.

Is this different compared to people on K-1 visa? Wife entered on F2A with an I-551 stamp in the passport and wonder if the 21 day rule applies only to immigrant Visa.

Looks like saying "yes" on the DS 260 form is a hit or a miss and a miss for us.

I might be have a different story like yours but as a K-1 visa holder there are a lot horror stories about applied SSN. I was told that if I applied 2 weeks before my I-94 is about to expire and then they will refused to process my SSN and have to wait until I have my green card. In fact, I applied on April 21 2013, 2 weeks before my I-94 is expired and the lady in the counter accepted my application. She was very nice, ask me a few questions, and the process was really fast. Total time was less than 30 minutes since she had to struggle finding my file on immigration website. One thing that missed out from the guide on VJ that when you apply SSN, they will ask your alien number. Fortunately, I brought all my papers including my NOA-2 that showing my alien number.

[Yanet Gonzalez 2]

My husband and I applied for his SSI# a couple of weekend after his arrival, they mailed us the SSI card and we received it a week later.

I think the reason they make you wait is because they are not in the system yet...and if they apply before the 10 business days the SSI office has to go though a manual verification process which takes twice a long.

[Avery Cates 1,141]

So wife did say "yes" in DS 260 where it asks whether you need an SSN. She entered U.S on April 10th and we went to the SSN office today at San jose, CA. Lady at the counter took her passport with I-551 stamp and told us your SSN process has not started at all and you need to apply for one and then told us to wait 21 business days from the time you enter the country to apply for SSN. Is that really the case?

I asked why can't we apply now and what will the 21 day wait do? In the sense if the process had already started then it makes sense to wait but since the process has to start now why wait 21 days and she told me that is pretty much the procedure.

Is this different compared to people on K-1 visa? Wife entered on F2A with an I-551 stamp in the passport and wonder if the 21 day rule applies only to immigrant Visa.

Looks like saying "yes" on the DS 260 form is a hit or a miss and a miss for us.

It takes about two weeks.

They say 21 days because they don't want you showing up every day hassling them about it.

The people who work in the SSA offices are generally useless even at the best of times.

[vkrishn 97]

Update: We did not receive anything till today and applied at the SSN office today afternoon. Looks like its a Hit or a miss by saying "yes" on DS260 for SSN question. Person who took my wife's application today was very courteous and nice and told us to expect the card in a week.

In the scheme of things waiting for 3 weeks wasn't great but sometimes thats how it works. :-)