SSN Status Update

[stevensane 10]

I am still having trouble understanding SSNs, so apologies for another thread! Here it goes.

I got a SSN in 2007 when I was a student in the US on a J-1 visa. It has not been used since then. I understand that when you get a SSN it is yours for life. I have been in the US since 30th March and have now applied for AOS and this is the SSN I used on my AOS application. I am planning on shortly opening a bank account using this SSN and card that hasn't seen the light of day since 2007 except when being used on my AOS application. Do I need to go to the SSA office to have my status updated before I do that? And if so what would my status be as a K-1 holder waiting on AOS? Or should I wait until I get my EAD before I update my SSN status?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

No need for any SSA update. Just go forth and use it!

And don't change it with the EAD, you can "update" it when you get your GC to get the "valid only with work permission" wording removed.

But you don't have to, either.

About SSNs... A SSN is a unique number given to people to calculate and track their US retirement pension. That is all. It is not a national ID number.

Different companies and agencies are allowed to use that number, to piggyback on it, because it is guaranteed to be a unique number. That is why you see it used for banks, for credit scores, and other things. But those companies are not integrated into the SSA, they just use the number for their own convenience. hope that makes more sense.

Edited May 16, 2014 by Harpa Timsah

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Family-based AOS to SSN Forum~

~Inquiry about SSN~

[stevensane 10]

No need for any SSA update. Just go forth and use it!

And don't change it with the EAD, you can "update" it when you get your GC to get the "valid only with work permission" wording removed.

But you don't have to, either.

About SSNs... A SSN is a unique number given to people to calculate and track their US retirement pension. That is all. It is not a national ID number.

Different companies and agencies are allowed to use that number, to piggyback on it, because it is guaranteed to be a unique number. That is why you see it used for banks, for credit scores, and other things. But those companies are not integrated into the SSA, they just use the number for their own convenience. hope that makes more sense.

Brilliant. That is very helpful, thanks! Thank you for how helpful you always are!