SSN?

[shell20 746]

Hi Everyone,

Not posted for a while as have been busy getting married and acclimatizing to my new life in the USA. Hope I am posting in the right forum, apologies if not....

Well it seems that from the start we are hitting obstacles, not even contacted our lawyer yet about adjustment of status and that is another bug bear. I didn't want to use a lawyer this time as I they gave us mis-information and I got the right information here. It seems however we are tied into a contract which makes me very angry!!

Any way we got married nearly four weeks ago at a courthouse, no witnesses, just John and I. We hired a photographer who took photos, paid the money, she said they would be back in a week, still not received them.. That's another story.

Last week my husband booked some time off work so we decided to get a ssn and open a bank account. We arrived at the social security office and I had a good idea they would say I wasn't eligible, but reading on here I knew I was so I was ready for that. I said to the woman behind the desk, my friends who were on a K1 visa have a ssn so I know I am entitled to get one. She looked it up and said oh yes you are!! Then she messed around with the computer for about an hour and said they need more information, didn't say what but said it would take longer and sent us on our merry way! It is like what do they need? What is going on???

So we then went to open an account, but I had to open an account with my husband on it, but registered at my address in England where i no longer live as I am not classed as a resident? Hey I am a resident I think, I got married and live with my husband!! No you're not until you get your ssn and also your green card.

Quite frankly I just want to cry.. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

[sweet cakes 326]

Hi Everyone,

Not posted for a while as have been busy getting married and acclimatizing to my new life in the USA. Hope I am posting in the right forum, apologies if not....

Well it seems that from the start we are hitting obstacles, not even contacted our lawyer yet about adjustment of status and that is another bug bear. I didn't want to use a lawyer this time as I they gave us mis-information and I got the right information here. It seems however we are tied into a contract which makes me very angry!!

Any way we got married nearly four weeks ago at a courthouse, no witnesses, just John and I. We hired a photographer who took photos, paid the money, she said they would be back in a week, still not received them.. That's another story.

Last week my husband booked some time off work so we decided to get a ssn and open a bank account. We arrived at the social security office and I had a good idea they would say I wasn't eligible, but reading on here I knew I was so I was ready for that. I said to the woman behind the desk, my friends who were on a K1 visa have a ssn so I know I am entitled to get one. She looked it up and said oh yes you are!! Then she messed around with the computer for about an hour and said they need more information, didn't say what but said it would take longer and sent us on our merry way! It is like what do they need? What is going on???

So we then went to open an account, but I had to open an account with my husband on it, but registered at my address in England where i no longer live as I am not classed as a resident? Hey I am a resident I think, I got married and live with my husband!! No you're not until you get your ssn and also your green card.

Quite frankly I just want to cry.. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

Here's the VJ guide for SSN application: http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

You only need your: Passport, I-94 (which you can retrieve online), and a filled-out SS-5. You have to make sure you go there with at least 15 days on your I-94 validity. If less than 15 days, you will have to wait until you receive your EAD card. Don't think too much on what they told you on your first visit, as SSA employees are notoriously known to be not well-trained. Go there with the above requirements and you should be fine.

Edit: Just noticed you're married now. You may have to apply in your maiden name (as what is reflected on your passport, visa and I-94), as they won't be able to see your married name yet on the database. You can have your name updated later when you receive your EAD/AP card. Just bring your marriage certificate as well for name change proof.

Edited June 18, 2014 by sweet cakes

[Dave&Roza 748]

Just to add to the above: Apply in your VISA name and do not mention you are married--even though you can get the SSC in the married name, due to the lack of training of the SSA employees your goal is to get the number and then worry about getting the name changed. It sounds like she issued a DHS check which can take weeks. I would write the main SSA office a nice e-mail describing your experience and then will hopefully give you a letter you can take in with you to help train that employee or another in that office. Once they accept the application, you can go back in a couple of days and get a print out of the number to use.

Good luck,

Dave

[shell20 746]

Here's the VJ guide for SSN application: http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

You only need your: Passport, I-94 (which you can retrieve online), and a filled-out SS-5. You have to make sure you go there with at least 15 days on your I-94 validity. If less than 15 days, you will have to wait until you receive your EAD card. Don't think too much on what they told you on your first visit, as SSA employees are notoriously known to be not well-trained. Go there with the above requirements and you should be fine.

Edit: Just noticed you're married now. You may have to apply in your maiden name (as what is reflected on your passport, visa and I-94), as they won't be able to see your married name yet on the database. You can have your name updated later when you receive your EAD/AP card. Just bring your marriage certificate as well for name change proof.

We applied in my married name. We just took my passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, they didnt ask for anything else no at 1-94 nor ss-5 and obviously that is the information they needed and didn't bother asking for? I don't understand why they didn't just say what information was missing, they said they would write to us, what a mess already!! Any way thanks for the link, ,I will show it my husband when he returns from work.and tell him, he will have to take more time off work to sort it out as I am stuck with no car in the country side so I can't go by myself.. What a mess even before adjustment of status!

[sweet cakes 326]

We applied in my married name. We just took my passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, they didnt ask for anything else no at 1-94 nor ss-5 and obviously that is the information they needed and didn't bother asking for? I don't understand why they didn't just say what information was missing, they said they would write to us, what a mess already!! Any way thanks for the link, ,I will show it my husband when he returns from work.and tell him, he will have to take more time off work to sort it out as I am stuck with no car in the country side so I can't go by myself.. What a mess even before adjustment of status!

I understand, we are on the same boat on "can't go anywhere" because we also live in the suburb and I can't bike myself to SSA. Anyway, you can now retrieve your I-94 from here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html

As Dave mentioned above, they might be doing a SAVE (DHS) verification using your married name, which will most likely return negative. Explain the situation on your next SSA visit that you have been informed to apply using your maiden name, so it will be consistent with your immigration documents (passport + visa + I-94). If they don't accommodate your request, ask to speak with a supervisor.

[Darnell 8,479]

We applied in my married name. We just took my passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, they didnt ask for anything else no at 1-94 nor ss-5 and obviously that is the information they needed and didn't bother asking for? I don't understand why they didn't just say what information was missing, they said they would write to us, what a mess already!! Any way thanks for the link, ,I will show it my husband when he returns from work.and tell him, he will have to take more time off work to sort it out as I am stuck with no car in the country side so I can't go by myself.. What a mess even before adjustment of status!

oopsies ! did you want some speed ? applying in married name - never gets speed.

never.

please read a bit over at

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/?view=findpost&p=6749925

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/?view=findpost&p=6749925

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/405546-ssn-howto/?view=findpost&p=6749925

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Family-based AOS to SSN Forum~

~Inquiry is about SSN process~

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Quite frankly I just want to cry.. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance.

Don't cry. It sucks to be a K1 because you are basically a nothing for a while after POE. It happens to many. Some are lucky and breeze through the SSN or bank account thing. Many others experience roadblocks. The best thing you can do is file for AOS/EAD/AP as soon as possible. Once you become a permanent resident or at least get work authorization, you can get on with feeling like you belong. You don't need a SSN or bank account to file your AOS packet. Hang in there.

[ivanalex1980 34]

oh my god which state are you in?

i am in GA and getting Social security card was so easy

no extra questions, just nothing

[shell20 746]

Don't cry. It sucks to be a K1 because you are basically a nothing for a while after POE. It happens to many. Some are lucky and breeze through the SSN or bank account thing. Many others experience roadblocks. The best thing you can do is file for AOS/EAD/AP as soon as possible. Once you become a permanent resident or at least get work authorization, you can get on with feeling like you belong. You don't need a SSN or bank account to file your AOS packet. Hang in there.

sorry i didn't reply, just been so depressed and ended up with an ear infection. I rang them up today said they are still doing a security check, but reading on other pages it seems to be instant for others. I need this number to obtain a driving licence and I just feel defeated as no one seems to know what they are doing.

oh my god which state are you in?

i am in GA and getting Social security card was so easy

no extra questions, just nothing

Im in Pennsylvania, still not got my number, rang today and said they are still doing a check. What check. i dont think they know what they are doing and I dont know who to make a complaint too. I need this number for my driving licence it seems. I just feel SO depressed and angry about it all!

[Darnell 8,479]

I suggest you go back and apply in visa name.

bring your I-94 and passport,

you are still within the calendar zone to apply, since your POE date was 2014-05-10 .

then go back the next day and get the number or learn of other problem.

I've posted a link on what to do, what to expect, how to do , when you are at the SSA office - please click through and read it, soonish.