After Oath Ceremony....

[bjrichus 2]

For everyone's information - here are my experiences post-oath-ceremony:

Voting. The League of Women Voters had a table at the oath ceremony, so I just completed the registration card there. Easy enough. Now to get all the junk mail from politicians in the run up to November's elections. At least it helps keep the USPS busy... These days, they should just do it online! Poor trees being cut down for all this!!

Employer. My H.R. department copied my naturalization certificate and told me of the on-line I-9 form they have. There were also paper ones but I completed the in-house/on-line one, checking the "Citizen of the United States" box, rather than the Legal Permanent Resident box. The H.R. person (once she had updated my record) sent the photocopy of the certificate off to payroll for them to record the change and place the copy on file. She wished me congratulations and sent me on my way.

Social Security. The local security office in the city where I live is usually very busy and wait times can be long. I went to the SSA office in the city that I work in (much smaller area than my residence city) and true to form, it took much less time. They said that they don't accept appointments for this change of records too, so a walk-in is what it was. I went into the office and got a ticket from the automated machine and sat down. Just 15 minutes latter I was called back.

The man asked me what I was there for and after explaining he asked me for my drivers license and naturalization certificate. He then asked for my Social Security number. A few mouse clicks and keyboard entries and he then asked me for my mothers maiden name and my fathers full name. He then asked for my place of birth. This must be what is on the official paperwork (like on the N-400 form), so if you wrote: "City of Edinbugh", then it's "City of Edinbugh". If you wrote "London Borough of Southwark" then he needs "London Borough of Southwark". He gave me a second chance, as I told him the city first and after he asked me to be more specific, I quoted what was on all my forms. They must have that recorded! Yet more mouse clicks and keyboard entries (he seemed to copy my address from my drivers license, he asked me for the best phone number to reach me on.

He told me that everything was in order and that the SSA system had been updated from the DHS computers, so this was simply confirming the changes. He printed out a receipt/letter about applying for a new Social card, but he said that as my SSN did not change, they won't actually send a new card, "it's just a hang over from an old system" ... As an I.T. person, I have to say that sounds like B.S., but then so what? He then sent me on my way. Perhaps 10 minutes actually with him at the most - less than half an hour in total.

Passport. My application form is completed and now the employer and SSA are done, I can go a few weeks without the naturalization certificate in my safe at home, so will make my appointment for that and submit it.

Well, that's it. All done with the INS/DHS/whatever you want to be called for now.

"God Bless America".

Edited August 25, 2014 by bjrichus

[googolplex 7]

What's the benefit of letting the SSA office know about becoming a US citizen? My oath ceremony was 8.5 years ago and I don’t remember whether I went to a SSA office back then.