JULY 2015 Filers...

[medicalguy 11]

Confgradulations to everyone who got to the GC finish line. No news for me yet, interview has not being scheduled, do not mind waiting as long it will not take too long

Good luck to everyone

I understand how painful it is to wait, hang in there!

[neuroticbell 5]

Today I received my 10 year green card in the mail. I cannot believe it truly is over! Best of luck to everyone still waiting and I hope to see some familiar faces in 3 years! ?

[medicalguy 11]

Today I received my 10 year green card in the mail. I cannot believe it truly is over! Best of luck to everyone still waiting and I hope to see some familiar faces in 3 years! ?

Congratulations! I am waiting patiently for the card to come through the mail. Hope to see you in the naturalization process in 3 years

[medicalguy 11]

Are we supposed to get a tracking number when the card is mailed?

[neuroticbell 5]

Are we supposed to get a tracking number when the card is mailed?

Once my case updated to "Card has been mailed" I called USCIS and asked for the number.

Edited December 12, 2015 by neuroticbell

[medicalguy 11]

Once my case updated to "Card has been mailed" I called USCIS and asked for the number.

It just updated to Card has been mailed. What number do you call?

[medicalguy 11]

Out of luck it looks like they are closed at the moment until Monday...

[neuroticbell 5]

Hello VJ family! I was wondering if someone can tell me what I need to take with me to the Social Security office so I can get the "for work authorization only" off of my social security card. Thank you!

[medicalguy 11]

Hello VJ family! I was wondering if someone can tell me what I need to take with me to the Social Security office so I can get the "for work authorization only" off of my social security card. Thank you!

I was only planning to take my card when I get it and my passport. Please let us know what you find out!

[DeKi 10]

Hello VJ family! I was wondering if someone can tell me what I need to take with me to the Social Security office so I can get the "for work authorization only" off of my social security card. Thank you!

Here are the instructions directly from the Social Security Administration: https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/2054/How-do-I-change-my-work-status-on-my-Social-Security-cardand more detail on the documents you will need depending on your exact status (click on the applicable options in the menus on the left) here: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm. In addition to the filled-out form on the first link, I think you'll need your foreign passport, your new green card and a state-issued ID (driver's license or learner's permit or just an identification card). It's unclear whether mailing is realistically an option since they require original or notarized documents. It might be best to just go in person, assuming there is a fairly convenient local office.

In my interpretation, though, it might be best to change the SS card after naturalization rather than now (so that you don't have to do it twice), but I am interested to hear other opinions (I admit I haven't really thought about this too much yet). At the moment you can continue using the old Social Security card together with your green card, which is the "work authorization" called for. I don't see any downside to that.

At whichever point you decide to request the change, I have read on another immigration advice forum that it's better to go after 10-14 days from the most recent immigration status change so that -- hopefully -- the SSA will have the new info in the federal records. I am not convinced this is how it works, but mentioning it just in case. (Again, maybe other forum members who have had to deal with this might chime in on timing.) The SSA says you should get the new card within two weeks from application.

Edited December 14, 2015 by DeKi

[medicalguy 11]

Here are the instructions directly from the Social Security Administration: https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/2054/How-do-I-change-my-work-status-on-my-Social-Security-cardand more detail on the documents you will need depending on your exact status (click on the applicable options in the menus on the left) here: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm. In addition to the filled-out form on the first link, I think you'll need your foreign passport, your new green card and a state-issued ID (driver's license or learner's permit or just an identification card). It's unclear whether mailing is realistically an option since they require original or notarized documents. It might be best to just go in person, assuming there is a fairly convenient local office.

In my interpretation, though, it might be best to change the SS card after naturalization rather than now (so that you don't have to do it twice), but I am interested to hear other opinions (I admit I haven't really thought about this too much yet). At the moment you can continue using the old Social Security card together with your green card, which is the "work authorization" called for. I don't see any downside to that.

At whichever point you decide to request the change, I have read on another immigration advice forum that it's better to go after 10-14 days from the most recent immigration status change so that -- hopefully -- the SSA will have the new info in the federal records. I am not convinced this is how it works, but mentioning it just in case. (Again, maybe other forum members who have had to deal with this might chime in on timing.) The SSA says you should get the new card within two weeks from application.

Thanks for the information, that is very helpful!

As far as timing of change, I don't see any advantage to waiting after naturalization. Why would you want to wait for 3 years (or 5 if your AOS was not through a USC spouse)? As far as the 10-14 days, that was true when I first gained status in the US on a J1, to avoid delays. It does make sense to wait a certain time, but the only downside to going too early is that your card may end up being delayed. However, if you already have a SSN with "DHS work authrization only" on it and you say that that will continue to work fine, why would it matter if you get a delay or not?

[neuroticbell 5]

Here are the instructions directly from the Social Security Administration: https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/2054/How-do-I-change-my-work-status-on-my-Social-Security-cardand more detail on the documents you will need depending on your exact status (click on the applicable options in the menus on the left) here: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm. In addition to the filled-out form on the first link, I think you'll need your foreign passport, your new green card and a state-issued ID (driver's license or learner's permit or just an identification card). It's unclear whether mailing is realistically an option since they require original or notarized documents. It might be best to just go in person, assuming there is a fairly convenient local office.

In my interpretation, though, it might be best to change the SS card after naturalization rather than now (so that you don't have to do it twice), but I am interested to hear other opinions (I admit I haven't really thought about this too much yet). At the moment you can continue using the old Social Security card together with your green card, which is the "work authorization" called for. I don't see any downside to that.

At whichever point you decide to request the change, I have read on another immigration advice forum that it's better to go after 10-14 days from the most recent immigration status change so that -- hopefully -- the SSA will have the new info in the federal records. I am not convinced this is how it works, but mentioning it just in case. (Again, maybe other forum members who have had to deal with this might chime in on timing.) The SSA says you should get the new card within two weeks from application.

Thank you for the detailed reply!

[medicalguy 11]

On http://www.***removed***/greencard/adjustmentofstatus/steps-after-i485-approval.html

They do specifically mention at the very bottom that you will need to wait 10 days after green card is approved before going to the SS office.

[DeKi 10]

On http://www.***removed***/greencard/adjustmentofstatus/steps-after-i485-approval.html

They do specifically mention at the very bottom that you will need to wait 10 days after green card is approved before going to the SS office.

That's what I was referencing too, but that is a peer forum, like this one, which is why I personally am not sure it's 100% accurate. Surprisingly, a lot of federal services databases don't seem well connected/updated with info from each other.

[DeKi 10]

Thanks for the information, that is very helpful!

As far as timing of change, I don't see any advantage to waiting after naturalization. Why would you want to wait for 3 years (or 5 if your AOS was not through a USC spouse)? As far as the 10-14 days, that was true when I first gained status in the US on a J1, to avoid delays. It does make sense to wait a certain time, but the only downside to going too early is that your card may end up being delayed. However, if you already have a SSN with "DHS work authrization only" on it and you say that that will continue to work fine, why would it matter if you get a delay or not?

There are two separate timing issues; sorry if I didn't clarify enough what I meant. One is at the moment a person decides to go to the SSA -- not going immediately, but 10-14 days after the most recent status change, so that the correct info is already in the system. We seem to more or less agree on that point.

The other issue is when to even update a SS card in the first place. As I said, I think that it makes most sense to update the SSA records once a person has completed their "immigration journey". Assuming s/he is planning to go through with naturalization, that would be the last step. Otherwise it seems to me one has to do two updates (after green card receipt and after naturalization). Given that we can keep using the old SS card in combination with the new green card, I simply don't see why I'd want to take the trip to the SSA twice. I might be missing something, of course, so am interested to hear more opinions/further discussion, especially if people have already dealt with this. Probably not many on this thread directly, but maybe your friends or relatives who have gone through these steps earlier. Or simply how you are interpreting the instructions/my reading of them.