Can I get SSN before receiving the card?

[jason900625 0]

Hi everyone,

I recently got a job offer from a company, and they asked me to work from 02/16. However, they want me to do a background check before on-board. But the thing is that without SSN I am not able to do so.

Luckily my OPT was approved two days ago, so most likely I can get my EAD card next week and then apply for SSN. However, I just found out that it takes about 2 weeks to actually receive the card. So I am wondering that if there's any way that I can get my SSN before that? I know some people they just went to the SS Office a couple days after applying, and then they got a copy of SSN. But a person on some forum told me that the policy has been changed this year, and nobody is allowed to obtain the SSN before getting the card. So my question is:

1. Is this information true?

2. Did anybody do so recently and successfully got your SSN before receiving the card?

3. Is there any other way to get SSN before the card receiving?

I really need the SSN, or I may lose the only job offer I got...

Thank you so much.

Edited February 6, 2016 by jason900625

[Ash.1101 1,755]

You can in some situations. In my fiances case, he applied for his social, and then his card didn't come in the mail. We went back to the SSA office about a month later (I think it was exactly 30 days from applying) and let them know he didn't get it, so they let him write down what his social was on his own paper so we could give it to who we needed to give it too.

Be aware though, some people require the physical card. After we gave the number to the bank, they then requested a scanned copy of the actual card. I, a USC, also had to show the actual card during the on boarding process of my new job.

Other than that, I don't think there's any way of finding out. I'm not entirely sure they'll tell you it just because you ask, but you can always try.

A warning though, they can do extensive checking which can add time to processing and you receiving it. And in my fiances case, he never got the card on the first application, even though it was processed and approved the same day, we didn't get the physical card until about a month and a week and a half after the initial application.

Not trying to worry you. just trying to help you be aware of what could happen, be prepared.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Ash.1101