Applying for SSN under K-1 Visa

[AP16 30]

Good night everyone.

Well, I arrived in the United States about 10 days ago and yesterday (thursday) my now wife and I went to the Social Security Office in Omaha, NE to apply for my SSN and, not to my surprise, the employee looked completely clueless about the process and said I can't apply for a SSN while I don't have my EAD or Green Card. She said that the SSN is only to keep track of a person's wages, and since I can't work yet I would be ineligible. I politely argued, explained that I know I can and should apply for the SSN, to no avail. She said that since I got married I'm not a fiancee anymore and therefore can't get my SSN.

OK, I know she is wrong. I may not know a lot about american bureaucracy, but I'm graduated in law, I have dealt with bureaucracy plenty of times and I know that the SSN number is an ID and that I can indeed apply. My question is: what do I do now? I don't feel like going back there to keep arguing without something tangible. Is there any section at the USCIS website saying specifically that I can apply for SSN before having EAD? Should I go to the Service Center and ask.for a letter or something? Otherwise, what can I do?

My only ID right now is my passport with the I-94, I feel like a ghost and I don't like this feeling.

[Hypnos 6,576]

As you suspect, you are right and they are wrong.

You are able to obtain an SSN simply by virtue of your K-1 status, married or not. This is always the case provided you have at least 14 days of validity remaining on your I-94. You may need to apply in your maiden name to ensure you pass SAVE.

Print out https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 and take a copy when you return. If you still get an idiot, ask for a supervisor.

Edited November 4, 2016 by Hypnos

[PinkSugar 0]

What do letters N or Y mean?

[AP16 30]

As you suspect, you are right and they are wrong.

You are able to obtain an SSN simply by virtue of your K-1 status, married or not. This is always the case provided you have at least 14 days of validity remaining on your I-94. You may need to apply in your maiden name to ensure you pass SAVE.

Print out https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530 and take a copy when you return. If you still get an idiot, ask for a supervisor.

I'm a guy and I didn't changed my name, so there wasn't even the issue of different name. The employee was just clueless. She said she would give me a letter stating that I don't need a SSN as of now and I would be able to use it to get a driver's license and what not with it. But the truth is that the letter states that my application for a SSN was rejected, which I don't know if could hurt my AOS in the the near future.

[Hypnos 6,576]

A supervisor is the way to go in the event of a clueless employee.

The Y or N refers to the "PRA Block" part of the SS-5 application form. PRA = permanent resident alien. Anyone who isn't a permanent resident alien (so, N) receives the "Valid for employment only with DHS authorization" notation on their SS card.

Edited November 5, 2016 by Hypnos

[narakthisud 174]

Oh boy, I can't wait to go through this process! As if dealing with USCIS, NVC, and the embassy was enough!

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Oh boy, I can't wait to go through this process! As if dealing with USCIS, NVC, and the embassy was enough!

Just like the person above said, print this out and take it with you. https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

If they are confused, it shows them that you can have a SSN.

With that said, dealing with ANYTHING that isn't an embassy can give you a hard time. (They can give you a hard time, but generally they know their own rules). We've seen USCIS local offices give wrong information so even immigration within the US isn't so great when it comes to info. The DMV and the SSA office are the two things that -could- give you the harder times, if you get someone that doesn't know what they are doing.

We didn't have any issues at the SSA office, but we did also end up with a lady who probably was the supervisor without even asking for her lol. The DMV had a hitch, as the woman put in the system that my husband HAD a green card when he didn't. All he had was his NOA1 for the GC application, which you can get a DL on in Texas, I tried to explain that the "proof" she needed to put into the system wasn't I-551, but I-797 because he didn't have his GC yet, only an application. I got tired of arguing with her, she put in that his proof of eligibility for a DL was based on him having a green card (I-551) and it was obviously kicked back lol.

Other than that it's been smooth.

Edited November 13, 2016 by Ash.1101

[AP16 30]

Just like the person above said, print this out and take it with you. https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

If they are confused, it shows them that you can have a SSN.

With that said, dealing with ANYTHING that isn't an embassy can give you a hard time. (They can give you a hard time, but generally they know their own rules). We've seen USCIS local offices give wrong information so even immigration within the US isn't so great when it comes to info. The DMV and the SSA office are the two things that -could- give you the harder times, if you get someone that doesn't know what they are doing.

We didn't have any issues at the SSA office, but we did also end up with a lady who probably was the supervisor without even asking for her lol. The DMV had a hitch, as the woman put in the system that my husband HAD a green card when he didn't. All he had was his NOA1 for the GC application, which you can get a DL on in Texas, I tried to explain that the "proof" she needed to put into the system wasn't I-551, but I-797 because he didn't have his GC yet, only an application. I got tired of arguing with her, she put in that his proof of eligibility for a DL was based on him having a green card (I-551) and it was obviously kicked back lol.

Other than that it's been smooth.

So, this webpage is enough to show them that I can get my SSN?

[AP16 30]

I don't mean to offend any american citizen, I feel extremely welcomed here in the United States and the american people is great. But let me tell you, to deal with the federal government has been a pain in the ### since the start of this journey. The inefficiency is remarkable. I feel punished for going through the legal process, it's like they only want illegal immigrants, since everything appears to be easier and cheaper for them. This is why you guys get so many illegal immigrants. A wall won't work, nor will deportation task forces. The legal immigration process is absolutely flawed, extremely bureaucratic and after you' re in the country you feel like the federal agencies are doing everything in their power to turn you into an undocumented immigrant. What is even worse, you're treated like a clueless child, as if no one can receive proper education outside of the USA.

My country has an ID number that's pretty much the same as the SSN, I know damn well that you use this number for everything, not to mention that is pretty much your basic proof of existence. What is the logic behind these people refusing SSN to legal immigrants? It doesn't make sense. Even if they were allowed to do it. You're left like a ghost, harder to track, harder to start an honest life and be an asset instead of a burden to society. It is, in the most literal meaning of the word, STUPID.

[Hypnos 6,576]

I've had issues with almost every federal agency I've come into contact with.

- USCIS bungled my AoS applications and turned what should have been a relatively straightforward four month case into a year-long ordeal.

- The SSA screwed up some of the Survivor Benefits my children were entitled to. As part of the solution they then double-dipped on a repayment, changing it from me owing them money (due to them paying me twice one month and me repaying them) to them owing me money (because they debited it twice).

- When I applied for US passports for my children, my son's passport was printed with his photograph only half-printed in the book, making him look like some kind of ghost. Anyone with two working eyes who took the time to look at the photo page could have seen this before it was mailed out, but this was apparently asking too much.

- When I applied for Obamacare the first time at healthcare.gov their system refused to authenticate my account because "my green card was too new". It took weeks and weeks of wrangling to get it straightened out, and I got in just before open enrollment ended.

In almost every case I had to contact one of my congressional representatives (usually John Cornyn's office. He's a #######, but his staffers at least seem able to get #### done) to get this fixed, other than the passport issue which i was able to resolve myself.

I'm already having nightmares about how USCIS are going to bungle my naturalisation in a year, and at that point every day is going to count because I want to go to the police academy for which you must be a US citizen in Texas.

Edited November 16, 2016 by Hypnos

[narakthisud 174]

But let me tell you, to deal with the federal government has been a pain in the ### since the start of this journey. The inefficiency is remarkable.

I agree with you 1000%. Believe me, whether your a US citizen, green card holder, or otherwise, you're treated the same way.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

I had a pretty difficult time getting my SSN when I came in on a CR-1 - yes that's right, I was immediately a legal permanent resident and the employee gave me an attitude and tried telling me I wasn't eligible for one.

Then she told me my name was messed up in the system and she couldn't issue me a card until I called CBP and got it fixed. Upon leaving she gave me a letter stating my card was issued :S

Called CBP anyway and they said they had no idea what this crazy lady was talking about.

Got my SS card in the mail that week and have used it no problem.

What I don't get is the focus on joint accounts for removal of conditions. They prove nothing other than joint accounts. Like if you have separate accounts you're clearly not married for the right reasons :/ I understand it's pretty hard to prove without assigning some kind of spy to every immigrant but c'mon. Once this is all over I'm separating everything that needs to be.

[zilchfox 296]

I guess it all boils down to who you get, who had their coffee, or who's an idiot these days :/

I had no issues receiving my SSN under the K-1 visa.