Everyone has different answer about when and how to get a SSN

[allyrose 31]

Hi everyone. I originally posted a question about immigrant health insurance, which got a lot of responses. However that thread spun off into a discussion about when to get a SSN for my K1 fiance. So I thought a new thread was in order.  Some are saying we need to check the SAVE database and wait for him to appear there, others are saying no and just to wait 10 days, and other forums on here have said they went in a few days after POE and got one because the I-94's are electronic now, like on this thread. 

 We have no concern about maiden names and stuff, because I am not changing my name yet. So we just need one answer about this, because everyone is saying slightly or drastically different things. Do we ned to wait until we check in SAVE and is there? What is the deal? 

[LionessDeon 2,060]

I don't know anything about SAVE.  Once he gets here print his I-94 and go to SS office and apply.  This is exactly what we did.

 

My now husband's K1 POE was 07/12/16.  On 07/14/16 we printed his I-94.  We took that paper to the SS office about 1-2 weeks later, I cannot remember the exact date and went to SS security office.  We did not have one problem and he received his SS card about 10 days later.

[allyrose 31]

5 minutes ago, LionessDeon said:

I don't know anything about SAVE.  Once he gets here print his I-94 and go to SS office and apply.  This is exactly what we did.

 

My now husband's K1 POE was 07/12/16.  On 07/14/16 we printed his I-94.  We took that paper to the SS office about 1-2 weeks later, I cannot remember the exact date and went to SS security office.  We did not have one problem and he received his SS card about 10 days later.

His POE was 1/7/17, do you recommend waiting another week? We already printed his I-94. Thanks for your response. 

[Roel 7,192]

Honestly, I think it all depend on a State and ... the individual decision of the SS office worker. Yep.

Some people get the SSN without any issues just based on the immigrant visa, some have to get married first and present the marriage license, I've read some couldn't get their SSN until they got their EAD...

Is there even one rule for this? Some office workers probably don't even have much experience dealing with different kind of immigrants hence the issues.

 

Personally, we went to pick up my SSN couple days after we got married and we didn't have any issues. I got it all pretty fast.

[Californiansunset 336]

Just do how it is explained above. Print out the I-94 and go to the nearest SSN office (go check their website first, whether they really produce SS cards, if not choose another office). 

Take passport and maybe your birth certificate and translation just to be on the safe side. Some people get asked for it although that is usually the exception.

 

From what I know, the I-94 is electronically put into the system not manually anymore so you can go to the SSN office anytime after POE. 

 

The people who havent been able to get a SSN did the mistake of going too close to the I-94 expiry date to the office or married first and then tried to get a SSN with a new last name even though the passport was in their maiden name. Those are the two most common mistakes which lead to a refusal of getting a SSN card processed. 

[LionessDeon 2,060]

No don't wait.  Go to you local SS office.  If they need something else they will tell you.

[Suss&Camm 2,213]

29 minutes ago, allyrose said:

His POE was 1/7/17, do you recommend waiting another week? We already printed his I-94. Thanks for your response. 

FIrstly, as I said in the other thread, he will never show up in the online SAVE until there is an inquiry. It is a case tracker. Secondly IF a 3rd level verification for some reason can't be avoided for you (as for me) you will need as much time as possible for that verification. It took as I also said 8 weeks for that verification for me to come back. Had I applied later they wouldn't have been able to issue the card due to i-94 expiration.

 

Good luck, hopefully it will be painless

[Wooderz 314]

Go as soon as you can. Print his i94 and the rule stating that k1s are eligible for SSNs. There's a guide here about obtaining SSNs that links you to that rule. http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

 

Follow that guide to make sure you bring all the right documents. Disregard the part about waiting 2 weeks for SAVE. That's outdated info. 

 

We went 5 days after my husband arrived on his k1. The guy did try to say he needed to be here 10 days. I told him I didn't think that was correct. He kept typing and a few seconds later said "yup, you're right." The card arrived about 10 days later. 

Edited January 11, 2017 by Wooderz

[kara&mati 33]

Can someone please post the link to where you can print the i-94? thanks.

 

[Californiansunset 336]

14 minutes ago, kara&mati said:

Can someone please post the link to where you can print the i-94? thanks.

 

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/

[Chardon Ne' 71]

1 hour ago, Roel said:

Honestly, I think it all depend on a State and ... the individual decision of the SS office worker. Yep.

Some people get the SSN without any issues just based on the immigrant visa, some have to get married first and present the marriage license, I've read some couldn't get their SSN until they got their EAD...

Is there even one rule for this? Some office workers probably don't even have much experience dealing with different kind of immigrants hence the issues.

 

Personally, we went to pick up my SSN couple days after we got married and we didn't have any issues. I got it all pretty fast.

I agree that it may be the worker but the State has nothing to do with it as SSA is a federal agency. Its more about the location's interpretation of the policy which at times can be wrong as they are not always familiar with updated guidance on such issues. 

[kara&mati 33]

30 minutes ago, Californiansunset said:

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/

thank you

[Toxiichoney 11]

i would suggested to do it as soon as posible, we did his about 3 days later after his arrival it took maybe about 5 days to get his SS 

[Scandi 4,166]

Just take the i-94, birth certificate, passport and SSN application and go apply for one. The sooner the better! They will most likely have to verify your info with immigrations and that can take a few weeks, I applied for my SSN on day 4 after my arrival in the US and only got the card after almost 4 weeks.

 

I went there again to have my name changed after the marriage and got the new card in only 4 days.

[Dutchster 1,107]

You can get it whenever you want to except two weeks prior your I-94 expiration. They won't issue one then and you'll have to wait for your EAD of GC. I have this feeling waiting 2-3 weeks is a little outdated as I see how many people nowadays are able to get their SSN after just a few days of being here.