Denied SS card due to I-94

[zombiepatrol222 0]

Just got a call from the SS office saying we need an updated I-94 because it is too close to being expired. It is 2 weeks from being expired, yet we applied for a card a whole month ago. I know there is no way to get a new I-94, you only get one. They clearly have no idea what they are doing...but this will jeopardize our AOS because we will not have evidence to prove we have a bonafide marriage without a joint bank account. Will we just have to take the chance and apply for AOS without this? The only thing we have as proof is registration for our motorhome together, we are both on it. Any suggestions are welcome!

[Transborderwife 4,666]

What visa are you adjusting from? There are other proofs like your marriage certificate and photos.

 

some banks will allow just one SSN on the account.  Bank of America and Wells Fargo come to mind

[zombiepatrol222 0]

My bank needs an SSN to add him to it. We tried but they absolutely need one to put his name in the system. He is on a K-1. Marriage certificate is just proof of the marriage.. so photos would be enough that the marriage is real? We had a request for more info during our visa application because photos were not enough. They wanted additional evidence.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Just now, zombiepatrol222 said:

My bank needs an SSN to add him to it. We tried but they absolutely need one to put his name in the system. He is on a K-1. Marriage certificate is just proof of the marriage.. so photos would be enough that the marriage is real? We had a request for more info during our visa application because photos were not enough. They wanted additional evidence.

 You can always bring evidence to the interview if you have one.  Evidence of a bonafide marriage is more important during the ROC process.

[Cryssiekins 976]

I opened a Key Bank account before I was even engaged (I'm from Canada and it was cheaper on exchange to wire money) and I did not have a SSN or ITIN and it wasn't too much of a problem. 

 

If your spouse has an account they can add you as an authorized user in the interim.  

 

SSN is only required by banks to identify you.  For me, Key Bank uses SSN to allow access to online banking, so for a while I had no access until I added my husband (then fiancée) as a user. 

 

*edit* sometimes you have to push a little to get it done bc they are trained and accustom to clients having everything.  When you're a one- off, they need to do some extra steps or call for help :-)

 

I also did not have an SSN issued to me before I filed for AOS (issue with a spelling error on I-94) and it did NOT affect my application. 

Edited April 26, 2017 by Cryssiekins

[Dashinka 24,758]

11 minutes ago, zombiepatrol222 said:

My bank needs an SSN to add him to it. We tried but they absolutely need one to put his name in the system. He is on a K-1. Marriage certificate is just proof of the marriage.. so photos would be enough that the marriage is real? We had a request for more info during our visa application because photos were not enough. They wanted additional evidence.

I wouldn't worry.  At our AOS stage we did not include any joint bank statements, but we did bring them to our interview.  You can get the SSN once you receive the EAD/AP card.

 

Good Luck!

[Love_A_Brit 33]

16 minutes ago, zombiepatrol222 said:

They clearly have no idea what they are doing

Social Security will not process an application if the I-94 is expired OR if it will expire in the next 14 days, so they were right in denying the application.  They were wrong, however, to ask for an updated I-94 because that is not something you can obtain. https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211135

 

There are other ways to prove a legitimate marriage without a joint bank account.  Joint health insurance, auto insurance, vehicle registrations, lease or mortgage, wills, beneficiary on life insurance, evidence of vacationing in the same place...some of these things can be done without a SSN.  Try to think outside the box.  Good luck! 

[Dutchster 1,107]

It's always advisable to get the K-1 holder a SSN soon after his or hers arrival on his/hers maiden name. Anyways, the reason they won't issue him one anymore is because while you apply for something  federal such as a social security number, they still need to verify you through the SAVE database. That verification varies from within a few seconds up to twenty-five working days. You might have had a one month span to apply but it could be the verification that took too long.

Wait for the employment authorization card and go back to the SSA office.

Edited April 26, 2017 by Dutchster

[LKMK 85]

Agreed.  Unfortunately, at this point you will have to wait until you get your EAD before you can get your social security number.  Do you have any correspondence from the Social Security Administration?  If so you can always include those documents in your packet in the meantime.

[zombiepatrol222 0]

I don't have any correspondence from the SSA but I will go down and get them to give us the receipt they neglected to give us when we applied. We had 6 full weeks from the expiration of the I-94, so this is entirely their fault- especially since we were advised to wait several weeks to even apply. Thanks for all of the input. It really helps put us at ease that we can just bring in proof to the interview.

[Love_A_Brit 33]

Just curious...where did you find the information that says you can apply with a nearly expired I-94? Can you post a link for the benefit of others? 

[zombiepatrol222 0]

I haven't found any information about that. I don't know what you are referring to, but we were advised by the SSA to wait at least 4 weeks before applying. By the time we applied, with 6 weeks to spare before the expiry date, it was evidently too late by the time they processed it. That is what I mean by it being unfair- we applied with 6 full weeks to spare. By the time they processed it- they said it was less than two weeks before expiry and we needed an updated I-94. These people obviously don't know the protocol. That seems like an error on their part and they ruined his chances of getting it. Hopefully we will get an interview with our AOS- though from our experience with asking for more information (RFE with Visa) they need more than we could ever give. All we can do is just get evidence from the SSA (If they will issue another receipt given they neglected to with our application). The lady I spoke with on the federal hotline advised me to speak with an office manager. We will be able to do that Monday, I just cant do it this week due to finals for graduate school. I will get a printoff from my bank verifying they need an SSN to add him to the account. We still are going to attempt to open another account..it is just that I have had this account in good standing for a year and with my chronic stress issues I dread attempting to open a new account elsewhere when it could take multiple attempts at multiple places.

[zombiepatrol222 0]

With the SSA's advisement that we wait 4 weeks until our actual application was only an extra month beyond their recommendation. We suffered the stillbirth of our baby at the same time. We still went to that office and applied and were told to wait in the midst of our family tragedy. We have come through a lot-- We applied April 4th, and the expiry on the I-94 was May 8th. All the information for the immigration process is just left to the person to find. We have been meticulous with all of it.. didn't realize there was such a small window in which to apply. Applying before 2 weeks (SSA advised) would result in a kickback and we would be stuck in the system and unable to re-apply.

[Scandi 4,180]

You apply for SSN as soon as your i-94 is available, which is usually the same day the beneficiary enters the US. Sorry you got different info. Check with VJ next time, it usually makes things a little easier. 

Edited April 28, 2017 by Scandi

[SparklePony 238]

You mention a visa so I'm assuming you are applying for AOS from a K1 - is this correct?

 

If so, you don't really need much in terms of evidence of a bona fide marriage to apply for AOS. That ends up being important at the interview - and you may even be approved without one, as it happens often for K1 filers. You'll also need it for ROC, later down the road. For now, don't stress too much over it, apply for the AOS EAD AP packet, and once you have the EAD card in hand, you can then get a SSN.

 

Hope this helps, and my deepest condolences for the loss of your baby.