Difficulties Getting Number at SS Office

[redvines 57]

I went into the local Social Security office today, it's been over 3 weeks since I arrived in the US, no SSN has arrived in the post. The person helping me couldn't find my name in the system/a record of an application, so was unable to give me a print out of my number and then told me I needed a physical green card before I could apply. I politely advised that the visa in my passport was sufficient and could I please have a social security number application if I had no application in the system, she went to check and agreed the passport visa was sufficient but then I was told that:

 

-USCIS may take up to 8 weeks after entry to put the request in the system and I can not apply until 8 weeks have passed from arrival in the US.

-I cannot apply for a social security number before then as 'I could end up with dual social security numbers which would cause nightmares for me'

 

So do I go back/go to a different office and hope to get someone with a different answer or is the person I spoke with correct?

[USS_Voyager 1,972]

You're still within normal processing time for SSN. The guy at my local office told me he'd be surprised to see the number issued before 4 weeks since the time you entered. My mom entered 11/11. I believed we received her SSN somewhere around Dec 8th or 10th or something like that, just in time to apply for her health insurance through the Marketplace. She received her GC a week before she received her SSN.