SSN - can I apply right when I get to U.S?

[Greenbaum 12,259]

10 hours ago, Annikena said:

Hi everyone!

I know this has been asked a million times, but I still cant seem to understand - since many are saying different things. I just got my visa approved and received it this week. Yaay! I will be moving to Los Angeles in June, and was wondering if I can go straight away to apply for SSN, like the day after I arrive? Some people say that is ok, others say you have to wait two weeks. I just wanted to know if anyone had any experiences regarding this. Thank you all!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WHOBLEkvkVlUEnW-F9FK8idDTV1bm_D3/view?usp=sharing
 

[Scandi 4,166]

4 hours ago, Annikena said:

Either answer the question I asked or dont say anything at all. Im pretty sure I will be able to do more than one thing in a day

We're talking about the SSA in Los Angeles. No, you won't have time for anything else that day.

 

I applied for mine on day 4 after entry.

[Scandi 4,166]

3 hours ago, SJordanS said:

probably so. that im not sure of but in california you can drive with an international license.

Nah, not true. You can drive on your foreign license as long as you're here as a tourist (no international license needed). Coming on a K-1 you're not a tourist. As a resident you're only allowed to drive for 10 days, check the CA DMV website.

[NikLR 13,227]

~~moved to SSN from K1 process and procedures.   Topic is not about K1 but about getting an SSN. ~~

[Ryan H 3,812]

~~~Closed for review~~~

[Ryan H 3,812]

8 hours ago, Annikena said:

Pretty sure I am allowed to tell you to post comments that are related to what I am asking

 

***No you're not per the below quoted provision of the TOS.  If you do so again, Administrative Action will be taken - VJ Moderation.***

 

Make comments in a Post either direct or implied toward anothermember that are purposely designed to upset, antagonize, make funof, belittle, harass, insult, or otherwise instigate an argument that takes awayfrom the personal enjoyment of the Service by other users.

 

 

~~~Thread back open for discussion~~~

[Annikena 6]

5 hours ago, Scandi said:

We're talking about the SSA in Los Angeles. No, you won't have time for anything else that day.

 

I applied for mine on day 4 after entry.

Weird, my friend was able too. 

[Shiran 1,134]

15 hours ago, Annikena said:

Hi everyone!

I know this has been asked a million times, but I still cant seem to understand - since many are saying different things. I just got my visa approved and received it this week. Yaay! I will be moving to Los Angeles in June, and was wondering if I can go straight away to apply for SSN, like the day after I arrive? Some people say that is ok, others say you have to wait two weeks. I just wanted to know if anyone had any experiences regarding this. Thank you all!

I can tell you what our recent experience was like with SSN in CA (not LA though)

PoE was March 1st, Friday evening, printed out I-94 from PoE at home, went to SSA office at the open time Monday, March 4th. Please note: Not all SSA office created equal, some do not process SSN card applications, make sure the one you go to processes them. Use https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/ic001.action#officeResults and select "I need card services" to find closest office. 

At SSA office we filled out a single one page form.

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf You can download, print it, and fill it before at home as well if you so choose.

This form has one tricky question: Question 5: Citizenship: For K-1 holders answer is Legal Alien Allowed to Work. https://www.ssa.gov/people/immigrants/visa.html

Make sure to put names of your parents before Marriage. You should not need Birthday certificate. The worker refused to look at I-94 saying "I only need visa in your passport" I feel that was a mistake on his part, which might've contributed to delay. 

After you are done at the SSA office, you can go to https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/ and see if you can check the status of case verification with SAVE database. Your SSN will not be issued until this clears, but website doesn't show you the result of the check, just if they are still working on it, or if they are processing it.

We didn't get our SSN in the mail until April 5, 2019. The date on the card says March 29, 2019. So in effect it took nearly 5 weeks to get the card. 

 

Hope you will have better luck. I would absolutely advise you to try to get it as soon as possible. 

 

[Annikena 6]

16 minutes ago, Shiran said:

I can tell you what our recent experience was like with SSN in CA (not LA though)

PoE was March 1st, Friday evening, printed out I-94 from PoE at home, went to SSA office at the open time Monday, March 4th. Please note: Not all SSA office created equal, some do not process SSN card applications, make sure the one you go to processes them. Use https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/ic001.action#officeResults and select "I need card services" to find closest office. 

At SSA office we filled out a single one page form.

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf You can download, print it, and fill it before at home as well if you so choose.

This form has one tricky question: Question 5: Citizenship: For K-1 holders answer is Legal Alien Allowed to Work. https://www.ssa.gov/people/immigrants/visa.html

Make sure to put names of your parents before Marriage. You should not need Birthday certificate. The worker refused to look at I-94 saying "I only need visa in your passport" I feel that was a mistake on his part, which might've contributed to delay. 

After you are done at the SSA office, you can go to https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/ and see if you can check the status of case verification with SAVE database. Your SSN will not be issued until this clears, but website doesn't show you the result of the check, just if they are still working on it, or if they are processing it.

We didn't get our SSN in the mail until April 5, 2019. The date on the card says March 29, 2019. So in effect it took nearly 5 weeks to get the card. 

 

Hope you will have better luck. I would absolutely advise you to try to get it as soon as possible. 

 

Thank you so much for this response! I appreciate you taking the time. I have saved what you sayid, and I will def make an appointment as soon as possible!  

[Joan58 47]

I applied for my SSN on Day 3 after POE using the I94 in my passport. We then got married and after we received our Marriage Certificate I went back to SSA to apply for SSN name change.  I had my SSN in my married name in 4 weeks. As long as you bring in all your documents it is quick. Good luck😊

[Weston 4]

I think the right way to do is as long as you can check your record for coming to the USA on i-94, then you are free to apply it.

[Mike E 11,739]

20 hours ago, Annikena said:

Hi everyone!

I know this has been asked a million times, but I still cant seem to understand - since many are saying different things. I just got my visa approved and received it this week. Yaay! I will be moving to Los Angeles in June, and was wondering if I can go straight away to apply for SSN, like the day after I arrive? Some people say that is ok, others say you have to wait two weeks. I just wanted to know if anyone had any experiences regarding this. Thank you all!

Do it too early and it won’t happen before EAD.  Do it too late (for example  after you get married) and it won’t happen before EAD. 

 

We waited 48 hours after POE. We went to SS office and despite having an online I-94, the SS clerk could not verify her status. He said this might delay her SS card by two weeks. 

 

In fact she got it 10 working days after she applied.  

 

I would wait wait no more than 5 working days after POE. Do not get married before applying.  

[Mike E 11,739]

2 hours ago, Weston said:

I think the right way to do is as long as you can check your record for coming to the USA on i-94, then you are free to apply it.

CBP and USCIS records take a while to synchronize. IME, online i94 isn’t enough for SS. 

[Jenna Ting 27]

On 4/7/2019 at 11:25 AM, Annikena said:

Thank you! I appreciate it  So as soon as the I-94 is available I can just go and apply for the SSN? Do you know when it is available?

Pretty soon.About 1week after you arrive in the USA. Make sure all the information is correct whenever you apply for any documents. My daughter got a wrong first name on her i94,so we went back to the airport more than twice to get it corrected .

[Ryan H 3,812]

~~~Hijack post and replies to said post removed; if you have your own question, you need to start your own thread.~~~