Trip to our local Social Security Office

[Jose&Jeff 126]

2 hours ago, K1visaHopeful said:

This is the way it's supposed to be. There are no SSA policies that state it should not be this way but through the ignorance of SSA and how to process K1 SSNs and K1 name changes that's just the way it is. 

Congrats!

 

I had a similar experience. I tried to get it after arrival with my maiden name but the lady, as I later found out, didn't know how to open a SAVE request because I had an "unmatch" status. After getting married I tried again. This time with a more knowledgeable employee and with my marriage certificate and passport she opened a SAVE request, overcome the unmatch status in a few days and in two weeks I got the card on my married name. 

[mjoyceb 17]

On 7/9/2019 at 1:10 PM, Scandi said:

SSA employees are usually clueless, your situation isn't that common though.

I beg to disagree. The same thing that Thunderbolt is going through right now is happening to me. I guess it happens in towns with low K-1 immigrant volumes (I'm in Lawrence, KS). I wasn't allowed to get a non-driver's license at the local DMV because I had no SSN. No big banks here either (I have to go to Kansas City which is more than 50 miles and more than 45 minutes away for that), all the banks and credit unions here won't let me get a joint account with my husband without the SSN. Please don't invalidate those of us whose experiences are different from yours, it may be that the rules are now changing with the current administration gearing up against many forms of immigration in general. 

 

On 7/9/2019 at 12:02 PM, Thunderbolt said:

I did that. We went to SSA 1 week after arrival but we were given lecture that she needs to be in the States for minimum of 21 days. Then we came back on day 22 and they've told us that she can't get SSN because they can't find her in DHS database. At that point we went to different office. In the new office there was absolutely no problem verifying her with DHS (first office in Fairfax VA has lazy employees). After that we went to DMV to get her ID so she doesn't have to carry her passport all the time. At DMV they've told us that they need I-797C to issue her state ID. About 2 weeks later we've got the I-797C in mail and went back to DMV. They had to scan the papers and send them to main office in Richmond VA. 45 minutes later I've got email that they've approved the papers. Went back to DMV where the same clueless employee was processing her papers. She did something and said that she can't issue her ID because the name doesn't match name on the SSC. I've told her fine, create ID for her with her maiden name. She said that she can't because the name on I-797 is in her new name! Freaking catch 22. They've told us that if we go to SSA and change her name to her current last name they will be able to issue ID. Went to SSA and waited in line 2 hours. Just to be told that her visa is expired and they can't change the name until she gets work authorization or green card.

 I've wasted 4 days going between SSA and DMV. Now we are stuck and have to wait for the green card. It's frustrating. The system that they are using was implemented at Ellis Island back in the days. I'm lack for words.

 

[Scandi 4,166]

9 hours ago, mjoyceb said:

I beg to disagree. The same thing that Thunderbolt is going through right now is happening to me. I guess it happens in towns with low K-1 immigrant volumes (I'm in Lawrence, KS). I wasn't allowed to get a non-driver's license at the local DMV because I had no SSN. No big banks here either (I have to go to Kansas City which is more than 50 miles and more than 45 minutes away for that), all the banks and credit unions here won't let me get a joint account with my husband without the SSN. Please don't invalidate those of us whose experiences are different from yours, it may be that the rules are now changing with the current administration gearing up against many forms of immigration in general. 

 

 

Read my posts again, I didn't "invalidate" anything. I said it wasn't common, most people who arrived on a k-1 can get their SSN without issues, and some have a few hickups along the way. Few are completely unsuccessful in getting one at all. It's always going to be like this as SSA employees don't always know their own rules, but luckily most of them do. It's definitely recommended going to another SSA if rejected by the first one, or ask to talk to a supervisor etc.