SSN Through Form I-765 or SSA

[Ferrero 13]

Hello everyone. So me and my wife (who was on a K1) just got married and we have started filling out all forms for AOS but we have a question regarding SSN. So we were so rushed into doing the wedding and seeing family etc.. and we did not apply for a SSN early on for her and her I-94 is expired as some people stated we need that to apply for a SSN but we are not sure.

 

When filing form I-765 for employment authorization, parts 13.a, 14, and 15 allows the SSA to issue her a SSN during the whole process which is nice. Now the thing is would it be better to go to the actual SSA office and apply for a SSN (if possible) or just let it be issued through form I-765 since our main concern is the timeline. Wouldn't it take longer via form I-765 compared to the actual SSA office?

[Sukie 1,462]

5 minutes ago, Ferrero said:

Hello everyone. So me and my wife (who was on a K1) just got married and we have started filling out all forms for AOS but we have a question regarding SSN. So we were so rushed into doing the wedding and seeing family etc.. and we did not apply for a SSN early on for her and her I-94 is expired as some people stated we need that to apply for a SSN but we are not sure.

 

When filing form I-765 for employment authorization, parts 13.a, 14, and 15 allows the SSA to issue her a SSN during the whole process which is nice. Now the thing is would it be better to go to the actual SSA office and apply for a SSN (if possible) or just let it be issued through form I-765 since our main concern is the timeline. Wouldn't it take longer via form I-765 compared to the actual SSA office?

When we went through the process, the "check the box for SSN" worked only about 25% of the time.  We checked the box, told the immigration officer at the airport that we checked the box, and the SSN never came.  My personal advice is to go to the SSA office in person.  My spouse had her card in less than 10 days after we went in person.

 

Perhaps things have changed, but we did not have good luck checking the box.

 

Sukie in NY

[yuna628 9,676]

9 minutes ago, Ferrero said:

Hello everyone. So me and my wife (who was on a K1) just got married and we have started filling out all forms for AOS but we have a question regarding SSN. So we were so rushed into doing the wedding and seeing family etc.. and we did not apply for a SSN early on for her and her I-94 is expired as some people stated we need that to apply for a SSN but we are not sure.

 

When filing form I-765 for employment authorization, parts 13.a, 14, and 15 allows the SSA to issue her a SSN during the whole process which is nice. Now the thing is would it be better to go to the actual SSA office and apply for a SSN (if possible) or just let it be issued through form I-765 since our main concern is the timeline. Wouldn't it take longer via form I-765 compared to the actual SSA office?

You will not be able to obtain an SSN at this time because you waited too long. You can check the box for the SSN if you'd like and see if it should ever arrive. If it does not the earliest you can go to the SSA will be when the EAD (employment authorization) card arrives, and at the latest - the green card.

 

It will theoretically take just as long because you've missed the first opportunity to obtain an SSN to begin with. Even if you do not tick the box you will have to wait until the EAD arrives to go to the SSA office.