Update your social security record/passport/voting

[acrufox 6]

So, how does one update your social security record after 10 days when it says here that it has to be done in person and the local social security office is closed because of covid-19? Also trying to register to vote as well as apply for a passport. All three seem to want me to show my certificate of naturalization, with the passport one actually wanting my original for I don't know how many months.

 

I've tried to register to vote twice now, two full weeks apart and I'm told by the online system for my state I should hear back in 2-3 days and I don''t. My parents health is also failing and they called me and asked me to come home ASAP which requires a passport. So I'm not sure what order I should do this in. Doesn't seem like I can update my social security record if they aren't allowing people to come in, I'd like to register to vote but no one ever gets back to me, and if I apply for my passport first so I can tend to my parents, I likely won't be able to do the other two because I won't be in possession of my naturalization certificate.

 

Has anyone who has just just attended their oath ceremony in the last month been successful in updating your social security record, if yes, how do you do it?

 

Thanks in advance~

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

 Pulsar you visit your parents on your birth passport? Passports are Currently taking months to issue.

[acrufox 6]

No, I haven't visited in 4 years. Although I do have a Canadian passport, I'm sure I would have a lot of problems coming back to the US as it's going to take more than one visit to sort my parents out, that and I have to drive there, it can't be a flight. I'd like to sort out my social security record first, register to vote 2nd, and then apply for a passport third, but it doesn't seem like I can get any of the three done.

 

The longer I wait on getting the passport the more difficult things will be to help them out, if the social security offices aren't going to open any time soon and I may not even be here to vote in the fall, I'm wondering if I just shouldn't bother with voting or notifying social security since neither seems interested in sorting things out any time soon.

Edited June 15, 2020 by acrufox
added additional details

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you visited Canada...you have a valid passport that you can use to see your ailing parents.. why do you think you will have an issue coming back to the US? Unsure what state you are in as you have no timeline but in my state it’s extremely easy to register to vote online and you may have up to Election Day to register ..Regardless you have months before the election. Updating SS isn’t a priority unless still are trying to claim SS benefits... To complain these offices “aren’t interested in sorting things out any time soon” one must have blinders on to not be aware we are in a global pandemic..

[Quarknase 1,072]

50 minutes ago, Luckycuds said:

It doesn’t matter how long it’s been since you visited Canada...you have a valid passport that you can use to see your ailing parents.. why do you think you will have an issue coming back to the US? Unsure what state you are in as you have no timeline but in my state it’s extremely easy to register to vote online and you may have up to Election Day to register ..Regardless you have months before the election. Updating SS isn’t a priority unless still are trying to claim SS benefits... To complain these offices “aren’t interested in sorting things out any time soon” one must have blinders on to not be aware we are in a global pandemic..

Leaving for Canada isn’t the issue - returning to the US will be. USC are required to enter the US with the US passport hence OP is attempting to obtain one.

 

OP, I’d probably go for the passport first. Voter registration won’t close for some months and the backlog for passports is long, so the earlier you get in line the better

[xyz12345 260]

1 hour ago, acrufox said:

No, I haven't visited in 4 years. Although I do have a Canadian passport, I'm sure I would have a lot of problems coming back to the US as it's going to take more than one visit to sort my parents out, that and I have to drive there, it can't be a flight. I'd like to sort out my social security record first, register to vote 2nd, and then apply for a passport third, but it doesn't seem like I can get any of the three done.

 

The longer I wait on getting the passport the more difficult things will be to help them out, if the social security offices aren't going to open any time soon and I may not even be here to vote in the fall, I'm wondering if I just shouldn't bother with voting or notifying social security since neither seems interested in sorting things out any time soon.

1) SS is not really a priority unless you have a name change so you don't have to do go there asap. some people even took more than 10 years to update their records.

 

2) Don't apply for passport for now and hang on to your naturalization certificate. Since you are coming back to the US via land, you can just use your DL if it's Real ID-compliant. You can also bring your Nat Cert just in case.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative

What types of documents are accepted for entry into the United States via land and sea?

• U.S. citizens can present a valid: U.S. Passport; Passport Card; Enhanced Driver’s License; Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST); U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders; U.S. Merchant Mariner document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or Form I-872 American Indian Card, or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Card.

 

3) When do you renew your DL? In FL the mailed renewal form also includes an voter registration form. You can also probably ask your state voter office to mail you a form.

[acrufox 6]

It's not that I am concerned about visiting my ailing parents, it's the fact that I no longer have my green card so I can't just come back to the US whenever I want or need to with only a Canadian passport. I highly doubt I can just pull up to US customs with my car and hand them my Canadian passport and say I'm coming back to the US after taking care of my parents, trust me, I am an American Citizen, but have no US passport or US travel documents.

 

I know of the following:

"A United States citizen traveling back to the U.S. by land cannot be denied entry to the U.S. The U.S. will not refuse entry to a U.S. citizen; even one without a passport or other valid travel document."

 

I really don't want to test out the whole reentering the US with only a certificate of naturalization. Part of the problem here is my parents want me to get them care, fix the house up, sell the house and move them somewhere else in Canada. This will take several trips. The only two land crossings I can go through both have given me a very hard time in the past when I was just a Canadian Citizen with a passport. I really don't like the idea of being detained for several hours while they "verify" my citizenship.

 

My parents don't expect me right away but they hope that I can come back and take care of things by September or October when hopefully I will have my US passport by then. I am just wondering if I should even bother with notifying social security or registering to vote. I think both require me to have my certificate of naturalization, but if I go to USPS and apply for a passport, they will take that from me and I'll just end up waiting who knows how long until I am sent my passport.

 

I am aware of the global pandemic, there are a whole set of other circumstances I need to deal with when I enter Canada. I'm not saying they're not interested in sorting things out. I live in Indiana which is a republican state. You can't go anywhere in this state without hearing how everything is getting back normal and things are just great! No one in this state is social distancing or wearing masks. That soon everything will be open and running smoothly again. You have a government pushing to reopen everything except when it comes to government services. We have government services remaining reduced or closed and adhering to strict covid procedures while we have a president that tells the complete opposite.

 

Look at USCIS, they're already talking about running out of money by the end of summer. I'm seeing stories about how the NH field office will have to start furloughing workers by August. So by the time they are up and running again, they will have to shut down. When I had my oath done, I was told all you needed to do is wait 10 days and go into an SS office. All the SS offices were closed when I had my oath ceremony. Then there is USPS, again same thing, by the end of summer they will run out of money. So if I apply for my passport. I could be waiting a very long time. I know how serious covid-19 is. I caught H1N1 back in 2009 and I could barely move or breathe and it took over half a year for me to get my lung capacity back. Just walking in a store for 5 mins left me out of breath.

 

 

[acrufox 6]

44 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

Leaving for Canada isn’t the issue - returning to the US will be. USC are required to enter the US with the US passport hence OP is attempting to obtain one.

 

OP, I’d probably go for the passport first. Voter registration won’t close for some months and the backlog for passports is long, so the earlier you get in line the better

That's what I'm trying to get at. The return to the US and I'm crossing at a land crossing, not flying. To be to the point, in the 4 years I've lived in the US, doctors have resolved several health conditions I had. Some of them require prescriptions that I take on a daily basis. I've already asked my doctors how long they can prescribe for and they said 90 days. So I have to make a 4 1/2 hour trip back to the border, cross into the US and pick it all up at a walmart near the border. I really don't want to cross into the US with the reason of needing to pick up my prescriptions and hand them my certificate. Especially since the only two closest crossings are run by highly incompetent people. What if I crossed and ran into an officer on a bad day and he lets me in but confiscates my naturalization certificate. Then I'm about a 1200 mile drive back to Indiana and all my stuff in Nova Scotia. I will have to drive all the way back to Indiana and most likely be told "too bad" about getting my certificate back and told to request a replacement for only $555. :S

 

To me everything seems like a bad idea. My parents should be the most important thing but who knows how long it will take. They're okay with waiting 3 months or so if that's what is needed to get my passport, but who knows? If USPS is allowed to go under then I won't get a passport anytime soon anyway. It's just very frustrating when ones parents are almost 80 years old and every time you mention a delay they just accuse you of not caring or finding excuses not to help them and frankly I'm tired of being told that. *sigh* I'm also tired of them telling me to move back to Canada. 😕

 

Oh and also, as I've said, I live in a republican state. I've made two attempts to register to vote and be told it will only be 2-3 days and I'll hear back, especially if I'm denied. I applied the next day after my oath and I waited two weeks and heard nothing. I checked to see if I registered and the site said no. So I applied again and same thing, 2-3 days and you'll know. So by Thursday I bet I'll still not hear anything. I am not surprised at all that I'm running into issues with registering to vote, the site says how easy it is to do too. ::rollseyes::

 

Edited June 15, 2020 by acrufox
additional info

[acrufox 6]

1 hour ago, xyz12345 said:

1) SS is not really a priority unless you have a name change so you don't have to do go there asap. some people even took more than 10 years to update their records.

 

2) Don't apply for passport for now and hang on to your naturalization certificate. Since you are coming back to the US via land, you can just use your DL if it's Real ID-compliant. You can also bring your Nat Cert just in case.

 

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative

What types of documents are accepted for entry into the United States via land and sea?

• U.S. citizens can present a valid: U.S. Passport; Passport Card; Enhanced Driver’s License; Trusted Traveler Program card (NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST); U.S. Military identification card when traveling on official orders; U.S. Merchant Mariner document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business; or Form I-872 American Indian Card, or (when available) Enhanced Tribal Card.

 

3) When do you renew your DL? In FL the mailed renewal form also includes an voter registration form. You can also probably ask your state voter office to mail you a form.

I was just curious in what order I should do this or some way of updating my SS with the local office being closed. Maybe someone on here has been able to do it and it wasn't hard, and if that was the case then I would do that first if it only took a week or two. Voting is last for me, it would be nice to vote in the fall election but compared to everything else, my parents are more important. Indiana always votes republican anyway.

 

That's just it, I want to have the most valid thing on me, a US passport. I don't want to take a trip to help my parents based off using my certificate to reenter the US. There are only two crossings I can go through to get to Nova Scotia. They are New Brunswick Canada, and Maine crossings. I could write a book on the high levels of incompetence at both crossings and the US agents have put me through.

 

I wouldn't at all be surprised if I handed my certificate over and then they told me to park and come in and hold me for several hours for fun and then send me on my way and not give me my certificate back for the laughs.  I've had agents ask me if the car I'm driving is stolen, I've been screamed at for not paying attention to signs or road markings that were so faded, no one could see them. I was once pulled aside and instead of putting me into the waiting area, they put me into the detention area with no windows. I sat there worried, sitting on a bench with handcuffs along the metal rail. I've had everything dumped out of my car and left that way and told to put things back "the way I like"

 

I even asked an agent once, what do I have to do to stop getting treated this way. She surprisingly answered that the crossings are in the middle of nowhere and people from southern Maine take work up here and hate it. She said on any given day her coworkers would give people a hard time or give them an inspection just because they were bored or just because they can. She didn't mince her words when she said what she thought of everyone else she had to work with there. Magically I never saw her again after that day.

 

So no, I think taking my naturalization certificate back into the US would be a terrible idea. I would like to get my passport if at all possible. Also my drivers license is real ID compliant but that only applies to flying, not land crossings. For land crossings you need to have an enhanced drivers license, and the only states to have those seem to be border states. Indiana isn't a border state. Also I remember before I moved down here many years ago, I wanted an enhanced drivers license. Nova Scotia never offered them so using a EDL is out of the question.

 

Real ID and EDL are two completely different things. Real ID lets me fly without a passport, EDL lets me travel between the US and Canada only but only some states and provinces have those and I've never lived in one that did.

 

So I'm just kinda wondering if I should just throw caution to the wind and not wait for the SS offices to open again and voting in this state would only be for the principle of saying I didn't vote for someone, which leaves the last thing, my parents. They're old and getting older.  The way my mom talks about my father and the way my father speaks to me on the phone, I have the feeling hes developing dementia. The only other person to know about all their finances, investments and bills is me, including if something bad happens, the will. My mother doesn't even know how to use her debit card and my father has never told her the PIN number. So if I let things go too long, taking care of my parents, helping them downsize and move to another part of Canada for better health care will be way more impossible to accomplish.

 

It's really sad though. Back in 2016 when I moved away, I spoke to my parent's doctor about my concerns and he just said he felt sorry for me, that until they injured themselves or were at risk of injuring others,  I would have a hard time proving they needed assisted living or even just a nurse that checks in time to time.

Edited June 15, 2020 by acrufox

[acrufox 6]

 

Well this just keeps getting worse and worse. I called my local SS office and explained that I can't just come into the office. She said I had to fill out the application and send in the originals of my certificate and my DRIVERS LICENSE. When I asked her about how to drive during the week or two it would take to process my form, she said drive without your license. When I said that wasn't acceptable she asked me if I got stopped by the police a lot. I said no, but I don't think the police officer would understand if I just said I had no license. She tells me to tell the police officer that I sent my ID into the SS office and that I can drive without a license. Again I said that was probably a bad idea she suggests I photocopy my drivers license and use that.

 

WOW! Drive without a license? Wow that's terrible advice.

Edited June 15, 2020 by acrufox

[Quarknase 1,072]

16 minutes ago, acrufox said:

 

Well this just keeps getting worse and worse. I called my local SS office and explained that I can't just come into the office. She said I had to fill out the application and send in the originals of my certificate and my DRIVERS LICENSE. When I asked her about how to drive during the week or two it would take to process my form, she said drive without your license. When I said that wasn't acceptable she asked me if I got stopped by the police a lot. I said no, but I don't think the police officer would understand if I just said I had no license. She tells me to tell the police officer that I sent my ID into the SS office and that I can drive without a license. Again I said that was probably a bad idea she suggests I photocopy my drivers license and use that.

 

WOW! Drive without a license? Wow that's terrible advice.

I don’t know - you could just keep a copy of your DL on you. The police will be able to verify based on the DL number.

Anyhow, it’s up to you what you feel most comfortable with. The passport seems to be the only thing that you really need at this point, keep copies of the citizenship certificate and go after the other topics once you can.

[Lucky2Lucky 2,526]

15 minutes ago, acrufox said:

 

Well this just keeps getting worse and worse. I called my local SS office and explained that I can't just come into the office. She said I had to fill out the application and send in the originals of my certificate and my DRIVERS LICENSE. When I asked her about how to drive during the week or two it would take to process my form, she said drive without your license. When I said that wasn't acceptable she asked me if I got stopped by the police a lot. I said no, but I don't think the police officer would understand if I just said I had no license. She tells me to tell the police officer that I sent my ID into the SS office and that I can drive without a license. Again I said that was probably a bad idea she suggests I photocopy my drivers license and use that.

 

WOW! Drive without a license? Wow that's terrible advice.

Honestly I would put off the SS now. You have a SS number. The only reason you will need to update it is if you are looking to collect benefits. If not take it off your list right now. One less thing to worry about. There is no deadline you need to contact them by and sending in your naturalization certificate and drivers license would be foolish (as I gather you agree). 

 

If you are having trouble registering to vote online then submit your registration via mail. You just have to send in a COPY of your drivers license. https://faqs.in.gov/hc/en-us/articles/115005217968-How-do-I-register-to-vote-in-Indiana- Regardless you have until October in your state- so plenty of time to either keep trying the website, make a phone call, etc.

 

FYI if some states are open and loosened restrictions (& not so surprisingly cases are raising..) yet the Federal Gov as a whole is keeping things closed.. that should tell you a bit. 

[xyz12345 260]

3 hours ago, acrufox said:

I was just curious in what order I should do this or some way of updating my SS with the local office being closed. Maybe someone on here has been able to do it and it wasn't hard, and if that was the case then I would do that first if it only took a week or two. Voting is last for me, it would be nice to vote in the fall election but compared to everything else, my parents are more important. Indiana always votes republican anyway.

 

That's just it, I want to have the most valid thing on me, a US passport. I don't want to take a trip to help my parents based off using my certificate to reenter the US. There are only two crossings I can go through to get to Nova Scotia. They are New Brunswick Canada, and Maine crossings. I could write a book on the high levels of incompetence at both crossings and the US agents have put me through.

 

I wouldn't at all be surprised if I handed my certificate over and then they told me to park and come in and hold me for several hours for fun and then send me on my way and not give me my certificate back for the laughs.  I've had agents ask me if the car I'm driving is stolen, I've been screamed at for not paying attention to signs or road markings that were so faded, no one could see them. I was once pulled aside and instead of putting me into the waiting area, they put me into the detention area with no windows. I sat there worried, sitting on a bench with handcuffs along the metal rail. I've had everything dumped out of my car and left that way and told to put things back "the way I like"

 

I even asked an agent once, what do I have to do to stop getting treated this way. She surprisingly answered that the crossings are in the middle of nowhere and people from southern Maine take work up here and hate it. She said on any given day her coworkers would give people a hard time or give them an inspection just because they were bored or just because they can. She didn't mince her words when she said what she thought of everyone else she had to work with there. Magically I never saw her again after that day.

 

So no, I think taking my naturalization certificate back into the US would be a terrible idea. I would like to get my passport if at all possible. Also my drivers license is real ID compliant but that only applies to flying, not land crossings. For land crossings you need to have an enhanced drivers license, and the only states to have those seem to be border states. Indiana isn't a border state. Also I remember before I moved down here many years ago, I wanted an enhanced drivers license. Nova Scotia never offered them so using a EDL is out of the question.

 

Real ID and EDL are two completely different things. Real ID lets me fly without a passport, EDL lets me travel between the US and Canada only but only some states and provinces have those and I've never lived in one that did.

 

So I'm just kinda wondering if I should just throw caution to the wind and not wait for the SS offices to open again and voting in this state would only be for the principle of saying I didn't vote for someone, which leaves the last thing, my parents. They're old and getting older.  The way my mom talks about my father and the way my father speaks to me on the phone, I have the feeling hes developing dementia. The only other person to know about all their finances, investments and bills is me, including if something bad happens, the will. My mother doesn't even know how to use her debit card and my father has never told her the PIN number. So if I let things go too long, taking care of my parents, helping them downsize and move to another part of Canada for better health care will be way more impossible to accomplish.

 

It's really sad though. Back in 2016 when I moved away, I spoke to my parent's doctor about my concerns and he just said he felt sorry for me, that until they injured themselves or were at risk of injuring others,  I would have a hard time proving they needed assisted living or even just a nurse that checks in time to time.

I stand corrected regarding EDL and  real ID compliant. You're right that they're not the same.