SSN not in system (CR-1)

[Kdd1214 4]

Hello Everyone, 

It has been 4 weeks since my husband arrived in the US and we haven't received his SSN so I called the local office and wanted to share my findings with you all and see if other people have had the same issues.

 

First off a little timeline: 

-We requested that a social security number be created on the DS-260 form when filing for his CR-1, that paperwork was submitted to the online filing system October 23rd.

-Visa approved December 16th. 

-Arrived January 16th to USA

 

First call to local office: 

Not in the system. Woman said that we needed to wait 2 months upon entry into the states to see if the number would appear in the system. Suggested not to restart the process for fear of duplicate number being assigned to my husband . 

 

Second Call: 

Still not in the system. Looked with Alien Registration number this time. Was told that if the paperwork was filed in October of 2020, it has been too long for it not to have been submitted to their office so he does not and will not have a social security number assigned to him. We were put on the wait list for emergency in-person services and told we need to restart the entire process which could take 3-4 weeks. 

 

Has anyone had the same issue? Do you have any tips or ideas for us? I will continue to update with findings incase this can help anyone else! 

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

the request for the SS # would not be activated till he arrived in January (same for the green card)

And all have been waiting months now instead of a few weeks (ours came in 2 weeks back in 2015 ) 

sorry for your wait but it's hard for these offices (some with limited staff as workers are sick with the virus )

Basically i do not have advice/  its another waiting process 

[StrawberryKiss 170]

Even long since before COVID I didn't receive my SSN card after 2 months upon arrival (had checked the box on the DS-260 form, too). We just had to go to our local office and apply for it in person since I was also offered a job. The whole process took very long (inlcuding the wait at the office) and I'd suggest your husband bring as much proof of identity as he can (passport, birth certificate, ID card, etc.). It took another 2-3 weeks to get the card in the mail, but nowadays it's different with the pandemic and snow storm, of course. Good luck!

[Kdd1214 4]

1 hour ago, StrawberryKiss said:

Even long since before COVID I didn't receive my SSN card after 2 months upon arrival (had checked the box on the DS-260 form, too). We just had to go to our local office and apply for it in person since I was also offered a job. The whole process took very long (inlcuding the wait at the office) and I'd suggest your husband bring as much proof of identity as he can (passport, birth certificate, ID card, etc.). It took another 2-3 weeks to get the card in the mail, but nowadays it's different with the pandemic and snow storm, of course. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Was there a reason that you waited the full 2 months prior to restarting the process? Is that what they suggested incase the number appears? I know the paperwork we received said to call if it had been over 3 weeks of waiting upon arriving in the states but then to receive such different information between two people in the same office was confusing. Basically we want to wait the least amount of time possible so he is able to begin working! 

[Kdd1214 4]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

the request for the SS # would not be activated till he arrived in January (same for the green card)

And all have been waiting months now instead of a few weeks (ours came in 2 weeks back in 2015 ) 

sorry for your wait but it's hard for these offices (some with limited staff as workers are sick with the virus )

Basically i do not have advice/  its another waiting process 

Oh okay thank you for clarifying the time that the activation begins. It's a bummer since we understood that he would be able to work right when arriving with the CR-1 visa but now it seems like there is this extra step before he can begin working. We are definitely used to lots of waiting so I guess this is another chance for us to practice patience. Thank you for your response! Stay healthy and safe! 

[JFH 12,190]

*~*~*moved from “IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa progress reports” to “social security numbers”*~*~*

[StrawberryKiss 170]

12 hours ago, Kdd1214 said:

Thanks for sharing your experience! Was there a reason that you waited the full 2 months prior to restarting the process? Is that what they suggested incase the number appears? I know the paperwork we received said to call if it had been over 3 weeks of waiting upon arriving in the states but then to receive such different information between two people in the same office was confusing. Basically we want to wait the least amount of time possible so he is able to begin working! 

It's been so long, so I honestly don't remember. But I think back in 2015 you were advised to wait for 2 months until you should contact your local office.

I know it's super annoying! I needed my SSN to open up my own bank account, get a DL and start working. 

[RamonGomez 271]

SSA offices should now be taking appointments for first time SSN applicants and dire emergencies. My stepdaughter never got her SSN and she entered early 2020 before COVID. We had to mail the application last December 2020, then a few weeks later went in to the office to do the "interview" which was about 30 seconds long. Got the card a week later. I suggest calling them for the status every week or so, and if 2 months passes ask to apply for a new SSN. BTW I recently saw a report of someone who got the SS card like 7 months after he entered...

 

Edited February 17, 2021 by RamonGomez

[JeanneAdil 6,498]

On 2/16/2021 at 4:23 PM, Kdd1214 said:

Oh okay thank you for clarifying the time that the activation begins. It's a bummer since we understood that he would be able to work right when arriving with the CR-1 visa but now it seems like there is this extra step before he can begin working. We are definitely used to lots of waiting so I guess this is another chance for us to practice patience. Thank you for your response! Stay healthy and safe! 

He can work with the CR1 (I 551 stamp) on his passport

[Kdd1214 4]

On 2/18/2021 at 7:18 PM, JeanneAdil said:

He can work with the CR1 (I 551 stamp) on his passport

That was my understanding too but what I am confused about is how is he able to work without having a social security number? It is my understanding that he isn't able to open a bank account, have a driver license or be paid legally without a social security number. Do employers overlook him not having one at the moment because of his immigration status? Is there a way to prove his immigration status other than just the stamp in the passport? He hasn't received his green card yet either. 

[Kdd1214 4]

Update incase anyone finds this thread along the way.... 

 

I wanted to share some hope for those of you in the same position!! 

 

I spoke with USCIS after FINALLY getting through the automated system and explained what was happening. She said that due to COVID, they aren't sending anything to the SSO until after the official green card arrives and that will take at least 90 days upon arrival. She said that there would be no problem if we restarted the process with Social Security if we didn't want to wait for the USCIS to put his number into the system. With that clarification, I contacted our local social security office and we were put on the waitlist for an appointment in person to restart the process. It took about two weeks for them to contact us for the appointment time.

 

We had our appointment at the SSO and it took literally less than 5 minutes for us to turn in the paperwork. He made copies of my husband's passport and CR-1 visa (with stamp) and that was it!

 

We received his social security card today! It only took a week after our appointment. 🎉