SSN and Verifying Documents

[Alchanphel 14]

Hi all,

 

I'm a K-1 Visa Holder awaiting adjustment of status. I arrived in the US on 21 July, and my I-94 shows that I am admitted until 18 October.

 

I had my appointment at the local Social Security Office today (took months to get an appointment because of Covid etc), and I've been given a letter stating that "Before we can issue you a Social Security number card, we must verify the document(s) you gave us to show your Alien status with the Federal, State, or local office in the United States that issued the document(s). This may take up to 4 weeks".

 

What does this mean in practice? And as my I-94 is technically expiring in less than 4 weeks, if there is a possibility I will be denied a SSN?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Edited September 24, 2021 by Alchanphel

[Wuozopo 4,293]

 

Is your name on the I-94 exactly like your passport name? Sometimes the first and middle names get run together. So then they have to do a manual check with USCIS because they couldn’t find  an exact match in the database.  
JOHNPAUL SMITH does not match JOHN PAUL SMITH. Hopefully they get on it and hear back quickly. I would guess it’s possible that your issue won’t be resolved before your window to get a SSN as a K1 closes on Oct 4. I would follow up with a phone call to that office (if you have a number) on Monday or Tuesday to make sure that got sent off. 

[sandiegodan2020 65]

We have a similar issue. The SS office would not schedule an appointment until we had a marriage certificate. This took a while due to a paper issue of the officiant. Then it took a while to get an appointment.

 

Our appointment was in August 27.

 

And wr got the same letter you got. That it mighttake 4 weeks.

 

When we called they told us that what they were waiting for was the clearance from DHS and that we should wait.

We have also filed for adjustment of status int he meantime and we got the text messages and are just waiting for the paper I-797's, but in the meantime our I-94 expires tomorrow.

So I think we are in a limbo until the SSA hears back from DHS.

I don't know if updating our paperwork would do anything g since it seems to be an internal issue now.

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

16 minutes ago, sandiegodan2020 said:

but in the meantime our I-94 expires tomorrow.

I believe your chance to get a SSN as a K1 has passed. When you get your EAD approved, you can go apply again based on your work authorization.

[sandiegodan2020 65]

2 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I believe your chance to get a SSN as a K1 has passed. When you get your EAD approved, you can go apply again based on your work authorization.

That what we were afraid of. We had plenty of time but the delay was internal.

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

20 minutes ago, sandiegodan2020 said:

That what we were afraid of. We had plenty of time but the delay was internal.

 

It’s a shame you waited on a marriage certificate. A K1 is eligible for a SSN before marriage. The person who told you that delayed you. 

[sandiegodan2020 65]

21 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

It’s a shame you waited on a marriage certificate. A K1 is eligible for a SSN before marriage. The person who told you that delayed you. 

Yes. We called a different SSA office and they agreed with us that a marriage certificate was not necessary. However. We had to use our local office assigned by zip code. And they hardly even answered the phone. And they told us we needed a marriage certificate which we knew was wrong. We were hoping to get this cleared up in two weeks but here we are 4 weeks later and timing out on the I-94.

And now to deal with the CA DMV where we need to switch to an AB60drovers license since we don't have a SS number.