Issues obtaining SSN after K1 visa

[J.T. 0]

I am sorry to hear that. It took for me 6 months to get SSN and after new driving license. We were consulting a layer and he couldn't do anything faster either. Just be patient and fallow a rules. 

[Kumirei 1]

I went to the SSA as well, and kept calling them week after week, but they never heard back from whatever agency they needed info from and my I-94 expired... Now I'm waiting for the SSN with the EAD

[nekotakacho 60]

On 9/30/2021 at 3:10 PM, AW1704 said:

I am having terrible trouble obtaining my SSN after entering on K1 visa. Here is my timeline:

 

8 Aug - Entered on K1 visa

9 Aug - Called local SS office, told to wait two weeks to allow SAVE system to be up to date

20 Aug - Got married!

23 Aug - Called SS office again, arranged for appointment to apply for SSN on 27 Aug

27 Aug - Went to local SS office, brought all documents. Everything seemed fine, I was given the standard letter saying it may be up to 4 weeks (although the lady behind the window told me it was more likely to be 2 weeks)

11 Sep - File for AoS, declining all options to apply for SSN (as advised by lady at SS office as already applied for)

24 Sep - 4 weeks later - no SSN. Call the office, they tell me that SAVE couldn't verify my status

27 Sep - SS office tries to verify my status on SAVE again. It is currently just sitting as pending

 

Can save really be this slow or is there something more serious amiss here? I still have time left on my I-94 so if possible I would really like to get this rectified, mostly so I don't lose my ability to drive (in my state foreign drivers cannot drive on foreign DL after 60 days of establishing residency). I know there is nothing that can be done to "bump" the SAVE system along, but assuming they come back again not being able to verify my status, is there anything else I can do?

 

Hi, my wife had the same issues on her K1 when she entered in Feb 2019. We went to the SSA office the day after she entered the USA (we stood in line forever there!) and was told to come back in a few days to maybe have better luck. 
 

We went back maybe four times. Never got an SSN. Same BS answers you are getting. My wife’s last name is complicated so maybe that was it, but we ended up waiting for her greencard. We checked the box to get SSN with greencard. 
 

She never got EAD or AP issued. Straight greencard which took forever (Nov 2019). 
 

My advice is to try another SSA office. Our SSA office had nice people but they were not the smartest. If you can, go to another location and try again or be prepared to wait.

Edited October 4, 2021 by nekotakacho

[PWB 213]

As of September 30, 2021 Social Security was still closed to walk-in service due to covid.  We had problems getting card because the office made a mistake in processing and the problem compounded due to not being able to discuss situation with a person face to face.  Was able to finally get a card issue but not in her married name.  We were told the GC would have to be issued before name change can take place.

[colin&tina 6]

On 10/1/2021 at 2:30 AM, Chancy said:

 

It's just a more convenient way to apply for SSN, only in case an applicant is not able to get one prior to being issued EAD or GC.  Like in the OP's case, things don't always go well, even if the K1 visa holder applies for SSN soon after arriving in the US.

 

So are you absolutely required to get an SSN before getting an EAD or GC or can you just apply for it with your AoS package? I don't drive, so can't think of a reason I might need an SSN before starting work. Should I just apply for it with AoS or try getting it before, "just in case"?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

5 hours ago, colin&tina said:

So are you absolutely required to get an SSN before getting an EAD or GC or can you just apply for it with your AoS package? I don't drive, so can't think of a reason I might need an SSN before starting work. Should I just apply for it with AoS or try getting it before, "just in case"?

One is not required to have a SSN when applying for AOS or EAD.

 

Reasons people find a SSN useful as soon as possible—

• Filing a joint income tax return with your spouse
• Opening a bank account or getting on the spouse’s account 
• Getting health insurance
• Getting a state ID card (like a DL, but just for photo ID, not driving)
• Landlords ask for them in order to get on a lease. 
• Gettng added to a credit card account 
• Enrolling in school

 

[Albatross 16]

I heard from various sources, that either you needed to APPLY for the SSN BEFORE getting married OR it would be a long circuitous process.  There is another issue as well.  The SSA does NOT communicate directly with whichever agency issues the I-94, and has to get it from somewhere else because of their stupidity.  Forget getting a SSN in 4 weeks.  It took us more than 8, AND that was after I complained to my US Senator's office at the 4 week point.  And I am on good terms with his office...  I don't know if this is part of your problem or not.  We were told to make application with the AoS if you didn't get it before you got married...

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, Albatross said:

I heard from various sources, that either you needed to APPLY for the SSN BEFORE getting married OR it would be a long circuitous process.

I don’t agree with that. Many SSA offices know the rules and issue SSNs to already married K1s. Applying before marriage saves you from asking for a supervisor if you happen to get a worker who doesn’t know the rules. 

[P055UM 281]

5 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I don’t agree with that. Many SSA offices know the rules and issue SSNs to already married K1s. Applying before marriage saves you from asking for a supervisor if you happen to get a worker who doesn’t know the rules. 

I agree with you, @Wuozopo

 

I can understand why it is given as general advice - it can be easier as you note. However, it often just isn't practical to do: I am very happy for those individuals who managed to apply for a SSN within a few days of entering the country, but as you can see from my own story, the earliest possible time for me to be in the SS building was nearly three weeks after I was at the POE. Obviously, you are also advised to get married as quickly as possible, so we did just that. So it is just the way these things sometimes shake out.

 

I am no further in my own journey: I called the SS office on Friday and was greeted by a very rude and defensive member of staff who told me there was nothing they could do for me until the hear back from SAVE. Sigh. It would be so much easier if I could go in person and just wait it out until they were more helpful but due to COVID protocols this isn't possible either. 

 

I must admit I don't see the benefit of the SAVE system in this case: you have to present your I-94 in person at the time you apply - they could check its accuracy themselves on the government's I-94 website if they were concerned about its validity. I know there is always a drive for more automation and efficiency but it seems too many people are left to fall through the cracks with SAVE.

 

Anyway, the quest continues.

[mytruelove18 608]

On 9/30/2021 at 1:10 PM, AW1704 said:

I am having terrible trouble obtaining my SSN after entering on K1 visa. Here is my timeline:

 

8 Aug - Entered on K1 visa

9 Aug - Called local SS office, told to wait two weeks to allow SAVE system to be up to date

20 Aug - Got married!

23 Aug - Called SS office again, arranged for appointment to apply for SSN on 27 Aug

27 Aug - Went to local SS office, brought all documents. Everything seemed fine, I was given the standard letter saying it may be up to 4 weeks (although the lady behind the window told me it was more likely to be 2 weeks)

11 Sep - File for AoS, declining all options to apply for SSN (as advised by lady at SS office as already applied for)

24 Sep - 4 weeks later - no SSN. Call the office, they tell me that SAVE couldn't verify my status

27 Sep - SS office tries to verify my status on SAVE again. It is currently just sitting as pending

 

Can save really be this slow or is there something more serious amiss here? I still have time left on my I-94 so if possible I would really like to get this rectified, mostly so I don't lose my ability to drive (in my state foreign drivers cannot drive on foreign DL after 60 days of establishing residency). I know there is nothing that can be done to "bump" the SAVE system along, but assuming they come back again not being able to verify my status, is there anything else I can do?

 

You need wait get your green card for ssn, because you are merried.

i came in k1 visa, first thing i did was apply for ssn before get merried, because i red before arrived here that after merried k1 get a hard time trying to get ssn, best way is before get merried

[Wuozopo 4,293]

3 hours ago, AW1704 said:

must admit I don't see the benefit of the SAVE system in this case: you have to present your I-94 in person at the time you apply - they could check its accuracy themselves on the government's I-94 website if they were concerned about its validity.

Concerning SAVE. It’s a USCIS database that some agencies get authorization to use. It gives status but not all your USCIS data. My DMV in Texas also uses it. Both my Social Security card and driver’s license had to be issued in the name USCIS had for me as shown in SAVE.
 

As an example my POE entry name was JOHN DOE. My first SS card (K1) had to be issued as JOHN DOE. I asked if my middle name could be on my SS card. No. Once I had a greencard and went to inform SSA of my permanent record status and went to get a driver license, both agencies told me my card/license had to be issued in the SAVE name which was my USCIS name. My greencard was issued JOHH D DOE, so SSA had to mail me a new card with the middle initial added. Driver license had to be JOHN D DOE as well. 
 

Then citizenship rolled along and my naturalization certificate had my full name JOHN DAVID DOE. Seems USCIS now had a third version name they were officially calling me. Went to SSA and DMV to prove my citizenship for their records. I had my naturalization certificate in hand which neither could accept. They both said they had to find my name and status in USCIS records (SAVE). And yes, SSA had to mail me a new card and DMV had to issue me a new license with JOHN DAVID DOE to replace the middle initial version. 
 

So yeah, they must find you in USCIS records and not just believe your I-94, greencard, or naturalization certificate.You used to could buy greencards at the local flea market where it said Tarjetas.  I wouldn’t think a Social Security worker could log in to a Homeland Security (CBP) database to look up your I-94. Different parts of the government

Your whole process would have been easier if not for the closures preventing you from walking in. And your office is not well trained. K1s are pretty rare in the scope of Social Security visits and they don’t deal with them much. I got my SSN after marriage and it arrived in a week. Some places and workers are just better than others. 
 

 

Edited October 4, 2021 by Wuozopo

[P055UM 281]

On 10/1/2021 at 2:21 PM, Allaboutwaiting said:

I don't think you should have issues with AOS. At most, you'd receive an RFE.

I think the form that requires so is the Advance Parole one? If so, then your card could come without your middle name on it -could not as it is a combo card, so the name could be as stated on the EAD form-.

The one that requires it is i-485 ie AOS, the other two do not. I guess it could cause an RFE but then again I wonder what they could even ask since it would be correcting the I-94 to match my passport, birth certificate etc.

 

I think I will contact CBP and try to get my I-94 updated over the phone.

[PBoland 7]

On 9/30/2021 at 5:47 PM, Wuozopo said:

@AW1704
 

Try a different office ASAP. They aren’t giving you very good information.
The wait 2 weeks is old stuff. Your passport scan at POE populates it immediately.

SAVE should be instant. It sounds like they think SAVE should change.  It’s the manual process of sending off to USCIS that they say allow 4 weeks. 
 

if the USCIS entry record (done by passport scan) does not match exactly, they have to manually verify. If your first and middle name are run together into one long name, you don’t match. See anything like a run together name on you I-94?

 

One can’t try any old office.  I called the Oakland County office (Pontiac, MI) and the man was very helpful and eager to assist and try to set up an appointment.  He asked if we lived in Oakland County and I said no but I work in Pontiac that is why I called.  He put the brakes on immediately and said he was sorry but we reside in Macomb County and THAT is the office we must file in.  Upon calling them, it was confirmed we had to file in that office (Chesterfield, MI) and we were told to wait 4-6 weeks (!) for SAVE system.  
So I’m not sure where you reside, but in Michigan that’s the story from the Social Security Administration offices.  No picking and choosing.  

Edited October 4, 2021 by PBoland

[Wuozopo 4,293]

45 minutes ago, PBoland said:

One can’t try any old office.  I called the Oakland County office (Pontiac, MI) and the man was very helpful and eager to assist and try to set up an appointment.  He asked if we lived in Oakland County and I said no but I work in Pontiac that is why I called.  He put the brakes on immediately and said he was sorry but we reside in Macomb County and THAT is the office we must file in.  Upon calling them, it was confirmed we had to file in that office (Chesterfield, MI) and we were told to wait 4-6 weeks (!) for SAVE system.  
So I’m not sure where you reside, but in Michigan that’s the story from the Social Security Administration offices.  No picking and choosing.  

Interesting to know. Thanks.  We have used an office two counties away from our address 3-4 times because they were less crowded. I wonder if the limited appointments now have anything to do with it? Stricter requirements to get an in-person slot. 

[PBoland 7]

9 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Interesting to know. Thanks.  We have used an office two counties away from our address 3-4 times because they were less crowded. I wonder if the limited appointments now have anything to do with it? Stricter requirements to get an in-person slot. 

I presume many of the responses in this thread are pre-COVID and though the intent is to be helpful, it’s apples and oranges. Their experiences are simply moot.

However I think we are going to contact a couple SSA offices based on the conversations herein and see what they say.  It’s almost certainly too late anyway as we are scheduled to get married on the 13th (9 days).  But if we can apply for the darn thing inside of a week then we will.