SSN not arrived

[iCodeClean 20]

Hey everybody,

I entered the United States around 3 weeks ago. However, my SSN didn't arrive yet and like other people, I now got an offer letter from a company. They stated that I need to provide my SSN before I start, and I should start in a little more than a week.

I called the public SSA phone number and, after a long wait, they told me that it can take up to 6 weeks for people who entered the US from overseas. The 3 weeks waiting time is only for US citizens applying for the first time. I should call again by the end of June.

So I googled again, and the ssa.gov pages FAQ says that if after 3 weeks of arrival the card didn't arrive I should call. I also searched the SAVE database and the result is empty.

I'm now thinking about if I should go to the local SSO and apply for a number, even though I checked YES for the SSN on my visa form.

It's a good job and they have many other potential candidates. I don't want to "lose" the job because I don't have my SSN yet.

Does someone have advice for me?

Thank you in advance!

[Mike E 11,739]

Go to the nearest SSA office and apply for your SSN.

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from Working & Traveling During US Immigration to the SSN sub-forum ***

 

1 hour ago, iCodeClean said:

I'm now thinking about if I should go to the local SSO and apply for a number

 

Yes, go to an SSA office and apply for SSN.  But even if you apply in person, you may not get your SSN on the spot.  The SSN card will need to be mailed to you.

 

In the meantime, is there a deadline date for accepting that job offer?  The offer letter could be based on some company boilerplate.  If you still don't have your SSN when it's almost the deadline, contact the company and ask if it's ok for you to start working while waiting for your SSN card.  Reiterate that you are legally authorized to work and can meet the I-9 requirements.

 

[iCodeClean 20]

21 minutes ago, Chancy said:

*** Moved from Working & Traveling During US Immigration to the SSN sub-forum ***

 

 

Yes, go to an SSA office and apply for SSN.  But even if you apply in person, you may not get your SSN on the spot.  The SSN card will need to be mailed to you.

 

In the meantime, is there a deadline date for accepting that job offer?  The offer letter could be based on some company boilerplate.  If you still don't have your SSN when it's almost the deadline, contact the company and ask if it's ok for you to start working while waiting for your SSN card.  Reiterate that you are legally authorized to work and can meet the I-9 requirements.

 

We did the same thing for my son a few days after we arrived. He received his SSN within a week, and I think if I can tell my potential employer that I applied for the SSN and that it should come within 2 or 3 weeks, that it will be ok. It would probably be a problem if I wait 3 more weeks to reach their 6 weeks deadline before I apply for a card. 
 

I didn’t know if I could get in trouble when applying for a new card at my local office, even though I checked “yes” on my DS-260. But I will go to the local office tomorrow morning and apply for a SSN, thanks to your replies. 
 

Thank you for the advice!

[iCodeClean 20]

So, I did go to my local SSA office this morning.

I said that I want to apply for a SSN for the first time. They typed in my name and birthdate into their computer after I provided them with my passport and birth certificate. The result for them showed empty, so the guy checked with a co-worker on what to do. After he came back, he told me that I have to wait 6 weeks before applying for a SSN, so that they can prevent creating the number 2 times. I told him that I never applied for one. He told me, still, they do that automatic and that they have to give them that time. I also told him that even the ssa.gov page itself states that I should only wait 3 weeks, even when I applied for one. He told me that yes, but they put out the wrong information. He assured me that my specific local SSA office has to wait at least 6 weeks.

He then told me that I should come back at the end of the month or beginning of next month, if I don't have it by then.

[Mike E 11,739]

Now go to second nearest SSA office.

[iCodeClean 20]

12 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Now go to second nearest SSA office.

I didn’t know that I could go to another one. The next one takes about 45 minutes to get there, but I’ll start driving in a few minutes. Thanks for the hint!

[iCodeClean 20]

I’m currently waiting to be called at the other local SSA. In the meantime I checked my I94 on the website and it states that my most recent visit was last year (our last vacation here). 
 

I guess something isn’t correct or the officer at the border didn’t register my entry?

[Mike E 11,739]

I-94s are not issued to LPRs

[iCodeClean 20]

Good to know, thank you Mike!

 

But that an empty result is returned from the SAVE database means it’s at least not yet in process right?

[Mike E 11,739]

43 minutes ago, iCodeClean said:

 

But that an empty result is returned from the SAVE database means it’s at least not yet in process right?

What is not in progress?

[iCodeClean 20]

26 minutes ago, Mike E said:

What is not in progress?

The process of issuing the SSN. 
 

i just filled applied for the SSN at the other SSA. It worked. Thank you!

[Mike E 11,739]

20 minutes ago, iCodeClean said:

. 
 

i just filled applied for the SSN at the other SSA. It worked. Thank you!

Haha. This reminds me of a George Carlin joke:

 

“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”
 

Referring to the drone at the first SSA office.

 

I would told you to drive a spiral pattern of SSA offices that took you to Alaska, California, Florida,  and Maine if that was what it took.

 

Happy for you. 

[iCodeClean 20]

23 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Haha. This reminds me of a George Carlin joke:

 

“Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.”
 

Referring to the drone at the first SSA office.

 

I would told you to drive a spiral pattern of SSA offices that took you to Alaska, California, Florida,  and Maine if that was what it took.

 

Happy for you. 

Yes, I didn’t think that 2 different SSA offices would do and say totally different things. If you wouldn’t have given me the hint, I would still have waited. 
 

So thank you again!

[iCodeClean 20]

I just got home and had mail in my inbox from the local SSA. It states that they cannot issue a social security number at this time, because I have not given them

 

- Documents they need to show age

- Documents they need to show identity

- Documents they need to show U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status

 

The date on the letter is May 11th. 
 

If I disagree with the above I can ask them to review the case. Someone who did not look at it will then review it again. 
 

I never went there personally and applied, since they wouldn’t let me. 
 

I guess it’s good that I went to another SSA today and applied for one.