New social security card received AFTER naturalization but WITHOUT needing to go to the SS office

[Adventine 3,212]

I filed online for naturalization in Sept 2024 and took the oath in Jan 2025. In the online form where it asks "Do you want the Social Security Administration (SSA) to issue you an original or replacement Social Security card and update your immigration status with the SSA if and when you are naturalized?" I answered YES.

 

Today I received a new SS card in the mail, less than two weeks after my oathtaking and without needing to go to the SS office.

 

Great, for once the USCIS and SS systems talked to each other properly!

 

Hope this saves others a step in their post-naturalization to-do list.

[OldUser 7,528]

I checked the box.

Now I kinda regret it though. I have SS card without any restrictions. Looks like I may get a replacement card, which is going to be identical. I only needed to update citizenship status in SSA database. There's a limit on how many times one can replace SS card...

[TBoneTX 46,119]

1 hour ago, Adventine said:

took the oath in Jan 2025

Congratulations, A ma'am!   

[Rekyrts 63]

15 hours ago, OldUser said:

I checked the box.

Now I kinda regret it though. I have SS card without any restrictions. Looks like I may get a replacement card, which is going to be identical. I only needed to update citizenship status in SSA database. There's a limit on how many times one can replace SS card...

 

I *think* SSA-initiated card disbursements do not count against the total.

[Rekyrts 63]

16 hours ago, Adventine said:

I filed online for naturalization in Sept 2024 and took the oath in Jan 2025. In the online form where it asks "Do you want the Social Security Administration (SSA) to issue you an original or replacement Social Security card and update your immigration status with the SSA if and when you are naturalized?" I answered YES.

 

Today I received a new SS card in the mail, less than two weeks after my oathtaking and without needing to go to the SS office.

 

Great, for once the USCIS and SS systems talked to each other properly!

 

Hope this saves others a step in their post-naturalization to-do list.

 

Still hit and miss for folks, but seems to be more reliable of late.

As an extra check (if you want to bother): if it allows you to go through the motions of ordering a replacement via you online SSA account, you know you citizenship has been updated.

[OldUser 7,528]

28 minutes ago, Rekyrts said:

 

I *think* SSA-initiated card disbursements do not count against the total.

But didn't I initiate it by requesting it through N-400? I checked the box

Edited 1 hour ago by OldUser

[Rekyrts 63]

5 minutes ago, OldUser said:

But didn't I initiate it by requesting it through N-400? I checked the box

 

I asked the SSA staffer when I went to update after naturalizing, because they ordered a new one for me. I had received an unrestricted one after AOS, so I didn't need a new one. I was told if it was done as part of AOS or citizenship updates, it didn't count against the total.

Then again, being told this by a government employee means there is a good chance that it DOES count, so your caution is prudent.

[OldUser 7,528]

9 minutes ago, Rekyrts said:

 

I asked the SSA staffer when I went to update after naturalizing, because they ordered a new one for me. I had received an unrestricted one after AOS, so I didn't need a new one. I was told if it was done as part of AOS or citizenship updates, it didn't count against the total.

Then again, being told this by a government employee means there is a good chance that it DOES count, so your caution is prudent.

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Looks like me replacing card earlier to remove wording didn't count towards the limit:

 

SSN cards not counted in determining limits

In determining when an individual has met the yearly or lifetime limits, do not count replacement cards issued for:

•Original SSN cards;

•A legal name change (i.e., first name or surname);

•The addition, change, or removal of a restrictive legend (i.e., Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization or Not Valid for Employment);

 

https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110205400

 

Not sure why would somebody add restrictive language once they have unrestricted card 😃

 

Edited 59 minutes ago by OldUser