JimBeam

So I had my marriage based visa stamped as i went through passport control on the 10th July. All good. Flew back to UK to sort a few bits out and will be returning to the US for good in October.

Now, I'm still awaiting my social security number that I did ask for on the forms. I read somewhere that this should only take about 3 weeks to come through. They have a US address to send correspondence to.

Anyone else experienced a longish wait for their number and is there somewhere where I can chase this up?

Thanks folks.

Noorah101

It could take longer than 3 weeks.

The only way is to chase it up in person at the local SS office when you get back to the USA, if it hasn't arrived by then.

Rene

JimBeam

Great, thanks Rene for the quick reply.

civilservant

I know Speedwells husband was able to obtain his SSN from an SS Office after only about 5 days, not sure he has received the paper card yet though.

rpjs

Ticking the box on the DS-230 form requesting a SSN application be filed for you on arrival doesn't always work, although it does for most people. Sometimes CBP forget to action it.

You're now past ten working days since you immigrated, which means you should now be on the immigration computer system that the SSA uses to verify your eligibility for an SSN. That means that even if your application wasn't processed on arrival, you can go to a local Social Security office and file a form SS-5 to request a number and card.

The SSA office should be able to confirm your eligibility there and then. If your original application on the DS-230 was actioned correctly on arrival, they can give you a letter stating your SSN then. If it wasn't actioned, and they accept your SS-5 application, you can go back the next day to get the letter with your number. The actual Social Security Card will turn up in the mail a few weeks later.

Speedwell

He received the paper card 3 business days after the appointment at the office. I don't know when he would have received it had we not gone to the office!

KCK_DR

My father got his right away, but my mother's info was not entered at all so we had to apply for a number. Go figure! By the way they entered on the same day at the same place and processed by the same agent.

Carlisle401

Hi Punjama,

Did he just go to the Social Security office and get his number. I have been here 20 days and have not received anything. I have to go to Norway for three weeks today. If it hasn't,t come by then, I will go to the SS office.

PS I have just had a cup of your favorite tea

JimBeam

Thats good to know. Thanks for posting.

civilservant

Well I arrived yesterday, I'm going to leave it a couple of weeks and then visit the SS Office. Let's see if the DS-230 got where it needed to go!

Carlisle401

Well I got back from Norway on the 9th September and still no SSN. I went down to the SS Office and was told that Homeland Security was holding it up. I was getting worried. The girl at SS then said that they couldn't figure out my first name, James or James Alexander. I filled many forms showing my first and second name!!!!! Then she said it happens all the time.
It will take maximum four weeks.

civilservant

My Green Card arrives today, off to the SS Office on Tuesday since I was told that after 3 weeks I should apply for one.

Ailidh

It took at least 3 months (after getting his green card) for my husband to get his SSN. We re-applied (I had already applied when applying for his green card) at the SS office. We went back by, we called numerous times. He finally got the card after we sent a letter complaining about all the erroneous information we had been getting from SS (they claimed it was Homeland Security holding things up, we went down to Homeland Security and they said that was nonsense.. actually I think the HS guy said bullsh*t..). A letter (registered with acknowledgement of receipt) seemed to work (because it left a written trace) where visits to the SS office and phone calls didn't.

Carlisle401

Many thanks for the info. I would like to get it because I would like to get my AZ Drivers license and of course a credit card.
What really got to me was the fact that they thought my first is James Alexander and not James.

Ailidh

That's weird. They did the same thing with my husband, claiming his first and middle names were combined. I wonder if that's really a problem or if it's a standard excuse they use to explain their incompetence.

Good luck! We discovered you can't do anything without a SSN: driver's license (can't do anything without that), open a bank account, etc.