Ken

Hi there,

I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
it.

My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.

Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.

Ken

R J

"Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    | Hi there,
    |
    | I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    | not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    | with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    | it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    | cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    | it.
    |
    | My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    | till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    | to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    | a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    |
    | Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    |
    | Ken

As far as I know:
Anyone that works in the US must have a SS number/card.
The Social Security Administration will not issue one to a non-citizen, or
PR, unless they have an approved "work status". That means that the local
SSA office would not issue you a Social Security number without a valid TN
status, I-94 with TN.
Therefore, you must apply for a TN at a Port of Entry, and, if you are
issued a TN status, then go to a local SSA office and apply for a SSN.
As to whether you can start working while the number is being processed,
that is something you will have to take up with the employer.


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Gigiri

Hi Ken,
I'm a Canadian too and in your situation. I intend to travel to
Buffalo to process mine within the month.
Any followup advice on the SSN issuance for TN Holders?
Your input will be appreciated,
Tom.

[email protected] (Ken) wrote in message news:<[email protected]. com>...
    > Hi there,
    >
    > I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    > not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    > with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    > it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    > cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    > it.
    >
    > My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    > till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    > to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    > a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    >
    > Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    >
    > Ken

Ken

"R J" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
    > "Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > | Hi there,
    > |
    > | I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    > | not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    > | with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    > | it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    > | cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    > | it.
    > |
    > | My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    > | till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    > | to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    > | a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    > |
    > | Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    > |
    > | Ken
    >
    > As far as I know:
    > Anyone that works in the US must have a SS number/card.
    > The Social Security Administration will not issue one to a non-citizen, or
    > PR, unless they have an approved "work status". That means that the local
    > SSA office would not issue you a Social Security number without a valid TN
    > status, I-94 with TN.
    > Therefore, you must apply for a TN at a Port of Entry, and, if you are
    > issued a TN status, then go to a local SSA office and apply for a SSN.
    > As to whether you can start working while the number is being processed,
    > that is something you will have to take up with the employer.
    >
    >

I know all that. But the problem is with the employer who doesn't get it
that I should first get the TN visa before I can apply for SSN. I don't
know how to make him understand this.

Ken

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L D Jones

R J wrote:
    >
    > "Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > | Hi there,
    > |
    > | I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    > | not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    > | with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    > | it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    > | cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    > | it.
    > |
    > | My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    > | till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    > | to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    > | a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    > |
    > | Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    > |
    > | Ken
    >
    > As far as I know:
    > Anyone that works in the US must have a SS number/card.
    > The Social Security Administration will not issue one to a non-citizen, or
    > PR, unless they have an approved "work status". That means that the local

Don't permanent residents have work status by definition? I think any PR
can get an SSN

CanExPat

You usually cannot get a SSN unless you can prove you need one, typically this is because you need it for employment or to get a driver's license.

So in this case, you will need to apply for the SSN at the office nearest your US home. This means the application is done AFTER you are admitted into the US.

Bring your passport, I-94 and some proof of your US address (a letter mailed to you).

You can start working immediately (before you get the SSN), but the employer may not pay you until you give them the number.

If you SSN does not arrive after 10 days, some offices will give the number to you in person or on the phone.

All the above info is from my recollection of research and my own experience. It may not be 100% accurate, but should be close! Remember that every office operates differently because there are no hard rules.

You should convince your company to seek a lawyer regarding the TN - it all sounds simple, but it is also easy to screw up. They can also explain the SSN process.

R J

"Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    | "R J" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
    | > "Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    | > news:[email protected]...
    | > | Hi there,
    | > |
    | > | I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    | > | not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    | > | with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    | > | it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    | > | cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    | > | it.
    | > |
    | > | My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    | > | till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    | > | to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    | > | a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    | > |
    | > | Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    | > |
    | > | Ken
    | >
    | > As far as I know:
    | > Anyone that works in the US must have a SS number/card.
    | > The Social Security Administration will not issue one to a non-citizen,
or
    | > PR, unless they have an approved "work status". That means that the
local
    | > SSA office would not issue you a Social Security number without a valid
TN
    | > status, I-94 with TN.
    | > Therefore, you must apply for a TN at a Port of Entry, and, if you are
    | > issued a TN status, then go to a local SSA office and apply for a SSN.
    | > As to whether you can start working while the number is being processed,
    | > that is something you will have to take up with the employer.
    | >
    | >
    |
    | I know all that. But the problem is with the employer who doesn't get it
    | that I should first get the TN visa before I can apply for SSN. I don't
    | know how to make him understand this.
    |
    | Ken
    |


Short of asking the employer to call an Immigration attorney, I don't know
how you could convince them.


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R J

"L D Jones" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    | R J wrote:
    | >
    | > "Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    | > news:[email protected]...
    | > | Hi there,
    | > |
    | > | I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    | > | not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    | > | with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    | > | it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    | > | cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    | > | it.
    | > |
    | > | My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    | > | till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    | > | to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    | > | a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    | > |
    | > | Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    | > |
    | > | Ken
    | >
    | > As far as I know:
    | > Anyone that works in the US must have a SS number/card.
    | > The Social Security Administration will not issue one to a non-citizen,
or
    | > PR, unless they have an approved "work status". That means that the
local
    |
    | Don't permanent residents have work status by definition? I think any PR
    | can get an SSN

I believe you are right. My mistake.



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Immigration News

You need a SSN to work in the U.S. Once you have the TN, you can apply for
the SSN and should have it in 4 to 6 weeks.



"Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi there,
    > I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    > not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    > with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    > it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    > cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    > it.
    > My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    > till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    > to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    > a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    > Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    > Ken

Amanda

"Immigration News" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<sUE5c.34430$Zp.27412@fed1read07>...
    > You need a SSN to work in the U.S. Once you have the TN, you can apply for
    > the SSN and should have it in 4 to 6 weeks.
    >
    >
I think 2 weeks
    >
    > "Ken" <[email protected]> wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > > Hi there,
    > >
    > > I am Canadian and am getting an offer from a US company that is
    > > not very familiar with TN. They keep asking me to provide them
    > > with the social security number and I don't have one. They say
    > > it is difficult these days to get one and not having one might
    > > cause some problems and it may also take quite some time to get
    > > it.
    > >
    > > My understanding is that one can start working and getting paid
    > > till the SSN comes in mail. Also I don't think one really needs
    > > to get one if you are not American or a PR of US. IRS can issue
    > > a Tax ID Number to aliens for income tax purposes.
    > >
    > > Please feel free to share your experiences and advice in this regard.
    > >
    > > Ken

crg

First you get the offer letter, then get the TN approved, then you get the SSN by showing the approved TN to the Social Security people.

What would your job title be?