ELAINECHRISTMAS

:Aaaaahhh. Got it. Thanks

bequibar

I went to the SSN office today and the lady said I'd probably not show up in their system because my certificate was only 2 days old.
I insisted, I was already there, with all my paperwork.

A few keystrokes later, my file went fine through the system. But the lady said it usually takes your file 10 days from the date of your Naturalization Oath Ceremony to show up at their end, so, just try not to go immediately.

Then I went to the Post Office to request my passport. It was 3:40 pm. I checked in at their clipboard thing. They asked to see all my paperwork, I showed them I had everything. They told me to sit down and not move.

They made me wait 40 minutes.

They ushered the ladies before me and then they stopped me. They told me they were closing for the day and the last people they'd process were the ladies right in front of me, even though we signed on the clipboard within a minute of each other.

There was no reasoning there.

*sigh*

S Folinsky

I was curious about the strong suggestion to update the records at SSA. When I was in practice, we never recommended that this be done. So I have now researched it.

It seems that many government [both state and federal] access the social security database for confirmation of citizenship. Otherwise, there is no particular reason to update the records at SSA.

Do note that a new number will not be issued nor is a replacement card necessary. [BTW, the only time that I, a native born AmCit, was required to show my actual SS card was to post a cash immigration bond with the former INS -- my US passport was not sufficient. Go figure].

fatbrit

Otherwise than HR fires you as an illegal or MVD wants to stamp johnny foreigner across you license or take it off you.

Plenty of reasons to update your records

MarylandNed

Yep - I know that the US Dept of Education uses the SSA to confirm citizenship status for college financial aid applications (FAFSA). We didn't know about the need to update our SSA records when we naturalized 6 years ago. It came back to bite us when our daughter's financial aid application was delayed last year because the SSA could not confirm that she was a US citizen. I went into the local SSA office with our passports to get our records updated.

You keep the same SSN but I was told that the system automatically sends you a new card (which we received about 10 days later). The date the SSA record was updated is typed on the front of the new card.

The fix must have worked because our 2nd daughter's FAFSA has been processed this year without any issues.

deng890

Just to add my own tale- NJ DMV checked my social security number and denied me a license because I had never reported my new citizenship status to SSA. I had to go to SSA, fill out a form and then wait 2 weeks for a new card to be mailed (yes, even though the card is identical to the old one...they took away my old card at the SSA office, very idiotic).

Was particularly stressful because I had gone well past the grace period to transfer my license from my former state of residence and said former state DMV had caught on and were screaming for their license back.

ian-mstm

That's simply idiotic, considering there is no law that requires you to ever inform SSA that you're a USC.

Ian

MarylandNed

Not everything needs to be covered by a law. Government agencies often put policies in place that have nothing to do with any particular legislation. As I said earlier, the US Dept of Education uses SSA records to confirm US citizenship. They wouldn't accept any other proof of my daughter's US citizenship apart from an updated SSA record because that's how their computer system works.

It's not just government agencies. There's no law that says you must have a SSN - but try operating without one. You can legally refuse to provide a SSN to your employer - but then the employer can decide not to hire you. You can legally refuse to provide a SSN to a lender - but then the lender can decide not to lend you any money.

MarylandNed

The SSA didn't take away our old SSN cards so at least we have some spares now. Our new cards are slightly different in that they have the date the SSA record was updated printed on the front.

deng890

Yes, I only realized after that my mistake was to physically produce my old card to them, had I just kept it in my wallet they would have never taken it.

deng890

idiotic doesn't even begin to describe it. After the SSA lady took my cards I protested, telling her that I needed the card to get a a NJ DL and I had to get the license ASAP. The SSA, to their credit, helpfully gave me a signed and notarized letter stating that SS # XXX-XX-XXXX belonged to me, and told me that such a letter is commonly accepted at the DMV.

So I made my way back to the DMV with the SSA letter in hand, and handed it to the DMV official. He initially accepted it, but then looked at my US Passport and said "Oh hang on, we can't accept this letter. NJ DMV regulations states that only persons born in the US can use this letter. You have to wait and come back with your actual SS card." I was furious, and demanded to see the supervisor who stated the same thing, pointing out the NJ reg that says this.

I don't know what was worse....the fact that NJ had such a pointlessly discriminatory regulation or the fact that someone out there in the NJ government is paid to come up with this shite.

ian-mstm

Yup... found that out for myself almost 2 years ago.


Since you aren't required to produce a SSN until after you're hired, I'm sure there's a non sequitur in there someplace!

Ian

MarylandNed

Don't get me started on the DMV because I'll have to start using bad words. What a useless bunch of tossers. I have hated every single instance I have had to deal with them. I swear your life expectancy is somehow related to the number of times you have to deal with the DMV - inversely proportional.

TimFountain

I use it all the time as it does not have my address on (one less thing for a rogue TSA screener to potentially use). I had one clerk who asked for another form of ID, saying the PP card was not acceptable; in return I asked for his supervisor and when that sup came the supe balled him out for not knowing his job....

Paulster

Hi There - how long did the application process take? Thanks!