Processing time for SSN
#16
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Back in Scotland (was OH)
Posts: 39
Re: Processing time for SSN
In NE Ohio here and approaching the end of my fourth week in the US and still no SSN. I am being paid nonetheless as per the responses above.
#19
Just Joined
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Joined: Sep 2016
Location: Arizona
Posts: 28
Re: Processing time for SSN
#21
Just Joined
Joined: May 2015
Location: Denver, CO. Formally Norn Iron, UK
Posts: 16
Re: Processing time for SSN
I moved to Colorado back in June. I waited 10 working days to apply, and the person behind the counter said 4-6 weeks for me as well and that I couldn't come in to get the number before that. I think this might be a stock response.
I phoned them up the next day though, and I spoke to someone else and they said I could come in, so I did and they gave me the number then and there. that was within 48 hours. It might be worth calling your local SSA Office, you don't have anything to lose.
I ended up getting my card in the post anyway after 4 working days, which really surprised me, it seems like that time is very different for everyone.
And as others have mentioned, they can still pay you before they have the number, luckily I had mine already for the first payroll, but our finance person had me setup and ready to go anyway before I had it.
Good luck with the move, I am sure it will be amazing once you are in and settled.
#22
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Joined: Sep 2016
Location: Arizona
Posts: 28
Re: Processing time for SSN
#23
Just Joined
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Joined: Sep 2016
Location: Arizona
Posts: 28
Re: Processing time for SSN
Hi,
I moved to Colorado back in June. I waited 10 working days to apply, and the person behind the counter said 4-6 weeks for me as well and that I couldn't come in to get the number before that. I think this might be a stock response.
I phoned them up the next day though, and I spoke to someone else and they said I could come in, so I did and they gave me the number then and there. that was within 48 hours. It might be worth calling your local SSA Office, you don't have anything to lose.
I ended up getting my card in the post anyway after 4 working days, which really surprised me, it seems like that time is very different for everyone.
And as others have mentioned, they can still pay you before they have the number, luckily I had mine already for the first payroll, but our finance person had me setup and ready to go anyway before I had it.
Good luck with the move, I am sure it will be amazing once you are in and settled.
I moved to Colorado back in June. I waited 10 working days to apply, and the person behind the counter said 4-6 weeks for me as well and that I couldn't come in to get the number before that. I think this might be a stock response.
I phoned them up the next day though, and I spoke to someone else and they said I could come in, so I did and they gave me the number then and there. that was within 48 hours. It might be worth calling your local SSA Office, you don't have anything to lose.
I ended up getting my card in the post anyway after 4 working days, which really surprised me, it seems like that time is very different for everyone.
And as others have mentioned, they can still pay you before they have the number, luckily I had mine already for the first payroll, but our finance person had me setup and ready to go anyway before I had it.
Good luck with the move, I am sure it will be amazing once you are in and settled.
After speaking with his company (and explaining that after speaking with several people we had been reliably informed there should be a way for them to pay him before he received a SSN - thanks everyone!) they have decided that it actually is possible to proceed and the relocation package should be sorted next week. Hooray!
Looking forward to the chaos that the next few weeks should bring and excited to start our US adventure. Thanks so much for the responses and advice, much appreciated.
#24
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 70
Re: Processing time for SSN
My situation differs somewhat because I had been assigned an SSN years ago on a student visa but having lost that card I was prepared for the worst when I got here.
I went to SS Admin Office the day after I arrived and to my delight I got to speak to a very helpful smiley man who couldn't do enough for me. I explained how I had just arrived and had so much to do and he was good enough to type up a note on official headed paper with my address that I gave him on it and my SSN on there as well. I am quite sure you're not meant to do that based on someone's word but he did and I was grateful because that letter with my address on it was good enough to open a bank account and a letter from in turn them was enough documentation (2 with your address along with an I-94 which you need to print off yourself now) to get my drivers test booked.
You need to collect all this stuff in the right order so you can get your life moving in the right direction. I suspect it's 'who you get' a lot of the time at these places.
Within 10 days I had my SSN (and card), a bank account, my drivers license and anything else I required. Since then I've sorted my health and dental insurance and that has been based off the documentation I've collected since I arrived and of course the visa in my passport.
The SSN card itself arrived within a week. Perhaps Glendale SS Admin are just better than elsewhere but I suspect I have been lucky. I tried hard to get all this sorted quickly and it paid off thanks mostly to that first guy at the SSN Admin Office.
I went to SS Admin Office the day after I arrived and to my delight I got to speak to a very helpful smiley man who couldn't do enough for me. I explained how I had just arrived and had so much to do and he was good enough to type up a note on official headed paper with my address that I gave him on it and my SSN on there as well. I am quite sure you're not meant to do that based on someone's word but he did and I was grateful because that letter with my address on it was good enough to open a bank account and a letter from in turn them was enough documentation (2 with your address along with an I-94 which you need to print off yourself now) to get my drivers test booked.
You need to collect all this stuff in the right order so you can get your life moving in the right direction. I suspect it's 'who you get' a lot of the time at these places.
Within 10 days I had my SSN (and card), a bank account, my drivers license and anything else I required. Since then I've sorted my health and dental insurance and that has been based off the documentation I've collected since I arrived and of course the visa in my passport.
The SSN card itself arrived within a week. Perhaps Glendale SS Admin are just better than elsewhere but I suspect I have been lucky. I tried hard to get all this sorted quickly and it paid off thanks mostly to that first guy at the SSN Admin Office.
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2015
Location: New Jersey, USA
Posts: 565
Re: Processing time for SSN
I wonder if the SSA are routinely doing more checks now before issuing a social security number?
When I got mine last year the card arrived within a week.
When I got mine last year the card arrived within a week.
#27
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Joined: Sep 2016
Location: Arizona
Posts: 28
Re: Processing time for SSN
#28
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2016
Location: Back in Scotland (was OH)
Posts: 39
Re: Processing time for SSN
Just a quick update if anyone is interested - just received my social security card through the post today - exactly 4 weeks to the day that I applied for it (though the card has 24th Oct - 1 week ago printed on it).