Processing time for SSN
 

Hi everyone, newbie here but have been lurking for a while and have found so much helpful information over the last few months so, thanks all.

My husband entered the US a couple of weeks ago on an L1 visa and he's trying to find a home to rent before myself and the kids can join him out there. Now, the company are providing a relocation package for us but this can't/won't be finalised until he has switched over to an american contract (he is currently on a contract with the british branch of the company). And the company can't/won't change him to a US contract until he has his SSN.

From my research on here, my understanding was that he should wait 2 weeks after entering the country on the L1 visa before applying for his SSN. Also, that the processing time could be a few weeks but he could wait 24 hours after applying and then go back in to write down his SSN (I may have misunderstood this part or read old information?).

Anyway, he went to the social security office today and he has been told that it will take 4-6 weeks before it is issued and there is absolutely no way he can find out his number before this.

I understand in the grand scheme of things 4-6 weeks isn't too bad but obviously, we are keen to join him out there as soon as possible (especially with christmas fast approaching).

So, to my question, was I totally wrong in believing he could find out the SSN 24 hours after applying? Or has he been given the wrong information?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Hi,

I moved to Texas in January this year, i went to the social security office on the 2nd day i was here, i got my card in the mail 10 days later.

Also - my company employed and paid me without an SSN. I believe there is some sort of code for a 'pending' SSN.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

The company certainly "can" take care of the situation but just don't want to, especially if they have a sister company in UK. Makes me wonder in long run is this the sort of company to work for. In the past I was with a company that brought UK employees, we bent over backwards to help them in such situations especially if they had families.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Did the SS rep tell him why it would take so long? If, for some reason, your husband's immigration information was not in their system, then they have to do a manual verification, and that does take 4 to 6 or even 8 weeks to complete. But if he waited 2 weeks after arrival, his info should have been in there.

Your understanding is correct as far as I'm aware, assuming the information is in the SS system.

Rene

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear you had such a speedy process and hopefully we aren't waiting 6+ weeks.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

I do agree that there must be something the company can do but i can't really complain about them too much. They have been fantastic in most respects and he has worked for them for over a decade. I think half the problem is the chain of communication re the specifics of the relocation package/process is a bit jumbled, the stock response to most queries seems to be they need to speak to someone else (or several different people) to find out the information or to receive approval.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Hi and thanks for your reply. The rep didn't give any particular reason for the wait time. She said that the number is not generated until the card is issued and that this would take 6-8 weeks. He did specifically say that he had heard he could go back in the next day to make a note of the number whilst waiting for the card to be issued but she said no and repeated that the number isn't generated until the card is issued.

And yes, I made sure to tell him not to go in before 14 days - from researching this site, which has been such a fantastic resource over the last few months.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

As above, I came in on an L1 back in March. Thankfully I didn't need the SSN right away as I remain paid in the UK (sigh). Anyways, I went in roughly 3 weeks into being here and whilst I can't say exactly how long, it can't have been longer than 2 weeks to receive it. I'm in Texas, fwiw.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Yes some companies always have some reason for why this or that cant be done. Hope it is resolved soon !

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Thanks for replying. Glad to hear yours didn't take too long either. Fingers crossed his comes through sooner than expected.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Very true. Thanks, me too!

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

It does sound like his application has been put into manual verification - if his details don't match exactly what the CBP officer entered into the system the first time your husband entered under L-1, then it gets bumped to the manual verification. It happened to me, and no, they wouldn't tell me what the number was either until I got the card. Maybe if the application hadn't required the manual verification then yes he could have been told his SSN within 24 hours.

I signed my contract and was working for nearly 3 months before I got my SSN - others here have reported also starting work without while waiting for the number to come through. It seems to be a common misconception among some HR/payroll departments that an SSN is required. It seems that they use the SSN as a proxy for the requirement to show that the employee is authorised to work - your husband's visa does that but getting someone to understand can be tough, especially if "computer says no". Eg they can enter 000-00-0000 as the SSN into the payroll software so he can still get paid.

If your husband's company isn't used to transferring foreign employees into the US office, he may be doing them a favour in the long term by educating them. I guess it may be a case of "pick your battles" though.

It must be very frustrating for you, but you'll get there soon!

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Hi there and thanks for your response. Yes, I suppose there's nothing we can do now but wait for SSN card to arrive. At least the ball is rolling.

He is going to speak with HR and see if there is anything they can do, given the unexpected delay. Hopefully they can find a way around this and switch him over to a US contract while we wait for the SSN to be issued.

It's just a bit difficult being in a kind of limbo over here, surrounded by boxes waiting for the relocation package to be arranged before we can join him out there. Doesn't help that patience is not one of my virtues!

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Texas too. Mine took 2 weeks. I was paid in the UK though for my first 90 days and managed to time my transition to US Payroll for 1st Jan.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Our first move to the US was to TX as well and our SSNs took less than 2 weeks even though they said expect them in approx. 4 weeks.

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.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Thanks for your reply. Is there any particular reason to time it for the 1st January?

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Glad to hear they can come sooner than expected! Thanks.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Thanks for the reply. Hope yours arrives soon. Good to know that being paid without the SSN is indeed possible.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

My guess would be to coincide with US tax year.

Rene

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.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Thanks for that. I spent so much time and energy researching the L1 visa process and the actual 'moving' part - I need to spend a bit of time researching the 'everything we need to know when living there' part!

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Excellent! Thanks for the reply. Hopefully we'll be in for a pleasant surprise then. I'll get my husband to give them a call and see - like you say, nothing to lose.

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.

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.

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.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

I think you're right.

Thanks for the reply, glad to hear it all fell nicely into place for you.

Re: Processing time for SSN
 

Could very well be the case. Although if these kind of delays are going to happen to anyone it's usually us!

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).