Wibblypig

When we arrived here back in September my husband went to the SSA the day after we landed (knowing that the recommended from here was to wait 10 days), he received his SSN within 2 weeks over the phone. He was however told they are not normally supposed to give the number over the phone but he said he couldn't be paid otherwise and it worked Not sure how long the card took to arrive as it went to my in-laws and they were away at the time for 2 months!

HTH

Vicki

Qube

I arrived on the 20th of December, flew into Boston. But have now moved to New York (stayed at the in-laws). I should probably call to see what's going on now? Obviously with all the holidays it won't have sped up my case. Was hoping to leave it and let the stuff arrive at the in-laws and then change my address in case it held things up even more. Start work next Monday so would like to start getting paid.

Can I go to the local social security office here for an update (could just say I'm here on holiday for a bit) or do I have to go to my "local" office according to the address that's on record?

ian-mstm

SSA is federal - so all offices will have access to the same information.

Ian

sir_eccles

Don't forget to file AR-11 online to tell USCIS your change of address, you're meant to do it within 10 days.

Qube

Thanks, I'll bug the local office here then.

I thought I had 30 days to do it? I've only been here a few days so far.

Bob

No, 10.

parmenion2

Just an update...

The lady at the SSN office rang my work the other day (7 days after my initial entry to the USA, although I left again 3 days after entering) saying my SS number was ready. She also posted it to the address I listed and it arrived the next day. She said my formal SS card should arrive in a couple of weeks.

She did not give out my SSN over the phone to work, but said she would if I had rung. As it arrived the next day in the mail I didn't bother.

SO in answer to an earlier question on this thread....

YES you can arrive to the USA, apply for a SSN then leave while it is being processed.

You do not have to wait 10 days before applying as long as the officer knows to hold your application and check the SAVE database each day. They are actually required to do this - if you read www.greencards.com/docs/SSA-10days.pdf you will know more about it then they do.

If you have no time pressure then it is safer to wait 10 days before applying. This avoids the officer not bothering to wait for your US entry to appear in the SAVE database and sending you for manual verification, which can take weeks.

Hope this helps!

xathras

I can't wait for mine to arrive. Applied on 16th December, want to get my License, Car, Insurance etc.

Called last week and no joy

I guess I am asking a bit to much since I applied right near the Christmas Holiday season

ian-mstm

Just a word of warning to others reading... this link is to an AILA document and not an SSA document. Further, it's almost 5 years old. It could still be correct... but it also could be out-of-date information. Also, it is common knowledge that SSA regulations are not applied evenly across the country... so even if it's SOP at one office, it doesn't necessarily follow that the regulations will be followed at another office.

Ian

Steve_

No-one asked the question, so I will: why is the OP in such a hurry to get his SSN? You can start work without it. E-verify is also designed to take this problem into account.

I know there can be landlord/credit/silly State law issues, but there's usually a way around them until you get the SSN.

Qube

I went down to my nearest SS office on Friday and I wasn't even on the system yet (been here since the 20th of December), so they advised I go to the office that specialises in social security cards in Brooklyn on Fulton Street. Turns out the system had my first name down as both my first name and middle name combined as one! Anyway, they've fired off a new application for me and hopefully I'll get it soon. But now the company I work for (it's a job transfer) have paid me for January in the UK, so I guess I'll have some extra filing to do when doing the taxes at the end of the year.

I never realised my middle name (which is Richard, nothing exotic!) would cause me so many problems. I got a bank account with TD bank a couple of days after I arrived, all seemed to be going ok until a card got blocked, when I went to the bank to find out why I noticed on their system they had me filed with my middle name as my surname!

parmenion2

You can't apply for a medical license in the state of California without an SSN.

You can't start work as a doctor without a medical license.

As you can't apply for an SSN without an I-94, and the medical license application takes minimum 6 weeks, you are potentially stuck waiting around all that time not getting paid. Hence the desire to go back home and work while the medical license is being processed.

newadventure

Don't know if anyone here has any bright ideas: i arrived on an L1 B visa on 1st April. Went to SS office on 3rd April with my wife (L2 visa) to apply for SSN. Hers came through 2 weeks later, i still (7 weeks later) have heard nothing. I keep calling the SS office but they say it is with Homeland security and they can do nothing to chase. I have managed to buy a car, sort out health insurance, rent a house without it, but can't get paid which is a bit of a pain. Any thoughts/advice appreciated, thanks

Bob

Bugger all you can do about it. Once you're being manually verified, you've just got to wait and can take 6-10 weeks.

You can get paid though, but the employer takes out the maximum taxes, which you can adjust once you get the SSN and claim any over paid taxes when you file your taxes next year.

newadventure

Bob,
Thanks for that, i was unaware