Problems at the Social Security office

[vyzwz]

Hi ,

I Cp'd in Chennai and POE'd in LAX on Apr 30th 2001.

Went to the SS office to change my status and the person there told me that the Alien # was not on their file. She suggested I contact the INS and find out why they have not sent my info to the SS office.

The strangest thing was that she checked on my status by using my SS#. SHe said that the INS sends my Alien # linking it to my SS# using information from my application.

OK then ... What happens in cases of new immigrants ? If the INS takes, lets us say 3-6 mts to send the Alien # to the SS office, how does a new immigrant get a SS # right away ?

advice will be helpful.

[Nikki1997]

Alion Number is the 'A' number in your passport with I-551 stamp.

[Mihika]

This is strange

I got my SS card changed in Fremont CA. The officer just looked at my passport and accepted my application. In fact I got my new card also.

Did you take your passport with I-551 stamp on it with you ?

[JoeF]

Re: This is strange

I concur. I went to my Social Security office the day after I entered (I did CP).
I got the new card without any problems.
I suggest you talk to a supervisor if you keep having this problem.

-JoeF

[abu lafya]

Re: This is strange

I went to SS office 3 days after POE, with no problems.

I don't think SS computer system and that of INS are so efficiently linked, or otherwise GC might have taken 2 months to issue (because of mailing delays), but I don't know that for a fact.

[ndcp25]

problems at SS office

First of all, when you enter the country as an immigrant, you don't necessarily need to
have a social security number already.

Go to SS office with the I-551 passport on your stamp, fill SS-5 application form and apply
for SS. They will look up your arrival record by your alien number A xxxxxxxx. They have
no business checking by your SS #. This is what we did.. Then simply mention that you
already have a SS number. Now if they say they can't find your A number on their computer
then someone screwed up and you need to contact local INS/ INS at POE.

When you got your SS based on H1, it'll say "Valid for employment with INS authorization only"
This restriction will be removed. If your spouse entered on H4 and it said "not valid for employment"
that will go away too. This is the main purpose of getting the new SS card. With this done, your
SS card along with your DL is all you need for getting a new employment etc.

[viv98]

Social Security Number

Hi,

I completed my CP and entered in US last week. I know that myself and the family need to apply for SSN. My questions are:

1. Can I go right now to SSA office to apply for SSN?
2. I already have SSN (H1 based). Will it be changed or remains the same?
3. My wife has ITIN (H4 based) and we used it for tax filing. What would happen with this # if she gets new SSN?
4. Once my wife gets SSN, can she start working right away?
5. Can I take part time job (keeping the full time job offered by the sponsor)?

Thanking you in anticipation.

[abu lafya]

Re: Social Security Number

1. yes
2. remain the same number, restriction removed
3. you will use her new SSN when filing taxes. You don't have to use old ITIN.
4. yes
5. I think so, but not sure.

[krb]

is this normal at ss office?

I & my wife applied for ss# (I already have a ss# with the usual ins authorization restriction) after completing cp in 4/01 ... the lady took our passports, took down the A# etc. then ran it through the computers ... apparently she found something because she printed it out. She made photocopies of the passports and then told us that it would take 60 days because they have to verify with INS ...

Is this the normal procedure?

[Mihika]

I do not think so

In my case, (Fremont CA), the person took the details and I got a new SS card in 3 weeks without restrictions.

I am not sure if a new procedure is in place as I got this done few months back.

[cpdelin]

social security cards

I returned to usa after successful cp on July 07. Went to social security office on July 09. Filled the form, she made the copies of passports. Got my new social security cards without any restrictions in 2 weeks. No questions asked.
Thanks

[abu lafya]

Re: social security cards

We went 3 days after POE to local SS office near San Jose,CA.
Filled out forms, No photocopies were taken, got cards after ~2 weeks.

[rkumar]

Re: social security cards

When you get SS Card based on H1B Visa it shows like this:
"Valid for employment with INS authorization only"

What it says when you get SS Card based on GC.

Thanks

[JoeF]

Re: social security cards

For people with GC, the restriction is removed.