Certificate of Naturalization + Social Security Offices Closed due to Covid. Update?

[Casebycase]

Hello,
I just received my Certificate of Naturalization and I want to update my citizenship status with Social Security Administration. However, I've been calling around and all SSA offices are closed due to Covid. They recommended mailing my original certificate + updated form SS-5 for them to process, and then mail back the document. What if the certificate gets lost in the mail?

Is there any SSA office open? In West Palm Beach they say they only give appointment for "dire needs"...
They've been closed since April/2020, and they're some labor unions pushing for SSA staff to stay working remotely. Does someone know when they'll open?

Also, I have to update my citizenship status with DMV (Driver's License), and do the Voter registration. Some people say that SSA update has to be done before the others... does the order matter?

Thank you in advance :-)

[Lina123]

I’m having the same issue. I’ll just tell you what I did and you can decide if you’d like to do the same. I requested an info pass appointment with USCIS and made 2 certified copies of my certificate. Just in case it gets lost in mail. Then I applied for passport. Do expedited if you can. They will take your original certificate but at least you have copies. I was on the phone with social security and I was told that they accept certified copies. However, it’s no rush with social security, some people don’t update it for years, so there is no need to worry. And you have 6 month or a year to update your dmv.

[Casebycase]

I’m having the same issue. I’ll just tell you what I did and you can decide if you’d like to do the same. I requested an info pass appointment with USCIS and made 2 certified copies of my certificate. Just in case it gets lost in mail. Then I applied for passport. Do expedited if you can. They will take your original certificate but at least you have copies. I was on the phone with social security and I was told that they accept certified copies. However, it’s no rush with social security, some people don’t update it for years, so there is no need to worry. And you have 6 month or a year to update your dmv.

This is Genius! Thanks so much. I just called USCIS to schedule an InfoPass appointment. They said they'll call me within 3-4 days to let me know the appointment (date and time). I'd appreciate it if you know of any way to get this appointment faster :-)

Btw, I went to the DMV the other day to update the citizenship. I had an appointment. Still, there were 60+ people waiting and they were serving first-come, first-served... so I didn't have time to wait 2 hours, and didn't see the point of making appointments if they're not going to honor them. My DL expires in 2026, so no rush lol

[Lina123]

This is Genius! Thanks so much. I just called USCIS to schedule an InfoPass appointment. They said they'll call me within 3-4 days to let me know the appointment (date and time). I'd appreciate it if you know of any way to get this appointment faster :-)

Btw, I went to the DMV the other day to update the citizenship. I had an appointment. Still, there were 60+ people waiting and they were serving first-come, first-served... so I didn't have time to wait 2 hours, and didn't see the point of making appointments if they're not going to honor them. My DL expires in 2026, so no rush lol

Unfortunately, I don’t know how to make infopass faster. It was the same for me ????????♀️

[Casebycase]

Unfortunately, I don’t know how to make infopass faster. It was the same for me ????????♀️

Hi Lina,

I wanted to thank you for your advice. I did exactly what you said and it worked :-)
I just wanted to add here information that might help anyone in the same situation.
When I updated the citizenship with DMV, they automatically offer Voter's Registration, so I did both at the same time, and didn't have to fill out an additional application (only chose a political party).

For calling USCIS faster, I called # 800-375-5283.
-Choose a language
-What do you need help with? Press 9
-Doesn't work with buttons... Press 0
-I know you want to speak with an agent .... Press 9

Asked for an Infopass appointment with my local USCIS field office. They asked the purpose, and I said: "I need 2 certified copies of my certificate of naturalization." It's FREE.
I mailed a certified envelope to SSA including 1 certified copy of the certificate of naturalization + signed SS-5 form + copy of driver's license + copy of social security + letter of explanation. I called the SSA office to confirm in advance and they accept certified copies of the naturalization.

Lastly, I used the form filler for the Passport application https://pptform.state.gov/
I'm doing expedited so I'm paying $60 more to have it in 6 weeks max.
I also scheduled an appointment with the USPS office to bring the paperwork, money order, etc

God bless you!

[newacct]

There is no rush to update SSA. Many people who naturalize have not updated the SSA years after naturalization.

[Casebycase]

There is no rush to update SSA. Many people who naturalize have not updated the SSA years after naturalization.

That's true. In my case, I rushed to update my citizenship with SSA because I'll be applying for a mortgage. In the application they ask you if you're a permanent resident or US citizen; and I didn't want any delays or denials in the lending process. But if I was not applying for a mortgage, I would've waited until Feb/March when SSA offices will tentatively reopen