SS Card Issues

[Jaseball]

We applied for a SS number 3 weeks after her arrival. They told us there was some issue and it would take at least 4 more weeks. At 6 weeks I went in to check and they said it would take about 1 more week. Now they are telling me there is some problem with immigration and a number can't be issued.

 

We got married about a little over a week ago. Her I-95 status for the K1 part expires in about 2 weeks.

 

I plan on sending in the AOS package at least 1 week before she goes out of status on the K1, so probably early next week.

 

Without the SS number, even with the marriage license it is a bit hard to manage our banking stuff or set up a joint account or the steps I wish to take.

 

What would be the best way to proceed?

[ChrisA]

Ran into the same problem, file your AOS, then wait for the EAD (90 days), once you have this then go to SSA for her SSC and your local DMV for her State ID Card.

[Sebastian]

Weird - almost sounds like she's stuck in the SAVE database for some reason. Or stuck without a reason (more likely).

 

Suggest you go to any other SS office, and try again.

 

The problem isn't so much with immigration, as it is with the SAVE database. If you wanna get nasty, get an infopass appointment, get the clerk to properly update the SAVE database whilst yer standing there, watching them do it.

Edited March 9, 2009 by Sebastian (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Hurry, though, if she has less than 14 days remaining on her K-1, they won't give her an SS card

[Jaseball]

Yep, they already said they can't issue a card because of the K1 status being around 2 weeks. The people there in the SS office actually told us to go 'extend,' the K1 and to deal with immigration, so I know they are pretty clueless.

 

I think I need to focus on the AOS and wait for EOD. There is no way I can see for her to get the SS card now after they wasted 2 months of time.

[Randy W]

Yep, they already said they can't issue a card because of the K1 status being around 2 weeks. The people there in the SS office actually told us to go 'extend,' the K1 and to deal with immigration, so I know they are pretty clueless.

 

I think I need to focus on the AOS and wait for EOD. There is no way I can see for her to get the SS card now after they wasted 2 months of time.

 

The only way to deal with people like that is to appeal to a supervisor, or just go to a different office (but, like you're saying, too late now)

[LeeFisher3]

There is an exception to the requirement for the SSN on a bank account for this situation in the Act, google "patriot act ssn exception CIP".

 

USA Patriot Act Requires Banks To Implement Customer Identification Programs

Because there is no uniform identification number that non-U.S. persons are able to provide to a bank, a bank has the option to obtain a variety of identification numbers from non-U.S. persons, including passport numbers and country of issuance and alien identification numbers. A bank must decide for itself, based upon appropriate risk factors, whether the information presented by the customer enables the bank to establish a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of the customer.

 

This one has alot of good information: Privacy Rights Clearinghouse Fact Sheet 31

 

As this is a joint account with a USC, your banker has extremely limited risk involved in adding her to your account and using her passport number as her identification number.

 

In the meanwhile file your taxes and get her an ITIN using Form W-7, you can then take that to the banker and have them update her account. Just explain to them it's a chicken and egg problem that was compounded by the SSA not being able to do their job and issue her an SSN and their delaying tactics cause the window to close for getting her SSN.

 

 

As for the SSA office, I would consider getting a supervisor involved where at the original office. Your application was in long before the deadline and due to them not correctly using the SAVE system or the manual verification they are now saying you didn't apply in time to be issued a card. You might just be able to win on this one.