Not sure if this belongs ...

[Appaullo]

I had my wife added to my insurance through work. I was told upon doing this that without an SSN she'd be removed in 6 months. Got paperwork in the mail today, they want an SSN or will remove her 6 months from effective date of insurance. So in June shes off again. I know I need to talk to work again and ask them, but just want to run it by you all here first ...

 

Would a temporary tax number work if an SSN is not available? I know this is for tax purposes, and likely wont work here. Just thinking on what I can do. I have the paperwork with her on my insurance and her card now, was planning on copying them and sending them to interview with her maybe in the tax folder .... just in case.

 

Any thoughts?

[chilton747]

Are you talking life insurance or medical insurance, or both? I did the life insurance and her SS# was not asked for. Medical insurance is kinda tricky with her living in China.

[Randy W]

I had my wife added to my insurance through work. I was told upon doing this that without an SSN she'd be removed in 6 months. Got paperwork in the mail today, they want an SSN or will remove her 6 months from effective date of insurance. So in June shes off again. I know I need to talk to work again and ask them, but just want to run it by you all here first ...

 

Would a temporary tax number work if an SSN is not available? I know this is for tax purposes, and likely wont work here. Just thinking on what I can do. I have the paperwork with her on my insurance and her card now, was planning on copying them and sending them to interview with her maybe in the tax folder .... just in case.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

Ask your HR dept if they need a real SS #. It all depends on the terms of your policy

[Appaullo]

Sorry, Chilton, Medical Insurance. I should have specified. And I will ask, Randy, thanks.

[chilton747]

Sorry, Chilton, Medical Insurance. I should have specified. And I will ask, Randy, thanks.

 

 

I can understand the runaround you will get with medical insurance. Do you have a life insurance plan with your job that you can put your wife as the beneficiary?

[Sebastian]

I only see it only mattering as proof of a bonafide relationship, a copy of the insurance paperwork filed alonng with the Initial I-130 submission, sometime around (3-16-2009 Mailed in I-130 ). If you did get it in for the first submittal, then I suggest you don't sweat the 6 month window at all, don't worry about it - let it expire.

 

If you didn't include a copy of the insurance paperwork with your original submission, I wouldn't even sweat the insurance until she lands in country.

Edited April 18, 2009 by Sebastian (see edit history)

[LeeFisher3]

I had my wife added to my insurance through work. I was told upon doing this that without an SSN she'd be removed in 6 months. Got paperwork in the mail today, they want an SSN or will remove her 6 months from effective date of insurance. So in June shes off again. I know I need to talk to work again and ask them, but just want to run it by you all here first ...

 

Would a temporary tax number work if an SSN is not available? I know this is for tax purposes, and likely wont work here. Just thinking on what I can do. I have the paperwork with her on my insurance and her card now, was planning on copying them and sending them to interview with her maybe in the tax folder .... just in case.

 

Any thoughts?

Those idiots!!!

 

Here are a few FAQ's from SSA, the answers in these provide the ammunition you need to resolve the matter.

 

I am in the U.S. on a temporary visa. Can I get a Social Security number?

You do not need a number to conduct business with a bank, register for school, apply for educational tests, obtain private health insurance, apply for school lunch programs or apply for subsidized housing. You cannot get a Social Security number for the sole purpose of obtaining a driver¡¯s license.

Can a noncitizen obtain a Social Security number to get a driver's license?

No. We do not assign an SSN to a noncitizen solely for the purpose of obtaining a driver's license. Noncitizens otherwise ineligible for an SSN can, however, obtain one for purposes other than employment when-

• A federal statute or regulation requires the noncitizen to provide an SSN to get a particular benefit or service; or
  
• A state or local law requires the noncitizen to provide a SSN to get general assistance benefits.
  

Do foreign students need a Social Security number for college?

No. To protect the integrity of Social Security numbers and guard against misuse, we have stepped up our efforts to dissuade schools and other organizations from using Social Security numbers as identifiers. For example, states that use them on drivers¡¯ licenses are phasing out the practice. Schools are not authorized to use Social Security numbers to administer educational programs and we cannot give you a number for this purpose. If an organization asks you to provide your number, you are not required to do so. In most cases, such as yours, the organization will assign an internal number for administrative purposes.

 

Print off these FAQ's and walk in and visit with your HR department. Insurance for you and your spouse is one of your employee benefits and the provider is violating the law in this case, as the company contracts the insurance they need to get involved as their provider is refusing your benefits. The are not legally able to demand a SSN and refuse coverage.

 

You want the insurance company to show you the Federal or State law that requires your non citizen spouse to have an SSN. Except for certain government insurance, such as retired military, it doesn't exist.

 

Remind the insurance company that Congress enacted Social Security for the Federal Governments purpose and their demand that your non-citizen spouse provide an SSN for them to include her in your benefit package could be considered discrimination, racial discrimination, or at least that's how the Supreme Court has phrased it.

 

You don't want to mention the word lawyer in this conversation as this is your employer and you don't want to make them feel threatened and find a way to get rid of you.

 

If it moves on to you discussing it directly with the insurance company you will need to move up a few levels of supervisor and you can mention to them that if they are hell bent on requiring an SSN for your non citizen spouse, perhaps it might be necessary for you to retain an attorney to explain this to them in court, but you would prefer that they just follow the federal laws and save all of you the time and expense.

 

Happy hunting, Kick their @$$ and take no prisoners.

[Sebastian]

that reminds me.... along with other stuff - i'm betting the insurance company will want to 'run her credit' based on her non-existent ssn, in an attempt to 'change your rates'. yuk !

 

IIRC, requiring a SSN for medical insurance coverage is actually not lawful. (but i could be wrong).

Edited April 18, 2009 by Sebastian (see edit history)

[Randy W]

that reminds me.... along with other stuff - i'm betting the insurance company will want to 'run her credit' based on her non-existent ssn, in an attempt to 'change your rates'. yuk !

 

IIRC, requiring a SSN for medical insurance coverage is actually not lawful. (but i could be wrong).

 

 

Remember, though, that it's through his company. What THEY cover is a different matter entirely. It may not be a question of whether she can get coverage, but a question of who will pay for it.

[Sebastian]

Ya, I guess it makes me think, then - what's the most important bit for him ?

 

If it's fodder for 'proof of bonafide relationship' - then it won't matter.

 

If it's 'actual coverage past the 6 month time tick' - then I have to suggest that one examine her location after that 6 month time tick.

 

also, Would the medical insurance coverage be any issue whatsover since she's in China?

 

If I was doing this - I'd get the policy, use it as fodder, cancel the policy (hard in some places), then redo a new policy once she's stateside, not worrying about the current SSN requirement.

 

I guess I don't understand what his main concern was - either 'relationship fodder' or 'insurance coverage' . IMO, the coverage is meaningless whilst she's in China, but initial proof of coverage is useful for 'relationship fodder' that's submitted with the I-130.

 

 

Sure, there are current snafus in his medical insurance plan, but I can't understand the balance or result. Maybe I'm just stupid today from the buckets o rain hitting the farm.

Edited April 18, 2009 by Sebastian (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Ya, I guess it makes me think, then - what's the most important bit for him ?

 

If it's fodder for 'proof of bonafide relationship' - then it won't matter.

 

If it's 'actual coverage past the 6 month time tick' - then I have to suggest that one examine her location after that 6 month time tick.

 

also, Would the medical insurance coverage be any issue whatsover since she's in China?

 

If I was doing this - I'd get the policy, use it as fodder, cancel the policy (hard in some places), then redo a new policy once she's stateside, not worrying about the current SSN requirement.

 

I guess I don't understand what his main concern was - either 'relationship fodder' or 'insurance coverage' . IMO, the coverage is meaningless whilst she's in China, but initial proof of coverage is useful for 'relationship fodder' that's submitted with the I-130.

 

 

Sure, there are current snafus in his plan, but I can't understand the balance or result. Maybe I'm just stupid today from the buckets o rain hitting the farm.

 

 

Nope - we're gettin' 'm too.

[Appaullo]

Well ... it was 'fodder' but not for the initial filing. I thought I might slip it into the folder with my employer note, tax transcripts, paycheck stubs, etc as evidence that my wife will not be a burden of the state or Country. On the other hand, I would breath just a little bit easier knowing that when she eventually lands here in the USA that she can slip and fall and she will be covered. I guess its a matter of me wanting my cake and to eat it too. ;P

Edited April 19, 2009 by Appaullo (see edit history)

[Sebastian]

If it wasn't sent off in the original I-130 submission, IMO - you should cancel it.

folder with my employer note, tax transcripts, paycheck stubs, etc a lot of that goes into the I-864, gathered up at NVC 'processing time'.

 

This 'folder' isn't asked for during the interview. Some ppl will prepare a fresh version a few weeks prior to interview day, if there was a rollover in the tax year from filing the I-864 to NVC to interview day.

Edited April 19, 2009 by Sebastian (see edit history)

[Dan-Juan]

I had not been too thrilled with the casual answers of my HR. I filled out the forms to put my wife on my medical because they said it was reqauired within 30 days of my marriage. So I said well what does this meabn I am married and my wife is stuck in another country thanks to the slow immigration process but I want her recorded within the 30 days. They were like oh yea well don't worry, I should have gotten that don't worry in writing now I am worried