Does an IR1 visa qualify for a SSN?

[eikogs]

The interview went well and we headed for the US on October 2. Her POE was in Chicago and was very painless. They stamped her passport with the IR1 visa, no issues. When I filled out the application many months ago, I had checked the box to request a SSN at the same time. Other post on CFL let me know that this process may or may not happen automatically, so we waited 2 weeks and head for the SSA office. The lady who helped us there could not find record that my wife's application was already in process, so we asked to apply for one at that time. While we were working through the process, the lady pulled out a list of qualifying visas and could not find IR1 on the list. She told us that in IR1 visa does not allow my wife to work, and therefore she can not get a SSN. Did the person at the SSA office make a mistake, or did we apply for the wrong visa type? Suggestions?

 

Steve

[dnoblett]

Yes, an IR-1 spouse visa is a green-card visa, it is work authorized the moment they arrive in the states, work authorization qualifies for SSN.

 

Give it a couple weeks and then visit the SSA office and apply for it. It takes 7 to 10 days for USCIS to update the database used by SSA to verify work authorization.

 

The person at the SSA office is an idiot,

 

Print out the chart from form I-9 http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf Page 9, Column A, item #3 is your spouse's passport with the visa, the visa has an I-551 notation and is endorced at the POE.

 

Note the I-551 notation on the visa...

[eikogs]

Thanks for the information. The SSA office I went to was in a small town. I don't think they see too many of these come through.

[Randy W]

Tell the clerk that she has an I-551 green card - she does. The endorsement on her IR-1 says exactly this.

[eikogs]

We will be going in to apply for the SSN next week. Looking at the SSA website, it list the required documents. It says "We may use one document for two purposes. For example, we may use a DHS work permit as proof of both immigration status and identity. However, you must provide at least two separate documents." Can the temporary I551 MRIV in the passport count separate from the passport itself? We also have the white book for her birth certificate, but I am concerned that the small town office we will go to will not know what that book is. If we need the count the white book birth certificate as one document, do you know of any "proof" I can take along to help the person at the office understand that we have the documents they need?

[dnoblett]

Yes, the visa has a photo ID and I-551 notation, and the passport has a separate photo ID page.

 

Bring the Birth Cert.

 

Also note that per form I-9 instructions page 9 List A Item #3, the passport with immigrant visa serves as both ID and employment authorization.

 

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/i-9.pdf