Question on getting a Social Security Number

[valuedcustomer]

As some of you know, your fiancée has the right to get a social security number with her K-1 Fiancee visa.  After my fiancee arrived on December 12, 2004, we went to social security and applied. After receiving nothing in the mail, we final got an appointment with somone in person. The lady at SS showed us a document that she sent to the DHS for the information on my financee and got back a form from the DHS that said that they have no record of her. The lady at social security insisted that she sent all the property identification and DHS does not have a record of my fiancee.  I have been told by some people that the problem here is probably with the social security office.  The social security office has a database called “Save” in which they are able to look up all the information on your fiancée.  The problem is that most of them are incompetent and don’t know how to use this.  Can anyone recommend a social security office in Houston which they used and there was someone in the office who was able to successfully pull up your fiancées information?

[doombug]

... in response to Question on getting a Social Security Nu..., posted by valuedcustomer on Feb 21, 2005

The employee may have typed in the wrong "A" or "I" number (I think K-1's are assigned the "I's").  Typing in the wrong number is common where I work (not the SSA), and cause indefinite delays.  When you have three agencies (USCIS, SSA, and State agencies) working between each other to accomplish something, often the human-error factor will prevent one or more from knowing that something has been keyed in incorrectly somewhere along the line.  

I'd call SSA again.  The first thing out of your mouth should be, "May I speak with a supervisor, please."

Tell the supervisor that you think they may have the wrong "A" or "I" number for your wife on file.  Ask them to double check it.

Your wife is going through the "Legal Presence" verification process.  In my experience, the "I" numbers take the longest for USCIS to verify.  We've been told the average wait time for verification is around 3 months.

[valuedcustomer]

... in response to Re: Question on getting a Social Securit..., posted by doombug on Feb 21, 2005

Thanks for the information.  Can you tell me where do I find the A number and the I number?

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Re: Question on getting a Social Sec..., posted by valuedcustomer on Feb 21, 2005

Hey valued, drop me a line... My email address is in my profile...

[doombug]

... in response to Re: Re: Question on getting a Social Sec..., posted by valuedcustomer on Feb 21, 2005

I don't think the I-94's are provided anymore for the K-1's; but, the number would be printed on the upper left-hand corner of the card.  It's about 11-digits long, and starts with an "I."  Sometimes, on the back of the card, you'll find an "A" number, hand written by the USCIS official.

Nowadays, it appears they have just recently switched to imprinting the I-551 visa onto a passport page, and near the middle-top, right-hand side, you'll find the "A" number, followed by about 7 numerical digits.

The number would have also been provided in the I-797A letter from USCIS.

Peace out!

[doombug]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Question on getting a Social..., posted by doombug on Feb 21, 2005

I've edited this to remove my misquote about the discontinued issuance of I-94's to some applicants.  I got this mixed up with the new I-551's, which are now affixed to a page of the passport.

In any case, on the I-94 the "I" number would be printed on the upper left-hand corner of the card.  It's about 11-digits long, and starts with an "I."  Sometimes, on the back of the card, you'll find an "A" number, hand written.

Here's some info. on the SSA's interpretation of the K-1 visa:

"The Social Security Manual of Operations...states that a K-1 visa holder is a 'legal alien not authorized to work'. Hence, the only really acceptable documentation remains the EAD card, regardless of the 'Employment Authorized' stamp received at the port of entry. Technically, the K-1 Visa is a nonimmigrant visa. If the K-1 Visa holder does not marry the U.S. citizen in 90 days, he or she must leave the U.S., negating the need for a Social Security Number. Therefore, prior to marriage within the 90 day period, the INS and Social Security Administration do not know whether the K-1 Visa holder will in fact marry and become an alien with an immigrant intent. After marriage does take place, the Adjustment of Status process includes requesting an EAD which then becomes the action point for obtaining the Social Security number.

"Social Security Offices seem to interpret the rules in different ways, and this has resulted in people not being able to get employment as quickly as they had planned. In November 2000 a memo was sent out to all Social Security Offices, stating that people who entered the country on a K-1 Visa are entitled to a Social Security Number. More details here

"If you need to find out which your local Social Security Office is then go to this web page: https://s3abaca.ssa.gov/pro/fol/fol-home.html

"You can get more information by calling Social Security's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. You can call for an appointment or to speak to a service representative between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on business days. If you have a touch-tone phone, recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays.

EM-00154

"The EM-00154 memo states: 'A nonimmigrant alien in K-1 alien status is authorized to work based on that status and is no longer required to show and employment authorization document (EAD) as proof of employment authorization when applying for a Social Security Number (SSN) card.' The memo further states: "When an alien in K-1 status applies for an original or replacement SSN card, accept as proof of employment authorization either an unexpired:
I-94 showing the alien is admitted as a K-1 for a 90-day period; or
EAD (Form I-688B showing "274A.12(A)(6)" on the face of the card under Provision of Law or Form I-766 showing "A-6" on the face of the card under Category).
The memo also states: 'Some I-94s issued to K-1s are stamped or annotated 'Employment Authorized,' and some are not. Either way, the I-94 is proof a K-1 alien is authorized to work." The memo is File no. EM-00154 dated November 1, 2000'

"First paragraph - 'This Emergency Message replaces EM-00009 which expired in September 2000 and POMS instructions, RM 00203.500C.2., for K-1 aliens. A K-1 alien is the fiancee of a U.S. citizen'

"Second paragraph - 'A nonimmigrant alien in K-1 alien status is authorized to work based on that status and is no longer required to show an employment authorization document (EAD) as proof of employment authorization when applying for a Social Security Number (SSN) card.'"

Further details:
http://www.kamya.com/ssn/#memo

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Question on getting a Social..., posted by doombug on Feb 21, 2005

Everybody entering the US who is not a citizen or resident should receive an I-94. It is an extremely important document which she will need when she files for AOS. The A number should be quite easy to find, usually hand-written by the CPB officer.

[wizard]

... in response to Re: Re: Question on getting a Social Sec..., posted by valuedcustomer on Feb 21, 2005

The "A" number is located on the visa stamped in her passport... Not sure about the "I" number...

We used the SSA office right off 290 between the loop and the beltway... My wife had her SSN & card within 10 days of applying in person...

Our circumstance was a little different than your's, in that we were married... Still, sounds like your novia's application was SNAFU'd...

Suerte...

[roadken]

... in response to Question on getting a Social Security Nu..., posted by valuedcustomer on Feb 21, 2005

You only need her passport and the form she recieved when she came through immigration.I think it is the I-94 form.
We recieved a SSI# for my fiancee/wife in late October 2004.It arrived about 8 days after our appointment.Piece of cake.Now she can drive.Free at last.Free at last.Thank God almighty,I am free at last!

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Question on getting a Social Securit..., posted by roadken on Feb 21, 2005

Roadken,

Before you go MLK on us, could you please let us know how the "driving" part is going?  We all know what the drivers are like in Latin American countries. How does she handle things here in the States. Of course, now that I think about it, you are in California.  So, I bet the traffic is crazy there too, huh?  Anyhow, I am just curious about how a latina handles life and driving, etc in the good ole US of A?  Oh, yea, one more question.  Did she drive in Colombia?  That would probably affect how fast she catches on to driving her.  I mean it is one thing to drive in both countries, but if a lady has never driven before, it might be a little rough.  Well, I am just curious.

                      OkieMan

[roadken]

... in response to Re: Re: Question on getting a Social Sec..., posted by OkieMan on Feb 21, 2005

Fortunatly,my wife drove before in Colombia.Remember that most people drive in the city and rarely get past 40 MPH.
She is a good driver except she gets lost easily and is a little too timid for the conditions in my area.She sticks to driving in town.That is cool for right now but it may be an issue in a year or so when she starts working.The I-94 is part if the paperwork when you ARRIVE in the states.BTW,what is MLK???

[OkieMan]

... in response to Re: Question on getting a Social Securit..., posted by roadken on Feb 21, 2005

Thanks for sharing your info about your wife.  I was teasing you about the "free at last" quote.  It was from Martin Luther King Jr. or MLK.  Take care.

                        OkieMan

[utopiacowboy]

... in response to Re: Re: Question on getting a Social Sec..., posted by OkieMan on Feb 21, 2005

My wife had not driven a car in 13 years but just before she left Colombia, she went and got her license. She is allowed to drive on it for a year here in Texas. She does pretty good but we live in a rural area and a small town.