Getting Social Security number after green card

well theres two ways to do it from the Embassy -

If the application has been filed on your behalf already and has been processed, they can give him the number if you go into the Embassy with the green card for ID. Let them know the card has been sent to your address in the US and you wont be able to access it for another 6 weeks, and could they give you the number so you could use it straight away etc etc. Make sure they dont mistake your request as one for a replacement card or new application.

If the application hasnt been filed by Immigration yet (American Citizen Services can tell you) and you want to jump in ahead of them, download an application form online and fill it in - mail it along with everything you need to the Embassy (American Citizen Services - call for the address). Or you can go in to American Citizen Services and fill one out in front of them so you dont have to mail the green card around the country. You can use your address in the UK as your contact address and the card will be sent to you in the UK.

Since Martin's card never actually arrived in the USA at all, he applied for a replacement card while we were there. I applied for a replacement too based on my name change. I think we got the cards in the UK in about 2 weeks.

It all depends on how you want to attack it and if you have time to trek into London to deal with it. They wont be able to give you the number over the phone for security reasons so appearing in person is a must. I've heard stories that people got their cards in the US a couple weeks after they arrived so applying for the number yourself at this stage might be jumping the gun a bit.

Hope that information helps! A bit long-winded I know, but hey - Im always long winded.

Oh - and he'll need that green card so if your family hasnt done it already, have them fed-ex it. If you want to get into American Citizen Services with him, his green card is the magic ticket.

Let us know what you decide to do!
Sarah

Yep - mom fed-exed the green card yesterday. (The past tense of the verb Fed Ex is hard to spell!). I'll wait a bit longer to fuss about the SS number then, I was under the impression that we'd get it before the green card, so I was a bit worried. But if it takes that long for other people, then we'll wait! Going into London might be a bit too fussy for us as these 6 weeks go by though. We ticked the box in our forms to say that he'd like to apply for his SS # - that was all we needed to do, right?

We ticked the box in our forms to say that he'd like to apply for his SS # - that was all we needed to do, right?

That wasn't enough for us. All that did was enter Kevins name into the SS database. We still had to apply at the SS office.

Ooh - so go on then , should I be doing something else right now?

ALso - I'm gonna split this SS part of the thread into a new one.

I don't know about you repat people, but what we had to do was tick that he watned to apply for a SSN and then physically go with the green card and a few other items like our marriage certificate and apply in person at our local Social Security Office.

tick that he watned to apply for a SSN and then physically go with the green card and a few other items like our marriage certificate and apply in person at our local Social Security Office.

That's what we did - but we only showed the stamp in his passport and marriage certificate.

well then - maybe making that trip down to the Embassy is in your best interests. It should only take a couple weeks to get your cards

OK now I'm thoroughly confused. (surprised, anyone?)

Once we get his green card in the mail (which shouldn't be long as mom has already sent it via fed-ex) we should take it down to London, to the Embassy, to the SS office, and get his number? What if they think we didn't tick the box on the form, will they still process his request since he has a green card? And what if they don't get it to us by the time we move to the US, since we wouldn't be able to get there until next weekend at the earliest which is 5 weeks beofre we move.

Are we better off waiting until we get to the US?

And can he buy a car without a SSN?

Thought.... if he is going there on business why not take the green card and relevant info and apply for it there? 

You can buy a car without a SSN so long as you are not financing it.  Well even that depdends on where you do it.   

If he goes for business (as he may do in 10 days) then I'll suggest he does that! it isn't set in stone if he's going or not though. If he did - could he go to any old SS branch, or would it have to be our local? If he does go for a business trip next week he'll be travelling all over gods green earth, and who knows if he'll even have time to go to a branch... HRM....

The London thing is looking better and better for us.
How soon would we get our number, Mars?

I imagine he could apply at any US based SSA branch but I couldnt say for 100% certain. I just cant see any reason why not. Its a standard application form accross the board.


IF by some odd chance a number has already been assigned to him as a result of ticking the box on the visa application, the Embassy will be able to give him a print out with the number if he appears in person. So instant access to the SSN.

but...

If the SSA hasnt assigned a number already (which sounds most likely based on everyone else's experience) he can pop into the Embassy and fill out the same form youd have to fill out in the USA or to save time you can download it from the SSA's website. Take along the appropriate ID documents and they'll process it at the Embassy as they would in the USA. The cards will be mailed from the head office which I think is in Philidephia. Like I said, it took a couple of weeks for us to get our cards in the UK.

Now I have no idea if they'll do this at the Embassy or not BUT it might be worth calling and asking... MAYBE they'll give you a print out of his SSN after they enter the data from the form into the computer system on the day you apply. They have a direct link to the SSA computers in the US so I imagine a number will be assigned right then and there. In the USA theyre not allowed to give you your SSN on the day you apply for security reasons (dont ask me why) but maybe the Embassy will be able to get around that. Just an idea. If they'll do that - EVEN BETTER.

Maybe a jingle to american citizen services is in order?

We are going to give it a few weeks to see if the number comes in the mail. If not, then when we fly over we'll pop into the local SS branch and apply then. He doesn't need his number immediately anyway, so it isn't a big deal - and the last few weeks are are getting unbearably stressful and I don't want anything else to freak out about. He is probably going back to the US in a few days (not in 2 weeks like he was supposed to) for work, and may be there 3 weeks. Philip is <---> this far away from crawling and we're desperately hoping David won't miss it. I have to organize this whole bloody move with a newly crawling baby and no husband and no help and I'm a bit.... well.... I think overwhelmed is a good word for it.  Lots of to do lists, lots of to do lists...

You can buy a car without a SSN so long as you are not financing it.  Well even that depdends on where you do it.

I don't want to add to your stress, Sara, but if Dave needs to drive, I would suggest looking into the driving license rules in Minnesota.

What we found in Illinois was:

You need a SSN# to get your driver's license.  You might be able to buy a car, but in order to get it insured, you need the Illinois license.  Also in Illinois, you can drive on a foreign license for 90 days, before getting the state license.  It's kind of a catch 22:  You can get a car, but you need a valid state license to get insurance.  To get a license, you need the SSN#...

You can rent a car on an English license, but that gets expensive.

The Illinois Rules of the Road are available on line.  I'd suggest looking into Minnesota's because I don't know how urgently Dave will need a car.

I know there are tons of details and I don't want to do your head in; I'd just feel bad not relaying information that we found out, having just been through the ropes.... 

Here's the plan:
Davids company will pay for car hire for the few few weeks that we are there. He is leaving for 2-3 weeks of business in the US tomorrow and he'll try to get his SS number then, by stopping in an office. When we move for good to Missouri he'll get his US drivers license ASAP. In the meantime I'll have bought a car, and he'll be insured on it, so at least we can get places. I've alrady got a quote. The insurance will lower when he gets  a US license as it is expenseive to insure an overseas driver, but not so expensive that we can't afford it. THen when he has his license he'll get his own car.

That's the plan anyway, unless the universe barfs on us.

Which is likely, I suppose.


**bit stressed out**

Sara - the lots to do and little help thing is still fresh in my mind. and so are the to do lists! I totally feel for you and Im sending all the good vibes. This is the most stressfull thing ever but there's a definite end to the whole thing. I cant say that it'll get any better while youre in the thick of it but it WILL end eventually. 5 - 6 weeks isnt that long. Just go with the flow of the mad rush. Mart and I are thinking of you and yours. Take care.