Question to the immigrant applicant in oversea (Question about form DS-230 Part 2)

[ocworker]

Hi all,

My wife was trying to fill out the form DS-230 Part 2.
However, both of us were not sure how she should answer the second part of question 33a.

33a. Have you ever applied for a Social Security Number (SSN).
Her answer is "No".

(2nd part of the question)
Do you want the Social Security Administration to assign you an SSN (and issue a card) or issue you a new card (if you have an SSN)? You must answer "Yes" to this question and the "Consent To Disclosure" in order to recive an SSN and/or card.

My question is:

If we answer "Yes" in the 2nd part of the question 33a, does it mean the Socail Security Administration office will assign her a number and send her a physical card to the address she mentions in the DS-230?

In fact, I want to go to the SSA office and apply her a SSN and card personally, rather having the USCIS to forward the info to SSA (I believe it would take longer for them to send my wife a card, because lot of time the lacking communication between different gov't agencies scares me!!!)

thanks your input

[pinto19]

Should be no on the first box on 33a if she never had one. If you dont want them to send you a SSC mark no on the 2nd section of 33a. 33b is asking your permission to share her information with SSA and other gov agencies.

Regardless you mark yes or no on 33b, INS may share this information with other gov agencies and most cases they do. In order to get a SSC processed during POE, she will have to mark yes on both 33a(2nd section) and 33b.

If she isnt planning on working within couple of weeks of coming here, it may not be a bad ided to go ahead and request it during this process. May save you a trip to the SS office (just my personal preference). My parents are in the process of getting a visa now and for my dad I did request to have it process at this stage. Dont have personal experience oh how long it really takes though.

Good luck.

[ocworker]

pinto19,

thank you for your reply. my wife is not planning to start working in the first few weeks (or months) after she comes to US.

I would want to speed up the process of getting her SSC, Driver License, Bank Accts.. etc.

Additionally, I would need to enroll her into my company benefit (medial). However, I am not sure if they need to have her SSN at the time I put on her enrollment thou.

That is the reason why I might think going to SSA to get her a card personally rather than having them sending a card to her.

Are your parents getting the immigrant visa via their home country's US Embassy?

[Pinturicchio]

ocworker,

You will better understand the benefits of this process by going to this website: SSA visa, click the links on the left for explanation.

I think it's faster if you do it this way, soon after your wife enters the US, she will receive the green card and the social security card in the mail.

Hope that helps

[pinto19]

My parents had their interview on March 5th and 14th. They were told the embassy will contact them as soon as their security checks are clear (I am assuming FP) and was told will take about 6-8 weeks.

My mom already has a SSN from when she visited me about 12 years ago on B2 visa. I did check yes for my dad's SSN.

[ocworker]

Originally Posted by Pinturicchio

ocworker,

You will better understand the benefits of this process by going to this website: SSA visa, click the links on the left for explanation.

I think it's faster if you do it this way, soon after your wife enters the US, she will receive the green card and the social security card in the mail.

Hope that helps

thank you very much for the link. I am, totally, unfamiliar with the DS-230 (or new process of getting the SSN). last time I had to fill out a DS-230 for myself was about 5-6 yrs ago. hee hee.

thanks again for hte info.

[ocworker]

Originally Posted by pinto19

My parents had their interview on March 5th and 14th. They were told the embassy will contact them as soon as their security checks are clear (I am assuming FP) and was told will take about 6-8 weeks.

My mom already has a SSN from when she visited me about 12 years ago on B2 visa. I did check yes for my dad's SSN.

I wonder if your parents gave the FP prior the interview or not.

[pinto19]

Originally Posted by ocworker

I wonder if your parents gave the FP prior the interview or not.

When they had their interview on Mar 5th, people at the embassy took electronic FP of the thumb and index finger for both of my parents. After that they were told to return on Mar 14th with the fee for fingerprint and at that time they took my dad's fp again and this time all 10 finger using paper and ink and was told that they will contact them via letter/phone call when security check is complete and a visa will be issued at that time.

[Pinturicchio]

Originally Posted by ocworker

thank you very much for the link. I am, totally, unfamiliar with the DS-230 (or new process of getting the SSN). last time I had to fill out a DS-230 for myself was about 5-6 yrs ago. hee hee.

thanks again for hte info.

Don't mention it

[ocworker]

Hi All,

I wonder if I should answer No on the 2nd part of the question (pls refer back to my original post), and apply the SS card directly in SSA office after my wife comes to US?

My concern is would it be faster to apply the SS card directly in SSA office; or would it be slower to let USCIS inform SSA and they send us a card later?

The reason is I need my wife to get her SSN asap so I can add her name in my health insurance benefit, get her a bank account, credit card.. etc etc.

any input would be very helpful and welcome.

thanks.

[Pinturicchio]

Originally Posted by ocworker

Hi All,

I wonder if I should answer No on the 2nd part of the question (pls refer back to my original post), and apply the SS card directly in SSA office after my wife comes to US?

My concern is would it be faster to apply the SS card directly in SSA office; or would it be slower to let USCIS inform SSA and they send us a card later?

The reason is I need my wife to get her SSN asap so I can add her name in my health insurance benefit, get her a bank account, credit card.. etc etc.

any input would be very helpful and welcome.

thanks.

Dude why would it be faster if you apply in person?

[ocworker]

Originally Posted by Pinturicchio

Dude why would it be faster if you apply in person?

well, my thinking was it might take them few days to get all the information in the system after my wife arrives to US. However, I could go to the SSA office with my wife on the next day of her arrival.

I guess i will just answer "yes" and let them deal with the work.

[Pinturicchio]

I don't know man, but my understanding is that they came up with this method to speed up the process.

Good luck either way