Social Security Card Received

T

Tim Zheng

Registered Users (C)
FYI, I received my unrestricted SSC yesterday in my mail.

Printed the official letter at early Oct and went to a nearby SS office in Southern California. Handed in my application and the lady behind the window obviously didn\'t know how to handle my application. So I handed her the letter and she went through it very quickly. Then she photocopied my I-94 and told me she needed to send a letter to INS about my status and I would receive my new card in about 6-8 weeks. I didn\'t understand about the online query system they have so I just didn\'t say anything. Was wondering if it could be quicker if they had used my A# to query my status online somewhere.

Tim
 
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Congratulations Jim, That was exactly the procedure they followed with my family. But a week before, when I went to the same office, the procedure was different. After June 7, when I first posted about this option of unrestricted SSC for asylees, we have heard of different experiences, but fortunately all of them with a happy end. Regards
 
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Yean, I would imagine things have improved since July 2001. I went to the local SS office in July not too long after the new law was released.
   I got my card in the mail 2 weeks later. The cards are printed in Baltimore, MD.
 
database match

Every SSA office is linked to an INS computer database that contains the record of most non-citizens in the US. When the SSA types in someone\'s A number, it takes only few seconds for the INS to respond. The response gives the applicant\'s status code (AS1, AS2 or AS3) and employment eligibility (indefinite for asylees)

If the match is successful, then the SSA may go ahead and issue the card. If not, which happens a lot with asylees, the SSA sends a form to the INS. The INS will seach databases that are not online and if necessary paper files to verify one\'s status. The SSA will process a card then.
 
Thanks for explaining

Gilbert,

Thanks for explaining the database situation. I don\'t remember if the officer photocopied the back of my I-94. If not she wouldn\'t have known my A number. It seemed that they sent letter to INS for my status. Otherwise it wouldn\'t take 8 weeks.

My letter was from Baltimore also.

Tim
 
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Dear Gilbert,

Your explanation makes sense. Most of us asylees initially entered the US on non-immigrant status such as student visa, visitor etc. And because we received our SS#s while we were under non-immigrant status it is possible that our profiles and employment eligibility in SSA database may not be up to date.

  I was curious why the SSA employee told Tim it would take 6 to 8 weeks to get the card, whereas the most common statement we get from SSA office is 2 to 4 weeks to get the card in the mail. Actually I got mine in the mail 10 days after I left my SS-5 form at the office. But the time discrepency could be for a lot of reasons: technical errors, database mismatch, September 11 aftermath impacts, or the SSA employee simply exaggarated the time frame.
 
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If the status is not confirmed online, the SSA has to send a form to the local INS office. The SSA processing is basically suspended until it hears from the INS. As you all know, INS processing can be erratic.

So in cases like this, it will be 2 to 4 weeks after the SSA receives confirmation from the INS before Baltimore sends out the card.
 
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Gilbert, your explanation is very clear, thanks for that. However, there is still the problem of not well trained employees or not all the SS offices following the same procedure. When I went to the SS office, after a brief argue, the SS employee checked my status in the database and I got my SSC ten days after. She told me that SS office had been issuing unrestricted SSC for years (!!!!)
When my family went to the same office, the following week, another employee didn\'t even check their status in the Database. She said they had to check with INS. About 10 days after, we received a letter saying that they had verified their status and the SSC\'s would be mailed shortly. They received their cards 15 days after.
 
A number

I think it\'s good practice to put your A number down somewhere on your application. Otherwise SS office may not have it available to do online query. You know when they\'re not familiar with the situation they might not know to ask for your A number when you\'re there. They might become more familiar with it after you leave and they can find your A number on your application.
 
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Zheng,

 In SS-5 form they do not ask for the A#. Nonetheless I agree with you that it\'s a good idea to put it down.
 In both, Alanpero and my experiences we had the misfortune of meeting incompetent SSA employees who do not even know their own laws. The SSA employee I met said only citizens and LPRs can get unrestricted SS cards. The one Alanpero met told him SSA has been issuing unrestricted SS cards to asylees for years. Perhaps he or she was confused with the Refugees.
 
help on the SS-5 form

I am new here and I was just granted the asylum. One of the benefits is the unrestricted SS card. I am just wondering if there is any disadvantage to have an unrestricted SS card. And I also have a question about how to fill this SS-5 form. About Item 3, which one should I choose from 4 options: 1. citizen 2. legal alien allowed to work 3. legal alien not allowed to work 4. other.
Thank you very much,
 
No Title

I can\'t imagine there is any disadvantage to get an unrestricted SS card.

I filled in with 2. Legal alien allowed to work.
 
Solution

I think all asylees should write to INS OR SS OFFICE to update the database system on this SSN issue..
 
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