18 The Social Security Number This is probably the first piece of documentation you want to get in the US. If you had indicated during the interview that you wanted one, you shall receive one shortly. Before that, I do not even think you can be hired, or open a bank account. We took care of it the day after we arrived, and found very kind employees; everybody in the family needs one, kids included, so bring every family member. If you want to understand better what the SSN is about, check Social Security Online. An important thing: protect your SSN, make sure you do not give it away unless you really have to. For instance, it is OK to provide your SSN to your employer during the hiring process, or to a doctor. It is NOT OK to give it online to a so called recruiter for an interview. Scams exist in the US as well, and very often they need your SSN to assume your identity. The following article contains lots of very useful information on the SSN. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has entered into agreements with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS) for those agencies to assist SSA in enumerating aliens. These agencies will assist SSA by collecting as part of the immigration process the information SSA needs to assign Social Security numbers and issue SSN cards. DHS then will electronically forward the enumeration data to SSA, after the person is admitted to the U.S., to assign Social Security numbers and issue SSN cards. SSA calls this data sharing process Enumeration at Entry (EAE). Original SSN or replacement card applications are now taken at most United States embassies as part of the immigrant visa application process. An individual applying at a foreign service post for an immigrant visa and alien registration, i.e., completes the Form DS-230 Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, should answer "yes" to the questions 33a and 33b on the form if he or she wants an SSN assigned or replacement card issued. The individual should receive his or her original or replacement SSN card within 3 weeks after arriving in the United States. The SSN card will be mailed to the same United States mailing address that is used to mail the Permanent Resident card (I-551). If you answered "yes" to being assigned an SSN on form DS-230 when applying for an immigrant visa and you have not receive your SSN card within 3 weeks of being admitted to the United States, we suggest that you go into your local Social Security office. If you have been assigned an SSN, the office can provide you with the number. However, if you have not received your card within 14 days of your SSN being assigned, normally you will need to apply for a replacement SSN card. You can obtain the address and directions to Social Security offices from the Social Security Office Locator, which is available on the Internet at: http://www.ssa.gov/locator Be sure to take proof of age, identity, lawful alien status and work authorization when going into a Social Security office to inquiry about the status of your SSN. Applicants need to provide at least two documents as evidence to establish age, identity, lawful alien status and work authorization. Proof of age is not required when applying for a replacement SSN card. The birth certificate is the preferred document an individual can provide when proof of age is requested. However, we can accept a passport or immigration document that shows a date of birth to establish age. The following list includes some of the documents we normally accept as proof of identity: -- Driver's license -- Passport -- U.S. Government or State employee ID card -- School ID card or transcript -- Marriage or divorce record -- Health insurance card -- Clinic, doctor, or hospital provided record -- Military record or ID card -- Court order for name change -- Adoption records -- Baptism or confirmation record -- Life insurance policy -- Immigration document, i.e. I-551 card The unexpired immigration documents I-551 card or Machine Readable Immigrant Visa (MRIV) with temporary I-551 language establish lawful alien status and employment authorization. Note: The MRIV shows the alien's identification number ("A" number) as the "Registration Number" in the upper right-hand corner of the MRIV. The MRIV in an unexpired foreign passport that shows the above statement and is endorsed with an admission stamp the same as a valid Temporary I-551 stamp and is valid for one year from the date of endorsement by the admission stamp. Example: If the admission stamp shows a date of entry into the U.S. as January 4, 2004, the expiration of the temporary I-551 status will be January 3, 2005. The expiration date on the MRIV should not be used to determine when the temporary I-551 status expires. The expiration date on the MRIV only shows how long the MRIV is valid not how long the alien's temporary I-551 status is valid. RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence: http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410 We cannot accept a receipt or notice of action as proof of lawful alien status or work authorization. An SSN card should be received card in the mail within two weeks after the application and documents have been received and verified when applying within the United States. However, when an alien requests an SSN or replacement SSN card, we will verify his or her documents/status with the appropriate Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security. If verification is not available through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, we will send Form G-845 for manual verification. RM 00203.720 Verifying Immigration Documents: http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203720 All cards are mailed from Social Security Headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. You can contact the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) by calling their National Customer Service Center toll-free number, 1-800-375-5283 or visiting your local CIS office. You can locate CIS offices on their Website at: http://uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/index.htm Before going into your local CIS office you will need to first make an INFOPASS appointment: http://infopass.uscis.gov