If you are wondering how to get a social security card when moving to the United States, you have come to the right place. Obtaining the social security card in the United States has its own benefits to an immigrant. One important thing to remember is that – unless you are a non-citizen who wants to work in the United States, you don’t need to apply for a social security number when moving to the United States. On the other hand, if you are a non-citizen of the United States who has been authorized to work in the country by the Department of Homeland Security or DHS, you should be applying for a social security number when you plan to move to the United States. This number is very important when reporting the wages of an individual to the government and determining his or her eligibility for social security benefits. In fact, you will need a social security number to work in the United States, receive social security and other governmental benefits. This article provides information on how you can get a social security card when you are planning to move to the United States.
If you are a lawfully admitted non-citizen in the United States, you can avail yourself for many benefits offered by the US Government without a social security card. In fact, you don’t need an SSN to obtain a driver’s license in the country. On the other hand, you can easily get private health insurance, register for a school, and apply for a school lunch program or get many other social benefits without a social security number. But if you need a social security number for whatever reason, there are many ways of applying for such number.
When Should You Apply For The Social Security Card?
You should wait for at least ten days once you arrive in the United States before applying for a social security card. This period is important to make it easier for the DHS to verify your documents online. This will help to speed up the processing of your social security number and card. The authorities will main your social security number once they have all the relevant information about you and have verified your documents with the issuing offices. Applying for a social security card is 100% free. In fact, you don’t have to pay any money to apply for such a number.
How Can You Get The Social Security Number And Card?
There are two ways of applying for the social security number and card in the United States. An immigrant needs to:
- Apply for the SSN in the home country before arriving in the United States. This could be done when you are filing the visa application for an immigrant visa with the U.S. Department of State. If you apply for the social security number and card when you are applying for the immigrant visa, you don’t have to visit the Social Security office in the United States.
- You may also visit the Social Security Office in your state in person to obtain the social security number and card. There are many documents that you need to take with you when visiting the Social Security Office in order to obtain the social security card or number.
What Are The Documents That You Need To Bring With You When Visiting A Social Security Office To Obtain A Social Security Number Or Card?
The first thing is to prove your identity and the work-authorized status. You have to show your current immigration documents and the foreign passport when you come to obtain the social security number or card. Here are some of the acceptable immigration documents that you can show when you come to the Social Security Office in your state.
. The admission stamp that shows the class of admission permitting work.
. Form I-551 – The lawful permanent resident card or machine-readable immigrant visa.
. Form I-766 – Employment authorization document or the EAD.
. Form I-94 – The arrival or departure record
On the other hand, if you fall under the J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor program, you should show the DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status or EAD. In case you are a J-1 student, you should bring a letter from the sponsor in the United States. In fact, such a letter should be on a letterhead of the sponsor with the original signature that authorizes your employment in the United States.
You also need to prove your age when applying for the social security number or card. The foreign birth certificate should be produced for this purpose. If not, you can produce your unexpired passport or any document issued by the DHS as evidence of your age. You have to complete the Form SS-5 in order to apply for the social security number or card. You may take a copy of the form from a website and fill it and bring with you when you are coming to the social security office or obtain it at the office and fill it there. Make sure that all documents are copies/originals certified by the issuing agency. The social security office won’t accept notarized copies or photocopies of documents. On the other hand, the office won’t accept any receipts showing that you have applied for the document. These are important things to consider when you want to apply for a social security number or card in the United States.
In case you wonder how to obtain a social security number or card when moving to the United States, you have come to the right place. An immigrant has many benefits of applying for the social security number and card. It is important when you avail yourself for the numerous social benefits offered by the US Government. That is why you should apply for the social security number or card.
