Friday 6 June 2014

10 yr Green Card Arrived

Finally,  my brother's 10yr Green Card arrived on May 28, 2014, one month and 1week after his POE date--4/11/14, but we paid the 165$ immigrant fee online at the USCIS ELIS website on April 18th which is a week after he arrived.
We are at least done for now on our family's immigration journey, though my sister's visa is still in the process and waiting for her priority date to become current. But, at least we can relax and we will focus on my brother's finding a part time job while waiting for his credentials to be done for his State board exam.

Sunday 1 June 2014

SSN-Social Security Card Application

When my brother had his immigrant visa interview at the US Embassy in Manila last year (Oct2013),he signed and submitted a filled out DS230 Form, Part I & II --now, DS260,IV electronic application--. On the form, he checked  "Yes" on the question that asked if he want's his social security card be delivered to our address without the need to apply in person when he gets here. So, that's what he did. But after one week, (4/18) I accompanied by brother to the SSA office to check on his social security card. He was told that according to their record, he already has a number which the  Embassy had applied for him. He gave my brother the 9digits SS #  and was told to wait 3 weeks for the actual card to received in the mail. Three weeks has gone,(5/9)  still no card, so we went back to their office and spoke to someone--diff agent this time-.. He was told to reapply but with the same number.  On the receipt that was given to him that day, it shows that he applied on May 9 instead of the original date that the "Embassy" had applied for him.  May 18, which is a week after he "reapplied", he got the actual card in the mail.  So, our assumptions was either, someone from the main office forgot to mail it out or the cbp officer that admitted/stamped my brother somewhat forgot do what  she was supposed to do.? We don't know.

So, my suggestion for future reference, if after one week you do not get your SSN/card in the mail, I would suggest to  visit the nearest  Social Security Administration office and see if you already have a number . Because, if I remember it right, when my mom first came to the US, she received her SSN card in the mail one week after her arrival.