SSN receipt ?

[davidid8]

This is from SSA web site:
Do I need a Social Security number before I start working?
We do not require you to have a Social Security number before you start work. However, the Internal Revenue Service requires employers to report wages using a Social Security number. While you wait for your Social Security number, your employer can use a letter from us stating that you applied for a number

When a new green card holder go to Social Security office to apply for SSN, will the SS office give you a receipt or a letter that indicates you have applied for it ? I am just wondering how you can start working right away before getting the SSN in the mail.

Thank you

[txh1b]

If you have an EAD, you can work without an SSN as the W4 form (google I-9 eligibility) does not list SSN as a required document for working.

/show-form/i-9

You may still need SSN to get paid or to join depending on the employer as some need it for background checks.

[kabkaba]

They will give you a receipt and you can use it. If SSN is granted they can tell you the number on the next day, the card will take 2 weeks to come.

[davidid8]

>If SSN is granted they can tell you the number on the next day
Did you mean 1 day after you go to the SSN office, you can call Social Security office 800 number and they can give you the number ?

[kabkaba]

Visit in person and ask them for the number. They will need to see your passport.

[davidid8]

Thank you.
I called the SS 800 number, and they told me that since they need to check our immigration status, it may take about 6 weeks to do that before they can give us our number, even if we go to the office again.
Is that true ?
The green card holder already has the green card for a couple months now.
Do you know any new green card holder who go back to the SS office the next day and they already have the SS number ready ?

Thanks again.

[kabkaba]

Only if the number is issued they can tell you. If they have to check status with USCIS the number is not issued and nothing can be done.

[davidid8]

If the green card hold already has the green card for a couple month, doesn't the SS office have the status information on their computer ? I thought the only issue will be when you just got a green card (less than 10 days) than go to the SS office, and they don't have your information on the computer yet, so they will need to send an inquiry that can take months ?

[kabkaba]

Their database is known to have missing information and sometimes it is not updated until you apply for the number.