EAD received but no SSN yet - how to check SSA status?
Hey everyone, I just got my EAD card but I'm still waiting on my SSN. I applied for it during my I-765 application. Anyone know if there's a way to check if a number has been assigned to me yet? My lawyer suggested making an in-person appointment to request the SSN if I haven't received it. What should I do?
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Brady Clean
Congrats on getting your EAD! 🎉 I was in the same boat a few months ago. Here's what I learned: • SSA usually takes 2-4 weeks to process SSN requests after EAD approval • You can call the SSA office to check if a number has been assigned • If it's been over a month, definitely make an in-person appointment • Bring your EAD card and passport to the appointment • Some offices allow walk-ins, but appointments are safer Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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Molly Hansen
•Thanks so much for the detailed response! It's been about 3 weeks since I got my EAD. I'll give them a call tomorrow to check. Fingers crossed! 🤞
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Skylar Neal
•This is great advice! I wish I'd known this when I was waiting for mine. Took me forever to figure out what to do 😩
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Vincent Bimbach
•Quick question - do you know if the SSA office calls or emails when the SSN is ready? Or do they just mail it?
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Brady Clean
•@profile 3 They usually just mail it. No calls or emails in my experience. Keep an eye on your mailbox!
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Kelsey Chin
ugh the SSA is such a mess rn. I've been waiting 2 months for my replacement card and still nothing. good luck OP!
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Norah Quay
•2 months?! That's insane. Have you tried calling them?
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Kelsey Chin
•yeah, been on hold for hours everytime i try. its a total clown show 🤡
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Leo McDonald
Pro tip: If you need to talk to someone at SSA, use this site's (claimyr.com) calling tool. It dials the phone menu, stays on hold, and connects you when an agent picks up. Costs $20 but saved me hours of frustration. Here's a video about it: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU
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Jessica Nolan
•Sounds too good to be true. Has anyone else tried this?
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Angelina Farar
•I'm skeptical. How does it know when a real person answers?
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Leo McDonald
•I get the skepticism, but it really works. They use some AI thing to detect when a human answers. Saved me like 3 hours of hold time last week.
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Sebastián Stevens
•$20 seems steep for a phone call...
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Leo McDonald
•@profile 9 Yeah, it's not cheap, but think about how much your time is worth. For me, not being stuck on hold for hours was totally worth it.
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Bethany Groves
Anyone else notice that the SSA website is always "under maintenance" when you need it most? 🙄
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KingKongZilla
I had a similar issue last year. Ended up going to the office in person and got it sorted in like 30 minutes. Sometimes old school is the way to go!
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Molly Hansen
•That's good to know! Did you need an appointment or was it walk-in?
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KingKongZilla
•I made an appointment just to be safe, but I saw people walking in too. Might depend on your local office tho
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Rebecca Johnston
hot take: the whole immigration system needs a massive overhaul. its 2023 and were still dealing with paper forms and snail mail? smh
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Nathan Dell
•💯💯💯
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Maya Jackson
•Preach! 🙌 I work in tech and it blows my mind how outdated some gov systems are
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Tristan Carpenter
Random question - does anyone know if you can use your EAD to open a bank account while waiting for the SSN? Asking for a friend 👀
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Amaya Watson
•Most banks require an SSN, but some will accept an ITIN. Worth calling around to check!
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Grant Vikers
•I think Bank of America has options for non-US citizens. Might be worth checking out.
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Paolo Marino
Just went through this exact same process! A few things that helped me: 1. You can actually check your SSN status online at ssa.gov/myaccount if you create an account (though it's sometimes finicky) 2. The 1-800-SSA number (1-800-772-1213) has a "check application status" option - best to call early morning 3. If you're in a rush, some local SSA offices do same-day processing for urgent cases (like job start dates) The waiting is definitely frustrating but 3 weeks is still within normal timeframe. Good luck! 🍀
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Ethan Clark
Just wanted to add my experience for anyone else going through this! I got my EAD in March and was in the same boat - no SSN after 3 weeks. Called the SSA number (1-800-772-1213) and they confirmed my application was still processing. What worked for me: I made an appointment at my local SSA office after 4 weeks of waiting. Brought my EAD card, passport, and I-94. The whole process took about 45 minutes and I had my SSN card in the mail within a week! Pro tip: When you call, have your A-number ready from your EAD card - it speeds up the process. Don't stress too much @1c02b0eafc8b, 3 weeks is still normal timing. But definitely call tomorrow to check status and consider scheduling an appointment if you're getting close to needing it for work or other applications. Hope this helps! The waiting game is tough but you're almost there! 💪
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Carmen Lopez
•This is super helpful! I'm in a similar situation - got my EAD last week and already getting anxious about the SSN timeline. The A-number tip is gold, I wouldn't have thought to have that ready when calling. Did you find the online account creation at ssa.gov actually worked for you? I've heard mixed things about whether it works for new SSN applications vs existing cardholders.
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Ethan Scott
•@071e26d3777c Great question! I actually tried the online account creation but ran into issues since I didn't have an existing SSN yet. The system seemed designed more for people who already have numbers and want to check their records. I think it's hit or miss for new applicants - some people say it works, others get stuck at the verification step. The phone call route was much more reliable for me to at least confirm they had my application on file. Hope that helps!
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Sean Murphy
•Thanks for sharing your experience! This is really reassuring to hear. I'm actually in week 2 of waiting for my SSN after getting my EAD, so it's good to know that 4 weeks is when you decided to make the appointment. I'll definitely have my A-number ready when I call. Did you find that the in-person appointment was much faster than waiting for it to come through the mail system? I'm starting a new job next month so trying to plan accordingly.
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Ravi Patel
•@4df4be235465 Yes, the in-person appointment was definitely faster! Once I got to the office, they were able to process everything on the spot and I got my card within a week versus potentially waiting weeks longer through the regular mail process. Since you have a job starting next month, I'd definitely recommend calling them around the 3-4 week mark to check status and schedule an appointment if needed. Better to be proactive, especially with a firm deadline. Most offices are pretty understanding about work start dates and can sometimes expedite if you bring a job offer letter. Good luck with the new position! 🎉
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