How to update SSA record after becoming US citizen? Need advice ASAP!

Congrats on becoming a citizen! 🎉 I went through this last year. Here's what you need to do: • Gather your proof of citizenship (passport or naturalization certificate) • Call the SSA and tell them you need to update your citizenship status • Ask what specific documents they need • See if there are any forms to fill out • Follow up after sending documents to make sure they updated your record It's pretty straightforward, but be prepared for a wait on the phone. Good luck!

ugh good luck getting anyone on the phone. i've been trying for weeks and keep getting the busy signal 😤

Make sure you double check all your info is correct when you update! My friend had a typo in her name and it caused a huge headache later when she applied for benefits.

anyone know if this affects your social security number? or is it just updating the record?

Pro tip: if you're having trouble getting through on the phone, try calling right when they open in the morning. I got through pretty quick that way.

i did this a few months ago and it was actually pretty painless. just make sure you have all your docs ready before you call. theyll tell you exactly what you need to send in

Does anyone know if this affects your ability to collect benefits? I'm worried about messing up my retirement.

Congrats on the citizenship! 🇺🇸 Don't forget to register to vote too!

am i the only one who thinks its ridiculous we have to jump through all these hoops? the system is so broken 🤦‍♂️

Quick question - do you need to bring your old green card when you go to update your record? I can't find mine anywhere 😰

Hey Malik! Congrats on your citizenship! 🎉 I just went through this process a couple months ago. Here's what worked for me: 1. Have your naturalization certificate ready (don't send the original!) 2. Call 1-800-772-1213 early in the morning - I had luck around 8:15am 3. They'll ask for your SSN and some basic info to verify your identity 4. Tell them you need to update your citizenship status 5. They'll mail you a form SS-5 to fill out and return with copies of your documents The whole process took about 2-3 weeks once I sent everything back. Make sure to keep copies of everything you send! The rep I spoke with was really helpful and walked me through exactly what I needed to do. You've got this! 💪

Welcome to citizenship, Malik! 🇺🇸 Just wanted to add a few tips from my experience last year: • Definitely make photocopies of EVERYTHING before you send anything - I learned this the hard way when they lost my first submission 😅 • If you get disconnected during the call (which happened to me twice), don't panic - just call back and they can usually see notes from your previous call • Some local SSA offices are taking walk-ins again if phone calls aren't working out - might be worth checking your local office hours • The SS-5 form is pretty straightforward, but double-check that you're filling out the "change of immigration status" section correctly The hardest part honestly is just getting through on the phone. Once you talk to someone, they're usually really helpful. You'll have this sorted out in no time! Good luck! 👍

Just want to echo what others have said - congrats on your citizenship! 🎉 I went through this update process about 6 months ago and it really wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. A few things that helped me: • I called at exactly 8:00am on a Tuesday and got through in about 20 minutes • The rep was super patient and explained everything step by step • Make sure your address is current with them before you start - they need to mail you forms • Keep a notebook handy during the call to write down reference numbers and what they tell you One thing I didn't see mentioned yet - they'll also ask if you want to register for selective service if you're male and under 26. Just a heads up so you're not caught off guard! The whole thing took about 3 weeks from start to finish for me. You've got this! 💪

Hey Malik! Huge congrats on becoming a citizen! 🎉 I actually just finished this process about 2 months ago and wanted to share what worked for me. Here's my step-by-step breakdown: **Before calling:** - Have your naturalization certificate ready (keep the original safe!) - Make sure your current address is on file with SSA - Have a pen and paper ready for reference numbers **The call:** - I called 1-800-772-1213 at 8:05am on a Wednesday and got through in about 15 minutes - They'll verify your identity with SSN, DOB, and some other basic info - Tell them "I need to update my citizenship status from permanent resident to U.S. citizen" - They'll walk you through exactly what documents to send **What they mailed me:** - SS-5 form (Application for Social Security Card) - Cover letter with specific instructions - List of acceptable documents **Timeline:** - Mailed documents back within a week - Got confirmation letter about 3 weeks later - New card arrived about a week after that The rep I spoke with was really helpful and patient. Don't stress too much - they deal with this all the time! The hardest part is just getting through on the phone, but once you do, it's pretty straightforward. You've got this! 💪 Also, as someone else mentioned, definitely register to vote once this is done! 🗳️