Went to the Social Security office today in St. Paul to chase up my
application which I made in September, armed with the receipt number
given on that visit. I'd been previously advised that it was my EAD
processing that was all that needed in order to complete my application,
and the SSA were awaiting confirmation that this had been done.
Before my visit today (just to backtrack a little), I rang to see if
they could tell me over the phone. Much to my alarm, the operator
couldn't find any trace of my application - he even asked me what the
person who dealt with my original application looked like so he could
chase it up with her. This was not filling me with confidence.
The lady who dealt with me was very courteous and helpful, gawd bless
her. She did a session of stabbing at her keyboard and scowling at the
monitor, and then announced that because it had been over 60 days
since I made the original application, it had 'fallen off' the system
and a new application would have to be made. Fortunately for me, she
could expedite my case by mailing the BCIS directly - she said it was
unacceptable that I should have waited over 30 days, let alone 60, 90,
100+ days. She rewrote my application online while I was there, took a
print of my passport, I-94 and EAD, and told me that I would have my
card within 2 weeks, even if she had to walk to Chicago herself and
demand the BCIS do something. However, she said that they are very
good with dealing with expedited cases of this variety and it usually
takes a week.
The conclusion of this tale is this: if I hadn't have chased up my
application by physically visiting the local office, my application
would have been in limbo. The SSA have a 60-day drop-dead processing
timeframe, and the BCIS aren't expected to process an EAD until between
60 and 90 days. She informed me that if the BCIS respond with
confirmation that an EAD has been granted, then the SSA have no
application case to apply it to.
Somebody isn't talking to somebody else.
Moral of the story - not sure, other than don't assume the system is
working without your constant intervention.
- Mark
P.S. She also told me that although an application for a driver's
license states that a SSN must be provided, the Minnesota DMV will
issue one with any two 'prime' forms of identification - in my
case, my EAD and a passport, though there are other acceptable
documents. She seems to believe that provided you can prove beyond
any doubt that you are who you say you are, then they're not
particular about getting an SSN. I will be putting this to the test
in the next few days - stay tuned.