How Long Does it Take ?

Please note that there may be delays in receiving your card. In general, it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to three months to receive your card. However, with these new escalation measures in place, we are hopeful that the process will be much more efficient.

The following are ways to speed this process along:

• Make sure you register in SEVIS as soon as you arrive to the U.S.
• Apply for your Social Security Card at your local office. In some cases, offices in smaller towns will have fewer applicants and will, therefore, process your application more rapidly. To locate the nearest Social Security Office, dial 1-800-772-1213, or visit their web site at www.ssa.gov.
• When you apply for a Social Security Card, be sure to ask the officer for a “receipt/ proof of application.” This is helpful if your employer is hesitant to pay you without a card. CIEE has also provided you with a “Legal Opinion Letter” from a lawyer. This letter states that YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A PAYCHECK EVEN IF YOUR CARD HAS NOT YET ARRIVED!
• If you encounter any problems applying for a Social Security Card, please contact CIEE at 1-888-COUNCIL. Please provide us with the name of the Social Security Officer with whom you spoke and the office where you applied.

We encourage you to call Social Security (1-800-772-1213) about 10-15 business days after you have applied to check the status of your application. Please note that the S.S.A. will not give you the number over the phone due to new regulations. If Social Security does not have a record of your application, you may need to re-apply. However, please wait for their indication that you must do this. If you apply more than once, and the Social Security Administration receives both versions of your application, they will not issue you a card.

There may be some employers who refuse to pay you until you can produce the actual Social Security card. If this happens you should contact us at 1-888-COUNCIL so that we can contact the employer directly to assist you. We also recommend that you to bring additional funds to the US in case there is a delay in getting paid.