How long does it take to get a social security card in california

Only U.S Citizens and Legal Permanent Residents of the United States who are first-time applicants and are over 12 years old can submit applications through the U.S. Citizen Services Unit in Santiago.

For any other request regarding Social Security Number cards, please contact the Federal Benefits Unit using the online form.

If you are applying for a Social Security Number for the first time and you are 12 years of age or older, you must submit the following documents:

Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5. You can print the form from the SSA’s webpage to ensure you are using the latest version.
Your original birth certificate
Your original Consular Report of Birth Abroad (if applicable)
Your valid U.S. passport (duly signed)
A letter addressed to the “Social Security Administration” explaining the reason why you did not apply for the SSN at an earlier age.
Original supporting documents: If you did not apply for a Social Security Number because you have been living overseas, you must submit documents for each year you have lived abroad. Examples of types of original documents you may submit are school records, employment records, medical/dental records, tax declarations, rental leases, bank accounts, utility bills with your name, old I.D. cards issued abroad, etc.

In addition to presenting the original documents listed above in items 1 – 6, you must provide a photocopy of each of these documents to be enclosed to the Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5.

There is no fee for this service.

You are required to appear in person for an interview and to submit the above documentation in the U.S. Citizen Services Unit. Your application will be forwarded to the Social Security Administration for processing which could take up to 4 months. Once the process has been completed, the Social Security Card will be mailed to the address you listed on the application, so please write it out in clear handwriting and as accurate as possible.

This service is available by appointment only. Please make the appointment here. Select option Notarial and Other Services.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES INCLUDING CELL PHONES AND LAPTOPS ARE PROHIBITED AND ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE EMBASSY.

The Social Security Administration is required by law to verify birth certificates presented as evidence in such cases with the registrar of vital statistics in the claimed U.S. place of birth. In such cases, the process of obtaining a Social Security card could take up an additional one or two more months since the verification is done by another agency. However, SSA always tries to process them immediately to expedite the process.

Welcoming a newborn is often an exciting and happy occasion. There are plenty of things to get ready, and parents might feel that there is not enough time. However, once the child is born, parents do need to take care of a few legal matters as soon as possible . On the one hand, it’s essential that parents obtain their child’s birth certificate. Registering a birth and getting your baby’s birth certificate is a fairly easy process.

You will need your newborn’s birth certificate to apply for your child’s Social Security number and card. Keep in mind that a person’s security number must be protected as it is directly linked to their lifetime earnings, taxes, and more.

The Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number which the U.S. government issues to all U.S. citizens . Eligible U.S. residents are able to apply for one as well. This number allows the government to keep track of your lifetime earnings as well as the number of years worked.

U.S. citizens need a SSN to be able to work. An employer will always ask for the social security number, and they will report your income to the Internal Revenue Service, IRS.

Instances when a person is asked to provide their Social Security card or number also include:

Opening an account with any U.S. financial institution
Applying for a federal loan
Applying for certain types of public assistance
Enrolling in Medicare
Applying for a passport
Filing your tax return
Getting a driver’s license

Without a Social Security number, financial institutions will not be able to run a credit check, and therefore, making it more difficult to get a credit card or a loan.

To apply for your child’s Social Security number you must complete a birth registration form. When completing this form, you must check a box to request a number for your child. It is also necessary to provide the parent’s Social Security numbers.

You may be wondering where do you get the birth registration form. Most hospitals will distribute the birth registration form after a child has born and while the mother is still a patient. If the birth did not occur at a hospital or for some reason the birth registration form was not completed, new parents can visit a local Social Security Administration (SSA) office and request the number in person. If this were the case, you need to do the following:

Fill out the Form SS-5 and provide the parent’s Social Security numbers
Provide at least two documents that prove your child’s age, identity, and citizenship status. One of these documents should be your child’s birth certificate, and the second document can be a medical record or the hospital’s birth record.
Present proof of your own identity, you may present your driver’s license or passport.

After you have submitted the application at the SSA office, your child’s Social Security card should be delivered between 6 to 12 weeks. If your child is older than one-year, it can take a lot longer to process your application. This is because the SSA will contact your state’s department of vital statistics to verify the validity of the birth certificate provided on the application.

If your child is born at the hospital, it will be much easier to complete the birth registration form instead of going to the SSA office. However, new parents always have the option to apply for their child’s SSN in person.

Generally, it takes between four to five weeks to receive the Social Security number and card if you had submitted the application at the hospital. However, this might vary depending on the state where you live. If your child’s Social Security card has not arrived within six weeks you can head to your nearest Social Security office. You will need to take proof of your child’s citizenship, age and identity as well as documents to identify yourself.

A child’s Social Security number cannot be give out over the phone, therefore it is necessary for you to go in person, in the case that it has not arrived.

One of the main reasons to get your child’s Social Security number after they are born is so that you can claim your child as a dependent on your income tax return . You also need your child’s social security card if you are planning on:

Opening a bank account for your child
Buying savings bond for your child
Getting medical coverage for your child
Applying for government services for your child

Getting a Social Security number for your child is not obligatory, however, applying for one is an easy enough process and will benefit you and your child.

If your child is adopted, the SSA can assign them a Social Security number. You can apply for the number using your child’s new name as well as your name and details as a parent.

Getting the Social Security number and card for your child does not carry a cost, in other words, Social Security services are free.

Whether you choose to complete the birth registration form at the hospital, or head to the SSA office later on, you will certainly need an authorized copy of your child’s birth certificate. USBirthCertificates is a convenient and secure way to get your child’s vital records.

Related: How to get a replacement Social Security card Related: How do I change my name on my Social Security Card?

How long does it take to get a replacement Social Security card in California?

Sign in or create an account to submit your request You can replace your card online and receive it in 14 days. You can also use your account to check the status of your request and manage other benefits you receive from us.

Can I get a replacement Social Security card at my local office?

Once you complete your application (online or in-person), we will mail the card after we process the application. Please understand that we don't issue cards at our offices. If you need to visit an office, we encourage you to first check the office's status at our Office Closings and Emergencies page.