Originally posted by: Skoorb
First let me assure you with absolute certainty that the monkeys you're talking to in SSA that you get when you call the 1-800 wouldn't even know how to smear their own feces over their bodies if given a 30 minute instructional video tape.
We had a hell of a time with the SSA and MrsSkoorb trying to get an SSN. She was on a TD (it's like an H4 based from your H1, but rather a TD is based off of a TN) and was unable to get one. I spent hours scouring the web and talking to a couple of vegetables at SSA as well and concluded in the end that there was simply no way for her to get one. Given your predicament your wife won't be able to get one through the rarely available means such as qualifying for medicaid (something like that - I can't quite remember the details). I found something minorly encouraging that had to do with her getting a student loan and through some convoluted means would qualify for one then because those who give out the loans need one, and that qualifies her through SSA to get one.
Essentially though your wife probably does not qualify for one. As you've found most places won't even let you take a piss without an SSN, so you run into problems like getting a driver's license, for instance. I know a woman on an H4 who got her license in Alabama (a state that "requires an SSN"). She used either her tax ID or her Canadian SIN. Every office in this state will say unequivocally that you need an SSN, but then what do they know? As I understand it this woman spoke to several people and figured out a deal such that the local SSA office gave her a note saying that she does not qualify for an SSN, and then she found elsewhere proof that in fact an SSN is not needed for a driver's license. Your mileage may vary.
MrsSkoorb finally got hers by qualifying for a TN in Tennessee and then with that work authorization she got her SSN. Since an SSN was _needed_ for a nursing license in AL she then qualified for a nursing license in AL, got it, then went back for a TN Visa in AL and now works here (she originally did indeed plan to work in Tenneesse for a while but the commute became unreasonable in short order). The process was ridiculous, made us angry as hell, and nearly left the country. She graduated as a nurse in April of 02 and because of SSN issues it took her until January of 03 before she was finally able to work where she wanted.
SSA and INS need to sort this situation out because it just does not make sense. Unless various licensing bureaus and other such departments across the country will stop requiring an SSN as absolutely necessary SSA needs to make amends to allow SSNs to be given to legal aliens who do not otherwise qualify for them through work authorization.
As I understand it the only way for the AL board of nursing to have waived their requirement was for the attorney general of the state, who made the rule in the first place, to go back on it. Good freaking luck.
Unfortunately I'm almost totally positive than an H4 holder does not qualify for an SSN. One route that you have of course is to get a greencard and file your wife as derivative status. Once she receives her EAD (employment authorization document), she can then file. If your employment requires a labor certification that is needed first. It takes at least a year, but once you have that you can file for your greencard and the EAD will be in your hands 2-3 months after that.
A good forums for you is at
Grasmick.com Click on the forums on the left and post away. It caters specifically to Canadians and you should have a response within a day most likely.
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