DELAYS IN ISSUING SSNs TO MARSHALLESE LIVING IN THE U.S.

Sometimes Marshallese living in the United States experience difficulties and delays in obtaining a Social Security number (SSN). Reasons for those delays and ways to address the problem were discussed in a recent meeting between Ambassador Banny deBrum and Social Security Administration (SSA) officials.

SSA procedures effective 9/30/2002 require that the SSA employees confirm the identity and immigration status of any applicant with the Department of Homeland Security’s USCIS office (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services – formerly INS). Marshall Islanders are experiencing delays because the electronic verification system at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) currently lacks a code corresponding to the CFA/MIS status indicator on the I-94 form that Marshallese receive on entering the United States. Without the code, requests for verification of the I-94s issued to Marshallese applicants for SSNs must be sent from the SSA to the Department of Homeland Security via a paper-based process that can take anywhere from two weeks to three months.

The Department of Homeland Security is aware of the need to add the necessary code to their systems. The Embassy is following up on the issue with various U.S. agencies in order to make this a priority item at DHS. In addition, the SSA is working with the Embassy to craft a clear process by which any Marshallese facing delays in obtaining an SSN can easily follow up on their application. The SSA will also provide an updated version of the letter from one of their high-level officials explaining Marshallese eligibility for an SSN.

For Marshallese who are having problems getting jobs due to delays in processing of their SSNs, it should be noted that employers may, if they wish, hire someone who has already applied for and is waiting for an SSN. Below are links to information issued by the SSA and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for employers regarding the regulations for such cases.

Ambassador deBrum thanked the SSA officials at the meeting for their willingness to work together to resolve SSN-related problems for Marshallese citizens. He said, “We are here to ensure that the way is clear for Marshallese who come to the United States under the Compact of Free Association to live, work and go to school. We will continue to work with U.S. Government agencies to resolve these problems as soon as possible. At the same time, I encourage any Marshallese who are experiencing difficulties to continue to contact the Embassy so that we can be as responsive as possible to the needs of our communities here in the U.S.”

Official Release of the Republic of Marshall Islands