Question:
Hi, do I need to go to a local Social Security Office to have my SS card
category change after naturalization?
Are there any other governmental agencies I need to notify?
Answer:
I'm probably wrong and will be slammed, but anyay, I believe you do, ju-
st so you get a card that doesn't mention alien on it if nothing else.
It might be something you can do online as well.
You don't HAVE to, but it's kind a nice to be able to show a SS card that
doesn't have the 'Only valid for work with INS authorization' mark on it,
instead of having to dig up your passport with I-551 stamp or Green Card.
It is highly advisable that you do go to your local Social Security office and
let them know that you have become a US citizen. As a matter of fact, if your
SS card states the following: "Valid for work only with INS authorization",
you should have had a new card issued without that text once you became a
permanent resident. However, now that you are a US citizen, it is very
important that you let the SSA know about this, especially if you have the
text I mentioned above on your SS card. This is because, in some cases, only
US citizens are elible for certain benefits (i.e. food stamps, just to name
one).
I just had to do this in June of this year when I became a US citizen and it
was painless. Had to fill out a form (same form I filled out when I first
applied for the SS card years ago) and indicate on the form that I am a US
citizen. Hand it back, show my Naturalization Certificate (very important,
make sure you bring it with you) and I was done! Received the card in the
mail within a week.
Unfortunately, this is not something that can be done online.
FYI -- US citizens do not have to dig up their US passport (only if they
choose to show this as proof of their eligibility to work in the US) or show a
green card when applying for a job, for example. First because US citizens do
not have a green card. Second because for a US citizen, a driver's license
and a Social Security card (without the "Valid For Work Only With INS
Authorization" text) is all that's needed to prove work eligibility. Also, a
US passport will never have a I-551 stamp on it and if the US citizen is able
to retain the citizenship of his/her country of birth (dual citizenship),
he/she should never show his/her home country's passport with an I-551 (if
it's still valid) as proof of being able to work in the US when applying for a
job (or in any other instance while in the US). "When in Rome, do as the
Romans do."
You don't have to be a USC to have that legend removed. It should not
be there if you are a permanent resident (conditional or unconditional).
