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I'm Canadian and just moved to the US. While utilities were pretty good about me not having a SSN (including Verizon), it's all the stuff that comes after that'

I'm Canadian and just moved to the US. While utilities were pretty good about me not having a SSN (including Verizon), it's all the stuff that comes after that's causing me problems. So many web sites either rely on having an SSN on file, or by contracting to a 3rd party to do identity checks that fail when you don't have a US credit history. I'm currently in Limbo with my healthcare provider because they won't let me pay my bills online (or set up appointments, see results, or email my doctor) until I validate my identity, I've had to do my auto registration through snail mail because the state's website won't recognize my SSN, and have also had to call other places to get set up on their websites because of having no SSN when I started. You mentioned T-Mobile, who were pretty good in getting me set up without a credit check, but won't auto debit my credit card when I have a bill. I have to go online each month and pay, with that same credit card. And getting to that point took a couple of phone calls.

redwards510 11y ago
What happens if you just make one up? Would that be fraud?
- OrwellianChild 11y ago
  Yes. I'm pretty sure foreign residents get an Individual Tax ID Number (TIN). [1] Not sure why @swalberg doesn't have one... [1] https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Taxpayer-Identification-Numbers-TIN https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Taxp...
  - swalberg 11y ago
    I need an SSN so I can pay into social security and eventually make use of those benefits. Also pretty sure I couldn't have applied for it in advance because I didn't have any non-tax treaty income to report, which is what prevented me from getting one when I tried a few years ago. I applied for a SSN when I got here but it took 4 weeks to process. I now have an SSN card with a statement on it saying that I'm only allowed to work with DHS authorization. Part of the hassle is because I signed up for services with no SSN but web sites all assume you have an SSN. The other problem is that credit histories don't cross the border. Even with an SSN, I've got no public record or credit history. What I find funny (or sad) is that when I call to update my records with my SSN (largely so I can build a credit history) people refuse to take the number over the phone, and will not take an email scan. They only want snail mail or fax.

redwards510 11y ago

What happens if you just make one up? Would that be fraud?

OrwellianChild 11y ago
Yes. I'm pretty sure foreign residents get an Individual Tax ID Number (TIN). [1] Not sure why @swalberg doesn't have one... [1] https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Taxpayer-Identification-Numbers-TIN https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Taxp...
- swalberg 11y ago
  I need an SSN so I can pay into social security and eventually make use of those benefits. Also pretty sure I couldn't have applied for it in advance because I didn't have any non-tax treaty income to report, which is what prevented me from getting one when I tried a few years ago. I applied for a SSN when I got here but it took 4 weeks to process. I now have an SSN card with a statement on it saying that I'm only allowed to work with DHS authorization. Part of the hassle is because I signed up for services with no SSN but web sites all assume you have an SSN. The other problem is that credit histories don't cross the border. Even with an SSN, I've got no public record or credit history. What I find funny (or sad) is that when I call to update my records with my SSN (largely so I can build a credit history) people refuse to take the number over the phone, and will not take an email scan. They only want snail mail or fax.