Monday, February 13, 2017

American Citizenship - Social Security Number


Finally, to officially complete the American Citizenship process: update the citizenship status.
It can be done before or after getting the American passport.

What will you need?
-Proof of citizenship: citizenship certificate or passport
-ID: driver's license or passport
-Social security card or the application if you still do not have the card

All documents must be originals or certified copies by the issuing agency. You may take them to the office personally or you may send them on the mail (in which case they will send them back home by mail too). I personally preferred to take them myself, and the schedule of the social security office in my area is from 9am to 4pm.

If nothing else has changed, that would be all. If your name has changed, they will send you a new social security card in a couple of weeks.


And the most important thing is to make sure that all the information is correct in the printout they give you before leaving the window, because there may be errors.

Sunday, January 22, 2017

American Passport


To request the passport, start by filling the application that comes in the envelope you got at the Oath Ceremony. Another option is to go to the Post office and request a passport application there.
You will need:

*a filled application
*a passport picture
*an ID
*the citizenship certificate
*a check or money order that will be sent with the application (to get the passport at normal speed it will be $110, and more if you want it express - prices as of January 2017)
*cash, debit or credit to pay the office fee

With all of this, find a passport office or go to the Post office and ask. The passport office where I live opens on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. Once you are inside, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to do everything, unless there is a line.

Good luck and congratulations!