After receiving my U.S. green card through the NIW-EB2 process, I made my first trip to the United States. According to the DS-260 form I had submitted, my SSN card should have been automatically issued and mailed to the ipostal1 address I had listed. While my green card thankfully arrived safely at that address, the SSN card never showed up.
Since I currently reside in Japan, I contacted the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo for guidance: Social Security Services – U.S. Embassy Tokyo. The website stated that first-time SSN applications for permanent residents must be done in the U.S., but I had read online reviews suggesting it was possible abroad. So I decided to email FBU.TOKYO@ssa.gov to ask directly.
Through email consultation, I learned that my SSN had already been generated but the card was never delivered. My wife, however, did not have a number at all. As a result, I needed to apply for a replacement card, while my wife had to go through a first-time application.
Replacement Card (My Case)
Required documents:
- Completed SS-5 Application (Form SS-5-FS)
- Valid Green Card (Form I-551)
- Valid Korean passport
First-Time Application (My Wife’s Case)
Required documents:
- Completed SS-5 Application (Form SS-5-FS)
- Japanese Koseki (family registry; no translation required)
- Valid Green Card (Form I-551)
- Valid Japanese passport
The Process
Appointments were heavily booked, so we had to wait about 45 days for our slot. Since mailing applications requires notarized copies (which are costly in Japan), we chose to submit documents in person at the embassy.
On the day of our appointment, the process was surprisingly smooth—everything was completed in about 10 minutes. We provided our Japanese address and phone number, and the officer explained that the SSN cards should arrive by mail within 3–4 weeks. If they don’t, we were advised to follow up via email.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the process was straightforward once we had the correct information. For anyone in a similar situation—living abroad with a U.S. green card but missing an SSN card—contacting the Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in Tokyo is a reliable path. Hopefully, this account helps others navigate the same challenge.
