Applying for a social security card for your child:
In regards to getting a social security number for your kids I would just like to make a suggestion that could save you lots of time. When applying from Israel it takes a LOT longer for the application to process. You can print the form, fill it out, put in the necessary documentation- birth certificate, your id etc and send it registered mail straight to the social security office in the US. Now you will need to send in original documents so keep in mind that anything you send it you might not get back for 6 months till the whole story is over. So don’t send any documents you might need. For the return address you will have to put a relative in the US who can receive your finished application. They will mail back your original document to the address you fill out on the form. You then will need a way to get them back to you in Israel, again I would suggest registered mail.
While this might sound risky it can save your MONTHS. I applied for my oldest son’s from the consulate here when getting his US passport etc. I never got a response. I tried calling and was told that until 6 months after sending in the application they won’t even look into it for you. After that they told me it must have been lost and I would have to come back, fill out the paperwork again and reapply. I didn’t make it back until after my daughter was born and then I applied for both of them at the same time. A few months later I got back the answer for ONE of them. I don’t remember which one anymore. But basically I decided that it wasn’t worth dealing with the consulate. So since then, I have done it directly through the American office.
Again no guarantees, not all the people working in these offices are intelligent. We are on our THIRD try for my youngest (who is 3 bli ayin hara) Pretty sure the first time we made a mistake on the paperwork. Second time we were denied because they said that applicants over the age of 12 need to appear in person. When we called and explained that he is 3 (they had his birth certificate!!!) , they assured us it was their mistake but we should send back the paperwork anyways……So keeping my fingers crossed, but even with all of the back and forth it’s still easier than dealing with the consulate.
Hope that helps someone!