Freaking bureaucracy.  We go down to get my SSN (again today, yesterday it turned out I didn't have my alien number written in to my passport so we had to go back) and apparently I'm not "in the system" yet.  The clerk says I should wait 21 days, or until I get my actual green card.  This is the first we've heard of this, and are a little surprised since our lawyer/immigration officer said otherwise.  It doesn't have anything to do with the stamped version of the I-551 (which the clerk yesterday had never seen before), but the fact that I'm not in the system.  AND, it will take a couple of weeks for my SSN to be mailed, I don't get it right away.

Ordinarily this wouldn't be a huge deal... I mean, I'm just doing contract work now anyway and a potential employer would probably understand that my SSN is definite but delayed, except for the fact that Chris can get a juicy tax return if we file jointly.  Which, especially after booking multiple plane tickets this week, would be extremely useful money right now.

No problem though.  I can get an ITIN, right?  This is a special number for tax-filing purposes for people who don't have a SSN for whatever reason.  I was going to apply for it a few weeks ago when we realized the benefit of filing jointly, except was led to believe that I'd get my SSN easily so there wasn't any point in dealing with multiple numbers. 

But no.  First of all, that takes a few weeks to get.  Second of all, it's not available for people who are "eligible" for an SSN, which I now am since they approved my permanent residence!

Argh.  Governments.

Got an email in to our lawyer to try and figure this one out  :P