The Never Ending Story of Social Security Verification Letter

If you have been following the long, long story about us getting all our paper work completed for our residency in Ecuador... it still continues!

Sept. 3rd - 5th we did a two night trip to Miami that we believed would provide us with the certification we need.  The trip was a total bust in getting anything done.  I think the only thing we did was really upset one employee and she is still trying very hard to make our lives difficult.  We wrote an apology letter and asked for forgiveness and sent in along with what we thought were corrected papers, at least we were told if they were submitted this way they would be approved.  Our corrected documents were expressed mailed to the Miami office on Sept. 6th (Thursday).  We expected them to be returned to us with the pre-paid express mail envelope we provided not later than Tuesday the 11th.

This morning (the 13th) Ed received a phone call from a gentleman speaking Spanish from the Miami office.  He told Ed that they needed $45.  We had sent them a cashier's check for $50 to cover the cost (amount on website).  He explained to Ed they don't give money back.  Ed told him we didn't need any cash back but return our papers.

I have the feeling that the "witch of Miami" sat on our documents.  She knew our original departure date and waited to make sure we wouldn't get the papers in time.  Both Ed and I had a feeling that the Miami Ecuadorian Consulate would not approve our documents, or them not arrive in time, not matter how great of an apology letter we wrote. 

When we started this process, I was going as a dependent on Ed's pension.  Now, I am applying under my own pension from Social Security.   That means I needed my own Social Security Verification of Benefits Letter.  We were starting from the very beginning with this document and it just meant I needed my own papers to be properly completed.

The first step, you have to obtain a Verification of Benefits Letter from Social Security to prove the amount of your pension.  The amount for Ecuador has to be $800 per person plus $100 for each dependent.  The letter has to be signed by an employee of the SS office.  The employee's signature has to be notarized. 

Ed and I both had to appear at the Social Security office in Tampa for them to provide each of us with our letter.  I had arranged for a Mobile Notary to meet us there at 1:00pm on Tuesday, the 11th.  We were called back to a 'booth' after 30 minutes of waiting.  We explained to the young lady behind the window what we needed.  The employee was very unsure that she could or would do this.  She had to visit her supervisor and was asked to wait again in the lobby.  It was another 30 minutes before they called us to a new 'booth'.  To this new employee, Mr. Lopez, we explained what we needed and provided our Social Security numbers and photo ID card. 

 
The problem was we needed a special statement to be added to the regular form Verification Letter.  It had to read... 

"On .......(date), I the undersigned, do hereby certify that this is a true and original Social Security Verification Letter for Edward D. Mooney, issued by the Social Security Administration."  The employee then signed and give his business title.  It was this statement & his signature that was notarized by our mobile notary.

The next step in the process was for this paper to be apostilled at the Florida Secretary of State in Tallahassee.  Ed and I debated if it would be returned quickly enough for us to get it to the Ecuadorian Consulate in Washington D.C.  We both felt it had to be done quickly.  So, the following morning (yesterday the 12th) Ed drove the 9 hours round trip up to Tallahassee. 

When he arrived at the Secretary of State's office, he learned they do NOT take cash or credit cards, small detail we over looked on their web site.  The girl at the desk was helpful and told him where to purchase a money order.  Ed runs out to get that little detail done.  He returns with money order of $20 ($10 for each of our Social Security Letters).  It take a few minutes before the documents are returned with their new apostille.  A quick bite of food and a stop for gas and he's on the road again.

Now the final step for this document is to be certified by an Ecuadorian Consulate.  They must see this Letter with it's signature, notarization, apostille, translation and notarization!  This is the part the Miami Consulate was giving us a hard time with.  So, Ed and I are by passing Miami all together now.  It is on the suggestion from other Expats in Ecuador to take our 'new' documents directly to the Washington D.C Ecuadorian Consulate.  We were given the name of Mr. Marco Farfan at the D.C consulate and talked with him this morning.  Ed was able to make an appointment with him on Monday (Sept. 17th) at 9:00AM.  He said it would only take minutes to have our documents certified - IF they are properly completed!

So, on Sunday (the 16th) Ed is catching an afternoon flight from Tampa directly into Washington National Airport.  Ed will have his Monday morning meeting with Marco and will return to the airport in time (we hope) to catch his 5:30PM.

Will Monday bring an end to this long story of the one very need Social Security Verification of Benefits Letter .....?  Stayed tuned....

Peggy