cusanus

Ok, got it. Btw, I applied in 2010, not 2014. I didn't need a passport copy, just SSAN and mother's maiden. She must have given them the wrong one because she was mad at her parents, but I managed to figure it out. Don't recall the CM embassy doing stuff like that, but wouldn't have probably noticed. They will notarize anything I think, did a POA for me. The phone rep who told me about the IRS address probably was before I got benefits. So all seems well right now except a few people still waiting on the form. I don't know anyone in the Philippines.

Odd. I had to call Manila in 2014 to apply for SS. Went smoothly though I had to supply the wrong name for my mother's maiden. I made a lucky guess. I quit watching this legal.co.th site a long time ago because it was often inaccurate and inflammatory. Manila has treated me ok since then.

Some in Bangkok the 6th I think, a friend here in CM the 7th, mine the 8th, another friend the 11th...

All very good points, gentlemen, but nobody in the bureaucracy will listen to reason. We have no power and the truth has no meaning. It is not productive to examine the rapidly deteriorating state of politics in the US, but if you have any intelligence at all it is clear a madman is running things or better said taking a wrecking ball to the country and all that is decent. He is not only a prolific serial liar, but an obvious child molester, convicted rapist and thief who among other presidents was blackmailed by Epstein and Mossad with underaged girls, the result being US arms used to murder thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza. A lot of folks are suffering, but we are lectured to, not listenened to. I encourage you to give the mail system another week before contacting Manila. Sometimes things get stuck for a bit. Are you aware of Magicjack? No good for Manilla, but about $100 a year gives unlimited free calls to the US. I've used it for fifteen years, very handy.

Maybe give it another week and contact Manila by email or phone and ask what you should do. You should have had it by now. Who else hasn't gotten it?

You're probably right. I remember a phone rep telling me this, but he was likely wrong or I don't rightly recall. I've never moved since collecting SS.

Your experiences are strange to say the least. Yes, I haven't owed taxes in 20 years, either. My SS is small because I couldn't get a job that wasn't mired in child porn or in office fornication or crack cocaine. But I file a 1040 each year anyway. Rule changes may take you by surprise and next thing you owe millions in penalties and back taxes. Ok, that's extreme, but it's not much effort to do one and so I do to be on the safe side. It's like making an offering to the beast or still refusing to eat the last bite of bread because your fingers were always greasy in the 60s when working on the railroad during lunch.

The only change of address I know of on a 7162 was reflected in the next year's mailing, but a minor point of interest here. I was told, and believe it true, that if your address has changed on your most recent 1040 tax return, this is picked up and used by the SSA, so that's an easy way to make the change.

If your address on SS record is NOT in the USA, then it's sent there. If it gets forwarded to you (or not) and you're living in the USA (or not), it's your responsibility to notify the SSA of your new address with or without the form.

I think it goes in a larger envelope with a label. Opinions vary about the safest method of return. (Priority) cheap airmail has never failed me in 20 years. If you use tracking or courier I think it's best to use the physical address (see prior post) and not the PO Box on the return envelope, but again, opinions vary.

Guess I've been lucky. In 20 years never had a parcel sent or received that didn't arrive in a timely manner. The two registered letters were probably derailed because there was a debit card in them. On the other hand, a friend could not get any US government mail unless it was specifically asked for as a test and after that it went dead again. Go figure. There must be a demon attached to some folks. I'm sticking with standard (priority) cheap and easy airmail. For me, both Thai post and USPS are reliable as rain in September. Knock on wood.

Registered. I think I said I sent my daughter a letter with EMS in Jan that took three months. Actually, it was registered. The next one took six weeks, so I don't know what the problem was since tracking stopped at NY customs in both cases.

You're residence is in Australia, too? I believe if your address is in Australia then you should get the form ONLY every two years. I think it was Pib who was likely correct in saying the blank form must be sent. but probably no earlier than January if you haven't got it by then. Of course, you can't use the barcode if you never received it. You could edit last year's barcode but the style is different this year. I guess you'd have to download and fill in the blank (last rev 2023). https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/ssa7162ocrsm.pdf There isn't much room for address in the upper field, but I'm sure you could use the lower area. Can you not check with other expats in Australia and see when they're arriving there or at all this year? And DO NOT forget to put your SSAN below the phone number box. Beneficiaries with addresses in Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, and APO/FPO/DPO receive the form every two years. Beneficiaries in countries not mentioned above receive the form every year. If you're confused, call or email Manila. READ THIS: https://www.udonvfw10249.org/ssa.html

If you think a courier is more secure and that makes you feel better, you should probably use the physical address and not the PO. Courier the Form SSA-7162 Private Delivery Service (FedEx (Air-21), UPS, LBC, etc.) Private Delivery Service (FedEx (Air-21), UPS, LBC, etc.) Social Security Administration Data Operations Center Attn: SSA-7162 Process 1150 E. Mountain Drive Wilkes-Barre, PA 18767-7162 U.S.A.

Actually, I have straight A's in research statistics through a masters in soils/chemistry and one formal theorem to my credit. I adjusted my estimate to about 40 over 20 years and 29 7162 forms against 2 extended delays using international tracking. That, my friend, is statistically significant in formal scientific studies.

Suit yourself, but "best" is not best in any particular situation going by known statistics. I've been sending 7162 forms for 15 years (ex covid), 10 years for one friend and 10 for another ordinary email without a miss. That's 29 7162 forms in total (not covid years) I believe. In the last 20 years I've sent approximately 40 other letters or parcels to the states w/o a miss. The one I sent w/ tracking (early 2025) took three months, no tracking beyond NY customs and the replacement for that (assuming it was lost) took six weeks w/o any tracking past NY customs. I see many similar problems have occurred with EMS, registered or international tracking. On the other hand, I have never experienced or has anyone I know ever had a priority (ordinary) airmail letter or parcel not be received or not in a timely manner as far as is known. .It's clear from my experience and that of others that tracking runs a high risk of not getting there soon enough or at all. Your experience is different, hopefully it won't change.

Been on SS for fifteen years, always used regular airmail, never had a letter not arrive except when tracked; in fact, in 20 years have never had any letter to the states not arrive within two weeks. You can add international tracking, but it's much slower and tracking ceases at port of entry, so it really isn't much use. EMS or courier also complicates things.

What I was getting at is the 5-7 day transit for the form to Thailand seems unusually short. Is that ordinary airmail or is there a faster option, because it usually takes longer. Also, ordinary airmail from Thailand is what I use, I don't think there is a higher priority airmail.

So, you're saying Intl. Priority Air is a different option than ordinary airmail? SSA is embarrassed and found a way to boost it this time?

Finally...

Yeah, I always forget, but when I say tumadah, they know me and stick on airmail. By the way, do they require you to show an ID or passport? I'm not sure why they started doing that here a couple of years ago, they don't do it at Hang Dong.

The barcode contains the SSAN and some seemingly random other characters. Use an android scanner.

Friend in Sanpatong got his this morning. I'm 1 km away, not here yet.

If two have arrived in France, then you know they'll be coming soon everywhere, so time to relax. #11·37m ago The two of us in our household both just received our forms this morning in the postal mail, August 4, 2025. The forms are dated July 31, 2025. Letsliveinfrance.com