TN entry and Social Security #

for those who entered approx 1 month or so prior to starting their job on a TN, did u apply for the SS # right after entering OR can u only apply once u've started to work?

Apply as soon as you enter.

I don't think you can apply until you start work. I applied on my first day.

I got screwed though -- after a week I called on my SSN status and found they had sent my application off to verify it with BCIS in Norfolk VA. After 3 months they said they must have lost my application and told me to reapply. So I did, at a different office, and the guy there said they didn't have to send my application anywhere. I got my SSN in a week.

You don't even need a job to get an SSN. You just have to be legally there. For example as an F-1 student you can get an SSN because you might do the optional practical training. They used to issue "not valid for employment" SSNs to tourists, but they appear to have stopped that to reduce fraud.