Contacted Congressman's Local Office

[katand7 0]

I just wanted to add the only ray of hope I've had regarding anything immigration, social security, or employment related in days: my local Congressman's office.

No resolution yet, but at least they contacted me to get a few more details and told me when I should hear from them again. I was very surprised to get contacted the very same day that I faxed over an inquiry letter to them.

I don't know what will come of it, but it is better than having any more doors slammed in my face - or, more appropriately, receivers being hung up in my ear!!!

(You can get the full update on the status of everything else I've done on my other thread)

Thanks,

Kathleen

[katand7 0]

Congressman's office called immigration to check our case status. It has not been updated at all, which was not surprising. I wasn't expecting any action on it until sometime this summer based on processing dates. The Boston office verified that the I-797 Notice of Action is a valid document and does extend his right to work and travel for one year. They really don't want to have to stamp his passport but they said he can make an InfoPass appointment and get the stamp and that should be acceptable to any potential employer.

The Congressman's Aide said if Sears wanted to call him he would be happy to verify that the documents we have from immigration are real and valid and that his status is legal. Somehow I don't picture anyone at Sears bothering to do this and furthermore it won't satisfy their document list so I barely see the point. I'm going to call the store manager anyway. I've come this far so why the heck not.

Anyway, that is the update.

[katand7 0]

And the saga continues:

So today was hubby's InfoPass appointment in Boston at 11am. He took the day off from work so he could make the trip up there.

Earlier this week the aide from the congressman's office spoke with someone in Boston immigration office and said hubby could go there and get his passport stamped. Well today he went and they refused to stamp his passport saying that the documents he has already are proof enough for employment AND for social security to give him an unrestricted card. He repeatedly asked if he could have the stamp anyway and referenced the Congressman's office calling earlier in the week to no avail. They still wouldn't stamp the passport and they told him to go to SS office.

So he goes over to SS office in Boston. They tell him he doesn't have the right paperwork and they can't get him an unrestricted social security card based on that. (And people are wondering why we are going nuts over here!!)

So then hubby goes back to Immigration. Waits and gets another appointment. When he gets called again he again asks for the stamp, explains the story, etc. Again they refuse the stamp. Two hours and 20 some minutes later he calls me and tells me what has happened. I call the Congressman's office. Aide I have worked with doesn't work today. So I ask to talk with someone else. She is in a meeting but I can leave a message and he'll make sure she gets it ASAP when the meeting is over.

Fast forward to twenty minutes later, the different aide calls me. She has no background on the case. So I have to explain to her the bare bones of what is happening. She doesn't understand why the other aide contacted immigration or had hubby go to Boston for the stamp. She wonders why her office didn't just contact Sears. *sigh*

Anyway, she says she will call her liaison at the Boston immigration office but she isn't hopeful she'll get anywhere with it today. She asks me to tell hubby to wait up in Boston to see if she can make anything happen, but reminds me that the Congressman's office closes at 3pm today so if it isn't done by 2:45 (and right now it is 2:46) then I should just tell hubby to head back home and she will work on writing a letter to Sears on Monday.

There isn't enough tums in the world to settle my stomach right now. This whole thing is driving me nuts.

I hate the run around!!!!

Kathleen

[kbf 0]

Thats pure bull..................... But i had same problem. I went to SS Office and showed them my Expired Green Card with NOA showing that i am eligible to work for one more year. After reading whole NOA, she asked me where it says that i am allowed to work (Funny as i thought she knows English), so i pointed on that line and Yesterday, exactly after 7 days i got my new Social Sec. Card. so i dont know what to tell you except good luck and go back at different time, may be your somebody different.

Thats pure bull..................... But i had same problem. I went to SS Office and showed them my Expired Green Card with NOA showing that i am eligible to work for one more year. After reading whole NOA, she asked me where it says that i am allowed to work (Funny as i thought she knows English), so i pointed on that line and Yesterday, exactly after 7 days i got my new Social Sec. Card. so i dont know what to tell you except good luck and go back at different time, may be your somebody different.

[katand7 0]

So they told you no but you got the card in the mail with no restriction later? He just went this past Monday for the first time to SS office, so maybe it will come in the mail anyway...........we'll see

[tammiandtom 0]

Wow this really is a big frustrating mess What is their reason for not giving out the stamp, not until his letter is close to expiring??

[katand7 0]

All they kept saying was that he didn't need stamp. The NOA1 was sufficient to show his status and authorization to work. Obviously not everyone believes that though. The last person he spoke to was supposed to be a supervisor and she said that even if they gave him the stamp he couldn't get an unrestricted SS card because he wasn't born here. HUH?! It just seems crazy how the answers you get vary so widely from person to person, agency to agency, etc.