The TEMPORARY IR1 I-551 stamp is "WORTHLESS"

[fritz123 1]

My wife arrived Mar 12,08 in Dallas. She wasnt given am I-94 at that time. We had sent in a change of address months before and the green card

was sent, supposedly, before the middle of April. I called May 20th and ask where is was to the right people and they said it was undeliverable. It had

gone to the old address. At that time I ask them to deliver it to me at my new address that I had changed months ago. June 13th, I called again to just

follow up and there was no record of any calls or any thing ever done at all...EVER. I ask them to please send it to us again, again they say that its going

to take 30 to 45 days to get a green card. That will be about 130 days AFTER the date of entry. NOT GOOD.

Now to the part that Texas visa holders need to know. YES, this is a very strong statement. It took us almost 4 years to get my wonderful wife to the

US. I have spent 4 1/2 years in Iraq trying to make this a better place. I come back and find out that it is more messed up than it has ever been and

wont get better at all. Anyway, as you can see I am angry. the state of Texas has taken upon itself to not recognise the I-551 stamp in IR1 visa. Its a

Federial regulation that has been voted out by the great state of Texas. So in this state there is no way of getting a drivers license unless you have the

REAL I-551 or a I-94 that has a defined experiastion date: It must be issued for a period of at least 1 year and have at least six months months validity

remaining. But if the customs people in Dallas didnt give a I-94 in the first place thats out also.

My wife also has a problem with her 3 week old SSN. it keeps coming back invalid. We called the Employment Consumer Disclosure Group about

getting it right. We were told to send in a drivers license...remember Texas, yeah right...I told them that she had a IR1 visa with a green card stamp on it

for a picture ID. They also wont accept a foreign passport, even with a Federial visa of any kind in it. They dont accept it either, just a REAL I-551 green

card. So she cant even get her SSN corrected. Remember the REAL I-551 wont get here till about the end of July. Everyone ,this is wrong. Its unjust and

should be ILLIGAL. I am needing to go back to Iraq SOON and do what I can do to protect this country from this kind of #######. But I cant go and leave my

wife with no drivers lisence and REAL I-551.

QUESTIONS: Where or how can I get a I-94 stamp in the visa that was apparently supposed to be in in from the entry date?

Is there any guidance or knowledge from someone in Texas on this situation about the drivers license and their ignorant and Illigal rules?

How can a state override Federial regulations on Homeland Security and USCIS immergration LAWS? Is this legal? Is it right or just?

Yes, everyone I am very angry. I am sorry for getting this way, but after 4 1/2 years of fighting for an apparently worthless I-551 and my wife still cant

get a job. I hope that others dont have this problem also. There are laws and those laws are not being followed in this great state of TEXAS.

Jeff and Imelda

[Thai family 0]

Sorry to hear about the hard time you are having. Take a deep breath. It's sounds like you're military, in which case I would edit your post, take it over to JAG and ask them for help in unraveling all of this. Remind them that The American Immigration Lawyer's Assoc. has volunteered to help JAG officers with questions they don't know the answers to.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Talk with your congressman or senators. You have valid cause to be angry, and they need to know that Texas is operating in violation of federal immigration regulations - ie. the validity of the I-551 stamp. Good luck to you both. (and if Texas continues to be so stupidly prejudiced against legal immigrants you might consider moving to another state that demonstrates more common sense).

[fritz123 1]

Sorry to hear about the hard time you are having. Take a deep breath. It's sounds like you're military, in which case I would edit your post, take it over to JAG and ask them for help in unraveling all of this. Remind them that The American Immigration Lawyer's Assoc. has volunteered to help JAG officers with questions they don't know the answers to.

Sorry, I am not military. Not with that many years in Iraq. I cant say who I was with but its not military. I am sure that this statement or question that I have ask here will start many questions from other members. I do like the congressman thing and I will follow that line in a few minutes. But this is wrong and has the possiabilities of affecting a lot of visa holders in Texas. Texas has proven to the world how stupid it is with the recent violations in the releigous sect thing in San Angalo.

[I'm Gone 60]

People with immigrant visas are not issued an I-94. Should get the I-551 language stamp in the passport. The issuing of driver's license is a state function, so it's up to the state to decide which documents they accept. With the Real ID Act states will need to set standards that are more uniform and this might even be a result of the Real ID Act:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act

Now as far as the SSN being invalid, first thing is to call SSA, 1-800-772-1213 to make sure SSN record is OK. I would assume the problem being the SSA High Group list. SSA issues a list that shows the highest Group number issued from each SSN Area number. Her SSN is either from a Group that just started to be issued or people are using old Group lists.

High Group History List:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnvhighgroup.htm

Area Group Serial (AAA-GG-SSSS)

SSN - Order of Issuance:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnweb.htm

SSA will accept the I-551 stamp along with the unexpired passport as proof of identity and work authorizarion ro assign an SSN or issue a replacement card.

RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card:

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200

1. Primary Evidence

Request a current U.S. immigration document and an unexpired foreign passport.

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when the I-551 Permanent Resident Card has not yet been issued)

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

B. Kinds of Evidence Establishing LAPR Status

2. Machine Readable Immigrant Visa with Temporary I-551 Language

Beginning June 28, 2004, certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates will begin issuing the machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) printed with the language, “UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR” in the body of the MRIV above the machine-readable zone (two lines of code at the bottom of the card). This language is almost identical to that contained in the Alien Documentation Identification and Telecommunication System (ADIT) Stamp, commonly referred to as the “Temporary I-551 Stamp” or “ADIT Stamp.”

The I-551 stamp and passport should work for the I-9 to prove work authorization, plus she has an SSN, so I don't see a problem with getting job.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf

List A An unexpired foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp

[Kathryn41 3,205]

She has the I-551 stamp in her passport. The State of Texas refuses to honour it saying they will only accept the I-551 card, not the stamp. That is the source of the problem.

[fritz123 1]

She has the I-551 stamp in her passport. The State of Texas refuses to honour it saying they will only accept the I-551 card, not the stamp. That is the source of the problem.

I tell ya, I just cant believe that the rules can be tossed out and changed around as they want to in a situation like this. How can a person that has done everything legally and correctly to get my wife to the US and a I-551, explaine how the government allows this. We have talked for the past few days and have come to a conclusion. She is from the Philippines where corruption is so rampit and in your face, but here the rule changing and fixing is all behind smoke and mirrors. The official people behind the desk are right and correct, when everything is right and legal, they change the rules to suit them...just like the PI.....

[fritz123 1]

People with immigrant visas are not issued an I-94. Should get the I-551 language stamp in the passport. The issuing of driver's license is a state function, so it's up to the state to decide which documents they accept. With the Real ID Act states will need to set standards that are more uniform and this might even be a result of the Real ID Act:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REAL_ID_Act

Now as far as the SSN being invalid, first thing is to call SSA, 1-800-772-1213 to make sure SSN record is OK. I would assume the problem being the SSA High Group list. SSA issues a list that shows the highest Group number issued from each SSN Area number. Her SSN is either from a Group that just started to be issued or people are using old Group lists.

High Group History List:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnvhighgroup.htm

Area Group Serial (AAA-GG-SSSS)

SSN - Order of Issuance:

http://www.ssa.gov/employer/ssnweb.htm

SSA will accept the I-551 stamp along with the unexpired passport as proof of identity and work authorizarion ro assign an SSN or issue a replacement card.

RM 00203.200 Evidence of Identity for an SSN Card:

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200

1. Primary Evidence

Request a current U.S. immigration document and an unexpired foreign passport.

-- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (includes temporary I-551 stamp/machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) in combination with an unexpired foreign passport when the I-551 Permanent Resident Card has not yet been issued)

RM 00203.410 Evidence of Alien Status for an SSN Card for an Alien Lawfully Admitted for Permanent Residence

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203410

B. Kinds of Evidence Establishing LAPR Status

2. Machine Readable Immigrant Visa with Temporary I-551 Language

Beginning June 28, 2004, certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates will begin issuing the machine readable immigrant visa (MRIV) printed with the language, “UPON ENDORSEMENT SERVES AS TEMPORARY I-551 EVIDENCING PERMANENT RESIDENCE FOR 1 YEAR” in the body of the MRIV above the machine-readable zone (two lines of code at the bottom of the card). This language is almost identical to that contained in the Alien Documentation Identification and Telecommunication System (ADIT) Stamp, commonly referred to as the “Temporary I-551 Stamp” or “ADIT Stamp.”

The I-551 stamp and passport should work for the I-9 to prove work authorization, plus she has an SSN, so I don't see a problem with getting job.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf

List A An unexpired foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp

Ok, I did the reading and came up with some fast lines....

If you get a K-3, K-1 visa and come here without a I-551 and need to do a change of status to get a I-551 you get a I-94 and thats all good to go with documents.

If you get an even better visa such as a IR1 and get a Temp I-551 stamp and work authorisation from DHS then thats not good enough documentiation to get a drivers license in texas. There is something very wrong with this thinking.

The state wont accept a visa with a I-551 stamp that has already gone threw the DHS and has its blessing on it. But it will let people with a lesser back groud check get what they need......security problems...i think so. I have a very very good security clearance and it takes a lot to get it....but it maybe isnt enough to get me a drivers license in texas. When we were in the drivers license department today. There was NO english speaking people in there. they all smiled and knew that they would get a license, but not my wife will ALL the right documents and security checks by DHS.

[I'm Gone 60]

I tell ya, I just cant believe that the rules can be tossed out and changed around as they want to in a situation like this. How can a person that has done everything legally and correctly to get my wife to the US and a I-551, explaine how the government allows this. We have talked for the past few days and have come to a conclusion. She is from the Philippines where corruption is so rampit and in your face, but here the rule changing and fixing is all behind smoke and mirrors. The official people behind the desk are right and correct, when everything is right and legal, they change the rules to suit them...just like the PI.....

Yeah in the Philippines 200 or 500 Pesos and the rules would be whatever you wanted them to be. Here all the bribing goes on in the State Capital and Washington and costs a lot more than 200 Pesos to get things done.

But she still should be able to get a job with what documents she does have, so she takes the bus or a cab for a few months

[fritz123 1]

I tell ya, I just cant believe that the rules can be tossed out and changed around as they want to in a situation like this. How can a person that has done everything legally and correctly to get my wife to the US and a I-551, explaine how the government allows this. We have talked for the past few days and have come to a conclusion. She is from the Philippines where corruption is so rampit and in your face, but here the rule changing and fixing is all behind smoke and mirrors. The official people behind the desk are right and correct, when everything is right and legal, they change the rules to suit them...just like the PI.....

Yeah in the Philippines 200 or 500 Pesos and the rules would be whatever you wanted them to be. Here all the bribing goes on in the State Capital and Washington and costs a lot more than 200 Pesos to get things done.

But she still should be able to get a job with what documents she does have, so she takes the bus or a cab for a few months

This is texas, where we are no cabs and no busses, and i am going back to iraq SOON

[DanielParul 50]

check your PM. If your wife has a license form Phillipines, she can drive upto a year in Texas... I sent you the link

Actually I will paste it here too...

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readta...ch=15&rl=51