Green Card for Credit Application?

[SF2007 48]

I couldn't find where to post this so I figured I could ask my fellow Canadians. Twice now, I have been asked to provide my Green Card for credit. Once to refinance our house, second time for buying a car. I was asked twice to produce my social security card and Green Card. I am pretty sure I could have refused to provide my GC, because nobody is entitled to ask me for it but the federal government (right?), but I did it because they could very well refuse me credit if I don't.

Because I did a K1, I obtained my SS card before my GC so my card does say "Valid for work only with DHS authorization". If I update my info with SS, will that stop happening?

Has it happened to you? What did you do?

[NikLR 13,227]

Yes if you update your SSN it's likely they'll stop asking you for your GC.

[KVM 6]

As far as I can recall the ONLY way to get rid of the "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" - to "update" your info - is once you get your Green Card.

I can't give you advise about the credit issue tho, I just bought a car with my husband as a co-signer and I didn't have any problem at all to get it financed!
I entered thru a K1 as well, and got my SSCard a couple of months afterwards. I applied for AOS in February and got the Employment/Travel document in April; however, I'm still waiting to hear from the I-485 part.
Maybe talk to a couple of different dealers and see what happens.

Good luck

[VeeNDee 44]

We applied for a mortgage together as husband and wife and they asked originally for copies of the social security card. A few weeks later, two of the 3 people we got mortgage pre-approvals from requested my green card photocopied as well. My SSN card does NOT say 'valid for work only with DHS authorization' because I updated it once I got my green card so they didn't even see that part. However, I know when we applied for a joint credit card at the bank, the guy sent in the paperwork and the head office called and told him they must have my SSN # wrong because I didn't exist... (the guy told us next time we came in, somewhat annoyed that the head office didn't believe him) ...ha, well, I had to show a copy of my SSN card to prove it was real, but it was because I hadn't lived in the US long enough to show up on a credit check. Like an invisible person.

As far as mortgage goes, one of the paperwork things we had to fill out questioned whether we are both US citizens or legal permanent resident (and I marked off one US citizen and one legal permanent resident). Apparently if neither of us were US citizens we'd have to pay some huge tax fees or something if we ever sold the house, but since my husband is a US citizen we wouldn't. They still wanted to know my status though. Since I have the card I sent them a copy of it anyway... wanted to speed up the process!

Edited August 1, 2013 by VeeNDee

[Darnell 8,478]

I thought validating a person's citizenship status for a mortgage is covered by the Patriot Act ?

[VeeNDee 44]

I thought validating a person's citizenship status for a mortgage is covered by the Patriot Act ?

That I do not know.... we just did the pre-approvals in June and two of the three wanted the photocopy. They didn't ask for it originally, but it seemed like they had filed paperwork and someone higher up had wanted confirmation of my status or something. I had to declare I was a legal permanent resident and he a US citizen on the pre-approval applications too although didn't need to prove it on there. I am not sure if they could do it or not, but they sure did regardless.

And I have the emails where they asked me for it too. In writing. I didn't know I could say no... nor did it bother me that much. Just one more piece of paperwork in an endless pile. Although I suppose it would have been nice to be believed.

[VeeNDee 44]

You know, now that I think about it.... why did I have to prove legal permanent residence, but they never asked my husband to prove he was a US citizen?.... Just took our word for that one.

[NikLR 13,227]

What is the patriot act?

I am reading wikipedia but I'm a little lost as to how this means a bank can or cannot ask for verification of someone's LPR status?

I can see it's the reason why BC, AB and several other provinces beefed up their security clauses.

[Allanah and Chris 8]

I couldn't find where to post this so I figured I could ask my fellow Canadians. Twice now, I have been asked to provide my Green Card for credit. Once to refinance our house, second time for buying a car. I was asked twice to produce my social security card and Green Card. I am pretty sure I could have refused to provide my GC, because nobody is entitled to ask me for it but the federal government (right?), but I did it because they could very well refuse me credit if I don't.

Because I did a K1, I obtained my SS card before my GC so my card does say "Valid for work only with DHS authorization". If I update my info with SS, will that stop happening?

Has it happened to you? What did you do?

(Not a fellow Canadian, but the USC engaged to one)

This is part of a boneheaded scheme to stop "funding terrorists" and "identity theft", known as Customer Identification Programs, under the USA PATRIOT Act (a cowardly attempt at "securing" the Grand Ole US of A).

Anywho, Banks are basically required to get Identification for all new accounts (which includes mortgages/financing). Typically all you need is your name, DOB, SSN, and physical address (sorry, no PO Boxes).

If you're not a USC, you need something to show just who exactly you are, because the law requires an Identification Number; which for Amurricans is SSN/TIN/EIN, but for terroristsforeigners this like your A# or GC. That being said, you ARE allowed to use your SSN, even if it is pending! You still need something proving your nationality (passport works).

The hitch is there is no set policy for all institutions, instead just a general rule that they all must turn into an institutional policy. For some institutions they may ask for your GC, others will be fine with your SSN. The law does not appear to say that they must accept your pending/non-work SSN, but it certainly says they can accept it.

(as a side note, all I can do is apologize for the horrendous manner in which we treat you...but I don't see us getting any better, so get naturalized and vote vote vote)

[SF2007 48]

Thank you everyone for sharing your insight and experience I do appreciate it. I am relieved to know it's not just me, I otherwise would've gotten in touch with the bank as it sounded fishy at first when they asked for it. I was also surprised they asked me to prove I was a LPR but my husband was not required to prove his US citizenship.

I am pretty certain they can't legally force you to provide your GC, but if you don't fit their requirement, they can easily deny you credit. So unless you can self finance your house and cars, what are you going to do And after all, if I allow them to have my SS number, I figure I can give them my GC info...

Edit:typo

Edited August 1, 2013 by SF2007

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Thank you everyone for sharing your insight and experience I do appreciate it. I am relieved to know it's not just me, I otherwise would've gotten in touch with the bank as it sounded fishy at first when they asked for it. I was also surprised they asked me to prove I was a LPR but my husband was not required to prove his US citizenship.

I am pretty certain they can't legally force you to provide your GC, but if you don't fit their requirement, they can easily deny you credit. So unless you can self finance your house and cars, what are you going to do And after all, if I allow them to have my SS number, I figure I can give them my GC info...

Edit:typo

Does it offend you that they check? I wouldn't feel obligated if it was say Sears, although I find it a little odd, it doesn't seem unreasonable. They are about to lend you a whopping amount of money.

You'll feel a certain amount of relief if you go for citizenship, I never get asked anyting anymore

[SF2007 48]

Does it offend you that they check? I wouldn't feel obligated if it was say Sears, although I find it a little odd, it doesn't seem unreasonable. They are about to lend you a whopping amount of money.

You'll feel a certain amount of relief if you go for citizenship, I never get asked anyting anymore

I can't say I am offend; and I understand why they do it. I am simply not comfortable sharing that kind of information unless absolutely necessary. Perhaps I am naive enough to think it's really none of their business. I have great credit, more than my husband according to two credit agencies. And perhaps it's different in other states, but I had to go through the lengthy process of proving I was here legally to obtain my SS #. So if I can provide that, I have been "cleared" and shouldn't need to go through this again. Oh well. Like you said, get naturalized in order to not feel singled out

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Coming from Canada, I have often felt there are some invasions of my privacy. Job applications are another area where I feel they ask too many personal questions. We could start a whole new thread about that one !

[gwenstar 66]

I am pretty certain they can't legally force you to provide your GC, but if you don't fit their requirement, they can easily deny you credit.

This is exactly what I was going to say.... it may not be legally required to provide documentation of GC (or many other things) however if you applying for something like a loan/mortgage/apartment/grant they can set certain requirements in order to qualify.

Edit: It can take a little while for the SSN to show up as "in use" on things like credit checks so it is not uncommon to be asked to show your SSN card along with your identification in that situation. Some agencies also alert the company pulling the report as to if the SSN has been issues in the past 5 years. This is meant to help reduce identity theft.

Edited August 2, 2013 by gwenstar