Apply rental house during waiting I-751 get approved in TX

[Rebeccayuling 6]

So here's my experience recently 

 

We applied rental apartment online for the apartment that we really like, couple days later, leasing office called us that our information isn't enough, 

they asked for my legal status which is weird because it didn't happen at my current rental apartment. 

So I emailed copy of my expired green card and 18 months extension letter. But it's not over yet 😭

Leasing office contacted me said "yea...the letter says you can work and travel, doesn't says you are legal living in the U.S. "

I was very speechless about this argument, so I explained I can use the letter come back to the U.S., and I'm just trying to apply an apartment here. 

then she said "Your SSN is for working only, we need to see the card to verify the information."

wow...I have been used the card since graduated from school, never had any issues. 

I was planning to update it after I'm citizen, didn't think it could be the issue now. 

 

I'm just share this experience to let people know this could happen

and probably should update SSN information after you get the green card. 

Also I looked into laws that only CA and NY can't ask tenant's legal status. 

[Mike E 11,742]

11 minutes ago, Rebeccayuling said:

So here's my experience recently 

 

We applied rental apartment online for the apartment that we really like, couple days later, leasing office called us that our information isn't enough, 

they asked for my legal status which is weird because it didn't happen at my current rental apartment. 

So I emailed copy of my expired green card and 18 months extension letter. But it's not over yet 😭

Leasing office contacted me said "yea...the letter says you can work and travel, doesn't says you are legal living in the U.S. "

I was very speechless about this argument, so I explained I can use the letter come back to the U.S., and I'm just trying to apply an apartment here. 

then she said "Your SSN is for working only, we need to see the card to verify the information."

wow...I have been used the card since graduated from school, never had any issues. 

I was planning to update it after I'm citizen, didn't think it could be the issue now. 

 

I'm just share this experience to let people know this could happen

and probably should update SSN information after you get the green card. 

Also I looked into laws that only CA and NY can't ask tenant's legal status. 

 

There are federal laws against discrimination, and this includes renting. https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/fair_housing_act_overview . You are being discriminated on the basis of your national origin. File a complaint with HUD. https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/online-complaint 

 

[Ben&Zian 4,398]

No where did the OP say anything about "because of national origin" it is because of a pending ROC. Nothing to do with race/ethnicity or anything or that nature. OP maybe could get further clarification, but crying racism when it appears there is none is nonsense and wrong.

Edited May 16, 2019 by Ben&Zian

[Mike E 11,742]

It is discrimination by national origin because OP has presented an I-551 and because of that, the landlord won't approve the application.

 

And I never mentioned racism. So good day and so long.

Edited May 16, 2019 by Mike E

[Rebeccayuling 6]

The application system automatically notify leasing office that our application is conditional, that's before they asked for my green card and other documents. 

[xillini 71]

Talk to them and explain circumstances to the rental company but if they still don't take it

 

Ask them to give u the denial reason in writing with the rental company head or water mark with appropriate representative signature. (If they are so confident then they should be able to give u in writing)

 

When u have the writing u can file a complaint to both state and federal government with your senator's or Congress members involved.

 

U can claim either discrimination or inadequate reason to reject the application

Edited May 16, 2019 by xillini

[Rebeccayuling 6]

1 hour ago, xillini said:

Talk to them and explain circumstances to the rental company but if they still don't take it

 

Ask them to give u the denial reason in writing with the rental company head or water mark with appropriate representative signature. (If they are so confident then they should be able to give u in writing)

 

When u have the writing u can file a complaint to both state and federal government with your senator's or Congress members involved.

 

U can claim either discrimination or inadequate reason to reject the application

Thanks for the tip!

 

They approved our application, but I learned what I can do if this situation happen again. 

[Ash.1101 1,756]

This is kind of interesting.

What tipped them off that there was an immigrant? Was there a question asking if you were legal in the US? or was it phrased in some way that let them know there was an immigrant living in the home?

When we've done apartment things online, all we've ever had to provide was social security number and drivers license. I don't believe they ever mentioned anything about the green card or anything.

Good to know, but as others said, just because it happens doesn't make it right or legal. You're legally in the country, you have a paper extending the full benefits of the green card, just because they can't understand the terminology doesn't make your extension any less valid. Take it up to their corporate offices if they are owned by a management company, and as others said, get it in writing. Contact them through e-mail instead of phone if that helps.

[AstroCanada 206]

Glad you got your situation sorted.  There are often state and local laws that apply as well in these cases.  I do find landlords ask lots of questions they're not allowed to ask.

[Rebeccayuling 6]

3 minutes ago, Ash. said:

This is kind of interesting.

What tipped them off that there was an immigrant? Was there a question asking if you were legal in the US? or was it phrased in some way that let them know there was an immigrant living in the home?

When we've done apartment things online, all we've ever had to provide was social security number and drivers license. I don't believe they ever mentioned anything about the green card or anything.

Good to know, but as others said, just because it happens doesn't make it right or legal. You're legally in the country, you have a paper extending the full benefits of the green card, just because they can't understand the terminology doesn't make your extension any less valid. Take it up to their corporate offices if they are owned by a management company, and as others said, get it in writing. Contact them through e-mail instead of phone if that helps.

They ran my SSN and showed that it's for working only, I applied SS card after I graduated from school, long time ago. 
so they called my husband first to ask what that means, he has no idea but he mentioned I'm green card holder. 
That's why they asked me to email copy of green card or any proof of legal status. 

 

This is first time this happened to us, but after I explained in email and on the phone, we got approved. 😂

It could be it's their first time to see extension letter as well. 

 

Have you fill out "Texas Apartment Association  Supplemental Rental Application for Non-U.S. Citizens" ? they also asked me to fill up this. 

[Ash.1101 1,756]

1 hour ago, Rebeccayuling said:

They ran my SSN and showed that it's for working only, I applied SS card after I graduated from school, long time ago. 
so they called my husband first to ask what that means, he has no idea but he mentioned I'm green card holder. 
That's why they asked me to email copy of green card or any proof of legal status. 

 

This is first time this happened to us, but after I explained in email and on the phone, we got approved. 😂

It could be it's their first time to see extension letter as well. 

 

Have you fill out "Texas Apartment Association  Supplemental Rental Application for Non-U.S. Citizens" ? they also asked me to fill up this. 

That’s weird. We’ve never taken off the “for work only with DHS authorization” of whatever after my husband came in on his k-1 visa.

 

no we didn’t have to fill that out. His status as a green card holder was never brought up. He’s also the main person on the lease. I’m considered a co-resident.

[heartlandprarie 2]

According to HUD, it is illegal for landlords to ask for additional identification documentation due to a person's national origin. They cannot ask your immigration status as a criteria for fitness as a renter. If I were you, I would report this to HUD and seriously reconsider renting that unit.

[Rebeccayuling 6]

3 minutes ago, Ash. said:

That’s weird. We’ve never taken off the “for work only with DHS authorization” of whatever after my husband came in on his k-1 visa.

 

no we didn’t have to fill that out. His status as a green card holder was never brought up. He’s also the main person on the lease. I’m considered a co-resident.

because I was F-1 OPT visa when I applied SS card, that's probably the reason it's for work only. But when I applied green card and I-751, I also wrote that number down on application, it didn't cause any issue at all. 😔

I guess every property management company has very different way to do tenant screening.