What should I do? HELP PLEASE

[MichaelJuan.198 8]

Hi there,

 

So here is my situation. I got married to my wife (a few months ago) and we applied for an AOS mid may 2021. In August 2021 I got my fingerprints and last week I received my combo card. My interview is scheduled (I'm waiting for the official letter but my interview should be in about 6-8 weeks)

My problem is simple: I need to change my last name on my social security in order to get drivers license etc.. but the Social Security Office that I am attache to want me to SEND original documents (I called them 100 time and they said that this location won't let me make an appointment even when I told them that i should technically keep my original immigration documents)

 

So here are my to 2 options:

 

1) Send my EAD + Marriage certificate to them now BUT if it does't come back on time or if it's lost then I can't go to the interview bc i won't have my original marriage certificate for them to see.

 

2) 2nd option is to wait until after the interview BUT let's say i'm approved, then i would have to send them the original GREEN CARD with is even more problematic bc if it's lost in the mail I'm gonna have to wait another 8-10 months to have a replacement. 

 

Ps: please don't advise me to ask for an appointment bc i tried everything i could and they said they are not scheduling appointments for my situation + I can't go somewhere else bc i'm attrached to my ZIP CODE.

 

 

What to do :(((( i simply don't trust the mail.

 

 

 

 

[Timona 4,207]

Get a certified copy of MC from the clerk. Cheap. Simple. Send to SSO

[MichaelJuan.198 8]

Just now, Timona said:

Get a certified copy of MC from the clerk. Cheap. Simple. Send to SSO

Yeah, except that they only accept request by mail and it takes 8 to 12 weeks to get it from the time they received the request.... So cheap yes but I'm not sure it'll arrive on time for the interview 

[Timona 4,207]

In my state, you can get it online/ sent to your email. Check

 

Regardless, I'll still go with option 1 because if not, you'll be sending in your GC..So, if your state is 8 weeks, order it now. Send EAD & certified copy even when you have your GC. I'd rather loose those 2 than GC. EAD is useless after GC. So SSO can lose it if they wish.

 

 

Edited December 18, 2021 by Timona

[MichaelJuan.198 8]

1 minute ago, Timona said:

In my state, you can get it online/ sent to your email. Check

yeah, for us it's NYC and it's loooooong looooooong

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

You should send a copy of your DHS documents with the SS-5 form.  Add a letter informing them that DHS regulations require all immigrants to be in possession of their immigration identification at all times and therefore you cannot mail the original.   There is mention of this in 3 sections of SSA policy:

 

• Emergency message EM-21041.  Last sentence of Item 1:  "IMPORTANT: Do NOT request a non-citizen to submit his or her immigration documents by mail or using the drop box. Due to DHS regulations, non-citizens are required to have their immigration documents in their possession at all times"
• SSA policy in POMS, GN 00303.610.B
• SSA policy in POMS, RM 10205.090:

 

 

Also, provide them with link to US Law that pertains to this:  INA 264(e):

 

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1304&num=0&edition=prelim

 

Quote

(e) Personal possession of registration or receipt card; penalties

Every alien, eighteen years of age and over, shall at all times carry with him and have in his personal possession any certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt card issued to him pursuant to subsection (d). Any alien who fails to comply with the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $100 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.

 

[MichaelJuan.198 8]

4 minutes ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

You should send a copy of your DHS documents with the SS-5 form.  Add a letter informing them that DHS regulations require all immigrants to be in possession of their immigration identification at all times and therefore you cannot mail the original.   There is mention of this in 3 sections of SSA policy:

 

• Emergency message EM-21041.  Last sentence of Item 1:  "IMPORTANT: Do NOT request a non-citizen to submit his or her immigration documents by mail or using the drop box. Due to DHS regulations, non-citizens are required to have their immigration documents in their possession at all times"
• SSA policy in POMS, GN 00303.610.B
• SSA policy in POMS, RM 10205.090:

 

 

Also, provide them with link to US Law that pertains to this:  INA 264(e):

 

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1304&num=0&edition=prelim

 

 

did that work for anyone?

[SteveInBostonI130 3,434]

3 minutes ago, MichaelJuan.198 said:

did that work for anyone?

 

I didn't need to submit the DHS law references, but for my wife I sent a copy of her passport and greencard with the SS-5 application.  After a week or so they called us to verify the information and booked an appointment at the SSA office in the nearby city for the following week.  This was in Jan 2021, still during covid lockdown.

 

At the appointment the security guard had a clipboard of appointments for that day, he checked off my wife's name and I was allowed in with her.   I sat in the empty waiting area while she met with the SSA agent who examined her original passport and GC.  It took about 30 minutes total.  We received her SSN card 6 days later in the mail.

 

The office was closed normally.  They pooled all appointments to a certain day and had an agent assigned to go into the office for that day.

 

[Adventine 3,196]

14 minutes ago, MichaelJuan.198 said:

did that work for anyone?

 

It worked for me too. I called my local SS office and got an in-person appointment scheduled on the first try. I didn't need to cite those SS policies, as my local SS agents immediately understood that I definitely needed an in-person appointment. This was in Oct 2021.

 

If citing those SS policies still doesn't work, you can escalate to your congressman or senator. I believe that is is what @ra0010 and @Trutta

did to get their appointments.

Edited December 18, 2021 by Adventine

[MichaelJuan.198 8]

5 minutes ago, Adventine said:

 

It worked for me too. I called my local SS office and got an in-person appointment scheduled on the first try. I didn't need to cite those SS policies, as my local SS agents immediately understood that I definitely needed an in-person appointment. This was in Oct 2021.

 

If citing those SS policies still doesn't work, you can escalate to your congressman or senator. I believe that is is what @ra0010 and @Trutta

did to get their appointments.

thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. Unfortunately It didn't work for me. I talked about heir policy and she cut me off like ''No, you need to send your documents only'' I will try to call on monday

[Adventine 3,196]

Do try calling again on Monday. You might get an agent who actually knows what they're doing. Or ask to be transferred to an SS supervisor with more experience.

[Rocio0010 5,579]

14 minutes ago, Adventine said:

 

It worked for me too. I called my local SS office and got an in-person appointment scheduled on the first try. I didn't need to cite those SS policies, as my local SS agents immediately understood that I definitely needed an in-person appointment. This was in Oct 2021.

 

If citing those SS policies still doesn't work, you can escalate to your congressman or senator. I believe that is is what @ra0010 and @Trutta

did to get their appointments.

Yep. I called SS about twice in a week, and both of them refused to give me an in-person appointment, completely ignoring the fact that residents are supposed to have their gc with them at all times. So, seeing I was getting nowhere, I escalated it to a congressman

[MichaelJuan.198 8]

1 minute ago, Adventine said:

Do try calling again on Monday. You might get an agent who actually knows what they're doing. Or ask to be transferred to an SS supervisor with more experience.

i will do that, thanks a lot for your help! I really appreciate it

 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

Agreed with @Timona get another marriage certificate.

And can't you get your driver's license in your maiden name and change it later when your GC is approved?

[millefleur 5,046]

**Moved from US Immigration News and Discussion to Social Security Numbers; OP is dealing with issues getting SSN**