Tricky situation with green card, IDs, separation... Please help

[Paiget 2]

Hi everyone, five years ago I came to the united states to marry my husband who informed me two days ago that he doesn't want to be married anymore. My case only just started being processed again but I really need help here because of a green card kerfuffle.

 

1. I was sent my conditional permanent resident card after two years. It did not ever get to our mail and may have been lost or destroyed because their office marked it as 'delivered' and they refused to take responsibility for it.
2. I applied to get a new card using the correct form but they bounced us back (this was a year or two ago) saying we had to wait for my status to be adjusted first, it was, then I sent one again. We also called the office and tried to get it waived but eventually just had to pay them.
3. I never received a follow-up of any kind. I couldn't even get my passport stamped. My case has only just been reopened because the USCIS branch we went to was closed under the previous administration.
4. Because of this, I don't have a:

• Green card
• Social Security card (even though I have a social security number and am getting W2's from my job)
• State ID
• Bank Account (this is a big one, I need help, all money has been going through my husband's bank account and paypal)

 

In addition to this my passport expired a while back and I am having to book an appointment at the LA consulate for the end of April so I have to figure this all out in two months. At the moment I don't really have a place to live (and probably not enough documentation to move into an apartment) so I will likely be staying with my friends out of state for a couple of months.

 

I recently got mail saying my case was being opened again, I checked the status on the USCIS site and it said:

Quote

As of March 2, 2022, we are ready to schedule your Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, for an interview. We will schedule your interview and send you a notice.

What does a 'notice' mean? Mail? A text? If I'm supposed to log into my account on the USCIS website, I couldn't remember my password and now I can't remember my answers either so I'm locked out.

 

As you can see I'm in a real pickle here. I am collecting all of my paperwork and case files, I still have employers who will vouch for me and have me back as soon as my affairs are in order, I've left quite a footprint on the local art community, and we've dotted our I's and crossed our T's every step of the way, but the situation with my documentation feels grim. I don't know how I ever got this far without the documents listed above.

 

My husband is willing to help in proving to USCIS that the marriage was in good faith and will even fill out an I-864 if necessary.

 

If anyone can suggest next steps, booby traps to look out for, how to expedite any of this, PLEASE let me know. Thank you!!

[Timona 4,208]

You story is a bit difficult to understand. 

 

So help me here: did you ever receive the first GC in your hands?

[Paiget 2]

No, I did not.  They "sent" it and it was "delivered" but we never received it.

 

Ever since then we've been trying to get replacements using the I-90 and get excuses or radio silence. I don't really understand why they've made it so difficult to replace the damn card because again, even though I was supposed to have one, I havfe not had a green card for this entire stay.

[Rocio0010 5,586]

36 minutes ago, Paiget said:

I applied to get a new card using the correct form but they bounced us back (this was a year or two ago) saying we had to wait for my status to be adjusted first

I don't get it. If you had already adjusted status, why would they say that "your status needs to be adjusted FIRST?"

[milimelo 4,533]

Should’ve had your congressman/senator’s immigration aide help with this - even now not too late even just to get a stamp in the passport. 

[Paiget 2]

6 minutes ago, Rocio0010 said:

I don't get it. If you had already adjusted status, why would they say that "your status needs to be adjusted FIRST?"

I don't really understand this situation myself, that is why I'm asking for help.

 

I am referring to the fact that in 2020, I received a letter saying, "thank you for submitting form I-90 to replace your card etc... After thorough review of the information you provided in your application and the documents supporting your application, USCIS has determined that you are ineligible to be issued a replacement form I-551, Lawful Permanent Resident Card. Accordingly, USCIS must deny your Form I-90."

 

Then the office closed down and no one would take our calls.

 

I'm sure there is stuff missing from my timeline. I'm sorry. I am writing to you all desperately in need of help and I am in a sea of paperwork trying to construct a proper timeline. If this weren't so difficult I wouldn't have made an account here today.

[Rocio0010 5,586]

2 minutes ago, Paiget said:

I don't really understand this situation myself, that is why I'm asking for help.

 

Right. And I'm not being mean or demeaning, I am just trying to understand the situation to help you better. Did you keep that letter they sent you? Is there a way that you can post it, blurring personal info?  because you said in your initial post that they told you to AOS first, but then they told you you were ineligible to apply for a  renewal'. They must have explained the reason why.

In reards to your question, that status simply means that they are waiting for a slot to open in your FO for your interview. Could be weeks, months, or years.

[milimelo 4,533]

1 hour ago, Rocio0010 said:

I don't get it. If you had already adjusted status, why would they say that "your status needs to be adjusted FIRST?"

I think the issue is the length of time that was on the original green card (2 yrs). If you try to renew via I-90 they'll see you're pending I-751 and will refuse I-90 as producing the GC would be for the length of time remaining on that GC (if expired, they wouldn't get out the new card with past dates). 

I had a similar thing happen to me (I did DCF, not AOS) in 2007 - card never showed up and USCIS never produced proof it was ever mailed. I had to go through my congressman's immigration liaison after they rejected my first I-90 with no fee to get the GC issued. Tried to blame it on me (we never moved, name was on the mailbox, USPS said they never received it, there was no tracking number) but the liaison got in touch with USCIS, I got specific mailing instructions to put on the envelope and they produced my green card. Come ROC time I made sure to keep the liaison in the loop and it went through smoothly in 3 months (that was 2009, can't compare timelines to current situation). 

[Rocio0010 5,586]

4 minutes ago, milimelo said:

had a similar thing happen to me (I did DCF, not AOS) in 2007 - card never showed up and USCIS never produced proof it was ever mailed. I had to go through my congressman's immigration liaison after they rejected my first I-90 with no fee to get the GC issued. Tried to blame it on me (we never moved, name was on the mailbox, USPS said they never received it, there was no tracking number) but the liaison got in touch with USCIS, I got specific mailing instructions to put on the envelope and they produced my green card. Come ROC time I made sure to keep the liaison in the loop and it went through smoothly in 3 months (that was 2009, can't compare timelines to current situation). 

Omg what a pain the rear end!

[milimelo 4,533]

For being locked out of USCIS account - get in touch with tier 1 - you should know your personal details to verify you and unlock your account.

[Paiget 2]

Thank you everybody. I actually got on a call with them and found out they never received our new request for an I-90. 💀

I'm livid, but there's next steps. I guess I am submitting yet another I-90, again.

 

What I'd really like to know right now is if anyone knows of a good way to set up a bank account with minimal physical documentation. I can prove my status as a working lawful permanent resident but not with actual  cards, our bank was pretty much demanding a physical Social Security card which I can't seem to get without that physical green card. Is there an option for me until I can get all my cards to open a normal account?

[milimelo 4,533]

1 hour ago, Paiget said:

Thank you everybody. I actually got on a call with them and found out they never received our new request for an I-90. 💀

I'm livid, but there's next steps. I guess I am submitting yet another I-90, again.

 

What I'd really like to know right now is if anyone knows of a good way to set up a bank account with minimal physical documentation. I can prove my status as a working lawful permanent resident but not with actual  cards, our bank was pretty much demanding a physical Social Security card which I can't seem to get without that physical green card. Is there an option for me until I can get all my cards to open a normal account?

If you had a SSA card before (unrestricted) it should be easy to get a replacement one. Looks like you can do it online - just set up an account: 

https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA64GRBhCZARIsAHOLriJWtLyq_GR1ju-ogW3c-sECZs5UylOW_pEtNgIV395mrbWCkmlDSHoaAmpdEALw_wcB

 

Also, for SSN for bank purposes - wouldn't a copy of your filed tax return (that has your SSN on it) suffice for the bank? Or your W-2 from the employer? Just thinking outside the box here. 

[Gary Rich 284]

17 minutes ago, milimelo said:

For being locked out of USCIS account - get in touch with tier 1 - you should know your personal details to verify you and unlock your account.

yep.. cause it happen to me one thing when i got lock out.

[milimelo 4,533]

Also, there are some online banks - capital one for example - where you can open an account online. I know when I was opening an online account I didn't need to provide a copy of my SSN, just the numbers. 

[Gary Rich 284]

3 minutes ago, milimelo said:

If you had a SSA card before (unrestricted) it should be easy to get a replacement one. Looks like you can do it online - just set up an account: 

https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA64GRBhCZARIsAHOLriJWtLyq_GR1ju-ogW3c-sECZs5UylOW_pEtNgIV395mrbWCkmlDSHoaAmpdEALw_wcB

 

Also, for SSN for bank purposes - wouldn't a copy of your filed tax return (that has your SSN on it) suffice for the bank? Or your W-2 from the employer? Just thinking outside the box here. 

or open up a account with the IRS, online and you can get all kinds of statements printed for free.

Edited March 3, 2022 by Gary Rich