Extension letters as valid ID

[jackiegringa 419]

This is a very low stakes question but I just went to a bank to update my contact info (had business there already) and of course the extension letter wasn't accepted as a valid form of id.

 

Called for the manager, explained that it's formally accepted for I9, it's a federal thing etc, no dice. It's not something that will affect me at the moment but given that USCIS has no plans of giving people their plastic green cards I left a complaint to change guidelines and said this is going to become more and more common and the guidelines need to be changed.

 

Anything else that can be done/argued? If I was about to get a loan or something this would've been unpleasant to say the least. I had my GC, letter, passport.

Edited July 21, 2023 by jackiegringa
typo

[TBoneTX 45,265]

16 minutes ago, jackiegringa said:

the extension letter wasn't accepted as a valid form of id

Unsurprising.  People tend to be unfamiliar with the intricacies of immigration, so they'll freeze or refuse because they're reluctant to make a mistake.

 

Back in the day, we needed to do something with Mrs. T-B.'s driver's license, and we had (if I remember) a receipt letter for her ROC, or something.  Mrs. T-B. was carrying a copy of it, because the original was safely at home.  The DL office refused because it wasn't the original.  Oh, well.

[jackiegringa 419]

Really hope that my DMV knows what to do because in that case I do need to make it work...coming up in September. Ugh.

[Mike E 11,739]

4 hours ago, jackiegringa said:

Anything else that can be done/argued? If I was about to get a loan or something this would've been unpleasant to say the least. I had my GC, letter, passport.

It is a common problem. I’ve even had a bank reject my unexpired green card. 
 

That the bank rejected your unexpired foreign passport is a problem. This means if your spouse were to pass away or become incapacitated you would be unable to access your assets.
 

So if your state motor vehicles department refuses to issue state ID to you, then you need to find a bank that accepts the documents you have, and transfer your assets.
 

 

[jackiegringa 419]

16 minutes ago, Mike E said:

That the bank rejected your unexpired foreign passport is a problem.

No, the passport was fine but I was trying to update my records from non resident to resident so only the green card could do that. They said a state ID might work but only way to know is to put it in the system and check.

 

State ID renewal is in the works right now so I will try again in a few weeks. However I still believe the GC+letter should have been accepted as federal ID that it is

 

What I believe and what's reality though, that's my problem 😁

Edited July 21, 2023 by jackiegringa

[Mike E 11,739]

9 minutes ago, jackiegringa said:

 the passport was fine but I was trying to update my records from non resident

What is the practical point of that?

[jackiegringa 419]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

What is the practical point of that?

Some online functions were tied to having up to date info and because I am marked as a non resident it cannot be updated online as well. Taxes withheld in savings account would also change.

[Mike E 11,739]

16 minutes ago, jackiegringa said:

Some online functions were tied to having up to date info and because I am marked as a non resident it cannot be updated online as well. Taxes withheld in savings account would also change.

Interesting. My bank was never been interested in seeing my GC and has never rejected my W-9. I have never heard of a bank with holding taxes of someone who filed W-9 with a valid SSN.

 

If a US bank withheld interest for taxes after being provided a proper W-9,  I would shop for another bank.

[Bob in Boston 699]

One of the best ways to prove you ID is to get a "Real ID" from your dept of Motor Vehicles. It proves where you Live, Your Date of Birth and Your immigration Status as all these documents need to be provided befor you get it. It also alows entry into federal buildings. The ID will expire when your immigration status expires and is renewable with the extension letters.  Check it out.

[OldUser 6,624]

On 7/22/2023 at 3:58 AM, Bob in Boston said:

One of the best ways to prove you ID is to get a "Real ID" from your dept of Motor Vehicles. It proves where you Live, Your Date of Birth and Your immigration Status as all these documents need to be provided befor you get it. It also alows entry into federal buildings. The ID will expire when your immigration status expires and is renewable with the extension letters.  Check it out.

Agreed, Real ID is a useful form of ID, but don't understand how it proves immigration status? Surely, you need immigration paper work to get it, but once you get it there's no difference between Real ID of a USC vs LPR? The license itself doesn't show immigration status on it AFAIK?

[Crazy Cat 41,833]

10 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Surely, you need immigration paper work to get it, but once you get it there's no difference between Real ID of a USC vs LPR?

My experience:  My wife's Texas Real ID Driver's License (obtained in 2017)  looks identical to mine (gold star).  However, she could not update our address online as a Green Card holder.   Just my courteous contribution.

Edited July 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[OldUser 6,624]

3 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

My experience:  My wife's Texas Real ID Driver's License (obtained in 2017)  looks identical to mine (gold star).  However, she could not update our address online as a Green Card holder. 

Interesting, thank you for the data point. In California, I did not experience this as an LPR.

[Bob in Boston 699]

8 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Agreed, Real ID is a useful form of ID, but don't understand how it proves immigration status? Surely, you need immigration paper work to get it, but once you get it there's no difference between Real ID of a USC vs LPR? The license itself doesn't show immigration status on it AFAIK?

In Massachusetts when your green card expires your real Id expires. You then have to bring extension letters to get a new real ID which will expire when your extension letter expires. when you get your ten year card you will get a normal real ID as they are only good for 5 years. Moral of the story being if your not in status you wont have a valid Real ID. So if you have a Real ID the state has checked your immigration status. 

[Crazy Cat 41,833]

22 minutes ago, Bob in Boston said:

In Massachusetts when your green card expires your real Id expires.

In Texas, wife received a full term driver's license (7 years, I think) with her conditional GC.  A lot of variation in state laws.  

Edited July 23, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Bob in Boston 699]

5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Just my courteous addition. 

Thats why I included my state as I went through all this stuff in the past 6 years. Interesting that a federally recognized ID does not have the same requirements nationwide. Guess we file this under "if it makes sense dont do it" practice of the US Government.

Edited July 23, 2023 by Bob in Boston