I-751 Pending, MERCEDES BENZ of SILVER SPRING rejecting stamp

[KazuriSana 324]

I751 pending, and hubby has the stamp in his passport extending the GC until May 25, 2016

We bought a Mercedes Benz car from Mercedes Benz of Silver Spring,MD, three days ago. The finance officer handling our financing asked my husband if he is a permanent resident and he answered in the affirmative. She asked if he has a Greencard and he answered in the affirmative. She asked if he can email her a copy and he said he would do so. We drove home our new car.

Our understanding is that the stamp on the passport is a Greencard by all means. Because USCIS kept the 2-year GC when they stamped the passport, we went ahead and copied the temporary I-551stamp plus the biometrics page of hubby's foreign passport and emailed them to [her] at Mercedes Benz.

Her response: their bank wants A GREENCARD not the stamp. In fact, she says that hubby's employer should "provide a letter stating that you have the proper US Documentations."

Quite in awe here! Surprised that a bank, ANY bank, in the US wouldn't know that the stamp serves the same purpose as an actual Greencard. Surprised that a car dealer of the caliber of Mercedes Benz of Silver Spring wouldn't know the same, too.

On the other hand, are they even allowed to ask for the Greencard or residence status in order to sell us a Mercedes Benz?

[Lynkali 163]

I can't chime in on the stamp vs. card issue but yes, our car dealer also required my husband to provide copies of his green card and his social security card. Luckily his 2-year GC is still valid now, I don't know what kind of problems we would have hit if we only had the extension letter or the stamp. Good luck to you!

[LoveMyTico 999]

Why wouldn't they ask for a greencard? The bank wants to make sure they get paid.

[Morningmist 76]

yes. They have been asking for my GC to give me a mortgage or a car loan. That said, this whole issue with the extension letter is making me nervous. I am traveling in 3 weeks and it would be upsetting if they don't accept the extension.

Get the letter then, I guess.

[Morningmist 76]

Letter from his employer I mean. That makes no sense to me though. Does he think a GC is a work visa?

[Cheezees 1,514]

Letter from his employer I mean. That makes no sense to me though. Does he think a GC is a work visa?

No, but a stamp on a foreign passport (remember the bank does not deal with immigration issues regularly) is for travel purposes and does not automatically say to the bank that this person's green card has been extended. Some banks would not deal with you at all. I think asking for an employer's letter in lieu of presenting an unexpired green card is actually a good compromise on the bank's part. The OP's perceived "caliber" of the dealership is irrelevant, especially when they could not produce the very common document that was asked for.

[tittysprinkles 4]

I sort-of had to deal with this. I hadnt updated my drivers license since getting my green-card so it had "LIMITED TERM" written on it. Ditto SSN with "Not valid without DHS Authorization". All of a sudden it's Memorial weekend and we are buying a new car, and lo-n-behold their finance manager is baulking, quite rightly, at my potentially bailing during the period of the loan given that my DL expired in a month or so.

Lesson Learned: Anything that changes when you get your GC with respect to "removing conditions"? GET IT DONE. ASAP. That means SSN, DL, etc.

Also: Keep scanned copies of EVERYTHING so you can back it up.

[Advanced Aardvark 82]

On the other hand, are they even allowed to ask for the Greencard or residence status in order to sell us a Mercedes Benz?

The issue is not about selling you a car; it is about risk management policies related to extending credit.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

100% agree

I wouldn't get too irate, they're business is cars and not immigration. They know a little and they think they're doing the right thing.

The issue is not about selling you a car; it is about risk management policies related to extending credit.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Most people in the US have no idea what's a I-551 stamp. Lots of immigrants don't even realize it's a green card. Not surprising that a bank representative and car salesman does not know what's an I-551 stamp.

The bank and car dealership wants to make sure the buyers will stick around. It's a credit issue and not an immigration issue.

[Pinkrlion 2,607]

It is not the dealer asking, it is the lender. They will not be able to secure your car loan without the documents, and you will be returning the vehicle without it.

[Boiler 43,429]

Pay cash, problem solved.

[Morningmist 76]

On most I-9 forms for employment it mentions that you need to show a I-551 stamp or a Green card as a valid form of authorization to work. Since that form is ubiquitous and relevant to everyone, you would think some people would do their homework and accept it.

[TBoneTX 43,048]

*** Thread moved from Removing Conditions forum to the Tax & Finances forum -- topic is financing. ***

[Lowlie 191]

"Mercedes Benz" mentioned 6 times in your post :-) So I think congratulations on the purchase of your Mercedes Benz are in order. Enjoy!