Dilemma! N-400 pending but GC expired and need proof of residency!

[charmander 692]

Just now, headkiss said:

Wow thank you!! It seems that I have to donate $500+ for a GC renewal that will be ultimately denied because I will likely be a citizen by then. Makes no sense. But thank you so much for the article. You rock!

No problem. Mr Google took me to an official response from USCIS reflecting the old rule (from 2008). Check Q4. https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/revised_qa_062508.pdf

 

I wonder what made them change the rule. Most likely they wanted to make extra cash.

[headkiss 1]

26 minutes ago, charmander said:

No problem. Mr Google took me to an official response from USCIS reflecting the old rule (from 2008). Check Q4. https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/nativedocuments/revised_qa_062508.pdf

 

I wonder what made them change the rule. Most likely they wanted to make extra cash.

Must be. Well they got my money.. $540 paid to Uncle Sam. That rule needs to be changed.

[mallafri76 1,012]

4 hours ago, headkiss said:

Must be. Well they got my money.. $540 paid to Uncle Sam. That rule needs to be changed.

It's not really USCIS' fault that you have to pay $540 to renew your green card and then pay to apply for citizenship. You've had five years to apply for citizenship but chose to wait until your green card's expired and now you're paying the prize. Just saying. 😏

Edited August 8, 2017 by mallafri76

[lovelyalex 99]

I'm surprised they don't offer a GC extension or something with your naturalization pending.  Would the Social Security office work with you if you showed up with your expired green card and a copy of your most recent NOA?

[Bzlibem 111]

I just went to the SS office last week to get a replacement SS card and all they asked for was DL

[Diane and Chris 651]

13 hours ago, mallafri76 said:

It's not really USCIS' fault that you have to pay $540 to renew your green card and then pay to apply for citizenship. You've had five years to apply for citizenship but chose to wait until your green card's expired and now you're paying the prize. Just saying. 😏

Exactly!  It is the price to pay for procrastination. 🤑

[Eric & Idalia 56]

19 hours ago, cd37 said:

There is no such thing like unrestricted SSN !! SSN does not have expiry date 

Restricted SSN cards are given to visa holders. I had a J1 as an au pair and my SSN card had a legend. Now that I am a resident my SSN card doesn't have that legend anymore.

[headkiss 1]

11 hours ago, Bzlibem said:

I just went to the SS office last week to get a replacement SS card and all they asked for was DL

Yeah I wish that happened to me  They were supposed to ask you for proof of current status.

[headkiss 1]

59 minutes ago, Diane and Chris said:

Exactly!  It is the price to pay for procrastination. 🤑

True I could have filed a while back while my card was still valid.

 

But it is still unfair to require someone to file for a replacement card WHILE their N-400 application is in process. The green card application will most likely be rejected as I will be a citizen before it is issued. Exceptions should be made if someone is already in the naturalization process.

 

Its just a way for them to get money from people.

Edited August 8, 2017 by headkiss

[zilchfox 296]

14 hours ago, Bzlibem said:

I just went to the SS office last week to get a replacement SS card and all they asked for was DL

OP had a restricted SSN card before, so for them to remove that restriction notation on it, they need to provide their unexpired GC, otherwise they'd just replace it with the same, restricted SSN card. 

 

OP, you kinda screwed yourself by not being on top of your documents, but I'd assume an I-551 stamp in your passport should suffice as you wait for the green card itself in the mail (despite naturalizing soon). If you at least filed for your unrestricted SSN card ten years ago (which is free to do), you wouldn't be having this issue today as your drivers license and unrestricted SSN would have sufficed to satisfy the requirements for the I-9, even with an expired GC. 

[headkiss 1]

8 hours ago, zilchfox said:

OP had a restricted SSN card before, so for them to remove that restriction notation on it, they need to provide their unexpired GC, otherwise they'd just replace it with the same, restricted SSN card. 

 

OP, you kinda screwed yourself by not being on top of your documents, but I'd assume an I-551 stamp in your passport should suffice as you wait for the green card itself in the mail (despite naturalizing soon). If you at least filed for your unrestricted SSN card ten years ago (which is free to do), you wouldn't be having this issue today as your drivers license and unrestricted SSN would have sufficed to satisfy the requirements for the I-9, even with an expired GC. 

Yeah you are right. Well I guess I paid for not being on top of it with cold hard cash. Oh well, as long as I get my I-551 stamp i'm good. Can't wait to be a citizen and not have to worry about all this paperwork, renewals etc. Thanks for all the help guys!