Still No Green Card. Can I Work? - Help Please

[approveus 0]

I entered the US as a Permanent Resident in May 2007. Shortly after this I received my Welcome Notice but no Permanent Resident card or SSN.

I contacted USCIS and they said the card had been mailed and returned by the Post Office. They stated that they would send a new card and I should wait 60 days. I waited, no card. Again they said it had been returned and they would resend to my now different mailing address.

January and still no card. I call again and this time they tell me that they have only EVER sent the card out ONCE and that I need to file a form G-731 to TSC to get my card. I'm also told that they may have destroyed the card and that it may take 7 months(!!!!) to get a new card issued. I have filed the form and am waiting for a response.

I REALLY need to start earning here. Can I work without the Green Card? How do I do this? Surely I don't have to wait another 7 months before I can work? I'm not sure my family can afford that.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Many thanks.

[KarenCee 3]

I would make an infopass appointment and speak to someone there. It is possible that you can get the temporary GC stamp in your passport that would suffice until the actual card is in hand. Making that infopass appointment is going to be the best thing to do though at this point. I'm so sorry you're having difficulties.

[tmma 467]

I would make an infopass appointment and speak to someone there. It is possible that you can get the temporary GC stamp in your passport that would suffice until the actual card is in hand. Making that infopass appointment is going to be the best thing to do though at this point. I'm so sorry you're having difficulties.

Agree with Karen.

Make an Infopass appointment asap. I believe that they can stamp your passport with a temp EAD stamp and maybe help sort out the mess with your GC issuance too.

Have you applied for a SSN at the SSA office?

Good Luck!

[approveus 0]

I'm not sure if I need to apply for an SSN. Don't they just send that out with the Green Card? Or would that be too easy?

Thanks for the advice.

[tmma 467]

I'm not sure if I need to apply for an SSN. Don't they just send that out with the Green Card? Or would that be too easy?

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, it WOULD be far too logical and easy! It's my belief they do not send it with the green card.....Someone please correct me if I am wrong, or your may want to visit "Working Prior to getting a Green Card" forum here on VJ or the SSA website, or call them.

Good Luck!

[tom&tata 2]

If your visa was immigrant visa, there is an option to have the SSN card mailed to you (not together with the green card) - i think you make the choice in DS-230.

If after approx. 4 weeks after entry you do not received it, you can go to SSA office & request SSN. I think the requirement is to show the endorsed visa as temporary I-551 (usually the visa will say" upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent resident for 1 year). You can work with this & can go to SSA office & apply for SSN.

Good luck

Edited February 19, 2008 by tom&tata

[tmma 467]

If your visa was immigrant visa, there is an option to have the SSN card mailed to you (not together with the green card) - i think you make the choice in DS-230.

If after approx. 4 weeks after entry you do not received it, you can go to SSA office & request SSN. I think the requirement is to show the endorsed visa as temporary I-551 (usually the visa will say" upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent resident for 1 year). You can work with this & can go to SSA office & apply for SSN.

Good luck

There you go, approveus! At least you now know you can get the SSN matter sorted out now. Thanks tom&tata

[tom&tata 2]

If your visa was immigrant visa, there is an option to have the SSN card mailed to you (not together with the green card) - i think you make the choice in DS-230.

If after approx. 4 weeks after entry you do not received it, you can go to SSA office & request SSN. I think the requirement is to show the endorsed visa as temporary I-551 (usually the visa will say" upon endorsement serves as temporary I-551 evidencing permanent resident for 1 year). You can work with this & can go to SSA office & apply for SSN.

Good luck

There you go, approveus! At least you now know you can get the SSN matter sorted out now. Thanks tom&tata

No problem. With immigrant visa, things with immigration are supposed to be easier once you make the move. But of course, there are always the exception.

When you go to SSA office, might be useful to print out the info from SSA website about using endorsed immigrant visa as I-551 just in case you need it.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html#how

[approveus 0]

Awesome! Thanks for that.

When my wife came to live in the UK she filed her immigration papers online and TEN DAYS later she had a visa and work permit for the UK. Start to finish, ten days.

Thanks again, I'd be lost without this forum.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

If you entered the US on an immigrant visa as you did, your I-551 stamp is already in your passport - this is enough to go an request a SSN. Most of us had to go and do it ourselves; because waiting for it to be produced/mailed well, it's dubious and usually never happens. It's a pain, I know.

My two cents: RUN to the nearest social security agency office and apply today. It takes like 2 weeks to get your SSN card my friend, so go for it!!!

[milimelo 4,266]

Am I reading this correctly - you entered in May and still did not get the SSN? Run to the SSA office and get one ASAP - your immigrant visa with the I-551 stamp is enough.

Re: the green card - isn't G-731 used for the inquiry about the green card for those who adjusted status (went through AOS process)

From USCIS web page about the G-731:

Inquiry About Status of I-551, Alien Registration Card

Purpose of Form :

This form is used to inquire as to the status of an I-551, Alien Registration Card, for an alien who has adjusted status.

I'm in the same boat as you - I entered 5/31 last year and never received my green card. After waiting and waiting I get my husband's congressman on the case and receive info in early February to send in a new I-90 with B marked off and with no fee. Ten days later they return everything to me and tell me I have to pay for the new green card! Now waiting to see what the congressman office says...

[aidan80 9]

I entered the US as a Permanent Resident in May 2007. Shortly after this I received my Welcome Notice but no Permanent Resident card or SSN.

I contacted USCIS and they said the card had been mailed and returned by the Post Office. They stated that they would send a new card and I should wait 60 days. I waited, no card. Again they said it had been returned and they would resend to my now different mailing address.

January and still no card. I call again and this time they tell me that they have only EVER sent the card out ONCE and that I need to file a form G-731 to TSC to get my card. I'm also told that they may have destroyed the card and that it may take 7 months(!!!!) to get a new card issued. I have filed the form and am waiting for a response.

I REALLY need to start earning here. Can I work without the Green Card? How do I do this? Surely I don't have to wait another 7 months before I can work? I'm not sure my family can afford that.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Many thanks.

The exact same thing happened to me with my EAD! They returned it and long story short we found out because we didn't have our name on the fecking mailbox!!! Put your name either on the outside or inside the door (like we did) and request the GC be sent again! We did just that and had the EAD sent out, received without any problems as was my GC after that.

Good Luck!!!

[JaEnglishGirl 34]

Awesome! Thanks for that.

When my wife came to live in the UK she filed her immigration papers online and TEN DAYS later she had a visa and work permit for the UK. Start to finish, ten days.

Thanks again, I'd be lost without this forum.

I suggest you both move back then!

[approveus 0]

Thanks to those that offered constructive advice.

I have one more question about getting a SSN. I've recently moved from NY to CA. Will they be able to issue me with a SSN in CA even if most of the paperwork they have for me is marked with a NY address.

Thanks.