ERROR on Employment Card = disaster

[yapasdeprobleme 4]

So, after several months of waiting, due to a bank screwup and a sickness, our I485 case FINALLY started to get moving. We received the Employment Authorization Card in the mail last week and were excited to finally get him a SSN and a NY State ID card, and a Bank account and finally make him, like a real person.

Except, USCIS made a typo. They put his DOB as 3/25/2011. As I did not marry an infant, this is clearly a typo, the fault of USCIS. Today was the day I took off work to go to the Social Security Card Center with my husband. I should have called Social Security to find out if the typo would pose a problem, but I thought "we have two other forms of ID that have his correct B-day on, and it's obvious that it's a typo..." so went anyway, and alas, after waiting in line for 2 hours, found that Social Security can not issue my husband a SSN until we have a correct card.

(Sidebar: We also went to the SS office in July, when we had 26 days left on his I90 and she said we couldn't get one because we needed 30 days, which turns out not to be true, of course. - It's 15 days, for anyone who doesn't know - which compounds my extreme frustration)

OK, fine. I should have called SS first. My bad. So I called USCIS right there, and they put a note in the record to change it and expedite it, and it should take 3 weeks, apparently. Then I said "and can you also just put a note in our I485 case, so that the same thing doesn't happen to our Green Card?" No. The answer is no. She can not put a note in a pending case. She can not access the case to make sure they have the right DOB. NO.

Instead, I have to go to a website and MAKE AN APPOINTMENT which may or may not take 2 weeks, to go downtown to see an "authorized immigration officer" to MAKE SURE USCIS HAS NOT MADE A TYPO. How is this fair, reasonable, effective, or logical? HOW!?!

(We then went to the bank to try to open him an account. I figured it would be fruitless, but it was right across the street, so we went and asked anyway. And yes, he needs either a SS Number, a bill with his current address on (which he would not have because he doesn't have a bank account, so why would he have a bill coming to his house? OR a letter from the SS office saying that they've approved his application and will be sending him a card with the SSN on it.)

It's no wonder this whole thing costs so much when they not only have to pay people to incorrectly issue all this ####, but they also have to pay people to answer the phones who are only authorized to "put notes in pending cases", people to design and maintain websites where you make appointments to go see other people who can open a computer file to MAKE SURE THEY DIDN'T SCREW IT UP.

obviously - blowing off steam here. So far, i have no SS#, no bank account, no NYS ID, and one employment card which is apparently invalid. All because someone wasn't paying attention.

Anyway, the lessons learned:

1) If you receive your Employment card and it's wrong, request a new one right away. To do that, you call USCIS and they will expedite a new one at "their costs" because it's their error.

2) If you suspect that the same incorrect info might appear on your green card (she wasn't able to tell me if the info was linked), you can either make an appointment on the infopass website to go talk to someone to make sure it's correct, OR you can wait till it arrives and request a new one (see #1)

3) If you have just entered the country, you may apply for a SSN granted you still have at least 15 days on your I90, NOT 30.

4) You can't get a bank account (at least not at Chase) without EITHER a SSN or a bill (phone, utility) with your present address

those are things i learned today.

[kcoyclay1 98]

I understand your frustration. You can open an account at Bank of America without a SS# if you like. You'll just have to make your deposits and withdrawals at the ATM and it will be paperless.

[milimelo 4,236]

Actually, you're talking about I-94, not I-90. I-90 is to get a replacement green card.

Passport information should be sufficient for opening a bank account - you can update them later with the SSN - you just have to stand your ground and even get a manager to help out as the law does not require SSN to open a bank account.

[newmrsvick 1]

I'm so sorry it's been so frustrating for you. What a day! Hang in there and thanks for sharing!

[yapasdeprobleme 4]

I 94 that's what I meant...

Update: I've just received an email from USCIS saying that I have to mail the card back to them, writing a letter that explains in detail the error, and provide all kinds of supporting documentation THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE ON FILE... THEN they will decide whose fault it was, and if its determined to be their fault, they will issue a new one.

I also can't file my taxes until he gets a SSN and I want my $$$!!!

GARRRRHHHHRRRHHH!!!!!