2 Questions - EAD & GC

[Kim & Gesner 14]

I have 2 questions I hope someone can help with.

1) Our interview is scheduled for October 16th (less than 2 weeks away). Is there really any need for the EAD at this point, other than being able to obtain a SSN and add my husband to bank account, insurance, etc? Is it a problem that we will not have this evidence for the interview when they ask for additional information showing ties as married couple? We just married May 26th.

Also

2) My husbands passport (Haitian passport) expires in May 2013. Once he receives his GC, will he need to apply for a US Passport? Will his Haitian Passport be invalid? I am not sure how any of that works and would appreciate any advice on what happens for travel documents once GC is received?

[LindaC1990 23]

1. You really don't need the Social now. the IO will understand the situation that lots of banks wouldn't let you add somebody to the account if that person doesn't have a social. So I wouldn't worried about it.

2. Your husband can't get an US passport because he is not a citizen. I think you are confused between permanent resident and citizen. He needs to renew his Haitian passport if he needs to travel out of America.

[Kim & Gesner 14]

He needs to renew his Haitian passport if he needs to travel out of America.

Thank you! Can that be done at a Haitian Embassy/Consulate here in the states? We live about 20 miles from the Haitian Embassy in Washington D.C. Or will he need to travel to Haiti before it expires to obtain a new one? Sorry if I sound oblivious to all of this, I guess I am

[LindaC1990 23]

Thank you! Can that be done at a Haitian Embassy/Consulate here in the states? We live about 20 miles from the Haitian Embassy in Washington D.C. Or will he need to travel to Haiti before it expires to obtain a new one? Sorry if I sound oblivious to all of this, I guess I am

Yes He can, just go to the Haitian embassy's website, I am sure that will tell him specifically what he needs to bring.

And good luck with the Interview!!

[Kim & Gesner 14]

Yes He can, just go to the Haitian embassy's website, I am sure that will tell him specifically what he needs to bring.

And good luck with the Interview!!

Great!! Thank you so much!

[LindaC1990 23]

Sorry if I sound oblivious to all of this, I guess I am

and it's really normal, coz you probably never knew anything about immigration before you met your husband.

My husband does the same, he keeps saying that I am an American now because I have green card. lol

Edited October 4, 2012 by LindaC1990

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

It is very important that you and your husband understand that a Permanent Resident is NOT a citizen, because if he ever falsely claims to be a US Citizen, he will be banned from the US for life (yes even after getting the GC). US passports are for US citizens. Your husband will be a Haitian citizen and a US permanent resident. Falsely claiming to be a US Citizen might include registering to vote, serving on a jury, or checking off a box on an employment form that he is a citizen. I even saw a person who filled out a job application claiming to be a Citizen, and got in hot water. A Permanent Resident cannot do any of these things. For traveling, he will also need to apply for visas as a Haitian Citizen, and will not have the visa-free abilities that a US Citizen has. The GC is only permission to live and work in the US.

Edited October 4, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[GreenTrain 1]

I have 2 questions I hope someone can help with.

1) Our interview is scheduled for October 16th (less than 2 weeks away). Is there really any need for the EAD at this point, other than being able to obtain a SSN and add my husband to bank account, insurance, etc? Is it a problem that we will not have this evidence for the interview when they ask for additional information showing ties as married couple? We just married May 26th.

Not all banks need SSN to have bank account especially when the person is just going to be added to the someone's existing account.

[Kim & Gesner 14]

It is very important that you and your husband understand that a Permanent Resident is NOT a citizen, because if he ever falsely claims to be a US Citizen, he will be banned from the US for life (yes even after getting the GC). US passports are for US citizens. Your husband will be a Haitian citizen and a US permanent resident. Falsely claiming to be a US Citizen might include registering to vote, serving on a jury, or checking off a box on an employment form that he is a citizen. I even saw a person who filled out a job application claiming to be a Citizen, and got in hot water. A Permanent Resident cannot do any of these things. For traveling, he will also need to apply for visas as a Haitian Citizen, and will not have the visa-free abilities that a US Citizen has. The GC is only permission to live and work in the US.

Thanks, but he and I both clearly know he is not a US citizen. We have never intentionally nor unintentionally claimed him to be anything other than my husband from Haiti. I just simply did not know ON:Y US Citizens could have US Passports. That's why I asked what passport he needs to apply for.

[Kim & Gesner 14]

Not all banks need SSN to have bank account especially when the person is just going to be added to the someone's existing account.

My bank does. I called the online banking number and they said they believe he needs his SSN but to check with my local branch office and they stated the same thing, he needs his SSN first. My job also said the same thing about adding him to my health insurance. I rent a basement apt from my childhood friend with ALL bills paid so there are no utilities to add him to. But eventually, once he is working we will move possibly back to Texas where I am originally from...so I am holding off moving locally until we have more clear plans.

But thanks everyone for your input. You guys rock!

[Brother Hesekiel 2,235]

I just simply did not know ON:Y US Citizens could have US Passports. That's why I asked what passport he needs to apply for.

Harpa Timsah gave you utterly important and almost priceless advice: asking if your foreign husband should apply for a US passport indicates that you are clueless in these things, which isn't a problem when it comes to trying to learn how to dance, but can be immigration suicide the moment US citizenship is involved.

"False claim of US citizenship," as Harpa indicated, is the worst non-violent crime a foreigner can commit. It's a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, and reason for expedited deportation with a lifetime bar attached and no waiver available. Because it's such a big honkin' deal, your husband needs to soak this in like a child that's being told that touching the hot iron will hurt badly. It's easy to get lured into committing such crime; people have just marked a field asking if they would like to register to vote when applying for a driver's license, and they are living in their old country again. You may like Haiti, but I'm not sure you would want to live there with your hubby until hell freezes over.

The passport of a country is proof of citizenship and nationality. Thus, only a US citizen -- not even a US national (only) -- can have a US passport. A foreigner can never have a US passport.

[huongkhin 9]

My bank does. I called the online banking number and they said they believe he needs his SSN but to check with my local branch office and they stated the same thing, he needs his SSN first. My job also said the same thing about adding him to my health insurance. I rent a basement apt from my childhood friend with ALL bills paid so there are no utilities to add him to. But eventually, once he is working we will move possibly back to Texas where I am originally from...so I am holding off moving locally until we have more clear plans.

But thanks everyone for your input. You guys rock!

Lucky that you asked the US Passport question here first. If your husband asks the IO that question, you never know what they can do to him.

-For the bank, try Wells Fargo or Chase. I opened join checking accounts with my wife with little issue. Of course, I have to be the primary account holder.

If you have credit cards, call the credit card provider and ask them to add your husband as an Authorized User and mail you the card with his name on it. Use his card to pay for some big items and keep the receipts as the evident.

-For health insurance, the HR person maybe clueless and gave you the wrong answer. The date after our marriage, my wife has full medical, dental, vision,... coverage from my employer. HR person called the providers and worked out all the paperwork with them. They assigned a temp number in place of the SSN.

-If you are not already have, print this out and both of you can sign it with whoever you rent the place from.

Start a Renter insurance policy with both of your names on it.

https://www.google.c...enter+insurance

  MONTH-TO-MONTH RENTAL AGREEMENT

This Rental Agreement is entered by and between _________________ ("Landlord") and _________________ _________________ ("Tenant") on _________________ . 

PREMISES:  Landlord hereby rents the premises located at ]_____________________________________ (the "Premises") to Tenants.

LEASE TERM: The Rent will start on and will continue as a month-to-month tenancy.

Tenant agrees to pay to Landlord as rent for the Premises the amount of _______ each month.

LANDLORD:

_____________________________________________               		
Name (print)                                                                                     		


_____________________________________________                    		
Signature                                             		Date                                  	

TENANTS:

_____________________________________________               		
Name (print)                                                                                     		


_____________________________________________                    		
Signature                                             		Date                                  	


_____________________________________________                    	
Name (print)                                                                                     		


_____________________________________________
Signature                                                  	Date

Edited October 4, 2012 by huongkhin

[Kim & Gesner 14]

Harpa Timsah gave you utterly important and almost priceless advice: asking if your foreign husband should apply for a US passport indicates that you are clueless in these things, which isn't a problem when it comes to trying to learn how to dance, but can be immigration suicide the moment US citizenship is involved.

"False claim of US citizenship," as Harpa indicated, is the worst non-violent crime a foreigner can commit. It's a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, and reason for expedited deportation with a lifetime bar attached and no waiver available. Because it's such a big honkin' deal, your husband needs to soak this in like a child that's being told that touching the hot iron will hurt badly. It's easy to get lured into committing such crime; people have just marked a field asking if they would like to register to vote when applying for a driver's license, and they are living in their old country again. You may like Haiti, but I'm not sure you would want to live there with your hubby until hell freezes over.

The passport of a country is proof of citizenship and nationality. Thus, only a US citizen -- not even a US national (only) -- can have a US passport. A foreigner can never have a US passport.

Ummm, calm down. I said I never, ever, ever, ever claimed him to be a US Citizen so really why the attack?? I am not completely clueless on everything. I simply did not know if he was to apply for a US Passport or renew his Haitian Passport, nor where to do that. Goodness, you act like I committed a crime by asking!!! I absolutely KNOW he is not a US Citizen and again, NEVER claimed him to be one!!! I thought the purpose of this site is to help and guide people, not personally attack someone for doing or saying something that simply was not done. Yes, I admit I did not know ONLY US Citizens are the ONLY people to have US Passports, it's something I learned but I do not think a personal attack on me for asking was warranted. I thanked her for her help.

[MichonandRuben 15]

My two cents from an objective point of view, no one is attacking here. They are trying to give some extremely helpful advice on a topic that is very important for you to be aware of. It is better to know too much than not enough. I didn't know that those consequences could arise from that mistake and I am happy to know now. So thanks for sharing that bit so that some of us could learn.

[huongkhin 9]

Only U.S. Citizen and U.S. National can bear a U.S. passport. The same rule apply to for all countries around the world. Even when your husband becomes a U.S. Citizen, he must use a U.S. passport to enter\leave the U.S. and use his Haitian passport to enter\leave Haiti. Some countries don't allow dual citizenship, so when you become a citizen of another country, your citizenship with the old country is automatically renounced.

Immigration is very sensitive about this matter. I think that is the fact that everyone must know. I'm surprise too that you and you husband didn't know that.