US Immigration from Russia

My wife and I are dealing with a frustrating situation due to how poorly local SSA office has been handling the issuance of her SSN. I was wondering if there is a similar option to writing to a local Congressman to get the issue expedited as with USCIS cases that are being held up. Basically, there are a lot of moving parts, to make long story short:

• in 2020, our primary residence (a home I owned) burned down, insurance has agreed to reimburse me but I need to buy a like-kind property within 2 years (1 year has already elapsed, and I need to show submitted 2020 taxes to lenders)
• we filed an extension on 2020 taxes anticipating that she would have her Green Card in the fall
• in summer of 2021 she received her EAD and shortly after (September) we had her interview and she received her Green Card
• we requested her SSN in August using EAD documentation (because like with many others, we did not automatically receive an SSN despite requesting it on the forms we initially filled out), SSA told us not to resubmit the application with her Green card as that would introduce additional delays
• local IRS office has told us that we need to wait until her SSN is issued before submitting our 2020 taxes since she no longer qualifies for an ITIN
• without her SSN, she still can't get paid (even though she can and has started working)
• because we can't file taxes without SSN, we can't make offers on any of the properties on the market because lenders require last year's taxes to be filed (meanwhile the clock is ticking)
• to date, 4 months after requesting it, we have not received her SSN (a process that SSA has claimed would take 4 weeks). Based on SAVE portal, we see that her SSN application got returned twice already to SSA, after calling local SSA office, the reasons seem to be:
  • 1st time SSA clerk forgot to attach a portion of the file (which resulted in a delay until Nov 3, when it was resubmitted)
  • 2nd submission had a discrepancy in the address (because our old primary residence burned down), and this seems to be causing another several-month delay
  • the file was just resubmitted for the 3rd time and we're still waiting for it

Meanwhile, we can't purchase a new home until we get my 2020 taxes submitted (and are running out of time with insurance reimbursement), which we can't do until my wife gets her SSN, and her 2021 income likely won't be paid until 2022, pushing us into a higher tax bracket. Basically, the apathy exhibited by SSA in processing our case is causing real financial harm to us. The only complaint form I see online for SSA seems to be to report fraud, which is not applicable here, if anything this seems more like negligence. What are our options? Can we write to a local Congressman to get them to follow up with SSA as some people recommend with USCIS? Is there another agency we should contact who can expedite the process with SSA? My understanding is that it should never take 4+ months to get an SSN, even in post-COVID world. Thanks.

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share in case anyone has family or friends trying to figure out how to get the correct vax in order to enter the US. My MIL, who has a US tourist visa she's never had a chance to use yet, is thinking about doing the Greece trip where they offer vaccines as part of the package. Destination is Thessaloniki, Greece.

I just wanted to share a link to such "vaccine vacation" deals if anyone else is interested:

http://tris.travel/tours/794.php

They are also offering Moderna and Pfizer but since those are multi-shot vaccines, you have to go more than once. I figured the J&J is just easier, I hope that the CDC won't change requirements and make J&J a multi-shot.

Can anyone tell me if a covid test is required to cross the Tijuana-CBX Sandiego land bridge for essential travel (K-1 visa)?

My brother in law and his wife entered the US earlier this year on B2 visas. Within a week upon entry, my bro in law had a Texas drivers license, and it was only valid for the dates on his visa. He planned to leave originally. They had their baby in June, but we no longer speak to them. We hear this information through the family back home.

Fast forward now, he has decided to overstay the visa, and have petitioned (w/ a lawyer) to remain here. They use coronavirus and the newborn as the reason to not go back home, and remain here.

I read on the USCIS website that a US citizen can sponsor their parents only if they are over 21 years old, which obviously this newborn baby is not.

This is the USCIS website regarding sponsorship:

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/guides/A1en.pdf

Is it still possible they appeal and get a green card or citizenship or even granted to stay in the USA? We are hoping they just go home but it seems they have other plans.

What is their options? Can they be deported? Obviously the newborn baby cannot be deported.

I think they have to wait for a judgement before being technically status of overstay now? Am I able to do anything to stop their application, or contact USCIS about it?

** also, this might be better off posted in the family forum instead??

When you fill out the DS 160 which it specifies in English, Iam here in Saint Petersburg with my fiance and she is saying you use Latin alphabet and transliterate which is not spelled at all in English!

Anyone know, phone wont go through to the NVC and the Embassy is closed.