MrKo

On 3/31/2023 at 3:27 PM, Allaboutwaiting said:

Every passport has a different number, and that's not what makes it valid or not; it is the hole that actually makes it invalid - that's why every country requires the old passport and returns it with some sort of damage-.

 

OP has the old non expired undamaged passport. 

I was told that they do not punch the hole in your old passport anymore if you renew your passport online. Members on this forum have shared their experiences, you don't even have to send the old passport back. I guess they just invalidate your old passport in their system making you unable to use your old passport.

EDIT: Also when you report the loss of your passport, they also immediately invalidate it. This is especially helpful and important especially in cases of passport theft.

On 8/31/2022 at 12:54 PM, Crazy Cat said:

Update:  My passport status was listed as printed and shipped yesterday.  It is "out for delivery".  It should be delivered this afternoon. Only 23 days from renewal application online to delivery!!!

Do you have to mail anything like your old passport to be punched?

On 4/25/2022 at 3:00 PM, superhuman said:

I got my naturalization certificate, do i really need to wait 10 days or i can go to local SSN office and update?

They will verify your certificate number with USCIS. The reason for waiting 10 days is to allow sufficient time for your new citizenship status to be synchronized within the government system, so that when your local SS office tries to verify your document/status, it will not get an error. I've seen people going to DMVs or SS offices right after they become citizens only to be told their citizenship status can not be verified.

You can also apply for a US passport first, and when you receive your passport, you'll have more ways to prove your citizenship.

The SS office has now reopened to the public! I just walked in and got mine updated (finally). I waited in the line outside for a while but once I was let in the process was very quick and pleasant. I specifically asked them not to send me a new card since I already had the unrestricted card. Like others said, you do need to fill out the SS-5 form.

I first tried to use my passport card, but they asked if I had a passport book. I was curious why and they explained that because they just reopened their offices, it's a much more familiar process when using passport books. So I gave them my book and they updated my records. So just a quick reminder, if you're able to walk-in and get this done in person, just bring your passport book for faster processing.

12 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Actually, no. Updating didn’t get me a new card. I just brought my naturalization certificate- they copied it and brought it back to me right away. System updated. 

Did you or did they ask you to fill out the form SS-5?

2 hours ago, ImmiGeek said:

I would like to thank you for your keen analysis about this (my) interpretation.

Baseline for my opinion was:

1) The above i485 links that you have given(I think the same happens for N400 also, once the two systems are sync).

2) Also there is a facebook user who has confirmed speaking to the SSA and got the above response. I have copy-pasted that in my USC notes below (link in my signature).

I will update my language as its my own opinion, not official. Thank you again.

Thanks for the clarification.

In terms of I-485, what I read is that the information forwarding/transferring between the two agencies ONLY happens when an applicant has actually applied (on the new Form I-485) for an SSN or replacement SS card. No automatic information forwarding/transferring takes place if the applicant does not apply for the card on his/her Form I-485.

I checked your note link (awesome work btw!). The FB user Ellen's experience with the SS agent updating her info over the phone sounds interesting, but it's not standard practice, at least not in line with all the published rules and policies. As for what she shared, "According to SS Agent, 2 weeks AFTER Naturalization Ceremony data should’ve been updated since USCIS forwards to SS Office the list of who were naturalized." I highly believe that either she or the SS agent got confused. I think what really happens is that 2 weeks after naturalization, data should have been updated in the USCIS SAVE system, so that the SS office will be able to verify your citizenship information when you go and request to update your records.

On 1/15/2022 at 7:20 AM, El Escocés said:

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/flyers/M-767.pdf

 

https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-expands-partnership-with-social-security-administration

 

I am not doubting your experience so the USCIS need to update their literature 
 

 

The 2nd link is about a change to the Form I-485, "USCIS is revising Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, to include the additional questions needed to apply for an SSN or a replacement card."

It does not say anything about what happens after a citizenship status change

On 1/14/2022 at 8:47 PM, ImmiGeek said:

Technically the SS updates are Automatic if you are not any SS benefit dependent at the moment. Look at my notes (link in my signature). You can log into your SS online account and find whats your current Immi status on it, you can try the same after few weeks to check if it got updated. Look in my notes with links and screen shots.

I cannot find any source saying that the citizenship update at the SS office happens automatically. Everywhere I read says you have to go through a manual process to get it updated. Am I missing something?

On 1/27/2022 at 10:46 AM, ImmiGeek said:

I am still not sure why the Dept of State DOS doesnt give an option to pay for the certified, signature guarantee mail for Naturalization Certificate ( even for Passport book/card too) return ? I have attempted to pay for it in the USPS while submitting my passport application, USPS said that its NOT USPS who would dispatch these return mailers, its DOS. So, they cant accept the additional pay for this.

DOS must recognize the cost and sensitivity associated with these and give the customers to pay more for a guaranteed return mailers. Can we petition for this?

I've seen someone on this forum say that you can provide your own prepaid return envelope with a tracking# on it while applying for your passport. Though I'm not sure if every post office accepts it. My guess is that there's a high probability that they will refuse to take your application, but it doesn't hurt to try. But I 100% agree that they should at least provide a paid option for tracking the return of our citizenship docs.

Can't believe it's been almost a year since my passport application😄. Although I've read multiple stories here about citizenship docs being returned late (more than a month), I don't remember seeing anyone's certificate being actually lost.

Have you checked the docs tab in your account? If they have mailed you a new notice, you should be able to see a scanned copy of that notice under the docs tab in your online account. If not, have you tried giving them a call to see if they can share a specific date for your oath ceremony, just to make sure that you don't miss it? If you have tried both and you can't find any new information about your oath ceremony, then most likely the status message showing in your account is the more accurate one.

Good thing that more media is taking an interest in this issue

ID.me Lied About the Facial Recognition Tool it Sold to the IRS (Fight For The Future)

The IRS Needs to Stop Using ID.me's Face Recognition, Privacy Experts Warn (Gizmodo)

ID.me CEO backtracks on claims company doesn't use powerful facial recognition tech (Cyberscoop)

IRS wants to scan your face (The Washington Post)

47 minutes ago, seekingthetruth said:

And it is not just IRS.  I was Googling ID.me it is scary how many Federal and State agencies are already using it.

 

They say on their website that they do not retain most of the data you submit during the verification process.  I don't think that makes me feel better because they have to keep some data.  If they ever had a big data breach, there could be huge short and long term ramifications!

 

70-80% of U.S. citizens consistently say they support voter ID.  Democrat politicians are the ones who started the unjustified racist slant on voter ID.

According to ID.me's own Biometric Data Consent And Policy, "ID.me stores and uses your Biometric Data as long as you have an active account with ID.me and are using the Services. After you close your account or stop using the Services, we may retain your Biometric Data for up to seven and a half years to comply with legal, contractual, fraud prevention and policy obligations, except where applicable law provides for a shorter period..."

6 minutes ago, jim_julian said:

Not my call, of course, but many here are overreacting, in my opinion.  As previously stated, my experience with ID.me at the VA medical portal has been good.  This discussion has been distorted by claims that your information goes to Montenegro ... totally false ... as well as other emotional objections to submitting identity data to any entity.

ID.me is a Montenegro domain name. That's an undeniable fact. According to the ".ME REGISTRY - REGISTRAR AGREEMENT" found on the doMEn d.o.o. website:
 

2.9.1. Registrant shall comply with all Registry Policies, and all other standards, policies, procedures, and practices which the Montenegrin government requires Registry to implement in accordance with the Registry Agreement or otherwise;

...

6.3 Termination Upon Termination of Agreement with Registry. This Agreement shall terminate immediately in the event the Registry’s authorization by the Government of Montenegro to operate the registry for the TLD is terminated.

...

10.5. Dispute Resolution; Choice of Law; Venue. This Agreement is to be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of Montenegro without giving effect to any choice of law rules. Any legal action or other legal proceeding relating to this Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement shall be brought or otherwise commenced in any court located in Montenegro. Each Party to this Agreement expressly and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction and venue of court located in Podgorica, Montenegro in connection with any such legal proceeding.

And further more, per the doMEn d.o.o policy, they can cancel, transfer or make changes to domain name registrations in various situations, such as upon "receipt of an order from a court or arbitral tribunal". In other words, it looks to me like it's all up to Montenegro because they have the authority to do so.

TL;DR - Regardless of where the company which runs the verification service is based, and regardless of where your data is stored, the ccTLD manager for .ME domain, according to IANA, is the Government of Montenegro.

1 hour ago, jim_julian said:

ME domain is the country code top level domain (ccTLD) for Montenegro, globally available for registration without any restrictions. This means that anybody can register a .ME domain with their favorite registrar. Despite being a ccTLD, .ME is very similar to generic TLDs in terms of policies, domain cycle and SEO benefits, and most importantly, Google treats it like any other generic TLD.  The ME domain does NOT mean that the user has any substantive connection with Montenegro.  You are NOT sending your info to Montenegro.  ID.me headquarters: 8281 Greensboro Dr. Suite 600 Washington, DC 22102 United States of America

Well, just because anyone can register a .me domain name doesn't mean it's safe to have millions of users route through it to submit private and sensitive data. And just because it's "similar to generic TLDs" does not mean they are 100% the same, regardless of how Google treats it. Is there any source proving that the .ME domain extension is not under the jurisdiction of the Montenergro government and is 100% under the power of the US? If so, please share. And if not, I don't know why it's not a concern.

14 hours ago, jim_julian said:

This ID.me controversy has been WAAAY overblown by the media.  The Veterans Administration uses ID.me as a verification method for you to access your confidential medical information on the secure VA portal.   I use ID.me in this way several times a week.  It works flawlessly.  Someone above mentioned the California EDD.  The EDD program did not use ID.me and lost at least $20B of our taxpayer money to people, many foreign, filing fraudulent unemployment claims. (Google it)  Had EDD used ID.me the fraud would have been greatly reduced.  The use of ID.me with respect to the IRS, I believe, only will apply to dealing with the IRS online and, as I understand it, you will also be able to accomplish most things manually by snail mail, telephone, visiting an IRS office, etc.  This ID.me flap is much ado about nothing.  

They can implement whatever technology they want to fight fraud and cybercrime, but they should do it in a much more mature, widely tested, and thoughtful way. Especially when it's a major federal government agency that deals with the entire population of this country. Sending 100% of Americans who need to access online tax files to this SINGLE 3rd-party company registered under a Montenegrin domain name to undergo an invasive and glitchy data collection process, having them store your data for up to 7.5 years, and then letting this single company decide whether you can access your own files/account or not, sounds like a terrible idea. I wouldn't be so concerned if the IRS offered at least one more option - in the financial world, we call it "risk diversification", e.g. adding login.gov as an alternative, just like SSA (I still have too many questions about ID.me nevertheless), but no, that's not what's happening.

I am in full agreement with the fight against cybercrime and fraud. All reported bad user experience aside, my biggest problem with this ID.me is that, unlike SSA, which uses 2 services for identity verification (login.gov and ID.me), the IRS will be using ID.me solely and there will be no other choice or an alternative way to login - meaning if you want to access your tax files online, your only choice will be to give essentially all your private and sensitive information, including your biometrics, to this 3rd party company that most people have never heard of, and let it decide whether you can access your own tax files or not. I thought accessing our tax files (online or not) was part of our basic human rights, no? Who gave this third-party company the power to restrict this right that we have? Is this even legal?

And speaking of safety, has anyone noticed that ID.me is a Montenegro domain name? The ".me" is a domain name for the country of Montenegro, not the USA. According to Wikipedia, "The .me registry is operated by doMEn, which won a contract to do so after a bid process conducted by the government of Montenegro", and the intended use for .me domain names is for "entities connected with Montenegro". I'm not an expert here and am not quite sure what the underlying security risks are, my understanding is that all .me domain names are under the jurisdiction of the Montenegrin government - correct me if I'm wrong. I need an explanation here why it's OK for the top US government to send millions of Americans to a site registered under a Montenegrin domain name to submit all our sensitive information?

Last but not least, if they implement such crazy identity verification to gatekeep access to our tax files and benefits, shouldn't they do the same for voting as well? It's the most vulnerable people who are being impacted the most anyway.

I posted this before and I'm going to post it again as a side-note and friendly reminder:

When applying for a new passport, try using the OFFICIAL passport online Form Filler. It will generate a form with a bar code on top left hand side that contains all your information. When the passport office receives your form, they can scan this bar code and safely transfer your information into their system without hand-typing. It's more efficient and more error-proof (suppose you've made sure that all information on the form is correct).

17 hours ago, Mike E said:

Sign up for usps informed delivery.  If you see a letter from State due to arrive and it doesn’t then go to your post office as soon as possible. 

 

By default the cert is usually mailed back within a large envelope, meaning it either doesn't show up in the informed delivery at all, or you simply get a "does not have an image" message.🤷‍♂️

11 hours ago, bing10 said:

Gillibrand, not Schumer, his office is useless

Lol I was about to recommend Schumer. One of my friends contacted Schumer for her gc a few years ago, and was able to get the ball rolling.

Have you looked up for "re-entry permit"? I do not have personal experience with it, but I've heard that you can apply for it if you plan to "maintain U.S. residence during long trips abroad (for up to 2 years)". That will NOT avert the resetting of her naturalization clock, but it will serve as a type of "registration" in the system that she does not yet want to abandon her residency while being outside the US. From what I know, your wife needs to be physically inside the US to apply for this document and go to the biometric appointment, after that (correct me if my information is wrong) she'll be allowed to leave even before she receives the decision. And of course, in their language, it is not guaranteed even with a "re-entry permit" that she'll be admitted back after leaving for a long period, it'll be up to the officer.

Do they still do "standard" and "large" books for the NextGen passport? Or it's "one size fits all" now?

There is really nothing you can do except waiting, because most likely your certificate is on the way, though maybe stuck somewhere but should eventually arrive. I waited over a month earlier this year. When I got my certificate back I could tell from the stamp on envelope that it was mailed over a month ago and spent most of its time on the way.

Today it gains to become #4 on this list 🥰. For now, we are among the 5 non-European countries that rank 1-4. Ahead of us are New Zealand (#1), Japan (#2), Australia (#2), South Korea (#3). All others are European countries which have a natural advantage for having less border restrictions between each other. Comparing to where we were on the list last year (25th+ or something?) we're in a really good position right now, and I believe that's why everybody is trying to get their passport and thus all the delays.