Jan 12, 2012

Green Card Woes

From CBS News - Dallas Forth Worth:
Thumbing through old photos Tuesday, Henry Kamnick  often stopped to point out some of his favorite ones with his family.
The Azle father says he’s built a lifetime of memories in North Texas. His family moved to the area from Germany when he was 12-years-old. ...

The 65-year-old has even served his country. He was in the Army and stationed at Fort Hood, but now he says his country is not helping him. ...
Kamnick was approved for social security benefits, but he can’t access the money. He says the Social Security Administration told him he needs to prove permanent residency in the country.
Kamnick says he lost his green card and has been told it could take up to a year to get another one. He admits he should have gotten his citizenship decades ago and still plans to. ...
I have had a nearly identical case. It's not easy to misplace a green card if you haven't needed to show it to anyone for 40 years. Replacing a green card can take a long time.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Obviously green cards are not issued by SSA. Any normal individual would have applied for citizenship when they became eligible if they have been in the country for 30 years.

Anonymous said...

If he's not a US citizen, why is he even eligible for SS benefits????

Anonymous said...

Because he is a legal resident in the United States and contributed by paying taxes just like any US Citizen so that ALL the US citizens applying for SSI can collect!

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous 925 a.m.... he has applied for Social Security retirement benefits. SSI is a needs-based program for disabled adults and children, and aged individuals with limited income and resources. Don't confuse matters with inaccurate use of the agency's acronyms for programs that are administered. And, I have no sympathy as the man is clearly in violation of 8 USC 1304(e) which states that any alien 18 and older must carry proof of resident status at all times. Hence, SSA can not pay the benefits. Also, the application for a social security number card states that if your permanent resident alien status changes you can notify SSA and they will update your status on their records. Again, no sympathy.

Anonymous said...

And if he is a VET, where is that card and record? VA status? Honorable discharge?

Even more questions. ...

Anonymous said...

Once you file for the replacement I-551 and receive the notice of action from USCIS that the I-90application has been received. You make an INFOPASS appointment and take the notice and your unexpired foreign passport to your local USCIS office get an I-551 stamp in the passport.

RS 00204.025 Evidence Requirements for Lawful Presence:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0300204025

GN 00303.440 Determining LAPR Status:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200303440

Nobbins said...

He's 65, he's obviously applying for retirement benefits, not SSI.

And if you want them to carry ID at all times, you could always just tatoo it on to them.

http://andrewsullivan.thedailybeast.com/the_daily_dish/images/2008/03/08/leongreenmanianwaldiegetty.jpg

Anonymous said...

He hasn't needed his green card for 40 years? Try pulling THAT off with brown skin! In TEXAS!

Anonymous said...

"And if you want them to carry ID at all times, you could always just tatoo it on to them."

If you are not a United States citizen, you are supposed to be carrying your immigration document with you at all times.

Why the hell even have immigration laws if no one is going to follow or enforce them.

"Try pulling THAT off with brown skin! In TEXAS!"

You mean someone in Texas is legal? LOL

Anonymous said...

10:08 AM - I know the laws and regulations, you don't have to explain them to me as I was an SSA employee and a CR for 7 years. When I spoke, I spoke in a sarcastic way. I understand someone needs to prove their residency, I was just responding to Anon 9:20 "If he's not a US citizen, why is he even eligible for SS benefits????". People who are resident aliens are also entitled to collect retirement if they meet the time and have the residency valid. Thanks for quoting POMS!!

du lich trong nuoc said...

I have no sympathy as the man is clearly in violation of 8 USC 1304(e) which states that any alien 18 and older must carry proof of resident status at all times,this is my web du lich da lat

Anonymous said...

No Saj - SSI is for the disabled and over age 65 and blind. There are many SSI recipients who qualify on the basis of age and not disability.

I would send him to the VA to file for either service connected or non-service connected VA benefits. If he had wartime service and an honorable discharge and is low income, the VA might help him with more income than SSI. Don't know how his lack of proof of lawful status impacts VA benefits.