I'm really excited. I love to give great news and I have great news today for all of you
as it relates to Social Security cards and the green card adjustment of status application.
I've made previous videos about some of the extreme delays
that the Social Security office has had and that people have had in receiving their Social
Security cards. This announcement just came out and we are in August of 2021, depending on
when you're watching this video. Just this month, USCIS announced that they are revising
the adjustment of status form to include a question about the Social Security Number
and that they have actually worked with or they're coordinating with the Social Security office
so individuals can automatically receive their Social Security card in the mail
after receiving their green card. This is really great news. For those of you
who are in the middle of your immigration journey or just starting your immigration journey, it will
be helpful for me to back up and tell you how things were and why this is such a great change
and also what it means for you. Previously for individuals who are filing for adjustment
of status and just to clarify, adjustment of status is a process that an individual
completes within the United States. The entire process happens here in the United States.
There's an interview that the couple attends where they're asked
questions about the relationship. But adjustment of status is the process that happens here in
the United States and one of the forms, there's many forms that's filed with the application,
but one of the forms is called an I-485 adjustment of status form. The way that it used to be
is that you would file your whole adjustment of status application, all of your evidence, you
would attend your interview, go through all of the steps. When you received your green card
there was another form that you would have to fill out to be able to receive your Social
Security card. It was basically a separate process that you had to complete to be able
to receive that Social Security card. There were a lot of complications with that especially
with COVID because the Social Security office has been closed and it's made it really difficult for
individuals to receive their Social Security card. Very long delays that make it difficult
to be able to do things like get your driver's license and apply for jobs. Just more
difficult all around. That's how the process was previously. This new announcement is basically
saying you won't have to do that anymore. We have coordinated with the Social Security office
on this new form. You're actually going to consent to immigration providing your
information to the Social Security office so the Social Security office can just issue you a card.
As you can see, that would be great news. One less step in your immigration journey.
It's wonderful. What else this means just so you can understand the
other parts of the announcement is basically there is a new form. A new form that's been released for
the I-485, a new edition of that form. On that form, there's a question now that you'll see that
says, "Do you want a Social Security card Do you authorize us to release your information
so you can receive your Social Security card?" You would fill out that information. We highly
recommend that you do that because if you don't, then you'll have that whole additional step after
to obtain your Social Security card. If you already have a Social Security number, we have lots
of clients that do already have a Social Security number. Maybe you've had some type of other current
immigration benefit or there's some other reason you had a Social Security number in the past.
Your Social Security number is your Social Security number for life.
If you already have one, there'll be another place on that form that you'll
provide that Social Security card and they'll ask you, "Do you want a replacement card?"
We also highly recommend that you say yes to that unless you receive other advice from
your attorney that's handling your case. But we recommend that you say yes to that
because that means immigration will give you a new card based on your adjustment of status
application. Even though it's the same number, it's really important and it would be another step
you would have to do after receiving your green card. You would still have to update your Social
Security records with the Social Security office so they know that you are now a lawful permanent
resident. That you've now received your green card. That is what that replacement card question is.
The other part of the announcement is that there won't be an additional fee for this service
which is great as well. The fee will stay the same. Immigration can always change the
price of the cost for each of the forms but they are not increasing the price just
because of that additional service for the Social Security card. Lastly, the announcement says
that once you receive your green card, you should receive your Social Security card two weeks
later which is awesome. Two weeks has been unheard of for anything in the immigration
process. But that is what the announcement says. As soon as you receive your green card,
you should receive your Social Security card within two weeks. Great news all around. That's
really exciting. I will post the official notice in the notes below this video so you can have
that for reference but I hope that that helped and I look forward to talking to you next time