@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous
It doesn't matter if someone is an immigrant or not to obtain a credit card so long there is a valid social security number. A lots of people have SSN without being even legal in this country. Many years ago, I think 23 yrs ago, SSA used to give SSN to even illegal people but that changed 20 yrs back.
However, there are certain banks/Credit Unions which specifically ask the applicants if they are a US citizen or not then its a different case.
I knew it didn't matter as long as you are honest on the form. Capital One asks, but they approved him for two cards at what seemed like appropriate limits given the circumstances. He had me mail them a photocopy of his Employment Authorization Document and Social Security Card at the time because he was not a LPR yet. Discover asked about immigration status, but then also approved him with a reasonable credit line.
The reason I mentioned he's a recent immigrant is that he did not have an established credit history of any kind when we started, and that has made working with some companies difficult. Further, we got denied for an apartment last year because Screening Reports said his SSN was new and the lady in the office said she thought it was a fake number. I complained to the state Attorney General's office about that as we were not only falsely accused of trying to commit fraud, but they called the cops on us, and when I explained it to the police officer, they laughed and told the lady in the office "It's a real Social Security card. I don't know what you want us to do.".
"Many years ago, I think 23 yrs ago, SSA used to give SSN to even illegal people but that changed 20 yrs back."
No, undocumented immigrants do not get legal Social Security numbers, although everyone is expected to file taxes because that has very little to do with immigration in the sense that if you get money you have to pay taxes on it, and the IRS will issue an ITIN to an undocumented immigrant.
You can apply for, and receive, a "restricted" Social Security card, as a visa holder, but it will say "Not valid for employment without DHS authorization.". If you later get an EAD or green card, then you can show that. If you get a green card, you can apply for Social Security to take the restriction language off your card.
If you apply to adjust status to LPR, then they are going to want to know that you are either filing taxes as required, or they are going to want a statement under oath that you were not required to file.
When anyone asks a LPR or visa immigrant if they are a US citizen, it is very important to say "No, I am not.", because falsely claiming to be a US citizen is grounds for inadmissability and will create problems with USCIS later.
