Dear Editor:
A Forensic Scientist was recently admitted to the U.S. in H-1B nonimmigrant status. When she applied at the SS Administration in NY for a SS # she was told that she would need to have the INS email/wire the SS Administration to verify that she was an H-1B nonimmigrant. When the Scientist produced her passport and I-94 Card to verify that she was an H-1B nonimmigrant the SS officer refused to accept her credentials as proof of the fact that she was a bona fide H-1B nonimmigrant. We then were able to obtain a copy of her Approval Notice from the INS by fax and forwarded it to her in NY. The Scientist then returned to the SS Administration and provided the officer there with the Approval Notice/passport/I-94 Card. The SS officer refused to accept any of her documentation as proof of the fact that she is in H-1B nonimmigrant status. When she asked to speak to a Supervisor the SS officer called Security and she was escorted out of the building.
So, here we have someone whose employer went through the INS to obtain an H-1B for a professional position; the alien then applied for and received her visa at an Embassy abroad; and, she then successfully applied for admission to the U.S. and was issued an I-94 Card after inspection at a U.S. port of entry. Now she cannot obtain a SS# due to some SS Administration glitch that demands more proof of status than the INS demands.
I thought that the INS made these decisions on status. Can anyone provide any insight ?
Patrick J. Corr
Legal Assistant, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP
Pittsburgh, PA
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