Thread: Woman Loses Citizenship Docs, Shocked By Copy Cost $345

Woman Loses Citizenship Docs, Shocked By Copy Cost Replacing Papers Costs $345

LINDSAY WATTS, Reporter
Twitter: @LindsayWatts
POSTED: 11:00 pm MST December 22, 2010
UPDATED: 11:11 am MST December 23, 2010

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A Colorado Springs woman has a simple wish this Christmas: to get a copy of her citizenship papers. Tamy Gosselin lost the documents and thought it would be easy to replace them until she found out about the $345 cost.

"I just don't think it's fair," said Gosselin.

Her family immigrated from South Bavaria in the 1950s, and Gosselin has been a citizen for more than 30 years. She has a license, passport and visa, but to get Social Security benefits, she needs her naturalization papers.

"After having, of course, lived in this country, worked here, paid into Social Security and taxes," Gosselin said.

She said that the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration told her that her information is in a government computer database, so she was shocked by the high cost and up to six month wait time for the papers.

"If it's all on a computer, it shouldn't take six months to get," she said. "If it's all on computer, it shouldn't take a staff --a huge staff--to handle."

A spokesperson for Citizenship and Immigration Services told KRDO NEWSCHANNEL13 that the fee for every application is based on the actual cost it takes the agency to process it.

"Every two years, we must take a look at the cost for processing and doing all the research," said Sharon Rummery, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

She said the fees are adjusted accordingly, and that the agency doesn't make any profit. Rummery also told us that the agency has just started allowing people with financial hardships to waive the fees for documents.

Gosselin said that no one she has spoken to has mentioned that, and she hopes she'll be eligible to waive the fee. If not, she said she'll have to wait until she can come up with the $345.

"As a citizen, I feel that the government is supposed to be working for the people," she said. "In this case, I think it's working against us, and I just don't think that's right."

http://www.krdo.com/news/26253733/detail.html

to get Social Security benefits, she needs her naturalization papers.

I'm glad to see that you have to show proof of citizenship to collect Social Security.

I am glad too, but then again she is not a mexican.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

to get Social Security benefits, she needs her naturalization papers.

I'm glad to see that you have to show proof of citizenship to collect Social Security.

Im glad also to show proof Of Citizenship that what whey should do with Everyone. they are coming from all over . show some proof .

So then how are legal immigrants and illegal aliens getting SS???

I'm not surprised. This is typical government inefficiency. Its a shame that Americans have to put up with this. If the DHS did a better job of processing information we could catch more illegal aliens much more quickly as well.

Required documents for Social Security, from http://www.socialsecurity.gov/info/isba ... rtyrib.htm

Documents You May Need to Provide

We may need to see certain documents in order to pay benefits. A list of documents we need to see will appear at the end of the application, along with instructions on where to submit them. The documents we may ask for are:
•your original birth certificate or other proof of birth [more info] (You may also submit a copy of your birth certificate certified by the issuing agency).;
•your original citizenship or naturalization papers [more info];
•a copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) (e.g., DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) if you had military service before 1968; [more info]; and
•a copy of your W-2 form(s) [more info] and/or self-employment tax return [more info] for last year.

Note: If our records show that documents proving age or citizenship/naturalization have already been submitted for an earlier Medicare or Social Security claim (such as Disability, Supplemental Security Income, etc.), you do not need to submit the documents again.

We will return all documents and photocopies unless specifically told otherwise.

What if you don't have all of the documents?
Even if you don't have all the documents we need, you should still submit the application and any documents you do have. You can provide the missing documents later or we may be able to help you get them.

In many cases, your local Social Security office can contact your state Bureau of Vital Statistics and verify your information online at no cost to you. If we can't verify your information online, we can still help you get the information you need.

If you delay submitting the application, you could lose some benefits you may be due.

Mailing your documents
If you mail any documents to us, you must include the Social Security number so that we can match them with the correct application. Do not write anything on the original documents. Please write the Social Security number on a separate sheet of paper and include it in the mailing envelope along with the documents. If you do not want to mail these documents, you may bring them to a Social Security office.

Do not mail foreign birth records or any documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), especially those you (the applicant) are required to keep with you at all times. These documents are extremely difficult, time-consuming and expensive to replace if lost. Some cannot be replaced. Instead, bring them to a Social Security office where they will be examined and returned.

http://www.socialsecurity.gov/info/isba ... rtyrib.htm

She should have went here!
http://www.immigrationdirect.com/greencard/index.jsp

Social Security number for noncitizens not authorized to work
Updated 12/14/2010 03:15 PM | Answer ID 83
I am lawfully admitted to the United States, but not allowed to work. I still need a Social Security number. How do I obtain one?
In general, only noncitizens who have permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security can get a Social Security number.

If you are lawfully in the United States but do not have permission to work, you are eligible for a non-work Social Security number only if the law requires you to provide a non-work Social Security number to get a federal benefit or state general assistance benefit that you are otherwise qualified for.

For more information about applying for a number, see Documents You Need for a Social Security Card.

Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many benefits and services without a Social Security number. You do not need a number to get a driver's license, register for school, obtain private health insurance, or to apply for school lunch programs or subsidized housing. Although many companies such as banks and credit companies may ask for your Social Security number, you are not required to provide one. Ask if they can identify you in some other way. If a service provider insists that you provide a Social Security number, it may help to prove that you cannot get one by showing the service provider a copy of Social Security Numbers For Noncitizens (Publication No. 05-10096).

If you need a number for tax purposes and you are not authorized to work in the U.S., you can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Visit IRS in person or call the IRS toll-free number, 1-800-TAXFORM (1-800-829-3676), and request Form W-7, Application For An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers ... /related/1

Why is this even in the paper? Just pay the fee lady, and be more careful with your papers.