BY: Sarah Salarano & Kyra Aviles
Today, USCIS announced a partnership with the Social Security Administration which allows applicants filing for Legal Permanent Resident status to apply for a Social Security number (SSN) or replacement card as part of the adjustment of status application process. USCIS has already revised Form I-485, (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) to include additional questions necessary to apply for a SSN or a replacement card, and applicants can begin filing the form immediately. Once USCIS approves an applicant’s Form I-485, the Social Security Administration will issue the applicant a SSN or replacement card. Applicants needn’t worry, as the filing fee for Form I-485 will remain the same at $1,225.
Prior to the implementation of this policy, applicants were required to apply for their SSN separately at a Social Security office, which was especially problematic during COVID and has led to delays. This new measure benefits EB-5 applicants by streamlining the Adjustment of Status process and bringing them one step closer to Legal Permanent Resident status.
First Policy Change for the new Director:
This is the first policy change under newly appointed USCIS Director Ur Jaddou, who was confirmed to her position last month. “This expansion of our partnership with the Social Security Administration illustrates our commitment to operating our nation’s immigration system more efficiently to save applicants time,” she explained. Ms. Jaddou has long expressed her goals of improving USCIS efficiency, stating that “Eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy and optimizing collaboration across public-serving agencies is a key priority for this agency and the Biden-Harris administration.” Read more about Ms. Jaddou’s background and priorities in our previous blog post.
About the Authors
Sarah Salarano is a paralegal at Mona Shah & Associates Global. She graduated from Emory University in December 2020 with a degree in Political Science and English.
Kyra Aviles is a paralegal at Mona Shah & Associates Global. She graduated from Oberlin College in May 2021 with a degree in Political Science and Law & Society.