So since we own a business - we can either go SHOP for businesses or go as individuals. I completed the SHOP application with no problem. Somebody will be contacting us. Cool!!!
Then I tried to complete the individual application. We want to compare both before making a decision.
The problems started when I began to enter myself as a household member. I am a Permanent Resident Alien. A "green card" holder. So I answered the question about being a citizen/naturalized citizen as no. So it pops up another selection box where you indicate on which type of document you are in the country on. I selected I-551.
It wants my alien number - no problemo. I got my "green card" sitting right in front of me. Then it wants a document expiration date. OOPS! Mine is old - it DOES NOT EXPIRE!
Then it wants a card number - Sorry, my green card does not have a card number either.
The site wants a 9 character alphanumeric alien # - mine is 9 digits.
Now I have purchased mortgages and found employment with this green card. It is perfectly a-ok.
So I fired up the chat line typed in that I was having issues with entering info about my I-551 and detailed the problems.... and waited.... ohhh I'm number 14...... and waited... and waited.... about 30 minutes later, I'm number 1! woohoo! No shit sherlock, my husband is sitting next to me and we get.......a message stating that my request had been cancelled and click here to get an email response. So I clicked, sure send me an email. This is what I got...
.Permission Denied
You do not have permission to access this document.
Follow me across the orange squiggle of glitch
Just prior to getting the message that my chat request was cancelled, the DH and I were laughing and joking that the chat folks are probably looking at it and drawing straws as to who was going to take this gawdawful down in the weeds question.
Obviously, nobody thought about the fact that there are some folks out there with OLD green cards issued when they were actually green and did not expire. Mine isn't green it's a funky pink and blue thing. But the bottom line is - my green card is not recent and does not conform with what the website wants. I had figured that somebody would tell me that I would have to fill out a paper application and make copies of my green card - just like every time I have applied for a mortgage.
Sure the hell didn't expect to get kicked to the curb and then the double insult of not even being able to get a email reply.
And for anybody that wants to suggest that I just trip on down to ICE and get me a new green card - It takes months and is a HUGE hassle. Not to mention costs monies. My last experience getting a green card - (this one was issued in 1988) back when it was called the INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) led me to start calling it the Insolent and Nasty Service that is how bad the experience was.
Hopefully, somebody from covered ca will see this. I guess I will print an application tomorrow and document why when I mail it in.
Oh, and for you folks following the mrgoo - he's getting around better and better. He just cooked dinner! woohoo! The bills for his broken back have started rolling in. That will be it's own diary for sure.