SSA and Benefits Letter for DR Residency ID

Chris.

i just did exactly that in houston, had to go in person to my local SSA office and had agent sign, full name, phone number and agent stamp from SSA office to resubmit to sate dept. same issue , so in person to your local office. make an appt if possible if not long day my friend.

@Oscarsahony Sanchez

The problem is I'm here in the DR...so trying any other way. I want to fly back when I do my interview versus multi trips.

However, it may be the only option

Thanks

yeap SSA will not do it on the phone or online, i talked to a few people and they said , ( in person)

i had to do that and my citizenship paper (true copy instead of sending original, state dept lady told me to do that as paperwork gets lost sometimes. both papers took me 10 min each lol linger to get to the  office.

but that is the deal.

@Oscarsahony Sanchez thanks

Thank you for bringing this subject up. It gives us ideas on how to best prepare to DR upon our move. Thank you, guys!

Also it’s nice to have a family member support here in the states to assist with things like this. For example (bank transfers, chasing down paperwork, mailing packages to DR etc)

Thanks again!

Yes, it helps to have eachother's back.

it is a new world to everyone new amd old as we all came one day here or anywhere in the world we make our home.

banking, BHD accepts direct deposit via remitly from US banks to our accounts here, so we will open an account for deposits and use scotiabank for paying bills and pesos account only.

I myself doing the paperwork as well, is not that difficult, i think the waiting proccess in the states from state dept is the pain for me.

we are here to help eachother

USN and proud mexican american

Can I ask a ? … are you guys talking about the letter social security sends you approving your eligibility for benefits… and the one they sent a month or two ago about the increase  in benefits……

No the normal benefits letter that shows what your SSA monthly payment amount is

Yes is the one they ( letter ) just sent out with an update w/the  increase in monthly $$ benefits… 8 % increase for cost of inflation…. And the letter states the total amount which the recipient will receive monthly

If you go into your ssa account review the monthly benefits letter option that one

The letter you are talking about came out in Nov,  Dec ...this is the other one option monthly benefit letter.

Anyways it has to be signed by SSA and stamp SSA, we cannot use a standard one off our account

Yes this is the one the bank accepted to open  a bank account

@Tippj yes

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56 .. Have you tried sending the online letter Washington DC Apostille? I say this because my VA benefits letter also is online and when I was processing my residency I was able to get that online copy apostle in Washington and after translations I was good to go. I am 100% disabled Vet and did the DR process myself. 8 Months from start to finish...

Don-

mmm i got mime rejected per state dept. must be:

sign

full name

phone number of agent

agent/office stamp

@dsdnbras I can try but reading it states needs signed by SSA Acting Commisioner but  I can try. I'm in the DR now and need to wait I always have them send from states much cheaper usps versus 75 bucks from here FedEx

BtW, thank you for your service

@Oscarsahony Sanchez
The problem is I'm here in the DR...so trying any other way. I want to fly back when I do my interview versus multi trips.
However, it may be the only option
Thanks
-@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Couldn't you plan one trip to Miami to visit the SSA office for the letter and then go to the embassy to submit your visa application?

@ddmcghee yes but you need to turn in all your papers..the way I understand it and then have to wait and go back for interview and I need to a get medical cert from USA doctor

And I have 4+ years tax penalty I need to pay when I leave

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

hey bud

here is SD on Weds dmfedex has a 50% off on deliveries to USA.

Not everyone has an interview - we haven't had interviews required for our residency visa or for our residencias.

You are going to have to be there to submit the application - unless something has changed, that must be done in person at the embassy, not submitted online or by mail. Also, the medical certificate has to be submitted with the residency visa application.

Now, once you have your residency visa and submit your application for residency at Migracion in Santo Domingo, you will have a potential interview and you will have to go through their medical exam and tests.

I was told by the embassy in houston/new orleans to send the app and documents via email.

@ddmcghee thanks, yes I have made different arrangments with the consult in Miami with my case and circumstances. My is not a normal case.

I have never heard of anyone not having to be in their home country to get the DR residency visa at the DR consulate and deal with the documents needed, but it seems like your special case situation won't avoid a return trip if you need that official SS letter signed and stamped which can only be done in person.  Do you also need it with an Apostille? An Apostille is normally required for documents issued in a foreign country.

@windeguy actually, I just received the signed SSA letter, and no it does not have to be in person. You can request it via the 800 call center they will refer it to your local SSA office and they will inturn process it as requested.

Remember, there are xpats living in all countries throughout the world. They all don't have to fly home to obtain papers.

Yes, living in the DR off and on for 23 years and being established in the DR ,grandfathered, and yes knowing people.

Let's just say introducing one the largest Telecommunication firms to the DR that now employees over 13k employees years ago has its perks.

Each case can be unique!

Best

CHRISTOPHER

I think we are confusing multiple issues here. This is what happens when we do not stay on topic.

1. is the  SSA letter.
2. is the  application for a residency visa.

@planner no they are combined issues and overlap. Thank you for your opinion.

Please , this is about the 4rd time you have added an editorial  , censorship, comment to my comments and dialog.

If I am violating any rules or guidelines in my messages under the XPAT rules and regulations,  then feel free to advise me as a moditorater.

Otherwise, let the/my messsages and dialog run free with who we/ I am responding too.

Thank you

@windeguy actually, I just received the signed SSA letter, and no it does not have to be in person. You can request it via the 800 call center they will refer it to your local SSA office and they will inturn process it as requested.
Remember, there are xpats living in all countries throughout the world. They all don't have to fly home to obtain papers.
Yes, living in the DR off and on for 23 years and being established in the DR ,grandfathered, and yes knowing people.
Let's just say introducing one the largest Telecommunication firms to the DR that now employees over 13k employees years ago has its perks.
Each case can be unique!
Best
CHRISTOPHER
-@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Good you got the signed letter you need. Now everyone knows how that can be done.

Odd that it does not need an Apostille from the US State Department. Most documents issued in a foreign land require that when used outside of the issuing country.

It is good to know people that will work around the laws.

I have lived in the DR full time at first as a legal resident and now as a citizen since 2003, but I still don't know anyone important. Your situation is more like a "unicorn".

@planner no they are combined issues and overlap. Thank you for your opinion
-@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Seriously,   not my opinion. I am the moderator of the forums, this is what happens on a regular basis and we have  confusing  issues in the same thread!  Its my job to help keep it straight!

@windeguy oppostile will be done by the state department just like the other documents. No one is working around the laws and all processes are being followed

@windeguy oppostile will be done by the state department just like the other documents. No one is working around the laws and all processes are being followed
-@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

If you are not starting the residency process in person in the US to obtain a residency visa provided at the Dominican Embassy in your home country, then as I understand them you are working around the DR immigration laws.

@windeguy thanks for your feedback

@windeguy thanks for your feedback
-@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Indeed.  When I started my residency in 2002, I was able to start the process in the DR and there was nothing unusual about that.

I had a lawyer who expedited everything, got me first in line, etc. Years later after several residency renewals it came out that she did not file one document correctly when I tried to renew for 10 years instead of 4 years.

I had to get an apostille on my birth certificate before I could renew at all. Now that was hard to do without knowing someone back in upstate NY who let the rules slide a bit.  I almost had to fly back there to do it.

Your knowing someone is what allows you to start the residency process in the DR while virtually no one else can do that.

On the SS issue, On another forum it is suggested that the mailing address you provide to SS  is how they make the decision to send you a letter each year or two to verify you are still alive. It could also be due to having SS direct deposited to a DR bank, which I would never do.

I think we all know the laws in DR, sooner or later will find the error come back to us. I myself spoke with the assistant to the coulsel in houston and reiterated the requirements, all papers need to be apostilled per state dept no exceptions.

SSA signed, full name , phone# and stamp (state dept reqts) per their letter to me when they returned my old one.

i had my first one only signed and was rejected.

good luck as we are on the same journey!

@Oscarsahony Sanchez  That is why I decided to become a DR Citizen instead of having to dal periodically with the Immigration Department.