A few months ago, Citi sent me a pre-approved offer for a Citi Custom Cash credit card. And I decided to fill out the forms and apply. In a few weeks, Citi sent me another mail asking me to send them a photocopy of U.S. passport or permanent residence permit. And this is something I didn't feel good about. I have more than 10 credit cards from different banks, and my credit history is 15 years long with a credit score of high 700 (my social security is valid and has never changed). None of the banks ever asked me about proof like Citi did.

Mu questions are
1. What information a bank can request? Are there any regulations that limit what a bank can request from potential borrowers?
2. If a bank can ask for immigration documents, do they really have the means to verify it? Does the U.S. government provide verification of the immigration documents to 3rd party businesses?

I didn't send the requested photocopies to Citi because I felt it violated my rights (in the end, it was their initiative to trick me into applying, not mine). But what was surprising, Citi has never sent me a letter about their decision on my application. So my last question is,

3. Isn't a bank obliged by law to send a letter explaining their decision on the application case?

Overall, I didn't like my experience with Citi. Certainly, it was way below my expectations. I know Citi has issues with OCC, and they are probably not in great shape. Could it be enough reason to explain their mishandling? And, btw, I used to have a Citi Simplicity credit card since 2013, which I closed in 2017.

Many thanks!