~July 2007 K-1 Filers~

[bakofoil 27]

as for us.... our interview and medical had been today ..............and.......................

WE ARE APPROVED yeah its over (at least for now)

Oh congratulations!!!! What a relief it must be. Enjoy the feeling!

[teachmehistory 0]

Hi Guys!!! Just wanted to report in that after several days of mad running around, Matthew now has a Social Security Number, a State ID card (so he doesn't have to carry his passport everywhere which made me soooooo nervous given it has the visa in it - God forbid it get lost!) and we were able to open joint bank accounts, and I legally changed my name on everything. I know many of you are headed towards these steps, so if you have any q's, you can PM me, I am here with recent experience!!!! We are filing AOS this week, so will keep you posted! oh, and if anyone is interested our photographer's website is www.kwardphoto.com and we are the pic on the home page!!!!

happy journeys to all!

[my_lany_23 0]

Hi Guys!!! Just wanted to report in that after several days of mad running around, Matthew now has a Social Security Number, a State ID card (so he doesn't have to carry his passport everywhere which made me soooooo nervous given it has the visa in it - God forbid it get lost!) and we were able to open joint bank accounts, and I legally changed my name on everything. I know many of you are headed towards these steps, so if you have any q's, you can PM me, I am here with recent experience!!!! We are filing AOS this week, so will keep you posted! oh, and if anyone is interested our photographer's website is www.kwardphoto.com and we are the pic on the home page!!!!

happy journeys to all!

oh wow, what a lovely wedding picture

[weedebz 0]

Hi Guys!!! Just wanted to report in that after several days of mad running around, Matthew now has a Social Security Number, a State ID card (so he doesn't have to carry his passport everywhere which made me soooooo nervous given it has the visa in it - God forbid it get lost!) and we were able to open joint bank accounts, and I legally changed my name on everything. I know many of you are headed towards these steps, so if you have any q's, you can PM me, I am here with recent experience!!!! We are filing AOS this week, so will keep you posted! oh, and if anyone is interested our photographer's website is www.kwardphoto.com and we are the pic on the home page!!!!

happy journeys to all!

that is a gorgeous pic. Congrats again. I will probably be picking your brains in around 3 months

Congrats Kevin!!!!

INDEED< a big congrats to Kevin and Natasha

I have just sent the main bulk of my money to Nick via interchangefx. Great exchange rate, the money should be in his account by wednesday. My money going to be there a week before I am!!!!

[bakofoil 27]

Hi Guys!!! Just wanted to report in that after several days of mad running around, Matthew now has a Social Security Number, a State ID card (so he doesn't have to carry his passport everywhere which made me soooooo nervous given it has the visa in it - God forbid it get lost!) and we were able to open joint bank accounts, and I legally changed my name on everything. I know many of you are headed towards these steps, so if you have any q's, you can PM me, I am here with recent experience!!!! We are filing AOS this week, so will keep you posted! oh, and if anyone is interested our photographer's website is www.kwardphoto.com and we are the pic on the home page!!!!

happy journeys to all!

What a beautiful picture. You look gorgeous.

I may take you up on the post-arrival advice. I'm a bit nervous about being able to understand all that needs to be done on that side of the pond. Having got so used to the British way of things, it's actually one of the things about this whole process I am most daunted about.

[a-jeanne 2]

KGSodie - Congratulations!

[jundp 191]

congratulations for the interview!!!!!

big news here: i have a job interview on friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the job isn't my dreamjob and the pay is only mediocre, but it would be a start!

FREE HUGS FOR EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!!!!

Gratz, Tuscon! I hope you get the job.

Well, P has been here for 2 months and he's leaving on Tuesday. We just got a house, opened a joint bank account, and paid the deposit on our wedding venue (August 1!!!!). His packet 3 has been sent back to Frankfurt and as soon as he gets home he'll get his police certs and send in the checklist and await his interview. Now we just have to wait for him to finish his thesis and get the Diplom. I feel like that part is going to be worse than the visa process. Wish us luck

If everything works out, he'll get his visa, his Diplom, and his plane ticket and be here mid-July, a couple of weeks before the wedding. I'm nervous about our impending 5 month separation, but hell, we've done it for 2 years, so we'll be fine.

Now, I have to hope he'll get a decent job when he gets here!

[teachmehistory 0]

thanks for all the well wishes and congrats!

Warning: this is long, but hopefull really helpful!

just wanted to add that I am super glad we went in the order we did for his ID, SSN, etc and would recommend it to anyone! I know all states do things a little differently and maybe Washington is a bit strict (or not, I don't know), but while we had no problems getting his stuff, I saw people (recent immigrants) denied from improper evidence at every office we visited.

So, here is our order and experience:

Matthew arrived Jan 29th - no problems at POE in Seattle. took all of 10 minutes!

We applied for a marriage license Feb 4th for our Feb 16th wedding (only needed ID for both - his passport/visa and my driver's license) but had to be done at least 3

We married Sat Feb 16th and I stressed to our minister that we needed our marriage certificate filed with the records office as soon as possible. It was mailed (can be hand delivered too) to the courthouse/records office on Mon Feb 18th and we left for our honeymoon (returned Fri Feb 22nd)

Monday Feb 25th (one week after mailing) we went to the courthouse and purchased 5 CERTIFIED copies of our Marriage Certificate

Tues Feb 26th:

1st went to the Social Security Office to get his SSN. We needed to show his Visa, passport, certified marriage certificate and official birth certificate (I cannot recommend enough making sure your fiance comes over with several official certified copies of their birth certificate) With these docs, they processed his SSN right there on the spot and gave us a receipt saying the card had been ordered and would be mailed in 2 weeks. The receipt was KEY because it was an official document had his name and new address in the US printed on it proving his residence in Washington state which we needed for his State ID card at the department of licensing. They also told us we could come back to the social security office the next day to get a new receipt that had his actual SSN on it, which we did. It takes them 24 hours to assign the number, but this way we get the number before the card in 2 weeks and can use it to open bank accounts, sign him up for health insurance etc. (I changed my name at the same time only needed the marriage cert, my drivers license, and old SS card)

2nd went to the Dept. of Licensing for his State ID card (he does not drive yet!). There we had to take a number and wait for over an hour! Here we needed two forms of ID and proof of his state residency. We gave them his passport and visa, birth certificate, marriage certificate, and the printed receipt from social security showing his name and washington address. They accepted that as adequate proof and gave him the state ID card! YAY!! I also changed the name on my driver's at the same time. I do feel that it went more smoothly because we approached every window together with all of our evidence organized. A man at the next window was turned down for not having enough evidence to prove his residency in the state and told him to come back with a utility bill (water, electricity, gas) to prove that he lived here. I knew that they might require this so as a precaution I had called all my utility services and had Matthew added onto my accounts - we won't get any new statements showing his name until the March bills start coming in - but we didn't end up needing them.

Wed Feb 27th we returned to the Social Security office and picked up the receipt showing his name, address and new SSN!!! and picked up mine showing my new name as well. We then went to the bank to open joint bank acconts. We needed both our State ID's, SSN, marriage certificate, his birth certificate, his passport and visa to open the accounts. It feels good and very married to have it done though!!!! to celebrate we adopted to 7 week old kittens that same night.....they are too adorable! (not a required step by the way!)

Thurs Feb 28th - I went to my human resources dept and added him to my health insurance, made him my beneficiary, etc. all of which I needed his SSN to do. also, I called my auto/home insurance office to report my name change and new driver's license number and I am glad I did! even though Matthew does not drive yet, he hopefully will soon and apparently not reporting him and his name, birth date, and SSN to my insurance as part of my household even before he was eligible to drive would have raised red flags when we do go to get him auto insurance. not sure about why this is, but hey, I'm glad I know now and am passing it on!

so there it all is! now we are enamored of our new kittens and working on all the AOS paperwork to mail off hopefully tomorrow! I hope this is useful. once again feel free to PM me if anyone has any Q's about all of this. I am no expert, but can offer my experience this week!

Sara

[tucson_chick 0]

@ sara: glad everything went so smoothly for you guys!

i had zero problems as well, even though i went to the SSN-office and the DMV myself.

i didn't need my birth certificate either.

as for girls coming to the US: as far as i know, you should go to the SSN 2 weeks after you arrive (it takes them 2 weeks to process your information in the system), then you get your SSN in your maiden name. after doing that, you get married and go to the SSN with your marriage certificate and change your name there. after doing so, you go to the DMV and apply for a ID/License in your new name. after doing so, you can get your bank cards and everything you need in your new married name.

i already had a SSN, bank accounts and a license before, and i needed the certificate to change the name on my SSN, and the SSN to change the State ID and those two together to change the rest.

AOS is a pain, but after going trough the I-129 we all have lots of practise!

we sent ours off on the 20th, hoping to have a NOA in the mail any day.

free hugs for everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Looks like everyone's transitions are going nice and smoothly. Very cool.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Just found out our case found its way to NVC today!

That's great news Kirk! Your case will soon be in Moscow. Havent checked the appointment dates on the Moscow US Embassy website in a long time, but I'd guess you could have an interview by mid to late April. Not bad at all, my friend.

Edited February 29, 2008 by Jason-Sasha

[CBR 0]

I'm officially legitimate to join this thread finally. Got approved last night and I'm still in shock. It's sinking in and it's just an incredible feeling after all this time and the worry is over (for the most party anyway). I have lots of other stuff going on too (moving, kids graduating, my clinic merged with a big conglomerate and we're busy busy busy) so I want and need to join in here for your help if you guys don't mind. I have so many questions about the next steps and my first one is this...

How do you check on NVC to see when your petition gets there. It gets a new number right? From what I've been seeing it only takes a few days to a couple weeks to get there? How long is it at NVC and what do they do with it?

Mox, are you going there for the interview? Things are really happening fast for you now. I just noticed recently you are approved and April interview, that would be awesome! Are you all ready?

It's amazing how fast the approvals seem to be coming now. I hope that doesn't clog up the embassies for interview. That would be just my luck lol.

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

And you can count me amongst those who are tired of the snow!

I adjusted to the weather here without a problem. It´s cuz I come from a country, where we have snow (or at least cold weather) for like 3 months in winter so I like to wear just a tshirt in winter here for a change

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

as for us.... our interview and medical had been today ..............and.......................

WE ARE APPROVED yeah its over (at least for now)

That´s awesome! Congratulations!

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

By the way, just wanted to let everyone know that Kevin (KGSodie), Natasha, and Vika were approved on Feb 26 for their K-1 visa. (his post in the RU forum here.) A very, very warm congratulations to them all! If memory serves, they're coming back to the states on the 5th. In the meantime I hope they're having a wonderful time seeing the sites in Moscow!

Congrats Kevin!!!!

Congratulations to all the approved couples