What office handles Green Cards?

[ao_cons 1]

I read that it costs over $300 to fix something in the green card once it is issued. Mine isn't in the mail yet and I've only been in the US for a week. Can someone kindly give me an office address for whoever handles and processes the cards? Is this regional or national? I am in Washington State. Can I go there in person, or should I call or write them instead?

The issue is this: When we were at the POE, I was asked to write down my signature. I said which one? I tried to explain my signature for my maiden name is different from my married name's. But they just said put whatever you use and they were in a hurry. So to be consistent with the forms we'd used for the visa application, I used my married name signature. Only then was I told it was going to show up in the card. I didn't know that. Now I want to use my married name on the card, but it required a "legal" name change. My only other option it seems, is to change my signature to match the maiden name (which I think will be what's on the card). I would like to straighten this out before the card is issued. I need to inform them of a change of address soon too. So I need to take care of this. Is there a local immigration office in each district or city or state?

[TayRivers 4]

I read that it costs over $300 to fix something in the green card once it is issued. Mine isn't in the mail yet and I've only been in the US for a week. Can someone kindly give me an office address for whoever handles and processes the cards? Is this regional or national? I am in Washington State. Can I go there in person, or should I call or write them instead?

The issue is this: When we were at the POE, I was asked to write down my signature. I said which one? I tried to explain my signature for my maiden name is different from my married name's. But they just said put whatever you use and they were in a hurry. So to be consistent with the forms we'd used for the visa application, I used my married name signature. Only then was I told it was going to show up in the card. I didn't know that. Now I want to use my married name on the card, but it required a "legal" name change. My only other option it seems, is to change my signature to match the maiden name (which I think will be what's on the card). I would like to straighten this out before the card is issued. I need to inform them of a change of address soon too. So I need to take care of this. Is there a local immigration office in each district or city or state?

If you put your married name on your application forms then your greencard will come with your married name on it.. Your marriage is a legal name change. There is nothing else you need to do to use your married name.

If you filed the forms with only your maiden name then you will need to wait until you have the greencard then file for I-90 and pay the fee to have the card changed to your married name.

[Otto 83]

It's just a signature - nothing to get worked up about.

[ao_cons 1]

We filed with my married name. I even had my passport amended to reflect that. But the NVC and the USEM consistently ignored the amendment page and went for the original info on the bio page. When they gave me the visa, it had my maiden name on it. The officer told me it wasn't going to be a problem and I could change to married name anytime (no mentione of a huge fee). Concerned that a married name on the visa would cause a problem since the passport bio page has maiden name on it, I went along with it.

BUt now how do I sign anything in the US? My CR-1 visa shows my maiden name. And I guess so will my green card. But my signature shows married name. Or is it the signature is no big deal (since technically a signature can be anything we want)? Maybe later when I do make the legal name change, I can change my signature to something with both maiden and married name on it?

[payxibka 10,048]

We filed with my married name. I even had my passport amended to reflect that. But the NVC and the USEM consistently ignored the amendment page and went for the original info on the bio page. When they gave me the visa, it had my maiden name on it. The officer told me it wasn't going to be a problem and I could change to married name anytime (no mentione of a huge fee). Concerned that a married name on the visa would cause a problem since the passport bio page has maiden name on it, I went along with it.

BUt now how do I sign anything in the US? My CR-1 visa shows my maiden name. And I guess so will my green card. But my signature shows married name. Or is it the signature is no big deal (since technically a signature can be anything we want)? Maybe later when I do make the legal name change, I can change my signature to something with both maiden and married name on it?

My wife uses the same "signature" before and after marriage... you could not decipher what it says even if you wanted to... it is merely her "recognizable mark". You can't really decipher my signature either.

Edited June 30, 2009 by payxibka

[ao_cons 1]

Kinda wish I'd done the same thing. I used to have a "backward" or "reverse" signature but someone told me I couldn't use it. So I switched to a more conventional one. If it's okay, I'll just stick to this, get a clarification from USCIS, and then get a legal name change later on and maybe get a more creative signature?

[YuAndDan 153]

Since you are CR-1/IR-1 you are not adjusting status, moving this to "General Immigration Related Discussion"