US Immigration from Philippines

Good Afternoon Everyone,

My wife is a Filipino citizen and still uses her maiden name. She used her maiden name when I submitted her I-130. In the Philippines, people usually cannot change their name or even their last name unless they are married. The Philippine government recognized our marriage, so she can now change her last name.

She is asking if it would help her visa application if she changed her last name to mine now that she can. My concern is that changing her name might present an issue since her name would no longer match the documents and applications we already submitted. So, we are not sure how to proceed.

Do you all have any thoughts or recommendations?

Thank you all!

-Ray

It's a few months yet before I can file my wife's N-400 and at that time we may well be in the Philippines. About how long from the date we file would it be likely for her presents be required for something? Fingerprinting, interview, whatever. I know all cases are different but would a minimum 2, 3, 4 months be likely?

Thanks

Hello,

I'm a U.S. Citizen applying for an overseas Filipina spouse; our standalone i-130 was approved 14Dec23 and I just paid fees 03Jan24. As I was looking through the DS-260, I noticed there's an option to answer "Yes" to these last two questions to get an SSN, but I've also read some stories of people having to go in person anyways. What do folks recommend to get an SSN ASAP so that she may begin work and we can ammend taxes.

Hi all,

Two questions:

1. I'm a U.S. Citizen that got their i-130 approved for their Overseas Spouse on 11Dec23, and a welcome leter 03Jan24. I paid the fees same day, but can't access the choice of agent to do DS-261? I've been reading DS-261 is meant to be done first, so is it locked out because I paid the AOS and IV fees? Is it meant to be done after, or will there be any issues?

2. Since it's a new year, should I make haste to get my taxes done (still waiting on forms from work & school)?

Hello Everyone,

We finally gathered all the documentation we could for our I-485 RFE and submitted it. However, due to difficulties of getting all the documentation we submitted it recently during the holidays almost two weeks before the deadline. Tracking number shows someone (presumably a USCIS employee) picked it up on 12/26/23 from the Field Office PO Box at the Post Office. Deadline to submit RFE is Sunday 01/07/24 end of this week. We haven't received a notice of receipt or any updates yet and we are worried they might not look at it until after the deadline. Are we in the clear or in trouble? We are worried that they will deny our application if they look at our package after the deadline. Should we upload the same documentation to our USCIS online account just in case?