kaospouse

You did the correct thing by buying the ticket using the name on her passport, I don't believe the airline would allow her to depart if her ticket wasn't issued using the name on the passport she'll be using for travel. As for coming back into the country, I don't think you'll have an issue because of the disparity in names but as was posted above, you should carry a copy of your marriage certificate.

Had an RFE back in June and took over a month to send it back. Just got notification that our card is being printed.

California Service Center (26 applicants, 21 approved - 81%)

VJName..........Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved...
CARDSFN............12/27/12.......01/03/13.......02/06/13.......--/--/--...
MEGGYMO............12/29/12.......01/04/13.......01/25/13.......06/17/13...
FITZY..............12/31/12.......01/03/13.......01/30/13.......--/--/--...
ANGELI.............01/02/13.......01/04/13.......01/31/13.......05/31/13...
ATENCIO............01/06/13.......01/08/13.......02/06/13.......06/04/13...
AMY AND MICHAEL....01/07/13.......01/10/13.......02/08/13.......06/07/13...(Card received 06/22)
JACQUE2012.........01/07/13.......01/09/13.......02/06/13.......07/12/13...(Waiver)(Card received 07/18)
VOLU...............01/10/13.......01/17/13.......02/12/13.......06/27/13...(RFE received 06/17, responded 06/18)
BOKKIEANDGUAPO.....01/12/13.......01/19/13.......02/15/13.......--/--/--...
PINKRANGER.........01/14/13.......01/17/13.......02/13/13.......06/19/13...
SEKO...............01/14/13.......01/19/13.......02/15/13.......06/27/13...(RFE received 06/14, responded 06/18)
EUROMANU...........01/16/13.......01/23/13.......02/19/13.......07/19/13...
DON AND VENUS......01/16/13.......01/23/13.......02/26/13.......06/12/13...
ROYTMINI...........01/16/13.......01/18/13.......02/25/13.......06/10/13...(Card received 06/21)
GEORGEGINA.........01/16/13.......01/19/13.......02/14/13.......06/26/13...
ADAM & MAY.........01/19/13.......01/24/13.......02/14/13.......07/09/13...(Early bio 01/30)(Card received 07/13)
MOAZ...............01/19/13.......01/22/13.......02/22/13.......06/20/13...(Early bio 02/04)(Card received 06/26)
SHVIK..............01/19/13.......01/22/13.......02/21/13.......07/02/13...
JOHN & FLOR........01/22/13.......01/25/13.......02/28/13.......--/--/--...
BEWILDERING........01/26/13.......01/28/13.......03/01/13.......06/12/13...(Card received 06/22)
ABOSOHAILA.........01/26/13.......01/31/13.......??/??/13.......06/19/13...(Early Bio 02/06)
POPCORN3210........01/26/13.......01/31/13.......03/06/13.......07/01/13...
MATVEI.............01/28/13.......02/01/13.......03/01/13.......--/--/--...
SMURRITO...........01/28/13.......01/30/13.......02/28/13.......06/20/13...
SUPASTARSAM........01/28/13.......01/31/13.......03/06/13.......06/10/13...(Early bio 02/22)
CAKEGIRL...........01/28/13.......01/30/13.......02/28/13.......06/21/13...(Card received 06/27)


Vermont Service Center (33 applicants, 24 approved - 73%)

VJName..........Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved...
KAOSPOUSE..........12/30/12.......01/04/13.......01/30/13.......08/14/13...(Early bio 01/17; RFE 6/14, replied 7/22)
KVPANDPKP..........01/03/13.......01/07/13.......01/31/13.......--/--/--...
VERO AND CHRIS.....01/03/13.......01/07/13.......02/08/13 ......06/21/13...(Card received 06/27)
CONFUSING..........01/04/13.......01/07/13.......02/04/13.......06/18/13...(Card received 06/24)
SHAMMIEBABY........01/04/13.......01/14/13.......02/11/13.......06/21/13...(Divorce Waiver)(Early Bio 02/07)
BERNIE C...........01/07/13.......01/14/13.......02/07/13.......06/14/13...(Card received 06/20)
ANKY...............01/09/13.......01/12/13.......02/06/13.......06/20/13...
JVEMMY0506.........01/10/13.......01/14/13.......02/14/13.......06/23/13...(Card received 07/01)
INKOREA............01/10/13.......01/15/13.......02/20/13.......07/24/13...(RFE received 06/14, responded 06/24)(Card received 07/29)
M + M..............01/10/13.......01/14/13.......02/12/13.......06/10/13...(Early bio 01/31)
MAIRO..............01/11/13.......01/14/13.......02/11/13.......08/02/13...
CANADIAGIRL........01/12/13.......01/18/13.......02/13/13.......--/--/--...(RFE received ??/??)
SOPETITE...........01/12/13.......01/16/13.......02/13/13.......06/28/13...(Early bio 01/29)
CRAZYMAZY..........01/14/13.......01/16/13.......02/15/13.......--/--/--...
INDIGOSKIES........01/14/13.......01/17/13.......02/19/13.......05/31/13...
MIKE9..............01/14/13.......01/16/13.......02/12/13.......??/??/13...(Card received 06/18)
NGO3361............01/14/13.......01/17/13.......02/11/13.......06/12/13...(Early bio 02/06)(Card received 06/14)
TAATABUNNY.........01/15/13.......01/18/13.......02/21/13.......07/09/13...(Card received 07/28)
THEBIGHASH.........01/15/13.......01/22/13.......04/05/13.......05/30/13...(Card received 06/05)
D0CYAN.............01/16/13.......01/18/13.......02/19/13.......06/20/13...(Early bio 01/30)
JUSTAR.............01/17/13.......01/22/13.......02/14/13.......07/03/13...(Card received 07/12)
BEN & HEIDY........01/18/13.......01/23/13.......02/21/13.......--/--/--...(RFE received 06/07)
CAREBEAR...........01/19/13.......01/28/13.......02/27/13.......06/14/13...(Card received 06/21)
PWOLOCEN...........01/19/13.......01/22/13.......02/21/13.......--/--/--...
TTOWNDUDE..........01/22/13.......01/24/13.......02/22/13.......--/--/--...
SLANGOFOIL.........01/22/13.......01/24/13.......02/21/13.......06/27/13...(Early bio 02/06)(Card received 07/05)
JEAN♥BILL..........01/22/13.......01/25/13.......02/25/13.......06/12/13...
MISSAERO...........01/24/13.......01/29/13.......03/05/13.......06/25/13...(Early bio 02/22)
EDITGEE............01/25/13.......--/--/13.......--/--/13.......--/--/--...
MONT BLANC ........01/28/13.......02/04/13.......02/13/13.......07/08/13...
GSUO...............01/28/13.......--/--/13.......--/--/13.......06/07/13...(Card received 06/13)
NANA098............01/29/13.......02/01/13.......07/15/13.......--/--/--...(Daughter's app 03/05 - After 4 months I rec my bio appt)
ART646.............01/29/13.......??/??/13.......--/--/13.......--/--/--...



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Not sure why you quoted me. I was just clarifying the situation. Never hinted I agree with any of it. I'm waiting on NOA-2 right now for my fiancee and watching the CSC slow down more and more as the dream act lite applications flood in.

I quoted you because your post was the most recent to use the term "back of the line". I didn't mean to imply you were in favor of the current amnesty push; I only wanted to point out that that phrase is very misleading.

That is not what he said. The Dream act lite he put into place by executive order has already approved over 100,000 people with many hundreds of thousands more pending. Do you think that all of the K-1 CR-1 cases filed prior to that have been approved already? Heck no.

He was talking about the future path to citizenship if it passes. So their green card applications will be "at the back of the line" the current dream act replacement ones are going right through and slowing the process down.

Well, I must be in a minority here because I'm dead set against amnesty for illegals. As all of us have, I've made a large expenditure in time and money to do things the right way and I don't have much sympathy for those who break the laws of the land and violate the sovereignty of my country. That they would receive a nod and wink pass on what they did is unacceptable. It's all well and good to talk about "the back of the line," but what about the people who will apply in the meantime? They have to take a spot in line behind illegals, despite doing things the correct way? It doesn't sit well with me.

I understand what you're saying about being easy to fake, but there's certainly ways to avoid that. I sent in a half dozen pictures but they were all taken in different, recognizable places: the Little League World Series, the Grand Canyon, New Orleans, her hometown in Taiwan. It would be a pretty elaborate and costly hoax that involved flying to so many places just to take a picture for a fake marriage.

My wife was scheduled for biometrics on 1/30 but went in today and had them done early. There was no one behind her but we still got the head shake, "there's a process for changing your appointment," and "when you do this, you interfere with others who are scheduled." I repeat, there was no one else waiting! In the end, she did deign to let us do it today. Bless her put upon heart.

Here's hoping that's the last visit to a USCIS office for some time. God willing, we'll have the 10 year card by mid-summer.

California Service Center (8 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.......Approved....

CARDSFN.............12/27/12........01/03/13........02/06/13........--/--/--....

MEGGYMO.............12/29/12........01/04/13........01/25/13........--/--/--....

FITZY...............12/31/12........01/03/13........01/30/13........--/--/--....

ANGELI..............01/02/13........01/04/13........01/31/13........--/--/--....

ATENCIO.............01/06/13........01/08/13........02/06/13........--/--/--....

AMY AND MICHAEL.....01/07/13........01/10/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

VOLU................01/10/13........01/17/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

DON AND VENUS.......01/16/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (15 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.......Approved....

KAOSPOUSE...........12/30/12........01/04/13........01/30/13........--/--/--.... Early biometrics, 1/17

KVPANDPKP...........01/03/13........01/07/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

CONFUSING...........01/04/13........01/07/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

BERNIE C............01/07/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

M + M...............01/10/13........01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

PINKRANGER..........01/10/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

INKOREA.............01/10/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

MAIRO...............01/11/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

CANADIAGIRL.........01/12/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

CRAZYMAZY...........01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

NGO3361.............01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

INDIGOSKIES.........01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

MIKE9...............01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

TAATABUNNY..........01/15/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

D0CYAN..............01/16/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

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California Service Center (7 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.......Approved....

CARDSFN.............12/27/12........01/03/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

MEGGYMO.............12/29/12........01/04/13........01/25/13........--/--/--....

FITZY...............12/31/12........01/03/13........01/30/13........--/--/--....

ANGELI..............01/02/13........01/04/13........01/31/13........--/--/--....

ATENCIO.............01/06/13........01/08/13........02/06/13........--/--/--....

AMY AND MICHAEL.....01/07/13........01/10/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

DON AND VENUS.......01/16/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (15 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.......Approved....

KAOSPOUSE...........12/30/12........01/04/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

KVPANDPKP...........01/03/13........01/07/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

CONFUSING...........01/04/13........01/07/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

BERNIE C............01/07/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

M + M...............01/10/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

PINKRANGER..........01/10/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

INKOREA.............01/10/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

MAIRO...............01/11/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

CANADIAGIRL.........01/12/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

CRAZYMAZY...........01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

NGO3361.............01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

INDIGOSKIES.........01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

MIKE9...............01/14/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

TAATABUNNY..........01/15/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

D0CYAN..............01/16/13........--/--/13........--/--/13........--/--/--....

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My wife didn't apply until she had the GC in hand and it took less than a week to get the number. If you're really in a hurry, you should ask at the SS office if you can call and get the number before they mail the actual card to you. It worked out for me because I have a cousin at the SS office, and while she wasn't allowed to actually work on our case she was able to help us get the number several days before the card arrived.

I'm very encouraged to read the common sense replies here. Just as I have a right to lock the doors on my house and ward off trespassers on my property, the United States has every right -- and an obligation to her citizens -- to strictly enforce her borders. Those of us on this board have chosen to avail ourselves of the existing legal options for immigration, either for ourselves or our spouses/families. While we may have found the process costly, time-consuming, and often frustrating, we've honored the expectations of the American people. We have not trespassed on the legal rights of our fellow citizens. We may feel entitled to gripe about the process, but we should recognize that the rules in place are actually quite generous when compared to the immigration policies of most other countries. It's only the rampant abuse of America's border that makes our experiences seem draconian by comparison. If you want to feel better about the legal process of immigration, advocate for a secure border and stricter enforcement of existing immigration policies.

I'm not worried about getting into Canada since her country (Taiwan) has visa-free entry. It was getting back to the States that I was more concerned about. I'll bring the marriage certificate just to be safe. Thanks for the tip, Inky.

My wife and I will be driving up to Toronto in a couple weeks and it will be the first time for her to leave the country since acquiring her green card. Is there a reason to expect any issues because of the discrepency between the name on her passport (maiden name) and the name on her green card (married name)? Or will all the background information in the computer confirm that it's her?

When my wife's EAD and GC were approved, the case status briefly (for a few hours) went to "Card/Document Production" and then went back to "Decision" followed by "Post Decision Activity", which was of course the mailing of the notice and card. I don't know why the Case Status page has the 5 steps in the order that it does, since -- at least in our case -- it goes 1, 2, 5, 3, 4, but you may have simply missed the period of time when it was in "Card/Document Production".

Nich-Nick, I followed your steps to claim foreign income by my spouse but it's affecting my refund. I want to make sure I'm clear on this because I've been experimenting with the numbers and the more of her income I report, the smaller my refund. For example, if I report that she earned $8000 last year, I lose about $400. If I lower it to $5000, I lose $275, etc.

Was I mistaken in thinking that this income shouldn't affect my return? After all, she's already been taxed on it in her home country, and the exemption is well over the amount she made. Why would this affect my taxes?

Anyone know?

You should be able to get the number from SSA the day after you apply, even though you won't have the actual card in your hand for a week or two after that. Contact/visit the office where you did your application.

This morning I took my wife up to the USCIS office and told them what had happened. The woman asked for our marriage certificate and green card, typed away for about 5 minutes, and then said she'd updated the SAVE database but that it typically took 24 hours for the change to show up.

Based on what you wrote, it sounds like she knew what she was doing. Back to SSA tomorrow to see if we can push through with the application for an SSN.

Maybe I just want to steam about this but on our third trip to the SS office (since getting her green card) my wife was finally informed that the reason they can't seem to process a new number for her is because USCIS has a mismatch between the name on the green card (my last name) and her maiden name, with which she entered the country. Don't ask me why this is a stumbling block to getting a damn SS card or why it took them three visits to catch on. However, after getting off the phone with a similarly clueless USCIS rep, it now appears that I have to make an Infopass appointment (but hey, they're FREE! Isn't it good to know after the many hundreds of dollars you've already spent, that getting to talk to someone about your case is "free"?), take a few hours off work tomorrow, and drive 2 hours just to have someone change a name in their computer. After which, I'm sure I'll be told that it will be another 10 working days before the change takes effect.

In addition to coming here to seethe about this, I was wondering if anyone else ran into this problem and knew of a less time-consuming solution?

Tax day is a week away now and I thought it would good to bump this thread to the front page because there's some very useful information on it. Thank you again, Nich-Nick.

There's no fee for AP if applied for in conjunction with your AOS.

Also, as noted above, there's no need to send two separate checks. A single check for $1070 will be accepted.

How many NOA's did you get?

Buffalo is my local office and, no, it's not that busy. My application process, in terms of submission and CSC transfer was about 10 days ahead of yours; the difference being that I had my biometrics at the end of February and got the green card and EAD in the mail today. I will say that my EAD (I didn't apply for AP) wasn't touched until the day they ordered card production, so I wouldn't be too concerned about that aspect. But you need the biometrics to get that, so there's something definitely amiss. Make yourself a nuisance to somebody at USCIS.

Again, thanks for the link, it was quite helpful. The only downside is that I won't be able to e-file, which will add some days to the receipt of my refund.

Then I have to go through the same BS with New York State, I assume.

There are too many variables to give an accurate answer. The most important is filing the packet properly and without reason for an RFE. Even then, USCIS may misplace your papers and ask for a do-over of certain forms/medical procedures. Maybe you'll get tranferred to the California Service Center, which often means no interview but may or may not mean faster processing. Etc.

I will say that it seems recently there have been a number of people on this board, myself included, who have received their Green Card approval in roughly 2 months. That's pretty unscientific since the people posting here are a drop in the bucket compared to the number of real-life applicants, but it is not unreasonable to think that you can get it done in 2 months.

Very informative, Nich-Nick, thanks for the tips. I didn't realize I'd need to include a statement from my alien resident wife in order for us to file jointly (which is much better for us in terms of our tax burden).

Also, her EAD should arrive early next week, at which point we'll get her SSN. I hadn't thought of requesting the number prior to receiving the physical card. Good to know that's possible as it will buy us several valuable days time.

Based on your guidelines above I'm sure I can handle the letter My taxes are 95% complete and saved on TurboTax right now, so if there's a section dealing with this I'll look it up, but if you know of any templates for such a letter I'd appreciate a link. Thanks again.

Congratulations! My wife also received her (interview-free) AOS approval today! I'm still grinning, hours after getting the news. No more hoops to jump through for the next 18 months.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you. My attempts to procure my wife an SSN number got botched up by the SSA and I didn't know enough about it at that time to push back. Now we're less than 3 weeks out from tax deadline and I need a number for my wife. Fortunately, perhaps, her EAD was approved a week ago and I'm hopeful that if I get the card in the next few days, I'll have enough time to get the SSN. Still, I'm going to be cutting it awfully close.

You have two options, one is to get your spouse an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number or apply for an extension on your tax return.