Chris & Anna

Well we didn't expect this, but today a miracle happened. Anna got her Social Security card in the mail.

So now we have a question about the text on the card. It says, VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION, in screaming caps. I assume this is referring to her EAD. Should we get another card after the green card is issued? What does that text deny her access to?

Thanks!

When they say average processing time for the I-485 in one office takes X days, what are they measuring to and from? I guess from receipt to something, either interview or RFE or decision. Does anyone know? We are still waiting on our interview appointment and the processing time is coming up.

Apply for the SSN in her maiden name, Alla got hers the day after she arrived, then change it when the GC comes. The name is not important, the number will stay the same. Alla did not change her name until citizenship, she then changed her name on the SSN using the citizenship certificate as ID. Her SSN is the same, of course.

I wish it was so easy. They need some USCIS ID with the same name as the application. I worry we are going to have to wait for the green card.

I might just file an extension for my taxes.

After my wife and I were married, we applied for my wife's AOS, and received the EAD card in her married name. Then we went to apply for her SSN and they told us we they could not verify her documents with USCIS. My wife went to USCIS and was told that although her EAD was issued in her married name, the system still has her maiden name. They could not change it until after the interview. We still have not received an appointment letter for the interview. I guess the issue is that we are applying for an SSN using the married name, and they are attempting to verify the married name EAD, but USCIS SAVE database only has maiden name.

Has anyone run into this issue? I'm concerned about getting her SSN in time to file my taxes. I can't file as married without her SSN, and will be forced to apply for an extension. IRS says we aren't eligible for an ITIN. My wife wants to work, and we are both very frustrated, especially since this is not the first problem we've had with SAVE and SSA/USCIS.

We are thinking of going to another SSA office, but I'm not sure if they can do something while this other application is still pending documentation verification.

Thanks for all the help everyone. I didn't know we could apply for the SSN with her EAD. That is what we will do.

Gary, thanks for suggesting that she could go back and get an SSN with her maiden name. I didn't know that either. But frankly, I'm sick of that damn office. I'm happy to let it go until we get the EAD.

Thank you both so much!

It appears to me that my fiancee's DS-3025 Vaccination Documentation Worksheet was not completed properly.

There are several vaccines checked on the left side along with dates. Some lines are marked with a checkmark in the "Completed series" column. Others are marked with a dash in that column. Finally other lines are not marked at all in that column and are either checked in the columns "Not Age appropriate" or "Not Routinely available".

The results area is blank. There are three main boxes "Vaccine History Incomplete", "Vaccine history complete for each vaccine, all requirements met" and "Applicant does not meet vaccination requirements for one or more vaccines and no waiver is requested". But none of them are checked.

I read in the guides: "If you are missing any shots from your overseas medical a I-693 vaccination transcription is required to be completed by seeing a Civil Surgeon to have certain portions of the I-693 completed and have the Civil Surgeon certify the form (sealing the original in an envelope and giving you a copy)."

How can I conclude whether or not to do this step?

So my fiancee arrived stateside August 23. Two weeks later we applied for her SSN. We were told her information wasn't in the SAVE database from USCIS. All they could do was to send the petition to NY for manual verification. So they did, and we followed up by phone several times, and were only told to wait. There was nothing they could do.

When we realized we didn't need the SSN to get married, we relaxed on the whole thing and decided to check on it again after we were married. Planning the wedding got in the way.

So after the wedding we went to the SSA office again. They still didn't have her info, and nothing had come back from manual verification. We went to the USCIS office, and they found an error in the middle name. Upon correcting the error, we went back to the SSA office. But now we were within the 2 week period before the expiration date of her I-94. They can't do anything until she gets her green card now. Well between now and then I need to file taxes. They only told us that she could get an ITIN from the IRS to help with taxes.

Well we went to the IRS office (lucky for us in Cleveland all of these offices were in the same building!) and were told that she can only get an ITIN if she isn't eligible for an SSN. Since she is eligible, they needed something from the SSA saying she was denied. Well we got nothing like that from SSA.

So now I don't understand where to go from here. Should I go back to SSA and ask for a letter of denial?

Given that she isn't working and has no taxable income otherwise, can we file jointly without a number? Maybe I can get an extension on the taxes and just wait for her GC and SSN after that?

What is the best course of action for us now?

I have secret clearance, and so far it hasn't caused me any delays. I am hoping to have my fiancee state side by the end of the month. But again, I only have secret, and my fiancee is from Ukraine.

we got NOA2 almost a month ago now. How do I find out whats going on with NVC?

I have gone through there entire website and called several numbers and never get through to anybody.

Based on your timeline and signature... you seem to already know the answer to your questions. I called the NVC every day... they answer more often early in the morning. (603) 334-0700

Packages picked on Tuesday July 17, 2012

Waybill: 9449022866 - KIEV - KYIV - UKRAINE

Waybill: 9449022936 - ANKARA - TURKEY

Written: EXP 16 JUL2012A

You, sir, are doing amazing work! Thank you so much. My petition is there! The JUL 2012A / JUL2012A difference had me confused for a long time.

Oops, double post.

also if we get uscis approval mid aug would it still be doable have visa in hand in 2-3 weeks?

You're kidding right? It took us over 3 weeks just to get TO NVC from USCIS approval. We are estimating another week for NVC approval, 1 week for NVC to send to Kiev, and 3-4 weeks after that for the interview appointment. So 8-9 weeks after NOA2 just for the interview. Not sure about how long after that the visa can be in hand.

The stern, stone cold, "I must break you.", face is what my buddies and I dubbed "Russian smile" several years back.

Like saying hi to strangers on the street, there's really no need to feign happiness, enjoyment, involvement, etc., for Russians in their pictures. For a good laugh, ask your wife if you can see her school pictures. I've never seen so many mean looking seven year olds in my life.

According to her, they look how they look. They don't need to smile and pretend they're happy just because someone's taking their picture. There's also this school of thought in Russia that if you're always happy and look happy (and especially if you "whistle like stupid" all day long) that you're a dope and not smart and something bad is going to happen to you.

It's just one of those cultural differences that we can't really explain. I honestly thought there was a problem when I looked at photos of myself with Russians. "They're not smiling. The body language is all wrong. Obviously they didn't enjoy themselves. I don't think they like me." But, then you flip the page (how old did that just make me sound!) er, um, I mean, scroll to the next pictures and there are comments on there about how much fun they had and how it was a great and wonderful evening.

We actually pose for pictures now with "Russian smile." It's quite funny.

I think this is the funniest, most insightful thing I've read in a long time.

Also thanks for reminding me of Rocky IV. It might be time to watch that movie again.

Is it a RUB thing to not smile by default in a picture? I just got back from a vacation I took with my fiancee, and in most all our pictures, she has a stone cold face. Every now and then I caught a nice smile, but that was the exception. Seems like she would rather look like a model, with a constant serious look.

Just curious what your experiences are in this area.

I've been calling the NVC to get my case number for several days. They still haven't received my petition. My NOA2 was sent to me June 22.

So I decided to call USCIS to see if/when they have mailed it to NVC. When I got on the line with USCIS, the nice lady informed me that K1 petitions are not sent to NVC, but instead directly to the embassy. This contradicts info I've seen here on visa journey, including the guides and K1 flowchart. Then she said it can take up to 30 days to reach the foreign embassy.

Has anyone else heard this? I'm confused!

Hi,

Me and my husband have sent all the packages to NVC and paid all the bills online. So now we are just waiting for NVC to say case complete and schedule an interview for me. How long does it take to hear that case is complete from NVC? If someone is waiting just like us, please share your experience here. Thanks.

Please update your timeline. It helps other visa journey members in your situation know what to expect!

I only have 105 days since NOA-1 and I'm already going crazy!!!!! How much longer?, can we hurry hurry hurry CSC

I had to wait 136 days for CSC to approve our petition. I got my NOA2 last month. I hope your NOA2 comes soon!

call early in the morning when they start work 730and 800 am ,if busy put your phone on redail or eveing after 900pm.

I got a busy signal all day yesterday. Today I called at 7:15 am and someone picked up immediately, no wait.

In my visit to Ukraine in Dec 2011/Jan 2012, I had many gifts for Anna. I never even thought to declare anything, and they never asked. My bags did go through their little X-ray machine, but no one asked me anything beyond how long I was staying in Ukraine and where.

:thumbs: they wont even look to see if your case is lost or not until it is outside whatever the current processing time is

Well that's sobering. So what happens six months after the NOA1, I call, and it is lost? Do I have to re-file and wait another 5 months? Or maybe they can expedite in that case?

Surely the chance of them losing the petition after the NOA1 but before the NOA2 isn't 0. It is sent from the Texas lock box to the service center after all. Or is the NOA1 sent from the service center, not the sorting facility?

If I wanted to make sure the petition I sent wasn't lost, how would I do that? An InfoPass?

What were some of the best and worst surprises your RUB had when s/he got to the US?

Any tips on helping them cope with the bad ones?

Remember, an odd number that is not 13.

Why not 13?