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HypoLoveTriangle

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    To Change or Not to Change Wife's family name

    in Asia: East and Pacific

    Posted

    I am American and my family comes from german and hungarian descent. My wife is Japanese and arrived in the US via K-1 VISA and has been here for a few months. We got married and we are still trying to decide on whether to change her name. We plan on some point moving to Japan in the future.

    She has done research and she claims there are pros and cons to keeping the name as well as pros and cons for changing it.

    She has changed it in America, but she's thinking of not changing it in Japan.

    Does anyone on this site had specific experience with marrying a Japanese person and trying to change their name from the states. Apparently its a major headache. Not so if we were in Japan.

    Keeping the Name:

    Pros:

    -keeping family identity, heritage.

    -for when we are in Japan, easier to rent houses, get bank accounts, legal matters, finding jobs.

    Cons:

    -Still listed under family's koseki

    -Not having the same last name

    -After the 6 month window you need to prove to a judge or the records office there are issues requiring you to change it

    -Any children born would be under her family's koseki.

    Changing:

    Cons:

    -takes like 2 months to change from the states

    -will lose/won't have access to her bank accounts

    -and a bunch of other stuff

    If anyone could comment that would greatly be appreciated.

    Thanks!

    Green Card Approved! in under 3 months!!

    in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    My wife and I went to the Detroit USCIS Tuesday Sept 11th at 1pm for her 115pm appointment. We were called in around 120pm. The interviewer made us take an oath. Then she asked my wife and me to state our names and give our home address. Then she began running through all the criminal/terrorist/military questions. She quickly looked through the stack of papers I prepared and she took out a couple things and looked through the photos provided and smiled at the last one. Then she told my wife her Green Card was approved and it will arrive in 2-3 weeks. Then we left at 130pm. It took a total of 10 minutes start to finish if that. We were so surprised. We left and met my parents at Parthenon in Greektown for a sampler plater celebration. YUMS!!! nom nom nom

    My wife arrived beginning of April. We got married June 15th. We sent out the AOS packet on June 18th. She received her EAD/AdvancedParole Combo Card on Monday Sept 10th. We had Green Card approval Sept 11th. !!!! Less than 3 months to get the Green Card approval. WOW. DID NOT EXPECT THAT. I thought it was funny we got the EAD/AA the day before. The interview said, "Oh well. :) Now you will get the GC. Use the EAD/AA for now."

    I was actually kinda bummed out because I spent the entire weekend and the prior week putting together a huge amount of paperwork they needed or could want. I tediously made copies, organized, and re-checked everything prolly about 10 times over to make sure everything was correct. I even made cover letters, brought my actual tax documents, AND all the K-1 VISA application info. The interviewer barely even did anything with it. I was pissed. ALL THAT WORK!!!! And I didn't even get an acknowledgement.

    Oh well. Time for my wife to start looking for a job. I can't keep paying for her shopping... ;-) haha.

    Anyone in Detroit/Ann Arbor area that is looking for someone who is fluent in Japanese and English?

    I want to thank everyone on this site that has helped me out with information, prep, and information. Thank you so much!

    SOOOOO much better than hiring a lawyer.

    USCIS Interview and Form I-693

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Hello all.

    I'm just getting everything prepared for my interview on Tuesday. A friend of mine, who both him and his wife are immigrants, mentioned that he'd heard during the Green Card Interview they split the couple up into separate rooms and interview them. Try to see if the stories check out.

    Can anyone confirm that? Or is the interview just the couple sitting down and talking with an interviewer and going over all the evidence?

    Thanks in advance!

    Japanese wife wants to drive in USA

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    Since I live in Michigan, and my wife will be here shortly, I have researched this already.

    Technically, she can Drive here with her Japanese operators permit per the following treaty enacted in 1949: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Reciprocity_Agreements_and_Underlying_Authority_170819_7.pdf

    It is highly recommended that she does obtain some instruction to be a better defensive driver here. Many driving here could bebefit from this instruction, and yes there are many roundabouts already implemented and more on the way..they are all the rage now.

    Aaaaah. Ok. So she can drive now but will need to take the exam and everything to get a Michigan License. Now I just need to get an Automatic Trans car because she refuses to drive a manual. sigh... manuals are better and more fun.

    USCIS Interview and Form I-693

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    If it's checked 'complete' or all age appropriate vacc's are there, you can send a copy of the ds-3025 with your AOS. And as long as it was done a maximum of 12 months ago. Personally, I'd make a coverletter for the AOS and add ds-3025 on it as ' unexpired ds-3025' or something similar along with the rest of the documents you've submitted.

    Keep a copy of it at home though. USCIS is remarkable at getting the medicals lost.

    Yes. We had it all prepared and submitted it in the AOS packet. I assume that's what they will want for the Interview as well, but I just want to make sure there are no surprises. If they require the I-693 regardless of if you submitted a DS-3025, type of thing, you know.

    Thank you for your reply!

    USCIS Interview and Form I-693

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Hello,

    One of the requirements for the USCIS interview is "A completed medical examination (FORM I-693) and vaccination supplement in sealed envelope (unless already submitted)."

    My wife completed all the medical exam in Japan to get over here on the K-1 Visa and was given a DS-3025 to submit instead of I-693. As per the rules. "If you received a copy of the Vaccination Documentation Worksheet (Form DS-3025) from your Panel Physician, you may include a copy of that form in your AOS submission in place of Form I-693." http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/101202-faqs-forms-i-693-and-ds-3025/

    Do we still need to complete a I-693 for the USCIS interivew? or just show the original copy of the DS-3025? Would they really require us to do it again?

    Sorry if this is repeated but i can't find the exact info.

    Thanks!

    Phil

    Japanese wife wants to drive in USA

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    My wife has been living in the US since April. Michigan to be exact. While in Japan, she didn't drive. When you live in/around Tokyo, you really don't need to. She has a renewed Japanese driver's license for automatic transmission vehicles.

    We go to our USCIS interview on Sept 11th.

    For those of you who might know, what are our best options for her to get a Michigan Driver's License and to drive a car?

    I couldn't really find it on the SOS website.

    -Does she need to re-test and go thru a driver's test?

    -will the SOS just give her a Michigan license because she has a Japanese one? (granted they drive on the opposite side of the road. craziness)

    -Do i need to get her a driver's permit and teach her?

    etc etc?

    What's the best way?

    Thanks

    Phil

    Got NOA Request for Initial Review

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    We sent out our AOS paperwork June 18th. Got our notice beginning of August. Our Initial Interview date is September 11th. In Detroit.

    Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the interviews were in Chicago?? Also, this says, "INITIAL" Interview. Does that mean there will be more than one interview for Green Card?

    From what they ask to bring it sounds like this is the interview but its happening in Detroit. Does anyone know if the USCIS in Detroit is a new center started to relieve the pressure off Chicago?

    In addition to the NOA we received and the documents it tells us to bring, is there anything else people have experience needing that isn't written out?

    I'm looking over this: Tip#2 - http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/307-applying-for-aos-in-the-usa/

    and this: http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-aos.html

    My wife is on my medical insurance, on two of my credit cards, and we have a joint bank account. Thats it. I guess I will need to get copies proving that. I should prolly put her name on our apartment lease. We have wedding ceremony photos, video, and then wedding shower photos. She can't work yet or drive so we don't have any documents dealing with those.

    Thanks for any assistance you can offer. Thanks!

    Mistake on Biometric Form

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Hello everyone.

    Just had a successful appointment for my wife's Biometrics at the Detroit USCIS office. We walked in at 11am and were out of there at 1130am. It wasn't until after we were out of there and gone that we realized our mistake. There's a form you need to fill out that gives your body outline. Hair color, eye color, race, weight, height, etc.

    Well, anyways, we got home and realized that she wrote 5'6" instead of 5' 0.6". So... she wrote down her wrong height. How can we fix this? Will this cause a problem?

    I tried to call the USCIS 800 number but its all automated and there's no one to talk to. There are no direct lines either to the Detroit office either.

    Does anyone have an idea of how to get in contact with someone to change it? Or should we worry at all?

    Thanks

    SSA won't change wife's name.

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    :bonk: Why do you think a SSN in her married name somehow has anything to do with her status in the US?

    She can have her SSN in maiden name until she gets her EAD.

    You have already sent off you AOS paperwork, correct? With that, she has entered a NEW period of authorized stay, until it is adjudicated.

    Yes. I shipped off the AOS paperwork yesterday. Does she receive some sort of official notification that she is being processed and that she is authorized to stay? Until she gets the EAD etc? I just want to make sure that it won't cause a problem with anything since all the AOS paperwork has her married name along with her SSN registered to her Maiden name.

    I'm also curious about if it will affect her on my Insurance because she's registered with her married name but using the Maiden Named SSN. I've already contacted my company about it as this site isn't for insurance issues. Waiting for a response.

    SSA won't change wife's name.

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Hello all.

    Here's background information:

    April 6 2012: Fiance arrived from Japan on K1-VISA. I-94 form Expires July 4th, 2012.

    May 2012: Applied for and received SSN.

    June 15th, 2012: We got married at the County Clerk Office with her new name written on the certificate.

    June 18th, 2012: Added my wife to my insurance under her new name.

    June 19th, 2012: AOS Packet with her new name was shipped to Chicago USCIS Office via Express Mail. Will arrive today, June 20th, 2012.

    June 20th, 2012: Attempted to change name at the SSA using Marriage Certificate, valid I-94, passport, and birth certificate.

    FAILED! SSA won't change her name because I-94 will expire in exactly 14 days from today.

    I knew this was an issue for applying for a SSN, but for a name change?!

    Will this cause a problem???

    What happens when the I-94 expires? Will we receive a letter in the mail stating that her case is submitted and under review so she doesn't get deported or something?

    The SSA official said that the only way for us to change her name now is to wait until we get her EAD or some new document that shows she's allowed to be here.

    What to do? What to do?

    Thanks for responses in advance.

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