kvngwynth

I have been a US Citizen since November 20, 2009. I live in Phoenix, AZ and would love to get my Passport Book and Passport Card. Does anybody on here maybe (hopefully) know on how to obtain both of them in person? Am I correct that I would have to do it in San Fransisco, CA? I do not want to send my original Nauralization Certificate by mail or courier. I rather drop it off in person when applying and pick it up in person along with the new passports. Since the original will be kept by them how can I get a certified copy of my certificate? I have learned the hard way... They never returned my husband's US birth cerificate or somehow it got lost in the mail and never to be seen again. I cannot have that happen to my Naturalization Certificate... Better safe than sorry.

I took my wife to the Highlands Ranch Post Office today to apply for her passport.

The post office asked to see my wife's driver's license as well and then told her they couldn't process the application because the name on her driver's license didn't match the name on her naturalization certificate(she changed her name when she naturalized). We told them they already had proof of her identity in the form of the naturalization certificate (the instructions on the passport application clearly state that the Certificate of Natualization is acceptable as proof of identify AND proof of citizenship), but they wouldn't listen. They told us we had to get her driver's license updated first. We then showed them the name change petition granted by the court when my wife naturalized. After having a long conference with a supervisor out of earshot, they reluctantly accepted her application, provided we included the approved name change petition in the application packet.

When we went to the Social Security office earlier today, they accepted her naturalization certificate as proof of identity and citizenship. I wonder if this is a case of subtle discrimination or one of the post office just not knowing or caring about the State Department's rules. Douglas County is one of the most anti-immigration (legal & illegal) areas in the country. Consider the fact that our county elected Tom Tancredo in Congress multiple times.

No discrimination, sorry... just plain logic:

Showing Naturalization Certificate + Court Order of Name Change

1. Go to SS office and update status as US Citizen and change name on SSN Card. Ask for proof that you have updated the data.

2. Wait for that to update in the system max. 72 hours during work days.

3. Go to MVD and update status as US Citizen and change name on DL.

4. Apply for Passport bringing updated DL + Naturalization Certificate + Court Order of Name Change.

5. Voila they will accept your application for sure.

It is that simple and we've been doing this for every step... Haven't you?

I had DL & SSN Card before marriage, then updated both after marriage, after work permit, after temporary green card, after 10 year green card, and now after naturalization... Same old storyline of process to be followed. Did you not do that too in the past?

Got nothing to do with congress either.

MaryandMian...

jenn3539...

THANK YOU SO MUCH! Exactly what I've been searching for!

Have a great day!

Sincerely, Gwyneth

What do each and every of these categories mean on a Permanent Resident Card???

I am just wondering...

AR1

AR6

C20 through C29

CF1

CF2

CR1

CR2

CR6

CR7

CX1 through CX3

CX6 through CX8

F20 through F29

FX1 through FX3

FX6 through FX8

IF1

IF2

IR1 through IR4

IR6 through IR9

IW1

IW2

IW6

IW7

MR6

MR7

P21 through P23

P26 through P28.

IB1 through IB3

IB6 through IB8

B11

B12

B16

B17

B20 through B29

B31 through B33

B36 through B38

BX1 through BX3

BX6 through BX8

Z13

Are there any others?

Where can we find detailed information about each and every code that is used on a Green Card?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Gwyneth

Its not that uncommon for them to use different addresses for different purposes. Personally I would use the address on the form to return the RFE, not the one on the envelope, which is no doubt for returned mail.

I agree with dr_lha and most AOS applicants transferred to CSC do get approved without an interview.

Good luck,

Peter Miami

As I said to dr_lha...

Thank you dr_lha! I am glad you agree with me on the matter of where to send it. See I also thought that the address on the envelope would probably be just a common address or they just have put the wrong envelope with the RFE notice when they sent it to me. Humane error so to speak. But the address on the form I thought is the actual one because it IS on the RFE itself. So if they say that that address is wrong then why is it printed on the RFE, right?

Thanks again, have a great day and good luck with your process too!!!

Gwyneth

So thank you Peter Miami for agreeing also that I made the right decision... I already sent it when I asked but then silly me started to have doubts about what I did... geez, USCIS is truly bad about that, they really make you feel so helpless at some times. The only time I don't stress out and am less frustrated is when I tell myself not to let them get to me.

Hopefully I will be one among the fortunate not having to go for the interview, lol, especially not after all I had to go through already:

in short or partly only...

-did not get stamp to allow me to work in my Passport, applying would have taken 90 days, which is when the K1 would have expired anyways so it would have been just a waste of money, lol

-made SSN in maiden name

-made AZ ID in maiden name

-hubby insisted for me to get Learner's Permit instead of DL (while having driven just fine for 20 years without one single ticket) first so we could get the car insurance in my maiden name already and get used to American roads... aaarrrgghh (tell that to the illegals here that drive like maniacs here without insurance, with fake DL, if any, lol)

-got married but couldn't change the SSN because of the 14 days before my K1 expiring

(got married late because I wanted my hubby to have a fair change of getting to know me in person and me getting to know him in person too first, lol)

-changed the Learner's permit into DL (maiden name)... which was only usable for about 7 days! because of my K1 expiring

-updated the car's insurance with the DL

-after InfoPass appointment, it was confirmed that my status became "Authorized Stay By Attorney General" or to be exact "lady in between statuses that USCIS has not come up with a name yet, lol!)

-got the Medical Supplement after having had a TB skin test and a Tetanus shot

-filed the AOS and the EAD

-went to get the Biometrics done

-got the EAD (hurray?... nope. By then most good companies here with the good upper positions available asked not only for a SSN and the EAD but also for the Green Card because EAD is not proof of citizenship and my satus became again "Authorized Stay By Attorney General", lol!)

-got letter asking Biometrics to be redone, seems my fingerprints were "uncategorizable" (not unclear at all, not wrongly taken at all) by American standards (can you believe it? Millions of samples, I could not be catogorized, hello... don't protest me, protest God, lol, He's The One That created me and a lot of other people uniquely, right? Geez nobody is perfect but everybody is special and unique in his/ her own way, right?)

-so redid Biometrics (thankfully the people were very helpul and nice, kind and understanding there)

-got the EAD (hurray?... nope. By then most good companies here with the good upper positions available asked not only for a SSN and the EAD but also for the Green Card because EAD is not proof of citizenship and my satus became again "Authorized Stay By Attorney General", lol!)

-updated my SSN to my Married name

-got my DL renewed in my Married Name, only good for as long as the EAD is... (hmmm still have to update the insurance now, forgot all about it, just paid and paid and paid hehehe...) Thankfully the people at the MVD are really kind and understanding, nice and helpful always also!)

-got RFE asking for another Medical since First Medical had expired because it had been over a year

-redid the Medical

-that was the RFE we just sent in!

I NEED A BREAK! WE ALL DO, LOL!

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND AGAIN THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK TOO!

Gwyneth

Its not that uncommon for them to use different addresses for different purposes. Personally I would use the address on the form to return the RFE, not the one on the envelope, which is no doubt for returned mail.

Thank you dr_lha! I am glad you agree with me on the matter of where to send it. See I also thought that the address on the envelope would probably be just a common address or they just have put the wrong envelope with the RFE notice when they sent it to me. Humane error so to speak. But the address on the form I thought is the actual one because it IS on the RFE itself. So if they say that that address is wrong then why is it printed on the RFE, right?

Thanks again, have a great day and good luck with your process too!!!

Gwyneth

Hi...

Two questions here:

1. Got an RFE for the Medical because initial medical had been done more than one year ago. So ok, done that but when wanting to send it I saw that the address on the RFE itself (the PO Box the USCIS said to send the stuff to) is different than the PO Box on the envelope!!!

Now the USCIS seems to be unable to even get their own addresses straight!

So... I just sent my stuf to the address on the letter, hoping that that is the right one and that they just had a mix up when attaching the empty envelope... How about this guys... any of you had this mixup by them? If yes where did you send the RFE to? To the address on the envelope or to the address on the RFE letter itself?

2. Case got transefered to the CSC so in the past that usually meant no interview, what about nowadays?

Thanks!

Gwyneth

Anna,

An unusual, but probably not unique, and understandable situation.

Except, how do you live your lives without a single bill for either of you?

Yodrak

My husband - USC

Me - beneficiary

OK, at the beginning of April my husband got so sick of his job that he decided to quit.

We have talked about moving to SF.

We decided to do it sooner.

Because I own a business, I'm an artist, I can live anywhere, well not quite but any large city would be fine.

So we just wanted to make sure that he wil like the job he finds there, etc before I make the move.

Long story short he went ahead and moved at the begining of April, found a job (I, in the meantime went to see my family) and I am going to join him in SF at the end of June, after finishing my stuff in NJ/NY.

Before that I'm flying to see him in a couple of weeks to celebrate our 1 year anniversary - May 24 and then he's flying in for our interview.

So now we have no lease, no bills and 2 sets of keys to different places.

But we do have:

- joint health insurance

- joint savings and checking

- joint taxes 2005

- plane tickets from Christmas when we went to FL to see his family

- pictures from Vegas - marriage, pictures with friends, pictures from Thanksgiving from Long Island - his uncle, Christmas - when I met his parents.

- emails we wrote to each other

First of all I'd like to ask you your opinion about our situation.

Advice?

Thank you,

Anna

No, no we do have bills but not under both names.

For example we share the house in NJ so the utilities are included in rent.

Anyway they will have to understand that our lives have to go on and we shouldn't plan moving, etc. taking the interview into consideration.

Hi Anna!

Well, it is like you said quite unusual but geez, life is unusual and unpredictable at most times, right?

Anyways..., let's see...

You have:

- joint health insurance

- joint savings and checking

- joint taxes 2005

- plane tickets from Christmas when we went to FL to see his family

- pictures from Vegas - marriage, pictures with friends, pictures from Thanksgiving from Long Island - his uncle, Christmas - when I met his parents.

- emails we wrote to each other

So why not try this, it might just help?

- copy of marriage licence and certificate (of course I know, I thought I would just mention it just in case)

- letters from family and friends knowing about your situation, sympathizing and supporting your marriage

- letter from his new employer aknowledging the fact that the two of you are married, vice versa the same for you too

- go to your landlord, add his name to the lease, let him do this to his lease also

- if any of you or the both of you have cars then put both names on the title(s)

- hopefully you have changed your maiden name to your husband's last name on your Driver's Licence/ ID and on your SS card before you applied for the AOS and the EAD, if not at least apply in married name.

BUT ONE BIG QUESTION:

Did you come here on a K1? If so... do you already have an EAD to be working? Even as an artist you would still need an EAD to work. Because if you have been working without an EAD... you are in trouble. Max income allowed without EAD for us beneficiaries is $600 PER YEAR!

One thing to keep in mind is that "they" at the USCIS never "have to" understand anything if they don't want to. They can simply give you an RFE or denial, however hearthless and unfair it may seem. So the more we can do to give them less reason to, even if we have to go out of our ways to do it... we better do it for our own benefits.

Just my 2 cents IMHO.

What do you think?

Gwyneth

You're welcome, good luck!

Gwyneth

Ok, now this is exactly what truly bugs me. Because of these types of girls (or guys in other cases) that just want to misuse people to immigrate the real honest legal ones have to go through the hassle of the long process and so on. Not nice, not fair at all.

I understand completely your sadness, anger and your frustration. I am the immigrant, my hubby is the USC. Everybody has problems at one point or another in their marriage but when a marriage ends it already hurts more than enough without all the problems added onto it by the immigration process.

What I suggest:

1. IMHO I would have never given her green card. I would have gone to the local USCIS office (infopass) and presented the case there before giving her the green card. If she wants the green card let her get it from there or I will give it to her IF AND ONLY IF the officer at the USCIS office TELLS ME TO DO SO. But I would also record the name (full name of the officer telling me to do so) and present that in my case that I would sent to the USCIS reporting the whole case, also stating time and date and including a copy of Infopass appointment. BUT since you already have given her her GC still make an Infopass appointment and ask them what you should and could do about this. Present all you have so far and all you have done about it so far. Again, record name of officer etc. etc.

2. Hire a PI. Let the PI do the dirty work for you. You relax. The more you wind yourself up she will have won, rejoicing about your pain and sorrow. Yes, it isn't cheap, but a divorce or a case ten years down the road will never be cheap either, let's just get it over with as soon as possible. Talk to a couple of PI-s and see which one is the most reasonably priced but still is very professional and friendly about it. Why a PI? Because they can easily go places you can't at times you can't. Plus it will become hard evidence supporting your whole case instead of letting it stay "hearsay" as it now basically is. I know it is hard for you. And most of all... you yourself stay clean, no going to other women, doing drugs or becoming an alcoholic, never abuse her no matter what. Do not give her any reason she could use against you in court of law. Again I am so sorry, I know this is hard for you, but be very strong for now otherwise she will "win".

3. Do I take your side 100%? No, I am sorry because I do not know you well yet and because every story has its two sides. BUT I BELIEVE YOU because this has happened too many times to a lot of my USC friends. And I knew both sides of the stories sadly pretty well.

4. Divorce her as soon as possible... AFTER YOU HAVE ALL THE PROOF FROM THE PI. She will get into a lot of problems going through the interview if you also have papers stating you filed for a divorce already based on whatever you can find out. This is why I am not talking about it all as a fraud rather more how to handle a domestic dispute. If you have all the evidence then and only then your marriage and her intentions will prove itself to be a fraud anyways. Simple, right?

5. Go to the interview. Not because you have to be afraid of threats, never be afraid those. How could she force you to go anywhere? Blackmail? Again, if you don't do anything wrong she cannot blackmail you in any way. Get a gun if needed and if you are comfortable with it. Only idiots would still come at you if you have a gun to defend yourself. Do not become trigger happy 'tho... Be very responsible. NEVER THREATHEN HER or anyone else WITH IT EITHER. Don't feel bad about having to protect yourself if you feel the need to. Stay with friends and family if needed. She might not hurt you herself, but she might misuse another guy and his friends to hurt you. Go to the interview to present your case to the fullest. It will be a wonder if the immigration then doesn't immediately deport her altogether.

6. Be strong. Do not go soft on her. Flirting, crying, begging, kissing feet... whatever she might try to woe you... Don't fall for it. Don't sleep with her is another good point. She could and would misuse that against you. Worst to worst if she sleeps with the other guy and with you too she can say it is your child. Then what? DNA tests? Abortion? More trouble than it is worth.

7. Last but not least... BE VERY SURE ABOUT ALL THIS. Be prepared, be cautious. Be wise, stay as calm about all this as possible. Don't become paranoid. Again, I know and understand how it must hurt. If there is any doubt whatsoever in your mind then don't do anything drastic untill you have all the facts straight and you can be sure about it. Love is blind people say, in a way it is true, so open your eyes. Stay yourself, be friendly but strict and blunt.

Am I being radical/ weird/ paranoid? No. I don't care what others might think. But I have been through hell on earth in the past in a lot of situations and conditions that others don't even want to have nightmares about. So I learned from my own experiences and from others to be well prepared. Mean? No. Just blunt.

If you are truly honest about all this... believe and you will find another girl somewhere somehow, someday that will love you for you not for America. I came for my husband, not for America so much that it is my hubby that is "forcing" me to do the the whole immigration process. I filed the AOS almost 180 days after my K1 expired. I did not even want to get married as soon as I came, we waited untill the last two weeks... WHY? Because I want him to be sure. I want me to be sure. A marriage is hopefully untill I die and beyond so I would never want him or myself to feel forced to get married or stay married just because of fear of being deported. I just comply because it is the only way to be able to stay with him and if it makes him happy why not, right? I love him more than my own life. Am I truly this light about all this? YUP. Ask my hubby and my friends

Sincerely,

Gwyneth

hi ... i was wondering why they keep updating the date on my case but they haven't change the info ..what does that means????

Hi to you too

* Note on "Last Updated" date:

Your case may have a new "Last Updated" date and you may receive an Email Notification of your case being updated, without the status of the case changing. This is due to internal USCIS processing being performed on your Case. This will be reflected in the "Last Updated" date, but may not result in a different status message.

That simply means that at least they are working on your case, but since they have not reached the decision yet for either approval/ rfe/ denial they simply don't/ can't update the status on your case in any other way since they don't have the standarized terms for them.

I copy-pasted this here from the "My Portfolio" page in the "Case Status Online" on the USCIS.gov website. Hope this helps?

Gwyneth

Hi everyone, I have searched hi and lo and no topic explained in detail what the biometrics actually is. I have a biometrics appointment on February 16th, 2006. I entered as K1, got married within the 90 days, have a ssn still in my maiden name, a#, am filing the EAD with the AOS, no AP in my married name.

What papers do I have to bring exactly?

How many pictures do I have to bring? They are colored passport pics right?

How long do you usually have to wait at the biometrics office? Do they go by your appointment time or is it basically first come first served or what? They usually tell you not to be late at the DHS, but what's the use of being punctually on time if they still let you wait one or two hours after that?

Anyone here doing biometrics in Phoenix, AZ? Will we have to wait in the heat under a sprayer like at the DHS if we actually are on time or will it be like at the SSN office that you can at least wait in your car if the waiting area inside the office is too full? I really have bad headaches when standing or sitting in the sun, even with a hat and neck cooler so I hope it will be more humane.

What exactly will be done at the biometrics office? Fingerprints taken, photos also or not? Is there any type of interview there?

How long does the whole process usually take?

Thank you so much. Sincerely, Gwyneth