adamjan

The majority of people in the upper forums do not suggest going after you are married because it can be more difficult. If you would say where you got this advice it would be much obliged.

No matter what your SSN says, you can apply for AOS in your married name. USCIS will accept your marriage cert as proof of name change. The SSA doesn't "own" your name and the US doesn't have a registry of marriages. When you get your GC then go back and change the name on the SS card at the same time you update them with your new LPR status.

Oh really? I just got that advise from random people here in VJ. They said to go after getting married to save a trip to SS Office, so that's what I did.

Thank you though for clarifying. I will do just that, put my married name on AOS forms, and then just change my name after I get GC. Thanks again! I appreciate your help! : )

You will want to use your married name on all the documents you send in for the AOS as that is how your name will come will come back to you on your I-131 and I-765 if you applied for them along with the I-485 form.

I did the opposite as you. I took my fiance to the SS office and got her SS card in her name as it was on her I-94 and then after we were married and we had our marriage license we went back and had the name on her SS card changed into her married name.

Ok thanks for answering my question!

About the SS card, I'm still confused! I don't know why I have a problem when the only difference is you came back twice and I went once. The name on her I-94 never changed right? And I brought my marriage license too to prove that I changed my name. So now I'm still at a loss about that. What else do I need to do to prove to them that I have a different name now, aside from the marriage certificate which I already showed them?

Your SS person behind the counter is a dolt. You SHOULD have gotten SSN in your married name if you presented marriage certificate at the time you filed your SS-5. That's what we did also, and her card came in her married name. But you can file for a change of name after you get the card, no biggie.

As for AOS, you should use your married name, because you are no longer your unmarried name, right?

That's what I thought! What was the marriage certificate supposed to be for anyway? It's proof that legally my name has changed right? So that means I have to go line up again for the second time when I shouldn't have to anymore.

Anyway, thanks for clearing things up for me. Ill put my married name in. : )

Hi everyone! So me and my fiance got married in court a few weeks ago and got our marriage certificate the other day!!! Yay!

So taking the advise of some people, I waited to get the SSN until after I get married so that I won't have to go back twice to change my name from birth name to married name.

When I applied for SSN, I showed them my I-94 and marriage certificate and of course, my names didn't match! The I-94 had my birth name, and marriage certificate had my married name. I will still get my SS card, but it will still have my birth name on it to match my I-94. So question number 1: Did I miss a step? Was there a place where I should've registered my marriage so that they can change my name to the married one? If so, where? And how?

So now, I am filling up the forms for AOS (We asked for helped from the guy we hired to help out with the K1 application, but now he is asking for $400 more. So I'm doing it myself!!), and I am confused as to what name I should put. Will it be my birth name since that's what matches with the I-94? Or is it the married name, because of course, we have to be married to be able to apply for AOS.

Need all the help I can get! Thank you soooo much!

Hi everyone! So me and my fiance got married in court a few weeks ago and got our marriage certificate the other day!!! Yay!

So taking the advise of some people, I waited to get the SSN until after I get married so that I won't have to go back twice to change my name from birth name to married name.

When I applied for SSN, I showed them my I-94 and marriage certificate and of course, my names didn't match! The I-94 had my birth name, and marriage certificate had my married name. I will still get my SS card, but it will still have my birth name on it to match my I-94. So question number 1: Did I miss a step? Was there a place where I should've registered my marriage so that they can change my name to the married one? If so, where? And how?

So now, I am filling up the forms for AOS (We asked for helped from the guy we hired to help out with the K1 application, but now he is asking for $400 more. So I'm doing it myself!!), and I am confused as to what name I should put. Will it be my birth name since that's what matches with the I-94? Or is it the married name, because of course, we have to be married to be able to apply for AOS.

Need all the help I can get! Thank you soooo much!

Alright sounds good! Thanks everyb

Everybody! : )

Hi everyone! I'm back!!

So I've been in California for almost 2 weeks now. And according to the flow chart it says I have to get SSN before I get married. On the other hand I've been reading forums about how getting married before getting SSN will save me from having to change my single name to my married name on the SSN card.

Any ideas? I would appreciate anything.

Thanks all! : )

Hi everyone! Im finally with my fiance and his family. Thank you all for your help!

Anyways just a little story about my trip.

My fiance booked PAL, and they were kind enough to hang my wedding dress for me, free o charge. So I carried it with me on the plane, which sort of allowed me to have 3 carry-ons.

The Flight was 12 hours and 50 mins ( the longest in my life).

I really hate plane food so i brought crackers and 2 apples. Of course I had to be the stupid girl who forgets to finish them so i had it in my purse the whole time. Which means I had to go through the customs check, because YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BRING FRESH FRUIT into the States. So just a friendly reminder to all coming. Just whatever you have that is listed on the customs declaration card, leave it in the plane.

I was let go right away though, they just took the apple and reminded me t

* to leave anything fruit in the plane if i dont finish.

So im here now, and the rest, are as they say, is and will be history : )

Goodluck and God bless to all!

i called the embassy jist 30 mins ago n the lady was the one tht sed its printed n will.be released to 2go by tmrw noon

If that's the case you might be able to get ut by tomorrow afternoon!

Congrats!! Mine was issued 2 days before you. Safe trip! : )

Yes you can! Other documents are listed in Hank's guide

Hank's right...as always. You're good to go!! What's your POE? My fiance came in last Saturday through Detroit. It was as easy as pie!! 40 minutes after landing, she came through the door with a big smile and a cart full of luggage!!

I know right, somebody should pay Hank! LOL!

POE is San Francisco! Praying for a safe flight, the Immigration thing is a little bit nerve wracking though.

Congrats to you and your fiance, and happy wedding planning! : )

Ohh why it takes longer for the visa deliver?

I'm not sure why but as long is it's issued you are fine. All you cando now is wait.

Looks like you are good to go!

(and for sure keep the Do Not Open packet in your carry-on ... Ya I know... just being a worry wart)

Safe Travels!

Welcome to America!

Yayyyy!! Thanks so much Hank!! : )

Hi there.that's good ur fiance visa is issued. Waiting for 2go sm north to txt me.I was interviewed last july 9.I checked online at Ceac it says issued.hopefully I can have my visa by Monday coz I need to go back in my province.

Congrats and goodluck

.

Wow! Yours got issued fast! My interview was June 17 and was issued July 10. Im sure you will be getting it soon too! Thanks and goodluck to you as well : )

Hello VJ family! First of all I would like to thank everyone for the help you have given me and my fiance all throughout this loooonngg and hard process. Knowing that there are so many people out there who are going through the same thing but yet still very much willing to help encouraged us a lot! Special shout out to HANK, who's gold standard of a guide walked us through every step after NOA2! : )

So my Visa is issued and I got the text from MOA that it is already available for pick up. I'm picking it up on Sunday and then getting my CFO sticker on Monday morning.

So aside from the ticket, passport with visa and CFO sticker, the DO NOT OPEN packet, payment for travel tax and terminal fee, plus my life packed in 2 check-ins and a carry on, is there any more that I am forgetting to do or bring?

I don't want to mess aything up, especially at this point where I'm a plane ride away from my fiance.

Thanks again! : )

The status "ready" means that they still haven't done anything yet. You have to wait for the status "issued" before they send it out. Mine took 1 month from the interview for the visa to be issued. But others took just 4 working days so it differs from each person.

Better to call the embassy to see what's really going on.

I just checked BON in NJ and it requires you to have pass the local board exam. Still researching about NY. Did your batchmates have to go back to school to become RNs or did they just review for the exam and then take the state board to become RNs? Trying to find out from other people who didnt take or pass the local board if they had to go back to school even if they are BSN graduates in the Philippines.

My batchmates in CO and TX did not have to go back to school. They just reviewed and took the state boards. The only state I know where you have to go back ti school is CA

Hi,

I hope you will collect your passport/visa soon. Thank you for your inputs. I was able to change the delivery option and re-print the appointment letter at this link http://cgifederal.force.com

And also i will be calling the embassy just to make sure the request is updated at their end.

God bless,

Dahlia

You're welcome, God bless on your journey too! It takes a while but it will be worth it : )

Thank you so much for this helpful information. We are also looking at NY as another option to see if it is required to pass the board exam or if they. Since my fiance did not pass the local board in the Phils and he has his bachelors degree in nursing does he still have to go back to school or can he just review for the board exam?

The other posts are correct! You need to check both BON in NJ and NY. It differs per state. Because I have a lot of batchmates who didn't take Philippine local boards and are now US RNs in Texas and Colorado.

Re taking boards again, new rule in the Philippines states he can take the boards up to 3 times. If he fails on the 3rd try and wishes to take the boards again, he needs to take a refresger course. It used to be unlimited tries.

I live in New Jersey. So even if you pass the local board in the Philippines or any other country you still had to take the NCLEX in order to work as a nurse correct? My fiance took his local board in the Philippines last June and he did not pass the exam so I am looking for some advice about what is the best thing he could do?

Yes, correct. Passing the local boards means he is an RN in the Philippines.

To become a U.S. R.N he need to pass NCLEX. And to take NCLEX he needs SSN.

Are there any nurses from the Philippines or any other countery that came to the U.S who passed the local board of nursing able to work as a nurse here in the U.S or did you have to take the state board for nursing in order to be RN here? I would just like some advice.

Which state are you in? If California, you will have to study for a few months first as they do not honor so much your diploma there.

If not CA, then you just have to take NCLEX, pass the test and then you can find a job

Good day to all,

I came across to the Philippines Portal Page and they chose to pick up the Passport/Visa at 2Go, Mall of Asia.

My question is regardless of your location/hometown, is it ok to choose to pick it up at Mall of Asia. Can anyone share their experience?

I'm located at Angeles City, Pampanga (Region III) based on any package/courier deliveries in/out of the country, they considered my location as Provincial. So when i scheduled my appointment i chose to deliver it to my home address as i want someone to be there anytime when it is delivered. Is there an option to change the delivery address or choice of delivery? Pick-up option to the selected 2GO pick-up points. (and how will i do that?)

Your inputs are greatly appreciated. Thanking you all in advace as this VJ forum is very helpful.

regards,

Dahlia

Yes you can change your delivery option. I waited almost a month after my approval for Visa to be issued and couldn't wait anymore for home delivery. I called the embassy and asked if I could do this. The operator said yes, just email the embassy and state your request. I called the embassy again just to make sure that they got my email request. They did, and so hopefully I'm picking it up at MOA next week.

What address and how to email embassy? Check Hank's link. Goodluck! : )

my fiance got interviewed last monday july 8, I was wondering if anybody knows how long does the embassy manila update the status online after the interview? or how long before they issue the passport/visa? thanks everyone for the ideas,,,

It differs for everyone as it is a case to case basis.

My CEAC status was changed to "Ready" a week after my interview. It stayed that way for 2 weeks. And then just today it changed to "Administrative Processing" to "Issued" in just a couple of hours. So it took about a month for mine to be printed. Im expecting that next week it will be ready for pick up at the 2Go branch in MOA.

Do you gus have any idea if i can still change my option to pick up at 2go branch in MOA? I originally picked home delivery.

My interview was June 17, and still nothing, so I'm trying to do what I can to get thenpassport faster.