Soojung

I recommend Kakao Talk. If you guys have wifi, you can call her for free, send photos, video, voice note, and messages. But no video chatting... People in Korea use this app a lot, I call my family with this app, and some of my american friends use this app. There is also a PC version. http://www.kakao.com/talk/

Are you talking about healthcare.gov? I enrolled my insurance premium though healthcare.gov, and they asked my husband's information even though it is just for me.

Good luck!

Congrats!

Congrats!!!

Thank you Soojung for your post! I know that we're almost finished. I'm the passive/patient type, while she's the aggressive/short fuse type. t^_^ '

She says to me that it's a waste of money since I'm not with her. hahaha....

That is true. She would not be happy without you.

I traveled some places in Korea, and especially I did not live in Seoul, I liked to go there-- touring the places, going some markets, and buying presents for the families, etc. I hope everything is well to you and your wife.

I did not apply for a spouse visa, but I totally understand how she feels. while I waited for my visa, I kept saying bad things about the future to my husband who was back to America, and I was also very negative. I know there is not much you can do, but you should keep encouraging her, talking with her about your wonderful future together as much as you could (not about the visa!!!).

While she stays in Korea, she should make herself busy. I think that is the best way! For me, I signed up for some language classes and cooking class. She also could take short trips during the weekends.

I know it is really difficult to both of you. Waiting for the visa is a pain in the ###.... But it is almost over! Keep stay positive and busy. I wish you the best!

Congrats!

Congrats!

Yes. Both you and a joint sponsor have to fill the form.

Hi & congrats, when you do get your green card through you will have to go into the SSA to have your details updated & this will also get the writing on the card removed, so it will just show your name & SSN on the card. But in the mean time I would go in & ask them whats happened to your card as it's been 7 weeks, as you don't any problems when you update your details after you get the G/C.

Brian

Oh I see! Thank you!

Hello, VJ friends!

I am not sure this question is suitable for the topic. I got my EAD and AP in Feb with my new last name. I visited a Social Security Office on March 12th to change my name on my Social Security Card, but they said they needed to verify my information from DHS. But still I haven't heard and haven't got a new card yet. It has been almost 7 weeks.

Today, I got an email from USCIS that they are producing my 2-year green card and I have to wait 30 days to get the card.

My question is

I applied for changing my name based on my EAD, and after I got a green card, do I have to visit the Social Security Office again and apply for it with my greed card or do I have to wait??

Thank you!

Do you mean Obamacare? I do not know exactly what emergency medicare is, and I do not know exactly your situation, but during your AOS process, I think you can apply for the affordable care. I applied for it in March and I got the insurance. It took some time to identify my status(I changed my last name, and I didn't got my EAD that time), but I got it anyway! Why don't you call the healthcare.gov (1-800-318-2596) and ask questions? Talking with them is not very pleasing and requires a lot of patience though.... :/

lately many that try to change their name before the green card comes, are getting rejected, as the new name is not in the database yet.

Really?!?! I visited the office with my work permit, and I have been waiting seven weeks now!

Why is the process late especially in Georgia?!?! Because there are so many applicants (I think it doesn't make sense) or because it is an immigrant unfriendly state? When I checked processing times (in January), the timelines from other states were early or late July where as it was early may in GA.

AOS processing times in Atlanta actually went back six days from January to February. They were processing May 31, 2013 as of Jan 31. As of Feb 28 they were processing May 25, 2013. I know the USCIS website processing times aren't very accurate, but still. Ugh.

Evidently they are going back. I have tried to check the processing time, but it didn't work. I am a Nov filer by the way. That means I have been waiting for it for 5 months! Has anyone received Notice of Visa Interview Waiver Case mail?

Congratulations!

I recently got the approval for the affordable healthcare (Obama care). I am not sure if it happens to all the applicants. But I am going to tell you what I have done so far.

My husband is a graduate school student, and we tried to add me into his plan(his school pays for his insurance), but it costs $6,000 a year. So we decided to applied for the Obama care starting February. When we tried to sign up for the homepage in early January, there were several problems.

First, I am an immigrant, and sent my AOS application in November 2013. That was before I got my work permit.

Second, I changed my last name, but had my SSN with my maiden name.

Third, I only have a debit card, not a credit card.

So my status was not clear, and because I didn't have any credits in the United States, it was really hard to work on it, and there was no way to prove who I was. My husband called to talk to somebody, but people we talked with said we should ask other persons, or it was not their work.... It was like ping-pong games.... After trying so many times, we could talked to a person and he said we could not enroll it online, so we had to send papers to prove my identification. So I sent a copy marriage certificate, a copy of the first page of my passport, and a copy of AOS acceptance notice (I-797). He said it would take two weeks.

After two weeks, I logged in the site to check the status, but it didn't change anything. It had been "In Transit." I waited one more week, but nothing changed. So my husband called them to check how it went. After telling our situation, a representative asked tons of questions about me.

My name, Social Security Number, If I smoke or not, the name of county, etc. We just assumed that they were working it that time! It was after January 15th, so I couldn't enroll a plan for Feb...

After the questions, he said we should check the status in an hour. And we did it and my status was "Submitted." I guarantee they did it when we called....!! We just wasted two weeks. After that, my husband and I chose a plan that would suit for me, paid the fist premium, and finally got a plan starting March.

It was so tiring, irritating, so complicated. It was not east AT ALL... Especially it would be very hard to people like me. (name change, no credits...)

So I am not sure if your fiance can get the healthcare before the marriage, but she can have the healthcare after you guys get married. What I want to say is.... be patient, call and bother them until we got the answers that you want during the process, and get more information before enrolling.

I really hope my comment helps you and congratulations on her visa approval!

We did. I came to America on Sep 19th, and got married on Oct 4th. My husband filed even though I haven't had a job. (he checked on the "has a spouse, but doesn't work" part.)

Is it still impossible to get a SSN with your maiden name? I applied for it after we got married, but with my maiden name. I haven't applied it with my married name yet.

I am so sorry for the EAD and AP. I got it last Friday, but it was later than the estimate time. Hope you get the card soon.

Congrats!

Congratulations!

I live in Atlanta now and waiting for receiving the biometrics appointments. Your post would help me. Thanks.

I also changed my family name and I wrote my new name on the form I-693. A staff at the hospital asked me if I changed my name, and I said yes, then they wrote my name with my husband's family name.

If you want to write her name with your family name, then I would suggest getting marriage certificate first. It proves you and your wife are married.

Good luck!

That was very long wait!! Congratulations!

Wow! Congratulations!