GodRaine

Hi all! 👋 

I came to the US on a K1 Visa and have my Legal Permanent Resident card (expires October 2029). I want to go to college for Electrical Apprenticeship to better my career, but the 10 month course is $18,499. 
 

My understanding is that in my current status I am NOT allowed to receive any sort of federal assistance, including FAFSA, otherwise the federal government can and will sue my wife for the amount received. 
 

Does anyone know if that applies to FAFSA and other federal grants or loans? I’ve been trying to find this information online and it’s very sparse. 
 

Thank you all! 

Hi all! 
 

I’m currently a permanent resident in Colorado off of a K-1 visa filed for in 2015. The last “action” on my USCIS file was a successful petition for Removal of Conditions, and that happened late 2018 / early 2019. 
 

Since then I haven’t heard anything from the USCIS and I’m not really sure what’s next. I know my permanent resident card doesn’t expire until 2029. 
 

I know the USCIS is crazy overloaded these days and everyone’s file is backlogged. Can anyone tell me what I can expect to happen next, and approximately how long?

Thanks everyone!

Hi all! 

I'm currently under permanent resident status through a K1 Visa, waiting for additional correspondence from the USCIS on my next steps. The last communication I received from them basically said "we are pretty busy right now, so here's an extension and we will get back to you". This happened shortly after my successful petition for Removal of Conditions in early 2018. 

My town is currently under a variance to the Public Lockdown Order in Colorado, meaning we have been doing good at managing caseload. However this month our numbers doubled and we are being told that if things don't improve in the next two weeks, we will lose our variance. 

During national lockdown between March and June 2020, my company kept everyone employed and paid over that entire time, which was awesome. They're now telling us that should our store shut down, that may not be possible again. 

What are my options for filing for unemployment as a permanent resident? I've done some basic research and determined that its technically 0possible, but I'm worried about running afoul of the USCIS filing for a public benefit. 

Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you everyone! 

8 hours ago, NikLR said:

Yes. 

Thank you

On 1/25/2018 at 12:10 PM, nightingalejules said:

Hi! 

Welcome to the special limbo that is Removal of Conditions! Some people would have gotten a reminder letter to file, but lots of people don't get the letter (and they still have to file!) Look at the pinned posts at the top of the forum, and get working on your I-751. Try to send it in as soon as you can after the 90 day window opens, as you'll want to receive the NOA (which acts as an extension for your green card) before the green card expires. 

 

Good luck - once you've read the guides, feel free to ask any questions that arise on this forum!

Thank you! I'm glad I posted this question! 

I have a quick follow up question to this ... I've already done the biometrics in Denver in 2016, do they have to be done again? 

I really appreciate your advice. Thanks! 

Hi folks! 

I successfully moved to Colorado from Toronto, Canada in October 2015 on my approved K-1 Visa. In May 2016 I received my SSN and since then I've been working and loving life never having a return ticket. 

We had an interview with the Denver USCIS branch around May 2016 as well, and all went well then. Since then I'm realizing I'm coming up on two (2) years and that seemed like an important date, right? 

What's next for me? I try calling the USCIS but they never want to talk to me without a NoA number. 

Thanks everyone! 

15 minutes ago, Going through said:

No.  There is no legal requirement to have health insurance.

Thank you!!

Hi folks! 

I'm a Canadian immigrant to the USA, I moved here in 2015 on a K-1 Fiancee visa and got my SSN in May 2016. Since then I've been working, doing my thing, enjoying life with my wife without having to worry about my plane ticket home.

Recently we stumbled into a situation whereby it's going to be prohibitively expensive to keep me on her health insurance for her work. My place of work is a brand new business that just opened up last year, and doesn't offer health insurance or benefits just yet ... we're working towards that but it had been fine that we didn't since I was covered under my wife. 

As always, I'm paranoid about my immigration status. If I don't have health insurance, is that in any way grounds for deportation? 

If that sounds silly I apologize, I just wanted to be sure. 

Thank you everyone! <3

You should be able to print an electronic I-94 here https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/consent.html;jsessionid=L3RpXgvpnYSynnhGJN19hd57WzGdvpkm3rFTSDyM1BnpGV3GTJpt!-151403046

when I went it was required but since you have your EAD you may not need it.

Awesome, thank you. I've used this website before but I forgot about it!

I'm going to print mine just in case, even though it says that it's expired (the "Admit Until Date" is in January 2016).

Thanks again!

Hi VisaJourney! <3

I'm going to apply for my SSN today in person at my local office. I have:

- My filled out SS-5 Form

- My Canadian Passport

- My Canadian Birth Certificate

- My Canadian Driver's License (Ontario)

- My EAD Employment Authorization Card

- My EAD NOA from the USCIS (that came in the mail the day after my card did; essentially just says "We sent you your card")

Is this approximately all I will need? The SS-5 states on Page 2 that I need "Evidence of Immigration Status", but only gives a few examples. I don't have my I-94 anymore (obviously) so I just wanted to make sure I was in the clear.

Thanks everyone.

Name changing rules are based on State laws. I know in my state the men can also change their name with marriage. But it needs to be entered on the marriage license. You would need to research this with your state. Usually name changes are made by petitioning the court. Also you would have needed to enter your new married name on AOS application. Without this, you would need to file for a new green card, under your new name showing the documentation, likely a name change order by a judge, with your application for a new green card. This is all going to be add up in terms of $$$.

Oh boy. So ultimately my opportunity to change my last name was definitely when we got the marriage license, and now it'll be a big headache. Yikes!

This is totally me though - I space things every now and then. I appreciate you letting me know, thank you.

Hi everyone!

I'm the beneficiary under a K-1 Visa currently waiting for AOS papers to come through. I moved to the USA in October 2015 and have been here since. We filed AOS and EAD papers on January 6th and with two delays, I finally (last week) got my EAD card.

I should have applied for a Social Security number while my I-94 was still valid, but I blanked on this and missed my window of opportunity. Based on this thread that I started in February, I was told that my next chance to get my SSN would be when the EAD came through.

Ultimately, I (being the husband) want to change my last name to my wife's last name. I hate my last name, so I want to change mine to hers instead.

I talked to the Social Security Administration today and the woman I spoke to said that they don't handle doing any name changes, that I would need to provide the legal documentation showing that the last name was changed.

At this point, I'm not sure what to do. Since I don't have an SSN yet, would I even be able to legally change my last name in the USA? I imagine doing so might also cause problems for my EAD card which shows my current last name.

Any insight you guys can provide would be fantastic.

Thanks!

It's because an ead is temporary or conditional. Perhaps she can job hunt?

That makes sense - thank you, again.

We've been job hunting since December; but the small town we're in limits us to few opportunities within her pay range.

Wait until greencard in hand

Thank you Transborderwife.

I'm frustrated by this though, because it seemed like the mandatory income minimum requirement was about my initial 90 day stay under the I-94. It doesn't make sense that once I have the EAD and a job my wife will still need to maintain her income level, because I'm legally allowed to work at that point.

It's unfortunate but we will have to deal.

Thanks again!

Do you have a joint sponsor if needed?

We don't unfortunately, it's just us.

Hi VisaJourney! <3

So I'm here in the USA on my K-1 which was approved in October 2015. I've filed for my AOS / EAD papers and the USCIS has received them; I'm waiting for them to send me the date for my biometrics appointment.

At the moment, my wife makes enough money for the poverty guidelines but really really hates her job. Our plan is for me to get my EAD, and then when I get a job (which I'm aiming for about $35K+ right now), she can go back to part-time with her employer, which she had up until August 2015 (when she switched to full time in the department from hell - so that we could clear the income guidelines).

My question is, can she do this while I'm on my EAD and before getting my green card? Or would she have to wait until I get my green card to drop her income to (potentially) below the minimum?

We don't have any children so it's just us.

Thanks VisaJourney

Yes

Yay, thank you!

Hi VisaJourney!

So after my thread the other day worrying about whether the USCIS got my package, I received it in the mail yesterday.

They sent it back to me with a rejection notice saying that the check was the wrong amount. I sent it with a check for $1,040 ... not $1,070. Damnit!

So my question is, can I still use the same paperwork I sent them to begin with? The signatures are all from January 6th ... does that matter?

Thank you guys!

Yep, once you receive your EAD/AP card, you'll be able to apply for a SSN. Hopefully, you'll receive it in the next 2-3 months. You'll also need the SSN to be able to work and deduct taxes from your paycheck accordingly.

Thank you so much for the info.

I also checked with my local SSA office and they said the same thing!

I appreciate your help.

Sorry, I think it's because of the space at the end. But, if you copy and paste it into a new tab, it should work.

So teeak - I feel so dumb now, I let my I-94 expire before applying for the SSN.

Is my next chance once I get my AOS / EAD package completed?

Sorry, I think it's because of the space at the end. But, if you copy and paste it into a new tab, it should work.

Hey, look at that, it worked. Thank you!

I believe you would have been able to apply for SSN when you had at least 2 weeks left on your I-94. This is according to the guide here on VJ: http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

But, since you do not have one, as mentioned by the poster above, you will need an ITIN to file as married filing jointly. Here's some info on how to receive one: https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/General-ITIN-Information

Sorry to mention this, but both your links are broken ):

I managed to find the ITIN one (https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Individual-Taxpayer-Identification-Number-ITIN) but can't find the SSN one. If you have a working link I would really appreciate it!

Hmm, according to this: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc851.html

It seems like you'd be a non-resident alien unless you meet the substantial presence requirement (since you're Canadian, this is possible if you stayed in the US for at least 4 months or so earlier this year).

I assume you have a SSN. If so, you can file married filing jointly with your wife.

Thank you teeak! That link is really helpful.

I don't have an SSN yet because I don't have my AOS/EAD package approved yet.

Can I get an SSN before that time period? That was another question I was going to ask.

Hi VJ!

I am moving through the K-1 Visa immigration process. I am from Toronto, Canada and my wife is from Pueblo, CO.

The final interview for my visa (before my move) was in September 2015 and my actual move date was October 17, 2015.

We got married on November 17, 2015 and I filed the AOS / EAD package on January 6, 2016. My I-94 document expired on January 14, 2016.

My question is, specifically for the purposes of taxation, what is my 'status' in the USA? We were talking to a tax consultant this morning who said that he thinks I would be a "resident alien" but I wasn't 100% sure and wanted to ask you folks.

Any insight you can provide would be wonderful.

Thank you!

We sent our on the same date as you, we just received an RFE today

My wife is from Canada and we paid using a check from her Canadian account - apparently you can't do that. However, at least that gives you some timeframe. You may have an RFE coming

That's really unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear that!

We sent our check from an American account, and the USCIS has cashed checks from this account before. I wonder what the holdup is ... I think I'll just have to wait like the others say.

Best of luck!!