Jon York

As far as Social Security goes - they will let you take your husband's last name when you show them your marriage license. They'll let you use any middle name you want (they told us they couldn't care less about middle names!), but you have to keep your first name as it appears on your passport. They won't let you change your first name at all.
But, at the end of the green card process, just before you get your citizenship, you'll get a form that will let you change your name to anything you like. Your first, middle and last names can be totally different from what they are now and what they were in your home country and your last name doesn't even have to be your husband's last name anymore. You could make up a totally new name if you wanted to.
In our case, my wife took my last name and will keep it. But in her country she only had a first and last name - no middle name. But all her life she went by a nickname that was different from her first name. But they won't let us use that name here on anything official, because it doesn't appear on her passport. So, we had to use her official passport-validated first name, then Social Security allowed her to put her nickname in as her middle name. So at the end of this process, we're just going to switch her first and middle names around. Her middle name will become her first name and her first name will become her middle name.
One of the main reasons we were even motivated to get a social security card at this point (because there are no plans for her to work anytime soon) was so we would have at least one official document (besides the marriage license), with my name as her last name, and with her nickname showing up somewhere at least. And it's also allowing us to establish the fact that her nickname/now middle name, is part of her official name.
But until you're able to completely change your name to whatever you want at the end of the process, you'll have to use your first name as it appears on your passport on anything official. If you use any other name it will confuse bureaucrats and they'll suspect you're actually somebody else!

1. You do not need a reason for needing the SSN. Since you entered on a K-1 visa, your status according to the SSA is LEGAL ALIEN ALLOWED TO WORK. This status does not require a reason. You can apply for an SSN now, as a K-1 visa holder, as long as you have at least 2 weeks remaining on your I-94. If your I-94 is close to expiration, then you will need to wait for the EAD.
2. You can start using your married name the day you are married. On your AOS forms (AOS/EAD/AP) you will put your married name.

i will just forget about all of it.. will return and do something we desire in a year or so.
Thanks again

People have been denied for having a party that was viewed as a wedding. Do not hold any ceremony that even remotely looks like a wedding.

I thought I'd post this as a precaution. If you're like me and put everything off until the last minute, you may have been thinking you'll download your tax transcripts right before you need to send them in. However, due to an identity fraud problem, the IRS has temporarily suspended online access to tax transcripts. You now have to have them mailed to you. So, don't put it off! Do it today. If you need them for your initial application or think you might need them for an RFE you may as well request them now so you'll have them ready when you need them.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/26/irs-says-identity-thieves-accessed-tax-transcripts-for-more-than-100000-taxpayers/
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
These have been unavailable since May 26th (according to the Forbes article), and there's no telling how long they'll be unavailable. But my guess is - it's gonna be a while.

Yes, I understand. My wife was in Pakistan and she too was worried what they might take off the hard drive at the internet "cafés". So, that's definitely a concern. What you could do is send a scanned copy to him on a password-protected usb drive, that he could stick into their computer and print it off directly without saving it to their hard drive. That would also allow you to mail it to him without worrying that somebody in the post office or delivery center, or wherever the package comes into, will see it.

Thanks for the post Jon York! I have been waiting, waiting, waiting for my 2014 tax transcripts! I sent my 2010-2013 with my petition and received those rather timely. I used the Form 4506-T to get the transcripts, but when I sent the request for my 2014 transcripts, they have not yet arrived! I submitted another request last week for my transcripts and I'm still waiting "any day now..." This is one of the last things I'm waiting on - thanks for the heads up!
The Taxpayer Assistance Center often has long lines, so even though I work in the same building as the TAC office, I would need to take time off work and wait, but doing that may be better than scanning them to him. He would need to print off the documents at a local Internet cafe, and who knows what is taken off their hard drives?? Plus, since I'm sending a glucose monitor, lancets and test strips for his dad, I'm sending a package that will be at least $75 if not more to mail. I want to fit everything in it!

Good info to share!

I thought I'd post this as a precaution. If you're like me and put everything off until the last minute, you may have been thinking you'll download your tax transcripts right before you need to send them in. However, due to an identity fraud problem, the IRS has temporarily suspended online access to tax transcripts. You now have to have them mailed to you. So, don't put it off! Do it today. If you need them for your initial application or think you might need them for an RFE you may as well request them now so you'll have them ready when you need them.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/26/irs-says-identity-thieves-accessed-tax-transcripts-for-more-than-100000-taxpayers/
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
These have been unavailable since May 26th (according to the Forbes article), and there's no telling how long they'll be unavailable. But my guess is - it's gonna be a while.

I thought I'd post this as a precaution. If you're like me and put everything off until the last minute, you may have been thinking you'll download your tax transcripts right before you need to send them in. However, due to an identity fraud problem, the IRS has temporarily suspended online access to tax transcripts. You now have to have them mailed to you. So, don't put it off! Do it today. If you need them for your initial application or think you might need them for an RFE you may as well request them now so you'll have them ready when you need them.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/05/26/irs-says-identity-thieves-accessed-tax-transcripts-for-more-than-100000-taxpayers/
http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript
These have been unavailable since May 26th (according to the Forbes article), and there's no telling how long they'll be unavailable. But my guess is - it's gonna be a while.

Oh, I see what you're talking about. That link though says if you want to get a "photocopy" of your return. I guess that's for people who need a copy of the actual return they filed - with their signature and everything. Apparently that's $50. Crazy!
But if you click on the "Get Transcript by Mail" button - that's free.

Keep in mind not everyone has convenient access to an IRS office. Mine is a 40-minute drive away and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 - 4:30. Both me and my husband work, so ordering the transcripts online or having them mailed to us is the only way we can go.
Anyway, thanks for the update, Jon York!

Since he's coming from a Muslim culture and a culture where traditions are very important and anything outside of the traditions is looked at very suspiciously - proof of relationship will be more important than ever. Check out what happened at our embassy interview in Pakistan. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/521478-interview-from-hell/
We sent a lot of pictures and copies of text messages with our original I-129F petition. Then at the last minute before her interview, my fiancée decided that she was going to print out a bunch more pictures. I told her I didn't think it was necessary as we had already sent them so many - and since her pictures were just going to be more of the same from the one time we had met in person.
But at the end of the day, when the Embassy finally decided to approve our petition, the woman there told my fiancée that those pictures she brought played a big role. She said, 'people can fake happiness in a few pictures, but no one could fake it in this many... and you all look so happy in every single picture.'
So I don't know how many you need to send in initially, but send in more than you think you should. And then take even more to the interview! If there are any cultural reasons why the Embassy may suspect your relationship can't be real, those pictures can make a world of difference.

she sounds like after GC or she has done contract marriage..... she does not wants to go back her country she wants her marraige to be fix just because she got denied for GC... sorry if i am wrong but she sounds like that.

Sounds like you're more about the green card rather than the marriage. Marriage first, than worry about the green card. Where are you living? How are you surviving? Are you certain that you're still married? Is he in contact with you?

would love to know the outcome?

What do you mean the closest US embassy to Pakistan is in India. There's a US Embassy in Islamabad - which is in Pakistan. Maybe you could have googled that.

CURED baby!!!!!!!!! Now waiting on a call back for immunizations!

Just an update:
She's had two additional sputums since DOTs began, both culture results were NEGATIVE.
X-ray showed improvement also.
The doctors said the results so far are "very good".
55 more days and one more sputum culture and X-ray to go.

I'm glad everything went in your favor in the end.

I totally can relate, these final days after a tough interview are nerve wrecking.

You are wrong.
The person/people who signed the I-864 are "on the hook" for YEARS. Not just while the GC is processing.
The I-864 affidavit is enforceable until specific conditions are met:
1. The immigrant becomes a US citizen.
2. The immigrant loses their permanent resident status and leaves the United States.
3. The immigrant can be credited with 40 quarters of work credits via Social Security.
4. Either the immigrant or the sponsor dies (the sponsor's estate can be levied for prior liabilities).
Perhaps, OP could introduce you to his friend so that you can be the co-sponsor instead.

U r responsible only to that time he is getting green card, green card is taking maximum 6 months dear, dnd worry, if she is ur friend then u dnd need to worry, just help ur friend in hard time :-)

I think this is where you should listen to your gut.

Huh? Is there even such a box on the I-129F? At the end there is a section for the attorney to fill if he files the form (part 5) - but I do not remember any box for the petitioner to fill.