Lilay

Charmander, you've been such a great help! I appreciate it! Thank you so much!!

Ok. So; neither I-751 nor N400 requires marriages registered at home countries, passport is a different story though. I-751 does not require a copy of the passport as part of the evidence, N400 however requires you to bring all valid and expired passports to the naturalization interview. Hence, this won't cause you any issue for I-751 but N400 is a maybe, especially if you apply naturalization under marriage to a US citizen clause. N400 is a "maybe" because it all depends how the interviewing officer would react to not changing your official name at your passport. He/she may not care at all, or pick on this issue and question why you have not made the change with Turkish authorities that could yield more questioning of your marital union. If you never traveled with your current passport, you could just say it was expensive and difficult to deal with the consulate (which is absolutely true); but if you've traveled with your passport in your maiden name for 2-3 years after getting married, it could raise more flags.
 
If I were, you I'd register the marriage with the consulate before the N400 application. They do this by mail (I've done it myself). You simply fill out a form, include a copy of marriage certificate, and the payment in money order. Remember to do this with the consulate that has jurisdiction over the state where you got married not where you live now. For passport renewal I believe you need to go to consulate in person but I'd check also check this with the consulate to be sure. This would eliminate all potential issues you may encounter at N400 stage. Good luck!

Dear VJ friends, you've always been very helpful and great at giving advice. And now I'm not asking advice for anything about the visa process, but about how to deal with getting adjusted to my new life.
When I was in my country, I was waiting impatiently to come be with my love. I thought I would be happy forever and ever without any problems. But now I find myself crying and getting really emotional, only with the thought of my mom's hugs or the days I used to spend with my friends. I'd never lived away from my parents until now, and it seems so hard to think that I will someday get used to being without them. I feel so lonely here, my husband's family is very supportive and I never regret marrying my husband, I'm very happy with my marriage (married for 2 weeks now). But one side of me, which is always homesick, makes me want to cry all the time because I can't fully enjoy the happiness my marriage has brought to me.
I've read some people talking about the homesickness that you will feel for the first few months and that it's normal. That's what I'd like to think. I'm trying to be patient and give some time to myself, and my husband is extremely supportive. But sitting at home all day while he's at work, without a job and a car, is making me depressed. And he has work trips every month for two weeks. I know that this is only temporary, and I'm sorry if I sound like I'm not patient enough, but I just need some advice or experience from those of you who have been through this.
Thank you!

what an awesome idea! be sure to save some for the hubby and his family the next time you are all together. what a fantastic way of bridging your (former) life with your new!!!

Give it some time and try to stay in contact with your family. Once you start to work you will have things of your own going and it will start to feel like you're building your life with your husband in your new home.
Maybe you can find some volunteer work with someone in your husband's family until that point. This way, maybe, you would meet a few new girl friends and you would have people to go have coffee with and they can visit while your husband is away.
It's wonderful that he and his family is supportive, but you need to maintain things that are important to you.
I moved to Turkey to be with my husband while we wait his visa approval. After a year, I still feel homesick sometimes, but I feel like I have built my life here and it's where I'm suppose to be. It took time and many tears, but you will get there!
Are there any people from Turkey in your area? or restaurants that feature ameri-turk food? Speaking a little turkish to someone in person or eating something from home may help. (Although turkish food is not nearly as good in America!)
Tebrikler. Dünyadaki tüm mutluluklar üzerinizde olsun.

Are you going to start work or something similar to fill your time? The stress of moving to the US initially by myself was palpable. Much of this will dissipate over months, but it could take years before the US truly feels like your "home". Hopefully you can start work soon because sitting at home in a new environment is particularly troublesome to one's health after moving, I think.

People come to America for various reasons, Some want to have a better life. Think why did you come to America. Your goals, your dreams, ask yourself this question. Your hasband went though so much to bring you here in Untied States, He must love you very much and you are so lucky to marry him.
When you got married, you took this oath that, you will faithful and he is your top of anything in your life. You must learn to stay strong for him, he is your everything. I am sure you have seperation from your parents and homesickness. Trust me you will get use to it pretty soon. United States is ideal place to live, work and grow.
Eventually you will get your driving licence, start working and make some new friends. So do not panic. Keep good envoriment at home learn about united states or make a goals for next coming years what you going to do? Maybe study, Work? or something you dreamed of.

Hi Lilay,
I can understand how you feel though I've never lived that far away from my family. My fiance is gettting ready to move here from Istanbul and I wonder to how he will adjust. We are both super excited and so happy to finally have this Visa process almost over, but we have talked about how he will miss his family and his country. Maybe things will get easier for you once you can work. Having so much time to sit around alone has to be the worst, you have all that time to miss your family and friends. I feel for you. I would miss my mom so much.
Good luck. I hope you can adjust and enjoy your new life.

It took me two almost 3 yrs to feel like this was home. Being homesick doesn't mean you don't want to be here it's just missing the things and ppl you know and love, it really does take time so you need to keep busy. I have kids that moved with me so that help keep me busy. Then when they started making friends it relived some stress. See if you can get to the library or some place to spend the day. A lot of ppl volunteer and it helps make friends and connections for later.
I called home a lot, and used fb to keep my family updated on stuff. Skype is great too.
Try and make plans to do something when your husband is off to see the sites.

I'm very sorry to hear about what you're going through and i really wish things could be different. its sad that so much money and precious time had to be wasted only to find out that your marriage and relationship wont last. Trust me, not all guys are the same, regardless of where they're coming from. You'll always find amazing guys in every race, but you'll also find the bad ones and its unfortunate that you have to now separate from the father of your child. This wont be the easiest thing to move on from, but i hope you'll find real happiness in the future, and no matter what, keep being that supermom for your beautiful kids and keep being strong. Good luck (: <3

Divorce him and move on.
He is deadbeat who likes to sow wild oats.
He can ROC by himself if he has the brain to do so.

I'm so sorry to read this. One should not play with other's feelings especially when kids are involved.
Do what's beat for you and your children.
There are many great kids raised by single parents!
I meant : Do what's BEST to you and your children

NOA2 is one of the first steps of your journey with USCIS. You are never completely done with USCIS until you are a citizen. But if you are asking about K1 visa process only, then mostly yes. But your embassy has the right to send it back to USCIS for further investigation.

Your plan would work just fine. Though remember there is a difference between the marriage license and the marriage certificate. You apply for the marriage license before you get married. There are certain requirements to meet (depends on your location) and you will have a certain period to use it (again depends on your location). There may be a "cooling off" period - ie in some places you must apply for the license then wait a certain amount of time, then have the wedding. In other places (Las Vegas is famous for this) you can apply for the license and get married all on the same day.
The marriage certificate is what proves you are married. In some places this is a separate document to the marriage license, in others is simply the marriage license that has been signed by all parties and witnesses. The original stays at the court - you get a certified copy. You should ask for several certified copies (there will probably be a fee for extra copies). In some states you can get the marriage certificate on the day of your wedding, in others you have to wait and get it days or weeks later. You might be able to get a copy sooner if you ask.

why are you even using a lawyer? Unless you have a complicated case, they are nothing but a waste of money. Lawyers slow things down, make mistakes and take thousands of dollars out of your pocket. If your case is straightforward, fire the lawyer and do it yourself. With this site and the help of people there there is no reason you can;t do it on your own. This is a do it yourself site and most of us have done it by ourselves

http://www.nashvilleclerk.com/living/marriage-license/
They ask for an SSN - for people who have been issued with one. I would email/call them and confirm if you can get a marriage license without one.
Even if they say that you don't need it to get the marriage license, you've still got a whole month before your wedding. So why not just head to the SS office as soon as you are able and get it out of the way before the wedding?

The K-1 expires the moment you enter the country. The I-94 you will be granted gives you 90 days of authorised stay. You need to get married within that 90 days.
You don't have to apply for AOS within that 90 days, but it is better if you can.
Once you apply for AOS you will be in a new period of authorised stay.
You should apply for your SSN before you get married. These days there is no need to wait for 2 weeks to apply. Apply as soon as you can.
Not many places require an SSN to marry any more. There might still be a few. But most places will accept a passport in place of an SSN. However you should get your SSN before your wedding anyway, it will make your life easier.
When you apply for AOS for your green card (through form I-485) you should also submit forms I-765 and I-131 for your EAD and AP. These will take 60-90 days and will allow you to work and travel outside the US while you wait for your green card. The green card itself can take up to a year. You may or may not have an AOS interview. Usually those who are interviewed get their green cards faster.
Some people have a court wedding as soon as possible so they can get their marriage certificate and get started on the AOS, and then have their "big day" wedding later. You can do that if you want to be able to work sooner rather than later, but you don't have to.

Thanks for the reply!
On March 2014 Filers topic, there was one case that got approval in 30 days in TSC. And I've also seen some approvals on February or January topics, and I'm pretty sure they know where their cases are. It makes me confused! And I think it's really unfair for TSC filers because CSC filers get theirs much quicker.

can take a short time or be a long wait
anticipation arise while you wait for the date
but from our case the ending was near,
first thinking nobody was to care, we almost shed a tear
1 week and beyond is what they say
decide to call them sooner you may
good luck

Yes.....still waiting! Hoping for any day now.

It's most certainly not just you. I want to say, hang in there. But I've been hanging in there myself, and it's not nice at all.
But seriously, though, have you guys noticed, TSC has had almost NO approvals these past few days. WHAT THE $^(^@() is going on there??

I beat my head against a wall every day wondering the same thing....

Thank you!
Hang in there, it will come soon enough! TSC is finally picking it up, and I'm sure within the next week or so, all the early April filers will start getting approved. I know how you feel, and I pray that all who are waiting from earlier than May 2014 can get the great news within the next few days.
Best wished to all, even to those who got approved and now are waiting for the next step in the process to start moving.

Hi,
I just read this topic and it reminds me how felt about being waiting with any response from USCIS. since your case is already beyond the 6 months, write a letter to the directors. I do not if it was coincidence but, after I did, got the response within a week. keep in mind I was just shy of the 6 months waiting time.
This is a sample of the email I sent, in case you want to use it.

TSC.NCSCfollowup@uscis.dhs.gov
SCOPSSCATA@uscis.dhs.gov
"First of all I would like to introduce myself; my name is Xxxxx X Xxxxxxxx, a US Citizen residing in Miami, FL and am a customer to the United States Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In the first week of February of 2014, I submitted an application (I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancee(e)). According to Form I-797C (Notice of Action), my application was received by USCIS on February 10th, 2014, assigned to Texas Services Center and the check for the application fee was cashed. As you can imagine, I have been tracking the processing time associated with my application and meeting people with similar a case as mine (same application and similar filing date). I noticed that at the time of submitting my application, the average processing time was 5 months however, by late may 2014 the average processing time was increased to 5.5 months. Based on my filing date, the processing time is already beyond the time listed in the USCIS’s website.
Moreover, based on conversation with fellow petitioners, we have noticed there is a big disparity between the processing time at the California Services Center (CSC) and the Texas Services Center (TSC); while CSC is processing this type of applications within 60 to 90 days, TSC is taking between 165 to 200 days; this information is also supported by the USCIS dashboard.
Based on the aforementioned facts, I would like to request, respectfully, to look and assign my case to an office that can review it and provide a response. Please note that being separated from my loved one is taking an emotional and economical toll since we have several plans and dreams we would like to accomplish together here in the United States.
The information about my case is as follows:
Receipt: SRC-XX-XXX-XXXX-XX
NOA1 Date: XX/XX/2014
Petitioner: Xxxxx X Xxxxxxx (DOB xx/xx/19xx)
Mailing Address
email address
Beneficiary: Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxx (DOB xx/xx/19xx)

Any help you can provide, in regard this matter, will be greatly appreciated.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me at (email address) or at (phone)

Best Regard,

Xxxxxxx X Xxxxxxxxxx
Petitioner."