CaptainMewBu

I'll try that! Thanks Zedayn!

But my first name has been changed as well, not just my last name. Would they accept a foreign marriage certificate as proof of a first name change?

Thanks milimelo! I do plan on going to another SSA office but before I do that, I want to know if the SSA woman was right? She said she couldn't process my request because my document (foreign legal name change) is not listed as one of the dropbox options, so she couldn't choose it on the computer. I called the SSA number as well but the person I spoke with had no idea what to do.

I went to my local Social Security office today to update my name and status, and to get a corrected SS card, but the woman said I didn't have the right documents. I would like to know if anyone can help! Here's the background:

I used to live in the US as a student (more than 10 years ago), and had a SSN through a job on campus. The SS card had the "work with DHS authorization only" on it. I left the US soon after graduation and didn't return until 3 weeks ago on my CR-1 visa. When I got married to my USC husband, I changed my name legally (both first and last names) and we did all the visa paperwork in my new name. No problem, everything went smoothly.

Today I brought my foreign passport (in new name), temporary GC in passport (in new name) and my foreign legal name change document to the SS office. The woman at the desk told me there was no way I could change my name unless I produced one of the documents listed here: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0110212010

Only 2 of the options on the list really apply: get a US court order (but is it even possible since my passport and GC are already in new name?) or wait till naturalization (which means 3 years from now). I was really surprised because I thought the green card and my passport should be evidence of my name change but the woman said my legal U.S. name is what's on my SS card and that immigration documents don't matter (!!!!). She was really rude and condescending throughout, questioning why I changed my name, etc, and when I asked if I could speak with a supervisor she said there were no supervisors at the SS office! I am not quite sure what to do next -- any advice?

Thanks in advance!

That makes sense. Thailand was the only place where I didn't have resident visa so I'll get the certificate from Hong Kong instead.

Thanks for the help!

It's amazing how additional facts can change the answer. Now, we need more. You say you didn't live in Hong Kong after your sixteenth birthday. If that is true, you don't need a police certificate for Hong Kong. I get that you stated Thailand as your residence address and leased a dwelling there. In that case, you may well need that police report.

Are you transient? What has been your primary resident country since turning 16? Paint a more comprehensive picture of your residence circumstances, and we can provide more meaningful assistance.

I was born in Hong Kong to Hong Kong parents but grew up in different countries. I attended high school in the US but went to university in the UK. After I graduated, I worked for a firm that took me all over the world. I lived in a few countries for more than 12 months each through the job and I had proper work permits for all of those places so I've already started the process of obtaining police certificates for them. I also met my USC husband in one of the countries where we were both working.

Now this is where the situation became confusing: 2 years ago, I was offered a job with an internet start-up which meant I could go anywhere. My husband (boyfriend at the time) and I decided to move to Thailand where we could experience a new part of the world/travel around Southeast Asia. We got an apartment lease for a year but we never continuously lived there because we didn't have resident visas and we were traveling a lot. I spent 2 months of that year staying with family in Hong Kong as well. The apartment lease, however, came in very handy because it was our first joint residence, which is why we used it for I-130. Anyways, after 1 year, I got a job with another company in Malaysia (where my husband and I are now) but I'll be transferring to their headquarters in Chile next month, where we'll be moving to, and hence transferring the CR-1 case to the embassy there.

So yes, I have not lived in Hong Kong since turning 16 but I've always used addresses there (relatives and now parents) as my 'permanent mailing address' as I never had one myself.

I hope this explains my background and my original questions!

The only reason I suggested getting a certificate for Hong Kong in my last post was because if I thought I weren't able to get a certificate for Thailand I would need to get a police certificate from somewhere to cover that 1 year gap and I picked Hong Kong because I'm a citizen there so no legal difficulties. Although I did more research on it just now and realized that on the DS-260, I could simply put the actual amount of time I had spent in Thailand to show that I never actually lived in Thailand continuously for 12 months, so no need for the police certificate. If I do that, it won't match what I've put on the G-325a but would it matter?

Sorry this is so long, so thanks for reading!

You appear to have been visiting Thailand, not residing there. To reside in a country, you must have a visa that allows "residence". No need for a certificate for Thailand, Hong Kong, or Chile, in your situation unless you live in Chile six months prior to the interview, even if not six month prior to NVC document submission.

What if I have already used my Thailand address in my I-130 petition? I used the lease agreement to prove genuine relationship and both my husband and I used the address when we filled out our G-325a under past addresses. Wouldn't NVC and the embassy want to see a certificate? Or should I write a letter to explain?

If they accept my explanation that I was only 'visiting' Thailand and don't ask for a certificate, I'll probably need to get one for Hong Kong to cover that 1-year period, right? I didn't have residence visa for anywhere else during that time.

Thank you for all the help so far!

Thank you both!

I've emailed usvisadocs.com! Since I'll be going to Thailand at end of this month, I'll see if they'll let me get a police certificate. If not, I'll write a letter to NVC to explain my situation and see if that works.

Hello everyone!

I am looking to prepare all the documents for the NVC stage for CR-1 but I am confused as to whether I would need police certificates for the following countries. I understand that I'll need a police certificate for every place I've lived in for more than 12 months since age 16. I've lived, studied and worked in quite a few different countries and some of them are not so straightforward...Here's my situation:

Thailand:

-I lived on and off in Thailand for 1 year on a number of 30-day visa-free visits and tourist visas. I was working for an internet business at the time so I could live wherever I wanted. I picked Thailand as a base for traveling to other Southeast Asian countries. I did have an apartment lease which i actually used as proof for my i-130 as both my USC husband and I were on it. Will I need to provide a police certificate for Thailand in my case? I'm not sure if I can even get one because I had no valid resident visas to prove to the Thai government that I was living there. Should I write an explanation letter to the NVC?

Hong Kong:

-I am a Hong Kong citizen but I have not lived there since turning 16. Do I need a police certificate? I am just wondering because there might be an automatic police certificate requirement for the home country...

Chile:

-I am moving to Chile to start a new job next month and I am looking to transfer my NVC case to the consulate there. Will I need a police certificate for Chile because it will be my 'current residence' by the time I have my interview?

If anyone has answers to any of my questions, I would love to hear them! Thank you!!!

1. Country USC resides in: Hong Kong

2. Is there a USCIS field office in this country / Is DCF still possible? No

3. When did you file the I-130: April 11th, 2014 (NOA1)

4. How long had you been living abroad: Since end of 2011 in different countries

5. Do you reside in the country legally? Temporarily on tourist visa

6. What is the reason for your residence: Spouse's work

7. Did you list your foreign address on all forms in I-130 package? Yes

8. Did you send I-130 package from abroad? Yes

9. Did you include evidence of your residence abroad in the I-130 package? Yes

10. Did you mention the fact you reside abroad in the cover letter or write a letter describing your current situation and the evolution of your relationship with your spouse (mentioning your residence abroad)? Yes

11. Has your case been "auto-expedited"? How long between NOA1 and NOA2? Exactly 3 weeks, 21 days. Received NOA2 email on May 2nd.