mtempelaar

1 hour ago, ann2519 said:

I would like some information on the new health insurance policy that will go into effect nov 3rd does anyone know how can a spouse add their husband or wife on their insurance if he or she is living out of the USA. Or is there another way to show that person will be covered by health insurance before going to the USA 

Regardless of whether the policy takes effect or not, it's wise to add a spouse as close to immigration as possible (before or after).  Not all insurance companies handle it the same way.   For me, I was not able to add my husband until he got on the plane to fly here.   By immigrating, my husband automatically lost his existing health insurance.  So the qualifying "Life Event" to add him wasn't our marriage (since he was overseas) and wasn't the immigration, it was that loss of insurance.  Even then, my HR benefits department hounded me until they received his SSN weeks later.  

Had I been in this new policy situation, I would add him to my insurance while he was flying here, do a PDF of the webpage showing he was added and emailed it to him for evidence which he would have on his phone for CBP.   

You need to call your insurance company or HR benefit line and ask a lot of questions.  

You have to be living here for 3 years, but you can apply 90 calendar days before the 3 year mark.  So March 5, 2020.  Not even a day before the 90 day window or you will be rejected.

My heart goes out to you.  I hope you can get the help you need to go back to your home, family and friends.  

Going to post a few links here that may help:

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/expat-money/10820465/Down-and-out-abroad-There-are-places-to-turn.html

Quote

 

Generally, in determining the level of assistance they will provide, governments emphasise personal responsibility first and foremost, since international travel is viewed as a luxury. But bad things do happen, and the more blameless and desperate your case, the more likely that limited financial assistance will be provided. Case studies revealed through Freedom of Information requests detailed that the UK government provided a loan for an emergency travel document and a return flight to the UK when a man lost all his money, was facing overstaying his visa and his family was unable to be of financial assistance.

In another case, when a man with health issues missed his return flight and ended up sleeping rough, a UK government loan covered his emergency travel document and trip home. Public money is made available only after rigorous inquiries to determine that there is no alternative. In Thailand during 2013, the UK posts issued 28 loans for which British nationals had to sign an "undertaking to repay" and relinquish their passports – not to be reissued until the loan was satisfied

 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/822887/Support_for_British_Nationals_Abroad_Main_Guide.pdf

🧡

This may be helpful for you:  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/legal-matters/custody.html

1 hour ago, Ramiro Osuna said:

Yeah! I just read it, over 50000 people get it every year! 

51 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Out of 13-20 million people who apply.  

And of the 50k lucky people, only 7% of the visas can go to any geographical region.  

You mentioned Argentina.  Total applicants per year is 20 million but number of applicants from Argentina winning in diversity lottery last year: 30

Chance of winning a diversity lottery from your region is currently at less than 1% of all Latin America applicants.

Do apply if you want, but don't plan your life under the assumption it will happen.

This thread went wildly off course, and quite frankly it didn't need to.   I'm Jewish and didn't take parens as anti-semitic.  That's more of a Twitter thing.  

To the OP: If there really is a ban difference for the UK for voluntarily leaving versus deported (and I don't know if there is), I'd go for the option that leaves you the most flexibility in the future.   You can't predict the future.  Don't take a bad situation and make it worse.  More apart time now could save you future heartache in the future.  Just my two cents.

If all else fails, there's always work visas in a third party country so you can be together

You didn't mention which state you are trying to get a drivers license in.  Every state is different.   When my husband arrived:

• No appointment
• No learners permit
• No driving test
• Took an exam on computer, eye exam and a "recognize the signs without the words" test.   
• Showed Dutch drivers license, greencard and other docs are required.   
• Got a temp drivers license and real one was mailed to him within 10 days (like anyone in my state).

This was in North Carolina.    Your state may be different.   You can try calling them.

5 minutes ago, NigeriaorBust said:

no one will notice or care you are gone from the US

Awww  I agree with what you are saying, but the wording....I'm sure her mother will notice  

12 minutes ago, MBNB said:

Help!

 

I tried to keep my bank account open with my I-551 Stamp and the bank manger is telling me that I NEED the physical green card. The bank opened an account for me a couple weeks ago but then went BACK on their word and decided to close the account immediately.

 

I entered the US on July 8th and paid for my green card. We received a confirmation email stated it would take 120 days to process.

 

 I am employed and now have no where for my payroll to be deposited. 

 

I was able to obtain a SSN, drivers license, teaching license, health insurance AND employment with this I-551 Stamp - so why can't I keep my bank account? 

 

The I-551 is listed as a TYPE A document. 

 

Has anyone had this issue or know how to resolve it?! 

I recommend trying a different bank or a credit union.   Different banks require different documentation.   If you have an SSN and a drivers license that should be enough.  I was able to add my husband to my checking account with just those two, and then later he was able to open a checking account with same documentation at a major bank.

Don't listen to people saying to omit it.   You were cited.   Say yes on the oath form, show the citation and receipt showing you paid the fine.    Anything other than that is misrepresentation.     This is an incredibly minor offense.  Don't put yourself at risk for misrepresentation (no statute of limitations on it) for a minor thing.   

Like CJKylie, I made an organized folder of all documents uploaded to my husband's application, and added any updates (i.e. new tax return).    While it's not required to do so, if they have any questions or need something that is missing from their file, you have it handy.

One thing we also did - one night before interview we went through the initial application with a fine tooth comb.  Even the most minor error/typo I put on a Corrections list, which my husband then handed to the officer at the start of the interview.

16 minutes ago, mishigirl72 said:

Does anyone know what one should do if you have lost your Grrencard after you submitted your application for citizenship to America? Do they make you pay a replacement fee even after you have submitted your payment for Citizenship application and testing?

This really needs to be moved to the US Citizenship General Discussion forum.   Hopefully a mod will move it.  

But...

Technically you are supposed to have it with you all times with you as a legal perm resident.  When you go for your oath, you are supposed to turn it in when they ask for it.   There are random reports that some offices will accept you without it and have you sign something, but that doesn't appear the case at all offices.

If my husband had lost his, we would have paid for the replacement, knowing he would have to give it up at the oath ceremony.   

How long ago did you submit your application?  What's your estimated time for completion?  Replacements don't happen overnight.

On 7/8/2019 at 2:23 PM, stacyt said:

 

They are already in the US and this happened after the interview, so they won’t need to fill out the forms 

The immigration process and forms don't end when an immigrant enters the US.  There's adjustment of status, greencard renewals, possibly citizenship.  

38 minutes ago, Commish10 said:

 

I have since filed another petition. If the previous one is still open when they get to the new one, will there be a problem?

16 minutes ago, Commish10 said:

New 

I don't know that it's so much about having multiple petitions in various stages in the process, but rather you just broke up and only ~4 months later you are petitioning for a different fiancee.    I would think they would be very skeptical of this new petition.   Wondering how you would have all the documentation showing an ongoing relationship when you were in a relationship with someone else.  That's rhetorical.  You don't have to answer that.  But I would expect extra scrutiny with this one.

Your engagement ended in March and you filed for a new K-1 4 months later?  Is this for the former fiancee or a new one?

If the credit card is a shared one, you need a printout of some statements showing both names.  You should do multiple credit cards, not just one, if possible.

There are a lot of utilities that won't show both names or only allow one person as the account holder.

Some of the things I did, which I am providing as examples to get your mind working in the right direction:

1. I opened additional life insurance policies (so employer one plus an new one we did on our own).
2. Provided Pre-Nup and Will/Testment, Living Will
3. Showed my husband was beneficiary on all of my 401ks/pensions/IRAs.
4. I was able to add my husband to home insurance before he moved here and I provided a printout of the policy
5. I was able to add my husband to my car insurance (with a jump in premium) so I could provide a printout of our policy
6. I refinanced my home and as part of that he was added to the deed but not the mortgage.  He signed the paperwork on a visit before he moved here and I provided a printout of the deed change.
7. I *think* I was able to have my husband as beneficary to my stocks I received from current and former employers.

Basically, ANYTHING I could add his name to I did.  And then I showed paperwork for it all.  Hell, I even provided a dog adoption application with our names on it

Regarding the taxes - if someone is not eligible for an SSN, they need Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).   

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf

You would need obtain the ITIN and then file taxes.  In this case I believe you need to get that number and then file an amended tax return with Married instead of Single, using the ITIN in the SSN field for your spouse.   

The SSN can come later with the approved visa.  

I assume you are in the UK? 

I know basically nothing about this but found this: https://www.theukdeedpolloffice.co.uk/can-i-get-a-copy-of-my-deed-poll.html

Totally legit.

More info:

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/uscis-immigrant-fee

CR-1 fees (excluding medical):

USCIS Filing Fee – $535 - This is the fee required to get the ball rolling with your petition. It goes along with the Form I-130 in the initial filing of the CR1/IR1 visa petition.

National Visa Center (NVC) Immigrant Fee – $445   This consists of a combination of 2 fees – Affidavit of Support fee of $120, and the DS-260 visa application fee of $325.

USCIS Immigrant Fee – $220 The immigrant fee is paid via the USCIS Electronic Immigration System and is required for the green card.

9 minutes ago, yoda one for me said:

I believe that's the term they use for someone who is certified/authorised to perform a visa/green card medical in the US. 

Hmmm had to google that one.  Sure enough, it's an aka for authorized doctors.   Learn something new every day!

4 minutes ago, yoda one for me said:

If you're missing any vaccinations, insist on having them there (and pay!)!

 

They apparently sometimes tell people they can go home and get it form their local GP but, as I understand, this causes a huge hassle as that means your vaccs aren't signed off on the day and causes visa delays at best - at worst could cost you even more $$$ having to go to a civil surgeon in the US after you move to get signed off for AOS. 

To the original poster, good luck.  You should be fine.  Just get all those vaccinations that are available that you don't already have (and have documented).   Not all vaccines are available in all countries, which they understand.

I'm confused on the comment above - civil surgeon in the US for vaccines?  In the US you go to your primary care physician, a doctor specializing in travel prep,  or a clinic.  Not a surgeon.  

15 hours ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

That's why, just in case, whenever sending a private message or speaking out loud, I praise the USCIS and send them all my love. 😅

I started getting nervous having Alexa in the house because every once in a while she'd chime in without being invoked and so we know she's recorded things we wouldn't want recorded.  We have the news on all the time and there's a whole lot of .    Every once in a while we would call out for alexa and then say how much we love USCIS, ICE, IRS or whatever government entity we need to keep on the good side of.

One night we kissed and said good night out of the blue Alexa started reciting Patrick Henry's entire speech that ends with the famous "Give Me Liberty or Give me Death".  It was fascinating and we let her finish but disconcerting.

4 hours ago, Loren Y said:

Definitely good advice. I got 3 copies of mine. One for AOS, one for the safety deposit box, and one I had certified by US department of state, and then the Thailand consulate ministry of foreign affairs for use abroad. This way I can register our marriage in her home country in November on our next trip back. That way I can start my path to citizenship in her country.

Yes, that is very true.  I got 4 copies of every legal certificate and decree. (marriage, birth, etc).  The day we registered our marriage, I got 4 and immediately went to the post office to mail one to the Secretary of State for North Carolina to get an Apostille document.

I needed to create an entire packet, which included the Apostille'd marriage certificate, for my husband to take to his local Dutch city hall for registering the marriage in the Netherlands.   That does clear the way for me to become a Dutch citizen later.  He was able to register our marriage there while we waited for USCIS to finish up on his CR-1.  

Why 4:

1) I-751 Removal of Conditions

2) N-400 Naturalization

3) Me to change my name with the Social Security Administration (which I got to keep)

4) Registering marriage in The Netherlands (which I got back a year later)

2 minutes ago, Boketto said:

I saw that quite a few I-751 applicants have received a notice that their previous biometrics from AOS will be reused for I-751 so I was hoping I would be lucky in that category...

Re-using may just be timing.  That being said, my husband's I-751 and  N-400 naturalization application biometrics were within the 15 months and they still didn't waive it.