oscillate.wildly

You cant change your name with SSN unless the name change is registered at the HMS / USCIS offices. I recently went through name change and wheni tried to get it done beat the SSA before the GC came in, they sent me home and asked me to come back once the change is shown on the GC.

SO no,, we now cannot change name on SS card unless the name change reflects on the GC

Annoying. I wonder what happens with work then, when you have EAD and are getting paid under your legal name but your SSN is in your maiden name? I hear conflicting things about whether they will let you change your name after getting the EAD or whether you need to wait for GC.

It is best to use your original name as they appear on all your documentations. Then when you are done, you apply for name change with your county courthouse or sometimes you just have to go to SSA to get a new SSN with your marriage certificate. From there, you get your Driver license changed.

If try to do it the other way around then you need to change your name on SSN before you mail out your paperwork. Your SSN ties up all your legal information to your former and new identity.

Don't go with a new identity when your SSN card has your old name.

Thanks - assuming you are talking about just SSN

Another thing - all of my bank accounts/proof of assets (we are using assets to supplement income) are in my maiden name. Hopefully this is not an issue. I have included notes stating that the account were opened in my maiden name. I've been looking into it and it's going to be a bit of a nightmare to change the name from overseas

Thank you so much!

Not sure how to approach SSN - should I apply in my new name and take the marriage cert and hope they issue it in my new name, or should I just apply in my maiden name?

Hi everyone,

I have researched this well but still feel like I need a bit of clarification.

I recently got married under K-1 and am about to send off paperwork for AOS/EAD/AP. My former name was 'First, Old Middle Name, Maiden name'. I want my new name to be 'First, Maiden (as new middle name), Husband's last'. I am dropping the old middle name and taking my maiden name as my new middle name. There are no hyphens - the middle and last are distinct.

I have some concerns about how this is documented and for applying for AOS with a new middle and surname. We are in Virginia and as far as I can find out, there is no special process needed to change my middle name.

I am concerned about the following:

- our marriage certificate does NOT have my new name on it. It only states our names before we married, so 'First, Old Middle Name, Maiden name'. I - I have not yet applied for SSN - I will do that this week - but as I understand they may not give me a SSN under my new name 'First, Old Middle Name, Maiden name', it seems to depend on who you get

Therefore, where is my new name actually documented and is 'First, Maiden (as new middle name), Husband's last' my LEGAL name?

My understanding is that I have a right to take my husband's last name. I am not so sure about how this becomes my legal name considering that it is not on the marriage certificate and I am not 'registered' with it anywhere, e.g. SSN

Any help on this would be much appreciated. I have compiled the whole AOS package and it is ready to go, all forms signed and bank statements dated 2 or 3 March so I am keen to get this off before it's too long since we signed everything.

One more question is that should I ever list my old middle name under 'other names used' - seems like just Maiden should be listed but I cannot get anywhere with research on this one

Thanks

Brilliant, thanks guys!

Hi everyone,

Looking for someone with experience with this. We're about to file for AOS and I am intending on sending in the photocopy of the DS-3025. I have read Nich-Nick's post here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/551080-immunizations-ds-3025-or-i-693/ and I have all the vaccinations marked either with a waiver or date: 2 dates for MMR, DT/DTP/DTap marked A, 2007 date in Td with a B, VH in Varicella history, Influenza date late 2015, then A for everything else/D for Varicella.

As far as I know, London are not marking the summary boxes. I have NOTHING checking in EITHER the 'US vaccination requirements COMPLETE (Requesting a Blanket Waiver)' OR 'US vaccination requirements NOT complete'/ No boxes ticked at all.

Has anyone successfully been through AOS without any boxes or should I fill out I-693?

Sounds like I should just send in DS-3025 but want to double check since the form has been changed recently

They also only gave me the first page. I am assume that is fine and it's only because there were no contradictions/remarks, therefore second page was blank

Thanks everyone

Yeah I agree. Thanks for the sites, looking now

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your responses and help! The issue with work is that, although they are paying, it clearly states that this has to be the most direct route. We're going to see what they say as I have managed to find a flight that does go through HI and Guam (as long as it is!)

To put the information out there, here is the reply from CBP (mirrors the phone call):

"Thank you for contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) INFO Center.

It's looking like I will have to do the info pass route and try for emergency AP...

By direct do you mean one flight or just stick within US territories/commonwealth? One flight isn't possible. Flights via Hawaii and Guam are possible, just reeeeeeeally expensive

Have you any knowledge of the likelihood of being granted an emergency AP?

Thanks again

Hi everyone,

I am looking for advice/experiences of anyone who has made a flight between the US and a US territory/commonwealth and made a connection in another country.

I am entering the US next week on a K1 visa, getting married and filing for AOS, AP and EAD within a week of that. A month later we will travel to Saipan where my fiancé is starting a new job.

I am allowed to travel to Saipan because it is under US immigration law and it is not counted as leaving the US. What I am unsure about is whether I can travel from the US to Saipan via a connecting flight in Japan. Although it is possible to fly via HI and Guam (both US), the majority of flights connect in Japan. It would be the same as e.g. flying between two states but connecting in Mexico or Canada on the way (not that this happens but it's the same principle)

Planning to speak to customs and border patrol on Monday but wondering if anyone has experience or knowledge of this?

Thanks!

I found it very easy to open a Bank of America account when I was visiting.

If you want easy access to your UK money but don't want to move it yet or don't want to pay fees or have a bad exchange rate, then I recommend a Nationwide Select credit card. It lets you make purchases in USD and gives the Visa exchange rate with no commission:

http://www.nationwide.co.uk/products/credit-cards/select/managing-your-card#tab:tab2

Better than using Paypal, bringing over USD etc.

Interview date--Visa in hand (Name) depot or delivery

Hey everyone,

I has my interview yesterday (K1) and was approved (yay!). One thing came up - my police certificate expires on 12th Feb and the guy at the first window I went to mentioned that they would have to issue to visa before then, i.e. it sounds like the police certificate must be valid until they make/issue the visa and not just for the interview date.

The interview itself was pretty short and sweet. He said I would have my passport back within 2 weeks

Thanks for all the help so far!

I think that's sound advice, thank you.

One more quick question - are EAD and AP linked directly to processing times for the AOS application? It looks like they're not considering that you can file separately. That would work well in our favour. Although we do want to green card asap, the timing is not as vital as the EAD and AP

If he has a job, then use it. How do they know your future plans? The contractors will simply check off an adffidavit was included, as required, in the packet. Additional assets put you over. There shouldn't be an RFE unless you fail to include a tax return, or fail to include documentation of the assets. So by the time an interview rolls around, he will be working and can prepare a brand new and better I-864 to take and give to the interviewer. Or if you don't interview, nobody who can pass final judgement will be making a decision on your specifics for months. If they question his job in a late RFE, he has new information to send by then.

Thanks. Therefore, if you were me, would you include his new job offer? i.e. letter from employer with salary and expected start date. I know it doesn't count, so I'm a bit torn - shows that his income is continuing and increasing, but also undermines the current income because it basically shows that's he's going to leave the job that we put on the I-864 very shortly (at least before any interview) - If they got to our case after the start date, would they send an RFE to make sure he had indeed taken it?

I am also slightly concerned that his past jobs have been seasonal, like Canada for example, which is where the majority of his income is coming from for his 2015 tax return:

"By contrast, 8 CFR 213a.2©(2)(ii)© permits USCIS to conclude that a Form I-864 is not sufficient, even if the sponsor’s household income meets the Poverty Guideline threshold. USCIS should make this conclusion only if the evidence of record makes it “reasonable to infer that the sponsor will not be able to maintain his or her household income at a level sufficient to meet his or her support obligation.” For example, if the sponsor’s income is from a job that is merely temporary or seasonal, USCIS might reasonably conclude that the income is likely not to continue, and could also conclude that the Affidavit of Support, for that reason, is not sufficient."

But, am I right in thinking that, if for some reason they don't accept his income (based on the above), we will have enough assets to meet 3 x 125% of the poverty level and therefore should be fine? Have you seen this happen to anyone?

And a third question - I know the info is out there (haven't even explored RFEs yet) but in case you know off the top if your head - any idea of the rough delay an RFE would cause (we would most likely be able to submit evidence of the new job by the time it rolls around)? If it won't be greater than the time we would wait to file under his new job then it seems a bit of a no-brainer to apply right away

Thanks as always

Thanks Nick-nich (wouldn't be surprised if your reaction was 'oh... her again!').

Yes I've read the instructions many times and I know we have enough and that we can use assets... my concerns are rooting from having seen posts and replies on this forum and others where there seems to be a possibility, or at least concerns, about denial using 100% assets - that it shows little ability to earn sustained income. There seems to be very few cases where solely assets were used and replies are quite negative and warn against. It was my impression that these are set rules - meet it and you're good, regardless - so it would be good to know whether this indeed the case.

I guess I don't know whether a better case is made using 100% assets and no income vs. low income that will soon end plus assets

I still don't know how to deal with his income either

Hi everyone,

I need more advice from you all please I've done lots of reading on the forums and have a relatively good grasp of the issues below, but no concrete answers regarding our specific case (well, as concrete as you can get in this process...). If everything goes to the rough standard timeframes, we will be getting married in mid-February (K-1 for me, UK citizen) and then filing for AOS immediately after (we can get marriage cert copies same day

My fiancé is currently working part-time in retail. Last month he earned around $1000. If we project his salary that puts his income at $12,000. We were planning on filing with this income and making up the difference in assets. Between us we have 5x the poverty level (I know we only need 3x) in 'liquid' cash (savings, bank accounts), but about 4/5ths of that is mine (the beneficiary). Mainly in a UK savings account. A total of $24k USD of our joint cash is in Canadian dollars - we both worked there last year.

Therefore we are fine meeting the poverty requirements with his relatively low income and our relatively large assets, with wiggle room, but I am concerned that they are mainly mine, plus the fact that he will be leaving his current job soon (more below).

He has, however, just accepted a job on Saipan paying 2x the 125% poverty level (US commonwealth, US immigration laws apply, USCIS offices there, so no issues with me getting biometrics and interviews done or going there). Obviously this removes the need for any co-sponsors, use of assets, etc., BUT he only starts April. If we wait until then to file, it would delay my EAD and AP by around 2 months than if we file upon my arrival. I would really like to avoid this because I have the option to work soon after I get there. It's not just about income - being stranded on a teeny (very teeny!) island with no ability to work or travel will get old pretty quickly. Therefore it is more important to me to get EAD and AP as soon as I can than if we were on the mainland.

Our dilemma therefore arises around when to file for AOS, and specifically the risk in using assets which are mainly mine and the fact that he will be leaving his current job for the new one. I know that future employment has no weight towards meeting poverty levels, but surely it would support our case to include the accepted offer with salary?

So I have several questions:

1. Is there a possibility of being denied/RFE'd for using assets that are mainly in my name? Is filing with $12k income and the rest as my assets a 'weak' case?

2. How exactly/what exactly do we put for his current income, given that he is part time with flexible hours dependent on demand for shifts (he works retail)?

3. What should the letter from his employer look like, given the above

4. Is it an issue that our case will clearly show that he is about to leave his current job (be it for a higher paying one)? If so, should we just not mention the new one?

5. Should we consider filing with JUST assets? Can't find much on this

6. Is it an issue that my savings are in a UK bank account? I cannot find anything about limits on how much I could transfer from the UK to the US, but almost certain I could do it all in one go. I don't want to move them unless I absolutely have to because they are in an ISA and exchange rates aren't brilliant.

We have the option of involving his mother as a co-sponsor but we would really rather not unless it's essential. I see lots of people using a co-sponsor as a 'just in case they don't accept our assets' -why on earth they wouldn't accept assets when they state that you can use them is beyond me

Looking forward to what everyone has to say and thanks in advance for the help

How are you flying to Saipan? Do you have a connecting flight/layover in another country than the USA?

The organisation will be booking the flights but a quick Kayak search from Washington to Saipan has 2 connections, one in Honolulu HI, and the other in Guam, which are both under US immigration laws

...is connecting in another country an issue even if you don't leave the airport? Trying to quickly Google it but not getting very far

1. Get SSN immediately in maiden name exactly as entered on your I-94. Should come in mail 7-10 days. Sometimes a problem and takes weeks, months.

2. Must have marriage certificate (registered by your county) before you can send AOS. I got mine while we waited the next day. Some places/counties take weeks to mail them out. You might not be filing as soon as you think. Have you researched AOS and know all the forms and started filling them out?

Next part-- I do not study timelines anymore so guessing.

3. After mailing AOS/EAD/AP, the NOA1s come in mail in 1-2 weeks or they mail an RFE if something was missing. Must have the RFE letter to send with response.

4. Biometric appointment letter could come during first four weeks. It will be scheduled for a few weeks in future. Need passport and the appointment letter. Or letter may not come for two months. You could have changed your address but the bio letter still goes to VA. It varies.

I would not put a future address. Things come quickly at first.

I personally would get SSN, get married, unstress a bit, get packed for moving, get AOS filled out perfectly. THEN file from Saipan. You have too much on your plate and you know timelines are not predictable. You will survive without working. And it the mail goes all awry and you do a rushed job on the packets, you could be making EAD take longer because of the mess.

Thanks, it sounds like that might be a good move. I've spoken to the people where we will get married and they can get us a copy right away (or the day after if we get married after office hours).

In case where we file for AOS before moving, such as if his start date is later than we anticipate (very rough so far), I have a few more questions that will help us to make a decision:

- I have read that even if you have a biometrics exam scheduled for one center, that you can often do a walk-in at another. Do you have any experience of this, or can anyone else chip in?

- would changing our address slow things down? I have also read that if you move to a different 'district' (which surely Saipan is) it can be an issue.

- I am about to look more into this, but perhaps you know also - how exactly does the EAD work - do I need the physical card with me, or am I good to work as soon as it is issued (assume that I can check status online etc or will get a notification)

There is also of course the issue that we are legally required to change our address within 10 days of moving, but not sure how much of an issue this is

I think I am concerned that with the mail back and forth from Saipan taking a long time, and it being Saipan, that our case would take much longer if we filed from there

Thanks again

Not a problem asking for help. I just answer when I have experienced something, or read it directly from somebody else who experienced it first hand. I don't know a soul who went to a Commonwealth or about any immigration facilities there. Is there a USCIS facility for interviews? Is there an ASC for biometrics? Are ther civil surgeons? Will you need one? I don't know. Will your address get changed properly before you are assigned a biometric appt for the original address? Wil your Social Security card go to the original address? Some things will have to be sorted if/when they happen depending on when you move.

I answered you can travel on a maiden name passport with the proof of name change (marriage license). Then you asked if you could travel before changing your passport. ???? I had already said that people do that.

Yeah I'm sorry about that, I mis-read your reply and read instead as "I would advise AGAINST waiting...." so my bad. I admit to being a bit overwhelmed since everything is happening very fast with this move. We weren't expecting it.

Am I right in my understanding that the process is: we file for AOS and give our address with the application (currently Charlottesville, Virginia) - filing for EAD and AP at the same time - and then someone looks at our file and issues me a biometrics appointment based on my location (from the address stated in the application). I wonder therefore if the best approach would be to put our address as his (future) office in Saipan instead of the VA address. We will be there around April 1st, filing for AOS mid-feb assuming I have an average timeframe for getting my visa back after the interview (Feb 2nd).

Unless we would expect mail before April 1st that we would need to have in-hand before that date.

The other options are:

- keep the address as VA and get his mom to open the mail. We are returning in July for our wedding, or she can post anything to us

- put VA address, then change when we get to Saipan

I know you haven't experienced our situation but it is similar to others who have moved

My main concern is getting permission to work ASAP and whether I need whatever arrives in the mail or whether I'm just 'legal' from when it arrives and therefore good to go

Here's the Saipan office: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.detail&office=XHS&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC&OfficeLocator.statecode=MP I think it looks like we'll be ok there!

Just drowning in info to do with this getting to crunch time and everything with a move to the middle of nowhere! So feel the need to run all this past someone in the know in case I am missing something vital

Thanks for your help, as always

(sorry for hijacking the post)

Are you serious???? US commonwealth...

Advance parole is for emergency travel not for moving to other country.. How you suppose to come to your biometric appointment and interview if you are in the other continent?

You need to do some serious reading.. And a lot... Because with your ''deep knowledge'' you just making other people confused..

Yes, Saipan is a US Commonwealth https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saipan

and

http://www.uscis.gov/laws/immigration-commonwealth-northern-mariana-islands-cnmi/us-immigration-law-commonwealth-northern-mariana-islands-cnmi

Please don't be rude. I have done plenty of reading. I have not implied that I have "deep knowledge". Why would I ask for advice if I did. I was merely stating that you can travel before you receive your green card if you apply for advance parole, considering that the green card can take much longer than 90 days to be issued.

There is a USCIS office there. Obviously I checked this before we considered moving there for a job.

you can't move to Spain after filling the AOS.. You can't travel outside the USA till you get green card.. Do some reading... And you don't need to change your name in passport to be able to travel.

Saipan is a US commonwealth - US immigration laws apply. It's the same as moving to Hawaii. You also don't need to wait until you get your greencard to travel outside of the US, just until you get Advance Parole

I'm not going to comment further because your plans are out of the normal realm and my experience. Mailing your passport off to the UK and moving countries right after filing AOS both have potential timing problems you will have to work out if they happen.

I am just finding all of this overwhelming and confusing. Now I know that I don't need to change my passport to travel it's not an issue, which is great. I am just unfamiliar with any issues surrounding addresses etc and choosing where to get my biometric done etc., and that is only because I haven't done this before. Sorry if I am asking for help all the time

I would advise waIting because your passport will be your photo ID for immigration things. You have to mail the passport off to the UK and might not have the new one back for a while. It is required for your biometric appointment and interview, banks, etc. You wouldn't want to be without a passport if you plan to file for AOS right after marriage. You can still use your married name even of your passport has the maiden name. Use your marriage license as proof of name change. You can even travel on it.

I am planning on filing for AOS right away and then moving to Saipan within a month or two. So do you mean that I don't need to get a new passport if I take my fiancé's name as long as I have a copy of the marriage certificate? Can I still travel to and from the US and Saipan (US immigration rules apply) without having to get a new passport?

Haven't fully looked into this yet but this post is making me think that I need to do that now

Of course! I wondered what was going on. Thanks as always

Hmm I found this:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/478183-going-to-us-mainland-from-guam-without-ap-or-green-card-k1/

and this

http://blog.uscis.gov/2014/05/five-questions-about-advance-parole_9.html

and this

http://unheardnomore.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/uscis-memo-on-adjustment-of-status.html

So looks ok I think. We will also need to fly back to the US in mid-July for our wedding and the back to Saipan

Tried calling CBP but apparently their info center is closed...