PHC1

My finance arrived from Belize January 9th. We applied for a social security number on the 13th they said it would take about 2-3 weeks for his social security card to arrive in the mail. We havent recieved the social sercurity card we have called them and they said that they have to verfiy with homeland sercurity. The problem is that we need a SSN to apply for a marriage liscense, we are getting very worried about the hold up and not sure how to handle it as we have until april 7th however the weeks are passing by fast. Does anyone have any suggestions? Extremely worried that we are going to run out of time before he gets SSN.

Did you visit the post office to add your finance's name to the address? Post office will not deliver federal mail typically unless they are notified. We never received our SS card the first time around because I was not aware of that.

We had no problem getting my wife's changed. Got the cardi n her maiden and got married went back and got the change processed. We're told it can take 4 weeks for the change

We have not filed AOS yet

Hence my confusion today.... I also thought it would not be a problem!

That is really strange. I had no problems obtaining my ssc with my maiden name, and I don't think they changed rules. Didn't they say they already issued her ssn and that they will resend it?

Yes they issued a number and supposedly sent a card out which we never got (probably got lost in the mail and it wouldn't be the first time my mailman screwed up but that is a different story) so they told us they will send a replacement but when it comes to name change not until it is in the system with the immigration so they match. My conversation with USCIS today confirmed that but USCIS also said they are surprised SS would even issue my wife one to begin with for some reason... It sounds like they want the AOS package first and then one can apply for SSN.

I do recall my attorney mentioning that pretty often these days SSN may not be obtained until the green card but that was before we applied for SS and a few days after my fiancee (wife now) first entered. Based on everything I read before that point I was sure it would not be a problem and it wasn't when we first applied. So basically my wife has a SSN but we can't get it until the replacement card comes in and we can't get her name changed to married name until the green card is issued...

That doesn't sound right, How much time does she have left on her I94? As long as she has more than 2 weeks left she should be able to obtain her ssc. Go to SS office and request to speak with someone who knows what he is doing. It took mi almost 8 weeks to get my name change after EAD because workers didn't even know what SAVE is. What was their explanation for not giving her ssn?

Also there are no problems in doing AOS before obtaining SSN.

We applied for SSC 10 days after her arrival and got married approx one month after her date of entry. That is not the issue. Based on my conversation with USCIS just now it sounds like the SS comes in to play after the permanent resident card is issued. At least that is what I was told by a USCIS representative! At least as it applies to name change but they also sounded surprised that SS would issue her a card to begin with at this stage. Isn't that strange???

Also just spoke to USCIS and they said they are not even sure why they would issue my fiancee, (wife now) a SS to begin with! It seems the rules have changed??? I have read many times here on the forum to go and apply for SS asap and before getting married to avoid problems. Seems now they want the AOS first and SS comes later?

Thank you for the reply. I am hoping the replacement SS card arrives in the mail soon then so we can send off the AOS package with the SS number on it as I am not sure if it would be a good idea to send AOS in without it since she technically has a number now?? We can't obtain the number of SS even in person and it most likely got lost in the mail the first time around!

Hi, I am a bit confused... So we applied for SS for my fiancee on Sept 10th (obviously used her previous marriage name as on all the paperwork, K-1 visa, passport, etc) and went off to get married to a different state where our ceremony was planned. We come back 3 weeks later and still no SS card in the mail. We go back to the SS office today to get her name changed and to inquire if the original card was mailed out and got lost in the mail which was on hold for 3 weeks... They told us at the SS office that they can not change the name at this time as the computer will not allow them to change the name to married name due to this causing a mismatch with the immigration system. Ok... Can we have the number of the previous SS card please? NO.... this is against the law... What do we do? The answer was we have to go to the immigration office and get her name changed there first and only then can they change the name on the SS card. Does this sound right to you guys??? (Of course it was also suggested by the ss officer that we go change the foreign passport to married name now.. Obviously there was very little understanding of how the K-1 works on his part.... Can't leave the country and why would we have to go back to her country to get the passport.... LOL ) Yes, she was issued a SS number and evidently they sent the original card out which the USPS obviously never delivered) Not that we can obtain that number even in person! We were very frustrated to say the least

Hi, I am wondering if one can check the SAVE database prior to applying for SSN to see if the fiancée is in the system? https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/

We are finally together (fiancee arrived 10 days ago ) We have plans to get married in a different state where my parents reside so they can participate in the ceremony. I am wondering if we can go to SS office before our wedding there (Florida) while our permanent address is in a different state. Thanks!

The I-94 is already in the system (3 days after the POE) and we printed it out. Is it possible that the info in the SAVE system is quicker these days?

Fiancee has arrived! From what I have read, the SS is the first step in the post POE process? Would appreciate some info on what needs to be done and what we need to go and apply for SS number. Thanks in advance!

We were in AP for almost a month and all the way through to the interview! About 3 weeks before the interview the embassy requested scans of some documents which we emailed but the status never changed. After the interview the status changed briefly to ready and then AP again and then to the long awaited and exciting status of "ISSUED". 2 days later the visa was in our hands. AP status does make one nervous but I think most of the time it is just a phase of the necessary embassy prep work.

When the visa is issued in Moscow and you go to pick it up, is the passport separate from the packet? Is the visa in the passport or in the packet that is not supposed to be opened? Thanks!

We got an email from the IV Unit of the US Embassy Moscow to go ahead and schedule the appointment (after paying the fee and registering the delivery address) on the ustraveldocs website.

Don't forget to request the Ds-3025 form. You'll need that for the CS for AOS.

Thank you for the advice!

My wife had her medical two days before the interview. We went back the next day to get the results for the interview scheduled for the following day. We stayed in an apartment near the U.S. Consulate, and the medical facility was nearby, so everything was within walking distance.

Good Luck!

Thank you!!!

I went for my medical in 2012 couple days before the interview. I reported to the International Organization for Migration, brought all the docs required. After I paid the fee, they directed me to one of the hospitals where the actual exam took place. At hospital they took my blood, did the X-ray and then physical.Totally maybe couple of hours. In the end they gave me the sealed yellow package with the results of my medical which I brought to the interview unopened. And that's about it. Very simple, hassle free. Good luck!

Thank you very much for the info!!

Filing I-129f & this other one for notification by E-mail. ...Getting NOA1 - then some day NOA 2 (the time you should gather all documents which are needed for your fiances country) - NVC - calling - getting the Case-Number.

Now you've to deal with the embassy of your fiances country: At NVC - Transit - Ready.

Your fiance or you will get Package 3 -- all documents who u have gathered meanwhile need to be sent now to the embassy (including DS-160 & paid fee).

Then most likely getting a Mail that you can schedule a Interview appointment. Before the appointment make sure to attend the medical.

Then showing up at the Interview & hopefully getting the result: approval.

Thats it =)

Thanks for the info but we are already at the point where we are scheduled and awaiting the medical. I am specifically interested in how the medical process goes and what to expect.

Would appreciate if someone shared their experience on how the process works and what to expect. Ours is coming up soon! Thanks!

Actually, the best is to schedule an interview as soon as possible since they will ask for documents at the interview and the AP will not start until they'll receive those documents

I wonder what other documents they may ask for and how does one prepare for that if the petitioner is flying out to Moscow to attend the interview with the fiancee? In our case it would be difficult to take care of some unforeseen request for documents if I am 5000 miles away from home...

Same here, CEAS status said READY since about 2 weeks ago, so the DS-160 and MRV fee were taken care of but could not schedule with the response from usatraveldocs "can not schedule yet, we are expecting your documents soon". This morning got an email that we were approved to schedule the interview and the moment that happened the CEAC said "necessary Administrative Processing" and that process may take a few weeks. Will try to schedule the interview 3 weeks out from now and see what happens!

once you create your account on the UStraveldocs website.... and you are at your dashboard. You should be able to set the delivery address to "hold at poney express" or the like.

http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-niv-deliveryaddressmodify.asp

Thank you!

Hi, can anyone provide guidance what the procedure is for requesting the visa to be held at Pony Express in Moscow?

Thank you!

Ok, so I paid the MRV FEE (Moscow) and my fiancee is about to submit the DS-160. Trying to piece the rest together.... Got the receipt number, hopefully will have the DS-160 page printed later today. Now what? Does the receipt number get attached to the case somehow or do I just bring the receipt when we go for the interview???

Thanks!