YecaCruz

that stinks that you feel like that. I imagine finding yourself in small-town Texas is way different. Imagine my husband: a city-boy latino from a city of 2.4 million people comes to a primarily German-heritage, farming state. City boy marries a farm girl. So many differences on so many levels lol! We were buried under 2 feet of snow for his first Christmas in ND which he loved, by the way, and was his first time experiencing snow. He's next to me as I type this.
 
I want to encourage you to remember that your spouse (and kids if you have any) should be your first, priority family...if that makes sense. That's a big step we all take when we marry someone is that we leave our parents/family in order to build up our own. It's what our parents raised us for...to go out and conquer life! Don't allow the constant "what I left behind" to eat away at the foundation and future for the family you arenow establishing with your spouse. Think about what you have now! You are with the love of your life! An entire continent isn't between you anymore! 
 
So really just take it day by and day. The stress of adapting to not just to "Texas" culture, in your case, but creating your own "family" culture is a cost of the life we chose to jump into when we said "I do". It's an adventure for sure. Give yourself time; you'll have Tx friends and family eventually. Is there a local group that piques your interest (boardgames, puzzles, nerdy-things like DnD, exercise)?
 
Don't keep this bottled up from your spouse either. Communicate what you're going through so he can help you!

For sure need to show that you’ve met in person within two years of filing. many send just that and are just fine.

totally optional to also add 5 year relationship proof. If you have it all organized and ready, why not? Certainly don’t loose sleep and time by chasing it all down since you can always have your fiancé bring it when it’s time for the interview
 
my testimony is that I considered it beneficial to front load our packet by including proof of our 5 year relationship since there’s been a lot of fraud in my husband’s country in the last and I wanted to leave No doubt or question In the consulate officer’s mind. I went through 10k pages of exchanged Facebook and Skype messages and picked out conversations spanning over the 5 years. Took about 4 days to do but thankfully my job involves a lot of sitting around and waiting for customers. 
I like to think it helped in the end because the “interview” at the embassy was a 45-second, 4 question interview. Was so anti-climactic after a 5 hour wait hehe
 
There is so much helpful information and people on this website! Good luck on your process!

For sure need to show that you’ve met in person within two years of filing. many send just that and are just fine.

totally optional to also add 5 year relationship proof. If you have it all organized and ready, why not? Certainly don’t loose sleep and time by chasing it all down since you can always have your fiancé bring it when it’s time for the interview
 
my testimony is that I considered it beneficial to front load our packet by including proof of our 5 year relationship since there’s been a lot of fraud in my husband’s country in the last and I wanted to leave No doubt or question In the consulate officer’s mind. I went through 10k pages of exchanged Facebook and Skype messages and picked out conversations spanning over the 5 years. Took about 4 days to do but thankfully my job involves a lot of sitting around and waiting for customers. 
I like to think it helped in the end because the “interview” at the embassy was a 45-second, 4 question interview. Was so anti-climactic after a 5 hour wait hehe
 
There is so much helpful information and people on this website! Good luck on your process!

This. The longest we went without seeing each other face to face was 2 years, also pre-covid. Don't put your life on pause. Use the physical separation as time to dig deep and really get to know each other and hone your communication skills!
 
We video chatted and texted when we could but our lives went on. Worked through a lot of cultural differences and misunderstandings during our 6 year relationship before we actually were able to tie the knot

pffffffffffffffffft you are right about manager being wrong lol! It's literally in the title of "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ". No need to argue but with the right "touch" (in the words of my husband) you wouldn't be in the wrong to insist that her (or someone) shows you in the bank manual/policy where it states that a SSN is required in order to add a person to an account.  But that's only if you think it's worth it tho. I'm from a town of less than 1200 so dealing with small town mentalities sucks especially if you only have the one bank. 
 
Well good luck. I hope you find a way. Maybe by the time you guys get the greencard interview you will have the SSN. If not, I am sure a short explanation as to why your spouse isn't on the account would be ok too.
 

pffffffffffffffffft you are right about manager being wrong lol! It's literally in the title of "Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ". No need to argue but with the right "touch" (in the words of my husband) you wouldn't be in the wrong to insist that her (or someone) shows you in the bank manual/policy where it states that a SSN is required in order to add a person to an account.  But that's only if you think it's worth it tho. I'm from a town of less than 1200 so dealing with small town mentalities sucks especially if you only have the one bank. 
 
Well good luck. I hope you find a way. Maybe by the time you guys get the greencard interview you will have the SSN. If not, I am sure a short explanation as to why your spouse isn't on the account would be ok too.
 

just wanted to echo what was mentioned that you should be able to add your spouse without an SSN as a "non-permanent resident alien". If not at your bank, for whatever reason, another bank. Been in banking for 10 years. Maybe your banker doesn't have experience dealing with immigration/green card stuff? Is there a policy he/she cited that says the SSN is required to add an authorized signor/owner to the account? You need, for sure, an unexpired, government issued ID that has a photo which would be the passport. The SSN can be added later when you obtain it. 
 
We risked it and mailed husband's naturalization cert after citizenship to update his status. Mailed it on a Friday and got those two thing back in our mailbox 3 days later on Tuesday. I called and voiced my concerns about mailing a very important doc It seems dumb that those offices remain closed. We were told "only in emergency cases". HUH? Emergency case for the SSN office? Well what would that be, I'm dying let me in to your office?

just wanted to echo what was mentioned that you should be able to add your spouse without an SSN as a "non-permanent resident alien". If not at your bank, for whatever reason, another bank. Been in banking for 10 years. Maybe your banker doesn't have experience dealing with immigration/green card stuff? Is there a policy he/she cited that says the SSN is required to add an authorized signor/owner to the account? You need, for sure, an unexpired, government issued ID that has a photo which would be the passport. The SSN can be added later when you obtain it. 
 
We risked it and mailed husband's naturalization cert after citizenship to update his status. Mailed it on a Friday and got those two thing back in our mailbox 3 days later on Tuesday. I called and voiced my concerns about mailing a very important doc It seems dumb that those offices remain closed. We were told "only in emergency cases". HUH? Emergency case for the SSN office? Well what would that be, I'm dying let me in to your office?

oh for sure. Just being blonde and white (like me) or dressing/acting like a tourist in Nicaragua means you are a obvious a walking, talking dollar machine and have to deal with gouged prices all the time. Most of the time I don't mind since the economy is in the pits and most people really need the $. Sometimes people have asked where I am from because my spanish has the Nicaraguan accent so I could potentially be from the mountains. 😁

applying based on 5 year residence requires less evidence as opposed to applying based on marriage for 3 years in which you have to send evidence of the marriage. I'd say apply based on the 5 year residence.

applying based on 5 year residence requires less evidence as opposed to applying based on marriage for 3 years in which you have to send evidence of the marriage. I'd say apply based on the 5 year residence.

applying based on 5 year residence requires less evidence as opposed to applying based on marriage for 3 years in which you have to send evidence of the marriage. I'd say apply based on the 5 year residence.

applying based on 5 year residence requires less evidence as opposed to applying based on marriage for 3 years in which you have to send evidence of the marriage. I'd say apply based on the 5 year residence.

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

big 'ole shred party!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

Big pro: (as previously mentioned)
 
freedom to travel / live in another country without worrying about maintaining the greencard. That's the primary reason why my husband went all the way with US citizenship. We want to live in Nicaragua one day. Being able to come and go to the US without having to apply for a tourist visa AND ever having to deal with US immigrations and their ever increasing wait times and fees is freeing!

My “crazy experience” was back in 2005. 2nd trip to Nicaragua (missions trip). I didn’t realize that there was a live 22/250 rifle round in my backpack. I had a little line of bullets collected on my windowsill and it must have fallen in there. 
I’m going through the Minneapolis security line I was confused as a 15/16 year old why they kept putting my backpack through the scanner. Did I have a huge, suspicious amount of starbursts (to give to kids of course)? They finally pulled me aside and were digging through my backpack and they pull up this giant bullet, lol.
gulp!
My my dad comes over to get a better look at it and maybe help explain while my younger sister is in tears thinking I was going to go to prison. In any case the tsa guys didn’t make a huge deal or anything, thank goodness, and I was eventually allowed to go on my way. 
Later, while waiting at the gate, a team member on our missions team overheard somebody talking about how a girl had one of her bullets left over from a safari that she came back from or something like that. 
Thankfully that wasn’t in an airport like Houston or coming back from Nicaragua! Or after 9/11 😳😬☠️
 
Kids: Make sure you don’t have any bullet rounds in your carryon!
 
about 10 years later I got a letter from the department of homeland security basically stating I was no longer on the watchlist hehehe
 
im excited to read about other peoples stories etc. This will be a great thread to distract me at work!

This. The longest we went without seeing each other face to face was 2 years, also pre-covid. Don't put your life on pause. Use the physical separation as time to dig deep and really get to know each other and hone your communication skills!
 
We video chatted and texted when we could but our lives went on. Worked through a lot of cultural differences and misunderstandings during our 6 year relationship before we actually were able to tie the knot