a.lu

10 hours ago, Scandi said:

I'm thinking I might have the same issue when my greencard finally shows up. All letters I got from USCIS are in my married name, however, at the biometrics I was told they only have my maiden name in the system and will therefore have to submit my biometrics in my maiden name.

 

I have called USCIS to have it corrected, was called back by Tier 2 who said they have my maiden name in the system but that it shouldn't be a problem since I can just bring my marriage certificate that shows the name change to the interview. But what if I won't have an interview?!

 

Sent an online service request for the same issue, two months later they claimed to have corrected the issue but case status never updated.

 

Went for an infopass as a last resort, was told that my maiden name is still in their system and that they won't do sh*t about it. They just told me to wait for the card or an interview. In case of card showing up with wrong name - request to get a new card with the right name (great, that'll probably take months to get the corrected card back). In case of interview, just bring your marriage certificate! Problem solved! 

 

Great............. gotta love USCIS employees.

Ugh oh no I'm so sorry to hear! I always love having your replies too because I think you're so informative

thank you for letting me know about infopaaa too because I thought I might do that and talk to someone directly. 

I guess after work today I'll scan my documents and such and get that i90 form going

if you have to do it too hopefully we don't have to pay the feel cause that's just ridiculous

23 hours ago, Suss&Camm said:

It seems your name was inputted wrong for the i485. You should have corrected this when you got the NOA2, it has a note on it to check that the information is correct and if not to notify them. I had to do this as well but called the day after I got it so it never became a problem later on. That's water under the bridge now though, you can't do anything about missing that part

If I were you I would start the i90 right away - since it will need to be filled out regardless... 

 

(IF they are able to help you in any other way,  that's just a bonus but you won't have lost any time in case they aren't... )

 

It's like the saying, hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Thank you so much for your reply!! I had called the day I got my NOA2 and the lady said she doesn't have much information for me.. I told her my EAD/AP card has my new last name and she said, "oh your new card will probably have your new lastname too" but then she also said if it wasn't right I could schedule an infopass.

When you notified them of the change, did they issue a TIB number? Would it be wrong if I have a TIB number and I upload the i90 form?

I recently received my AOS green card on June 8th, and before I got my card my NO2 had my maiden last name on it. Even before when I did my biometrics, that letter had my maiden last name too.

So going back a bit to my biometrics appointment, when I filled out the paperwork there the man at the desk said my last name was wrong and that I should put it what it should be on my letter. I told him that when I filled out everything (i485/ead/ap) I had put my new married last name. The man told me to sit a side and another officer would look into my files. The officer came back and said I had used my maiden last name. I'm looking back at my forms and on the i485 for AOS the only time I had put my maiden last name was under 3A "Provide our name exactly as it appears on your form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record Number" 

In my i485 packet I had included my original marriage certificate.. and since I'm from Georgia the marriage certificate is laid out like, "State of Georgia X County this certifies that My Husband Name Last Name and My Name My Maiden Name were united in the Holy Bonds....."

Now my EAD/AP card came months way before my green card and everything on that is fine, it has my new married last name.

Has anyone else had issues like this? A friendly VJ user (Hi Zilchfox!!) told me about the i-90 form and since it's they're (uscis/dhs?) mistake I don't have to pay a fee for the correct name change.

BUT

The day I got my green I called 1800 375-5283 and was able to talk to someone about my last name. She asked me a bunch of questions and in the end she said I should wait for a response and that I have a reference number that starts in TIB and ends with ATL. Should I wait for a response before I start the i90 form?

I'm not sure why at biometrics and even at my AOS interview people were saying I have my maiden last name, when i'm looking at all my forms and I have my new marriage last name on everything. I don't want to think that I've made a mistake & don't want to pay 500 for the name change.

Hi there! It's that time for taxes, and my husband (American petitioner) & I (Canadian beneficiary)  filed our taxes with H&R Block.

Now I have to do my Canadian taxes. I called CRA a few weeks ago telling them I now live in America and gave them my new address. While calling CRA, the nice man over the phone told me something writing at letter to CRA and claiming 100%... I was a bit confused by what he said, so I emailed the man who has helped me out with my taxes previously and he mentioned this is for tax credits. This is what my tax man said to me in the email, 

Quote

 

• When you leave Canada, you are considered to have sold certain types of property (even if you have not sold them) at their fair market value (FMV) and to have immediately reacquired them for the same amount. This is called a deemed disposition and you may have to report a capital gain (also known as departure tax).

 

• Your property could include the following: shares, jewelry, paintings or a collection.

 

• Jewelry paintings etc are considered  personal property and you will only have a capital gain on these properties if its fair market value (FMV) is greater than its cost (what you paid for it) or if the cost is less than $1000 the cost is deemed to be $1000 so that you will only have a capital gain if its FMV is greater than $1000.  Is this applicable in your case.

 

• As well if  the FMV of all the property you owned when you left Canada was more than $25,000, complete Form T1161, List of Properties by an Emigrant of Canada. Is this applicable.  See attached form as some property is exempt from reporting on this form. See below

 

• If fair market value of all the properties you owned when you left Canada was more than $25,000, excluding the following properties:

 

• 1) cash (including bank deposits);
• 2) pension plans, annuities, registered retirement savings plans, pooled registered pension plans, registered retirement income funds, registered education savings plans, registered disability savings plans, tax-free savings accounts, deferred profit-sharing plans, employee profit-sharing plans, employee benefit plans, salary deferral arrangements, retirement compensation arrangements, employee life and health trusts, and rights or interests in certain other trusts. For a complete list, refer to the definition of “excluded right or interest” in Subsection 128.1(10) of the Income Tax Act read without reference to paragraphs (c), (j) and (l);
• 3) property you owned when you last became a resident of Canada, or property you inherited after you last became a resident of Canada, if you were a resident of Canada for 60 months or less during the 10-year period before you emigrated and the property is not taxable Canadian property; and
• 4) any item of personal-use property (such as your household effects, clothing, cars, collectibles) that has a fair market value of less than $10,000"

 

The only jewelry I left Canada with was my engagement ring. I don't have any shares or collections/paintings... I don't have any property in Canada- I moved back home to save up money during my whole k1 visa process before I moved down to America. I crossed the border with only suitcases full of clothes. I'm having a hard time trying to start up the letter, so I was wondering if someone had an example letter? I tried looking it up and even reached out to a a fellow member here on VJ, but I'm not sure if she is really active.

Thank you guys!

5 hours ago, jdaveh said:

Take the written test, get learners, then schedule and take driving test for real. My wife waited a week between test and driving test so she could practice in my much bigger vehicle. If you are comfortable in the car you use, as soon as you take pass the written test, go online and schedule the driving test. She had her Ukrainian dl but it was not an international dl, so we were just careful, can't afford any strikes during this process )))))

This is great information thank you! I too am from Atlanta and want to get my DL soon.

I contacted my friend, and this is what she said, "No I don't think we got fingerprinted but they did have cameras at the desk I'm pretty sure our photos were taken. I don't know how you'd get in trouble for it because **** admitted it was his weed. They didn't even "interrogate" us like they did with them"

I'm waiting for three other replies from the other people we were with.

If this was me, I would get as many of the facts straight as I could for the interview. Contact as many people you can and find out pieces of missing information as to whether the van was in your name, were you actually arrested, etc. Going to an interview with information not related to the facts about why inadmissible (College GPA, band on tour, etc) and hazy answers is not going to help your case. Nice story to tell while having a few beers but Interviewing Officers are busy people and they need to make critical decisions to your case. I know I am coming across a bit mean here but I just think you need to focus on what the others said before me for you best chances. Open ended questions about your situation may just get you a denial or prolonged approval.

Yeah Rcripps, thank you! I have contacted my friend, still waiting reply from the three other people we were with. The only parts I am hazy/unsure about is when we were in the office. I remember being handcuffed next to my friend sitting in front of a desk where a processing border cop took our passports and asked us questions on how to pronounce or names/where we lived in Canada. I also remember being asked what the password to my cellphone and laptop were and I told them. So here is where I am unsure if we did fingerprints/signed anything because both our hands were handcuffed behind us. One by one afterwards a lady cop took us in a different room and searched our bodies with our clothes still on. We were separated from the two guys.

6 years ago is not that long ago. I agree with trying to remember what you can, check old folders to see if you have any papers left, contact people who were there etc. You could also try contacting the local police station and court house of where this happened to see if they have any records, but I am not sure they could release such....

We were not given papers after we left. We were given back things we couldn't have in the cell, so for me it was all my piercings. I do remember the driver having a piece of paper on him when we were let go. I emailed the US customs & border patrol today hoping they can shed some light. Hopefully will get an answer in a few days since today is Sunday.

I am guessing the manager/driver didn't admit to the marijuana being his therefore all of you were taken for questioning and charged. Someone has to admit to the drugs being theirs otherwise everybody is arrested. Thats how the NYPD does it or at least did it until they started issuing summons in lieu of arrest for a small amount of marijuana. You were most likely fingerprinted and the arrest showed along with the charge to the consul officer.

I think you might also have another potential violation that is if you earned money thru shows/concerts while not on an appropriate visa.

Hello Johnnyenglish! At first the driver/manager denied it as we pulled up, but the search dogs already knew. Later on he did admit to it since he was the one who paid for the fine. While being in the holding cell (is that what it's called?) Cops would walk by every so often, offered us capri suns & chips. They kept saying they were waiting for someone higher to come in to decide what to do with us... like a Chief? (very unfamiliar with terms sorry).

I wasn't paid anything when we were promoting. I had to use my own money and pull out money from ATMS . I didn't have to pay for hotel rooms or my dinner, but drinks, breakfast, and lunch were out of my own pocket. My friend and I didn't stay very long on the tour either.

Sorry guys, maybe I should've just told my full story on here than a quick rundown.

Yes it is the CO (consular officer) at the interview that makes the decision on visa approval or not.

Were you considered "arrested" at any time? Did you sign anything?

Hi Penguin!! Thank you for that information Is there a difference between being detained and arrested? I'm sure I signed something at the time at the border patrol, some parts are hazy since it happened in 2010 late at night :\

You book your own interview with K1. You send them packet 3, get packet 4, book an interview and medical.

I assume you got NOA2? A MTL case number? Anything?

Or just a letter from Montreal saying you were inadmissible?

Thanks NLR! Yes I got NOA2, and a MTL case number (wish it was VANCOUVER though ) I should be doing the D160 form about next week I hope.

Were you the driver of the car or was this car (even if a rental) in your name?

In most states they consider the driver responsible for what is in the car

You were detained and there could be a report

If you left that state too fast, you could find out later you were suppose to have a court date and missed it

Check this out carefully

i see in reports that many people find out later they had a court date they did not know about and it comes back to haunt them

It sounds like a background check from USCIS shows up as police report as it says inadmissable

Hello Kris&me!

I was not allowed to drive the sprinter van at all, and I don't think at all it was in my name... (honestly barely knew the people we were with. The driver/manager was roommates with the lead singer of the band we were promoting, the other guy was a friend of some of the band members. Then there was my Canadian friend who got us this promoting job.)

Yeah, the driver/manager was the one who paid the fine.

I'm trying to remember if we did finger prints or not, but I do remember getting a full clothed body search. There were no "mug shot" photos taken either. The border patrol man who was processing me and my friend were saying things like, "ohh you girls might get deported back to Canadia (yes he said it like that)" and would laugh. After being released, they gave us back our electronics and belongings and let us on our way to go along with the tour. We were still in Texas for a few shows. I didn't have a temporary American address, so how would I have known if there was an issued court date . How would you suggest I check this out? I was actually thinking of contacting the via email or calling US customs & border patrol.

Thank you for replying!!

Did you ever have anything written in your passport while you were detained? What about other crossings into the U.S., any problems there?

I agree with Harpa, but be prepared to discuss it openly.

Your Canadian police certificate would obviously be clean since the crime happened in the U.S. I am sure their independent background checks found this.

Good luck

Hi Canadian wife! I don't remember if there was anything written in that passport since it was in 2010, my passport then has been expired (also it was a bit water damaged PREVIOUSLY from being in Thailand). I got a new passport in 2014 and my previous one was never returned because I had to apply for a new one rather than renew. I never had any problems crossing into the US.

Thanks for your help and reply, I truly appreciate it!

Getting a case number does not mean you are approved, or will be. Everyone gets a case number and an interview, so it is in no way an indication of a positive outcome.

But, if you were not charged and you did not have the drugs yourself, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It seems like you will be discussing this in your interview, however. Clearly your name was mentioned in the report that the border patrol filed.

And, of course your CA police cert does not have this on it; it occurred in the US. Your Canadian police cert is only for crimes in Canada.

Thanks for replying Harpa Timsah! Oh I actually didn't know that everyone gets a case number & interview. Would a positive outcome would be after the interview then?

Yeah, I'm ready to tell the interviewer the entire story whenever there is an interview date.

First off, I hope this is the right place to post my concern... if it's not, I'm sorry! I've tried searching on the forums for similar situations, but perhaps I need some guidance.

My fiance (petitioner) and I (beneficiary) filed for our K1 Visa early February 2016; on June 1st I received the package from the Embassy that attached the packet 3 letter, copy of the approved I-129F, and pamphlet "Rights..." So between February and May, my fiance and I assumed we were approved since we were issued a WAC number, & then a case number.

Upon looking over the copy of our petition, under Remarks it says, "Inadmissible- issue possession of .02 lbs marijuana" (about 9 grams) Now here I will tell a quick story... in 2010 my friend and I went to the United States to promote a LA band on Warped Tour for the summer. Tour started in California, after a few days drove to Arizona, and from Arizona we drove to Texas. The driver, who was sort of our manager (lives in la & has medical marijuana card), lied to the Texas Border Patrol cops that there were no drugs... he had the marijuana in his lap top bag, we got brought in and we were detained for 8 hours. I never had the drug in my bag, nor did I have to pay anything when we got out. I honestly didn't think it was a big deal at the time though.

I'm just a bit confused and stressing over this. Should I be worried that it says inadmissible (even though the person wrote it as "Inadmissibily") like do I need to do an I-601 waiver? My Canadian police records is completely clean on the other hand. I'd like to add that in 2012 I had a student visa and went to university in Florida for 2 years; I graduated with the highest GPA in my grad class, and came back to Canada before my student visa expired.

Thanks for your time for reading this, and helping if anyone can!

Here's a link to my timeline: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=229905