Lokiseus

Ok, here's an update to my situation, which I'm hoping is useful to others about to get their SSN. Basically, those here who suggested bringing the RM0 form from the SSA.gov website and "reminding them" of their own regulations were spot on.... When we arrived at the SSA today, we were brought in by a different woman. I explained to her what we were there for and mentioned being turned away, and she expressed confusion and said there should be no problem getting an SSN on a K1 Visa. As soon as she said that, the woman from yesterday literally came storming at us and explained that she had checked yesterday and her book said we needed INS work authorization. Our woman checked HER book and it showed no requirement for a K1....so the original woman left and came back with her book, which said that we DID need INS authorization. So they were pretty much at a standstill. I pointed again to the RM0 pages I had printed out, section C, and explained that RIGHT FROM THEIR OWN WEBSITE it listed K1s as exempt from INS requirements. So basically the new woman, who kept telling us she had done many K1s in her lifetime and never needed INS authorization, said she would simply try to put the application through. And a few minutes later, yup, we had her social security card ordered. So basically, we were lucky this time to get a different woman at the SSA office who at least SORTA knew what she was doing....if we had been helped by the same woman as before, I'm certain that even with the forms I had she would have turned us away and I seriously would have been at my wits' end!!

So yes, anyone who is about to get their SSN, MAKE SURE you bring the RM0 pages and show them Section C to the SSA office! Here's the link as a reminder:

http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/36f3b2ee954...b4?OpenDocument

Thanks again for the assistance!!

Larry

Thanks all...I'm beginning to feel like an idiot, because you all are telling me one thing, meanwhile the SSA office, the Social Security 1-800 number, AND the local American Civic Association are telling me the opposite. It's frustrating for me, because what do I do now? Do I revisit the SSA office and when they tell me my fiancee can't get her SSN yet, tell them "No, no, VisaJourney.com assures me you are incorrect"? I mean, if the people who determine whether or not she gets a SSN won't give her one now, then where do I turn?

Anyway, I'll go back today and try to plead my case. Thanks....

Larry

Thanks for the replies! But here's why I'm still confused! In the SS-5 form, it says "To apply for an original card, you will need to provide at least two documents to prove your age, identity, and US citizenship or current lawful, work-authorized immigration status. If you are not a US citizen or do not have current lawful, work-authorized immigration status, you MUST prove that you have a valid nonwork reason for requesting a card." And then, further down, it says "If you check 'Legal Alien NOT allowed to work,' you must provide a document from a US Federal, State or local government agency that explains why you need a Social Security number and that you meet all of the requirements for the US government benefit."

So basically this mirrors what the Social Security rep on the phone told me. My fiancee is not a US citizen yet, and she doesn't have work-authorized immigration status, therefore she can not have a Social Security number. And since she's not a citizen or an authorized worker until after AoS, it will take many months to get her SSN. So I guess my question now is, does the I-94's expiration date just not matter anymore for SSNs, or do I have to hope this entire process can be done in 90 days? Anyone have an idea?

Thanks again!

Larry

Ok, I'm posting a follow-up to my own topic. I just spoke to someone at the Social Security 1-800 number, and they said that due to a recent law, a person on a temporary visa can only apply for a SSN if they are authorized to work. If they're not, which my fiancee is not, then she has to wait until she is a US citizen to apply for her SSN. Now, I'm still confused because I'm told she needs her I-94 when she applies for her SSN, but it expires 90 days after her arrival here....so we need to marry, then apply for AoS, wait for the AoS interview, wait for approval, then apply for SSN in 90 days? Is this correct?

Thanks,

Larry

Hi, my fiancee arrived in the US from the Philippines 3 weeks ago, and we went to the SSA office today to apply for her social security card. Once there, the person told us we needed a work authorization form, or something to that effect from INS before we could proceed. They then referred us to the local American Civil Association to help us get the necessary document from INS. We went there, and they told us she needs to apply for Adjustment of Status before she can get her EAD, then she can get her Social Security number. I'm so confused. The information I've seen elsewhere says she can apply for her SSN 2 weeks after she arrives. It doesn't seem to make sense that she'd have to wait for her AoS to get her SSN since that means waiting for the wedding, then the AoS interview, then applying, and by that time her I-94 will be expired. Can someone clear this up for me? Was the person we spoke to at the SSA office just misinformed?

Thanks,

Larry

Thanks for the responses everyone, they helped a great deal!!

Larry

Maybe I'm suffering from sensory overload from all the information I've been sifting through here there and everywhere, but I'm a bit confused about the Interview Packet for a Manila interview.

First of all, is this packet sent to me in the U.S. or to my fiancee in the Philippines?

Second, I notice transit times ranging from 1 week to 5 weeks to, well, never. I just found out tonight that my fiancee's Medical is Oct 26, Interview is November 2. So now I'm worried about the packet not arriving in time for her to prepare it and have it for her Medical. Is this a concern? Am I right to say she can call St Luke's and have it sent there for pickup? And if so, can she request this at any time, or is she expected to wait a few weeks to make sure the packet doesn't arrive?

Third, does she need to take everything she'll need for the interview with her to her Medical, like Proof of Relationship, I34, etc? Or does she need just her appointment letter, passport, passport photos and the Medical fee?

Thanks for the help!!

Larry

Someone asked a few pages back about recalled IMBRA petitions and interviews.... I was one of the recalls, and I just received my fiancee's interview date (November 2) online. Which is pretty quick considering NVC sent our reapproved petition back to Manila on August 30. So any recalls who have their petitions back in Manila shouldn't worry about any further delays... it seems maybe they really did put a priority on our petitions to get us back in the queue! No packet yet of course...I'm hoping the relatively fast turnaround of the petition won't interfere with the packet arriving promptly, since my fiancee's medical is only 5 weeks away.

Larry

Hey, just wanted to let you all know that I checked the Visa Interview Appointments website just now for my fiancee's Philippines K1 interview and it appeared! It's November 2. I mention this only because I'm a recalled IMBRA petition and I believe mine is the first to receive word from the Manila embassy... although hopefully I'm not the only one now!

My Philippines case was finally reopened today as well, although I ONLY received the "On July 27, 2006, this case was reopened on a USCIS motion, and the case is now in process." e-mail and not the DoS e-mail, which I guess is a good thing. Of course, I received that e-mail THREE TIMES heh...

Larry

Add me to the Philippines list! I got the same update today. It's about time!

I'm one of the Philippines recalled petitions (NOA1 March 13, NOA 2 March 29). After a few emails to NVC, they finally emailed me back on June 29 and said they were forwarding my recalled petition to VSC. I have received no updates since, so I finally decided to call VSC for the first time just a few minutes ago. The woman who I spoke to told me that my petition was "back in the building," and she even confirmed that the petition was back in my fiancee's Administrative File. Now mind you, this was after a canned speech by her telling me that if there were any updates I would receive them in the mail (which I haven't). She was very helpful, and even explained the whole IMBRA process to me, even though none of it was news to me thanks to these message boards. I was leery of her information because I know others have called and been given misinformation because the petition was mistaken for the Administrative File, or for the original submission, etc, so I repeatedly asked her "So you're saying the entire file is there, with the recalled petition, and you now have everything you need to proceed with the RFE?" Anyway, I do suggest anyone here call Vermont if you haven't yet and see if you get the same kind of answers. As a reminder, here's the process to get ahold of a person:

Vermont Service Center

1-800-375-5283

Then press 1-2-6-1

Enter Receipt Number

Then press 3-2-1

Good luck!

Larry

Milestogo, it may be small consolation, but you're not quite the last person to get an update...count me in too! After e-mailing NVC they finally told me they had received my recalled petition from Manila and had sent it along to VSC on June 29. No news or updates since...if I were to say I was getting antsy, that would imply the last several months have been a breeze - which they haven't been! It is frustrating...it's been almost 2 weeks, and even the slowest mail service in the US shouldn't take that long...I figure I give Vermont until the end of the week, and then call and ask if they've received it yet.

Larry

I posted this in the Recalled NOA2 thread, but since more people are looking here I figured I'd re-post for those people going through the Philippines.

For anyone waiting for their petition to return from Manila, I finally received this today from NVC:

Dear Sir/Madam:

The National Visa Center (NVC) has received your inquiry regarding a petition sent to the NVC from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General. The petition was received at the NVC and is being forwarded to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS - formerly known as INS) for processing. All inquiries and submissions of additional documentation should be directed to the CIS office that originally approved the petition.

Regards,

National Visa Center

lvf/smw

Now keep in mind that 2 days ago their reply was the typical "NVC sent the petition to the US Embassy in Manila on April 1" and only when I followed it up with an e-mail mentioning that it has been almost a month since Manila sent the petition back did I get THIS e-mail. So maybe they're just trying to get me off their backs for now. But it's the first sign of ANYthing for me since April 1, so I'm thrilled. When and if my online status is updated I'll post it here, because as far as I know no one going through the Philippines on an NOA2 has been given word yet on their RFE.

Larry

For anyone waiting for their petition to return from Manila, I finally received this today from NVC:

Dear Sir/Madam:

The National Visa Center (NVC) has received your inquiry regarding a petition sent to the NVC from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate General. The petition was received at the NVC and is being forwarded to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS - formerly known as INS) for processing. All inquiries and submissions of additional documentation should be directed to the CIS office that originally approved the petition.

Regards,

National Visa Center

lvf/smw

Now keep in mind that 2 days ago their reply was the typical "NVC sent the petition to the US Embassy in Manila on April 1" and only when I followed it up with an e-mail mentioning that it has been almost a month since Manila sent the petition back did I get THIS e-mail. So maybe they're just trying to get me off their backs for now. But it's the first sign of ANYthing for me since April 1, so I'm thrilled. When and if my online status is updated I'll post it here, because as far as I know no one going through the Philippines on an NOA2 has been given word yet on their RFE.

Larry

Madison Man, I'm in the same exact situation as yours. I e-mailed NVC a few days ago, asking if they had received my recalled petition as it had been 3 weeks since Manila sent it back, and they replied with a negative. It is frustrating not knowing exactly where the petition is...I've been very patient with the waiting aspect and will continue to be, but I'd be a lot less stressed if I knew my petition was at least sitting on a pile somewhere in the USA waiting to be processed.

Does anyone know the average time it takes for something mailed from the US Embassy in Manila to the US? And, does anyone know if the recalled petitions are sent to NVC then USCIS, or just straight to USCIS?

Thanks!

Larry

Oh, one other thing. To those who have spoken to Vermont USCIS and have been told something more up-to-date then the online service...when you go through the automated Vermont phone service, does it still give you the old "Approved on..." message? I wonder only because, when I call it gives me the old info (same as the website) and then says "This information is the most current on file. If you speak to a customer representative, they will have no further information on your case." I'm just curious if this is really true or not....if there is proof here that someone was told something different by a Vermont rep then the automated message, then I will start calling them directly and inquiring.

Thanks again!

Larry

Zethris, I am also going through Vermont for a Philippines application as well, and I've received no word yet either. My NOA2 was March 30, and the petition was sent back from Manila on June 2. My USCIS online status is still "Approved on March 30." Just giving you a bit of consolation that you're not alone! I haven't heard from anyone going through Manila who have received an updated email yet...it can't be much longer though!

Larry

Tinmaricel, I'm in the same boat as you. My dates are all 2 weeks earlier than yours (NOA1 on March 13, NVC on April 1, etc) but my petition was also sent back from Manila on June 2. I've received no update, and emailing NVC and CSC (even though it went through Vermont) both confirmed that it has not arrived in the US yet. I've been trying to call the Vermont Service Center since yesterday to see if their automated system has updated, but it keeps telling me that there's a problem accessing the info and to call back later. So yep, same boat as you. As soon as I hear an update, or can get through to Vermont, I'll post it. Please do the same for us Manila petitioners?

Larry

Just to add my progress here, my NOA1 was March 13, NOA2 was March 16, NVC sent the petition to Manila on March 30. I received an email on May 24 from Manila stating my petition was being recalled. I e-mailed the California Service Center on a lark (even though I went through Vermont) and they seemed very helpful, stating that they contacted NVC and they still show that the petition was sent to Manila on March 30. After emailing them yesterday, I discovered they didn't actually send out the petition until June 2. Which is strange, since I've yet to read of anyone with such a late mailing date. I'm assuming now that most Philippines cases will have this timeline...I just hope that there is some kind of order kept so those with earlier NOA dates are processed first, but I realize that's not very likely.

Larry