moosy

Anyone having trouble logging into MyUscis? It claims i have either tried logging into it too often (I did not; first try it said that), or that it's due to inactivity. I have checked it a few weeks ago. I have yet to get my greencard (which will be end of September, it looks like). 

Ok, so I just do the exact same thing I did with the federal bank, but then with a credit union. I'll become a member Monday (there is only one credit union near me, about 10 miles further down) and ask for all those things.

Thanks!

 I also read that for those secured loans, it's better to pay everything off apart from 9%, instead of only doing monthly installments, to get your credit score higher?

18 minutes ago, moosy said:

 

 

And (3) does anyone have a few ideas for good/cheap secured credit cards that give out to newbies? I'm honestly lost in trying to find one. I obviously don't want to pay fees, and I am fully able to pay back whatever I loan. When I google, it seems that the good ones aren't available in Georgia, or you need to be a client at their bank. Is it worth getting a new bank account for? 

 

Wanted to add that I do not yet have a job, so a few of the best secured credit cards are out

My main question: has anyone had any bad luck with (1) maiden name vs married name?

I opened a bank account months ago at a Federal Bank on my maiden name. I was told this was going to be the best considering I have a Belgian account of which I'm still putting money into my American account every time the dollar is low. I asked the Belgian bank if I could change my maiden name to my married name, but that's apparently linked to many things and the short answer was : if you really want to, yes, but it takes a lot of paperwork.

But now I have changed my maiden name to my married name on my SSN, and I am wondering if this will be a problem for my bank trying to get my credit score (as they use my maiden name).

I might be making this too complicated, though. I just want to make sure that whenever I add 10K from the Belgian account, that the IRS or whoever checks it, can clearly see it's from and to the same person.

In addition, I tried getting a credit card from that bank, and was denied. They do not have secured credit cards. They suggested doing a "shared loan". Is this the same as the (2) secured installment? I googled it and I think that's what they said. I found this explanation for others who didn't understand that part either: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Understanding-FICO-Scoring/Adding-an-installment-loan-the-Share-Secure-technique/td-p/4506756

As I understand it as a regular consumer with almost zero knowledge of financial things, you basically give the bank money to say "hey, I'm going to loan this amount and this exact amount will serve for you as making sure I can pay it back". Although I get this part, I don't understand why anyone ever would want to do this aside from building credit? I am paying the bank to loan money I already have? I don't understand.

And (3) does anyone have a few ideas for good/cheap secured credit cards that give out to newbies? I'm honestly lost in trying to find one. I obviously don't want to pay fees, and I am fully able to pay back whatever I loan. When I google, it seems that the good ones aren't available in Georgia, or you need to be a client at their bank. Is it worth getting a new bank account for? 

14 hours ago, JeffJZuk said:

For those who have received there EAD's (you lucky ducks you :P) did you ever receive a physical approval letter first in the mail or did you just receive the card?

I only have the approval letters for now (one for EAD and one for AP)

Ok, I just called like you said (still feel silly about the MSC haha) so yeah, that'll do it.

They just repeat the information you can find on MyUSCIS, because they claimed they just received my EAD and AP application. I also checked my I-485 and it also stated they just received my fingerprint fee (I have already done biometrics). So it's not more up to date than the website. Sorry, guys! Calling is not more up to date than the website.

I mailed my package from some quiet town near atlanta (not atlanta itself). But they're all at MSC/NBC, so it's just going to depend on whose pile you are in if you're going to be lucky. sorry  

Hope you all get good news as well!

Can't wait until I get the actual card in my hands!

I feel silly now. I'll look those up and call them again. (my phone doesn' have the alphabet by the numbers lol)

13 minutes ago, T_P said:

Congrats....when you call USCIS and press 1 to english then check your status what it says? Does it say approved? I wonder if that system really gives you the latest information about a case. Would you mind checking that?

I'm not sure. I just called the system and it keeps saying I did not enter enough digits. How do I do the MSC part then? I figured I could just ignore it, but that's apparently not correct.

I literally JUST received a notice in my (physical) mailbox that my AP and EAD have been approved, and that my card will come in a few days! It says on the top "notice date 11/22/2017", so at that date they were working on my date (with received date 9/11/2017)

WOOHOO!

Don't have the card yet, though. And the online stuff still hasn't changed (it still says biometrics fee, and received documents on AP and EAD).

Our dates are coming up!!!

I have 13 September I think; I hope I'm one of the lucky ones!! Or just not the UNlucky ones, because the ones waiting since July must be losing their minds seeing September people getting their EADs! haha

Hah, Atlanta field office shows they're working on 6 December 2016 green card applications. I hope they just forgot to update their processing times.

And if the NBC is actually correct, they should have recently sent me my EAD. I have no idea, as none of my applications are being updated; everything just says received, and the 485 says they received my fingerprint fee (no update, despite having had the biometrics letter and having been there already).

Guess we'll just have to wait and wait and wait.

(My NOA1 = September 13)

When I moved to the US, I brought over 6 months worth of epilepsy medication, allergy medication, and birth control (all FDA approved of course) and they didn't even open my suitcase. I had another 2 month supply with me in my purse on the flight (in case they would lose my bag), which is what I always do when I travel, and no one has ever mentioned anything in the past 21 flights I've taken. So just breathe. If it's legal, it's fine. If you are truly terrified, let your doctor write you a note in English that you need this medication and put that on top with a "doctor's note for TSA security". I used to carry that with me until I found out after 8 flights that they don't seem to care lol

Edit: although the prescriptions were mine, there would be no way to track it as it didn't have my name on it. It was still fine.

I'm from September 9, and have not received any update; my i-485 is also still on "fingerprint fee received" despite having had the biometrics appointment done and over with for over a month. I'm thinking the visajourney estimate mid-december on my profile is going to be closer to the actual date to receive my EAD/AP

You can go to healthcare.gov and fill out a form on their site; they will then call you up and discuss what would be best for you. It's a shortterm coverage thing, and it never includes pre-existing conditions. I have one at the moment, and I'm paying around 210 a month for it, until I can enroll in november via the marketplace (which does cover pre-existing conditions).

Went to biometrics appointment today, which was at 11 AM in Atlanta (East side). I went in at 10h20, stood in line to get a form to fill in, and then stood in line to get a ticket and get my hands checked (they wanted to see if it would work), and then had to sit down until my number was called (20 minutes) to have my picture taken, put down an electronic signature, and get my fingerprints done.

Went smoothly, and it was a very clean and roomy office. 

I was out before 11 AM. So mine took a bit longer, but it did not feel very long.

I guess it's now waiting without having to do anything anymore.

I was in the exact same situation as above.

I had taken the tests to get my driver's license before I got married on my K1. The driver's license was valid until the i-94. We married a month ago, and I filed for AOS, EAD, AP. I got back the notices of actions.

Yesterday, my driver's license expired. I went back today to ask for a renewal based on the document above.

The lady at the DMV wasn't sure that was valid but she was kind and called people who knew more about this without any attitude. They guided her through the process on the phone.

She needed my NOA1 for my i-485, but also checked the others. She needed my passport to scan, and my SSN (no card needed).

They had to take another picture. She explained it was valid another 4 months. That seems to be enough for the average EAD to arrive, I think.

I also had to pay 50 dollars. She did check with me first.

If anyone else does this, take into consideration the 4 months start from application, not the end of your driver's license. So if you can easily wait and not drive a week or two, then you might want to wait a while.

I can't go a day without my car, as I do the grocery shopping, and I go to the gym etc.

So good news for K1s in Georgia who want to drive!!

Thank you zilchfox, for the link you gave me. She based herself on that to call someone.

Just received my biometrics appointment letter today, sent on the 15th, arrived today on the 22nd, and date is the 4th of October at 11 AM.

My NOA1 was dated the 13th but arrived start of this week (18th I think). So if you're in the Atlanta area, it seems the biometrics appointment letter just takes a few days after the NOA1 to arrive, about a work week.

Thank you! In the same situation. Will go this week

I had this in the middle of my K1 process, so everything was done with my first passport, then the most important page got almost torn out, and I had to get a new one. They invalidated my old one by cutting it up and placing a Dutch stamp on every page saying it was cancelled.

When I went to the embassy, I had similar worries, but everything was fine. It seems to either connect automatically for them, or they don't care. And for a government who cares so deeply about every detail, I assume the underlying system is decent, and shows your past and current passport or something. 

I didn't even have a question at the embassy, or when I went through my point of entry.

So breathe.

Hello all,

I've sent my AOS, AP, and EAD on the 9th of September (a Friday).

The notifications via text and email came in on the next Thursday. The NOA1s came in the mail this Monday (18th) with a notice date of 13 September.

Anyone else dreading more of this waiting game?

And knowing it's not the last time either ...

But hey, more rights every time, right?!

Can't wait to work, because I've been driving myself and my husband crazy. Luckily, we don't need to live paycheck to paycheck (I have savings), but it's not fun seeing him slave away in this heat every day, and me sitting at home having trouble keeping my motivation up for longer than an hour to do something useful.

It's like this forced unemployment drains all my energy. 

So this specific poster will be absurdly happy when she can work again.

They don't care one bit about how much money you as the beneficiary have. They need to know that your fiance (living in the US) is the person who can provide for you.

I had to do the same, even though I had plenty of savings. They do not care about that, because your fiance will be the one having to provide for you.

I was unemployed during the exact timing of my K1 filing, and they, again, did not care one bit.

Howeverm if you are the person who is the sponsor, then they look at INCOME level yearly. If your sister is in your household (as in: living together), how are you not calculating in her income? Or do you just mean your family in general and you don't have a joined household? Yes, your sister can be co-sponsor. However, note that you of course need permission, that she needs to give a lot of info about her  finances (which can get a little tricky), and that you will need her again the next time.

You mentioned you were able to save a lot the last  couple of years. If you are required to show your last tax income stub, would you make the yearly income? Because in that case, there's no problem either. My (now husband) fiance did not have his tax return from 2016 yet, so he used the 2015 one, and that was fine.

I had the same interview date and also got the issued message 3 days later (might have been faster, because I only checked then.)

Have you googled the address? Maybe it's an embassy or something?

Interview went very well! I was very nervous, but it went smoothly, and I was approved. I'm so happy! I leave end of the month!