Jen&Aaron

Congratulations Cécy!!! At long last!!! And thanks for keeping track of the July filers, it was definitely reassuring to know of others in the same boat!

Thanks, I'm glad it's over, for now and so excited i can travel back to my country without visa worries and that I get to use the GC&US citizen immigration lane (oh yeah! no more 1h wait and scare that they might not let me through to be with my loved one). And no problem with the tracking, it helped me too . We'll have to check back in August to see how MsA second interview goes. Cross fingers for them.

Edit:

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On July 17, 2008, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

Received on my Email at 2:45pm, so about 4h after we left USCIS. That was quick.

Yeah, same here, I'm happy in the knowlege I can leave the US to see Australia now and I'll be able to get back in again - I've already booked my flight for December! I'll be able to stand in the same queue as my husband!

MsA - hope the interview goes well for you!

Congrats!

On a completely random note, I went on USCIS to see if there was anything special and found out that on July 1st they actually put my I-485 online. 351 days after they received it. It just tells you that you never know when it will actually suprised.

I was so surprised not to find any red writting that I had to double check it was really mine.

Ha! Come to think of it, I never actually checked whether mine made it online, I got so sick of seeing red it was making me see red (so to speak)!

I received my greencard in the mail today - pretty quick, only took a week from the interview date and considering Independence Day was in the middle of that, I'm very impressed with the new Raleigh USCIS office!

Jen&Aaron : Good luck on your interview today. I wish you the best for it.

Thank you Cécy! It all went well. Our interview was scheduled for 7.45am which is way too early in the morning for me but we got through it!

The USCIS office in the Research Triangle Park area is very nice and shiney and new and all the staff we dealt with were pretty friendly and professional. Our interviewer was very nice, she mainly asked about our documents - the only thing which threw me a bit was her asking for a letter from Aaron's employer which I wasn't expecting. I said I'd sent one in the original K1 application package and luckily I had brought along copies of everything I sent in that package as well as in my I-485 package so she was OK once I showed her the copy of the letter. She had a look at our photos and joint bank account statements, utility bills, etc. etc. and just asked a few questions about when we got married, where we were living now, how we originally met. It was all in all pretty painless and she said the card should arrive in about three weeks. So we were able to celebrate our first wedding anniversary tonight as well as me getting my green card!

Happy anniversary and congratulations on the approval.

You're reminding me that I need to boost my husband for the employer's letter (I want an updated one). Did you need one for both of you or just the USC?

Thank you!

The interviewer just wanted the employer letter for my husband (the USC). The things she asked for were: the interview appointment letter, both our drivers licenses, both our passports, our marriage certificate, a copy of our 2007 tax return, letter from Aaron's employer, bank statement, utility bills, insurance documents and photos. She also checked my medical in the file she had, which was done in Australia in April 2007 so was more than a year old but she said it was still valid. She checked the vaccination sheet. She asked when I entered the USA, when we got married, whether we had a ceremony, where was it, whether I had visited the USA prior to that in the last 2 years, how long I stayed, how we first met and how our relationship developed, was I working and where, where do we live, have we bought a house together and then she asked about who the different people were in the photos we'd brought (the ones which had us with family and friends). The only things she asked Aaron directly were was he still working at his place of work and what was his income last year. It was all pretty routine, she was mainly concentrating on whether she had all the documentation in her file.

So, best of luck for your upcoming interview!

Jen&Aaron : Good luck on your interview today. I wish you the best for it.

Thank you Cécy! It all went well. Our interview was scheduled for 7.45am which is way too early in the morning for me but we got through it!

The USCIS office in the Research Triangle Park area is very nice and shiney and new and all the staff we dealt with were pretty friendly and professional. Our interviewer was very nice, she mainly asked about our documents - the only thing which threw me a bit was her asking for a letter from Aaron's employer which I wasn't expecting. I said I'd sent one in the original K1 application package and luckily I had brought along copies of everything I sent in that package as well as in my I-485 package so she was OK once I showed her the copy of the letter. She had a look at our photos and joint bank account statements, utility bills, etc. etc. and just asked a few questions about when we got married, where we were living now, how we originally met. It was all in all pretty painless and she said the card should arrive in about three weeks. So we were able to celebrate our first wedding anniversary tonight as well as me getting my green card!

OMG I am so so so so happy. My Hubby called me at work this morning (he wasn't working) to tell me we just got a letter from the department of Homeland Security. I was like OPEN IT! (which is why he called me).

We finally have our interview scheduled. July 17th. So exactly 1 year and 1 day from the time they received the application.

I am so releived.

Now I finally have my excuse to take the time to do our wedding album.

The cutest thing? Today it's been 11 months since we got married and I was like:"hey it would be so cool if we got something from them today of all days." And we did.

We are not going to renew my work permit. I'm taking the risk. I don't see why they wouldn't approve us so I don't want to pay 320$ just in case. If something happens, it will make things tight, but it'll still be all right.

Congratulations Cécy! So glad to hear that they FINALLY caught up and scheduled your interview!

So the Charlotte office processing times went forward this time It's still behind what they announced two months ago, but non the less.

June 02 2007 is the date they announce.

I have not seen the processing times for the Raleigh-Durham office. It doesn't seem to be listed yet.

Oh well, at least SOMETHING is happening there!

FINALLY!

I got home from work today and Aaron says to me "There's a letter on the bench you might've been waiting for". Just a slight understatement.

We have our interview scheduled for June 30th at 7.45am (coincidentally, that's the date of our 1st wedding anniversary!). And the interview is at the Research Triangle Park office thank goodness!

Hurrah - at long last!

I hope everyone still waiting gets some good news soon too ...

(Edited this post as I just checked online to see if the status had been updated there but STILL nothing online for my I-485 receipt number.)

I'm going to call USCIS again in the beggining of May. it will be 3 months then that I have not asked them anything. I know it won't bring anything, but in certain way it makes me feel better. Plus I still can't see my I-485 online (probably never will), so I have an excuse.

A friend online advised me to contact the senators of our State, but I wonder given that we are not out of the processing times yet if they would/could do anything.

It's really odd that both our I-485s were lodged at that same time, at the same office, neither of them are online yet and a bunch of others lodged after ours at the same office have already been processed ... though, I think you're right, nothing will be done until they're outside of the processing times. I'm actually starting to think they really WERE in the cleaning supplies cupboard ...

They did it. The Charlotte office processing dates went BACK in time.

March 15th, processing timeframe for the I-485: June 15 2007.

April 15th, processing time frame for the I-485: May 16 2007

:dead:

I guess they found a pile of application in the cleaning supplies room. That's the only way I can explain it.

Urgh! Maybe ours were in there ...

9 Month today since the package arrived in Chicago.

Still nothing.

Patience, patience, patience.

Our rental agreement ends in June, the house we rent has been put on the market. I sure hope we get something before that, I don't look forward to the possible issues due to changing our address.

Edited for spelling.

9 months exactly for me too ... and nothing, not even entered online yet.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that something happens before June! Surely before June!

Good luck ... I don't think you'll hate Australia, although I'm probably biased (I miss my home country!).

It is crazy that anything immigration related has to be done at the US consulate in Sydney. I had to fly up there from Melbourne for my K1 interview, despite there being a US consulate in Melbourne and the US embassy in Canberra which is closer. Don't know why that is!

Hope you enjoy yourself!

Congrats on your job Feraina, and great that your husband is going to follow you to the other end of the world!

Thanks! I know I'm really lucky.

And thanks to all of you who gave advice. I feel much more at ease about the future knowing that there's the option of DCF! (Although how crazy is it that you have to go file in Sydney in person even if you live in Queensland, and return again a month later for the interview? I guess this is what happens when you have only 20 million people living on a whole continent!)

Cécy, if it's any consolation, I filed for AOS with the Charlotte office back in July around the same time as you, and haven't heard anything at all yet. I just came here on K1, nothing special about my case. My receipt number hasn't been entered in the system so I don't know what's going on! Pretty frustrating, because when I check the AOS timelines for Charlotte it looks like some who filed months later than me have already got their greencard! Anyway, as soon as I see the Charlotte processing times change to mid July, I will be chasing them up too!!!

Welcome to our thread. I'm happy to have someone else from the Charlotte Office here especially since you filed around the same time. It's motivating for me.

Those who got approved and filed after you are likely to have been transfered to the Chicago Office. The last interview registered on the VJ timeline for the Charlotte Office was in December for a couple who applied in may.

Well let's keep in touch and whoever hears something from USCIS first tells the other

Great, sounds good to me!

FINALLY touched . Got email today that green card will be here within 60 days. NO INTERVIEW. Well, I guess thats the least they do making us wait so long. Will let you know when the green card arrives! Good luck to those still waiting for some word!

Congratulations Ricardo ... and, even better, no interview! Nice to hear some good news!

Cécy, if it's any consolation, I filed for AOS with the Charlotte office back in July around the same time as you, and haven't heard anything at all yet. I just came here on K1, nothing special about my case. My receipt number hasn't been entered in the system so I don't know what's going on! Pretty frustrating, because when I check the AOS timelines for Charlotte it looks like some who filed months later than me have already got their greencard! Anyway, as soon as I see the Charlotte processing times change to mid July, I will be chasing them up too!!!

Welcome to our thread. I'm happy to have someone else from the Charlotte Office here especially since you filed around the same time. It's motivating for me.

Those who got approved and filed after you are likely to have been transfered to the Chicago Office. The last interview registered on the VJ timeline for the Charlotte Office was in December for a couple who applied in may.

Well let's keep in touch and whoever hears something from USCIS first tells the other

Great, sounds good to me!

Just adding my details to this list - a bit late I know!!!

USERNAME----------FILED-------RECEIVED-------NOA1------BIOMETRICS----TRANSFER-----INTERVIEW----APPROVED/STAMP--EAD*

yassmine2878-----06/14/07-----06/21/07-----07/05/07-----07/23/07------------------06/14/07(DORA)-Denied*

bradcanuck-------06/21/07-----06/27/07-----07/23/07-----07/27/07------------------01/11/08------yes------------123

P.T.(K2)---------06/22/07-----06/24/07-----07/05/07-----07/23/07------------------11/15/07------yes

Luz and Robin----06/23/07-----06/24/07-----07/02/07-----07/25/07------------------11/01/07------yes

Nyte-------------06/26/07-----06/xx/07-----07/02/07-----08/01/07------------------01/29/08------yes-------------67

bostonparis------06/25/07-----06/26/07-----07/03/07-----07/27/07------------------10/24/07------yes-------------79

cshell-----------06/25/07-----06/26/07-----07/03/07-----07/27/07------------------10/17/07------yes-------------79

pulteseller------06/26/07-----06/27/07-----07/06/07-----07/28/07-

chinohk----------06/27/07-----06/29/07-----07/10/07-----07/17/07------------------11/21/07------yes-------------74

MsA--------------06/27/07-----06/28/07-----07/06/07-----07/26/07-----------------11/07/07(2nd interview needed)-68

Jup1ter----------06/27/07-----06/28/07-----07/06/07-----07/31/07------------------------------------------------69

isismendoza------06/28/07-----06/29/07-----07/09/07-----07/31/07------------------09/14/07------yes-------------72

jw07-------------06/28/07-----06/29/07-----07/09/07-----07/31/07------------------11/20/07------yes-------------70

Racer's Girl-----06/28/07-----07/12/07-----07/--/07-----07/31/07--

Mandysbaby-------06/29/07-----07/02/07-----07/12/07-----08/10/07------------------11/06/07-----yes(FBI pending)-71

mrs.song---------06/29/07-----07/02/07-----07/11/07-----08/03/07------------------10/12/07------yes

Chelseafan-------06/29/07-----07/02/07-----07/16/07-----08/01/07------------------10/25/07------yes

LV&LC------------07/02/07-----07/03/07-----07/12/07-----08/06/07------------------10/11/07------yes-------------75

LovinJA----------07/02/07-----07/03/07-----07/11/07-----08/03/07------------------09/27/07------yes

Supladita--------07/02/07-----07/??/07-----07/05/07-----08/04/07------------------------------------------------77

Nicky44----------07/05/07-----07/09/07-----07/17/07-----08/16/07------------------10/18/07------yes-------------66

OjosAzules-------07/05/07-----07/06/07-----07/23/07-----08/07/07-----09/07/07-------------------yes

silviake---------07/06/07-----07/08/07-----07/16/07-----08/08/07------------------11/20/07----------------------67

gabytalbert------07/06/07-----07/09/07-----07/16/07-----08/06/07------------------10/30/07------yes

i adore u--------07/06/07-----07/08/07-----07/17/07-----08/08/07------------------11/29/07------yes-------------69

reeses16---------07/07/07-----07/09/07-----07/17/07-----08/15/07-----09/20/07-----09/26/07------yes-------------73

Nanusia&Lukasz---07/10/07-----07/11/07-----07/18/07-----08/08/07------------------11/29/07------yes-------------65

Sonshyne---------07/10/07-----07/16/07-----07/24/07-----08/16/07------------------10/18/07------yes-------------66

Paulily----------07/10/07-----07/11/07-----07/18/07-----08/13/07------------------09/25/07------yes

Bill and Hayley--07/10/07-----07/12/07-----07/19/07-----08/07/07------------------10/05/07------yes

Jen&Aaron--------07/10/07-----07/16/07-----07/25/07-----09/04/07------------------------------------------------64

kiwigirl224------07/11/07-----07/12/07-----07/19/07-----08/08/07------------------01/15/08----------------------65

divs76-----------07/12/07-----07/20/07-----07/--/07-----08/24/07------------------12/18/07------yes

iya--------------07/12/07-----07/16/07-----07/24/07-----08/14/07------------------10/16/07------yes-------------65

cdancer57--------07/12/07-----07/13/07-----07/23/07-----08/14/07------------------02/19/08------yes

igomo------------07/12/07-----07/15/07-----07/23/07-----09/19/07-----------------11/15/07(2nd interview needed)-71

miles------------07/12/07-----07/19/07-----07/30/07-----09/20/07------------------11/15/07------yes-------------65

Mike and Larisa--07/13/07-----07/xx/07-----07/20/07-----08/09/07------------------11/13/07------yes

Cécy-------------07/13/07-----07/16/07-----07/24/07-----08/22/07------------------------------------------------72

JelloShotGirl----07/13/07-----07/16/07-----07/23/07-----08/15/07-----10/03/07-------------------yes-------------66

CherylandMike----07/13/07-----07/15/07-----07/24/07-----08/10/07------------------10/19/07------yes

Ricardo----------07/14/07-----07/--/07-----07/25/07-----08/17/07-----12/18/07

Bjjammas---------07/14/07-----07/??/07-----07/17/07-----07/31/07------------------02/22/08------yes-------------173

JamalNTam--------07/16/07-----07/18/07-----07/27/07-----08/14/07------------------11/29/07------yes

Skeeter211-------07/16/07-----07/18/07-----07/26/07-----08/17/07------------------10/25/07------yes-------------64

lirachadsbaby----07/16/07-----07/18/07-----07/27/07-----08-30-07------------------02/11/08------yes

infomon----------07/16/07-----07/17/07-----07/26/07-----08/18/07------------------12/05/07----------------------63

javi1984---------07/16/07-----07/18/07-----07/27/07-----08/17/07------------------------------------------------70

n+alisa2006+l----07/16/07-----07/18/07-----07/26/07-----08/18/07------------------01/22/08------yes------------141

pushbrk----------07/17/07-----07/19/07-----07/27/07-----08/15/07------------------01/24/08------yes

Sol-de-Verano----07/18/07-----07/20/07-----07/--/07-----08/23/07-----08/27/07-------------------yes-------------63

bloom------------07/18/07-----07/20/07-----08/06/07-----08/21/07------------------12/06/07------yes-------------66

Icarus-----------07/18/07-----07/--/07-----07/--/07-----08/31/07------------------11/16/07------yes-------------86

ajames79---------07/19/07-----07/23/07-----xx/--/07-----08/25/07-----10/19/07-------------------yes-------------85

Karin und Otto---07/19/07-----07/24/07-----08/31/07-----09/13/07-----09/13/07-------------------yes-------------72

Griffon76--------07/20/07-----07/23/07-----xx/--/07-----08/29/07------------------01/31/08------yes-------------59

zeeofman---------07/20/07-----07/23/07-----xx/--/07-----08/30/07------------------11/08/07------yes

John&Diana-------07/21/07-----07/30/07-----09/08/07-----09/22/07-----10/30/07-------------------yes

chloe------------07/23/07-----07/24/07-----xx/--/07-----09/04/07-----10/16/07-------------------yes-------------73

Iyahata----------07/23/07-----07/23/07-----09/04/07-----09/12/07------------------01/16/07------yes-------------93

dee2701----------07/24/07-----07/25/07-----xx/xx/07-----09/07/07-----09/13/07-------------------yes

sk28 ------------07/24/07-----07/26/07-----never-------09/05/07-------------------11/20/07------yes

Safitu-----------07/24/07-----??/??/07-----08/29/07----09/06/07------09/21/07-------------------yes

TomYu------------07/26/07-----07/28/07-----10/15/07-----10/30/07-----12/03/07-------------------yes

ericalamb--------06/22/07-----06/24/07-----07/03/07-----07/31/07------------------10/24/07----------------------73

JohnInSeattle----06/27/07-----06/28/07-----07/09/07-----07/30/07------------------10/11/07----------------------83

RhondaM----------06/29/07-----07/--/07-----07/16/07-----

babyandherboy----07/03/07-----07/05/07-----07/13/07-----

Logres-----------07/07/07-----07/10/07-----07/18/07-----08/11/07-----09/20/07-----------------------------------69

DeaniWait--------07/09/07-----07/10/07-----07/--/07-----08/11/07--

SirLancelot------07/10/07-----07/12/07-----07/19/07-----09/06/07--

CanUsaCpl--------07/11/07-----07/27/07-----08/31/07-----09/22/07--

Livingwell-------07/15/07-----07/27/07-----

KHagen-----------07/19/07-----07/20/07-----

ali1978----------07/21/07-----07/23/07-----xx/--/07-----08/22/07--

Bigb42-----------07/23/07-----07/26/07-----

helzie-----------07/23/07-----07/25/07-----

GARSEMROD--------07/23/07-----07/25/07-----

Mattob-----------07/24/07-----07/26/07-----

rno310-----------07/24/07-----07/25/07-----

GabachaYucateca--07/24/07-----07/26/07-----

Swamped----------07/24/07-----07/26/07-----

And to give an idea of what's to come

10 Still waiting for an interview to be scheduled or transfer: pulteseller, Jup1ter, Racer's Girl, Supladita, Cécy, javi1984, Jen&Aaron, SirLancelot (last seen10th September 2007), CanUsaCpl (last seen 16th October 2007), ali1978 (last seen 21st August 2007)

Can't find the name on Visajourney but still waiting: DeaniWait

5 Waiting for decision (transfer/interview):

yassmine2878 * Case in the process of being re-opened, Logres (last seen 22nd October 2007), Ricardo

MsA and igomo(2ne interview needed)

1 pending on FBI Namecheck: Mandysbaby

5 Unknown (have gone through interview, no update on the list): If you know what happened, let me know. They might be inactive...

ericalamb (last seen October 16th 2007), JohnInSeattle (Last Seen: 3rd October 2007), kiwigirl224 (Last Seen: 7th December 2007), infomon (4th December 2007), Silviake (Last Seen: 3rd October 2007)

Cecy, I was hoping to check back in and see some movement on your status. I can't believe nothing yet. Well, not nothing - you do have a letter that at least shows they recognize you, which has to feel good... but still!

Grrrr!!

Yes it can be frustrated. At least I'm not the only one and I know my office is always a busy one. It's way behind on the dates compared to other states around us. Oh well. At least I'm with my husband, I have a job (and a good one), and I'm not afraid of being kicked out of the country because I know I followed the rules.

I guess I can be patient a few more month...

My plan is to call USCIS every 2 months or so, just for the pleasure of hearing their voice, to feel like I'm doing something, and maybe find out if I cleared the FBI namecheck.

I kind of expected it to take longer to go through than those who come here through K1 or K3. More scrutinity when you come as a visitor is to be expected. As long as we are together I can be patient

Cécy, if it's any consolation, I filed for AOS with the Charlotte office back in July around the same time as you, and haven't heard anything at all yet. I just came here on K1, nothing special about my case. My receipt number hasn't been entered in the system so I don't know what's going on! Pretty frustrating, because when I check the AOS timelines for Charlotte it looks like some who filed months later than me have already got their greencard! Anyway, as soon as I see the Charlotte processing times change to mid July, I will be chasing them up too!!!

Is there anyone else who can't find their case online and filed for AOS around 7/30? Just curious if I'm the only one left.

Thanks.

Yes, me! I filed back in mid-July 2007 and had biometrics at the beginning of September and my AOS case status is yet to appear, I just get the error:

Validation Error(s)

You must correct the following error(s) before proceeding:

Case Status Retrieval Failed

This Receipt Number cannot be found at this time in this automated system. Please check your case receipt number to see if it is correct. If you have questions or concerns about your case status, please contact the National Customer Service Center.

I know I'm entering it correctly because my EAD case status shows up OK. GRRR!

Does anyone know if it's the local USCIS office who enter it into the system? If so, Charlotte NC must just be incredibly slow. Going by the number of people on VJ who are from NC there seems to be very few so I don't know why the hold up! (Obviously there are many more people not on VJ but at least it's a small indicator.)

DON'T WORRY..I feel like you will be fine.

I emailed the DOT and just got a reply today! YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAY! I feel great cause I knew I was right! The local office is wrong and doesn't understand the paperwork. The gentleman got in touch with me today (from the DOT) and will be getting in touch with our local office to clear up the confusion. Best thing is Chris got his Perm Res Card yesterday and we got his DL today so...we won't have to deal with it again for 2 years. I would be worried about it if we had to go back and say umm sir, you are wrong, no give us his DL. Cause he might not be so nice to us!!

Ohh and according to our friend who is a Sheriff and the DMV our husbands (in my case) British DL doesn't work here. If they were pulled over they would get a ticket for "Driving without a License". Some states do allow them to be used our state does not. (cept for the 60 day limit I guess)

Good luck! I want to hear how it goes for you!

Excellent! I'm glad you were right and not the guy otherwise getting an EAD here would be pretty much pointless! Thank you for letting me know - and congratulations on Chris getting his greencard!!!

I'm curious about the overseas license thing for North Carolina because I think I did read somewhere that they don't accept them in NC but then how do international tourists drive here!? I was just assuming that, if they don't consider me a resident until I have a greencard, then I'm considered a tourist so should be able to drive with my Australian license ... surely tourists are allowed to drive in NC!

Just wanted to add something as we just got back from trying to get Chris' DL.

According to the guy who was serving us: Chris is not able to get a DL due to not having a valid VISA.

Yes he can work legally, yes he can have a social security card and pay taxes legally...but according to the copy sheet the gentleman was reading (for three minutes) it states that he can't get a DL.

I am so irritated at the moment. Hopefully the fact that we were transfered to Cali will mean out AOS will be sorted within the month...and that is just wishful.

But tell me this, how on earth do they expect people to pay for themselves to live if they can't drive to work legally...?

We don't live in a town that has public transportation...

We are doing this correctly, with the right paperwork, and waiting just like we should...we have the money to buy a car to help boost the economy which then would allow a job, to help pay for NC taxes. So how is it he can't have a DL. Backwards.

Gosh, it sounds insane! Now I'm worried because I'm planning to go for my license in Raleigh next week and I'm in the same situation - I have my EAD and social security number but I'm still pending AOS.

I'm wondering if, as your DMV guy said, your husband is not considered a resident then does it mean he can still use his overseas license to drive until his AOS is approved? The NC law just states that you are required to get an NC license within 60 days of becoming a resident. I notice there is hardly any information on the NC DMV site about international drivers.

I fully sympathise with your frustration! It's like the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

Hi - it seems like your wife is having a similar problem to what I am having! I came over on a K1 and got an SSN about 3 weeks after arriving here. When we filed for AOS and employment authorization, I used my maiden name as I didn't realise I should have put my new name on the USCIS forms at that point (I assumed that I should use the name I have in my passport to avoid confusion when travelling - I can't change that until I am in Australia and I can't go back to Australia until I have my greencard! ANYWAY ..) When we went to the local SSA to change my name on my SSN card the woman was unbelievably rude and unhelpful and said "no you can't change it because there is a name mismatch with immigration, you're not a US citizen, you can't do it, what do you need it for anyway" despite the fact that I was waving a legal document with my new name in front of her (i.e. our marriage certificate). I was absolutely furious. Luckily she didn't tear up my SSN card! When I got home, I checked the SSA site and she was absolutely wrong according to their own policy document: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203210

I don't have my licence yet and I am worried when I go to get it, they will refuse to issue it in my married name because of my SSN card.

I'm not sure whether your wife's employment card is in her maiden name or married name but, regardless, the following policy document should tell you whether the evidence you presented was what was required (which it seems to me it was): https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203200

And this is the policy document which details what is done to verify any immigration documents presented to the SSA: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203730 is the policy document

I don't know if the person you dealt with misinterpreted the policies but I would be printing them out and going back in and asking a few questions if I were you!

A long story short: My wife came here on a K-1. After we got married we went to the local SSA office and had a heck of a time getting her a SSN and card. Eventually we managed to get he a SSN and card but it was in her maiden name.

We received her authorization for Employment form USCIS and yesterday we went back to the SSA office to get her name changed on her SSN card.

The lady at the SSA office tore up her SSN card and said there was some type of name problem between SSA and USCIS. She gave us a letter saying that they needed to verify the authenticity of the documents I brought with me and it could take up to 4 weeks to get a new card, if we get a card at all.

( I brought her passport/visa, Authorization for Employment Card from USCIS, Military Dependant ID Card, Marriage Certificate, etc).

I called the SSA and go thte typical B.S. you get when you call a GOV agency.

We then headed over to the MVD/DMV to get her Drivers License. They wouldn't give her one because she did not have her SSN card.

I am on the verge of suing the SSA.

I really like Applebees. Also Pei Wei's, Red Lobster and Chick-fil-A.

Outback Steakhouse is good for when I'm feeling homesick - even though it's American, they've done a good job with the Aussie theme!

I think my favourite place is The Cheesecake Factory.

I love the bottomless glasses of soft drink in most US restaurants which is unheard of at home ... and that many restaurants have pages and pages in their menus ... sometimes it's really hard to choose though!

Hi there,

For Australia you DEFINITELY need to get the name AND fingerprint check done - I've just been through the interview process and the form which is sent from the Sydney Consulate in Packet 3 states that that is what you need. It says to contact the Australian Federal Police if you are not in Australia in order to organise this - otherwise you can go to your state police within Australia.

Good luck!

I now realize that I may not have provided sufficient proof of relationship on my K1 visa app. I provided three photos of us, one each from each of our trips to meet each other. I dated the photos and specified the location taken, however, after reading this site, it appears that may not be sufficient.

Assuming that additional proof of relationship is going to be asked of me, is it something that I can provide in advance, or do I have to wait until requested? In other words, can I supplement my petition right now (before being asked)? Is this wise?

Also, does the level of proof of relationship required vary by country? In other words, do certain countries raise more "red flags"?

Hi Duke,

I'm not sure of the entire proof of relationship you provided but just thought I'd let you know what we provided for the petition seeing as your fiancee is also from Australia (though I don't think there is any variance from the USCIS between one country and the next). Most importantly, we didn't get any RFEs.

The evidence we provided:

- a letter written by my fiance detailing how our relationship formed and how he proposed

- copies of about 10 emails/internet chat transcripts over a period of six months

- a copy of my passport photo page and passport page showing the date I entered the US

- a copy of my eTicket and itinerary for the US (this was just a printout of what I received via email from the travel agent as I didn't get a printed ticket)

- about four photos of us together, dated on the back

That's it!

Hopefully what you've already provided will be enough - they just need to see proof that you've been together in person within the last 2 years.

You *may* make August for your proper wedding. It took our petition 93 days to be approved and we filed at Texas (transferred to California) in October. I think we got in a slow queue as many petitions filed in November at Texas/California were approved ahead of ours. We then had a four week wait for it to get to the Sydney consulate, sometimes it only takes one - two weeks. Also, I didn't have my medical/fingerprinting done beforehand so there won't be that delay for you guys either. At present it looks like the wait time for the consulate interview appointment is about 28 days once they receive your packet 3. So it may all work to schedule! Best of luck!

SORRY ... incorrect info. Apparently you DO need the fingerprint check now as well - I just had to get mine today. The information says to contact the Australian Federal Police if you are overseas: http://www.afp.gov.au