MarryMe987654

My banking and credit experience in the US since 2019:

Note that I got my SSN less than a month after arriving in the U.S.

1) Tried being added to my husband's credit union: got denied. They wanted to see greencard

2) Applied for Bank of America debit card online: got approved and card within few weeks. However, they deactivated my account and returned my money in a check after calling in to inquire where my PIN is.

3) Husband added me to his Capital One and Discover credit cards as authorized user over the phone and online: easy and quick process. Just asked for my SSN. This definitely started my credit history. I started getting pre-approved cards in the mail. My credit score started at 790+.

4) Applied for Capital One bank account online: quick and easy process too and I am very happy with them. I have added my spouse on it so it is a joint account with me as a primary.

5) Got an offer for a Walmart credit card: no annual fee and good rewards so I got it: easy and quick process online.

6) Got an offer for $200 sign up on American Express with no annual fee and good rewards: easy and quick online process too.

7) Finally got my greencard so I was added to my husband's credit union account.

The new cards put a ding on my credit score (which is expected) but as long as I pay them off each month, I am good.

4 minutes ago, adkokk7321 said:

Lost phone is possible, but why would her profiles be gone?

Whoever found her phone probably cleaned up the phone?

I am not sure how snapchat works though so I could be wrong...

No one seemed to have suggested the possibility of the girl losing her phone.

If her phone was lost and there's no other way to contact you to let you know, then it's not easy to say that 'she didn't want to be contacted'.

I have two first names and coming from the Philippines, I knew that it would be a challenge to use my name in the U.S after getting married.

One thing that I noticed is in some online forms, fields do not allow spaces or punctuation marks and my first name has both. When this is the case, I separate two names by making the second first name an upper case.

For example, if my name is Ma. Christina, it would be MaChristina. If it allows spaces, it would be Ma Christina.

If there is no space or punctuation between the first two names, I just don't sweat it anymore because the forms they used probably does not allow it. 

Most importantly, I ALWAYS use my middle name in any forms I fill out so it will be clearer that I have two first names, a middle name and a last name. I don't even explain what it is as middle name is treated like a given name here, whereas in the Philippines, middle name is my maiden name.

Hope this helps.

Same in Florida. I was able to get a Florida-resident tuition (not that I pay full tuition as I have been studying through grants) just by providing my marriage certificate to prove marriage to a Florida resident as I had only been living in Florida for less than a year when I enrolled. It's true that they require one year residency but it's just one of many conditions that can be met to qualify for the in-state tuition.

I provided credential evaluation from their accredited agency so I can get credit for some of the courses I have taken overseas including the other usual requirements (tax forms, ID, bill, etc.)

I got my DL in Pensacola, Florida 3 weeks after arriving in the US through K1. I wasn't married yet so no AOS filed even.

I presented my SS card, a piece of mail from USPS and my I-94.

I had a DL from the Philippines which I also showed.

I took the computerized exam and then the driving test.

I was given a DL with one year validity and says 'Temporary' on the card.

Hope this helps

I opened an account with Capital One online. I did not have to submit anything. Just provided the SS number in my online application.

Very happy with them so far. 

I am in Florida.

Got my driver's license with one year expiration date before I got married in 2019.

Renewed my  license last month with my 2-year GC. Got an 8-year expiration date this time.

I used my Philippine passport and birth certificate as proof of citizenship when I renewed my passport in November 2019. I did it through a consular outreach mission. I did not have my greencard yet then.

Hope this helps!

Received this today from Public Diplomacy Section <info@phembassy-us.org>

Source: https://philippineembassy-usa.org/public-advisory-on-consular-outreach-missions/

Normally, the old birth certificates that is typewritten or handwritten in old birth certificate forms are the ones with problem as they seem to use old technology to capture a copy of it for print out in security papers. The new birth certificates have better quality.

There has been reports of issues with the print out but they are eventually sorted out anyway. My birth certificate is from 1984 and is not the best copy but I got through NVC and embassy just fine.

June 18, 2020

Thank you, @Wuozopo, this is an awesome, detailed response. 

We kind of want to make sure that he still gets a refund because he splits it with his wife because of the dependent child that they share together.

Thank you for the responses. These are certainly helpful. 

I forgot to mention that we live in Florida and we don't pay state taxes. Thank you. 

3 minutes ago, NancyNguyen said:

It is only half of 2020, you need to file next year not now.

True. But I thought I can make quarterly payments on it so it's not too much of a payment by next year. I also want to make sure that the $300 that I am setting aside every month is enough to cover it.

Hello,

I have been trying to figure this out and hoping you guys can help me.

I have been married since August 2019 and my husband filed MFJ for 2019.

Employed February 2020. Got my GC in March 2020.

I am trying to figure out the taxes that I need to pay but the estimator in IRS is telling me that I won't be owing anything it calculates my husband's earning and tax info as well since we are MFJ. That doesn't seem right to me.

Re my job-- I work as a contractual QA for a Canadian software company. I get 38k CAD. No deductions or benefits taken out from my paycheck. I get paid every 15th and 30th of the month.

I received Pell Grant last week for $3k.

How do I calculate my tax payments and when and where should I make payments on it?

Thank you.

14 hours ago, snowcat said:

For immigrants, I guess particularly those who immigrated through marriage, who pays for your immigration fees? Is it you (the immigrant) yourself, your US Citizen spouse, or do you split the cost? Just curious.

 

My husband has helped me pay for mine, but has also argued that I should probably shoulder the full cost since it's my immigration, not his (we both work full-time, though he earns a bit more than me). Just want to note that he's not an(removed) or anything 😅he's actually a great husband, and will help me pay for stuff if we discuss it, but that's just his rationale and I'm wondering how many other couples have the same argument lol.

K1 filing fee - he paid

Document requirements from Manila - I paid

Travel and lodging expenses - I paid

Medical - I paid

Air ticket to USA - I paid most of it, he contributed $500

Monetary gift money - I paid (supposed to be 50/50 but it's ok. It's just something that we talked about on the side but he was not able to follow through. His mom's still happy with the cash)

Marriage license - I paid

Marriage certificate and courthouse wedding - he paid (he got annoyed when I tried to pay. Lol)

Driving license - he paid

AOS and biometrics - he paid

Right now, our strategy is he pays all the debt he acquired before marriage and I will pay for all the bills, insurance and groceries. We have the same income. So far, this is working great and we're so close to being debt-free.

Managing finances is still a challenge for me as a couple as I am very strict with finances and has a completely different strategy than my husband. The great thing about him is he is always willing to talk to me and do 'financial meetings' with me and agree or disagree on my plans. I think in the beginning, our life kind of begins as working as a team and I trust him and have confidence with him as a mate. So I know that even our plans and decisions together or as individual may not be the best, I know he always have our best interest in mind.

Having said that, my husband will never say "it's yours..." or "it's mine..." and kind of get annoyed when I do that like when I object to putting my name on the house deed as it's "his house" and it should be passed down to his family line because it's an inheritance. He told me that he trust that when time comes, I will be fair and will know what to do.

I hope you guys figure it out and talk about things that matters.

12 hours ago, G C said:

Right!? I hope it's acceptable! I just sent them an email to confirm.

I also don't have my passport right now, it's being renewed at the embassy.

I think you can 'borrow' it from them if you need it. I remember I had that concern when I was offered to renew my passport. They say if I need to travel or use it temporarily, just call them and they will send it back. Give that a try if you're out of options. 

EAD is issued by USCIS, who is government. So technically, EAD is a gov't-issued ID.

Maybe bring your passport, just in case... and bring your marriage certificate to explain any difference in legal name.

I started using my married name the moment we walked out of the court room with a marriage certificate on hand

I didn't change name on my driver's license yet though since it's not expiring until August this year.

However, my SSN's already on my married name.

EAD and Greencard are using my married name.

Check your I-485 form and see if this is the same info that you have on top right corner of the page:

Check the bottom left corner if this is what you see:

If not, you probably filled out an outdated form and need to download the new one from the USCIS website and resubmit.

You can find the new form here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

Check your I-485 form and see if this is the same info that you have on top right corner of the page:

Check the bottom left corner if this is what you see:

If not, you probably filled out an outdated form and need to download the new one from the USCIS website and resubmit.

You can find the new form here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

On 3/11/2020 at 8:58 AM, MarryMe987654 said:

Things I (the immigrant) discovered I love here:

1) 300 mbps Internet for $60

2) Drive through everything

3) Walmart grocery pick-up

4) Amazon

5) Big parking lots with big car spaces

6) I love the beaches in the Philippines... but Pensacola's a different level!

7) Road

8 Mail system

9) Garbage collection system

 

I am sure there's more that I can't think of right now

10) I love the hot water

11) I love the automatic washer and drier

12) I love seeing all the 'new' (for me) animals such as possum, squirrels, birds, etc.

13) I love seeing the various colorful flowers blooming out of nowhere

14) I love using the oven--prepare it, shove it in, put on timer and forget it... I avoid to buy ready-made frozen stuff though so I make it myself.

15) I love Netflix and Amazon Prime videos

Things I (the immigrant) discovered I love here:

1) 300 mbps Internet for $60

2) Drive through everything

3) Walmart grocery pick-up

4) Amazon

5) Big parking lots with big car spaces

6) I love the beaches in the Philippines... but Pensacola's a different level!

7) Road

8 Mail system

9) Garbage collection system

I am sure there's more that I can't think of right now

Yep, we've heard about that 14 day quarantine as well.

We don't think it's gonna be worth the risk especially we are only planning about going home for a week.

We've informed my family already and of course, we are all sad

Oh well....