MarryMe987654

32 minutes ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Yeah they are full of it at the SSA and the Philippines consular outreach. It is taking longer for the passport and did you do the ROM?

Yeah, I was there for ROM and then the personnel suggested that I do the passport renewal too to reflect my new name. It was a fairly easy process and I already got the requirements ready so I did it. 

Sorry to hear about your experience. I was lucky enough to meet an SSA personnel that knows what she's doing. I was able to get all my SSA affairs (application and name change) done fairly quickly despite getting a 'mismatch' in the beginning.

3 hours ago, Buster & Hitch said:

Hello! I am unsure of where to put this question so I will put it here! Please move if necessary. 

 

I arrived in St. Augustine Florida on a K1 visa in late September. When I went to apply for my SSN, the employee taking my application said when I get married and change my last name, I have 90 days from my marriage date to change my Canadian (home country) passport to my married name and bring it back to the SS office for updating. This is the first I had heard of this timeline. Most people say they apply for their AOS with their married name then go back to the office when they get their EAD with the new name. 

 

Any insight here? Changing my passport internationally, as most of you know, is a huge pain and I was hoping to do that one last. I'd been researching the SS process a ton so it was just odd to hear completely brand new instructions. Thanks!

I applied for my SSN name change shortly after getting married and only provided my marriage certificate and the actual SSN card with my maiden name on it (this is per SSA personnel's advise). I am located in Pensacola, Florida, by the way. 

Personally, I wouldn't want anything changed on my passport while in the middle of AOS but a recent Philippine embassy outreach encouraged me to do it (because of the convenience) and they assured that I will have my old and new passport back in 6 weeks and that's plenty of time before my AOS interview. So that solved my dilemma about messing with my passport.

Anyways, I haven't heard of that timeframe on changing passport name. That felt unnatural because SSA should not have a say on what name is on your passport. If you were granted the SSN in your maiden name, then the marriage certificate should suffice. 

Just my two cents. 

I was able to get my name changed on my SSN right after getting married.

Per, SSA's office instruction to me, I just need to bring my actual card and marriage certificate and they can do the name change.

I had another mismatch the second time they tried to process it but it was no biggie and they seem expect it especially after I told them it happened too during the first time I applied for SSN. After a week or so, I got my SSN card in my maiden name. 

By the way, this is all before I filed for AOS, EAD and AP. 

I envy these people that is asking about  what to do out of boredom and limitations as a foreigner. 

Since I got to the US 4 months ago, I have always been busy being a wife, stepmother a daughter-in-law and homemaker. 

This is completely new to me because back home, I just make the dough, pay the bills and provide for the whole household and I was good at it. I was not the domesticated kind. 

Now, I had to care for a disabled mother-in-law (she's in a wheelchair and needs to be helped 95% of the time), get up early to prepare breakfast and lunch for my new family and do all the chores around the house while my husband is gone. In addition, I drive my MIL around to doctors appointment and other errands.

My husband helps me when he gets home from work but as much as possible, I don't want him to do anything when he's home because his job is very tiring as it's physical work. 

I've been wanting to get my certifications completed before I get my EAD but I just don't have time to do it. I've also been wanting to polish mg resume and start painting again but I can't. 

Don't get me wrong, I love my life now and I love how my new family just loves me and support me... I just  didn't expect to be this occupied too soon after immigrating. It's good in a way, I guess, as I don't get sad or homesick very often. 

Sorry if this sounds like I'm ambushing OP's post. 

I had the same experience with DMV in Pensacola. I was able to get a one year temporary drivers license about 3 weeks after my arrival in the US. I only provided my i-94, passport and USC husband's passport. We were not married yet then so no I-485 or marriage certificate. No billing address either.

I think the written test is hard though although I passed it. Lol. It's probably because I'm not a native english speaker and get easily confused with overly worded questions. 

5 hours ago, KristineGB said:

Is it status of ssn application?

You can use it for SSN or any other govt agency cases that you want to check on. For SSN, it should show that an agency asked to verify your info and it would show if the query  has been returned to that agency. 

I think that's pretty standard. The letter is kind of a template that they give out when people applied for SSN. I believe all you can do now is wait for the card in the mail. If they found your maiden name in the system, then it shouldn't take too long. You can also check the status of your application here: https://save.uscis.gov/CaseCheck/CaseCheck.aspx

3 hours ago, Zach2015 said:

Wow. You got lucky!

It makes a lot of difference when we stumble upon the most helpful and knowledgeable people in a govt office. I turn my charming mode full on when I talk to them. Lol. I think it helps

On 10/5/2019 at 12:13 AM, Jaime'n'Jenny said:

Can she change her status to Married on the passport and keep her original name?

I was looking at my passport's bio page and I do not see a field for civil status. She can probably keep everything as it is on her passport but when she is filling out forms, stick with 'Married' as civil status. 

Hope this helps! 

13 hours ago, Fathima said:

Hi just wanted to know if a SSN necessary to get a marriage certificate in Florida, if I can apply for it after the marriage for the adjustment of status.

I married in August 2019 in Escambia County, no SSN was required. Just ID (used my passport) and payment for the fees required. 

Hope this helps! 

Check your status on https://save.uscis.gov/CaseCheck/CaseCheck.aspx. I used my passport number to search for my case. If you see anything like, "SAVE has returned your case to Maryland - Social Security Administration, SSA (Single Signon) (WS37).", you might want to call or visit the SSA office to follow up on your application.

If there's no result, someone might not have processed the SSN for you.

Hope this helps.

I would think providing a letter from employer stating your status/salary and 3 months paystubs would work as an evidence that you are making enough money now to meet the requirement.

7 hours ago, pasadenagirl said:

@Greenbaum

 

hello again, do you guys know how to know if we are okay with the poverty guideline.

We used lawyer last time for application of visa. in affidavit of support he did not mention any dependent. though my hunsband have 2 kids on his first marriage they are both in joint custody. they are still considered as his dependent right?

and us being 4 in the family how much do my husband needs to earn in a year if we are here in california. I am for adjustment of status. thank you

I would refer to this link for poverty guideline: https://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

I would think that your husband need to include his 2 children from first marriage in the household size count. So looking at the website, it looks like your husband needs $32,187 for a family of 4.

Hope this helps.

44 minutes ago, Hank_ said:

 

Won't help her credit if she is just an authorized user, her name isn't on the acct.   She will need a CC acct in her name, or added to your acct .. not as just a user.

It seems to help mine. Husband added me as an authorized user and after just few days, I have a score reflected on Credit Karma. 

4 hours ago, rainingsilver64 said:

Thanks for everyone's responses!  I was just looking at Social Security Card application, and I was wondering for the Citizenship question, would my fiance check "Legal Alien Allowed To Work" or "Legal Alien Not Allowed to Work"?

For mine, I put in "Legal Alien Allowed To Work". When you receive the card, it'll say something like "valid for work with DHS authorization..."

14 hours ago, charlyadams said:

Good morning guys, please I have a quick question. I recently sent my AOS packet and got a text msg from USCIS with details of receipt numbers for work authorization and advance parole but didn't get for I-485 ( APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR ADJUST STATUS).   Please, is this normal?

If you submitted the G-1145 form which is E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, then this is to be expected.

If you did not, then that's a happy coincidence that they sent you a notification anyway.

1 hour ago, Nitas_man said:

Getting a SS card in married name before EAD?  Difficult to impossible. 

 

I was able to get my SSN in my married name shortly after sending out my AOS application. SSA personnel only required me to have my SSN card and marriage certificate. 

Here's my timeline:

• July 18th - Arrived on K1
• July 22nd - Went to SSA office and got a mismatch. They suggested I come back in a week. I declined manual verification. SSA rep agreed as some that went through it takes a long time to get verified.
• July 29th - Returned to SSA office - still a mismatch. By this time, I already contacted the verification department (888-464-4218) and inquired about mismatch when trying to apply for SSN. They told me what to tell the SSA office if they got a mismatch again and told me I can call them while in SSA if I run into the same problem. I told SSA what the verification h/tline told me--they understood and went through with the process.
• August 9th - I received my SSN card in the mail. Card says 08/02/2019. Might have been the date the card was generated.
• August 9th - We got married.
• August 26th - went to SSA office for name change. Got a mismatch again. By this time, I am not worried about the wait time as I already have a number.
• September 6th - sent out my AOS package. 
• September 9th - I received my card with my married name on it. Date on the card says 09/04/2019.

3 hours ago, imyours said:

THANK U SOO MUCH. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE U TO GET UR SSN?

For me, approx 2 weeks from first visit to SSA office (July 22nd to August 9th).

Hello,

My SSA timeline might help:

• July 18th - Arrived on K1
• July 22nd - Went to SSA office and got a mismatch. They suggested I come back in a week. I declined manual verification. SSA rep agreed as some that went through it takes a long time to get verified.
• July 29th - Returned to SSA office - still a mismatch. By this time, I already contacted the verification department (888-464-4218) and inquired about mismatch when trying to apply for SSN. They told me what to tell the SSA office if they got a mismatch again and told me I can call them while in SSA if I run into the same problem. I told SSA what the verification h/tline told me--they understood and went through with the process.
• August 9th - I received my SSN card in the mail. Card says 08/02/2019. Might have been the date the card was generated.
• August 9th - We got married.
• August 26th - went to SSA office for name change. Got a mismatch again. By this time, I am not worried about the wait time.
• September 9th - I received my card with my married name on it. Date on the card says 09/04/2019.

Hope this helps!

7 hours ago, Tara & Rohit said:

Now I just need to find someone to teach him because I'm a terrible driver. Don't want him to learn bad habits  

Goodluck with that

My husband was happy about not having to teach me how to drive. I actually had to unlearn some driving habits that I have because it's so much different in the Philippines. 

I used the handbook online to review for the written exam. One needs to answer 40 out of 50 questions to pass. 

Hello. I received a temporary driver's license that is valid for 1 year from Florida DMV after presenting my Philippine driver's license.

My background: I came in on a K1 visa on July 18th, went to Florida DMV in Pensacola on July 29th. I was given a paper on what the requirements are for me to obtain a license. Note that at this point, I do not have an SSN yet and I have not gotten married yet.

Document says

Quote

CUSTOMER PRESENTED:

We will be able to complete your transaction when the following requirements have been met:

 

Customer presented a Philippines Driver license therefore, the date class is waived.

 

In order to obtain your Florida Driver License, you will need to take the written test at one of our offices between 8:30 and 3:30.

 

Upon passing the written test, you then may take a driving test. We accept walk in road tests Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday first thing in the morning. You have to be lined up outside prior to our doors opening to be seen that day for a walk in road test at the Marcus Pointe office only.

 

You will need to return with:

1. Valid Passport and I-94

2. Fiance's proof of citizenship (birth certificate or passport)

3. Receipt for I-485 and marriage certificate

4. Philippine driver license

I took and passed the written exam on August 7th and  then returned early in the morning of August 8th for the driving test which I fortunately passed. They were ready to give me my driver's license right there and then but we cannot stay long because my then-fiance had to go to work and we had to get married in the afternoon. We returned on August 12th to get my license with one year validity on it.

Note that although the requirement listed I-485 and marriage certificate, I did not present either of it during the whole process. I only presented the marriage certificate on August 12th since we got married in the afternoon of August 8th.

Initially, they told me that I can take the tests and get my license right away but it will only valid until October which is when my K1 visa expires. Upon checking with the supervisor, they said that they can give me a valid one year license. 

My license is real ID compliant, has the word 'Temporary' on top and bears my maiden name. I will apply for a name change and longer validity license once my greencard arrives.

Hope this helps!

Yeah, this shouldn't be a problem. My name is the same but in my birth certificate, it doesn't have the space between Ma. and my secondary name. All my Philippine documents are with space between first and second name with Ma and a period.

When I got to the US, some online applications that I made won't allow a space or a punctuation mark on a text bar so I just try to get the closest possible match and remember how it's written for reference later. Just try to make a habit of writing the name properly in all documents and avoid using Maria in lieu to Ma or Ma. 

Hope this helps. 

Hello, 

Upon reading some resources, here are your options:

1) Dual citizenship - this will allow you to acquire two citizenships, engage in business, vote and own a land. You will have to pay taxes in the US and Philippines. More info here: https://www.philippineconsulatela.org/consular-services-2/dual-citizensh1p-ra-9225

2) Returning Former Natural-born Filipino - this is only if you want to reside in the Philippines permanently. This will allow you to engage in business as well. More info here: https://immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/returning-former-natural-born-filipino

Note that #2 is different from Balikbayan Visa. Balikbayan visa info here: http://immigration.gov.ph/faqs/visa-inquiry/balikbayan-previlege

Hope this helps.