I added my wife the month after we got married and sent that health insurance card to her to show at her visa interview.
She did not have a SS number and did not live in the US for the first 8 months she was enrolled but she was on the plan.
She was added as “spouse pending SS number” and there is NOT a law requiring a SS number to enroll a spouse or child in your health insurance plan.
Marriage is a qualifying life event. “Arrival in the US” is not. They can make you wait until next year’s open enrollment if you don’t take advantage of it now.
List of acceptable coverage is quite long and broad. Can’t see that this will affect most immigrants, other than those who would genuinely have battled to afford healthcare anyway. Travel plans are allowed to be used in the interim, see vii and I guess iii too:
b) Approved health insurance means coverage under any of the following plans or programs:
(i) an employer-sponsored plan, including a retiree plan, association health plan, and coverage provided by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985;
(ii) an unsubsidized health plan offered in the individual market within a State;
(iii) a short-term limited duration health policy effective for a minimum of 364 days — or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States;
(iv) a catastrophic plan;
(v) a family member’s plan;
(vi) a medical plan under chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, including coverage under the TRICARE program;
(vii) a visitor health insurance plan that provides adequate coverage for medical care for a minimum of 364 days — or until the beginning of planned, extended travel outside the United States;
(viii) a medical plan under the Medicare program; or
(ix) any other health plan that provides adequate coverage for medical care as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his designee.
Does anyone have any guesses as to whether travel insurance will be acceptable and what level might be required? I couldn't add my spouse under my employment based insurance without an SSN (and admittedly wasn't worried about it at the time because was just planning to add him once he arrived during our open-enrolment period, though the timeframes for this don't add up anymore). We are willing to buy travel insurance or short-term to cover him until my open enrollment period (which will be more than 30 days after his arrival in the US) but the lack of guidance means we don't even know where to start with coverage levels.
If anyone has any ideas/suggestions as to what kind of stop-gap insurance to look into, I am all ears. And feeling desperate
Just to let you know, I travel yesterday to the US ,CBP office just ask purpose for traveling and I told him to visit my husband. My paperwork is at NVC. So yes you can travel but be upfront with CBP officer.
Below are the possible questions, not all but it is good to know the answer to all. Hope this helps.
1. Who is the Petitioner?
2. Where did you meet your wife?
3. Do you speak to many woman online?
4. What language does the petitioner speak?
5. How long have you known your wife?
6. Have you been married before? Do you have any children?
7. Has your wife been married before? Does she have any children?
8. What College your wife attended?
9. Which subjects has your WIFE studied?
10. How many times has your wife visited Morocco?
11. How long was each visit?
12. What's your wife full name?
13. Has she used any other names?
14. How many times have you met?
15. When and how did you meet?
16. When was the last time you were together?
17. How long have you known each other?
18. How long were you together the last time?
19. How long were you together any other time(s)?
20. What are the dates of the visits?
21. What have you done when your WIFE came?
22. Where did you go?
23. Where does your WIFE live? Which city and state?
24. What does your WIFE do for a living?
25. Where does your WIFE work?
26. What is your Wife’s phone number?
27. Do you know how long your WIFE has had this job?
28. Did you have a wedding ceremony?
29. Please describe your wedding ceremony.
30. Questions about the pictures; when, where and who.
31. Where will you live?
32. Have you met your Wife’s family?
33. Where does your Wife’s parents live?
34. How do you communicate with your WIFE?
35. How do you keep in touch?
36. What language do you use to communicate with your WIFE?
37. How many times do you and your WIFE talk on the phone each month?
38. Do you want children?
39. What does your family think about your marriage?
40. Do you love your WIFE?
41. What do you love about your WIFE?
42. Does your WIFE own or rent their home?
43. What is the address?
44. How long has your wife lived in Florida?
45. How much does your WIFE earn?
46. Write your Wife’s full name.
47. Have you ever been to the US?
48. Do you have any relatives/friends in the US?
49. Where do they live?
50. When did her mother died?
51. Does your WIFE have any brothers or sisters?
52. What are their names?
53. How old is he?
54. what does he do for a living?
55. where does he live?
56. how come there is no letter of intent on his behalf
57. What are your Wife’s hobbies and interests?
58. What are your hobbies and interests?
59. What do you have in common?
60. Do you know if your WIFE was married before?
61. How many times?
62. When did your WIFE divorce?
63. What is your wife ex husband name?
64. Why did they divorce?
65. Does your wife have any children?
66. What is her name?
67. How old is she?
68. When is her birthday?
69. What grade is she in?
70. What year was she born?
71. What does she call you?
72. Have you spoken to her?
73. How do you get along with your Wife’s child?
74. What is your Wife’s religious background?
75. Does your WIFE speak and understand your language?
76. Why do you want to come to the United States?
77. How old is your WIFE?
78. What is your Wife’s birth date?
79. Where was your WIFE born?
80. Do you speak and understand your Wife’s native language?
81. What do you do for a living?
82. What do you plan to do once you are in the US?
83. Do you plan to work in the US?
84. Do you plan to study in the US?
85. What company does your Wife’s work for and what is their title?
86. What is your Wife’s favorite food?
87. Where did your WIFE work in the past and for how long?
88. What color are your Wife’s eyes?
89. What color is your Wife’s hair?
90. Did you prepare the forms yourself?
91. Have you been in the military?
92. Who is the petitioner?
93. Please tell me more about your WIFE.
94. Do you plan to stay in the U.S. forever?
95. What made you decide to use the internet to find a WIFE?
96. How long has your WIFE been working for Atlantic Broadband?
97. When did you marry?
98. When was your wedding ceremony?
99. Who was there?
100. Was any of her family there?
101. Why weren't they there?
102. What is your religion?
103. Were you talking to a lot of women on the Internet?
104. What do you and your WIFE talk about on the phone?
105. Will you be a good parent to your Wife’s child?
106. Have you ever left Morocco?
107. For how long?
108. Why did you leave?
109. What did your wife love more here in Morocco?
110. Have you ever applied for a US Visa?
111. When did you apply?
112. Who was the petitioner?
113. What happened with the previous relationship?
114. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T GET THE VISA?
More tips on the interview below……
1. Speak slow, and answer questions in detail. Stick to the question and don’t veer off the subject. Respond clear, and descriptive. Should not be longer than one minute to answer, but be sure to explain yourself.
2. If you do not know the answer to a question, do not lie. Say, "I don't know the answer to that at this time." or "I don't remember."
3. The answer to many questions will be in the papers that were sent in the petitions. Questions like, "what are your wife's parent's names". They will expect you to know the information given in your petitions. Review everything in your paperwork with your husband before his interview, and do a mock interview to see how the information may be applied.
4. Avoid saying "I think . . .". Women do this a lot. The examiner will expect you to know not be unsure, of your answers. Alwife, avoid adding "umm", "you know" and "ahh" type fillers to your speech.
5. When applicable, don't just state, demonstrate. If the examiner asks a question that can be answered with a document or photograph(s), provide it along with your answer.
For example, if the examiner asks, "What does your family think of your wife?", give them a picture or two with your answer; "They like her very much. Here is a picture of her with my mother at my home."
Or, "How many attended your wedding?" Answer, "(give a number, then say) We have wifeme lovely wedding photos of our guests having fun. Here are a few that I can show you."
6. Give American answers for dates and times. 12/24/07, not 24/12/07.
7. Dress well, but not overdressed.
8. Try to appear calm, well organized, and friendly. Nervousness raises suspicions.
9. Remain focused. If the examiner makes jokes, smile and enjoy, but do not make jokes too.
10. Make proper eye contact when conversing with the examiner, and try to control your own facial expressions assure that your face remains pleasant and cordial.
11. Be audible (means speak up) your examiner doesn't have to ask you to repeat your answers.
12. Organize your papers in a way that will allow you to retrieve them easily and quickly. Examiners appreciate order and someone who doesn't waste their time.
13. When the interview is over, always ask for the results. "What should I now tell my wife about my visa status after our interview?" Before you leave, have them explain any papers they give to you and/or any procedures they will be taking to complete your case. Try to get the examiner's name for future reference, if needed. Write it down. Remember to verify the phone number so they can contact you to pick up the VISA.!@! hurray@@!!!
14. Arrive early to the consulate, but always be prepared to wait for a time past your scheduled interview appointment time. Be careful of thieves around the consulate if you have to carry cash. Bring ID; you cannot enter without it.
CONFIDENCE IS THE KEY TO ANYTHING!
