Trutta

Excellent post - my girlfriend is coming with a k1 so we need all that info too

My fiance is in the US. She came on K1, we were married, she did biometrics, and now we are doing the interview for her green card.
 
This is what we plan to bring:
 
Copy of I 797 C notice
Copy of her passport
Covid vaccine papers showing we got them same day/place/time twice
i-864
Copy of my tax returns for 2018, 2019, 2020
Copy of my passport
Copy of my birth certificate
Copy of her birth certificate with certified translation
Certified copy of marriage license
Copy my divorce decree from previous marriage
Copy of our lease
pictures of us in 11 different states from our travels over the last year
Christmas card sent to both of our names at this address
Affidavit from my brother that he knows us and our marriage is real
Affidavit from my business partner that he knows us and our marriage is real
Mailings when I added her to my credit card accounts showing she is an "authorized user"
Copy of my will, with everything going to her if I croak
Copy of medical bill when I paid for her to get treatment. Shows her as patient, me as payee.
Water bill with both of our names on it
Hotel booking receipts with both of our names
 
Are we missing anything?
 
Anything we are bringing that we should leave home?
 
Thanks friends!

Nigeria is known for producing fake divorce documents among other fake documents
and more than likely more Nigerians will go thru the extended process because of the "bad " ones 
so sorry u go thru the heartbreak
 
understand that all of this is to protect  the US and USC
 
and if they find no incriminating evidence than u can be assured "he is yours "   and u can feel secure in the marriage

According to attorney Jim Hacking, spousal visas from Nigeria are getting very heavy scrutiny right now.  My understanding is that the FBI just indicted 39 people in the US for  Nigerian visa fraud scams.  This is according to Jim Hacking in a YT video.  This could be related to this scrutiny..... or they suspect he is lying about something.

SSA guidelines have been updated to state that no applicant should be required to mail in their USCIS issued items .. GC/EAD .. etc as this contravenes the USCIS requirement for the person to always have them in their possession. This does not include replaceable documents such as birth and marriage certificates . 
 
https://www.ssa.gov/coronavirus/categories/conducting-business-with-social-security-during-the-pandemic/
 
scroll down to 
I am a non-citizen and Social Security says they need to see my DHS lawful presence documents to pay my benefits. Should I mail them to my local office?
Date: December 22, 2020
No. Do not mail any DHS lawful presence documents to SSA. If they are needed, your local office will contact you to possibly schedule an appointment to review and certify your original documentation.
 

First trying calling local SS office. They wouldn't even answer the phone -- 2 days straight.
 
I called my congressman's office, explained the situation, had an appointment 2 days later.
 
Went in, 5 minutes later we were done and SS card in the mail.

Thank you for the reminder that non-citizens are legally required to always have their original immigration documents on hand.  As such, SSA released memos stating that non-citizens must NOT be requested to submit their immigration documents by mail or dropbox.  If a misinformed SSA employee refuses to schedule an in-person appointment for an application that requires presenting your actual GC or EAD or foreign passport, ask for a supervisor or cite the following memos --
EM-21041: Express Interviews for Evidence and Enumeration Actions -- https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/05262021015248PM EM-21056: In-Office Appointments Guidance -- https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/09082021124856PM

To add to the above, the US law that requires LPRs to carry proof of immigration status, termed "certificate of alien registration or alien registration receipt", is (INA) § 264(e) - Immigration and Nationality Act.
 
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1304&num=0&edition=prelim
 

Hello everyone,
In the last few days I’ve seen several posts of people that cannot get ahold of the SS office and don’t know what to do when they request you to mail your passport/ your green card. 
First, let me preface you with this: we permanent residents are legally bound to carry out GCs with us all the time. Therefore, you should never EVER mail it. Period. 
Second, perhaps this mostly applies to smaller States, but most likely the people that work at the SS don’t understand the importance of a green card, so they might not try to accommodate you for an in- person appointment.
Third, been there, done that. I tried calling my local SS for several days, and either they didn’t answer or they kept telling me to mail my documents. I cannot stress this enough: the U.S postal system can be unreliable, so please NEVER EVER mail your documents. 
Instead, what you do is to call your Congressman / Senator and tell them about your issue. Be sure to explain why you shouldn’t mail your card. I did it and I know that @Trutta did it too. We were both successful and got our appointments in less than two days!

Very easy. Walked in. Showed passport and greencard. 5 minutes later he said that was it. SS card will be here in 7-14 days!

Well I contacted my congressman's office on Monday. And we now have an in person appointment for tomorrow at 9:30 AM. Thanks!

Well I contacted my congressman's office on Monday. And we now have an in person appointment for tomorrow at 9:30 AM. Thanks!

Well I contacted my congressman's office on Monday. And we now have an in person appointment for tomorrow at 9:30 AM. Thanks!

The pandemic did not change the fact that it is against the law for non-citizens to not have their original immigration documents on hand.  That's why the SSA sent out memos reminding their staff to "NOT request a non-citizen to submit his or her immigration documents by mail or using the drop box.  Due to DHS regulations, non-citizens are required to have their immigration documents in their possession at all times".  As such, non-citizens are entitled to express interviews at an SSA office to present their original documents --
EM-21041: Express Interviews for Evidence and Enumeration Actions -- https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/05262021015248PM EM-21056: In-Office Appointments Guidance -- https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/09082021124856PM

We filed I-485 in April. Biometrics were done in August. Just had AOS interview on Friday. She passed and green card is on the way.
 
Interview was very easy. He only wanted to see 3-4 documents. He said he already planned to approve us before we came in based on our file.
 
Good luck everyone!

As I said, when I needed to update my SS card with an unrestricted one it was right in the middle of the pandemic -June 2020. I never even entertained the possibility of mailing the green card regardless of the mail carrier. I’ve had bad experiences with USPS -instead of sending a package to Argentina, they are bouncing it in between Greece and England. UPS did the same thing with my Argentinian ID inside of the United States. I’m afraid the only reason why I haven’t had a bad experience with FedEx is simply because I haven’t used it yet. 
So what I did was to contact my Congressman, explain the situation, and request that he helps me get an in- person appointment, and he did. That’s also what I’m doing after I naturalize, unless we have a new, 100% reliable mail carrier (which I doubt will happen in the next 3-4 years). But I digress.
OP, if you don’t want to mail your EAD card, you can contact your Congressman and explain the situation. They’ll understand and most likely, try to help. 

There's a pandemic going on and everything from strip clubs to casinos to concert halls are open... just not the SS office. LOL
 
The law hasn't changed. Permanent residents are required to show their green card to any law enforcement officer who asks for it. That means it must remain in their possession at all times, as even this social security administration memo states: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/05262021015248PM
 

I had to schedule at a different office I waited months before I tried this and it worked… got an appointment a within a week….

We made an appointment for our local office. No way did we trust the mail to send in any original documents or cards. Once we explained the situation they let us make an appointment.
oh and it took like 2-3 weeks to get the new social security card in the mail. 

Never, EVER, mail original documents.

social security will not accept copies. they will want the original card. 

Good for you if you sent it. You’re brave. I’m not. 

The SSA issued new instructions that says that immigrants must not mail original immigration documents. They have to call and request an appointment. If the office is saying they don't accept appointments, tell them to look for the EM-21041.
 
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/reference.nsf/links/05262021015248PM
 
IMPORTANT: Do NOT request a non-citizen to submit his or her immigration documents by mail or using the drop box. Due to DHS regulations, non-citizens are required to have their immigration documents in their possession at all times (GN 00303.610.B).
 

apply online using the following instructions and SS-5 form
bottom of page 2 
 
page 5 is the form itself
 
https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf

We filed I-485 in April. Biometrics were done in August. Just had AOS interview on Friday. She passed and green card is on the way.
 
Interview was very easy. He only wanted to see 3-4 documents. He said he already planned to approve us before we came in based on our file.
 
Good luck everyone!