DaisyJ

3 minutes ago, .yana said:

Do you have a valid EAD? It looks like it's one of the accepted documents:

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/04/21/Acceptable Forms of Identification online 041818.pdf

No I don't have a separate EAD, I've only ever had my original I-551 passport stamp and then my 2 yr GC. Good to know you got by ok with your extension letter, even if it did take some convincing!

On 9/14/2023 at 11:04 AM, OldUser said:

For domestic travel - you can travel with Real ID (driver's license / state ID just fine). No need for passport, no need for GC.

 

What about those of us that don't have a driver's license or state ID yet? Has anyone had issues flying domestically in the US using their foreign passport, GC + extension letter? Travelling over the weekend my GC expires and I'm not sure exactly how things will go down.... 

Hi all, 

I'm finally getting around to applying for a driver's licence here in the US. In the application for a learner's permit it asks what evidence I'm using to prove I am here legally. My instinct is to tick the GC (I-551 card) option, but will my extension letter would be accepted along with it, as it's technically *not* the I-551 card I'm saying I will use? They don't have an option for the I-797C extension letter, only for a I-797A but I know the extension letter isn't the same thing....I know the DMV/RMV can be horrible for bureaucracy and I'd hate to be penalised because my agreed-upon evidence has 'expired' and nothing else will do, even though my extension letter should be accepted. 

Thanks for any advice! 

@OldUser @Mike E Thanks both! Yes absolutely we're going to make sure we get a draft copy & double check it - we had to do this more than once with our previous via application, too! And yes I figured we'd need our wedding cert - it was just an example. Thanks again!

@Allaboutwaiting Thanks for your response! Yes we have everything we need for "financial comingling, cohabitation and shared life plans", that's why USCIS's info gave me pause for concern, as its suggestive that additional, previous stuff is needed. I was trying to find more detailed lists on here too but couldn't go back far enough on the topics to find them. 

We opted to use a lawyer because 1. We want to get it right and 2. Our work schedules are really prohibitive for us actually having time to fill out reams of paperwork and check & double check, order & sort the evidence needed. 

Hi all, 

We're beginning the process to remove conditions from my CR1 GC (runs out this year in Oct). Our lawyer's office have said that we only need to provide evidence with our application from the past two years, i.e., since I entered the country as a permanent resident. However, the language on the USCIS website for form I-751 seems to suggest the opposite:

Do they really need all of our previous marriage-in-good-faith evidence we submitted for the original spousal visa, alongside the evidence of us living together here in the US? I feel we have the rest of our evidence down and sorted, so this is making me panic that we have to dig up reams and reams of our messages, photos, visits etc from when we were long distance, and re-provide our marriage certificate, etc 

1 minute ago, OldUser said:

As long as you are back in the US before the expiry date on GC, you are fine!

 

Just make sure to leave some buffer (at least few weeks) before it expires in case if flight is cancelled etc.

1 minute ago, zeusgt said:

You can travel without a worry. As long as the greencard is valid when you return, you won’t face any issues. 

Thank you both so much! We've only booked to go for a couple of weeks so we shouldn't have any problems returning well before the expiry date. This was basic, but still helpful to know!

Hello all, 

This is probably a silly question but my 2yr GC (CR1) is due to expire in October this year. Whilst my husband and I are gearing up to prepare for the I-751 application, we're looking to travel to visit my home in the UK in May. Obviously, this is a couple of months before our 90-day window wherein we can submit the I-751 application, so I won't have an extension letter, but that would mean I would be travelling with around 5 months left on my GC before it expires. Is the GC similar to a passport where it's frowned upon/not acceptable to travel until you have that extension even if it's valid? I have no idea how this all works, and don't want to make any mistakes. My passport has another 9+ years of validity, to save confusion.

Thanks!

Hi All!

I finally recieved my GC (2 year/CR1) in the post and have it in my possession. I was curious about the little envelope that comes with it and talks about wireless interference  - does this also mean that storing the card in your phone case/wallet/purse with magnetic closures, and/or directly in with other cards (thinking of those with magnetic strips/the chips)  can 'wreck' the card? I need to use the GC as my main ID as I don't have a driver's licence yet. I've also seen it's basically federal law to carry it with you at all times. 

Can anyone offer advice about how to keep it safe but keep it with you?

Thanks!

5 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

@DaisyJ

An earlier question you asked—

Your Affidavit of Support sponsor has to provide an address change as well. 

Do you know how they can do that? The online option via USCIS goes straight to the AR-11 which is for alien residents. Also, will he/we get penalised if he attempts it now, well after the 10 day limit? The threats of fines/imprisonment/deportation for me are very scary even if just threatening language at best. 

Thank you for the other info! That's helpful to know that we shouldn't worry about it. 

1 minute ago, arken said:

Don't worry about it. Your roc won't be affected. Your address change is registered but uscis is not good at communicating the address change with pending cases. Did you mention your pending GC receipt number from your immigranr fee payment while doing address change online?

Focus on getting the GC back. Use non receipt of the card from uscis online for next steps.

 

 

I think I may have used our receipt number from our original I-130 application because I didn't think about our GC payment receipt number - guess that's where we went wrong! I did however include my A number so it should still all connect back to me, right? 

Thankfully our old address is my husband's parent's address so we haven't 'lost' the post that arrived, we just need to go and collect it; we're assuming it's my GC as the timing is right and the sending address is a USCIS office. 

6 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Try calling costumer service. People around the forum say that if you mention the word "infopass", you'll be connected to an actual person.

You can also try the USCIS chat and type "live agent".

Thanks for this, I tried using the live agent trick but it didn't work. I might try the infopass trick tomorrow!

Hi all! *Please move if posted to the wrong place*

For context: I'm currently in the US on a CR1 visa since Oct last year. I am from the UK and it's my husband who is the US citizen. I'm still awaiting the arrival of my greencard. 

Two months ago myself and my husband moved into our own apartment from his family's home. I changed my address online with USCIS accordingly and recieved an email confirmation of my AR-11 form request. About a week ago, a letter arrived from a USCIS office to our old address; we're assuming it's my green card but we haven't been able to pop back to collect this post yet. 

I have two questions: Did my husband as a USC need to update his address separately online in order for the online form to have 'worked'? And how much of a problem is this going to be when it comes to applying to have the conditions removed next year, if USCIS still hasn't registered my address change?

I've tried to contact USCIS but their telephone bot is useless, as it just keeps sending me to the link to the online page where I can change my address. Of course, if I was to re-do it, now it's well beyond the required 10 day limit to update my address I'm worried we'll get into trouble. 

If anyone has any advice, please help!

@Fobosdaemios, sorry to resurrect this thread but did you sort this out in the end? Going through the exact same thing rn and I'd love to know how you sorted it out, or even if you did have to get temporary insurance, where you were able to get it from?! Thanks!

On 10/4/2021 at 11:40 AM, dannymccance@gmai said:

Hi everyone, 

 

My British fiancé has a K1 appointment scheduled at the US Embassy London next week. He is a British citizen and his lived in the UK all his life, except two years teaching English in Vietnam. We have an original, physical copy of his UK police certificate and a digital copy (sent via email) from the Vietnamese authorities, but are still waiting for the original physical copy to arrive in the post.

 

If it doesn't arrive in time, will it be an issue? Could/should we get the digital copy certified in the UK? And how can we do this? Note: He does not have any criminal background in either country, stated clearly in English on the Vietnamese check (no need for translation).

 

Our medical appointment date is also the day before the interview – though I have read on the forum this should be OK, and our status will be adjusted once the docs are received by the Embassy. Please do confirm if you have experience with this as well!

 

Thanks in advance!

I had a German police certificate because I studied there for two years recently. Didn't need to get it certified although I had the physical hardcopy in time. Just be aware you might need it translated if it isn't in English, but we only had the translation in digital format and a print out was fine, also didn't need that certified

Hi all, CR1 visa holder in UK here. Travelling in a couple of weeks to enter the US on my visa and due to fly into Boston. A couple of questions:

As the coronavirus blanket ban is still in place until November, do I need to take proof of my exemption alongside my visa (marriage cert and copy of husband's passport), or is my visa enough on its own?
Also, in proving covid vaccination, is the little NHS card with the dosage stickers on its own sufficient, or do I need to take my full vaccination record and/or the signed medical vaccination record they gave me at the medical? 

Is it wise to take any other documents from the application process (DS260 confirmation page, for example?) to ease customs and border protection or is it literally just my passport with the visa in? Curious to hear how other new arrivals did it!

Thanks all

Hi all, 

It's a couple of weeks before I'm due to travel to the US (CR1 visa holder from UK here) and I've begun applying to jobs in anticipation of my move. My husband's workplace is recruiting for A LOT of positions right now (we have the same academic/working background) so it seems like a no brainer to start applying. His managers are aware of me and are interested in having me on board, I just need to actually go through the application process. With this in mind, it would obviously be amazing if I could get a job within the month. I know that the SSN can take 2 weeks - 3 months+ to arrive. I've done some reading around there are info pages from the social security association themselves that says you CAN start work without having your SSN as long as your immigration document allows you to work, and that it's possible for employers to get a letter from the SSA to prove I've applied for a number and am legitimate in their communication with the IRS.

- has anyone else gone through this? Do you have any advice?
- Is it possible to get such a letter from the SSA even though for spouses you apply for the SSN as part of your application, and not from the SSA directly? 

I just want to have the details upfront so that if it all goes well I can give the employer all the info they need!

Looking forward to hearing from people, as always!

And are we right in thinking that me being a new PR/immigrant is a qualifying event? It seems that marriage is the most obvious one but we married almost two years ago now, so being a new immigrant is the only thing we have 😅

Just now, Crazy Cat said:

Correct.

Thank you!

Thank you all so much, this is so helpful! He's not enrolled yet on his company's insurance as he's just signed a next contract with work that gives him more hours and these benefits, so he still needs to enrol. I'll tell him to do so this week and then contact his HR. Assuming you all mean his work HR and not the health company? 
 

Also, guessing we can only do this once I've arrived in the country, right? So I'll still need some coverage before I can get this sorted after I land in the US. What did others here do for that time? 

16 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Tell them to use your passport number. Ask for a supervisor, and then her supervisor until somebody knows they can do this without your SSN.

Hmm ok. It's just the forms for enrollment require an SSN. I couldn't find anything on their website about new immigrants unfortunately. Is this definitely a thing across all companies?

10 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

A SSN is not needed to be added to your spouse's coverage.  You might have to go up the chain of command to find someone who knows this.  

Do you know what they need instead? And how do I find out about this, if its different for different companies?

Hi all! I've seen there's a K1 thread about health insurance but as visa situations are different I thought I would repost the same question. Apologies if this has already been answered elsewhere.

UK CR1/IR1 person here. Already got my visa in hand and planning to travel on 22nd Oct. Husband would be able to add me to his company provided health insurance, obviously - but the company needs an SSN from me. Now I know SSN is supposed to take 2 weeks after arrival. But, I also know/have seen that it can take A LOT longer, sometimes and that there is no guarantee, just like the greencard I believe the official line is that it can be 120 days+ in arriving.

So, how do I cover myself for 2 weeks-3 months or longer? From visa fb groups and other posts elsewhere on this forum I've seen a lot of companies are not longer providing new immigrant coverage, or if they do it's for a day or so. I have very few to no health worries and will be able to look after myself for all the things I need (in terms of prescriptions/contact lenses etc) for a good 3 months+ anyway because of how things have fallen just before I leave the UK. But what if I have an accident, or fall seriously ill with a random illness etc, etc. I realise it might come in 2 weeks and then there's nothing to worry about, but lots can happen even in that short period!

Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can give me.

On 9/23/2021 at 7:06 PM, Becker said:

I can’t see it on the list I have for myself.  Or at least it was before the date said. Hopefully that is one they offer on the day, I don’t mind paying the extra knowing it’s going to be what I need! 

 

EDIT: I had a low dose February 2010

I had to have a Tdap booster at the medical as my last was in 2008. They absolutely can give it to you then and there, and its £40 extra - MUCH cheaper than most travel clinics, I think even at Boots its £65, so agree to get it done there for sure, saves so much bother.