Jan and Steve

I started a topic about whether or not to keep your maiden name when you get married... figure I'd try a poll as well to see what VJ people think.

Sadness where did my poll go?

Interesting responses to these questions about name changing.

Have any husband's changed their name to the wife's name? If it's really not about an old tradition, then why don't we see more guys changing their names... other than the fact that it's a pain in the butt to do so.

Janny

Has anyone felt any pressure from family or otherwise to change their name? I don't think I feel any direct pressure from family to change my name, but I am the only one who hasn't changed so they do raise eyebrows.

And what about if you have any kids in the future... what name will they have?

Curious again.

'jesus h. christ!' ranks right up there with another mild epithet 'jumping judas priest!'

and christ on a crutch.

"Christ on a cracker!"

Gives me the giggles.

I chose to keep my 'maiden' name. I like my name; I have lived with it for many years; all of my professional accomplishments and publications are in this name; all of my identification . . . I was giving up my country, my friends, my family, my career, my former life - everything I had ever known to move to the States to marry my husband; giving up my name as well felt like giving up 'me', like losing my identity. I chose to keep my name. It reflects nothing about the commitment or lack of commitment to my husband or my marriage. People ask in quiet little secret voices if there is a reason I don't use my husband's name and so I tell them. Some understand and some don't. Some still insist on calling me Mrs. Husband's LastName. That is fine:-) too. My husband had no problems with my decision; in fact he was the one who first brought the issue up and stated right from the beginning that he had no problems if I wanted to keep my maiden name.

My husband comes from a big family and all of his sisters have changed their names after they got married. They all raised their eyebrows and kind of gasped when I said I hadn't changed my name. I think right now, I'd change it mainly because like one of the other VJ people mentioned... my last name sounds funny and I like my husband's name better. I'm just trying to decide if it's worth the hassle of changing it.

One thing that really ticks me though (like I mentioned in my first post) is how men are not as free as women to change their name when they get married. I can't help but still feel like the whole name change thing is somehow archaic and somewhat sexist if we still haven't made it equal in terms of men being able to do the same when they marry. A man should be able to change his name when he gets married as easily as a woman. That's my two cents.

Hey all,

I have been thinking a lot about whether or not I want to change my name. I recently married in March and have not changed my name. First off, it seems like a big pain in the butt to change it when you're in the middle of all this immigration stuff... but secondly, I'm not sure if I want to. I know a lot of people do, and a lot of people add the married name to their maiden name, but I am curious as to why... why did you change your name, or not change your name?

I have been doing a lot of research on the subject and I thought these links were interesting.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiden_name

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,280574,00.html

It seems horribly sexist to me though, that in some States a man cannot change his name upon getting married as a woman can, and instead has to go through the courts and dish out money to make the change.

Right now I'm leaning toward not changing my name. Or changing both our names, maybe we could make up our own unique last name. The only benefit I see at this point in having the same name is if we had children.

What are your thoughts? I'm curious.

Janny

Sounds similar.. I too have been back and forth between Canada and the United States. My DS-230 is also ready to be sent to the Visa Center (though six weeks later after the fee has been paid I'm still waiting on THEM to ask for the paperwork.. Anyways back to your question.. I didnt include the day stays, just to many of them, but did include any time over a two or three week period. Hope this helps somewhat.

Darcy

When I lived in Canada I visited the States a zillion times, too many to mention or remember... so for that question I just put "Multiple visits for no longer than (blank) between years (blank) and (blank).

The Vaccination Documentation Medical Worksheet is the DS-3025 if I am not mistaken....

The best bet would be to find a local civil surgeon, bring in the Vaccination worksheet and let him/her decide if you need anything additional and then let them transcribe the vaccination worksheet and add the additional ones to the vaccination supplement (sometimes called the I-693A)

The Vaccination Documentation Medical Worksheet is the DS-3025 if I am not mistaken....

Look for small print at the bottom.

Take what you have to a designated civil surgeon and have him transfer your info to a I-693. Submit with I-485 in the sealed envelope.

Dr. Arnold in Texas is the cheapest. $20 and done by faxing!

Thanks for your suggestions...

What should I do if I don't have the DS-3025? All I have is a photocopy of a sheet with vaccinations on it, written by the doctor who did my medical for the K-1. Should I just give that sheet and any other vaccination records to a civil surgeon to transfer to an I-693?

Janny

Hi everyone,

When I was approved for my K-1 I did not yet have all of the vaccinations. I had to get the chicken pox one done in Vancouver. I guess there is a booster you are supposed to get done in 4-6 weeks. I'm in the USA now and 4-6 weeks has passed, and I forgot to get the booster. I am assuming I need all that done to apply for the AOS. We're just filling out the paperwork now and I am reading that we can just give them the vaccination supplement instead of having a whole medical done again. The only thing I got from embassy was an envelope that is stamped immunization records. Inside is just a photocopy of "Vaccination Documentation Medical Worksheet Two".

I'm super confused because I have also read on the forums about this DS-3025, which we did not receive as far as I know. My giant brown envelop of medical records was handed over to the border guards when I entered the US.

So what should we do? Should I go ahead and get this other booster finished for the chicken pox? Then do I just put the papers they give me in the envelope with the other vaccination records and send it off with the AOS stuff just like that, or should we get a civil surgeon and all that?

I hope I make some sense, I'm pretty confused.

Thanks for any help.

Janny

Somebody? Anybody?

Hi everyone,

When I was approved for my K-1 I did not yet have all of the vaccinations. I had to get the chicken pox one done in Vancouver. I guess there is a booster you are supposed to get done in 4-6 weeks. I'm in the USA now and 4-6 weeks has passed, and I forgot to get the booster. I am assuming I need all that done to apply for the AOS. We're just filling out the paperwork now and I am reading that we can just give them the vaccination supplement instead of having a whole medical done again. The only thing I got from embassy was an envelope that is stamped immunization records. Inside is just a photocopy of "Vaccination Documentation Medical Worksheet Two".

I'm super confused because I have also read on the forums about this DS-3025, which we did not receive as far as I know. My giant brown envelop of medical records was handed over to the border guards when I entered the US.

So what should we do? Should I go ahead and get this other booster finished for the chicken pox? Then do I just put the papers they give me in the envelope with the other vaccination records and send it off with the AOS stuff just like that, or should we get a civil surgeon and all that?

I hope I make some sense, I'm pretty confused.

Thanks for any help.

Janny

It's preferable to file before the I94 expires. Out of status time accrues during the lapse between that and filing.

You're never out of status as long as you are married within the 90 days. At least that's what immigration told me.

The I-94 governs your legal presence in the USA. If your status does not "expire" then why does the I-94 have an expiration date?

Thanks everyone for your help. Not worried about it so much anymore. We'll send it in as soon as we can.

Janny

I have a question...

Will it cause problems for us if we delay sending in the AOS? We got married in March 2008, well within the three months allowed for the K-1. However, we're having difficulty scraping together the 1010 bucks for the AOS just yet. I've read that many people have waited to send it in. Is there a deadline, or somewhere it says when we have to send it in? Or can we just do it before my I-94 expires? I just don't want to screw anything up for us. Any advice you can offer is appreciated.

Thanks!

Janny

You can give any reason for wanting AP, such as to visit family or friends, to attend a wedding or other social event. You can just give an estimated date that you want to travel, and if you don't actually travel on that date, it's not a problem.

My daughter requested Canadian Thanksgiving for a reason to want to travel back to Canada, but wasn't approved until after that. She ended up going to Canada right after her approval.

Thanks for the info!

Janny

Hi people, quick question...

I'm getting my papers ready for the AOS filing and I'm wondering about the AP I-131. Can I file this and just pick a date in the future of when I might want to travel back to my home country for a visit? Or is this only used in an emergency? From what I have read on VJ it seems many people have filed for non-emergency reasons, however the form states that it must be for emergency or extenuating circumstances. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Janny

As a K-1 visa holder you can apply for an SSN. However, you have to do it at least two weeks before your 90 day stay expires. Otherwise you will need to wait until you have your EAD/GC before you can apply for an SSN.

You dont really need a reason, but just say you need it for taxes or to be added to your husbands bank accounts.

It 14 days before your status expires that SSA has to process the application. You could apply the first day you get here and if it takes SSA 77 days to verify your status, you are out of luck. So it's best to apply ASAP.

Tax purposes, private health insurance, school enrollment or aid, banking, professional or driver's license are not valid non work reasons to be assigned an SSN.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510

RM 00203.510 Alien without Work Authorization - Nonwork Need for an SSN

SO I'm confused then, if what is stated above are not valid non-work reasons, then how is everyone else getting SSNs and what are their valid non-work reasons?

Because for SSN purposes SSA considers you work authorized based on K-1 status and providing the unexpired I-94 as evidence, so no one with K-1 status is being assigned an SSN based on a non work reason.

Valid non work reasons are to receive Social Security benefits, Medicare, Food Stamps, which a K-1 is not going to be eligible for Social Security or Medicare, not sure about Food Stamps.

Ohhh, that makes more sense then. Thanks for the clarification.

Janny

They just need to get married and then adjust status. No need to leave the country and apply for K1 or K3.

Edited to add: I think I'm right about this but someone with more knowledge may prove me wrong!

You are correct!

Since there was no intent to marry and immigrate upon entry, they are fine to go ahead and get married and just file for AOS.

It's all about intent upon entry.

Really? That's awesome! I didn't know one could do that. So they would just get married, then apply for AOS. Man, I wish I had been in the position to be able to do that. We had to do the whole K-1. But now I am down in the US and all is good, just about to send off the AOS.

Thanks for the infos guys!

Janny

They just need to get married and then adjust status. No need to leave the country and apply for K1 or K3.

Edited to add: I think I'm right about this but someone with more knowledge may prove me wrong!

You are correct!

Since there was no intent to marry and immigrate upon entry, they are fine to go ahead and get married and just file for AOS.

It's all about intent upon entry.

Really? That's awesome! I didn't know one could do that. So they would just get married, then apply for AOS. Man, I wish I had been in the position to be able to do that. We had to do the whole K-1. But now I am down in the US and all is good, just about to send off the AOS.

Thanks for the infos guys!

Janny

I just thought of another question... if they got married and applied for the adjustment of status closer to the end of her current student visa, and it expired during the process, would that be an issue? Would she be able to leave the US to visit Canada, or would she have to wait until she received the green card?

Thanks again!

Janny

Hi Everyone,

I have a question to ask on behalf of my friend. Here's the story...

She's a Canadian citizen living in New York on a student visa. She met her fiance over five years ago via match.com. He's just got out of the army. Her student visa expires in December of 2009.

Question: if she is in the US legally on a student visa, can she still apply for the K-1? Or would a K-3 be a better option? They want to maximise their time together and avoid any parting if they can help it. Maybe they could get the K-1 or K-3 done with before her student visa expires in December of 2009 (when she would have to return to Canada)? Any thoughts?

Also, they are thinking of hiring an immigration lawyer, what's the general consensus on that?

Thanks for your thoughts and advice!

Janny

St. Cloud, MN?

yup...minnesota...all she saw was the stamp & she automatically said "We do not issue SSN for those who are not authorized to work"...and that she had turned away many Canadians with k-1 visas...like she deserved a badge or something...LOL...she did give me a letter saying why i was being denied in case anyone needed to know why...

i even called the office back in St. Cloud to cite what i found on their own website...and THAT lady said the same thing as the lady yesterday...i am not authorized to work due to the stamp on my I-94 and even pointed out that i am not a "citizen" and have no rights...nice huh?...basically you can't prove them wrong even with their own policy...she said that if i had a problem with their decision to call the DHS and have the I-94 changed...sure...right...okay...considering you can't even contact them...does it pay to fight it?...or will it just be me getting stressed out and running here and there and getting nowhere...i'm usually up for a fight but i'm tired of bureaucracy...LOL

oh well...i was mainly concerned that i wouldn't be able to file for AOS without it...but i'm not going to sweat it...i'll concentrate on getting married...YAY!!!!...i should still be able to do the driver's license, bank account, etc without it...

I haven't applied for a SSN yet, but I am wondering if it is even worth it without EAD. Everything I have read, even on the application for a SSN says you need a valid non-work reason. I have been trying to figure out this question on another posting... here's a good link that was passed on... https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510

As a K-1 visa holder you can apply for an SSN. However, you have to do it at least two weeks before your 90 day stay expires. Otherwise you will need to wait until you have your EAD/GC before you can apply for an SSN.

You dont really need a reason, but just say you need it for taxes or to be added to your husbands bank accounts.

It 14 days before your status expires that SSA has to process the application. You could apply the first day you get here and if it takes SSA 77 days to verify your status, you are out of luck. So it's best to apply ASAP.

Tax purposes, private health insurance, school enrollment or aid, banking, professional or driver's license are not valid non work reasons to be assigned an SSN.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0100203510

RM 00203.510 Alien without Work Authorization - Nonwork Need for an SSN

SO I'm confused then, if what is stated above are not valid non-work reasons, then how is everyone else getting SSNs and what are their valid non-work reasons?

EVERY immigrant in the US is required to notify USCIS of any address change, whether or not they are a legal permanent resident. Also, their sponsor/spouse is required to notify USCIS of any address change by using form I-865. Even if they haven't yet done an I-864. They consider the I-134 affidavit of support the same thing.

What form does the spouse use to change the address? Same online one, or do they send in a paper form?

Thanks!

Jan

my wife applied soon after we were married and received a social security card with the notation it was only good for employment if she also had a EAD letter.

she has since received the EAD and now we are just waiting for her green card.

she entered on a K-1 visa and applied for her green card in her first month here.

I believe we went online at the social security website and made an appointment at our local social security office.

I accompanied her and the interview/application went very smoothly.

she received in the mail about two weeks later.

We did the same last year, Wife entered the USA on K-1, we married, and then we applied for SSN, we brought, her Passport with K-1 and valid I-94, Birth Cert, Marriage Cert. No problem we got a SSN and card in married name a few weeks later.

Some have to just apply for SSN using maiden name, and then later get the card switched to married name after they get EAD or Green-card, because the SSA officer gets confused about K-1 visas.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I was just confused because originally when I went to get married they told me I needed an SSN or a letter stating I was not elligable. So I got the letter and got married. They told me I couldn't get one until I was able to work. This is where all my confusion comes from, that and reading the application. I think I will go ahead and try though. An SSN card would be a handy thing to have... we had trouble getting me a bank account without one.

Jan

I have a question about getting a SSN.

I was reading on the guides that I can apply for a SSN and be issued one, regardless of whether or not I have employment authorization yet. However, when reading over the requirements on the actual application for a SSN it states that,

"If you check "Legal Alien Not Allowed to Work," you must provide a document from a U.S. Federal, State, or local government agency that explains why you need a SSN and that you meet all of the requirements for the U.S. government benefit."

It also says, "If you are not authorized to work in the U.S., we can issue you a Social Security card only if you need the number for a valid non work reason."

So can I really apply for a SSN? What would be my valid non-work reason for applying for a SSN?

Thanks for your help, I'm confused... again.

Jan

*hands the paper bag to Jan*

breathe girl, breathe!

Thanks guys! I feel better now. I had a momentary freak-out.

Just wandering where does it say that you have to leave if you entered on a K-1 visa. You entered legally so I don't understand why you have to leave.

I was on the USCIS site and I found these links,

in the PDF about extending your non-immigrant status it says:

If you were admitted in any of the following nonimmigrant catego-

ries shown on your I-94, you will not be able to extend your stay in

the U.S.:

C (Alien in Transit)

D (Crewman)

K-1 or K-2 (Fiancé(e) or Dependent of Fiancé(e))

S (Witness or Informant beyond a total of

three years)

Q-2 (Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training

Program Visitor beyond a total of three

years or beyond a total of two years if initially

admitted on or after December 10, 2004)

TWOV (Transit Without Visa)

WT or WB (Visa Waiver Program, you would have been

issued a green Form I-94W)

Please note: If you are in any of the above categories, you must

depart the U.S. on or before the date your I-94 expires.

Hi All,

I need someone to set me straight.

So I came to the US on a K-1 Visa, got married, and I'm going to file my AOS in the next couple of weeks. But I was just reading on USCIS that I will have to leave the US on or before the date my I-94 expires... which for me is in August 2008. According to processing times, I don't think I will have my green card by then, so what happens? Will I have to leave? Or will I just be in some kind of immigration limbo status?

Help please!

Thanks,

Janny