ATCSUSNRET

Yes we took everything. The Soc Sec Card is the roadblock. We had a State ID which expired when her K1 expired. Now even with marriage cert they will not issue her a new one because her Soc Sec card is her maiden name.

The BMV here turned us away and stated her application for State ID would be rejected by DHS without new Social Security Card. All I hit is brick walls trying to use old SSN card and marriage cert. If the names don't match they are having none of it, without new card. I have tried, believe me.

We used her married name.

Yes. It is a case of being caught in the middle. Her Soc Sec card is in her maiden name, which matches her passport and (now expired) K1 Visa. Her state ID card was issued in her maiden name, and expired on the same date as her K1. By way, it expired May 15th, I received it in the mail June 6th, already expired. Since we cannot get an new state ID card (that's a whole other issue) in her married name without the new Soc Card, she has no proof of ID in a whole myriad of things. Her state ID card is expired, and her K1 is expired and many will look at the I-94 and see it is expired also. I knew this process would not be easy, but Lord. To clarify, I was told that the SSA-5, I-94, Passport, Marriage Cert, and her Birth Cert is all that is needed to update her card. SSA and BMV like to point fingers and blame one another and leave many people caught in the middle.

She has to be enrolled in DEERS for TRICARE health insurance. I am retired military. They require a new Soc Sec Card. Also, are you in Indiana? Do you bank with Navy Federal? So thanks for your input. I'll do me as you said.

She can in fact get an updated card, not a new card. There is a difference. That is why we got her initial card, to avoid the hassle with name being different on passport etc.

I am not waiting for green card because I cannot enroll her for health insurance, add to bank account, get state ID, anything without the new Soc Sec Card. Can't add her to my life insurance, get her driver's license, etc etc.

A cautionary tale of incompetence. I took my spouse to the closest SSA office to get her name changed on her social security card. I had her I-94, Passport, SSA-5, our marriage certificate, her birth certificate, our 797 for AOS, my passport, and my birth certificate. We were 2nd in line that morning. There was only one lady working the desk. I noticed she was being pretty short and rude with the Filipina in front of us, who was there with her disabled husband in a wheelchair. She left in tears. We approached the window and as I tried to say good morning she cut me off and asked if I had an appointment or was a walk in. I told her we were a walk in. She rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her breath. Now for the record, I am a retired Senior Chief from the US Navy, so I perhaps don't suffer fools as well as I should, but it was an immediate bad start. She asked my spouse, who is Vietnamese, if she spoke English. She answered a little. The clerk rolled her eyes again and muttered something. She then asked me what we were there for. As I tried to tell her she again interrupted me and said Just give me your paperwork. She went through it saying Don't need this, don't need this, don't need this. She then asked me for our form I-766. I tried to explain to her we didn't have a 766 because we didn't file an I-765 with our adjustment of status. She then told me my spouse is out of status since we got married and there was nothing she could do, to take it up with DHS. I then tried to explain to her that that very office is where we got her initial Social Security card and we were just there to submit a name change. She told me not to raise my voice. On cue, the DHS security guard yelled at me and told me not to raise my voice. I again tried to tell her what we were doing with her cutting me off repeatedly. She told me to leave. I asked to speak to a supervisor and she told me no. Then the guard (I am not even joking), took 3 steps toward me with his hand on his weapon and told me to leave the building. So we left. I told him when I walked past him on the way out he should be ashamed of himself and a couple of other choice words. In the parking lot, I called the office number and asked to speak to a supervisor. They transferred me and the lady that threw us out answered the phone. So we left. My wife was terrified, both from being told she was out of status and that guard putting his hand on his pistol. I finally got her calmed down on the drive home. I called the 800 number for Social Security and after being on hold an hour, talked to a very nice young lady who assured me that we were not out of status, and that all I needed was the SSA-5, I-94, her passport, our Marriage Cert and my wife's birth cert to get the name change. She was very apologetic and recommended we go to the office in Indianapolis where the people know what they are doing. (Her words, verbatim). This incident was in the Bloomington, Indiana office. My advice is don't try to reason with someone like that. Don't argue your point, take your paperwork and go elsewhere. We are going to Indianapolis in the morning. I will update this post tomorrow afternoon. Seth

Yes I intend to. Probably a little overkill but I am not taking any chances at this point.

I was able to see the RFE online. It referenced tax transcripts (last 3 years provided), joint sponsor reqs( not necessary) and proof of my citizenship via passport/birth cert. I can only assume it is the citizenship part. It is in the block 11 instructions on the 864 to provide, I just overlooked it.

I did not. That did not occur to me. That seems like a strange requirement given that we already had the K1 approved. I am hoping it is something simple like that. Thanks for the response.

Hello everyone, Woke up to an RFE notification on our case status this morning. Our timeline is: I-797 May 16, Scheduled Biometrics May 24, RFE sent May 28. I am a bit confused, as we have only received the 797 in the mail, which was Sat the 25th. I had assumed we were at a standstill until biometrics are complete. We did not submit for EAD or AP, just the 485 and 864. I make 7x the poverty level cutoff, submitted last 3 years of tax transcripts, employment verification, etc. Can anyone shine some light on this? I know I have to wait to actually receive the RFE, just wondering if anyone has heard of one being issued prior to biometrics. Thanks Seth

Good evening everyone. We have finally arrived at the AOS stage and I am a bit confused. Do we receive a new case number/NOA1? My bank account was debited for the Elgin lockbox today but I didnt receive a text/email notification. I am curious on how to check our case status? Thanks in advance Seth & Hoa

She arrived here Feb 16. I didn't even think of it before she left VN. So anyone reading, read and heed. Bring the cement pillow 😆

I have one coming today via amazon. If that don't cut it Ill try cutting up a memory foam topper I have like mentioned above.

Yes, we went by one yesterday.

I apologize if this seems silly, but my finacee is finally here and I cannot find a very firm/hard pillow like she had in Vietnam. I have bought 3 different "firm" pillows since her arrival 3 weeks ago and they are all too soft. Her pillow at home was unbelievably hard in my opinion, and I cannot find anything over here comparable to date. Anyone else run into this? I'm thinking some sort of Yoga bolster, etc. Seth

What is your status? Are you case ready? It was delivered to her house via courier, to the address in our ustraveldocs account. You have been waiting 2 months since when?

I took my K1 beneficiary to get her Social Security Card yesterday via walk in. She arrived in the US February 16th. All we needed was her passport/visa and her I-94. Anyone running into difficulties, just go to a different office where they know what they are doing. After research here and elsewhere, it seems it is easier to get SSN upon arrival and then change the name following marriage so as to not run into difficulties with the name on the marriage cert not matching Visa/Passport. At any rate, we were in and out in less than 30 minutes. Bloomington, Indiana. God speed to all Seth

I will provide officiant services for free to anyone in Indiana. Not intending to hijack thread.

The VA generated letter stating your disability is 100% is fine and as far as USAA, I would contact them and request a summary letter of when your account was opened, and deposits/withdrawals for the last 12 months. I did this with Navy Federal and had no issues.

We passed our interview in Ho Chi Minh City January 8th. Visa in hand January 13th. I will be flying her over February 16. I attended the interview. It went very well.

What do you mean, submitting documents shortly before the interview? The only thing you will be submitting is the DS-160, and that is an online submission. You definitely need to take any pertinent evidence that was not included in your I-129 with you to the interview. They did not look at ours, but I did see them looking at others that were there. I did not see any slip of paper at our interview, and I was looking for it.

Thank you very much. I wish the best to us all on this difficult journey.

Thanks! February 16th is the plan. She's going to love Indiana in the winter.