thirdsjen

what i meant to say was: i placed our pics on a blank sheet of paper and added captions on the bottom. i had pics of just us, with the baby, with family, and with friends. i had quite a few but nowhere near 40, which may be too much.

CSC is not in a hurry to cash my check. this is driving me insane!

I'm about to submit my paperwork in the next few days. With regards to photographs, how many should I send ? I have about 40 printed out, is that too many ?

And should I just put them in a zip-lok bag with the information about each picture written on the back, or should I glue them onto a page of paper, with information about the picture below ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

OH NOOO!!! i wish i could be of help! maybe call and ask what to do? after i had my baby, there went 1/4 of my brain, i can empathize with you on that one! i was at the post office when i sent mine Sept 8; as i was taking out my check book, i realized that i totally forgot who i was making the check out to! i had nobody to ask as my husband was at work. after about 10 minutes of just thinking and staring at my packet, i just wrote out USCIS.. i hope that was right.. oh my gosh! then i dropped it in the mailbox. as of now, they still haven't cashed it.. I HOPE I WROTE IT OUT CORRECTLY!! i'm such a moron...

so i guess i'm as "stupid" as you? hehehe...

You are find then. I thought his GC date is Dec 13(as per your signature)

huh? OHHH!!! Dec 13 was when he received his GC.. that's not when it will expire. He entered the US Nov 30, that is the expiration date of the CR-1.

so far nobody has cashed my check.. sigh!!! oh well... i'm not as excited about this one as the CR-1 2 years ago. 2 years ago, every waking moment is was watching that thing.. but, it's nice to be back to VJ!

Aren't you early? I thought the window is 90 days before the expiration of GC?

i believe we are exactly in the 90 day window.. unless i counted wrong. math is not my strong point. my husband's GC expires Nov 30, they received the packet Sept 9. That has to be within the 90 day.. IT BETTER BE! i don't want that thing back!

so they received the packet just this morning. does anybody know if this will show up in the USCIS website? I just checked, and the only thing showing up is my CR-1 and that is still in INITIAL REVIEW! LOL!

hope we get the biometrics letter soon. We are going out of the country this October..

butting in on this list!

California Service Center (2 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

MR.G...............08/30/10..........09/01/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

THIRDSJEN..........09/08/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (3 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

VIVABAÑOS..........08/30/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

FILIRICANS.........09/03/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

ADNIS1.............09/07/10..........--/--/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

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UPDATE: we got his SSC and Green Card in the mail today. it was actually issued 12/04 according to the letter.

his green card has the wrong middle initial just like i thought it would happen and there is no suffix (III).

his social security card only has his first and last name; no middle or suffix either. should this be ok or should we have it corrected? cuz i think it will matter since he is THE THIRD (III).

i know we definitely need the green card corrected..

and i thought the drama is finally done...

hey all, guess what? my husband's SS card AND green card arrived in the mail today!

and of course, just as i feared, the middle initial is wrong!!! now what.. i guess i'm gonna have to call USCIS again monday..

question: on his SSC, it didn't have his middle name or his suffix of the third (III). is this going to make a difference? should we correct this? but then everything should match, shouldn't it?

I entered on Nov 19th, and no signs of welcome letter, SSN card, and green card I do not even expect. Today I went to the local SS office, and they could not even find my name in the system. I applied for a new one at the spot.

As I could understand, POE sends the content of yellow envelope to USCIS, and then USCIS sends the welcome letter once they get the documents? Does the welcome letter also contain the case number with which I could check my green card status?

Yep, I am totally serious. I will probably move my bed to the mailbox soon, so I do not miss something. This might sound stupid but I never got the number, and maybe it has something to do with DCF? I asked this because I am preparing myself to go to infopass because they messed up my status (to change CR1 to IR1 since two years of marriage at the POE have passed), and if they ask me for my case number, i only have the case number in my visa, but that is not what they want.

Also, about the passport thing and what they wrote... In my case it is not the date when my conditional residence would expire, but when the passport thing would expire, and that is exactly one year.

Anyway, it's time to check my mailbox again.

hmm.. i don't know anything about DCF's..

but at POE you should have your passport stamped with the visa class and an "A" number. my husband's temporary I-551 will also expire in a year. this takes the place of the physical green card so they have a year to send him his card and he can use his passport with the visa in it as his "green card" for the meantime.

as for the CR1 status of my husband, the guy wrote down Nov 29, 2010 as a reminder maybe.. but not every officer does this, i guess

this is what i got from the SSA website:

Original Social Security Number for a Noncitizen Adult

In general, only noncitizens who have permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can apply for a Social Security number. If you do not have permission to work but need a Social Security number for other purposes, see “Work eligibility” for further information.

To apply for a Social Security number:

* Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5); and

* Show us documents proving:

o Immigration status;

o Work eligibility;

o Age; and

o Identity.

* Take your completed application and original documents to your local Social Security office .

Anyone age 12 or older requesting an original Social Security number card must appear for an interview at a Social Security office.

Immigration status

To prove your U.S. immigration status, you must show us the current U.S. immigration document, I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued to you when you arrived in the United States. If you are an F-1 or M-1 student, you also must show us your I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. If you are a J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor, you must show us your DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status.

Work eligibility

For most foreign workers, we only need to see an I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Some foreign workers also must show their work permits from DHS (I-766 or I-688B).

Identity

Social Security will ask to see a current DHS document. Acceptable documents include:

* Form I-551 (includes machine-readable immigrant visa with your unexpired foreign passport);

* I-94 with your unexpired foreign passport; or

* Work permit card from the Department of Homeland Security (I-766 or I-688B).

We may use one document for two purposes. For example, we may use a DHS work permit as proof of both work eligibility and identity. However, you must provide at least two separate documents.

All documents must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents.We also cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.

We will mail your card as soon as we have all of your information and have verified your documents.

I entered on Nov 19th, and no signs of welcome letter, SSN card, and green card I do not even expect. Today I went to the local SS office, and they could not even find my name in the system. I applied for a new one at the spot.

As I could understand, POE sends the content of yellow envelope to USCIS, and then USCIS sends the welcome letter once they get the documents? Does the welcome letter also contain the case number with which I could check my green card status?

are you serious? you should at LEAST get a welcome letter.. yeah, the POE sends the envelope to USCIS then USCIS send the welcome letter. it's a NOA with a receipt number which you could check your case on the USCIS website. my husband's status says this:

Application Type: OS155A, IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On December 9, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this OS155A IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

How did you check your case status online for SSN? I mean which number did you put. Did you put the same number as you did in like WAC2008****** or is it some other number?

When I put the WAC one which we got with our NOA-1 while filling i-130, it shows me the old message of approving our case.

I haven't yet been to social security office mainly because I don't know the road directions out here and by the time my husband gets back from work its past 5 pm, so SS office is closed by that time, I am not in that much of hurry but still getting my SSN would achieve at least something and I can at least do some volunteer work, or get a DL rather than sitting at home all day.

you can't check your SSN online.. but you can track your IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION CASE online with a WAC number that is on the welcome letter. i think this is to track the green card? all i know is, my husband's was approved and they have sent an approval letter which up till now, we have not received.

try a cab/taxi.. just tell them the social security office. we're just lucky that our SS office is very near our house and since i am on medical leave at this time, i can take him anywhere close by.

i think what you need to bring is the completed application, your passport with the visa stamp and the "A" number.. that's about it. maybe your birth certificate and your marriage license? that i'm not sure of

MY WIFE ARRIVED NOV.26, RECD. SS CARD ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER...

hmm.. so i guess we'll just wait till next week then.. my husband is suppose to be the one who is impatient regarding this but i'm the one getting anxious..

So, this "A" number is given by the visa issuing embassy or at the POE? Also, I already have a SSN number, can I start working eventhough i dont get welcome letter or a physical green card?

how did you get your SSN so fast?

in my understanding, your visa (if you entered on an immigrant visa) should serve as a "temporary I-551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year." this is what i am reading on my husband's visa that is stamped in his passport. also, the immigration officer at the POE stamped his passport with the arrival date, class of CR1 and the date of when his conditional residence would expire. the officer also wrote down his "A" number on the passport.

so, since you already have your SSN, go ahead and apply for jobs, open a bank account, etc. you don't need a welcome letter or the physical green card right now as the I-551 is valid for 1 year from the date of your entry..

somebody pls correct me if i'm wrong.. but this is how i understand it..

I entered on Nov 19th, and no signs of welcome letter, SSN card, and green card I do not even expect. Today I went to the local SS office, and they could not even find my name in the system. I applied for a new one at the spot.

As I could understand, POE sends the content of yellow envelope to USCIS, and then USCIS sends the welcome letter once they get the documents? Does the welcome letter also contain the case number with which I could check my green card status?

are you serious? you should at LEAST get a welcome letter.. yeah, the POE sends the envelope to USCIS then USCIS send the welcome letter. it's a NOA with a receipt number which you could check your case on the USCIS website. my husband's status says this:

Application Type: OS155A, IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On December 9, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this OS155A IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION. Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Nice to know what I've got to look forward to well the world economy isn't doing well including Spain and they have agreed to let him out of his contract no fee cause they have laid off everyone for this month!!!! Grrrrrrrr so once he gets his visa he will travel to morrocco pack and say goodbye... we're hopeing for Jan sometime...

oh no! well, that's good and bad news.. at least he's off his contract now. you know how long for his visa to arrive?

Can somebody explain what welcome letter contains and after how long do you receive after your entry?

After you entry, how long does it take to get green card?

Thanks.

my husband entered the US at LAX on Nov 30, Sunday night. we got the welcome letter in the mail Dec 9, Tuesday. Basically, the letter welcomes you to the USA and that USCIS has received your immigrant visa packet from the POE, blah blah blah.. pretty short..

the receipt and notice date on my husband's letter was Dec 3: so i guess that's when they received that brown packet you weren't allowed to open from the POE..

as for the green card, can't tell you much since we are not there yet.. i heard it might take a while but his passport stamp is good for a year so i'm not worried about that.. that has his "A" number on it. the welcome letter will have his "A" number on it too.. "A" number is his alien number..

what is important right now is the social since we can't do ANYTHING if he doesn't have that..

That's what happen to us too, we got approved a second time on 11/28/08 my husband POE was 11/26/08

What is wrong with these people

We went to the SS office yesterday, he will get his card in 2 weeks, he was also NOT in the system!

Nita

well, we got his WELCOME LETTER yesterday and of course there had to be something wrong with it.. middle name was wrong and his suffix was missing.. he's the III and he has to have that in his name.. so, i called USCIS. had to have that typo changed before they print out his greencard and have that all wrong.. i hope they corrected it in time since they said that on Dec 9 they already approved the case..

he wasn't in the SS system? why? well, maybe that's a good thing in our case since they had a typo on his welcome letter.. we'll go next week and inquire.. i had the whole application filled out and ready to go since last week.. hehe..

according to USCIS, i will receive another letter containing the approval.. why do we need another approval, i wanna know.. but whatever.. they had just better get his name right on the greencard and the SS card.. according to the lady i spoke too, she fixed it.. so we shall see.. she also said that if the approval letter contained the wrong name again to just disregard it, since it was already mailed out by the time the correction was made..

Thank you two soooo much... i only had four hours sleep and continued my redecorating and shopping and cleaning... running of adrenoline (spelling?) Jen is your husband here yet?

my husband arrived here on Nov 30, Rajaa! he's been here almost 2 weeks now.. twiddling his thumbs because his SSN card hasn't arrived yet. we will be going to the office next week to see if he's even in the system. we got his welcome to the United States letter in the mail tuesday, Dec 9. of course there was a typo in his name. i called USCIS (goody, we are back with them ) to have the typo corrected. according to USCIS automated thingy, his application has been approved ( i guess that means I DON'T KNOW??) on Dec 9 and they have sent a letter regarding his green card. so i panicked some more. if they put the wrong name on the green card, that will totally screw everything up.. gosh, what if they put the wrong name on his social too?? but the lady, who took forever to correct it, finally said that she corrected it cuz it was a typo and to expect another letter stating the correction.. oh the drama...

so that's my update.. hahaha..

when is his contract in Spain done, Rajaa? will he be here January or Febuary?

Rajaa!!

APPROVED!!! YAY!!!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU BOTH!!!!

is he like freaking out right now or is he calm as ever? cuz my husband couldn't sleep at all!!! his appt was 0630 AM and at 12 AM he was pacing.. left the condo at 0330! haha!

anyway, i gotta go.. another dr's appt for me! it never ends...