cdn_gewels

I have a french birth certificate also. I had to get it translated years ago for Disney when I moved to Florida for a contract back in 2004. I actually went to see a notary that translated it for me. One person. All done. Any chance you can find someone that can do it all?

I have dual citizenship with Canada and Italy. My Italian passport expired back in 2006! On the DS-230 I did mention Italy in that box. They never questioned me about it or anything. I brought along my expired Italian passport to the interview, but they never asked for it. That was my experience.

Got an email last night that my I-485 application has been transferred to CSC! Woot! Woot!

Well, I went to the SSA office this morning, spoke with the manager of the office, and she said that as a K-1, even though my I-94 is still valid, the Orlando office does "it by the books" and will not change my name until I physically have my EAD card. They will not just do it in the system ether. It was a strong no. I brought in a printout of the information referenced in I Quit's initial post. She said it was general information that did not take my particular status. I even asked where I could find the information on the site, but she said that it is not listed there, but that I can go to some Congress office or something and it would be there. (Yeah, sure.)

I asked about the Orlando office approving "my friend's" case, and she said things change everyday, but that if "my friend" would have even come with me today, that it would have resulted in disciplinary action for that SSA employee. Sam, no worries, I never gave your name.

I have been to the SSA 3 times this week, spoken with officers/agents, supervisors and the office manager and have to say I am just done with it all. I am going to send out positive thoughts that my EAD gets approved in time for me to make the necessary changes with my SSN to get me a DL in my married name, before my Ontario license, and Ontario tag, expires in July. (Whew, run-on-sentence!) It's possible! And if not, then I guess I start from scratch with my license this summer, and if that is really where it all falls, then so be it. I am FINALLY here in Orlando, living with the love of my life, and I will no longer allow these government agencies to make me feel so hopeless again. I lost a week of my life driving around this city and getting absolutely nowhere. I am DONE with the SSA for now.

Thank goodness I still have a honeymoon to look forward to! I am leaving all my worries behind.

Thanks for all of your insight everyone.

In her case there is nothing anyone can do to get her an SSN card in her married until she has an EAD or I-551 card also with her married name.

I Quit, what exactly in my case is there nothing anyone can do to get me a SSN in my married name? I was planning on going to the SSN office Friday, April 30th, when my I-94 expires on May 16th, and ask for a review of my case. The denial letter I received states I have the right the right to have a review of my request by another agent, and I figure it wouldn't hurt to get it done to ensure that I am completely exhausting my options prior to admitting defeat. I just don't understand how that office can approve one person, and simply not approve me in the same case? So, I Quit, with all your advice and quotes that you've armed me with, do you honestly not think I have a case?

My I-94 expires on May 16th, so I guess tomorrow being Friday, April 30th still keeps me in the window.

I was given a denial notice for my request and it does say that I can call, write or visit the office again to have it reviewed by someone else. I tried calling today but the phone just kept ringing and ringing and ringing, no matter how many times I tried. I had to help my stranded husband today with my car, so a visit to the office just wasn't an option today.

I guess it wouldn't hurt to give it one more shot, and request to speak to an operations manager tomorrow. My biggest argument is how can it be done for someone else in the EXACT same situation, but not me? Obviously, it is possible. That agent that helped Sam would not do something to compromise her job!

I will print out the information noted about in previous posts and hope it helps. The officer I got just wouldn't budge on his take of it all, and the supervisor that came to look tried read through a lot of stuff in their system, but gave it a no too. Nothing I said worked.

Hi everyone!

I am just curious to learn more about the experiences of those those who changed their names after marriage and went to the SSA office to change their SSN card.

I have not yet received my EAD, and reading older threads, I understand that a lot of people had to wait until it was received to change the name. I have also read that others had no issue changing their name on their SSN card before receiving EAD. I'm a little frustrated because the Orlando office is inconsistent with this process. I do know that they did change the name of a friend's SSN in the exact same situation as my own, but have denied me.

I went to the SSA office yesterday, waited 2 hours, only to be told that nothing could be done until I had EAD.

After visiting the DMV today, hoping that I could at least get my license (my current Ontario license expires in July), they couldn't do anything as the names conflict in their system. (SSN name vs. married name on NOA for I-485 and EAD....) So, I can't even get a license in my maiden name! The DMV did suggest I go have my name changed in the system with the SSA, even if they didn't give me a card right away. So, I went back to the SSA office, and they wouldn't even change it in the system. I had a supervisor come and look through everything as well, and she confirmed that I must wait for EAD.

When I brought up the section on their website, "Request for a Replacement SSN Card Obtained for a Nonwork Purpose," they brought up a statement explaining that a driver's license is not a valid "non-work" purpose.

Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations? I really don't want my license to expire and then have to start from scratch because of my SSN! I hate this vicious circle.

Thanks.

So.. I got an RFE in the mail today for my EAD.

It simply says to sign and return the attached copy of my I-765 (which I thought I had done.. but guess not). The form they included is, sure enough, missing my signature... Oi... but they also circled my A#. No idea why. Do I just go off the comments and send in the signed form? Do I ignore this now, since my interview is less than two weeks away anyhow?

I always have a fear that I would miss signing a form too! I double checked everything before I sent it, but there's so much to check that missing something is still possible! I would send in the signed form even though your interview is coming up soon.

All fellow Canuck AOSers, I've joined the AOS train! I finally sent my package out in the mail today after hubby got me all the stuff I needed to complete my I-864. Finally....

Hey there!

I used to live in Ottawa, and used to work at the airport too! I got to know the US Customs Officers as I worked with them everyday. They are very polite and professional. I got to know some of them well and they were always so happy to hear of the progress with my K-1 Visa. I never had an issue crossing through, even when I got an officer I hadn't gotten to know yet. On a professional level, they were always so helpful with our passengers.

My birth certificate is in French as I was born in Quebec. I couldn't get an English copy (silly Quebec rule about having applied for the certificate in French when I was born), so I provided the consulate with a notarized translation. It was the original notarized translation, not a copy of it. Not sure if this info is helpful at all, but this is how I did it and I had no issues during my interview.

I'm so glad to hear that it all went smoothly for you too! I was a little nervous as we approached the border too but felt so relieved when we got to continue on.

Thanks everyone! It's good to be home.

Yay! Welcome to Florida!

It was a loooong drive, eh? Sounds like it was longer than mine, even... did you do it all in one trip?

Very glad to hear that things went smoothly for you, and that you're safely home.

We did the drive in 2 days. We stopped to sleep in Virginia. We drove for about 11-12 hours each day. We had some yucky weather in PA, MD, and VA, but it was smooth sailing into the Carolinas. I felt like the road would never end!!!

THANK YOU for posting this! My hubby and I were just debating which border crossing to use, Peace Bridge or Thousand Islands. (His stuff is in storage in Courtice so Thousand Islands would be a better option.) We were thinking of going the Peace Bridge route since I haven't seen any reviews on Thousand Islands until now. Its good to know this is really an option now.

Oh, and welcome to the US!!!

I don't think I've ever come across a review of the Thousands Islands crossing either, but, all went well. Good luck!!!

Just an update to my fellow March-filers.... I crosed the border on February 15th and arrived in Orlando on February 16th. I can't believe that I'm finally here.

Hi Everyone!

Just thought I'd give you a quick little update. I am finally home in Florida! I crossed over at the Thousand Islands, ON on Monday, February 15th. I called the POE weeks before and was told the best time to cross would be Mon-Fri between 8-4. I imported my car, so the officer I spoke with over the phone said that this would be the time I would have the most experienced officers.

We arrived at the border at 8:35 AM. I told the officer at the booth I was activating my K-1. I was then told to park to the right and head into secondary. My father and I were the only ones there at the time. I was called up to the counter in minutes and gave the officer my passport and packet. He was a newbie so a more senior agent was guiding him through. At one point, there were 4 officers checking over everything. They asked me simple questions like our wedding date, my fiance's address...

I was also importing my 2006 Kia. Another officer was working on that paperwork. He said that there would be an import charge, but I then told him that I had called back in December, spoken with an officer and was told that I would not be charged as I was on a K-1, even though my car was Korean. I had the date, time and officer's name from my call. The officer said he would look into it.... worked on his computer for a while, then never charged me and put "0" for charges on my paperwork for the car.

Once the car stuff was over, I sat for a bit and was then called back up to the counter where I was given back my passport with the I-94 inside. The officer called it my "meat and potatoes." He said that if I had any issues that I could contact Customs at the Orlando International Airport. He also confirmed that I knew what to do after I was married, etc.... and that was it.

We were there for an hour and then headed back onto the road. They never went through my car and never asked for my inventory list, even after I advised them that I had one.

The drive was long... 2200 kms.... but it was such an awesome feeling pulling up in front of the condo and walking in to greet my anxious fiance!

I was once on a flight where the puppy chewed itself out of the soft-sided kennel. Then he escaped to the back of the plane. lol.

Hey lgg!

I work for an airline...at least I do for a few more weeks! I just sent off a flight to Florida in fact, and I just wanted to assure you that you can bring your laptop and your cat. Just be sure your laptop is in a laptop bag, not a back-pack style bag, and don't pack any clothes into it either!

I'll be just a few days behind Sean! So glad it's all coming together for you, Arabella.

Awesome pictures!!! Congratulations!

I can't beleive it's been so cold down there, but you can keep each other warm.

Glad to hear it was a smooth process.

Love the pictures! Congratulations!!!

Yup. Security will send them back out of the Customs Hall - so we have to be pretty strict at the counters. It was a real pain trying to explain this to many, many ladies today. They aren't even allowing "man-purses" for men! (At least our airport's security agents confirmed this today.)

The Customs Officers have also reminded us about the size restriction. So, they're looking too!!!

Well that must be annoying! Nobody is throwing my Coach into a cargo hold! Are there any exact dimensions to look at or are you just playing it by eye? It would just be nice to know to what exact size we are restricted to. I tried to google it but couldn't find anything specific.

We do it by eye... but I had to use a paper as my guide for some questionable purses today. We're kinda the first line of defense for what is accepted and what is not, so we try to catch what we can to avoid delays with security. I can't say I saw any security agents measuring stuff when I went through today, but it took me just a few mins to pass so I don't know more than what I saw during those few minutes.

I think that any official site may just say "small purse," but during our breifing, we were given papers with the acceptable items and they added a note about the paper-size guideline so we could have an idea as to what they consider "small."

Right I know. What I mean is I used to just carry on my luggage so I could save the fee. Now it looks like I am forced to check my bags and pay the fee.

Arabella, I believe that this new restriction is imposed by Transport Canada for flights bound for the US from Canada. I don't believe that flying within the US has the same rules as of yet. I know my fiance flew within the US to visit his family for the holidays and did not face these restrictions.

So, if you fly with an American carrier within the US to visit your fiance (as I believe you then drive across the border) you won't have to worry about this. Just keep an ear out if this happens within the US too!

I've always been a big purse kinda gal. Would they really make you check it if it was a little bigger than that piece of paper?

Yup. Security will send them back out of the Customs Hall - so we have to be pretty strict at the counters. It was a real pain trying to explain this to many, many ladies today. They aren't even allowing "man-purses" for men! (At least our airport's security agents confirmed this today.)

The Customs Officers have also reminded us about the size restriction. So, they're looking too!!!

Its just wierd I suppose because the last time I flew (october last year) they allowed my bag on no problems. Its right on the side guideline with a collapsable handle. I've had to check it on a few of the smaller craft where their overhead bins were smaller than the airlines poilicy, but never had an issue with it before. Its just like a mini version of my big luggage. Does this mean it wouldnt be allowed on as carry on anymore?

Unfortunately, the rules changed just a few days ago because of the incident that happened on Christmas Day. So, it's a no-go on the roller bag or even those smaller duffel bags that match the rollers. Every day when I go to work, I have to be breifed on the new changes.... it's crazy.

Honestly, now you have 1 personal item only:

SMALL purse OR laptop bag with laptop inside OR small bag with medication OR musical instrument OR baby bag as long as you have an infant. That's it. Take your pick. Crazy times. But - it does make for fairly quick boarding without people taking so much time to stow away all their stuff!!!

That sucks! I wonder if this is also a secret ploy to force us to pay the $15 each way to check a bag . . .

Most American carriers charge fees for checked bags. WestJet allows 2 pieces free of charge while Air Canada will start charging for the 2nd bag for transborder flights starting this January.