jcg303

we have a similar situation and were not sure about the same two questions. any help would be greatly appreciated.

my wife and i went through the immigration process 2 years ago, and she finally arrived in the US in April of 2010. at the time she decided to keep her last name, and all the following paperwork was filled out using her last name. 14 months later, she has decided that she would like to take my last name. we're planning on taking her driver's license, green card, and our marriage certificate to the local SS office first before going to get a new driver's license and updating all the USCIS stuff.

my question is - has anyone gone this route before? is it any different than doing a name change immediately following the marriage? does she need any addition documentation than what i mentioned earlier? any tips are greatly appreciated, as always!

thanks!!

my wife successfully passed the written and driving tests in order to get her driver's license. however, the bmv would not issue the license because her I-94 expires on 7/1, and apparently, she's not in the DHS database. she arrived here on 4/1 with a K-1 visa. she received an I-94 at the airport, so i'm not sure how she's not in the database. we've already filed for her green card, and she took her I-485 NOA1 into the license branch. according to their requirements, we had all the necessary documents and proofs of identity.

WHAT MORE DO THEY WANT????

has anyone else had any trouble getting a driver's license? if it makes any difference, we live in indiana.

we filed our AOS last week, and the transaction just posted to our bank account this morning. the back of the check shows "MSC" followed by a 10 digit number. is "MSC" the prefix used for AOS apps just as "WAC" is used for K-1 apps?

so is the 'A' number the same one that is shown on the NOA2? we didn't see an 'A' number on my fiancee's k-1 visa

hey everyone - the big day is finally here. my fiancee will be arriving this thursday in chicago!! we've prepared as much as we can, but we still have a few questions about the process of going through customs.

if you can, please give us a run down of the order of events, which documents will be taken by the customs officer, which documents my fiancee will keep for her records and AOS process.

also, if anyone has specific details about arriving and going through customs in chicago, it would be much appreciated.

thanks for your help!!

temp stamp at JFK is not valid much anymore

Time to get EAD and AP is about 60 days AFTER you file for status adjustment

SSN is filed for at the SSA office

so the best way to get the EAD and AP now is to file for it along with the AOS papers? it sounds like it's also a cheaper route.

finally!! my fiancee got her k-1 visa today!! it should've just stayed home from work today - all i've been doing all day is checking on flights, the AOS procedure, EAD and AP documents, etc. it didn't take very long for my sense of relief to be overtaken by the realization of all the things that we now must plan and do - and i thought we were free and clear. HA!!

couple of questions - is JFK the only POE that issues EADs? if she doesn't go through JFK, how long does it take to get an EAD? how long does it take to get AP travel documents? when and where do we need to fill for a SS #?

when/where is your interview? we just had ours at the Jerusalem consulate, and i traveled to israel that week to attend the interview with my fiancee. BEWARE - i was NOT allowed into the building!!! it's utterly rediculous, but i had to sit outside of the building and wait for 2 hours. we read about couple who previously attended their interview together, so i was fully expecting to participate - it's very frustrating. also, make sure you bring your latest tax return information. our paperwork did not explicitly say that it was required, but they won't continue without it.

GOOD LUCK!!!

i just downloaded a trial version of the original world of warcraft to check it out and see what all the hype is about.

anyone have some good advice on how to start out? what to do first? where to go? which character to choose? etc.

thanks!!

I defined the double standard very clearly and it sure does exist whether you want to acknowledge it or not.

The economy is not shrinking anymore as I'm sure you are aware. The public spending will be reduced as private spending picks up. You know better than to suggest that you could just snap your finger and the public spending will stop and the economy will continue to go on at this point. Besides, there are infrastructure projects that are still to be built - those are investments rather than runaway spending. Give it some time, buddy. You're so fcuking American that nothing short of instant gratification will do, eh? Rome wasn't built in a day, you know?

Now, health care is something I am not entirely happy with - actually I'm quite unhappy with the watered down reform that is likely to pass. It's nowhere near the optimum but it sure is a heck of a lot better than the only viable alternative - which is what's been done over the last serveral decades - nothing. Where you produce the extra bureaucrats that will all of a sudden pop up between the patient and the doctor, I sure don't know. Pull those out of your hat or do you really see them. In case of the latter, I'd like some of whatever it is you're smoking.

10.2% unemployment just announced - clearly a sign of a growing economy. good thing cash for clunkers produced a temporary surge in gdp growth. maybe extending unemployment benefits will convince those out of work to get out there and spend their hard earned (by other people) $$$. question - is private spending with public dollars really just public spending through a middle man?

and how to go about turning around this inconvenient unemployment rate? let's try taxing energy and healthcare. the more money we take from employers, the more they'll have to hire employees, right? oh wait, maybe i've got that backwards.

at least the world still respects us. testing nuclear warheads and rockets in iran and north korea is a sign of a worldwide commitment to education in science and technology, right? chavez was promoting literacy by giving a book on socialism to obama, right?

and no - rome wasn't built in a day, but according to the boston globe, the housing crisis wasn't, either. barney frank and his buds have been working on that for a looooong time - http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editoria...nancial_fiasco/

because it has always been me i have never worried about a larger bed but with perviz up coming interview figured it was about time i started looking.............i was shocked at the price sticker.....so i thought ok i will try rent to own for a while .....ha........after seeing the stains on the mattresses decided ewe nope dont want to go that way on tues i will be going to see if i can get credit someplace for a decent mattress and box springs ...........

sara

always buy new. I would never buy a used one, or like you were going to do rent to own.. who knows whos DNA is on that

good luck

well first time i ever been shopping for my own bed lol took my mom with me she said dont get anything from rent to own until u look at the mattress sure enough i dont want that lol

sara

steer clear of rent-to-own!!!! they are often times very shady with their terms and conditions and interest rates, which can easily be in excess of 100% when converted to an annual percentage rate!!!!

heed the advice of others on this thread - it's better to sleep on the floor for a few months and save the money and pay cash rather than take out a loan. if you're a "gots to have it" kinda person, get a 0% interest loan. with the economy as it is now, there should be someone, somewhere willing to give you those terms.

You poor poor soul. Must pain you to drive that. I got the A8 with the w12 engine package.

As an Aussie, were not exactly into cars. Cars don't define us.

However, you may want to check out the price of a 750i that my old man drives. Price starts with 2 and is six digits.

You're so full of sh!t it's not even funny. A brand new, limited edition is is only $96k and that is with every single option available. Try again criminal.

Wrong yet again. We pay taxes there, hence why we win awards and are not bankrupt. We don't allow fuckwits to buy cheap things, yet rely on illegal aliens an let the rest of the country remain dirt poor.

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleD...ArticleID=64104

You are right regarding the price here though. Wow they get ripped there. However, they can afford it, so it evens itself out.

classic - taxes lead to awards and bankruptcy prevention. and the reverence for your countrymen is truly inspirational

america stands for equal opportunity - not equal results.

You lie! Someone in the ghetto has no chance of competing with a student in my county. Yes the county with highest grossing household income in the entire United States of America.

Equal opportunity is what countries like Australia, Norway, Canada, Sweden etc provide, not America. Where a kid's grades determine their entrance into college rather than their parents wealth.

someone from the ghetto just earned a spot on the scotus!!! why? because she was willing to work for it!!!

and you expect us to believe that every aussie is a straight-A student? no doubt there are some delinquents that fell through the cracks. your posts are a CLEAR example of that. GEEZ - be a man!!! own up to your decisions!! i don't need a mommy-state to wipe my nose every time i make a booboo. you know what i want? i want my tax money that went to banks that i don't use, companies that build cars that i don't drive, and insurers that i don't do business with.

and their jackoff peons on this thread try to protect them.

Everyone's afraid that we're going towards socialism in this country but what most don't realize is that if we don't make some major changes, regular people like all of us here will be much much worse off, I don't even want to imagine what our children's situation will be.

I don't think it's fair that while the unemployment rate continues to be 10% that the financial institutions that laid of tons of people off should give their execs huge bonuses, it's not morally right. Their screw ups led to many people (some of whom I know, I live in NY and have friends who work(ed) for these companies), getting laid off and having no source of income to support their families, losing their homes and health insurance.

More than a partisan debate, I believe it's a moral one.

I agree. I wish everyone would look at what is really going on and use common sense. I don't own a bank and I don't own a company that makes cars but i do hope to own a small biz nd employ a few people if I could and it seems as if the big guys just want to b the only ones making it. Imagine a world where America is run without the peoples voice but by special interest. right wing, left wing that should be something of great concern. Yes they they should make money but what they deserve to make. I want to also make this a point if the middle class and regular people are not making it they will only get to laugh for just so long because we make it possible for them to have the private jets.

and who are you or anyone else to decide what someone deserves to make? what if you start your business and it becomes so successful, that you decide to go public. after years of hard work to grow your business, do you want someone to tell you that you make entirely too much money because it's not fair that they don't.

you want to see some changes on wall street? take away government backing on secured loans. the days of 1 year ARMs and interest only loans will dissappear over night - banks won't take the risk! try going to your local credit union or community bank and asking for a mortgage with the type of terms offered by bank of america or citi. they'll do well not to laugh out loud.

america stands for equal opportunity - not equal results.

I don't like that the .GOV is telling them to cap pay, but banks got in bed with the .GOV when they took the bailout money, so now they have to play by .GOV rules. The same way schools have to play by the No Child Left Behind rules if they want .GOV funding. If they don't like it they shouldn't have taken the handout.

Yeah really. I don't see how its any more complicated than that.

It's not any more complicated than that. Right wing jackoffs know that but they have to lie because they are right wing jackoffs.

hmmmmm, jackoffs, eh? oh yes, i see now! why didn't i think of that?? you're absolutely right. logic and reasoning sure get in the way sometimes and cloud the issues - shame on me!! it's a good thing you were able to steer us back to the insults and mudslinging.

Surely noone forced them to take the taxpayers money, and they can hardly have expected it to come with no strings attached, especially if you're declaring profit on the back or the bail out.

Seems fairly cut and dried really. Don't want the government imposing pay regulation, don't take public money.

agreed - if these companies are going to crawl up to the alter of obama with their hats in their hands, they should do as they're told. don't like it? don't take the money.

now, if the government forced the money on these organizations, then that's a different (and MUCH scarier) scenario altogether.

however, i still think that many (not all) of the problems in the housing markets are due to the various fair housing laws that have been enacted over the last 30 years. for example, i have a mortgage with a regional bank. the ink was barely dry before it was bundled and sold to freddie mac, where it remains today. the government, which cannot go bankrupt for intents and purposes, effectively guaranteed the loan leaving the bank in control of the terms and conditions of the loan.

if big brother is going to stand behind every loan, why not dish out some risky loans here and there? increasing your earnings and assets sure looks nice on those balance sheets. and after all, the job of every executive in every public firm in every industry is to create and increase value for the shareholders. poor decisions by executives (i.e. risky loan decisions) normally would be kept in check by the market. borrowers that default on their loans would lead banks to create tighter standards or risk a drop in value to their shareholders.

but as we have seen, companies like freddie and fannie are not immune to bankruptcy, and they can only take so much before a small dip in the economy triggers an avalanche. so i think that the government helped to get these into this mess, but now they're using them as a scapegoat.

are you living in a city that is comparable in size to Melbourne? if so, then i'm calling shenanigans. there is not one city in America with a population of >50k that does not have at least 5 mobile carriers and/or broadband providers. according to wiki, Melbourne's population is estimated at ~4 mil. that makes it larger than L.A. so unless you live in Chicago, L.A., or N.Y., comparing melbourne to a city of 500k is apples and oranges.not getting enough time off or how someone else earned more money or how there's not enough choice in broadband providers.

Thanks to county rights and all of that bureaucratic inefficient government that repubs like, most places have a handful of providers. Once again, interesting how the definition of smaller government varies from Aus conservative to US conservative. Smaller government to Aussies literally means less government. Smaller government to repubs actually means lots of small governments. AKA inefficiency / duplicated salaries. How many companies would survive having to have a separate division in each county and city performing the same job? None. In the DC area I have 1, comcast. I don't even have DSL. So I have to wait for FIOS to be choice 2.

and now you're telling me that the dems are the champions of competition??? the very same people who are attempting to unleash a monstrous health care bill that will ultimately create a single payer system and eliminate all competition in the health industry???

I thought this one is another no-brainer. Public option equals competition. After all, may the best man (per say) win. I have a hunch it will be the government.

Americans succeed despite the government, not because of it. our winner-take-all attitude has been a source of human progress and innovation from the day this country was formed. there's a reason why the U.S. has over 300 Nobel prize winners, while Australia has 10 (not a typo - that's it). and it's probably because they didn't sit around pissing and moaning about not getting enough time off or how someone else earned more money or how there's not enough choice in broadband providers.

That is great. I have never denied the country's past success. This also ties into the argument of having the most entrepreneurs etc. I'll be the first to recognize that someone here will make the next facebook and become a billionaire. However, what about the other 3003 million? That is where Social democracies like Australia are kicking azz. Where rather than a limited group of self serving elitists doing well, 'We the People' are all doing well and sharing the success.

That heyday era is gone. Have you seen the US's education rankings? A hell of a lot of what is being developed today is due to highly educated immigrants like Neil Bohr. Certainly not some Nascar / NFL / E! channel obsessed fool.

you live in the d.c. area and you have 1 broadband provider? something tells me that you're not looking hard enough. but i guess the australian way is to try once, fail, then let the government do it. and anyone as educated and knowledgable as you in politics would know that d.c. is as blue as they come. not that repubs are faultless (i.e. 8 years of record deficit spending), but blaming repubs is pretty much the left's m.o. these days. but then again, an advocate of government regulation and control in healthcare, employment, finance, housing, education, etc. such as yourself surely wouldn't fault a little more regulation in communication, would you? sounds like you want it both ways. government should control this and this and this, but not that or that or that. well, name a politician who only wants to control 'some'.

and again, if you think that a public option will create competition, you're fooling yourself. government is not required to make a profit, cannot go bankrupt, does not need to base results or decisions on customer satisfaction, can alter the rules of the game in their favor, and can force the public to purchase their product. well, that's practically the definition of competition straight out of webster's dictionary!!

i think you've read a christmas carol a few too many times. there aren't too many scrooges who have amassed fortunes in order to taunt and belittle their employees and beat them with canes. entrepreneurs create businesses. businesses hire people. successful businesses hire more people. these businesses develop goods and services that improve peoples' lives. are you using a microsoft product to rant about the evils of capitolism? do you think bill gates could have grown microsoft without a few good employees? imagine what businesses could do if they didn't have to give 40% of their earnings to a bunch of suits who think that they know what's best for you and me. but i guess you're too concerned with the selection of shopping at the airport.......

you're conservative??? that's LAUGHABLE. look at your comments. you toe the line with the leftest of the left. i don't even think you can see the center from there!!

and to back Simpson's statement, if my SO trashed my country as much as BY trashes his SO's country, that would be a deal breaker for me. regardless of the positives and negatives of this nation, it is my home. wherever i go, it will be a part of me, just as it is for BY's SO. to spit on it the way BY does is to disrespect the very person whom he's pledged to share his life with.

and don't come back with this "ohh, i loooove america; don't get me wrong; blah blah blah" your track record is clear.

Well not the American definition. The country seems to have its own 'unique' definition on everything. Doing so is as American as it gets. For example, labelling a sport that only Americans participate and play as being 'world series' etc.

Trashing? I thought yanks were supposed to be strong and tough, all about being first and the best. The irony is that the US is one of few industrialized nations that places such a huge emphasis on this winner takes all attitude. My my how this attitude changes the second you are beaten. Then it's a case of who cares to flat out denial and eventually hatred and even mocking the leader. Unlike you guys, we are not indoctrinated to love a country just because I was born there. A country has to give me a reason to love it, to promote it, to stand up for it and to cherish it. Something Australia has done.

Takes this thread for example, I have one broadband provider comcast in my area; whereas, I had over 30 in Melbourne. Or is pointing this out hating on America too? Thank God Dems are staring to wake up and see past the smoke screen. The Dems have at least acknowledged that others that are beating the US, as in better than you, at doing various things. Only fools refuse to learn from their competitors, not to mention insist that they are better. Like it or not, China is coming and using their Federalist Communist government to outdo the US. I cannot wait to hear the excuses once a country that has polar opposite views on the economy and government overtakes you. Oh wait, Repubs will just deny it.

You know what, at the end of the day it's Americans like yourself who will lose. Not Australians, nor Europeans or even Asians etc. As stated by another poster, the country will end up with a top 15%and most things will end up being developed and manufactured overseas. Repubs have already damaged the country with the undeviating pursuit of Reaganomics. An approach that will not work in this crisis.

are you living in a city that is comparable in size to Melbourne? if so, then i'm calling shenanigans. there is not one city in America with a population of >50k that does not have at least 5 mobile carriers and/or broadband providers. according to wiki, Melbourne's population is estimated at ~4 mil. that makes it larger than L.A. so unless you live in Chicago, L.A., or N.Y., comparing melbourne to a city of 500k is apples and oranges.

and now you're telling me that the dems are the champions of competition??? the very same people who are attempting to unleash a monstrous health care bill that will ultimately create a single payer system and eliminate all competition in the health industry???

Americans succeed despite the government, not because of it. our winner-take-all attitude has been a source of human progress and innovation from the day this country was formed. there's a reason why the U.S. has over 300 Nobel prize winners, while Australia has 10 (not a typo - that's it). and it's probably because they didn't sit around pissing and moaning about not getting enough time off or how someone else earned more money or how there's not enough choice in broadband providers.

Not sure where you have been, but I said we had issues to address in this country but I cant address them with somebody that goes 24/7 telling me how shittty america is, constructive criticism is the way to go and quit thinking that ever conservative is a right wing wacko.

I like conservatives more than the "liberal/progressive" yanks. Heck I am conservative. However, we have totally polar views on federal governments, health care, regulation, the free market and what country first means.

For me, country first literally means our country first. Aka not just what's in it for me. Country first means we all put in a bucket and use it to improve our country, to give back to the country that allows me to earn this money in the first place. Also know as gratitude. Not to mention invest in our people, so they too can be productive members of our society, rather than in ghettos and on welfare. Furthermore, I too benefit by investing in them as we end up with more active consumers. Not to mention a much nice country to live in. Whereas, ghettos and poverty in my country reflects on me. Republicans seem to be oblivious to this.

As an example, Republican 101: As long as I have a Cadillac or Range Rover, who cares about the quality of the roads in my country. A view not shared in one other industrialized nation, not even amongst conservatives. Only 3rd world countries think like that, hence being 3rd world. Where the rich just buy expensive toys to ignore the state of their country.

you're conservative??? that's LAUGHABLE. look at your comments. you toe the line with the leftest of the left. i don't even think you can see the center from there!!

and to back Simpson's statement, if my SO trashed my country as much as BY trashes his SO's country, that would be a deal breaker for me. regardless of the positives and negatives of this nation, it is my home. wherever i go, it will be a part of me, just as it is for BY's SO. to spit on it the way BY does is to disrespect the very person whom he's pledged to share his life with.

and don't come back with this "ohh, i loooove america; don't get me wrong; blah blah blah" your track record is clear.

i've gone from annoyed to slightly amused and extremely confused.....

does this happen to every thread? what ever happened to the fun things to do in sydney? and i'm referring to the city, not the exotic dancer.

umm yeah, i read a couple of posts, and i still don't find it funny, or "get" it.

what makes you all think it's ok to make out that Australians are idiots or something? i might be a wet blanket or whatever you want to call it, but i'm moving to the US from Australia, to be with my American husband who i love, and i have loved living in Australia all my life but am also embracing the US and the culture there etc..., and i don't know how many times i have stood up for him or supported him when people make fun of America, or say stupid ###### that isn't true.. and then i hear ###### like what goes on here, and it just makes me mad.

i don't "get" it and i don't think it's funny. i don't know, maybe i am totally missing the point and you'll all just have a nice laugh about it, but quite frankly, i don't think it's nice.

thanks for your info!! i can't wait to go! 8 days probably won't even begin to scratch the surface, though.

and i agree - the poor attempts at humor and belittling the other side reflect on the individuals - not the cultures. i'm glad you're wise enough to filter out the b.s. - just do yourself a favor and stay away from the kiddie table.

thanks to those of you who provided legit responses.

we're a little restricted by my remaining vacation time, so we only have about 8 days.

we are interested in checking out some of the local fare, wineries if they're in the area, brew pubs.

some websites i've seen have recommended bike tours of the city, sydney harbor, the rocks, manly and palm beaches (how's the weather in mid november?)

as far as the sheep goes - ummmmmm, thanks for the tip.....we'll pass

my SO and i are planning a trip to sydney, so we're looking for a little help regarding places to stay, what to do, where to go, etc.

which neighborhoods are the most interesting? best location?

any recommendations for places to stay? apartment rentals? hotels? websites would be helpful.

what about restaurants? breweries? must see items? what is vegemite?

any advice would be much appreciated!!!

well, i emailed the embassy in Jerusalem last tuesday, and they responded by sending me an email with an attached pdf document that appears to be packet 3. it's a list of instuctions with blank forms and a list of doctors, but the footing indicates that it was created in 8/91 (and it looks it, too). it even says to complete and return form OF-230, OF-156, and OF-156K. a quick check on google shows that those forms were superceded by the DS versions in 2001 - 8 YEARS AGO!! i sincerely hope other embassies are a little more up to date.

anyway, my questions are:

1. which documents should be submitted to the consulate now?

2. which documents need to be notorized?

3. which documents need to be original and which can be copies?

here's what we've been collecting - please tell me if i'm missing something or using the wrong form or whatever:

we're planning on mailing these to the consulate:

- DS-230, part 1

- DS-156

- DS-156K

- DS-157

we're planning on bringing these to the interview:

- DS-230, part 2

- originals of NOA1 and NOA2

- I-134 affidavit of support

- passports

- passport style photos

- copy of I-129F package

- copy of RFE package

- letter of intent to marry

- copy of 3 most recent bank statement

- copy of W2 from last 3 years

- copy of tax return from last 3 years

- letter from my employer

- copy of 3 most recent pay checks

- original birth certificates for both of us

- her military records

- police records (submitted by police)

- approved medical results

- list of vaccinations

- list of places she's lived since the age of 16

- evidence of ongoing relationship

- phone and skype records

- travel itineraries

- passport stamps

- boarding passes

- pictures

thanks for everyone's help!!! much appreciated as always!!