Seven

Hello everybody!

I am a conditional permanent resident and it has been like that for almost a year now. When I filed for AOS, I felt forced by my husband to change my last names to his last name... That is something you just DONT DO in my culture and country and so I have to hide for my family for them not to get really upset with me. Anyway I don't want to have his last name, not because I don't love him or whatever but is just the way I was raised and can't understand how misoginist is to change it...sorry. Anyway, my GC, SSN, DL in USA is in the married name (and again I never went to court to legally change it...I just filed the AOS with the new name and that´s all).

The thing is I want my last names back. My husband says that is not a good idea because it will be a red flag for immigration that I do so and that it will be just problems with immigration because they will not understand how I don't want to have my hubbys if we are married, that if I travel or I am stopped by a cop when I am driving they will see spanish last names and will give me a hard time and then if they keep tracking, they will see I am married to a US citizen born in Vietnam and then will be more red flags etc...All completely insane. As well he says that it will make me be more under the radar bla bla.

My question is it is a big deal for immigration the last name thing? Also, would happen something if when I renew the GC to a 10 years I go back to my maiden?

Thank you!

Thank you yankepeach. We live in a neighborhood called Huber Heights by Dayton

Thank you everybody for the replies. I think that my husband will sleep in peace today. He's a sweetheart <3

And JustBob, I'm from Mallorca, it's an island from the same group of islands as Ibiza so oh yeah, I'll visit my family and mos def I'll visit the beach (something I've missed too since we live in Ohio).

Ok, thank you again to all of you and wish you the best

Thank you everybody for the replies. I think that my husband will sleep in peace today. He's a sweetheart <3

And JustBob, I'm from Mallorca, it's an island from the same group of islands as Ibiza so oh yeah, I'll visit my family and mos def I'll visit the beach (something I've missed too since we live in Ohio).

Ok, thank you again to all of you and wish you the best

Hi everybody!!!

I've just received my greencard in the mail (based on marriage after a K1 visa process). I know this is a conditional greencard for 2 years. Now, my husband is a little paranoid about what can I do and what I can't do...

I'm planning to visit in 2 months my family in Spain for 1 month since after that with job and college etc I won't be able to visit them for long time anymore.

My husband wants me to triple check if it's a 100% safe to travel with my conditional greencard and if leaving for a month would affect my future application for a citizenship or else.

Thank you everybody and God bless

Greencard in the mail!!! No more paperwork for 2 years woo hooo

Ooook so today (1 month after my case was transferred to the CSC)I had the email saying my Greencard has been ordered to production (with no interview). It has been 2 years and almost 11 months since my husband and I are together 1 year and almost 3 months since we started with our visa journey, 8 months since my K1 was approved, almost 6 months since I moved to USA, 4 months since we got married and 3 months since we sent out the AOS package...After I receive the card no more immigration paperwork for 2 years...aaaah finally some of a normal life with the hubby.

My best wishes and prayers for a smooth process to all of the January filers who don't have the GC yet.

God bless!

2 months isn't the average or the normal thing.

I am a January filer 2011 and two months and nearly a week after filing it I received my EAD. We are expecting the Greencard with some luck for the very end of this month. However, I've read of some January filers getting it after 2 months or 2 months and a half but again is very up to the office...Anyway a current average would be 4 months though.

Good luck!

What has been said so far is very true. It's very up to the college/university.

However, isn't an obligation by law to have a greencard in order to study.

I remember when I first contacted the college I applied for...They told me too that I probably would like to change my visa for an students visa but then the director of admissions did her job and researched about K1 and the whole AOS process.

Then they allowed me to go ahead and send my application with the condition of update them with the AOS immigration process. That's what I've been doing and right now I'm waiting for the Greencard approval (hopefully in some weeks) and the decision of admissions. (the semester starts on August. Oh, this college required me to take the TOEFL test too.

As well, I can tell you about a community college that all what they needed was my marriage certificate.

Others told me they needed at least a tax return with me appearing as my husband's wife and others asked for at least an EAD and others didn't need nothing but probably you would end up paying the international student fee.

My advice is the following: research a good program that fits you and you really like, get the information, research about high school or college transcripts sending to the future college you want to apply for. On the other hand, AOS processes have gone pretty fast compared with past years. (Many of the January filers have got their greencards in 2 months, 2 months and a half or 3).

Wish you all the best!

Ok, everything solved for now.

Thank you everybody and specially to Nich-Nick

And if I have had 5 different employers (due to temporary jobs) does it mean I have to do 5 forms 2555?

Thank youuu!

Oh! I visited USA from March 23rd to June 19th 2009 and November 4th 2009 to January 5th 2010 (I moved to USA on october 29th 2010 thus I physically spent in Spain 297 days during 2010).We are confused because the physical presence test says:

Physical Presence Test

a

Were you physically present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 full days during—

{

2010 or any other period of 12 months in a row starting or ending in 2010?

}

.

............

Yes

No

• If you answered “Yes,” you meet this test. Fill in line 2b and then go to line 3.

• If you answered “No,” you do not meet this test. You cannot take the exclusion unless you meet the Bona Fide Residence Test above.

b

The physical presence test is based on the 12-month period from ▶

through ▶

Sooo should I say no?

Hello everybody!

We are filing taxes jointly with me being with my AOS pending. So we will need help from those who have done it before or know more about it than us.

Ok, we are filing that form 2555 (foreign income exclusion) and there are two types of test the physical presence test and the bona fide test. Which one should we choose?

One last question...what about the state taxes? We have to file for that of me being considered as a resident for the tax year 2010 right? What form is that one?

Thank you so much!

One last question...what about the state taxes? We have to file for that of me being considered as a resident for the tax year 2010 right? What form is that one?

Thank you again!

I brought with me my European license (from Spain) and the international license.

I'm living in Ohio and all I can tell you is that the fact you can use it for a year it is said in the international drivers permit, in the driving state rules book I have to study to take the state's written test and in the website of BMV here in Ohio.

Hopefully you can find the information in the same places in your state.

Good luck!

Hello everybody!

Just wondering for the near future.

My greencard will be with the married name but my spanish passport with the maiden name. Which one do I have to use in order to travel? Could it be a problem at the border? My family wants me to go visit as soon as I have the greencard so that's why I'm wondering.

Thank you in advance!

Thank you for your reply. Now I've understood everything. Thank you a lot!

Just received my EAD on the mail today!!! Next step: go to SSN office and next step will come when USCIS decides to approve the GC.

Have a great weekend every one!

Thank you again Nich-Nick. With the extension I probably even can wait to have the permanent residency and don't even have to ask to be treated as one. Or is a petition to be treated as a resident for the 2010? when obviously I wasn't? (I moved to USA October 29th 2010 by the way).

Regarding the worldwide income, in 2010 I probably got paid like 2000 euros at the most and I don't even know how to get to know all my income nor how to get official documents that prove that was my income for 2010 (I had many temporary jobs of a week, a day, three days, fifteen...) from last year so I probably can exclude it with the form you are talking about. Anyway I don't want not even one euro I made 2010 be taxed by US since it has been highly taxed already for the spanish government.

We've called IRS and my husband can apply for a 6 months extension so by that time I will probably have SSN and Greencard. We thought that it was a better choice than the ITIN since the waiting to have one thing or another will be more or less the same.

Thank you for your detailed reply Nich-Nick.

Wish you all the best!

Yes we got married December 2010.

To all of you: thank you for your replies!

We will look into the ITIN and see what's the best choice.

Hello everybody!

I don't know if I'm writing this in the right section (moderators will tell) but since I'm with my AOS pending and my question is due to it I will go ahead:

My husband's taxes deadline is April 15th. Right now I don't have a Social Security number. I've just been approved for my EAD and we don't know when the card will get home...

So just say no EAD card in hand, no decision for the AOS yet and no Social Security number.

Can he still adding me to his taxes as his wife or he can't since I don't have a SSN?

Someone has gone through the same situation/question?

Thank you in advance!

God bless

Something even funnier...I had an email today saying that USCIS approved my EAD...one step back...their data base is a mess

Something funny just happened...

On March 24th, I received an email saying that my EAD card has been ordered to production...Today, March 29th I receive another email saying: On March 29 your EAD card has been sent to production...

Or now I will have two EAD cards or someone forgot to send it to production on the 24th...Whatever.

Happy to read many of you are receiving the GC already!

Hi, I live now in Ohio.

I don't even remember that when we went for our marriage license we had to write something regarding a future name change as well as in the marriage certificate.

I filed my AOS documents with the name changed (and as you know you have to attach the marriage certificate). I've been receiving all the USCIS mail with the married name. In addition, when I go to the Social Security office to get my SSN, I'm applying with the married name (based on my EAD or GC which will have the changed name already) and all they need to see is a valid EAD or GC, a passport and a marriage certificate.

Again, that's how it is in Ohio...Probably, in other states you need to write it in the marriage license...

Good luck!