jlee

Hello everyone!! I'm back

Well, my wife just received her CONDITIONAL RESIDENCE CARD not too long ago.. woojooooo so happy. Anyways, here is my question/dilemma...

I'm currently in Afghanistan for my deployment and for my R&R I have chosen to go with my wife (in October) to Couples Sans Souci for our 1 year anniversary =) !!!

However, her Nicaraguan Passport is still in her maiden name. Yet her Residence Card is in her married name, hmm see where I'm going at? Would she have to change her name on the nicaraguan passport (pain in the butt) to her married name to travel? Or will traveling with a marriage certificate alongside her documenting proof of her name change (without actually changing the name on the passport) be ok for traveling? I'm so confused !!

Please help ! Thank you all !

Hey Messy,

Well speaking from experience and a quite recent one...I filed for my wife's AOS early January, however I knew I was deploying and so put on the cover page "DEPLOYING" (or whatever guidance it was I had at the time). I assume if you call them, they will understand as well, since deployment dates do shift around. Once my packet was sent, as you can see from my timeline, her green card arrived March 6th on my BDAY !!! (Well March 5th came in, but she "received" it on March 6th). I am currently deployed and of course they DID skip the whole interview. You will get a notice explainin that it was sent to California. Other than that, it went by real quickly, 2-3 months tops. Best of luck!!!!

Hey guys I'm a bit worried, they received my AOS packet the 5th of January around 12pm, and today is the 10th still have not cashed my check nor sent any notice, should I be worried of an upcoming RFE for any sort? or some sort of delay :S Just anxious ...

Awesome !! I did try to search and search but I couldn't find a similar question! Sorry hehe, but thanks for easing/calming my nerves

Nope. They left a notice for USCIS to pick it up. It should be fine.

I hope so!! Because I sent my package "EXPRESS" (overnight with USPS) not PRIORITY but sent it to Priority.... see where I'm getting at?

Hey guys I just sent my I-485 packet to the PRIORITY MAIL address of the chicago lockbox instead of the EXPRESS / Courier address ... I checked the tracking and they sent it to the PRIORITY address however it says "LEFT A NOTICE"... will this get kicked back to me? Will it cause trouble??

the Regular USPS address is:

USCIS

P.O BOX 805887

Chi, Il...

The EXPRESS one is

USCIS

Attn: FBAS

131 South Dearborn - 3rd floor

60603...

Please help :/

Thank you all for your help guys, I'm sending in my packet tomorrow Best of luck yes? Happy New Years to you all guys, sorry for being late !

Quick question:

I just noticed that the form 485 is expiring on 12/31/10, however I won't be able to file my paperwork till after the 1st of January due to payment reasons and I have to file before the 5th of Jan to be inside the 90 day window. Does USCIS renew their forms regularly? or is there a grace period? what should I do? let me know, thank you

I know I know, but I still have a couple of more questions left..

My wife received her SS Card after we were married and so you say she can just "take" my last name, the guy at the window didn't put our last name of "lee" because of the marriage certificate still stating her maiden name. This is why I asked how do I change her last name? for her SS card also? I still am not getting it..

Second question is I'm reading what you (Nich) wrote to me about the Civil Surgeon. When she arrived after doing all her "Civil Surgeon" stuff in her country, and clearing 100%.. what can I use to prove that? I read somewhere that if she is within 1 year of her medical being done she does not have to show documents of this. Am I right?

Lastly I have to translate her Birth Certificate to English. I am proficient in Spanish can I just translate it myself? or must it be a certified copy :/ ? Thank you guys..

Awesome I appreciate all the help guys, THANKS! !!!

I would suggest she apply for the AOS/EAD/AP with her First name, her Middle name, your Last name. Her full maiden name will be put anywhere it would ask for former or other names used . Your marriage license will explain why she is using a new last name. I would also apply using your parents' address as the address. On the G-325A biographical form you can list the address where you are living now as a former address. The AOS process is like starting over with a brand new process so don't worry about names and addresses in the visa process...that's over with now basically. New process with new last name and address will be fine. Once she gets the green card she can go back to Social Security and get a new card in your last name. Same with a driver's license.

I don't know the military route, but somebody will come along who does.

Thank you for your service Lt. !! God bless you and keep you safe.

Thank you for the help!! The only thing is her last name is still her "maiden" name, It hasn't changed yet and I would like to before I send in the application. I really don't have much time so I can only see as putting her maiden name as her last name in the paperwork since it still hasn't been changed legally, see what I'm getting at? Let me know if you have any suggestions, thank you much for the help!!!

@Boiler, Thanks, yes she will be here (in the United States) to receive mail, however since I am deploying she will be going to my parents house in miami, Florida.. not here in our present and current address... see where I'm getting at?

@Geode, thank you where can I find that information =)?

Hello everyone!! I am back after some time (mostly due to current pre-deployment excercises) but I currently need much help:

At this moment, my fiancee came over on a K-1 Visa 5 OCT 2010. We were married 23 OCT, and went off to enjoy our time together before I had to return to work at Ft. Campbell. We applied and received her SS Card easily enough, however they noticed her I-94 was dated wrong with an expiration date of January 2010. For those of you who aren't math majors, she has been expired before she even came into the STATES jajaja... I gave the CBP office here at Nashville, TN a call and the lady on the other line explained it doesn't matter about fixing that, they will "understand" the mistake was made once I turn in my packet. Confirm or Deny?

Secondly, she explained that my wife is no longer under the K-1 conditional status, she is now a CR-1 though I'm pretty sure that isn't right, since a CR-1 is when a U.S Citizen marries outside the United States and wishes to bring the Wife/Husband over. I believe even though I am married within the 90 day margin, I still need to turn in my packet regardless for an AOS correct?

Here's the doozie, I'm stationed at FT. Campbell, KY, and will be deploying REALLY soon, my wife will not be staying at our current address. Once I turn in my packet, what do I do as far as mail traffic? I was pondering of putting my parents address since it is guaranteed they will receive any type of notices for my wifes interview or what not as opposed to it being sent here and becoming "lost". Secondly, do I need to present for her interview and anything else upcoming? I of course will not be able to since I will be in a far off land defending freedom and all that jazz, will this pose a problem? Or can I type up a letter explaining this and having a memo sent along with the packet so that they understand better....

Last last lastly... I wish to change my wife's last name to my own, we married in Miami, Florida but I will not be there for some time (probably over 1 year or more). How do I do this I keep receiving misinformation and whatnot, someone please give me a clear and concise answer. Thanks!!!

Someone help me out here I'm stressing with not only deployment and family seperation, but also with my wife's immigration status, Thank you all and a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays, much love.

2LT Lee, Javier

Oh okay, didn't know I could do that, sounds good thank you much !!

Go back to CBP office at the airport and get a corrected I-94.

Unfortunately that's in Miami and I'm stationed in Ft. Campbell, KY... it's not going to happen any time soon :/

Hello all !!

Well as the topic said the imbeciles working at MIA incorrectly stamped the I-94's expiration date Jan 2010... my wife POE'd October 5, 2010... in other words.. she was expired before she even came here... is this going to affect our AOS at all????? The SS guy said he couldn't "legally" forge the document but he found a loophole to give us the SS card for her... Anyways, let me know.

Thank you.

Jeje thanks all !! Yup 101st tomorrow I'm inprocessing can't wait although nervous as a 2LT who knows what to expect ! Atleast my fiancee will be there from the beginning!

Okay I'll let her know that. The only thing she has to present to them really is her Visa packet (the packet given to her by the consulate when she picks it up) and passport correct? Anything else I should tell her to bring?

Hey everyone not sure where this question is supposed to land in the forum but..

My fiancee is coming over on a K-1 visa to Miami international airport this upcoming tuesday (october 5th). I'm worried because unfortuneately I do not have the luxury of being there for her through that process due to military reasons. She also has no cell phone on her (since I cannot lend her mine again due to my work). I basically told her to call me with someone else's cell phone or even perhaps a payphone at best, I'm just worried something will happen without my presence.. Should I be?

Wow, great advice !! I was going to but you're absolutely correct. I will keep all your suggestions in my mind as I begin her transitioning. She has a good base for English but she needs more of it. I will be there step by step. Thanks!

Thank you for responding!

Well I just PCS (moved) to Ft. Campbell and I'm really all alone here since this is my second day EVER lol.. so no I don't know anybody but my ex who is stationed here really (and no they don't mix jajaja)... as far as restaurants that sounds like a good idea, I will take her to those as well as brand new restaurants to also get her into something new and fresh. Ft. Campbell from what I've read will give english classes which is awesome.

I'm assuming my case was expedited because of my military deployment status.. I did put in a packet for that. However I don't really know because I never truly received any confirmation it was due to that. NVC doesn't handle K-1's, so the day it was received there, they sent it out to the consulate right away. Once in Nicaraguan hands, I simply emailed them and I've been in constant communication since. He actually gave me my interview date not 2 minutes after I said we were ready (and to see if he could give me a date quickly). Lucky us!!

I guess I should be more specific in my question:

What do people normally do that bring a fiance/fiancee over.. and let's say they go to work. What do they do initially so that their fiancee isn't bored at home all day while they work, and do their stuff?? Anything I can put her in other than english classes? Buy her a gaming system jaja.. not sure I have many ideas (such as starting a hobby together i.e cooking classes, salsa dancing) If anyone has something to add or different please comment.

Thanks!!

Hello Visajourney world !!!!!!

First and foremost I'd like to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who has been there since day 1 to help me with every single question and concern. I cannot begin to explain how appreciative I am of you guys, and of course, of the existence of this forum which has made my visa process for my fiancee (K-1) 10000x much more attainable!!

Secondly, SHES COMING OCTOBER 5th !!! YES!! Our interview went superb (read consulate review) and she is receiving her Visa on the 5th of October, to which I already bought her plane ticket that DAY !! I CANNOT WAIT !!

Lastly, because of her coming to the United States, more importantly, a predominantly caucasian/english speaking city/state (Clarksville, TN), it will be much harder for her to adjust than say my hometown of Miami, Florida (mostly hispanic/latin decent). Does anyone have any wise words, tips, or perhaps any guidance towards reading material on how to establish a warm welcoming for her?? Books, personal experiences, stories, anything would greatly facilite her transition into the American Life.. American MILITARY life :S..

Again, THANK YOU ALL AND GOD BLESS ! !!!!! WISH US LUCK !!!

Yes, I understand OPSEC, but you can post in a general sense if you are deploying, just not the dates, and not the specificities of it. However, I appreciate your voice.

hehe yes I also have my birth certificate and my fiancee's as well hahaha yea im glad I made you laugh!! but it's true..

Thank you for your kind words guys, I really appreciate it and I will write a letter so they can better understand why I made so little last year. Appreciate it very much !!

Well to anyone following us.. we got our appointment for the K-1 Visa in Nicaragua.. took us 2 months (I know fast!!) but the downfall of course being I am deploying to Afghanistan next year !!!

Anyways, the consulate was very professional and always there to help me via email. I simply told them we were ready for our appointment and same day they sent me the date (September 27th), only 6 days since packet 4 to which they also sent to us via email both in Spanish and English! Great JOB!

I'm a bit nervous I'm not going to lie, I can shoot M16's M4's throw grenades get shot back (training purposes) and not even flinch, but throw this at me and im shakin' jajaja.. oh man I hope we do well!!!

For evidence, I have 36 photos of us, several Moneygram (money orders to pay for paperwork and medical) receipts, letters (copied), Leave Forms (Showing the Army allowing me to leave to visit her for memorial day and this weekend), airplane itineraries (just a couple), receipts from my trips (just a couple as well), international calling card receipts (PINGO.COM)...

Also for documents, I have my I-134 and the H&R E-File transcript (the 1040EZ), as well as the W2's and 1099G (unemployment tax form). Since in 2009 (my previous tax year) I did NOT make enough (about $8,000) I also grabbed my mother just in case to be a co-sponsor if they ask, however since I make approximately $50,000 a year due to being a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S Army, the consulate told me to bring 3 months of previous pay stubs (LES for you army folks) and that should be okay, but I am NOT taking any chances and bringing my mothers I-134 as the co-sponsor.

So, I hope I'm covered her on my side, my fiancee has all her paperwork ready to go as well. Someone give me some OKAYS ! and RELIEF because I'm literally going a bit crazy here thinking perhaps I've missed something or I need to add something as well...

Thank you for reading !! God Bless! WISH US LUCK !!!!!!