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CQ & CS

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    Which one?

    in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted

    How long have you been in Canada. I think there is another route called DCF if both of you are living overseas. Take a look at this link: http://www.visajourney.com/content/dcf

    If you are together in Canada and you can legally stay there till 2013, then go for spouse visa or DCF (if you are eligible). K-1 is more expensive but faster for couples who are apart. Also, he will need to AOS if he enters US under K1 and not been able to work until he gets his EAD or GC; it could take at least 2-3 months.

    Plus, you have more time to plan a wedding in Canada rather than rushing to get married in 3 months upon arrival the USA.

    Full Name Change at Marriage - Is it possible?

    in General Immigration-Related Discussion

    Posted

    So long story is, USCIS might approve it in your entire new name but no other agency will so it's not a legal change and pretty much useless except that you don't need to pay for a new greencard when you eventually do the legal change.

    Australia won't even recognise my foreign marriage certificate so I needed to do a name change at home to change my last name. Ahh bureaucracy... what joy. At least you finally got it sorted though.

    What the other agency want to see is the document showing the process of name change from A to B. A court order will state this change. A new GC only shows the new name. So in my case, I saved $300+ to get a new GC but I still have to pay $400+ for legal new change. Had I waited to have SSN and bank account before I got the GC, I would pay $0. However, this is only for US per se. I'm sure our home countries will require some sort of legal document to show name change when we renew our passport and want to have the new name on it. With that said, I have not figure out the name change in my Canadian passport yet. Canada might require me to change it legally so it's okay to pay that money now.

    Full Name Change at Marriage - Is it possible?

    in General Immigration-Related Discussion

    Posted

    Hello VJers, so I think I would post an update on my Complete Name Change experience here. In my experience, a complete name change without a court order is possible, given you have nothing set up under your old name in the US. By nothing set up I meant no SSN, no bank account, and no driver license. Also, it's by luck, in my opinion, that the IO being easy on a different name used on your passport and AOS application. So, it's at your own discretion to take the chance or to pay $400 for court order. I did both and I will explain why below. Again, it's only my own experience. So here we go:

    As I stated earlier in this thread, I had made an Infopass appointment before I filed for AOS and the IO said I could put whatever name I wanted to show on the application and it would either be approved or disapproved at the AOS interview. So I put my a.k.a . first name (Peggy) as my new first name, my maiden last name (Chan) as my new middle name, and my husband’s last name (Goodfellow) as my new last name on the AOS application.

    I received all communication, including 3 NOAs, biometric appointment letter and AOS interview appointment letter, from the USCIS in my new name (Peggy Chan Goodfellow). So far so good, eh?! So the challenge did not happen until I went to my biometric appointment. Just as you know, when you go to your biometric appointment, you need to show the security guard your appointment letter and your ID; in my case it’s my Canadian passport. The guard gave me a form to fill out and directed me to take a seat outside the IO’s office. I noticed there was a check on the form that stated “Different Name”. I waited couple minutes and was then called in by the IO. He looked at my passport and the form and asked when I changed my name. I told him after I got married. Then he asked me to show him my marriage certificate. Then he asked, “When did you change your first name?”. I explained to him that I added my a.k.a. name on my HKID but I did not change it on my Canadian passport. Then he said that I should use the name on my passport because it’s confusing that I used a totally different name on the application. With that said, he approved me to go ahead to have my fingerprinted and picture taken IN MY NEW NAME. Fast forward to AOS interview. The IO who interviewed us only asked me who Pik Kay was. I told him that’s me also and it’s my birth name. That’s it. HE APPROVED MY GREEN CARD IN MY NEW NAME TOO. :dance:

    However, when I took my green card to SSN office and Wells Fargo and asked them to change my name they refused to do so. They insisted me to show them the official name change document, ie a document showing how Pik Kay Chan change to Peggy Chan Goodfellow. In this case, a marriage certificate is not sufficient as I changed my first and last name; a marriage certificate can only justify a last name change. So eventually, I had to file a court order to change my name in order to match my name on the GC. After that SSN and Wells Fargo had no problem change my name. It’s kind of doing it backward.

    So in summary, I had no problem changing my name on the USCIS side without a court order but I had resistant from SSA and the bank.

    The Canuck EI Thread

    in Canada

    Posted

    I'm with you. I left couple messages but heard nothing back from them. :angry:

    I need my report card to be sent again coz I was so dump that I forgot to put stamp on it and I have not received the return mail. I left two messages to the Out-of-country claim office but no respond from them at all.

    police report/records

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Procedures

    Posted · Edited by CQ & CS

    I was told that i CANNOT get a police record until they ask for it!? is this true?.how come "grandacel" got them in 1 day and it took you(snikerz) 1 month?..

    My fiancee has lived in South africa only for more then 6 mos. and ever since been in panama...

    Yes some countries require you to show cause to obtain a police certificate. Your fiance will get a letter from the US consulate (I think it's packet 4)and she needs to show this when she applies for the police certificate.

    I lived in Hong Kong and Canada. It took me only one day to get one in Canada but almost two months for the Hong Kong police certificate.

    Working on a K1

    in Working & Traveling During US Immigration

    Posted

    Wow its like u all want to kill me just because I mentioned the word lawyer!

    The only reason I want to get one is to make sure everything is doone correctly to avoid delays.

    So I'm kinda lloking at 6 mnths without a job

    No, we are not trying to kill you. We are trying to help you and sharing our experience with you. We do not against people using a lawyer. We just want to point out that it is not a complicated task to do it yourself.

    Working on a K1

    in Working & Traveling During US Immigration

    Posted · Edited by CQ & CS

    Yes seriously, you don't really need a lawyer if you follow through the guides here. Filling the forms and preparing document is painless. The pain is from waiting mail from USCIS, longing to work and being bored to death. A lawyer can't do much on pain killing.

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