ryna

Colombia doesn't make name changes easy either but my wife took my last name here in the U.S. What I understand is that, at least in Colombia, it is possible to have a notation placed in the foreign passport in the annotations section that states that the passport holder is also known as "Married name" in the U.S. and that this can be done at the consulate.
Maybe you could check with the Greek Embassy/consulate for your region of the US to see if this is a possibility?

It's stressful, it's crazy. Each day feels like a month but you'll be together soon and it will all be a memory. Then, there's AOS, ROC and citizenship!

There is nothing illegal about getting married in the U.S. on either a tourist visa or while on VWP. What is considered immigration fraud is to arrive and do so with the intent of staying after getting married. If you get married in the U.S., you should do what mtempelaar did and return to Spain and file for the CR-1 (spouse) visa. Or, you could file for the K-1 before getting married, come to the U.S. and stay while waiting for your residency. The K-1 is generally quicker (at least it was in the past), and has the benefit that you can live together in the U.S. right away (after approval, not right away in the VWP or tourist visa sense.) The CR-1 would require you to live in Spain until it is approved.

Rules have not changed, they fed you a line of bull. A K-1 visa holder does not need to wait for the green card in order to get an SSN. My fiancée applied for her SSN and its already on the way in the mail to us.
When you apply for the SSN, your wife will be in the system under her maiden name and as such it would be easier to apply for the SSN under her maiden name. Once your wife receives her EAD with her married name, then you can change her name on the SSN because the system would now have her married name. It doesn't matter if you apply before or after you are married. The only thing that does matter is if your I-94 is expired or near expiration, you would have to wait until she has the EAD to apply.
If you have at least a couple weeks remaining on the I-94, then go to a different SSA office and apply for a SSN under your wife's maiden name. Make sure you mark on the question that asks that she is a legal alien allowed to work.
If the I-94 is close to expiration, then apply for the green card along with EAD. Once you have the EAD, go back to the SSA office and apply for a SSN under your wife's married name.
When we went to the SSA office, the lady tried to tell us at first that my fiancée needed her EAD at least because as a K-1 visa holder she couldn't work without it...and therefore was ineligible to receive the SSN. I explained to her that it wasn't true, she IS eligible, and after she tried to tell me again that wasn't the case, I simply told her to look up my fiancée's information in the computer and she could see for herself that she was eligible. A few minutes later, after checking her system, she smiles to me and says everything is verified she'll get the card in the mail in about 10 days.
Sometimes the people that work there don't know the rules, and won't bother to even check their systems. You need to make them check their systems, or get a supervisor that will help you better. Or go to a different SSA office.

The main reason I pointed out that Medicaid is state administered is that some states are more generous than others. I'm a USC and wouldn't be eligible for Medicaid in my state, even if I lived in the street, because I am a male w/o children. I just don't qualify, regardless of immigration status. Other states are more generous in who they will cover. You have to look into your state's requirements for Medicaid but there is no USCIS penalty for claiming that benefit.

She can find tax transcript (2011) on IRS website if you need it.

One more thing... Since the I-129F (K-1 petition) requires an original letter of intent to marry from both of you, have it ready when you meet her because it requires an original signature from her. My (now-)wife and I filled out the I-129F and her G-325A when we were together in Colombia and she signed her letter while I was there with her (on was my 3rd or 4th trip there.) It's easier than having it FedEx'd up to you at a later time.
Actually, USCIS is (I beleive) 95% self-sustaining. The fees cover their budget and that's why, during the government shutdowns, they continued processing petitions and other immigration-related cases.

Another FYI - The 1-800# is reachable as a free call via Skype without purchasing a U.S. based number.

I don’t think anyone here on VJ does not feel for the illegal immigrants. But my wife will tell anyone what she had to go thru to get here legally, and so have I many years ago. It is not fair to us legal immigrants to help people for no regard of our immigration laws. They know exactly the law, and they brake it anyhow, under the pretense of bettering there life’s. I know many illegals living and working many years in the U.S. having many children, and getting many benefits. NOT FAIR

It's been 3-1/2 years since we were there but I, the USC fiancé (at the time), just accompanied my now-wife to the embassy and showed my U.S. passport. No problems getting in...
Best of luck!!

This seems so wrong and against personal decisions...I just had a newborn and then found out I have a genetic heart condition and have decided it is not worth it to risk having further children since they could end up with the same heart condition...My point is - its a personal decision that is best for you...I would have probably not taken that question lightly, and I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. That is just ridiculous.

We did call the uscis. Representative was reading from a script. At a point she asked me the same question 3 times...
Asked to talk to a supervisor. As if you were talking to a wall. They even told me that in reality it depends to the Examining Officer who examines our papers how he sees our marriage "one officer might believe you are not married in good faith while another will...".
There was no way to contact anyone in our electric company, despite our efforts and I am saying the truth here, believe me.
Like I said on a previous post, if after re-sending my proofs, we don't get our approval, I will ask to present ourselves in front of an immigration court, if needed.
I 've had enough with this people that think they can play with other people's lives...

Why would a person ever marry someone like this?
She should go home and find someone else. This guy is a loser.

Other than telling USCIS if you move, nothing. And, when you file for ROC within the last 90 days before Conditional GC expiration (not before!), your Conditional GC will be extended for 1 year (or until your 10 yr GC approval).
Enjoy your break from USCIS!

The section you cited 212(a)(7)(A)(i)(I), is a denial at the border for having immigrant intent at the time of the attempted crossing. If her overstay dates really are as you say (11 months total, or 5 months more than the 6 consecutive months (180 days?) that Canadian citizens can stay in the U.S. there shouldn't be any ban affecting the K-1. The time frame CBP told you (5 yrs?) is meant to say "don't try a tourist border crossing again for 5 years and maybe then she won't be suspected of immigrant intent". He was right, though. The K-1 won't be affected because it's a given that there is immigrant intent with the K-1. If you are really worried that there might be a ban, fill out the I-601 and have it ready to send IF the K-1 is denied (for an overstay ban). But, I think you worry needlessly..
Whatever you do, don't falsify any dates on any forms that ask for dates of presence in the U.S. That will put you in a world of hurt!

File for the K-1. Be honest from the get go with the I-129f. Stop lying. Don't dig a bigger hole that may result in a lifetime ban. You guys have already been caught committing immigration fraud. Luckily, the penalty was a slap on the wrist. Don't compound it with more lies. Be honest about her time in the US; don't lie about the dates.
If she needs a waiver, then deal with it when it comes up.
Beat of luck.

As a USC, you can enter through the visitor lanes without a problem.

Completely normal. Enjoy your trip!

Although state dependent (NY may allow a learner's to be issued on an unexpired K-1 w/SSN), the permit will expire on the same day as the K-1 does. More than likely, the Learner's/DL/State ID will have to wait until the EAD arrives (at a minimum). This is a good reason to apply for the EAD (AP as well) with the AOS even if the immigrant has no intention of working (traveling) right away. In many cases, the EAD is the first form of ID that allows the newly arrived to have anything resembling a normal life.
Congrats and good luck!

I think it's worth an infopass. Hopefully, your local USCIS office isn't too far away. Also, I was just looking back over my wife's EAD/AP text/email notifications and she received her card within 6 days of the first notification, so there is still hope of that happening in your case. In any event, it's too bad it would have to be such a last-minute booking. USCIS cost us a trip to Colombia for the holidays by taking over 8 months to approve her GC, so I can understand your frustration.
Good luck with everything!

Did you apply for the EAD as part of your AOS? The EAD counts as a valid document according to the list you posted and should arrive sooner than the Green Card. In my wife's case, the EAD arrived about 6 months before her GC will.
Also, I think the pending AOS notification only works if you have a valid, unexpired I-94 that would otherwise be ineligible to receive a license/ID.

For an analogy, you want in your son's room to see what he is up to. He has the door locked and says you have to accuse him of something, and then only look for that one thing. Yea right! You walk, in when you darned well please and look all over the place. You get mad if he has pot or porn, but care very little if he has unfinished homework, in relation. You are not out to "get" him, you want to make sure everything is on the up and up."
Bad analogy.
He is your minor child and living within your property. He has no Constitutional protections from YOU.
I, a U.S. Citizen, DO however have constitutional protections against unannounced visits from Federal (State and local, for that matter) agents as I am neither on parole nor probation for having been convicted of a crime.
Maybe it's a question of country of origin and/or length of time one has lived in the U.S., but I can't believe that anyone would be so quick to allow themselves to be treated like a convicted criminal in allowing the government to violate the sanctity of your home because it's what "they" want.

For an analogy, you want in your son's room to see what he is up to. He has the door locked and says you have to accuse him of something, and then only look for that one thing. Yea right! You walk, in when you darned well please and look all over the place. You get mad if he has pot or porn, but care very little if he has unfinished homework, in relation. You are not out to "get" him, you want to make sure everything is on the up and up."
Bad analogy.
He is your minor child and living within your property. He has no Constitutional protections from YOU.
I, a U.S. Citizen, DO however have constitutional protections against unannounced visits from Federal (State and local, for that matter) agents as I am neither on parole nor probation for having been convicted of a crime.
Maybe it's a question of country of origin and/or length of time one has lived in the U.S., but I can't believe that anyone would be so quick to allow themselves to be treated like a convicted criminal in allowing the government to violate the sanctity of your home because it's what "they" want.

This is true. If you will be departing after your interview, you need to ask the IO for the I-551 (Temporary GC stamp) in your passport which you would use to re-enter. They don't issue the stamp as a matter of routine in most locations but given the emergency (medical) nature of your need to travel, they should give you the stamp without hassle (assuming approval, of course.)

Honestly, it's not that bad.... once it's over.
VJ can be great because it helps answer questions and generally makes things go more smoothly but... it also lets you see when others who filed well after you get approved and human nature makes you question your own filing even when there is no indication that you did anything wrong (i.e., an RFE.)
I know that if I had never found VJ and couldn't see some cases fly through the approval process, I wouldn't think twice about our cases until they were officially late. But, I do see those other cases and can't help but question what they did right and what we did wrong (if anything) and wonder why our approval always seems to be on the slow side...