Briggi

i have the same situation as well. My OPT's EAD will be expired in July 2011 but I am filing AOS and adjust my status from F1 to PR, I am not sure if I should file ©(9) EAD with my AOS package or I should file EAD later. I know USCIS will not re-new your EAD if you file 4 month before the expiration date, but since I will file under different category, I dont think the rule applies on me.

From SSA website:

Immigration status

To prove your immigration status, you must show us the current U.S. immigration document, I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, issued to you when you arrived in the United States. If you are an F-1 or M-1 student, you also must show us your I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. If you are a J-1 exchange visitor, you must show us your DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status.

Work eligibility

If you are an F-1 student and eligible to work on campus, you must provide a letter from your designated school official that:

* Identifies you;

* Confirms your current school status; and

* Identifies your employer and the type of work you are, or will be, doing.

We also need to see evidence of that employment, such as a recent pay slip or a letter from your employer. Your supervisor must sign and date the employment letter. This letter must describe:

* Your job;

* Your employment start date;

* The number of hours you are, or will be, working; and

* Your supervisor’s name and telephone number.

Once he accepts the offer, he should ask for an employment letter (must be printed on a company letterhead) from the employer. He will not need to ask the letter after he starts working, he can ask for the letter before the employment as long as the letter state "He will be working......." Also, remember to have the employer sign the paper. SSA can deny your paperwork if they think is fake or irrelevant.

My experience was very easy, a staff took my EAD, passport, I-94, I-20 (old one + new OPT), employment letter, & marriage license (to change my name). It only took 15 mins and all set. Two days later, I was able to check my number in SSA office & they printed out a non-official paper to show my SS# and I got the actual card a week later.

If he needs to fill out any paperwork before he knows the SS#, he should write "Applied For" & notify the employer as soon as he gets the ss# to correct all the tax forms.

* Offer letter is not an employment letter, it just shows the company has offered him a job. He needs a letter that stay he has been accepted & will be/ currently is employed.

This is a very good post and please post if you have any update.

I am on OPT now and started doing the small things before file AOS.

EAD --- It's here and will be expired July 2011. I believe the latest to file AOS for me is Jan/Feb 2011 to ensure I will have the new EAD before my OPT's EAD expired. But my husband and I believe we will file the paper work these couple months.

SSN --- After I got my OPT's EAD, I went to SSA to apply for a SSN and changed and last name in the same day, I went back to the SSA and got the SSN printout that my number is available in the system. (I see people could not change their last name on SSN got the GC because the name dismatched or sth.)

DL --- I also went to change name on my driver license and they issued me a paper that they will send me the new card in mail. I also called my Auto insurance to update my info. I used my I-20 to do that because it gives me a longer time.

Work --- I started working a few days ago and hopefully I will save enough money at the end of this month. I thought I have enough, but after reading other people stories, I was not sure if I had enough for the CS because they could charger from $ 50 to $1,000 depend on what I have missed.

Bills --- I called the gas, water, & etc company to try to put my name in my husband's accounts, but they needed me to bring my SSN & ID to the office to do the changes in person.

Banks --- I have 2 joint-accounts with my husband and I only need to update my name & SSN after I get the actual cards in mail.

I have all the forms filled out (beside the I-693) and now just collecting the evidence to file AOS.

This is my story so far. . .

Hi I was in almost the same situation.

With your employer and tax forms, put your MARRIED NAME. This is very important, as when you applied for SSN, SSA will inform IRS within 10 days of your name change.

When you send in your AOS packet (which I assume will be soon), fill out all your forms in your MARRIED NAME as well, except in the blanks where says "other names used", then put maiden name.

My timeline is as follows:

1. Started working with OPT EAD (maiden name)

2. Got married

3. Changed name with SSA, employer, and filled tax forms in MARRIED NAME

4. Filed AOS in MARRIED NAME

5. Received AOS EAD in MARRIED NAME

6. Soon to receive GC in MARRIED NAME

I had no problems whatsoever. Hope that helps.

Thank you for your reply.

Also,My EAD is based on F1-OPT visa, but I will renew my card based on ©(9) later in the future.

My card will be expired in July 2010, so do i need to renew my EAD with AOS package or I can wait till Mar or April to do it?

Which one should I put on, "Permission to accept employment" or "Renewal of my permission to accept employment" when I renew my card?

Thanks!

I applied for an EAD based on F1 and got my EAD with my maiden name. I went to SSA today and applied for a SSN with my married with my marriage stuff ( I never have a SSN before.) Thankfully, the person who worked on my paperwork let me got the SSN with married name. He issued my married name and wrote my maiden name as name at birth. However, I will start working next week and I am not sure if I should put my maiden name or married name on the tax forms. My SSN will issue in married name if nothing goes wrong. Sometime, people don't get one because the DHS system does not have the married name. And my employer does not know anything about this stuff.

My questions are....

1) Do I need to notify USCIS that I changed my last name and have them issue a new EAD with married name? If do, do I have to pay that $340 fee?

2) If not, I think I can change the name when I need to renew my EAD with my AOS package, right?

3) Should I fill out the tax forms with my maiden name, then notify my employer once I get my SSN card in married name?

Thanks.

If you concurrently filing your EAD with your AOS.. just send it together with your I-485 at Chicago office. Eligibility is ©(9) if you gonna file together with your I-485.

My EAD is based on F1-OPT visa, but I will renew my card based on ©(9) later in the future.

Which one should I put on, "Permission to accept employment" or "Renewal of my permission to accept employment" when I renew my card?

Thanks!

Try to go to another branch.

I suggest to call the number because it is faster. I paper filed the form and it took 3 weeks (15 business days as they said) to process my request, while I got the one that I request on phone in 1 week or so.

Honestly, I am very against people who came to US illegally and try to find way, such as fault marriage, to stay in US legally and get benefits. It takes so much money and time to go through the legal process while some illegal immigrants can just go to their Consulate to get immediate employment authorization in US. As an international student, we all put so much money in the education industry which the gov is still trying to be hush on us to get legal employment here.

NSC received my RFE respond today... now I am just waiting for the approval.

Thanks Bobby+Umit !

Ok - they think your signature is a copy - not original - so sign it again in that certification box (in blue ink to make a different mark) - ensure you make it legible and by itself (don't overwrite the exsisting signature)

for the photos - follow this guide.

Thanks!!

I went to USPS and sent my photos with the USPS photos holder with the letter. It is was very stupid that they wanted my signature again because I paper filled my stuff and really, how the heck I needed to copy my signature?! I made an infopass and basically to have a person to mark a red "X" on the form.

I googled that

"Sign your name so that it fits between the lines. Do not touch the line above or below or else you will receive a "Request for Evidence" from the immigration service stating that the "applicant's signature is not acceptable."

is this true?

Can you post a pic of the actual RFE?

Here the paper

http://i50.tinypic.com/28swio9.jpg

I received a RFE from USCIS today and it required me to mail back the photos back within 10 days. Basically, they didn't like the photos that I sent and I have to send them back the photos, however, they also asked me to "sign the attache photocopy of Form I-765 in the signature black marked in red" which I can not find anything in red beside "COPY".

Here is the copy of the form.

http://i45.tinypic.com/8zo4s1.jpg

Please suggest! Thanks!

I am going to the USPS and have they take the picture and send it as overnight.

Sorry! I filed on Apr 27, they got it Apr 29

I'm trying to remember and I think my OPT/EAD took about 6 weeks from the date I applied for it.

No, I had no biometrics.

That's what I told him that I don't need one. It has been almost 2 month and I don't know what to do with that biometric thing. I hope it will not affect the processing time of my case.

I am a F1 student and applying for OPT based on the F1 visa. I applied on May 27, NSC received my form on May 29, and the notice date is May10. They sent me a NOA about the check. I sent a couple expedite requests and all got rejected. I called the hotline today and see my case status and what the heck that the person I talked to tell me I will need a biometric appointment and he went ahead and send a service request to schedule. He said I did not get any notice after 30 days I filed the form and I would have to send the service request. I told him I got a NOA about the check and I dont think I need that service, he said I have to and asked me to write the ID# of the request that he just sent. He also told me I will need to wait another 45 days to receive any notice. If I didnt get any respond after that 45 days, just call them back again. I am so pissed and worried. I really think I dont need the biometric because it is for immigration and I am not doing the immigration thing.

Does an OPT based I-765 really need the biometric service? Can I canceled the service request?

**Anyone has experience that before?

My employment date is July 1 and I have already postpone my start day once.

Did you use your old/maiden name when you applied for the EAD? If your EAD card has your maiden name on it, you have to issue the DL with your maiden name. I think this is not a big deal as long as you can still legally drive here right. I went to the SSA office and asked for name change and the person who assisted me told me that I can only change the name once USCIS changed the name in their system. He told me USCIS go first, then SSA, then DL, then others. But I saw some cases here that people changed their name on SS card before notified USCIS.

1) Should I apply for AOS(I-130, I-485, G-325A & etc) BEFORE I receive my OPT's EAD?

Yes you can. You just have to state it on the EAD appilcation that you have a pending OPT's EAD application pending.(Form I-765 Number 11)

2) If I did, would I still able to start working by using my OPT's EAD while waiting for AOS process? YES

3) Will I able to update my A number & SNN after I file AOS and get OPT'S EAD?(Because if I file AOS before I have my OPT's EAD, I will have to leave blank at SSN & employment related question)

You will be assigned different A number. Even if you put the A number on the OPT's EAD on the AOS application, they will still assign you a different A number. You will be able to update your social security number at the time of your AOS interview.

4) Should I apply for AOS AFTER I receive my OPT's EAD?

You can send in the AOS application whenever you are ready.It can be before or after the approval of your OPT's EAD.

5) If I did would I still able to work by using my OPT's EAD while waiting for AOS process?

Yes.

6)After I get my OPT'S EAD, will I know the # of my SSN immediately at the SSA and hv the # to fill the AOS along with other forms? (Or I need to wait the SSN card arrive to be able to know the my actual number?)

You will be able to know your social security number after 48-72 hours after applying for your ss number. But you will have to go back to the SSA office for it.

Thank you for your reply.

I checked my case, it has been updated today, not sure is from the name change or what. But at least they looked at my case.

T

Here is my story. .it is a little bit long, but stay with me.

I entered US in 2006 as F1 and went to school in IL. I met my husband in 2007 while I was still in IL and he was in IN. We had a distance relationship for a year, then I decided to transfer to a school in IN in 2008. I moved to his house and have lived with him for almost 2 years. We were enaged in Dec 2009. I graduated last month(MAY) and we had a wedding ceremony right after the graduation. I was glad that my family was able to attend the wedding from oversea and now the pain process comes. . .

Before I graduated, I applied for a job and got a offer. The company would let me start my job on July 1, I went ahead and paid $340 to apply for OPT in late April. The reason I did it was that I would like to make some income rather than sit at home and wait for the AOS result. My husband supported my decidion because we needed the money to do the immgration process.

NSC received my application on Apr 29, check cashed May 10, the last time NSC touched my case is May 14, I also requested to correct my name on the receipt on May 28 and they confirmed the change on Jun 1. I know some student who applied in Feb/Mar have already received with OPT confirmation & EAD within 4-5 weeks, but I think I hit the peak time while ton of international graduates have applied as the same time as me. I feel no hope. . . cause I only got one month . . and I dont know what to say to my future employee to postpone my start date (I already signed the offer letter. . and hope the company would not sue me or anything)

Also, I talked to my husband and we decided to start the AOS process because hell know when the EAD will arrive after AOS paperwork and we both don't want me to be out of job after OPT.

I have most of the paperwork filled out, my husband and I are just waiting for the Tax transcripts to fill out #24 & 25 on I-864, my vaccinnation record that is sent (last Friday) from my home country to arrive at my house that I can make an apportment to do the CS check. Other than that, we got everything covered.

Here are the questions. . .

1) Should I apply for AOS(I-130, I-485, G-325A & etc) BEFORE I receive my OPT's EAD?

2) If I did, would I still able to start working by using my OPT's EAD while waiting for AOS process?

3) Will I able to update my A number & SNN after I file AOS and get OPT'S EAD?(Because if I file AOS before I have my OPT's EAD, I will have to leave blank at SSN & employment related question)

4) Should I apply for AOS AFTER I receive my OPT's EAD?

5) If I did would I still able to work by using my OPT's EAD while waiting for AOS process?

6)After I get my OPT'S EAD, will I know the # of my SSN immediately at the SSA and hv the # to fill the AOS along with other forms? (Or I need to wait the SSN card arrive to be able to know the my actual number?)

Please give you suggestion and thanks so much!!

No. You need to file all the paperwork with the name as it appears in your passport/birth certificate (legal name) unless you want to change your last name to your husband's last name. You cannot change your first name.

You should put Briggi as "other names used" as well as your full maiden name if you apply with your married last name.

When it is time for your naturalization, only then you can request a legal name change to Briggi and court may approve or deny your request.

Hope that helped!

thanks for your reply. i m wondering if you / anyone has put the nickname under "other name used" can share the experience? (like how to proof you r the person of "the nickname". I just want to make sure i will not cause any problem n waste the money.

thanks!

I have question about "Other name(s) used," I use Briggi (for example) as my socially name because people can't really pronoun my real name. All the X'mas cards, wedding cards, e-mail, and etc, people including my husband call me Briggi, so I do not really have a lot of evidence showing the relationship I have with my husband with my real real name. There isn't any similarity between my real name & Briggi. So... what I should do with my name? Can I file my name as Briggi and hopefully USCIS let me change my name to Briggi, or should I add Briggi as other name used?

Thanks

I hope someone will able to anwser a question i hv

I am trying to file i-130, i-485, and some other paperwork, but I am not sure what name I should file. I understand I can file with my married name, however, my name is Ka Ki Chan(Briggi is a american nick name that is easier for people to call me) Ka Ki is my given name and some of the doc i have here are either named Ka as first name Ki as middle name or Ka Ki as first name & no middle name.

My DL and Marriage Cert have Ka as first name Ki as middle, but my passport, visa, i-94, & i-20 have Ka Ki as first name. I want to change my first name so bad because I hv use Briggi for 8 years and everyone knows how to speel my name.... but briggi is not my legal name. . .and I dont have any legal doc proof that I am Briggi (beside some e-mails or Facebook acc)

so.... should I file

1) First: Ka, Middle: Ki, Last: husband's last name, or

2) First:Ka Ki, Middle: None, Last: husband's last name, or

3) First:Kaki (combined), Middle: Briggi, Last:husband's last name, or

4) First:Kaki (combined), Middle: None, Last: husband's last name, or

5) Fist: Ka ki, Middle: Briggi, Last: husband's last name, or

6) First: Brigggi, Middle: Ka ki/Kaki, Last: husband's last name.

Which one(or two/three) would you suggest me to use without causing any problem?

Thanks

I just graduated from a college, applied for a job & OPT. Also, I just got married last week (my husband is a citizen), received a receipt of my OPT application and a job offer letter from a company on Monday.

I am planning to. . . .

1)Accept the job offer

2)wait for the letter for OPT

3)Start the job

4)Apply for SSN

5)Legally change my name (either when I apply the SSN or after I receive the SSN....but will not able to change it on my visa & passport)

6)File AOS and other forms by using my married name

Here are some questions. . .

I am from HK and my name is Chan Ka Ki (example). Chan is a family name, Ka is middle name, Ki is the first name. When I live in US, my name becomes Ka Ki Chan. Ka becomes my first name and Ki becomes my middle name. However, my name on all government doc is all stated Ka Ki as a given name and no middle name. I think if I change my name would be easier to fill out all gov' docs.

So. . . I would like to change my name before I file AOS and use my married name to file the forms. Is it fine to do it? Does my plan look ok? What is the best time to file AOS?

Any suggestion?

Thanks