skylarkfvr

11 people dead now... on belarussian forums people give several versions of who stood behind the explosion... but none of them REALLY make sense. My condolences to all who might have suffered from this. My best friend actually was in that train luckily she's not hurt... but emotionally...

I applied for SSN on Jan. 25th 2011, 3 weeks after arrival. I was already married by that time, but that doesn't really matter. The person that accepted my application for SSN didn't ask any question, it went with no problem.

Problems began later... I still don't have it and no idea when I'll be able to get it... The SSA says they haven't got verification confirmation from USCIS (which they do through the SAVE system). So I made the appointment with the local USCIS and went there to find out whether i can "push" it through somehow. The first time i went the officer was very reluctant to help, said I'm not entitled for SSN till I get my EAD, there is no any database, and overall it's not his business and nothing can be done here.

I scheduled another appointment and decided to come better prepared, print out all their rules from USCIS and SSA websites regarding SAVE database and being eligible for SSN. But this time I got luckier and didn't need it. The officer I spoke to told me that he can see me in the database. But the place SSA sends requests to is at a different location (somewhere in NY if I'm not mistaken, at least for my area - Washington DC). There is no tracking information for these requests whatsoever and nothing can be done, just wait till that agency sends confirmation letter to my SSA office. He said honestly that it's very inefficient, in fact, such hold-ups aren't unusual. He actually apologized too.

So, to sum up, when you apply for an SSN, first ask them to check if you're in SAVE system, (if that is possible at all, some people mentioned it in this thread already). However, I'm not sure if they always have to send a request to the USCIS or only in case when that applicant's name isn't in the SAVE system.

If I get my EAD any time soon, I'll probably go to SSA office and try to get the number based on EAD, because it should serve as a valid ID and no verification would be required (again, that's my understanding - correct me if I'm wrong). But there is another "what if" - what if by bad luck they fail to cancel my first application and I end up getting 2 SSNs...

Hi Everyone!

I have sent my packet 3 via email to US Embassy in Warsaw on Aug.17th, and got an email from them confirming that it was entered into their database on August 18th. Till now I have not received any further instructions. I'm a little worried, because according to their appointment list for September, there is one case number that is similar to mine except its last 2 digits are only 4 numbers away from mine(it ends with 12, mine ends with 16), and it was scheduled for September 30th. So my interview might be on October 1st or something like that and I don't even know about it!!

The reason I'm worried is that it takes at least 2 weeks to obtain Polish visa, as I'm a citizen of Belarus.

If there is anyone who knows how long it should take them to send packet 4, I'd really appreciate your help!!!

Thanks!

Just a quick question does my fiance have a choice to get her vaccines in America or does she have to get them in her home country of Bulgaria?

It's more likely to be home country...She can find it out at the medical center where she'll be doing her medical tests before the visa interview.

Thank you for your reply.

I'll use the tour agent, then. Just called the first agency that came up on the internet and the cost seems reasonable for no hassle and standing in line for Polish embassy. They also said it would take 2 weeks at most from the date i bring my papers till i get the visa.

I'm sorry things are not working out smoothly for you right now, but you will be together, for sure, just believe it!!!

My fiance and I have received our NOA2 (we are filing for K-1) on July 16th, that's just about as far as we got by now. But I'm already researching on this Polish visa issue... Seems like a huge mess... Just a few questions I'm still not sure about:

1. Does Warsaw schedule the interview, or you can pick a date? If so, would it be better to pick the latest date possible?

2. What would you recommend (kind of a step-by-step guide) to get the Polish visa?

My fiance and I were planning to spend a week there, he would book the hotel over the internet. I would just have my train or airplane tickets on hand + letter from Warsaw embassy if they actually send me the hard copy..

Also we are using a lawyer in the US, maybe there is some sort of paper I could ask her to send me as a confirmation of purpose of stay in Warsaw?

Thank you!