Moving to the US soon but changed US address since interview?

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

I had my K1 interview on January 25th and recieved my visa shorty afterwards. My leaving date for the UK will be May 31st and Russ will be coming over 1 week prior to help me move, so we'll be travelling over together with our labrador, Honey.

On all paperwork that I completed before 25th January I had given Russ' current (at the time) address as the place where I will be staying, but since then we have found a new house to rent together that will be more room for us and our dog. So, I was just wondering, should we inform the DOS that we have a new address now? Will my SS card be sent automatically to hisold address when I arrive? Or should we just list our new address on all paperwork for AOS?

[Rebecca Jo 1,962]

You'll inform them of his address change when you file your adjustment. Nothing to worry about.

I hope you don't think you are going to automatically receive a Social Security card when you arrive. You'll need to go apply for it (after you've been in the US a couple of weeks). At that time you will inform them where to mail it.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You'll inform them of his address change when you file your adjustment. Nothing to worry about.

Agreed. Think of AOS as starting over from scratch with a whole new process. Use your new last name, new address, etc. You will provide forms which ask for the same things you already supplied for K1 because basically they don't go back and review your K1 forms, except hopefully your Knightsbridge medical will get matched up with your new AOS application. That's been a problem the last few months. I would try to pre-empt the RFE problem by including a statement (bolded and highlighted) in the cover letter that as a K1, you are not required to have another full medical and your visa medical given on [date] should be on record in your A-file. (That's the physical file that you turn in at POE in the brown envelope and gets stored in a central location until USCIS gets the AOS application and orders your A-file to put with it.)

Edited February 21, 2010 by Nich-Nick

[Nik+Heather 121]

+1 to the advice that you don't need to do anything except make the new address as your current address when you file AOS (and probably put on your entry documents on the plane over). No extra steps required.

When you go through POE, try to get them to give you a copy of the medical from your packet when they open it. Just in case.....

Agreed. Think of AOS as starting over from scratch with a whole new process. Use your new last name, new address, etc. You will provide forms which ask for the same things you already supplied for K1 because basically they don't go back and review your K1 forms, except hopefully your Knightsbridge medical will get matched up with your new AOS application. That's been a problem the last few months. I would try to pre-empt the RFE problem by including a statement (bolded and highlighted) in the cover letter that as a K1, you are not required to have another full medical and your visa medical given on [date] should be on record in your A-file. (That's the physical file that you turn in at POE in the brown envelope and gets stored in a central location until USCIS gets the AOS application and orders your A-file to put with it.)

That doesn't always work either (like in our case ). Just expect an RFE like everyone else, and if you manage to get through without one, you can be pleasantly surprised!

Edited February 21, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[Darnell 8,478]

Will my SS card be sent automatically to hisold address

You've not applied for a SSN card. So - no need to worry about the old address, yet.

When you DO apply for a SSN card - you will be giving Russ' Current Address, at the date/time of application. You must show up in person at a SSA office.

No Worries There, for Then.

Edited February 21, 2010 by Darnell

[RUSSandRACHEL 3]

Thanks everyone! Great advice.

How long do people say to usually leave it before applying for a SSN? Three weeks? And should I anticipate problems being a K1 holder? Is there something I can print off to show them I'm entitled to apply if they've not familiar with the process?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Click on the VJ "Guides" tab. In the second column is "How to get a Social Security number." It tells about the time to wait and gives a link for the thing to print out.

The problems people have is when they are inexperienced at the SS office. Speak to a supervisor if they say you aren't eligible. Your name must be in the S.A.V.E. database exactly as written on you I-94 card that you fill out on the plane. Write it very plainly (on the plane) so the person entering it in the database won't have any problems. The SS office has to find your name as entered into the US at POE. Apply in your maiden name exactly how you wrote it on the I-94 and change the name later after your green card. Your SS number will stay the same for life no matter how many times you change your name, so use the number for bank accounts or whatever even if the card has your maiden name on it.

If you go early and they say your name isn't in the database, but they can manually verify it by sending a request to USCIS, tell them "nevermind" and go back in a few days. The manual verification slows it down a long time. That's why VJ suggests to give it 2 weeks, but sometimes it's in the database by the next day after arrival. I think we went after maybe 10 days and had the card in a week or so.