Any February 2012 filers?

[soheil 9]

Hi everyone.

Now that it has been more than 6 months for us living together, coming back to this forum reminds me of all those days that we were separate and sad and how happy we both are right now. I am sure all of us are now super happy to have those days way behind us

I have a rather off-topic question about credit card for my wife (non US citizen):

When my wife (then fiancee) came to US and after her getting SSN, we wanted to apply for a credit card for her so that she can start building credit in US. We went to BoA (my main bank at that time which I have good relations with) but were told that as a new immigrant to US, she has to wait 6 months in order to be considered a resident (for bank purposes) and then she can apply for credit card (even if we want a secured one)! They even told us for the same reason they have to enter her foreign address as her permanent address on her bank account! As strange this explanation was to us, we accepted it because we heard similar things from a few friends of us who entered US on student visas. We only ended up opening a joint checking and a joint savings accounts that day and didn't even bother to check with other banks/credit unions at that time. What I only did was adding her to all my credit cards as an authorized user at that time so that she can inherit from my good credit. (not sure if this even helps, but during the last two weeks she has received two cc offers from citi master card in the mail, so I assume it has helped her).

Now that she has been in US for more that 6 months, we are going to apply for a credit card again at BoA. My wife is trying to enter graduate school here, so all this time she was taking extension courses related to her major. Because of this she is currently not employed (hence no income). So what should we say about her annual income on the credit card application? I am concerned that if writing my income (because basically I am paying her expenses in US) as her annual income and selecting "homemaker" would be a right thing (and not considered a lie)? I am almost sure that if we write "0" she is going to be rejected!

How did you guys approached this building credit thing? Any ideas/experiences are appreciated

Edited May 22, 2013 by soheil

[at long last 58]

I just called USCIS and they said I'm still within the processing time. When I asked why others who filed in the same office after me and have moved on before me they said they couldn't give me any information. I asked to speak with someone who could answer my question and they said they were having technical difficulties and try back tomorrow. Is there any part of this that can go smoothly... sheeesh.

[Shezi 108]

I just called USCIS and they said I'm still within the processing time. When I asked why others who filed in the same office after me and have moved on before me they said they couldn't give me any information. I asked to speak with someone who could answer my question and they said they were having technical difficulties and try back tomorrow. Is there any part of this that can go smoothly... sheeesh.

I called USCIS about a month ago, they told me where my case had been transferred to and looked it up in the system. That would have been around 27th April - he said they are currently working on October 31st (!!!) but they only update their systems on the 15th of the month so try again after 15th of next month. I asked about the length of time and how hard it is not knowing when I could travel since we'd already waited 6 months before I could travel here. The guy was really nice and sympathetic and suggested filing an I-131 (which I now have) and explained the 'past process date' thing - because they are behind, that doesn't count: they work to a projected goal but it takes as long as it takes. When they are working past the date that shows on our page (December 20th 2012 for us) and we haven't heard anything, then they are past process time and we can ask for assistance.

That kinda made sense, it just wasn't what I wanted to hear. I want to make a trip back to the UK at the end of July so I'm tentatively planning to do that with either green card or AP - whichever comes first.

Shezi

[SLMcT 5]

Yeah all this waiting is kinda crazy! I sometimes forget that we're still waiting for the GC...then I think about my new nephew in Scotland and how I can't just hop on a plane and go visit! How is everyone feeling in terms of settling in? I have mixed moments! Sometimes I feel totally integrated - like when I got paid! Sometimes I still feel like an alien

With the whole credit thing, we have a joint bank account and just before I came over Jason got an additional credit card on his account. So I have a CC with my name on it, but the account's not in my name so it doesn't give me a credit history We haven't bought anything on credit yet but the next big purchase we're just going to do payments on so we can put it in my name and get a bit of a history built up that way. The way I see it - I WANT a credit history as it'll make me feel more like a regular person here, but I don't really NEED it - everything can just go in Jason's name! There is that independent streak in me that wants my own credit score tho!!

Anyone working on there first 4th of July plans? Jason's mother and one of his nephews are coming to DC to visit with us and we're having a mini staycation!! Looking forward to the fireworks in DC

[Gavin + Heather 7]

I think about the GC sometimes, mainly thinking about when (or, morbid I know, if) I'll be able to see my nan again. In terms of settling in, really well - it was hard saying goodbye to people from the UK at our 2nd wedding though. I guess there are couple of times where instead of getting on with things I ponder for a moment on whether it's different here from the UK so should be done differently - so moments of being unsure.

As for the credit, I got my own secured credit card to build my credit and also so it wouldn't reduce Heather's credit rating if she'd added someone with no credit on to her credit card. I also have my moble/cell phone which is in my name. I'm starting to get junk mail through the post of credit card applications - so I guess my credit rating is building.

I think it's good to build up the credit rating as there may be purchases in the future that requires both partners credit rating to be taken in to account.

We have some tentative plans for July 4th, but just waiting for things to be confirmed.

Just before we went away on our honeymoon my work permit arrived finally, so something less to think about

[Shezi 108]

I still have a credit card in the UK (I kept a bank account open there) so I guess I'm not overly worried about getting one here yet - at least until I have a personal income! I'm hoping to get AP approved (or green card) so I can visit UK at the end of July for a week or so. July 4th, not sure yet. We just got back from a 5 day vacation for Memorial day weekend which was lovely; spent time in DC, Annapolis, Baltimore and out in Ocean City. It's funny standing on the west side of the Atlantic and looking east - knowing that's where all my family are!

[Shezi 108]

Oh by the way... popped around to Massachusetts Ave to see where the British Embassy was while in DC - it was weird remembering standing in Grosvenor Square in London looking at the US Embassy, then doing it in reverse in Washington. I still feel too much the alien Sarah, feelings of integration are coming slowly.

[Cori and Rob 55]

Yeah all this waiting is kinda crazy! I sometimes forget that we're still waiting for the GC...then I think about my new nephew in Scotland and how I can't just hop on a plane and go visit! How is everyone feeling in terms of settling in? I have mixed moments! Sometimes I feel totally integrated - like when I got paid! Sometimes I still feel like an alien

With the whole credit thing, we have a joint bank account and just before I came over Jason got an additional credit card on his account. So I have a CC with my name on it, but the account's not in my name so it doesn't give me a credit history We haven't bought anything on credit yet but the next big purchase we're just going to do payments on so we can put it in my name and get a bit of a history built up that way. The way I see it - I WANT a credit history as it'll make me feel more like a regular person here, but I don't really NEED it - everything can just go in Jason's name! There is that independent streak in me that wants my own credit score tho!!

Anyone working on there first 4th of July plans? Jason's mother and one of his nephews are coming to DC to visit with us and we're having a mini staycation!! Looking forward to the fireworks in DC

Hi everyone! I've been thinking about you guys! I'm glad everyone seems to be doing well. Life is pretty good here. Rob and I had our family wedding on April 6th, and I could not have asked for a better day. Rob really seems to be settling in well here. He has a job that he loves, we bought a car, and we're getting ready to move in a month or so. Speaking of the credit, that has probably been the most challenging thing here. When Rob and I went to buy a car, Rob was basically considered a ghost in the credit system. He literally had no credit whatsoever. However, because I have good credit, we were able to get a car loan, and Rob is on it, so as long as we're making payments on time, he should be building good credit. I'm still a little concerned about renting an apartment and a prospective landlord seeing his virtual lack of credit, and thinking he's bad with money or something. Plus, he isn't on my current lease, so that could pose a problem too. I guess we'll see. We're seeing a bunch of apartments this weekend.

I kinda keep forgetting about AOS! It has been 5 months for us now. We haven't been transferred at this point, though, so I'm anticipating no interview but no green card until September or October. Gavin, have you gotten your EAD/AP yet?

Edited May 30, 2013 by Cori and Rob

[afoyoswa 178]

Hi everyone! Long time no see. Not much has been happening, immigration-wise, so I keep forgetting to check in! (And whoa, the site looks different!) A few weeks ago, I suddenly got a bunch of USCIS alerts on my phone and got all excited, only to find out that they were confirmation notices that we'd changed our address. Well, duh!

In non-immigration land, though, (almost) everything is great, except that we've been trying (to no avail) to get Aaron added to my primary checking account since he arrived. It's an online account through Capital One 360 (formerly ING Direct). We had no problem getting a joint account at BoA pretty much the day after he arrived, but CO360 just will not budge. Part of it is probably his lack of a credit history, which I haven't been as conscientious about addressing as I should have and he doesn't really understand the importance of. We applied for some sort of newcomers card for him a few days ago, and hopefully he'll get approved for that and we can start the ball rolling. The CO360 account is just too convenient for us in so many ways that it doesn't make sense to switch banks, so they had better come around at some point.

In other news, though....

...he got a job! He's in school, primarily, until he can boost his education level enough to be competitive for jobs in this area, but we wanted something stable and part-time with regular daytime hours, and my friend/ex-coworker mentioned an opening at her (my former) company. He applied, got an interview, and got the job: the first job he ever applied for in the U.S. I'm so amazed and proud. He's been there a week so far, and if all goes well it will take him through school and provide a giant boost to the family income. Which couldn't have come at a better time, because...

...we bought a condo! Somehow, we managed to keep the wedding affordable enough that we had enough left for a down payment once the dust settled. The new place is gorgeous, in a much more appealing neighborhood, twice the size of the apartment we were renting before (and with extra storage space, a shared porch/yard, and our own parking space, to boot), and the monthly cost to us is the SAME. Best of all, it has 3 bedrooms! One for us, one for guests, and an extra one. Which couldn't have come at a better time, because...

...we're having a baby! I'm due around Thanksgiving.

What a year! And to think that last year at this time, I was sitting on the edge of my seat convinced that the NOA2 would never come and Aaron would never get over here and even if he did, how did I know that we'd get along well and be able to make a life work together. And somehow, pretty much everything fell into place <knock on wood>. Happy, happy, happy.

[Shezi 108]

...we're having a baby! I'm due around Thanksgiving.

What a year! And to think that last year at this time, I was sitting on the edge of my seat convinced that the NOA2 would never come and Aaron would never get over here and even if he did, how did I know that we'd get along well and be able to make a life work together. And somehow, pretty much everything fell into place <knock on wood>. Happy, happy, happy.

Absolutely FANTASTIC news!!! Our first baby

Wishing all the very best to you both - Congratulations!

Edited May 31, 2013 by Shezita

[soheil 9]

Which couldn't have come at a better time, because...

...we're having a baby! I'm due around Thanksgiving.

WOWWWWW, congratulations, this is fantastic our forum creator is the first to have a baby wish you the best

[Gavin + Heather 7]

...we're having a baby! I'm due around Thanksgiving.

Congratulations! It's great seeing how we're all progressing on our journeys, all the best!

[ckel11310 10]

Hi everyone! Long time no see. Not much has been happening, immigration-wise, so I keep forgetting to check in! (And whoa, the site looks different!) A few weeks ago, I suddenly got a bunch of USCIS alerts on my phone and got all excited, only to find out that they were confirmation notices that we'd changed our address. Well, duh!

In non-immigration land, though, (almost) everything is great, except that we've been trying (to no avail) to get Aaron added to my primary checking account since he arrived. It's an online account through Capital One 360 (formerly ING Direct). We had no problem getting a joint account at BoA pretty much the day after he arrived, but CO360 just will not budge. Part of it is probably his lack of a credit history, which I haven't been as conscientious about addressing as I should have and he doesn't really understand the importance of. We applied for some sort of newcomers card for him a few days ago, and hopefully he'll get approved for that and we can start the ball rolling. The CO360 account is just too convenient for us in so many ways that it doesn't make sense to switch banks, so they had better come around at some point.

In other news, though....

...he got a job! He's in school, primarily, until he can boost his education level enough to be competitive for jobs in this area, but we wanted something stable and part-time with regular daytime hours, and my friend/ex-coworker mentioned an opening at her (my former) company. He applied, got an interview, and got the job: the first job he ever applied for in the U.S. I'm so amazed and proud. He's been there a week so far, and if all goes well it will take him through school and provide a giant boost to the family income. Which couldn't have come at a better time, because...

...we bought a condo! Somehow, we managed to keep the wedding affordable enough that we had enough left for a down payment once the dust settled. The new place is gorgeous, in a much more appealing neighborhood, twice the size of the apartment we were renting before (and with extra storage space, a shared porch/yard, and our own parking space, to boot), and the monthly cost to us is the SAME. Best of all, it has 3 bedrooms! One for us, one for guests, and an extra one. Which couldn't have come at a better time, because...

...we're having a baby! I'm due around Thanksgiving.

What a year! And to think that last year at this time, I was sitting on the edge of my seat convinced that the NOA2 would never come and Aaron would never get over here and even if he did, how did I know that we'd get along well and be able to make a life work together. And somehow, pretty much everything fell into place <knock on wood>. Happy, happy, happy.

Congratulations!

It looks like you and my wife are due at the same time, because our OB/GYN confirmed that our baby is due near Thanksgiving as well~

[Cori and Rob 55]

Wow! Babies everywhere! Congrats Joy and Ckel! I'm so happy for all of us. Everyone seems to be doing so well! Rob and I are pretty excited because we put in an application for a rental for a condo, and our application was accepted. The land around the condo is really pretty as it's near a forest, and I've seen deer and other woodland creatures roaming the grounds. It seems like it will be quiet and serene. We're very excited about it!

[Gavin + Heather 7]

Congratulations!

It looks like you and my wife are due at the same time, because our OB/GYN confirmed that our baby is due near Thanksgiving as well~

Congrats

Wow! Babies everywhere! Congrats Joy and Ckel! I'm so happy for all of us. Everyone seems to be doing so well! Rob and I are pretty excited because we put in an application for a rental for a condo, and our application was accepted. The land around the condo is really pretty as it's near a forest, and I've seen deer and other woodland creatures roaming the grounds. It seems like it will be quiet and serene. We're very excited about it!

Congrats on getting the condo, sounds like a lovely place