Which visa for this situation?

[BritishGuy36 0]

My husband just got his permanent residency visa and arrived to live with me in Ohio. We took him to get his learner's permit and they didn't require a Social Security number.

As far as I know you can take the actual driver's test without a SSN. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles is required to verify legal presence in the U.S. so they'll ask to see your visa but again, my husband registered for his permit and took the written test without being asked for a SSN.

Hmm...ok. I don't want to get a learner's permit, I want to take the test and get a license. I can already drive and have a full UK license. Interesting about not having to have an SSN though.

i am also in ohio and my husband needed his work auth. before he could get his social security card. he needed his social security card for getting his drivers liscence. we were able to go to the social security office and get a copy of what his number was going to be when the card came. they just gave us a printout and we took it to the dept of motor vehicles and he was able to get his liscence.

im not sure but i think u can drive a year on ur license from ur country.

I am hoping that my UK license does give me a year because then I have plenty of time to take the test when I want. Another problem though is that I seem to be having a problem getting an insurance quote without an SSN. So maybe that is another stumbling block that stops me in my tracks anyway.

[Lansbury 19]

I am hoping that my UK license does give me a year because then I have plenty of time to take the test when I want. Another problem though is that I seem to be having a problem getting an insurance quote without an SSN. So maybe that is another stumbling block that stops me in my tracks anyway.

Try looking at Farmers Insurance web site and looking up the name of an agent where you will be living. and contacting them.

Farmers accepted my UK licence and insured me before I had a SSN. Also Farmers accepted my UK certificate of insurance as proof of previous insurance and gave me a discount based on it. Some of these things differ from State to State even in the same companies but at least worth a look.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Excellent as always Lansbury.

I won't have a previous insurance certificate though as I have been driving company vehicles for the last 8 years.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Ok! Here we go!

I am working my way through the I-130. It's a little confusing for my scenario - it's obviously been designed from the point of view of the USC living in the US with their spouse living abroad. As my wife and I both live here I wanted to sanity-check a few points with you all, if you would be so kind.

I have reviewed the sample form on this website here but this has also been filled in from the point of view of a married couple that are living apart.

1) Section A2. "Are you related by adoption?" Obviously the answer is no. But do I tick no or leave both boxes blank. On the sample form it's blank.

2) For all the places where I need to put our current address in the UK, in the field "State/Country" - should I just put UK or also list the county, such as "Yorks/UK"?

3) In the relevant areas on the form when a full name is to be entered - on the sample form it's listed with the surname first in caps and then the forenames after, such as "SMITH John Jerry". Is this correct? Normally when writing a full name like that I would put forenames first. It isn't clear for those fields which way the names are supposed to be entered.

4) Section C21. We live together at our current address. Do I put the "To:" date as the date of filling in the petition, or enter the word "Present"? (the form seems to let you do this).

5) Section C22. The question states "Complete the information below if your relative is in the United States and will apply for adjustment of status."

I am obviously not in this situation. However, in the same section is another question: "If your relative is not eligible for adjustment of status, he or she will apply for avisa abroad at the American consular post in:" - do I need to fill this in and put London England?

This seems badly designed on the form as it's confusing, even contradictory. Any guidance here?

6) Phone numbers. Do I put in the country code, then area code, then number - or as I am filing with the USCIS office in the same country as where we live - just use area code and number?

Goodness - only just started and so many questions already....I can see why it takes 6 months......

Edited December 29, 2007 by BritishGuy36

[BritishGuy36 0]

7) On the "Checklist for Petition for Alien Spouse" I got off the USCIS website, it says to indicate the petitioner's email address at the bottom of page 1. I can see no such field on the I-130 form?

[Lansbury 19]

I did the following

SURNAME Forename

Middx/UK

Telephone numbers I did full international format as the brown envelope you will be given to bring with you to the States will contain all those forms.

If a questions is not applicable write not applicable in the box

For dates where it is until the present time I wrote To Present

You don't need an e-mail address on the I-130. The lady that runs that section at the Embassy will send you two communications. The first is the NOA2 to acknowledge receipt and finally the letter saying you have been approved. Once you send in the I-130 it is just a case of waiting.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Cool, thanks.

Lansbury - as you filed in the UK, can I ask if you got sent the website login credentials to check up on your case online, check for "touches" and change your contact address etc - or is that something that is only available to those who file in the US?

Also can you remember what you did for sections A2 and C22? Did you just put not applicable/leave the boxes blank in these section?

[Lansbury 19]

No you don't get a web site to log into for UK filers. I think I sent you the Washington phone number which you can call after you have filed for the visa.

With the I-130 when you get the NOA2 back it will show the date the Embassy received your I-130. On the Embassy web site they show the received date of I-130 that they have reached. So you can see what date they are processing and see how quickly they are moving along.

I cannot remember what those 2 questions are. But DO NOT leave any box blank at the very least write non applicable if that is the case.

[Lansbury 19]

This is the URL for the London I-130 processing times worth book marking as it isn't easy to find.

http://london.usembassy.gov/dhs/uscis/i130filing.html

The current information is:- As of December 17, 2007, we are processing petitions filed on October 1, 2007.

[BritishGuy36 0]

Actually I was on that exact page last night to download some instructions. Exactly 11 weeks then. I guess that's what's expected.

I'll put N/A in both fields in section C22 then.

We are off to Woolworths in the morning to get the passport photos to submit with the G-325A forms.

Edited December 30, 2007 by BritishGuy36

[Lansbury 19]

With the I-130 when you get the NOA2 back

That should read when you get the NOA1 back

[BritishGuy36 0]

Ok I need a little help with the G325A forms.

Under "Family Name". I do not know any details for my birth father, who I have never met. I don't know what to put here.

"Applicant's last address outside the United States of more than one year." We have lived at no other addresses in the last 5 years except the present address, but the field doesn't allow for you to enter "present", it just has "from" and "to" fields. Do I put in the same address as in the secion above ("Applicant's residence last five years.") or do I put "none"?

"Applicant's employment last five years." My wife has been self employed. Does she put "self employed" or just list her own name and address details?

"Show below last occupation abroad if not shown above." What?

"This form is submitted in connection with an application for: Naturalization / Status as Permanent Resident / Other (Specify):" Which do I use?

"Applicant: Be sure to put your name and Alien Registration Number in the box outlined by heavy border below." I presume I just put "None" here.

Do you need to send page 5 with the form, as it's just instructions for the person filling in the form?

Edited December 31, 2007 by BritishGuy36

[BritishGuy36 0]

Also the checklist says send you marriage certificate. The only thing I have is a marriage license, here's a scan with bits cut out for privacy reasons:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh35/Br...iagelicense.jpg

It is signed by the judge, deputy clerk and the minister who married us, and has the "seal of the court" stamp.

Would this be acceptable?

Edited December 31, 2007 by BritishGuy36

[Lansbury 19]

Also the checklist says send you marriage certificate. The only thing I have is a marriage license, here's a scan with bits cut out for privacy reasons:

http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh35/Br...iagelicense.jpg

It is signed by the judge, deputy clerk and the minister who married us, and has the "seal of the court" stamp.

Would this be acceptable?

I can answer this as I had just the ceremonial certificate and not the legal court certificate. It shouldn't have been accepted but the Embassy did. You have just the marriage licence allowing someone to marry you and that isn't acceptable.

Good thing about the US is most of this stuff can be ordered online or by phone. Find the County Court in the US in which you marriage was registered and get from them a copy of you court marriage certificate.

[Lansbury 19]

Ok I need a little help with the G325A forms.

Under "Family Name". I do not know any details for my birth father, who I have never met. I don't know what to put here.

"Applicant's last address outside the United States of more than one year." We have lived at no other addresses in the last 5 years except the present address, but the field doesn't allow for you to enter "present", it just has "from" and "to" fields. Do I put in the same address as in the secion above ("Applicant's residence last five years.") or do I put "none"?

"Applicant's employment last five years." My wife has been self employed. Does she put "self employed" or just list her own name and address details?

"Show below last occupation abroad if not shown above." What?

"This form is submitted in connection with an application for: Naturalization / Status as Permanent Resident / Other (Specify):" Which do I use?

"Applicant: Be sure to put your name and Alien Registration Number in the box outlined by heavy border below." I presume I just put "None" here.

Do you need to send page 5 with the form, as it's just instructions for the person filling in the form?

Family name is the name you known by in everyday life, ie what is on your bank account etc

For the address enter the date you are sending in the form in. That's what I did

For employment self employed and say self employed in what

Form submitted Status as Permanent Resident

You will not get an Alien Registration Number until you get here

I think I sent the instructions back if the were attached to the form, if they were separate I didn't. In other words don't tear pages of the form.