January Filers at the CSC - How are you doing?

[lucie&damon 0]

Hello everyone, I have surely missed all the great happenings here but I am glad everyone seems to be moving pretty fine even with few glitches here and there. CONGRATS on all the weddings and all the other happy reunions.

I may have been a VSC filer but January CSC has been my second home here on VJ. Just an update on us, arrived here in Johnston county, NC on Sept. 4, got married Oct. 18 in a small and private church wedding. My step-daughter did my hair, I made my own bouquet and also did my own make up. The wedding was very simple but it was beautiful, my mother-in-law said there was no dry eye when we exchanged our personalized vows especially when we gave our vows to our kids. It was not what I visualized our wedding would be but it had been more special and memorable than I expected it to be even without the glitz and glams of a fancy wedding.

On other note, we tried applying for SSN last week and was told that I am not eligible to get SSN since I already got married and therefore the K1 visa SSN eligibility don't apply to me anymore. The lady we talked to said we either need to do the whole process so I could get a K3 visa (which absolutely don't make any sense to me) since I am a spouse of the US citizen now and not a fiancee or we could apply for EAD for me and also for the kids. She was telling us all this probably not knowing that EAD cost $300+ to get. Anyweiz, we will try to go back to SSN office this week and try our luck in getting the SSN again.

The same as Cécile here. I've been to the SSA 4 times before they finally say I'm eligible, and to pu my married name on the card. They are just not use to K1 visa holder I guess. Just gather as many proof as you can to explain them you can get your SSN card. Good Luck!

And Congratulation on your wedding!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Oh yeah that too... Congratulations on your wedding, dbears And I love your wedding pictures

[sunnybear 0]

Just another pop in from me. I started poking around over on the Adjustment of Status forum. So if I am reading it all correctly we just pay the $1010 for the AOS and biometrics correct? Or will we pay more for biometrics besides?

Anywayyyy enough of that for now haha...Gareth and I have been doing just wonderful! We have been unpacking his stuff and getting him settled trying to figure out how to fit all our stuff together etc...

Gabby has taken to him just like he has always been part of our family which is truly sweet to see.

Well we get married next week on the 18th and then have our reception on the 22nd! Sure hope lots show as I just ordered 252 cupcakes! Haha....if not my co-workers will be treated on the Monday morning with them all!

We have yet to hit up social security office and will prob do that here maybe next Friday when we return from honeymoon.

Hope all our well!

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Yes it is correct, the $1010 covers everything: AOS + Biometrics.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Also, I saw the pictures that you put on Myspace and the ones with Gabby and Gareth together look really great, you are right, it really looks like he has been her dad for a very long time

[Alex & Rachel 78]

Congratulations on getting married, dbears! Your photos are beautiful and that cake looks yummy indeed! Mm!

sunny - great to hear that your daughter and Gareth are getting on so well! Good luck with your wedding next week.

Sorry to hear of all the problems you guys are having getting your SSNs. I think I'll be following Cecile's advice and taking a lot of paperwork with me to show that I'm valid when I go and get mine!

I hope Blake is okay.

I'm just organising shipping this week. It's costing £350 to ship all of my belongings (12 boxes), which I didn't think was too bad at all! I also bought a new, big, purple suitcase to take with me to the US.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

Rachel, you are moving to the USA next week, right? you must be very excited!

[dbears 1]

dbears, I just posted in the VSC thread (I didn't see that you posted here too), unless I am not aware of something, if you apply for EAD at the same time as AOS, there is no additional fee, you just pay the $1010 for AOS and that's all.

As for the SSN, you are eligible. Apparently it really depends on who you talk to at the social security office. When I went there, they were not sure I could receive an SSN because I was already married and therefore my name would not match the name on my immigration file, but they sent the request anyway and a few weeks later I received my SSN, in my married name (I had other problems, my I-94 didn't match my name in the SSA system, but apparently they figured it out correctly in the end).

You should ask in the "Working & Traveling prior to getting a Green Card" forum if you haven't done it already. There was several documents there that showed that K1 visa holders who got married could receive an SSN. I had printed them and brought them with me at the office just in case, maybe you should do that. In my case though, they didn't ask to see them.

Good luck with those steps It sure isn't easy but in the end everything will work out right.

I posted the question in the said forum yesterday and got good answers and yes, i did print out every proof i could get but the lady in smithfield office just wouldn't hear of it, she even insinuated that we got the papers illegally and also said K1's who got married and still got SSN was on the suspect list, it was a mess . so we ended up going to raleigh office and everything was ok except for the fact that there might not be enough time to verify the authenticity of my documents since my I-94 will be expiring soon but at least they accepted my application and said they will try to send me my SSN before my I-94 expires, no gurantee but at least they will try. here's the complete story of the mess we experienced with SSA lady in smithfield (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2381544)

I also just read the part of the bundle package in AOS fee... do you think it also applies for kids? my kids will only need to pay $600 each since they will be applying together with me, I would also want them to apply for AP and EAD if they could apply without additional fee. EAD is needed for them to get SSN and it will be nice if they could get SSN the soonest also.

[dbears 1]

The same as Cécile here. I've been to the SSA 4 times before they finally say I'm eligible, and to pu my married name on the card. They are just not use to K1 visa holder I guess. Just gather as many proof as you can to explain them you can get your SSN card. Good Luck!

And Congratulation on your wedding!

Thank you for the Congrats.

Maybe the smaller SSA office are just not familiar with K1s or any immigrant for that matter, it was all sorted out in the end, had to travel an hour to Raleigh coz even with enough proof our visit in Smithfield SSA office was still a mess... if I will encounter problem with state ID or driver's license later, I will probably just go to Raleigh, the big city again.

Oh yeah that too... Congratulations on your wedding, dbears And I love your wedding pictures

Thank you very much.

Well we get married next week on the 18th and then have our reception on the 22nd! Sure hope lots show as I just ordered 252 cupcakes! Haha....if not my co-workers will be treated on the Monday morning with them all!

Congrats on the happy reunion and good luck on the wedding.

Congratulations on getting married, dbears! Your photos are beautiful and that cake looks yummy indeed! Mm!

I'm just organising shipping this week. It's costing £350 to ship all of my belongings (12 boxes), which I didn't think was too bad at all! I also bought a new, big, purple suitcase to take with me to the US.

Thank you for the congrats Rachel. My mother in law baked the cake for us, it is Ricky's favorite cake and actually always been a favorite in Ricky's family gathering. So since we didn't have enough budget for a fancy gorgeous looking (oftentimes awfully tasting) wedding cake we figured it will be best to have the BESTEST tasting cake as wedding cake.

Have a happy trip and happy reunion next week... I am sure your family is feeling sad now that you are leaving. enjoy every moment you have with them and enjoy your remaining days in England to the fullest.

I share the same sentiments for Blake, i have not read the whole thing but I have read a few back post about Blake and Olga's situation. i sure hope you will be able to have your family together soon.

[Cecile and Bryan 0]

I also just read the part of the bundle package in AOS fee... do you think it also applies for kids? my kids will only need to pay $600 each since they will be applying together with me, I would also want them to apply for AP and EAD if they could apply without additional fee. EAD is needed for them to get SSN and it will be nice if they could get SSN the soonest also.

It's good to hear that the SSN problem got solved at Raleigh. I got my SSN 4 days before my I-94 expired, I was lucky!

As for the EAD for your kids I have no idea how it works. I assumed that the EAD was only used for work, which would mean that it isn't for children but maybe I am wrong. I don't remember reading anything about it. Maybe someone else knows more on the subject.

[sunnybear 0]

Yikes hope you guys/gals all get your SSN sorted soon what a pain! Hoping our office here won't be too much trouble (we quite a varied population so here's hoping it is piece of cake!). I may just call and ask on phone and see what they say we need to bring. We plan to do next Friday if we are back in town on time.

Oooh Rachel the time is near aye?! Nervous, excited and all the above I bet huh?!

Dbears that cake plan sounded wonderful to me! We are doing cupcakes for ours as no cutting fees and hassle that way LOL! Too bad I have to spend this Sunday making over 200 chocolates to go on top of them all haha! Oh well it will ALL be worth it! Cannot believe it soon will be over!!! All this planning and buildup haha!

At least we have Thanksgiving and Christmas next

[lucie&damon 0]

waow! dbears I just read your story at the SSA! It was quite a journey! I'm glad that it worked out at the end! But, at your place, I would go back to see the first lady you talked to, showing the paper that state you will receive your SSN.... Maybe she still won't believe you, and say that you are illegal!

[lucie&damon 0]

Yikes hope you guys/gals all get your SSN sorted soon what a pain! Hoping our office here won't be too much trouble (we quite a varied population so here's hoping it is piece of cake!). I may just call and ask on phone and see what they say we need to bring. We plan to do next Friday if we are back in town on time.

Oooh Rachel the time is near aye?! Nervous, excited and all the above I bet huh?!

Dbears that cake plan sounded wonderful to me! We are doing cupcakes for ours as no cutting fees and hassle that way LOL! Too bad I have to spend this Sunday making over 200 chocolates to go on top of them all haha! Oh well it will ALL be worth it! Cannot believe it soon will be over!!! All this planning and buildup haha!

At least we have Thanksgiving and Christmas next

Cupcakes are a wonderful and a yummy idea!

Your wedding is soon! you might very excited right now!

[sunnybear 0]

Oh yes Lucie and Damon I am way too excited and cannot wait!!! Now to make our special days last as long as I can let them! I just know they are going to fly by!

[JeroenAndMichelle 28]

About all those SSN's going so badly... I've been thinking and I could be wrong here but as far as I have seen does this thing only go wrong at people who already got married and already changed their names (if not all of them, then at least most of them).

Isn't this because of the different name? Since a different name does not show up in their system, they might need additional information and that could give them the idea something is not ok.

It is pretty easy to change your name on your SSC after marriage (Michelle did it, she only needed to show her ID and her marriage certificate and was done in a couple of minutes (waiting until it was our turn was a bit longer but oh well)).

I kinda start to believe that they start to make troubles with the people that ask for their SSN after they get married, especially because the new name does not show up in their systems. I think, if this is indeed true, this website should update their website and advising people not to marry before they get their SSN or it might give troubles (again, if it is indeed true what I think is happening). I think it is better to advice people to wait twice at the social security offices instead of going through all the trouble you guys have been going through.

As for the rest, I hope you will have your SSN in your hands soon, dbears

And for Rachel, you're flying soon? Oh my, gotta be a scary time for you... no worries tho, all will be fine