AOS FILERS: MARCH 2009

[Prawninator 138]

I'm still waiting on mine...

At least I have the EAD! I got it in the mail the other day; the plastic window on the envelope was melted off for some reason, and that worried me a little. I was excited though!

Anyway, I do have a little problem...

I would love to travel to the different states and take in the sights of my new adopted country (I am currently in process with the I-485), but am at a loss as to which identification I should use.

I have:

Passport issued by the Republic of Singapore with my maiden name

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the US Department of Homeland Security and the USCIS with my husband's last name

Marriage certificate to prove my taking of my husband's last name

Notice of Action on Adjustment of Status

Which should / can I use to travel domestically? Will the EAD be enough, or do I have to bring everything? I really do not want to lose everything in the event of a theft or something similar, so I want to travel with as few documents as possible.

I'm SO CONFUSED! >_<

[GueraKristina 1]

I'm still waiting on mine...

At least I have the EAD! I got it in the mail the other day; the plastic window on the envelope was melted off for some reason, and that worried me a little. I was excited though!

Anyway, I do have a little problem...

I would love to travel to the different states and take in the sights of my new adopted country (I am currently in process with the I-485), but am at a loss as to which identification I should use.

I have:

Passport issued by the Republic of Singapore with my maiden name

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the US Department of Homeland Security and the USCIS with my husband's last name

Marriage certificate to prove my taking of my husband's last name

Notice of Action on Adjustment of Status

Which should / can I use to travel domestically? Will the EAD be enough, or do I have to bring everything? I really do not want to lose everything in the event of a theft or something similar, so I want to travel with as few documents as possible.

I'm SO CONFUSED! >_<

You can go to your local DMV and have an ID card made, it looks just like a license, but its just identification. my husband had one done for him back in 06 the first year he was here, he carries that in his wallet where ever he goes. I would say that, and your EAD, and if you wanted your NOA1 for your i-485, just in case. you should be fine with that. you wouldnt need your passport, since your not leaving the country, the ID card, is just that, ID, and your EAD is proof that you can be here legally (b/c you obviously got permission to work legally) and your NOA1, would let a police officer or offical know that your in the process of getting your residency.

[AaronLV 12]

I'm still waiting on mine...

At least I have the EAD! I got it in the mail the other day; the plastic window on the envelope was melted off for some reason, and that worried me a little. I was excited though!

Anyway, I do have a little problem...

I would love to travel to the different states and take in the sights of my new adopted country (I am currently in process with the I-485), but am at a loss as to which identification I should use.

I have:

Passport issued by the Republic of Singapore with my maiden name

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the US Department of Homeland Security and the USCIS with my husband's last name

Marriage certificate to prove my taking of my husband's last name

Notice of Action on Adjustment of Status

Which should / can I use to travel domestically? Will the EAD be enough, or do I have to bring everything? I really do not want to lose everything in the event of a theft or something similar, so I want to travel with as few documents as possible.

I'm SO CONFUSED! >_<

You can go to your local DMV and have an ID card made, it looks just like a license, but its just identification. my husband had one done for him back in 06 the first year he was here, he carries that in his wallet where ever he goes. I would say that, and your EAD, and if you wanted your NOA1 for your i-485, just in case. you should be fine with that. you wouldnt need your passport, since your not leaving the country, the ID card, is just that, ID, and your EAD is proof that you can be here legally (b/c you obviously got permission to work legally) and your NOA1, would let a police officer or offical know that your in the process of getting your residency.

The EAD card is not proof that you are here legally. It is proof you are allowed to work here legally, two different items, it is possible to have a valid EAD, but not a valid I94. Your passport with I94 and your NOA1 shows that you are in the process of AOS, and you are here legally.

It is best to get a State ID (to use for identification), bring your passport and a copy of your marriage license and copy of your NOA1 (Not originals, this way if you lose them you would need to get a replacement).

Also as a Non-US Citizen you are suppose to carry your PRC at ALL TIMES, it is the LAW. Just as when we go to other countries we are suppose to have our Passports on us at all times.

[Prawninator 138]

Yeah, I knew about the passport thing, but I would rather not take it out and put it back all the time, because I might just go absent-minded and lose it... dun dun dun.

So when I book an airline ticket, do I use my maiden name or my married name?

Gah, I guess that was what I was confused about. I got so confused that I was confused that I became even more confused and didn't specify the reason why I was confused.

[shawndoc 0]

Can you GC be used for as a valid photo ID?

[AaronLV 12]

Can you GC be used for as a valid photo ID?

Yes it can be. It is a valid US Government issued ID.

[Angela & Paul 12]

Yeah, I knew about the passport thing, but I would rather not take it out and put it back all the time, because I might just go absent-minded and lose it... dun dun dun.

So when I book an airline ticket, do I use my maiden name or my married name?

Gah, I guess that was what I was confused about. I got so confused that I was confused that I became even more confused and didn't specify the reason why I was confused.

Be careful! New rules are in place for airline travel.

For ID: http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52071,00.html

And the name on the ticket MUST EXACTLY be the same as the ID provided. Maiden or married name, it does not matter as long as it's the same.

[AaronLV 12]

Yeah, I knew about the passport thing, but I would rather not take it out and put it back all the time, because I might just go absent-minded and lose it... dun dun dun.

So when I book an airline ticket, do I use my maiden name or my married name?

Gah, I guess that was what I was confused about. I got so confused that I was confused that I became even more confused and didn't specify the reason why I was confused.

Be careful! New rules are in place for airline travel.

For ID: http://www.united.com/page/article/0,6722,52071,00.html

And the name on the ticket MUST EXACTLY be the same as the ID provided. Maiden or married name, it does not matter as long as it's the same.

That is not entirely true. If you had a passport with a marriage certificate showing the name change, then you would just be subject to additional security screening. You can get through airport security with No ID, it just takes a lot longer and is a PIA! I had a friend lose his wallet while on a trip (No Identification to say who he was), it took him an additional hour to get through security, once he made it to the first check.

[dale_trisha 3]

We had our interview today in St. Paul, MN. In and out in 1 hour. Maybe 10-15 minutes in the interview. We also got the I-551 stamp in Trisha's passport sinc ewe are traveling out of the country in a couple of weeks.

[movieclockstar 0]

Approved today in Detroit. No sweat at the interview. We felt the officer was relatively laid back in his demeanor. All in all about 10 minutes with him. No I-551, hopefully we'll get the card before our late September travels. Glad this part of the journey is over!

[Prawninator 138]

I decided to go the easy way out and got myself a State-Issued ID card. Whoot~!

I'm still waiting on my GC though... my application's been touched a couple of times this week, but no status change. ._.

[shawndoc 0]

When I got my wife her driving permit, I figured that would act as a state ID. That's how it was in Oregon when I grew up. In California they just give you a piece of paper and a black and white print out of her photo that says "This is not a form of identification".

Of course in the early 1990's when I took my test to get my license, the "written" portion was done on computers that had video clips illustrating each question, spoke the question to you (as well as allowing you to read it), and touch screens for selecting the answers. In 2008, California is still using sheets of paper you that you fill in circles to select your answer. They don't even have Scantron's, but real humans who have to manually check each question against an answer key in a 3 ring binder.

[Angela & Paul 12]

Yesterday, Angela received the "Welcome to the United States" booklet, 2 weeks after receiving the green card. Not sure if this is usual timing, but if you got yours and not the Green Card, I'd ask the USCIS what they are up to.

[Angela & Paul 12]

I haven't seen this discussed here, but do you guys go to the Social Security office to remove the "condition" on the Social Security card immediately after receiving the Green Card?

What do we need to bring, aside from the actual Green Card?

[Amrit & Rob 0]

I haven't seen this discussed here, but do you guys go to the Social Security office to remove the "condition" on the Social Security card immediately after receiving the Green Card?

What do we need to bring, aside from the actual Green Card?

Hi Angela & Paul,

First of all congratulations on your GC. It is advised to go to SSN office to have the restrictions removed of your card as thats what was told to me by the SSN officer when i had gone to get my name changed after marriage. Just carry your EAD card if possible as a second proof of identification & your new GC. Other than that you would not need anything.

Good Luck to you guys... Cyaa all in Removing conditions forum when your time comes.

Regards,

Amrit & Rob