Random Neurotic Questions

[EmVee 4]

Hi everyone (again).

Our wedding is set for a couple of weeks' time, but we were advised to start assembling the package ASAP. So tonight I sat down to read through everything, print off some "test" forms and see what I needed to do. Now, of course, I have approximately six million questions. (Apologies if these are repeats from other topics, I've just been reading these forums for so long my brain is melting at this stage.)

- Should we start co-mingling stuff already? Put me on the lease, open joint bank accounts, put me on his health insurance, etc? Is it okay for us to do this before the wedding? We're supposed to have all this 'proof' but obviously I haven't any of it because I'm on VWP.

- How does one open bank accounts and get put on health insurance without a SSN anyway? I'm assuming I need one for pretty much everything? If not, what do I need? Just my passport?

- As far as my name and address on the forms, do I put down (what will be) my married name or maiden name? And do I put down the place I'm at now (his apt) or my address back in Ireland? To make things slightly more difficult, my name on my passport and birth cert are different - I have two family names on my BC, my mother's and father's, and I also have a middle name that I left off my passport. So for example my name on the BC would be Emma Mary White Smith but it's only Emma White on my passport. Can I go by what's on my passport or must it be the name on my BC?

- I'm assuming I have to have a medical exam BEFORE I mail the documents, so when should I schedule this? After I get married or before? Because we'll be married so close to the end of my 90 day trip here, I'm worried I'll be over time before the documents are submitted.

- He is submitting an Affidavit of Support and so is his sister because he has been in college until recently, so in part 1 does he tick (a) "I am the petitioner... filing on behalf of my relative" or (e)?? And does his sister fill out the 864a even though she lives elsewhere? (not sure what they mean by 'household')

- If we decide not to file the AP with this package because it's already really expensive, can I file it a month or so later, when another couple of paychecks means we can afford it?

Okay, I'll stop asking questions for the moment and see how that round goes. Sorry if these are all really obvious and I'm just slow on the uptake, but I'm one of those extremely neurotic, check-everything-five-times type people.

Thanks!

Em

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

Hi everyone (again).

Our wedding is set for a couple of weeks' time, but we were advised to start assembling the package ASAP. So tonight I sat down to read through everything, print off some "test" forms and see what I needed to do. Now, of course, I have approximately six million questions. (Apologies if these are repeats from other topics, I've just been reading these forums for so long my brain is melting at this stage.)

- Should we start co-mingling stuff already? Put me on the lease, open joint bank accounts, put me on his health insurance, etc? Is it okay for us to do this before the wedding? We're supposed to have all this 'proof' but obviously I haven't any of it because I'm on VWP.

I would start co-mingling ASAP if you can. The longer the proof you have, the better.

- How does one open bank accounts and get put on health insurance without a SSN anyway? I'm assuming I need one for pretty much everything? If not, what do I need? Just my passport?

When my husband first moved here he didn't have a SSN yet but he opened a bank account and they used the number on his DS-2019 to open the account. Perhaps your husband's bank would be able to do this to add you?

- As far as my name and address on the forms, do I put down (what will be) my married name or maiden name? And do I put down the place I'm at now (his apt) or my address back in Ireland? To make things slightly more difficult, my name on my passport and birth cert are different - I have two family names on my BC, my mother's and father's, and I also have a middle name that I left off my passport. So for example my name on the BC would be Emma Mary White Smith but it's only Emma White on my passport. Can I go by what's on my passport or must it be the name on my BC?

If you're planning to take his name you can use your married name. They will ask for your maiden name when they want it. You put the current address where you live unless they specifically ask for "address abroad" or "last address in home country" or something along the sort.

- I'm assuming I have to have a medical exam BEFORE I mail the documents, so when should I schedule this? After I get married or before? Because we'll be married so close to the end of my 90 day trip here, I'm worried I'll be over time before the documents are submitted.

You don't need to be married to schedule this. I'd schedule it ASAP since some doctors might have a longer wait list than others. You'll need to bring your passport and any visa documents that you have that show legal residence here.

- He is submitting an Affidavit of Support and so is his sister because he has been in college until recently, so in part 1 does he tick (a) "I am the petitioner... filing on behalf of my relative" or (e)?? And does his sister fill out the 864a even though she lives elsewhere? (not sure what they mean by 'household')

I'm not sure about this so I'll let someone else answer

- If we decide not to file the AP with this package because it's already really expensive, can I file it a month or so later, when another couple of paychecks means we can afford it?

Actually both the AP & EAD (131 & 765) are free if you file concurrently with your I-485 No need to worry about this cost! The I-485 with all corresponding docs is a total of $1010 whether or not you file the AP and EAD so you might as well file!

Okay, I'll stop asking questions for the moment and see how that round goes. Sorry if these are all really obvious and I'm just slow on the uptake, but I'm one of those extremely neurotic, check-everything-five-times type people.

Thanks!

Em

[hxxrmonkey 0]

Rebecca's answer was good, just adding that my hubby had to have a social to get a bank account, but not to be added to my insurance. Also you can get your social as soon as you arrive on the K-1 (I assume that's what you're on since you're planning your wedding), so you should really have it by now anyway. If you don't, RUN to the SSA to get it. If you wait too long they'll make you wait til you have your green card!

By the way, start building your credit here as soon as you're married. Just get your hubby to add you to a credit card and the utilities. Soon enough you'll get a preapproved credit card offer. Sign up for it! Just check the rates because my hubby got an intro card with really bad rates. He just uses it and pays it off every month so he doesn't have to pay the insane interest.

[EmVee 4]

Rebecca's answer was good, just adding that my hubby had to have a social to get a bank account, but not to be added to my insurance. Also you can get your social as soon as you arrive on the K-1 (I assume that's what you're on since you're planning your wedding), so you should really have it by now anyway. If you don't, RUN to the SSA to get it. If you wait too long they'll make you wait til you have your green card!

By the way, start building your credit here as soon as you're married. Just get your hubby to add you to a credit card and the utilities. Soon enough you'll get a preapproved credit card offer. Sign up for it! Just check the rates because my hubby got an intro card with really bad rates. He just uses it and pays it off every month so he doesn't have to pay the insane interest.

I'm not on a K-1, which is what my worry is. We've just decided to get married, and we saw a lawyer a few days ago to ask her what to do etc, and she said to start merging everything now. Even though our wedding is in 2 weeks. I just don't want to do anything that would cause trouble later on.

But I'll see what they'll allow me to do today, in terms of opening a bank account with him or something.

Thanks for all the info, guys!

P.S. Um, what's a DS-2019??

Edited November 5, 2009 by EmVee

[marie09 5]

Rebecca's answer was good, just adding that my hubby had to have a social to get a bank account, but not to be added to my insurance. Also you can get your social as soon as you arrive on the K-1 (I assume that's what you're on since you're planning your wedding), so you should really have it by now anyway. If you don't, RUN to the SSA to get it. If you wait too long they'll make you wait til you have your green card!

By the way, start building your credit here as soon as you're married. Just get your hubby to add you to a credit card and the utilities. Soon enough you'll get a preapproved credit card offer. Sign up for it! Just check the rates because my hubby got an intro card with really bad rates. He just uses it and pays it off every month so he doesn't have to pay the insane interest.

I'm not on a K-1, which is what my worry is. We've just decided to get married, and we saw a lawyer a few days ago to ask her what to do etc, and she said to start merging everything now. Even though our wedding is in 2 weeks. I just don't want to do anything that would cause trouble later on.

But I'll see what they'll allow me to do today, in terms of opening a bank account with him or something.

Thanks for all the info, guys!

P.S. Um, what's a DS-2019??

Hey Emvee,

A DS2019 is a document J1 visa holders have, it accompanies their visa. I think some banks will let you open accounts without a soc - especially banks linked to colleges or in areas where there are a lot of people on work visas... It's probably worth asking around. Especially if they made your husband the main account holder maybe they could add you in addition... It's worth a try... My husband and I filed 10 days after we married - so we didn't have that much stuff...

This what we used:

6 signed affidavits from friends and family - verifying we have a legitimate relationship/marriage

Photos from while we were dating

2 credit cards that my husband added me too (I don't have a credit history but i do have a soc. security number...)

A letter from the bank verifying we'd set up a joint account...

We can show more at the interview, as you guys will be able to too...

Good luck!!!

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

Rebecca's answer was good, just adding that my hubby had to have a social to get a bank account, but not to be added to my insurance. Also you can get your social as soon as you arrive on the K-1 (I assume that's what you're on since you're planning your wedding), so you should really have it by now anyway. If you don't, RUN to the SSA to get it. If you wait too long they'll make you wait til you have your green card!

By the way, start building your credit here as soon as you're married. Just get your hubby to add you to a credit card and the utilities. Soon enough you'll get a preapproved credit card offer. Sign up for it! Just check the rates because my hubby got an intro card with really bad rates. He just uses it and pays it off every month so he doesn't have to pay the insane interest.

I'm not on a K-1, which is what my worry is. We've just decided to get married, and we saw a lawyer a few days ago to ask her what to do etc, and she said to start merging everything now. Even though our wedding is in 2 weeks. I just don't want to do anything that would cause trouble later on.

But I'll see what they'll allow me to do today, in terms of opening a bank account with him or something.

Thanks for all the info, guys!

P.S. Um, what's a DS-2019??

Oops, I forgot to mention DS-2019 is J-1 related and you won't have one unless you're here on a J-1. If you have an alien number you could use that as well. Or it is probably easier to just ask the bank what they can use without a SSN

[EmVee 4]

Okay, new question.

My boyfriend printed off the application for a copy of his birth cert, but the application form says there are two certs he could request;

- Certified Copy

- Certified Informational Copy

For the first he needs a notarized signature and for the second he doesn't. Which one should he request? We have no idea which one is required.

Thank you!

[RebeccaAndPhil 5]

Okay, new question.

My boyfriend printed off the application for a copy of his birth cert, but the application form says there are two certs he could request;

- Certified Copy

- Certified Informational Copy

For the first he needs a notarized signature and for the second he doesn't. Which one should he request? We have no idea which one is required.

Thank you!

I'm not sure what the difference between those are because I think each country does birth certificates differently. However, our immi lawyer told us that my hubby's BC needed both of his parent's names on it (since his 'shortened' version didn't have that, we had to order to 'long' version). Do you know if either of the two you mentioned have your bf's parent's names?