Biometrics puzzler - Does this sound correct???

[Ken y Leidys 20]

At my wife's Biometrics (photo & fingerprinting) session, she was asked for (American) identification with her new surname, and whether or not she had an American identification card. Is this right?

The announcement letter for her biometrics made no mention of this. She does have her new SSN card (as well as our Marriage certificate) with her new married name, but we did not bring either of these.

Should we have prepared to bring more with us for our Biometrics session???

Thanks,

-Ken

[Markieboy 104]

American identification? I've never heard of that.

You do, however, need picture I.D. (e.g. passport, driver's license) My wife presented her foreign (Philippines) passport. This was acceptable I.D.

Aside from picture I.D., you need to bring the appointment letter, and possibly, your marriage certificate.

[alex and astrid 38]

I had my biometrics taken at the Van Nuys office, and i brought with me my Australian Passport, my marriage certificate and my appointment letter. All were taken without question. I have no idea why they would ask you for American ID...in California, that is not easy to get while you don't have a GC or at least a long term visa like an F1.

[Danu 19]

I was asked if I had any ID in my new name as well, but they had no issues taking my marriage cert as getting ID before you get your EAD or GC is almost impossible here. They really should put down for people to bring their marriage certificate if they have changed their name though, as its something a lot of people run into.

Edited April 11, 2010 by Danu

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I was asked if I had any ID in my new name as well, but they had no issues taking my marriage cert as getting ID before you get your EAD or GC is almost impossible here. They really should put down for people to bring their marriage certificate if they have changed their name though, as its something a lot of people run into.

I agree 100%. Leidys changed her name and this reflects on her SSN card. We could have easily submitted another original Marriage certificate just as we did for our AOS paperwork. Thanks,

Ken

[MI.PI 7]

At my wife's Biometrics (photo & fingerprinting) session, she was asked for (American) identification with her new surname, and whether or not she had an American identification card. Is this right?

The announcement letter for her biometrics made no mention of this. She does have her new SSN card (as well as our Marriage certificate) with her new married name, but we did not bring either of these.

Should we have prepared to bring more with us for our Biometrics session???

Thanks,

-Ken

I am not too sure but they might have been referrring to the State ID. I applied for one soon after our wedding and after I had my name changed for my SSN and that's what I always use whenever I am asked for an ID. You may want to try getting her a State ID.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

I am not too sure but they might have been referrring to the State ID. I applied for one soon after our wedding and after I had my name changed for my SSN and that's what I always use whenever I am asked for an ID. You may want to try getting her a State ID.

I will certainly look into seeing if this is possible. That way, we won't have to worry about losing her Colombian ID card or Passport.

[MI.PI 7]

I will certainly look into seeing if this is possible. That way, we won't have to worry about losing her Colombian ID card or Passport.

State ID comes in real handy. I don't have to bring my passport with me everywhere. I just have my state ID with me all the time and present it to any US establishment I go to that requires an ID and they recognize it as a valid ID. They asked for the following when I applied for it:

- Passport

- Marriage Certificate

- SSN

- Proof of residency (i.e. utility bills with my name on it)

This link might help. It gives information on how to apply for a State ID in California.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm

Or you may want to visit a DMV office near your place to inquire about it. Here's a link with a list of DMV offices in California:

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/fo/offices/toc_fo.htm

Hope this helps.

[kweenbee 0]

If you had brought with you her new SSN (with married name) and the marriage certificate, that would have been fine. When I did my biometrics, I didnt have state ID and even SSN was under my maiden name. So I showed them our marriage certificate to show them my new name plus my passport (in my old name) and they were okey with it. Sometimes, it pays to be ready for anything. Our ASC was 2 hrs away from our place so I bring every correspondence I got from USCIS and other important papers everytime we do something immigration related.

[grinchus 11]

American identification? I've never heard of that.

You do, however, need picture I.D. (e.g. passport, driver's license) My wife presented her foreign (Philippines) passport. This was acceptable I.D.

Aside from picture I.D., you need to bring the appointment letter, and possibly, your marriage certificate.

Our biometrics appointment letter said to bring:

1. a photo ID (we are bringing his Italian passport)

2. the appointment letter itself

These are the only two items, listed on the letter itself, that we need to bring. That leads me to believe, at least in our case, that those are the only two items we need to bring. Has anyone been asked to bring a marriage certificate? Or is that perhaps only for applicants who are changing their names? If so, wouldn't that be listed on the appointment letter?

RE the state ID, my husband doesn't have one because it is REALLY confusing as to whether he can get a California drivers' license before he has his green card. There are threads and threads about that topic on VJ and the jury is still out. We decided to wait until he at least had his EAD in hand before even trying!

[kweenbee 0]

Our biometrics appointment letter said to bring:

1. a photo ID (we are bringing his Italian passport)

2. the appointment letter itself

These are the only two items, listed on the letter itself, that we need to bring. That leads me to believe, at least in our case, that those are the only two items we need to bring. Has anyone been asked to bring a marriage certificate? Or is that perhaps only for applicants who are changing their names? If so, wouldn't that be listed on the appointment letter?

RE the state ID, my husband doesn't have one because it is REALLY confusing as to whether he can get a California drivers' license before he has his green card. There are threads and threads about that topic on VJ and the jury is still out. We decided to wait until he at least had his EAD in hand before even trying!

if the applicant changed her name, which would be the same name she would have applied for AOS, then it makes sense to bring an ID showing that name or at least proof that she is the same person in the application since a passport under her maiden name wont show the name in the appointment notice. Hence, bringing a marriage certificate to show the change of name would make sense.

I believe the USCIS has no time to make the distinction for those applicants who changed their name after marriage, thus they use the same form of appointment letters for everyone.

[JSVP08 3]

Our biometrics appointment letter said to bring:

1. a photo ID (we are bringing his Italian passport)

2. the appointment letter itself

These are the only two items, listed on the letter itself, that we need to bring. That leads me to believe, at least in our case, that those are the only two items we need to bring. Has anyone been asked to bring a marriage certificate? Or is that perhaps only for applicants who are changing their names? If so, wouldn't that be listed on the appointment letter?

RE the state ID, my husband doesn't have one because it is REALLY confusing as to whether he can get a California drivers' license before he has his green card. There are threads and threads about that topic on VJ and the jury is still out. We decided to wait until he at least had his EAD in hand before even trying!

in addition, for ladies who now uses their husbands family name (USC), please include your original marriage license...(they dont keep this copy) unless you already have a valid ID with the "new" married name... because when i did my biometrics, the attending officer commented that i was smart to bring my marriage certificate. others, they have to send back home to retrieve their proof of change of name. The passport is fine but its usuallly in the maiden name. hope it helps

[jimnlena 8]

Thanx for this post, It never accured to me to bring marriage certificate!! VJ to the rescue again!!

[JSVP08 3]

in addition, for ladies who now uses their husbands family name (USC), please include your original marriage license...(they dont keep this copy) unless you already have a valid ID with the "new" married name... because when i did my biometrics, the attending officer commented that i was smart to bring my marriage certificate. others, they have to send back home to retrieve their proof of change of name. The passport is fine but its usuallly in the maiden name. hope it helps

i just read about STATE ID..so in addition again, for ladies who uses new married name, make sure your new name matches with your SSN details. Its something we discovered after in queue at DMV for 1.5 hr and to be told to change SSN name first then go back to them. Approved EAD or AP while waiting a pending AOS is good to show proof of residence. hope it helps

[thongd4me 69]

Our biometrics appointment letter said to bring:

1. a photo ID (we are bringing his Italian passport)

2. the appointment letter itself

These are the only two items, listed on the letter itself, that we need to bring. That leads me to believe, at least in our case, that those are the only two items we need to bring. Has anyone been asked to bring a marriage certificate? Or is that perhaps only for applicants who are changing their names? If so, wouldn't that be listed on the appointment letter?

RE the state ID, my husband doesn't have one because it is REALLY confusing as to whether he can get a California drivers' license before he has his green card. There are threads and threads about that topic on VJ and the jury is still out. We decided to wait until he at least had his EAD in hand before even trying!

I think you can drive & be put on spouse's insurance policy before the AOS but

if you do so I think I've heard that the insurance rate will be a lot higher than for

a spouse who is a permanent resident (having obtained a drivers license for the

home state). If you're not a permanent resident you may use your home country

drivers license but I think the insurance rates would be higher. Check with your

insurance company to be sure.