USC to visit spouse while I-130 is being processed?

[PleaseDeleteAcct 7]

Hi all,

A little background: I am the USC, my husband lives in England. We married a few weeks ago in the US, he has returned back to England, and I have already filed for i-130 and received NOA-1.

I planned and paid for a trip to visit him in a few weeks (Feb 10th to Feb 20th) in England, and I did this all before we got married.... My plane ticket, passport, and driver's license are all in my maiden name HOWEVER for work reasons and benefits through my job, I have already begun the name change process at the Social Security office and at work. I have not received my new social security card in the mail yet but all my work information has my new name on it....

My questions:

1. In general, is it ok for me to fly to visit my husband while in the cr-1 process? i know it's generally not easy (or not possible) for the beneficiary to visit the US during the process but I am unsure of how it works for the USC to visit them?

2. what documents should i bring, if any, to show them at customs in England that we are married but i do intend to return to the US? (will my return ticket, a letter from my employer stating the date i am expected back to work, and a copy of the NOA-1 notice to show we are in the visa process and are going about things the "right way" sufficient?)

3. will i be ok to fly still since my plane ticket, license and passport are all matching even though my name change process has begun in other sections? will just a copy of marriage certificate be ok for this in case there are questions for some reason about different names on anything else?

Thanks in advance for the help... Sorry if I confused anyone!!

-Jaym

[bobnleth 2]

Hi all,

A little background: I am the USC, my husband lives in England. We married a few weeks ago in the US, he has returned back to England, and I have already filed for i-130 and received NOA-1.

I planned and paid for a trip to visit him in a few weeks (Feb 10th to Feb 20th) in England, and I did this all before we got married.... My plane ticket, passport, and driver's license are all in my maiden name HOWEVER for work reasons and benefits through my job, I have already begun the name change process at the Social Security office and at work. I have not received my new social security card in the mail yet but all my work information has my new name on it....

My questions:

1. In general, is it ok for me to fly to visit my husband while in the cr-1 process? i know it's generally not easy (or not possible) for the beneficiary to visit the US during the process but I am unsure of how it works for the USC to visit them?

2. what documents should i bring, if any, to show them at customs in England that we are married but i do intend to return to the US? (will my return ticket, a letter from my employer stating the date i am expected back to work, and a copy of the NOA-1 notice to show we are in the visa process and are going about things the "right way" sufficient?)

3. will i be ok to fly still since my plane ticket, license and passport are all matching even though my name change process has begun in other sections? will just a copy of marriage certificate be ok for this in case there are questions for some reason about different names on anything else?

Thanks in advance for the help... Sorry if I confused anyone!!

-Jaym

You should only need proof of your name change if your passport has a different name on it. I would take Marriage certificate and some other proof that you are in the process of the name change. As far as you going to England, you will have no problems visiting him. have fun in England

[Ryan H 3,834]

My answers in bold:

1. In general, is it ok for me to fly to visit my husband while in the cr-1 process?

Yes

2. what documents should i bring, if any, to show them at customs in England that we are married but i do intend to return to the US? (will my return ticket, a letter from my employer stating the date i am expected back to work, and a copy of the NOA-1 notice to show we are in the visa process and are going about things the "right way" sufficient?)

Letter from employer showing date you are expected back and return ticket are good. Apartment lease or home title deed are also good examples. The copy of the NOA1 notice may not mean much to foreign border control personnel.

3. will i be ok to fly still since my plane ticket, license and passport are all matching even though my name change process has begun in other sections? will just a copy of marriage certificate be ok for this in case there are questions for some reason about different names on anything else?

If the name on your ticket and the documentation you use to check-in for the flight match, you are good to go.

[PleaseDeleteAcct 7]

Thank you both for your answers, can't wait to go see him!

Glad I should be alright to go there and I'll be sure to bring my marriage certificate just in case, and some info showing I am definitely returning home

Thanks again

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Thank you both for your answers, can't wait to go see him!

Glad I should be alright to go there and I'll be sure to bring my marriage certificate just in case, and some info showing I am definitely returning home

Thanks again

When I visited and UK immigration said "what is the purpose of your trip?" I said "I'm on holiday." You are going on holiday (vacation) aren't you? You don't have to tell your whole life story and the name change saga and shove papers in their face when they ask that standard question.

The airlines, US immigration, and UK immigration will not know anything you have done at the Social Security office. They are interested in your passport and if it matches the ticket. For the record, the UK beneficiary can visit the US during the process. Only a few have difficulty and it's usually because they came too often and stayed too long.

[USArmyWifey 2]

All of the answers here have been given already so i wont repeat what everyone has said.. so i just wanted to say..

i know it's generally not easy (or not possible) for the beneficiary to visit the US during the process

While we were waiting for my NOA2 i spent 3 out of the 5 months in the USA. I planned to go for 2 weeks and then decided when i was there to change my flight and stay as long as i could. Anways..my point is... I had no trouble at all with visiting the US during the process. But i would only recomend your spouse to visit you during the USCIS stage of the process because after that you cant afford to be missing anything that is being sent through!

[~Hot Mama~ 3]

Agreed.. As long as your passport matches your tickets you will be fine. Take a marriage license with you to exlain if necessary. I visited my hubby 3 times while pending and once was in a completely different country for our honeymoon. We had no problems and didnt have to answer any questions on why I was there.