Starting AOS

[AFQuaid 18]

Hi All,

We're about ready to start the AOS. I have a SSN and we're married. But I have some questions before we start.

1. I have not yet changed my last name to his reason being medical cover etc had to come first when I entered the US on the K-1. Everything was setup in my maiden name as we weren't married till the 6th Nov. Then other balls needed to start getting rolled and appointments were flying everywhere. So I don't want to confuse the system with throwing the name change out there yet. I'd rather wait till I have everything settled with the non-immigration services to change my name BUT we need to get AOS rolling. Is it safe in your opinion to start the AOS whilst I am still using my maiden name on everything and then change my name somewhere down the road which probably will be when my AOS is still being processed? If it is OK to do this, how do I inform them later on when I DD change my name and will this case delay/problems in processing? OR should I then just wait till AOS is over to change my name.

2. Regarding the Affidavit of Support for AOS.

When we did the K-1 we filed the Affidavit of Support I-134 (my now husband as my sponcer and his mom as co-sponcer). Do we need to now include the AOS Affidavit of Support even though we filled the OTHER with the K-1?

3. We were reading the AOS guide on VJ and I am concerned about the medical part. I had my medical exam at Knightsbridge in London in August. The only thing I have of that now is the chest x-ray. When the guide says Vaccination Supplement is that just one you'd get from your GP to include in the AOS packet or is it a vaccination supplement from knightsbridge I was suppost to get?? I am confused. As I said I only have my chest x-ray from there and of course the visa in my passport. What am I looking for?

Thank you everyone for your help.

Fiona & Andrew

[kim&james 0]

1) change your name on your AOS documents now if you want, you marriage licence allows this, and also it is much harder and a pain in the ### to get your greencard changed.

2) this time around you are going to need the I864 affidavit of support... this one is a bit more involved than your original.

3) if at all possible could you get a copy of your original medical and vaccination sheet from London? If not you do not need another medical but you may need the I693a vaccination supplement done here by the civil surgeons. Have you had all of your vaccinations? if so some people have just enclosed a letter stating that all vaccinations and the medical are current and were included in the consulate packet handed in at the point of entry. This can be dicey.. they may send a RFE they may not...

If you have not had all of your vaccinations then it might pay to check out your local doctors and see on pricing before you book in to the civil surgeon for the supplement. Shop around all the CS in your area, some really try to rip you off.

best of luck

[Itsmeitsmeitsree! 0]

We had an incomplete vaccination supplement. Rather, we thought that it was handed in at the POE, but it was nowhere to be found. So he went to his physician here thinking he would have to get the vaccinations, but they just took some blood and tested for antibodies. He had the antibodies and didn't have to have more vaccinations. We took that proof to the civil surgeon, and then that doctor approved the medical. (didn't have to have the medical, had had it in the last year, just needed the vaccination supplement)

[rebeccajo 14]

Fi, what do you mean you haven't changed your name? I'm assuming you mean you just haven't started using it?

[AFQuaid 18]

Thank you everyone for the advise.

Rebeccajo, to my knowledge I have to go down to Social Security to have my name changed and documented. Which we haven't done as of yet.

Is that right that I can go ahead and use my husbands last name on the AOS application from the start, despite the name change not being documented by SS? I didn't realise you could use it automatically after marriage, Andrew's family tell me it has to be changed and documented by SS.

Thanks for the clarification on the other questions guys. It's more clear now.

Fiona

[lisanne 0]

Thank you everyone for the advise.

Rebeccajo, to my knowledge I have to go down to Social Security to have my name changed and documented. Which we haven't done as of yet.

Is that right that I can go ahead and use my husbands last name on the AOS application from the start, despite the name change not being documented by SS? I didn't realise you could use it automatically after marriage, Andrew's family tell me it has to be changed and documented by SS.

Thanks for the clarification on the other questions guys. It's more clear now.

Fiona

It is true legally you have to change your same with Social Security before you can start using your married name, it's easy to do and you will probably save yourself a lot of headaches later with your greencard. From the date that you file the application with SS and you have the receipt from them you can legally start using your new married name. The card will be sent within a week, but you won't have to wait till it's in your hands. I can't imagine that you would have to worry too much about changing your name with your insurance.

[meauxna 15]

Thank you everyone for the advise.

Rebeccajo, to my knowledge I have to go down to Social Security to have my name changed and documented. Which we haven't done as of yet.

Is that right that I can go ahead and use my husbands last name on the AOS application from the start, despite the name change not being documented by SS? I didn't realise you could use it automatically after marriage, Andrew's family tell me it has to be changed and documented by SS.

Thanks for the clarification on the other questions guys. It's more clear now.

Fiona

Fiona,

Abosolutely yes. The AOS applications are the right place to start your name change; SSA won't even talk to you if your immigration documents don't match your ID.

You are best off getting your AOS underway and keeping your SS card in your maiden name until you have your EAD or Green Card. You can go to SSa and update your name in their records, but they won't issue you a new card with the married name (there may be a caveat there--if your marriage certificate meets certain guidelines like including your parents' names).

SSA questions can be answered by searching for posts from mdyoung. Look for the long boring posts with lots of details and numbers or the word "POMS' in them.

It is true legally you have to change your same with Social Security before you can start using your married name, it's easy to do and you will probably save yourself a lot of headaches later with your greencard. From the date that you file the application with SS and you have the receipt from them you can legally start using your new married name. The card will be sent within a week, but you won't have to wait till it's in your hands. I can't imagine that you would have to worry too much about changing your name with your insurance.

That's not true. A person can use whichever (or both!) names they like without permission. A lot of women kepe their maiden name for professional settings and their married name for social settings.