Place of Last Arrival into the United States?

[Etamkoos 100]

Hi lovely people of VJ!

 

This is my first ever post on here so please be gentle :D.

 

We are currently completing the I-485 (06/26/17) and have been reading the accompanying instructions plus scouring both Google and this website, however, still have a few questions we are hoping some kind souls may be able to help us with:

 

1) If one has a nickname that is used by family but never legally or professionally, should this still be input in the section in Part 1: "Other Names You Have Used Since Birth"?  And if so, what would you put for the family name?  Your maiden or married name?  And if not, would you leave these blank?

 

2) As I am from England, am I right to put 'UK' in Part 1 for both 8 & 9: Country of Birth & Country of Citizenship?  (Silly question I know, I just want to make sure it is all correct).

 

3) As only numbers can be entered for the Alien Registration Number, USCIS Online Account Number and U.S. Social Security Number, if you have none of these would you leave them blank? (as unable to type N/A or NONE in the boxes).

 

3) The main reason I posted this topic - to address this question: In Part 1 - Recent Immigration History - Place of Last Arrival into the United States 20.a. City or Town - My POE was Dublin and this is what is in my passport and on my I-94, however, I landed in LAX.  After this it asks for the state - Do I put Dublin or Los Angeles followed by California?  This is the main one I am unsure of so any help is most welcomed.

 

I promise I tried a good ol' search on here but nothing felt conclusive enough and as it had conflicting information here I am, cap in hand (so to speak)!

 

Thank you in advance :).

 

[jayjayj 571]

1.  Don't put nicknames on the documents - only legally used names.

 

2.  Yes, putting the U.K. is fine.

 

3.  Why don't you have your Alien Registration Number or your Social Security number?

 

4.  Yes, Dublin is your POE.  Dublin is a US Customs and Border Patrol Preclearance facility.  When you processed through that facility, you virtually entered the United States, in the eyes of the U.S. government.  However, I would put LA, California for this item, since that was your last physical arrival in the United States.

[Etamkoos 100]

8 hours ago, jayjayj said:

1.  Don't put nicknames on the documents - only legally used names.

 

2.  Yes, putting the U.K. is fine.

 

3.  Why don't you have your Alien Registration Number or your Social Security number?

 

4.  Yes, Dublin is your POE.  Dublin is a US Customs and Border Patrol Preclearance facility.  When you processed through that facility, you virtually entered the United States, in the eyes of the U.S. government.  However, I would put LA, California for this item, since that was your last physical arrival in the United States.

Thank you for your reply @jayjayj!

 

On the I-485 it does state to put down nicknames, though?

 

I have not been assigned an Alien Registration Number or SSN yet.

 

[Etamkoos 100]

Okay, so no nicknames, got it, cheers .

 

I have a few more questions on Part 1, am I okay to ask them here?  Will anyone see them?  I don't want to upset mods by creating a ton of new threads.

 

In Part 1 24. 'What is your current immigration status (if it has changed since your arrival)? - if I am currently out of status due to it being past my departure date on my I-94, would I leave this blank or put 'out of status'?

 

Thank you for the help!  I am researching first in all the avenues I can think before asking and only posting if the information I find I deem ambiguous.  I appreciate any advice thrown my way :).

[mushroomspore 3,044]

13 hours ago, jayjayj said:

4.  Yes, Dublin is your POE.  Dublin is a US Customs and Border Patrol Preclearance facility.  When you processed through that facility, you virtually entered the United States, in the eyes of the U.S. government.  However, I would put LA, California for this item, since that was your last physical arrival in the United States.

Oh dang I didn't know this!  I put LA, California for this item too but now I'm realizing that Pearson Airport in Toronto is technically a PoE since they have CBP.  Oh well, I'm sure it's not that big of a deal.

[Etamkoos 100]

10 minutes ago, mushroomspore said:

Oh dang I didn't know this!  I put LA, California for this item too but now I'm realizing that Pearson Airport in Toronto is technically a PoE since they have CBP.  Oh well, I'm sure it's not that big of a deal.

Ahh, from @jayjayj's advice in their above post, I think you have done it right.  I am going to put LA, CA as mine as that is where I officially entered the US despite pre-clearance in Dublin.

 

I am so confused as to what I leave blank, where I put 'N/A' and 'NONE' that I am just working through it and then will go back with a fine tooth comb to check and see where things sensibly fit.  There are tons of blanks in the sample form on VJ which I am cross referencing for proper form completion for guidance too and am still having headaches where it isn't relative.  Arg!  .

Edited December 4, 2017 by Etamkoos
grammatical errors and OCD!

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

13 minutes ago, mushroomspore said:

Oh dang I didn't know this!  I put LA, California for this item too but now I'm realizing that Pearson Airport in Toronto is technically a PoE since they have CBP.  Oh well, I'm sure it's not that big of a deal.

I put Toronto as well, because "TOR" was on the entry stamp.

[Etamkoos 100]

Just now, ColoradoBeauty said:

I put Toronto as well, because "TOR" was on the entry stamp.

Okay, now I am wondering whether I should put mine as Dublin instead, however, what did you put in the box underneath it where it follows that up by asking which state you arrived in?  As surely there isn't an applicable option for DBL or TOR?

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

9 minutes ago, Etamkoos said:

Okay, now I am wondering whether I should put mine as Dublin instead, however, what did you put in the box underneath it where it follows that up by asking which state you arrived in?  As surely there isn't an applicable option for DBL or TOR?

I left it blank or might have handwritten N/A for the state.

 

[Etamkoos 100]

Thanks for providing the previous thread.  I read that one before posting my question as it had conflicting responses.  Perhaps I should put DUB/LAX?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

20 hours ago, Etamkoos said:

2) As I am from England, am I right to put 'UK' in Part 1 for both 8 & 9: Country of Birth & Country of Citizenship?  (Silly question I know, I just want to make sure it is all correct).

Let me suggest you write out UNITED KINGDOM because I have read posts where visas or immigration things have come back with Citizenship: Unknown. Somebody on the other end thought UK meant unknown. Kinda dumb, but weird things happen.

[Etamkoos 100]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

Let me suggest you write out UNITED KINGDOM because I have read posts where visas or immigration things have come back with Citizenship: Unknown. Somebody on the other end thought UK meant unknown. Kinda dumb, but weird things happen.

Thank you for the tip, I didn't even think of that!  I will definitely do that!