January 2018 Filers

[Naes 12,205]

3 hours ago, Deehotstepper said:

@Naes @x_driven_x @Greenbaum  I have a question about name change for the petitioner. i have been thinking of not necessarily changing my name but shortening it, which still means a name change. my question is with the K1 VISA process underway for my fiance, when would be a good point in the process for me to do the change change and not affect the process or cause a hiccup or denial. to add additional info, i am the man in the relationship so when my fiance arrives, she will be changing her last name to whatever my last name will be at the time of when she gets here. so that is why it will be good to know when in this visa process would be best to change my last name, would it be now before before we are approved for NOA2 or when she arrives and before we marry or before we file for AOS or after AOS. 

We are having the same exact thing. my fiancé  (petitioner) is going to change his last name because it’s two last names, and I’ll use that new one. We actually were going to do it earlier so I could just take his last name easily, but we realized changing everything at once during wedding was easiest way to do it all. Because US let’s you change your last name to basically anything when you’re getting married and we are going to use that to our advantage to change name in between wedding and AOS.

[Deehotstepper 230]

28 minutes ago, Naes said:

We are having the same exact thing. my fiancé  (petitioner) is going to change his last name because it’s two last names, and I’ll use that new one. We actually were going to do it earlier so I could just take his last name easily, but we realized changing everything at once during wedding was easiest way to do it all. Because US let’s you change your last name to basically anything when you’re getting married and we are going to use that to our advantage to change name in between wedding and AOS.

Yeah, not sure about you but my fiance and i were going to do a court wedding withing 3 weeks of her arrival to complete the 90 day marriage requirement and then plan on a church wedding atleast 3 to 4 months out. it would be a good idea to file for the AOS as soon as the court wedding certificate is issued so she can have green card in about 6 months. SO would you and your fiance do the name change after your court wedding? 

[Coffelacha 26]

40 minutes ago, Deehotstepper said:

Yeah, not sure about you but my fiance and i were going to do a court wedding withing 3 weeks of her arrival to complete the 90 day marriage requirement and then plan on a church wedding atleast 3 to 4 months out. it would be a good idea to file for the AOS as soon as the court wedding certificate is issued so she can have green card in about 6 months. SO would you and your fiance do the name change after your court wedding? 

it takes around a year now to receive a green card (sometimes faster, sometimes longer), but the average is 1 year...

[SvetlanaKhachatur 56]

8 minutes ago, Coffelacha said:

it takes around a year now to receive a green card (sometimes faster, sometimes longer), but the average is 1 year...

12 months to 23.5 months is what USCIS showing right now  for green cards 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

6 hours ago, Deehotstepper said:

@Naes @x_driven_x @Greenbaum  I have a question about name change for the petitioner. i have been thinking of not necessarily changing my name but shortening it, which still means a name change. my question is with the K1 VISA process underway for my fiance, when would be a good point in the process for me to do the change change and not affect the process or cause a hiccup or denial. to add additional info, i am the man in the relationship so when my fiance arrives, she will be changing her last name to whatever my last name will be at the time of when she gets here. so that is why it will be good to know when in this visa process would be best to change my last name, would it be now before before we are approved for NOA2 or when she arrives and before we marry or before we file for AOS or after AOS. 

First off marriage is the best time and the cheapest to change your name. Then from that day forward you begin to use your "new" name and change all your documents to reflect your new legal name. You don't have to change the passport right away but if you travel you must have your marriage certificate for proof of your name. This can be a hassle, not only doing the paperwork, put traveling so get your passport changed as soon as you get the marriage certificate.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

1 hour ago, Deehotstepper said:

Yeah, not sure about you but my fiance and i were going to do a court wedding withing 3 weeks of her arrival to complete the 90 day marriage requirement and then plan on a church wedding atleast 3 to 4 months out. it would be a good idea to file for the AOS as soon as the court wedding certificate is issued so she can have green card in about 6 months. SO would you and your fiance do the name change after your court wedding? 

Once you are married (court wedding) your MARRIED. So having a church wedding is a waste of time because your married. But, let's say you want to renew your vows with a church wedding/ceremony. No problem there.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

17 hours ago, angusdonald13 said:

Thanks for the help, the trip was booked before the K1 was submitted. Be a real shame to have to cancel it, fingers crossed I don’t have to!

It's a little too soon to make any definitive plans for your interview. You have ONE YEAR to process your visa so it won't hurt anything if you go on your trip and then come back and schedule your interview. Keep in mind that you only get two times to cancel your Embassy interview and then you will have to wait 90 days and pay another interview fee. If the delay lands you outside your visa one year, then you will go to the end of that long, long line that you are now standing in. So make your decision wisely.

[Greenbaum 12,259]

20 hours ago, JayHouser said:

Is it possible for you to expedite at nvc stage? I heard its much easier to do at that stage.

You may want to see if you are even eligible https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria

 

[Greenbaum 12,259]

8 hours ago, kmza89 said:

Thanks for this. It's glad to know that we can make it to our Nov 10 wedding date. Hopefully everything goes smoothly!

Here is how you speed things up and make your processing at USEM go smoothly.

 

I see you are processing in the Philippines for your visa. I just wanted to give you a little help on some items you may or may not be aware of.

 

There is a sub-forum for the Philippines that is dedicated in helping those who have questions specifically for the Philippines. Many of us there have gone through the process and can answer your questions. Ppl that are here in this thread come from many different country's and may or may not have the correct answer for the process for USEM.

 

Also, Hank who is a contributor over in the PI website has put together a step by step website for all the things you will need to do to satisfy your interview at USEM. The information is free to use.

 

Good luck with your journey.

[Naes 12,205]

2 hours ago, Deehotstepper said:

Yeah, not sure about you but my fiance and i were going to do a court wedding withing 3 weeks of her arrival to complete the 90 day marriage requirement and then plan on a church wedding atleast 3 to 4 months out. it would be a good idea to file for the AOS as soon as the court wedding certificate is issued so she can have green card in about 6 months. SO would you and your fiance do the name change after your court wedding? 

Well I am getting married in 3 weeks of my arrival.... so I have no idea what you assumed from what happening with me.

 

We were in the same exact thing because changing male's last name is actually not that common.

 

Anyway, before everything I think you should research on how everything works on terms of name changing.

As @Greenbaum already explained, in US you can change your name for free when getting married, and the name change is legal at that moment. And you won't need extra papers every time to add on all filings or whatever you do from now on to show your name change. As your certificate will also work for that.

Changing name through court beforehand is actually more costly (I believe about 400$ )and takes more time. 

 

So yes, we are doing the name change after our wedding... For many reasons;

cheaper, easier, counts as legal document without extra measures...

 

Either way, Green Card in 6 months is like saying we get noa2 in 3 months for a K1... So I would suggest checking what your local office actually shows for waiting times. Because it goes from 12 months to 25 months or more. AOS takes so long right now, you can actually see many people opening posts about EAD renewal recently. 

 

 

Edited June 13, 2018 by Naes

[Lu25 36]

On 6/8/2018 at 7:04 PM, Snuffles said:

We thought it was a 3-6 month process too! We applied before finding Visa Journey so imagine our shock seeing the times now :/ But we will get there! We had set a date for a wedding and begun planning (we won’t lose money though if we need to change date). Again this was all before VJ. We just thought we were being generous thinking POE by end of Summer so we could do a ceremony early November  if we have to change (likely) I know we will be okay. It will suck. But, this is making us all stronger... as hard as it is, it is making our relationships stronger with our fiance’s. Another week is done and dusted, another week gone so another closer to being with our loved ones. 

My fiancé and I are in the same case! Waiting for NOA2 , we thought that it will take 3 to 6! Now it’s taking too much time. I miss him, he’s working a lot, I’m working a lot too we are not available to take vacation so  we have to wait! But this situation make us more stronger!! We submitted our paperbon January!! On February 14 we received the NOA1 ! So now waiting our NOA2 !! 

What’s going on guys?! 

[calliope8 72]

9 hours ago, Lu25 said:

My fiancé and I are in the same case! Waiting for NOA2 , we thought that it will take 3 to 6! Now it’s taking too much time. I miss him, he’s working a lot, I’m working a lot too we are not available to take vacation so  we have to wait! But this situation make us more stronger!! We submitted our paperbon January!! On February 14 we received the NOA1 ! So now waiting our NOA2 !! 

What’s going on guys?! 

When most Jan filers applied, we were working off of 2016 info since we had no idea how long mid-2017 filers cases were taking yet.  Unfortunately we applied after current administration required greater scrutiny of immigration apps. My fiance quit his job so he could pack up, sell his house & move. If we had known how long things were taking he probably would have waited a few more months as obvs he will have to wait a good few months just to get a work permit once he's here. Hopefully the house will sell quickly.

 

We also don't have money to travel back & forth right now. It sucks for all of us waiting. We already have wedding plans as well since we thought nearly 10 months out was plenty of time. Still hope it is but money has been paid & ppl have made internarional travel plans so some kind of party will be happening!

[Epix 18]

13 hours ago, Coffelacha said:

it takes around a year now to receive a green card (sometimes faster, sometimes longer), but the average is 1 year...

Can you be employed during that period of time while waiting for green card? 

[calliope8 72]

1 hour ago, Epix said:

Can you be employed during that period of time while waiting for green card? 

Yes. You can apply for employment authorization along with your Adjustment of Status after getting married. You can actually apply for employment authorization under the K1 visa but (as I understand it), it would expire wt the visa & takes 45-90 days (or longer under current processing circumstances) so there's almost no point in applying for it under K1 since it's only good for 90 days to begin with. 

[Lu25 36]

On ‎6‎/‎4‎/‎2018 at 11:33 AM, LuFlolady said:

That is all we can do is remain positive! they will get to January one way or the other..... I dont like much negativity!!!! It annoys me LOL

Guys, I feel in the same way than you!! my fiancé and I are still waiting for NOA2... we submitted our paperwork on Jan... so I have faith that will be get the approval soon!!