APRIL 2020 AOS FILERS

[RCable 75]

Just checked my credit card and I see the AOS Chicago lockbox charge finally! I hope we get the NOA1 soon so we can send off the I-131.

 

And I can’t wait for like 5+ years from now when my husband can get his citizenship and I no longer talk in acronyms 😂

[portorusa 431]

13 hours ago, RCable said:

Just checked my credit card and I see the AOS Chicago lockbox charge finally! I hope we get the NOA1 soon so we can send off the I-131.

 

Congratulations! I am confused as your Timeline says CR1 Consular Processing.

When did you mail your AOS package? From what visa are you adjusting?

[RCable 75]

10 minutes ago, portorusa said:

Congratulations! I am confused as your Timeline says CR1 Consular Processing.

When did you mail your AOS package? From what visa are you adjusting?

I mentioned it previously in the thread, but long story short, we were doing the CR1 route. We sent that application in last June and got DQ on April 8th. But, before COVID-19, Canada had a 4-6 month way from DQ to the Interview being scheduled at the consulate. Now with COVID-19, it will be even longer than that. My husband came down to visit in February for a 5 month visit (Canadians are allowed up to 6 months total a year). He was laid off from work and having trouble finding a job, so a long visit was doable. While he was here, COVID-19 happened and we debated back and forth for weeks over what to do. 

Ultimately, we decided that based on our current situation, the AOS process would be better for us. I have a secure job and can support us. If he went back, we likely wouldn't have been able to see each other until he got his CR1 visa, which could mean 6+ months apart. So we abandoned the CR1 visa. It was NOT an easy decision since we were so far into it. But I'm comfortable with our decision.

I haven't update the timeilne yet for the stupid fear of jinxing us in the process. I was waiting for our NOA1 then I'll update with the new dates. 

Oh, so, to answer your question, my husband is here on a B2 visa technically and we mailed the AOS off April 21st and they received it April 23rd. 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

15 hours ago, YvetteS said:

Great news.

Although I did not walk out with a number in hand, I had a very pleasant experience at the social security office. The lady photocopied all my documents and she said if all goes well I will have my card in the mail in 2-4 weeks. She mentioned that if for any reason they require more documents she will contact me. 

There was no issue getting it issued in my married name either, all I provided was my marriage certificate. 

She also mentioned that the card I will be issued will be a 'not authorised to work' card and that I will have to come back into the office when my EAD is approved. 

I hope you misunderstood and she meant "not authorized for work without work authorization" ( the text can only be removed with the greencard not the EAD ) otherwise she put you in the wrong category. Didn't looked at your profile but because of this thread I'm guessing you're a K1

 

16 hours ago, Dutch_lee said:

Thanks for the concern.

We submitted my AOS package on April 16th and NOA1 text was received on April 22nd. However, we couldn’t add sufficient evidence such as Joint account, Insurance etc to my application due to SSN not available. All we could add as evidence to our marriage was photos & letters written by witnesses. We are hoping those evidences will suffice without an RFE.

 

The only thing needed by the time you send the application is your marriage certificate. The rest is for the interview so you definitely won't get RFE for that. 

[YvetteS 178]

1 hour ago, Letspaintcookies said:

I hope you misunderstood and she meant "not authorized for work without work authorization" ( the text can only be removed with the greencard not the EAD ) otherwise she put you in the wrong category. Didn't looked at your profile but because of this thread I'm guessing you're a K1

 

The only thing needed by the time you send the application is your marriage certificate. The rest is for the interview so you definitely won't get RFE for that. 

The only 2 options on the form that applied to me are:

1. Legal alien not allowed to work &

2. Other

 

I'm on K1 and checked the first one. 🤷‍♀️

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

3 minutes ago, YvetteS said:

The only 2 options on the form that applied to me are:

1. Legal alien not allowed to work &

2. Other

 

I'm on K1 and checked the first one. 🤷‍♀️

A K1 is a legal alien allowed to work.  https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

 

Scroll down to K1

[YvetteS 178]

19 minutes ago, Letspaintcookies said:

A K1 is a legal alien allowed to work.  https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0110211530

 

Scroll down to K1

I'll call them up and see if they can fix it. It's funny coz the lady who interviewed me is the district manager and you would think she would have known that K1falls in that category. Hopefully she can amend it on her end. 

[YvetteS 178]

17 hours ago, PatSquared said:

Your experience was almost identical to my husband’s experience! Very pleasant.

 

He also did not walk out with a number, but the office manager processing him told him that she already sent off a verification request, photocopied his documents, and told him that he should receive the card in 10 business days if all goes well.

 

Did the SSA employee mention the reason why she couldn’t issue your number? In my husband’s case, the manager found him in their system but there was some sort of “mismatch” that prevented her from completing the process, so she had to send his case off for manual verification.

She didn't say anything. I wasn't in the system at all.

[Linnn 108]

I just called our local SSN Office and the guy on the phone told me that I won't be able to get a temporary SSN, not even to get it for health insurance. Which I think is so weird..

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 minute ago, Buma said:

I just called our local SSN Office and the guy on the phone told me that I won't be able to get a temporary SSN, not even to get it for health insurance. Which I think is so weird..

You don't need a SSN to get health insurance.

[Linnn 108]

Just now, Paul & Mary said:

You don't need a SSN to get health insurance.

For some you do and also for the bank.

[Just Paul 4,595]

1 minute ago, Buma said:

For some you do and also for the bank.

Both cases are untrue in that the Federal Government does not require it. 

 

My wife was added to my bank account and credit cards before we filed her I-130.  An institution can ask for it as part of the "Know Your Customer" requirement of the PATRIOT ACT.   It is not a requirement in law.  

 

For medical insurance it is not required in the ACA.  For purchased sole accounts it is upto the insurer, again more of a KYC issue.  As a dependent she didn't need a SSN when I added her to my medical or any other policy.

 

If you had applied for a SSN upon arrival to the US none of this should have been an issue.

[Linnn 108]

1 minute ago, Paul & Mary said:

Both cases are untrue in that the Federal Government does not require it. 

 

My wife was added to my bank account and credit cards before we filed her I-130.  An institution can ask for it as part of the "Know Your Customer" requirement of the PATRIOT ACT.   It is not a requirement in law.  

 

For medical insurance it is not required in the ACA.  For purchased sole accounts it is upto the insurer, again more of a KYC issue.  As a dependent she didn't need a SSN when I added her to my medical or any other policy.

 

If you had applied for a SSN upon arrival to the US none of this should have been an issue.

Our case is probably different than yours and those were the things we were told by all offices. Thank you for the information though!

[ethngd 24]

On 5/11/2020 at 3:48 PM, eabrophy said:

We finally received our texts last night! Our packet was delivered on 4/15, credit card was charged on 5/6. Interestingly, when I enter the receipt numbers online the case history lists 4/15 as the receive date so I'm not sure why there was such a delay with the messages... Waiting on the paper NOA1 to be delivered so I can see what the actual NOA date is that they list.

From what I understand, USCIS may not process applications in order they arrived to the lockbox. But when it comes to the receive date which acts as your position in line, they use the application arrival date, that is to be fair.

[Just Paul 4,595]

9 minutes ago, Buma said:

Our case is probably different than yours and those were the things we were told by all offices. Thank you for the information though!

Social Security Number isn't really an AOS issue as it can be applied for upto 75 days before the 90 day period expires in the unmarried name.

 

I know that United Healthcare and Aetna both allow spouses to be added without a SSN.   Now if your spouses HR department doesn't know how to that is a different issue. You can also go to healthcare.gov and get an exchange (ACA) plan without a SSN as a new immigrant.   You may have to provide proof to the insurer that you have filed for AOS by supplying a copy of the NOA1. I also added her as a beneficiary to numerous insurance policies.  We did not buy any life insurancevon her until she had her green card and social security card.

 

Credit One, American Express, Chase, and US Bank allowed her to be added to credit cards.   Chase, BBVA and my credit union did allow her be added to my checking account.  BBVA and Chase asked for a copy of her passport Fidelity Investments did not since it was tied to an investment account unless she filed a W8. 

 

The only things we really had to wait for her social security card for was her state ID/ drivers license which then meant we had to wait to get her global entry card.