EatBulaga

For someone with "zero plans to live or retire in the Philippines", looks like you are making plans already? For CR1 and K1 paths, you do have to disclose criminal history at some point like on the I-485. And if your intent is to have multiple petitions, USCIS will find them. Sounds like you are advocating illegal means which are not recommended on Visajourney? I see no benefits to the US citizen for not having an ROM if your intent is a bona fide marriage. If your intent is not a bona fide marriage, then you might find more loopholes having an undocumented cross the Mexican border and seek asylum?

One option when not having the ROM is the Philippines spouse can always go back to the Philippines and re-marry easily since she is still single in the Philippines. It's up to the US citizens to determine if that is favorable or not for unforeseen cases like if one gets incapacitated, what keeps her from draining your savings and moving back to the Philippines to start a new life? Then again if this is a far-fetched scenario not worth considering, then no need to continue with this thread?

@DELTAFOXTROT Yes, Philippines passport renewal to marriage name requires the Report Of Marriage. https://philippineembassy-dc.org/e-passport-renewal/ See the Additional Requirement for Change of Family Name. Assuming for a moment that she got her US Citizenship, but her Philippines passport is still in her maiden name, she still needs to repatriate with the Philippines Embassy for dual citizenship. https://philippineembassy-dc.org/e-passport-renewal/ See the Additional Requirements for Dual Citizens. At the time of repatriation for dual citizenship, why would she want to claim her maiden name (with no the ROM) and not her marriage name (with ROM) if only to re-marry later in the Philippines? One reason I can think of for the ROM is for claiming inheritance in case of a Philippines citizen's death. The foreign spouse with ROM can claim inherited properties in the Philippines, but can not buy properties. And foreigners can not inherit Philippines property from foreigners. Also, the children can claim the legitimacy of the parents in the Report of Birth with the parent's ROM. For example, a foreigner married a Philippines citizen. Philippines citizen died and the foreigner inherited the Philippines property. The foreigner died and the non-Philippines or illegitimate children can not claim inheritance of the foreigner's Philippines property. However, the Philippines legitimate children can claim the inheritance of the Philippines property from the deceased foreigner parent. This was what someone told me before so this is second-hand interpretation. Someone who is more knowledgeable about Philippines laws may want to fact check me?

@top_secret @OldUser So we have an update and a question for all who are knowledgeable about passport renewal and name change. The update is that my Filipina spouse received her renewed Philippines passport with her marriage name in the mail. But she is still waiting for the Philippines voter registration. So we are several months away from filing the I-751 for the AOS Green Card. I noticed that the I-485 has a field for the passport number, but the I-751 does not. The question is do we need to update with USCIS her new Philippines passport number before we file for the I-751? Or how do we even update that information with USCIS? Or do we not need to update the passport number with USCIS? Thanks

Yes. You need an SSA account to set up an appointment to your local SS office. https://blog.ssa.gov/save-your-place-in-line-with-mobile-check-in-express/

https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf Parents SSNs are just identifiers for your application. Yes write them in if you know your parents' SSNs. Yes put your mother's name at her birth. Yes if you have a certificate of naturalization, then you select US Citizen. Yes, best to set up an appointment with the SSO. Depends on the specific SSO if they allow walk-ins. Best to bring your naturalization certificate, ID and old SSC and explain that you want to remove the DHS restriction or to update your status to US Citizen.

Thanks to @top_secret @RufusDawes for the tips above, we went to the Consular Outreach here in Atlanta to update my Filipina spouse's passport name change. We met many fine folks who drove in from all around the southeast just for this outreach. Here are some things that might interest others who may need to do the same. 1) In addition to organizing all the required documents for a passport renewal name change, https://philippineembassy-dc.org/e-passport-renewal/ registering and scheduling is highly recommended and the spots get filled up fast. https://www.passport.gov.ph/ Even though the outreach site says walk-ins for passport renewals are welcome, we met a couple from out-of-state without an appointment and they told them to wait till the end of the day to see if the spots become available. 2) For the "Original or notarized copy of proof that the applicant is still a Filipino and one (1) photocopy. Such proof may be, but not limited to, a green card, visa, notice of action, work permit, or dual IC.", we made 2 photocopies of the green card (front and back), and wrote on top "This is a copy of the actual I-551, Permanent Resident Card" and signed and notarized at a UPS office for $10. Also, took the actual green card for the passport officer to verify as well. 3) The consulate officer will try to push the Philippines voter registration as part of the passport renewal. Technically, that is separate and not required. But bureaucratically, just go along with it because the passport will already take 6-8 weeks. The last thing you want is to piss the officer off to where your passport application goes to the bottom of the pile or lost. The passport officer probably gets more credit for more voter sign-ups. This was what another Filipino told my spouse while waiting in line so she went ahead and registered to vote for the Philippines as well. Plus, the voter registration provides a 2nd valid Philippines ID name change along with the passport. For those who have ever tried to name change in the Philippines, having 2 IDs already makes the next ID change easier. Has anyone else ever experienced this? Or can verify? Or have other recommendations? Thanks.

@Hughughug333 Absolutely ask your husband to use a computer to sign up and learn some online courses. If you don't have a driver's license, study for the written exam. Study Khan Academy's Personal Finance and Financial Literacy courses. You need to understand the US tipping culture, taxes, Social Security, etc. Take this time to learn a skill. Also, try some coupon or cash back, gift cards apps like Ibotta, Fetch, etc., but make sure you don't get more than 600, otherwise, you have to give your SSN and then it becomes work income, which you can not have while AOS. Think of this as a career hiatus that many would love to have.

I don't think @Gabriela Gaghana registered a name change on the Texas Marriage Certificate registering the married name same as the maiden name? If that is the case, they should fill out the I-485 with the same name as what is on the Texas Marriage Certificate to avoid any name confusion later? As @OldUser recommended, to use whatever name is on the Texas Marriage Certificate and do the name change at N-400 may be less confusing?

@hplusj Ask the physician for a copy of the DS-3025, even if you have to pay extra for a copy. When we did the I-693 medical, we provided the copy to the US Civil Surgeon, which she used to determine what else is needed. There is no rule that you have to have a copy of DS-3025, but it certainly doesn't hurt to have a copy included in the I-485 and in our case for the I-693 medical later on.

If you know your case numbers, go to My Account->Add a case to your account. If you do not know your case numbers, you may have to wait for the NOA letters in the mail.

In one of the forms, we had to mark "Yes" to something similar to #25, and mentioned in the additional information about a dozen traffic and parking tickets over a period of 20+ years, many of which were cleared with defensive driving courses. We were never questioned about them. Sometimes just listing any citations however trivial give the reviewer some sense of truthfulness/credibility to the rest of your answers like from 25-86, of which we don't know what access they may have.

It's up to you how to organize your response and how much you need to explain to be truthful. You may be surprised at how much information the DHS/USCIS/CBP/etc. can access. The interviewer may ask you something they may already know just to see if you will answer correctly?

I would not lie, especially to immigration agents. You never know if they can ask you something that they already know the answer to just to see if you are being truthful.

Have you login to your USCIS account to see which Notice of Action's were sent?

Answer 25 and 26 truthfully, and include explanations in Part 14, Additional Information.

Hello all, I just want to verify for the I-751: https://www.visajourney.com/guides/removing-conditions-permanent-residency/ 1) No passport photos ? 2) No Biometric fee (just 750 total) ? https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055?form=i-751 Thanks much!

A Global Entry is a valid picture ID. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/eligibility UK nationals are eligible.

Are you CR1/IR1? Is your question about whether you could have provided more info about your US citizen husband to the CFO interviewer? Sure. Why not? But you have to make sure that the information you provide will help your case. CFO is technically to vet or protect Filipino citizens from human trafficking or abusive relationships. However, I don't think the process is standardized and the experience can vary greatly depending on the specific interviewers, so there is no set rule on what information can help specific cases. The advice that was provided to us was to be firm, and consistent and to not be intimidated by the interviewer. Others are welcome to share their CFO experience?

Is the appeal less than 100? At worst, you can file for a whole new Global Entry application for another 100 or 120 (after 10/24) and use that opportunity to add more information about the package or the delayed filing for the AOS?

Yes. Maybe @Killowatts can also pen in the end date as "PRESENT"?

For Part 1, Item 16.b., if you are still working there, then leave blank. For Part 1, Item 17, you can pen in "G2IT" after printing it out. You have to pen sign anyway.

Eligibility Category for Part 2, Item 27 is ( ) (c) (9) Pending Adjustment of Status under Section 245 of the Act https://www.uscis.gov/eadautoextend https://www.uscis.gov/forms/all-forms/optional-checklist-for-form-i-765-c9-filings

Yes, you can claim her on your taxes with SSN when you file next year, or Married Filing Jointed. Yes, the SSN is permanent for her. Did your spouse do a name change on the marriage certificate? If yes, then she can go back to the SSC now before the I-94 "Admit Until Date" to update the name change. The "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" can be removed after the I-485 approval by going back to the SSC to update with the green card.

For the instructions for I-485, Part 8, Item 25-45, answer truthfully "Yes" to whichever one is closest to your situation like #25 or #26? And can put in Part 14, Additional Information: "____ had ____ minor traffic violations with the home country law enforcement. The minor traffic violations were cited but not charged. I can provide more details if requested at a later date."