smilingstone

Just posting a quick update for any followers. I still hadn't recieved my SSN card since my appointment on 6th Feb. I called the national 1 800 number for SSA yesterday as it looks like online scheduling is gone (or buried somewhere, it was so easy for me to set up my first appt, but now it's not) and was on hold for over 2 hours before giving up. Yesterday evening, I read some online posts advising others to contact their local office directly to schedule, so I did that this afternoon. I was on hold no more than 15 min and a lovely lady confirmed a number had been generated and gave me my SSN over the phone (reason was I had waited 1 month). She also scheduled an appt for me at that office for in 2 weeks time should my card still not arrive so I can arrange a replacement). Thankfully I can now move forward with the AOS. 😊

Yes, I got approved and we're now married. See my sig for details.

OK, I might call and ask, then just wait it out. Suppose I have no choice! Thank you.

Thanks for super speedy reply! I thought as much on the name stuff. No idea what my SSN is. When I left the SSA interview, I was just given a letter confirming I attended the appointment and that I can expect my card within 14 business days (and it's technically only been 14, not including the day I interviewed or today as it's not even 10am here...) Is this something I could resolve over the phone? Visiting the SSA requires making an appointment and it's also a bit of a drive which involve hubbie taking time off work to take me.

Hey all, We're making a start on my AOS paperwork and I have a couple of questions: 1) Do I need to change my name on my SSN before filing for the AOS? I interviewed at local SSA on 6th Feb and am still waiting on the card. We got married on 16th Feb and I'm a little concerned now because I'm unsure how much longer it will take, and I may also have to factor in the time it takes to change my name on my SSN too. My K1 expiration is 17th April. The AOS forms ask if I have an SSN and, if so, what it is (or if not, if I would like USCIS to provide one). I have read that our marriage cert is all we need to evidence my change of name, but hubbie thinks that the change on my SSN is the real legal name change. Are we safe to move ahead before my SSN arrives and leave that part, or should we wait? Or should I ask USCIS to provide a new SSN with my married name, even though I have already requested one in my maiden name prior to marriage? 2) The forms ask about previous criminal history. I have one arrest dating back 20 years ago for shoplifting. Of course I am selecting YES for the relevant questions. Should I provide copies of my police cert and SAR that I gathered for my original embassy interview, to go alongside a written explanation of the details? This one is a little worrying as I thought I was already determined as eligible after going through vetting at the original embassy interview with this stuff. Thank you!

Hi all, I came across some info on the Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) process, which sounds like an SSN can be provided through USCIS and the AOS process, removing the requirement for a K1 to visit an SSA office pre or post marriage. Has anyone heard of this and knows if it is advisable? Info is: You may not need to visit a Social Security office or Social Security Card center if you apply using the Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), if you are approved for any of these applications through USCIS, and elected to apply for an SSN. USCIS will collect information on behalf of SSA to process the SSN card. [https://www.ssa.gov/ssnumber/ss5doc.htm] Under the Enumeration at Entry (EAE) program, any lawful permanent resident can apply for both an immigrant visa and a Social Security number (SSN) by filing an immigrant visa application (Form DS-230 or DS-260) at a Department of State (DoS) office in their home country. If the visa is granted, DoS transmits the identifying information from the person's visa application to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). [https://www.ssa.gov/faqs/en/questions/KA-10040.html#:~:text=Under the Enumeration at Entry,arrive in the United States.] Thoughts would be appreciated!

It looks like you didn't include any communication transcripts (texts, WhatsApp, etc). It's secondary but it helps. For example, in our petition, we included approx. 12 pages of texts (6 from him, 6 from me) just showing our conversations - none of it even pertained to marriage or plans, just clearly showing that we were in regular consistent communication and talked about all manner of things (food, planned trips, going about our days, etc). We also included a 2 page document that explained how we met (online), when we first met in person and how we both wanted to be together in the US. All in all, our file was 50+ pages.

Yes, that is our next big milestone to reach after marriage

Thanks everyone for your very valuable advice! One of our concerns is that our living situation isn't the most conventional. We live on my fiancé's father's land and don't pay rent/mortgage. We only pay for the utilities, which goes directly to him. There's nothing formal in writing confirming as such, but I'm wondering if a notorized letter from the FIL would help? We're aiming to get the ball rolling on my SSN ASAP, so then we can open a joint account. We'll also be looking at health insurance plans that can detail us both. We'll also be able to do wedding photos. But apart from the aforementioned, I'm struggling to think of anything else we can use to strengthen the request. If anything, I feel like 90 days (although more like 30 days) isn't a lot of time to gather stuff that evidences a married life.

Hi all, Hoping you can advise here. I entered the US on my K1 last week and we'll be planning to get married over the next few weeks. Throughout the whole K1 process I had in my head that we will need further supporting evidence of our relationship/marriage for the AOS process, such as co-mingling finances, opening joint accounts, health insurance, etc. However, now that I'm revisiting guidance on our next steps, there isn't any mention of this. I am wondering if I misread something early on and it just stuck in my mind, and that we actually don't need to provide anything like this. VJs AOS guide doesn't make any mention of it, and nor does any other immigration-based sites. Is this something needed for the potential interview (from what I understand not all people get called for AOS interview)? Can anyone confirm or clarify what we need? A run down of the docs you provided, when filing and/or for interview, would be really helpful. Thank you

Thanks all but we just opted to get me a new phone!

Yeah, I think I have the 4G version, cheaped out as my UK carrier didn't offer 5G in my area anyway. I checked the IMEI and it said no. The hunt continues!

Doesn't look like my phone is compatible with Mint either.

Hi all, I finally made the move over to the US last week and we're starting to look into how to get me up and running with a cellphone that isn't useless beyond extortionate international roaming fees or a wifi connection. My phone is from the UK and my UK sim card is contract-free, I simply pay X p/month and it gives me X GB of data and unlimited calls/texts. Really simple. However, it doesn't look like anything like this exists in the US (if it does, I'm yet to find it). Does anyone have any suggestions for the best route for this? Some providers let you "bring your own device" (BYOD) and switch to them, but it doesn't look like my phone is supported for the ones I've seen (a Samsung Galaxy A15). Hubbie-to-be just suggests a new phone to make it simple but I really don't want that when I haven't even had mine 12 months! Thank you

I wouldn't say that's advisable as they will need to provide their mailing address on the DS-160 anyway. If they use your address, that could result in documentation required for interview being sent to you, resulting in you needing to forward it on to Jamaica... I'm pretty sure it would be more sensible for them to set up a PO box at the nearest post office.

Sounds like you need to have a chat.

Yes, repeat the address as many times as needed (providing a different address is detailed inbetween). As I said, you can go beyond the 5 years if needed. It's better to do that then less than 5.

If you lived at a different address than your family home then you haven't lived in your family home since 2004. You should put your CURRENT address as 20XX - PRESENT. You should then put any previous addresses prior to 20XX - PRESENT. Every different address and different time period should be included as a separate entry, even if the same address is repeated, up to 5 years (although mine went beyond 5 years due to how the years fell). For example; 123 Apple Street 2022 - PRESENT 456 Orange Road 2020 - 2022 123 Apple Street 2018 - 2020 789 Peach Lane 2016 - 2018

From what I recall, you do not need to provide beneficiary education history, only address and employment. If you have worked as a freelancer, this is self employment so you should put the date you started doing that (an estimate if you can't recall an exact date) and when you finished (in the first box used for current employment if it is still ongoing).

You haven't even talked and are querying visa processes? What if the process takes longer than you'd prefer? Would you still be interested or move your view to a country with a shorter time frame? USCIS aren't concerned with outdated and abusive customs. It takes as long as it takes.

My point is that FLR is for people wanting to remain in the UK, but that isn't the case for your partner. You can always request a transfer to your partner's home embassy. I won't comment on what should or shouldn't be said. If needed, he should tell the truth about the situation.

He shouldn't overstay on an expired student visa to wait for the interview, but has a right to stay as ling as the FLR application is submitted before the visa expiry. If its in process when the interview is scheduled, I don't see how that in itself would negatively affect things but I can imagine queries regarding intent to stay in the UK and intent to move to the US.

Refused doesn't mean denied. Denied means denied. This is what happens when you're in AP. It will change to approved once they're happy, and then shortly after that it will change to issued.

We submitted one picture. For my interview I had more pictures taken since the initial filing but I wasn't asked for it. I was approved on the spot. All advice here is valid but ultimately pictures are secondary evidence as the dates cannot be proven (USCIS do not concern themselves with EXIF data). Your primary evidence is passport stamps, boarding passes, travel itineraries, accommodation booked in both names, etc.

Helping with childcare isn't the purpose of a tourist visa. Good luck!