ryna

Where do they store the info from those of us who are natural-born citizens?  You know they collect it anyway but we don't have A-files.  Good old-fashioned FBI dossiers, J. Edgar Hoover style?

On 5/29/2017 at 10:39 AM, BritGirl88 said:

My husband and I are going on a cruise and the travel agent insists that I need to change the name on my passport to match my Green card. Is this true?

Has anyone else travelled with different names on their documents? Experienced any issues?

 

 

International tickets need to be in passport name.  

My wife re-entered the US on her GC under her married name (with foreign passport in maiden name) several times, no marriage license necessary.  

Interestingly enough, although U.S. citizens are now required to present a U.S. passport to re-enter their own country, US Permanent Residents (GC holders) are not even required to have a passport to re-enter.  The GC alone is sufficient.

20 minutes ago, SkruDe said:

I watched his speech last night, keeping an ear out for immigration reform and what he would say about it.  Eventually he talked about wanting to reform "Legal Immigration".  He talked about a merit based system about "Legal Immigration" and about financial capabilities.  But that is it.  Not details, no specifics.  So all we are left with, at least all I am left with after that speech is more questions about what kind of "Legal Immigration" reform he has in mind? 

 

My poor fiance in Colombia is so scared right now.  I try to tell her she has nothing to worry about as we await our NOA2, but now even I don't know what's going to happen.  What kind of reform is coming our way?  I wish more information existed or he spoke a little more about it.  I'm guessing, K1 applicants should be okay, but I dont know.

From what I understand, immediate family visas (spouses, fiancees, parents) shouldn't be affected directly.  The only thing I have heard is that they may possibly be included in the visa quotas (they aren't now) but I don't know if they'd be subject to the quota or just take a spot from someone who is.  

Of course, it's still all speculation at this point and I'd say she should be fine, especially since any change would require Congress to actually do something.

Common sense says you no longer need the EAD, nor the biometrics that go along with it, but the USCIS is sometimes a 'common sense-free' zone.  I would set up an infopass at your local office and discuss with them, but that's just me after a long, error-riddled immigration process for my wife.  You don't want them informing the SSA that you no longer have work authorization because of the abandoned EAD renewal.  Believe it or not, while SSA supposedly has access to USCIS' records and should know about your newly issued GC, even having the physical document (GC, in your case) from USCIS in your hand won't be enough for the SSA to believe you. 

7 hours ago, Leo7777 said:

Yes, it will hold up in court.  LPR's can be denied entry to USA.  Only USA citizens cannot be denied entry, but they can be detained, arrested and taken into custody.

 

Not only is it not a permanent ban on Muslims . . . it is NOT a ban on Muslims.

Do any realize that more Muslims live in Indonesia than any other country?

 

That is NOT what the judge ruled!

The ruling was that persons could not be immediately deported.

They could  still be held and deported later.

 

But, as I understand it . . . despite the hysteria . . . there were only 100-200 people detained, out of 325,000 who entered USA on Saturday . . . and all but 12 of them are now released into USA.

 

I (and probably many here) have been delayed in reaching my destination by several days due to weather, mechanical problems, strikes at airports, etc.  But thousands of people did not turn out to protest my delay.

I was recently delayed on an international trip for 4 days due to weather and no one protested my delay either.  Then again, I wasn't held against my will in an airport basement, unable to communicate with the outside world, for 4 days either.  

My wife passed!!!

Congrats!

Exaggerate much? So much drama on visa journey.

OP, reschedule the appointment. It's well within your rights. People have emergencies, get sick or even die before their interviews.

Call and reschedule ASAP and get confirmation that it'll be rescheduled.

And fire that idiot attorney.

I call them as I see them.

I was poked and prodded less by the Dept of Defense for a low-level clearance I had back in the 80s than I was for my wife's immigration process.

Also, USCIS ruined many travel plans over the 6 years that they had veto power over our lives -- trips that we had to wait for USCIS to get off it's rear and do something to the point that we were never able to go. Kind of the opposite of the original poster's situation - they went and don't want to come back early. We didn't plan ours until USCIS was done and by then it was too late to go or impossible due to job constraints.

Speaking of jobs, and despite my wife's simple, straightforward AOS - no previous marriages for either of us, no kids, nothing sketchy in her background - USCIS decided her AOS would take 8 months to process, during which time I, as a contractor making good money with the freedom to work only when I wanted, was forced by USCIS income requirements to accept a horrible job 6 months into her AOS for the simple sake that USCIS could deny her AOS if I couldn't show current paystubs at the time of the interview. Of course, I went through that nightmare for nothing because I was let go when I asked for the morning off to go to the mandatory AOS interview because it fell during my first 60 days on the job.

It was no loss considering I never wanted that job in the first place but imagine the stress of scrambling for a job that you didn't really want or financially need right away but with AOS hanging over your head, not knowing when USCIS would finally process the AOS, only to find a horrible job then lose it with only days to go before the interview because of the interview itself.

Believe me, there was nothing better than giving USCIS the figurative double bird when I walked out of that building for the last time in July after her naturalization.

I stand by the probation officer analogy with the only difference being the penalty for violation of probation being the deportation of the immigrant spouse instead of jail for the USC.

And my advice to the OP still stands...

Request the rescheduling but be ready to travel back just in case, keeping in mind that the late arriving approval (or denial) letter isn't rare. No news means travel back to the U.S. Another person going through naturalization in our local USCIS office received the admission letter to her naturalization ceremony a day AFTER 'her' ceremony took place and she had to be rescheduled.

Sorry for not updating about this sooner.... My husband's interview was in August, and after a very long day and an intense interview, he was told he passed the test but got a note that no decision could be made at that time. We were both very disappointed of course because even though we knew that was a possibility, we were hoping for an approval right away. We spoke with our lawyer right away, who said there was nothing to do but wait and it may take 2 weeks, 2 months or even longer....

But yesterday we got a text the case had been updated and when we checked the website, we saw this!

Oath Ceremony Notice Was Mailed

We scheduled your oath ceremony for Receipt Number NBC*00000000. We sent a notice with the date, time, and location of your oath ceremony to the address you gave us. Please follow the instructions in the notice. If you do not receive your notice by November 17, 2016, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request a copy of the notice. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

Yahoo!!!! One step closer to being done with USCIS! We are so excited and anxious to know what date the ceremony is! Does anyone know if we call the 1-800 number if they can tell us the date instead of waiting for the notice?

Thanks to all who have shared this journey with us, and for those who are still waiting, keep heart!

Congrats to you, the exact thing happened to me they said I could not be approved because the system was down that does the final background check, but like you I got a text message confirming my oath had been scheduled. The letter came within a few days so not long for you to wait now. Enjoy the Oath Ceremony... I did!!!!!!!

Hi, just wanted to let everyone know I had my oath ceremony on Oct 14 in Brooklyn (225 Cadman Plaza). I had to leave for an international trip the next day (got a same day US passport from Manhattan passport agency after making an afternoon appointment ahead of time) so didn't have time to update the forum until now. Anyway, for those in the future who may find it helpful, here's a detailed summary of my timeline below. Thanks again for everyone's contributions and best of luck to those who are still waiting!

5/5/2011 Green Card Date

2/22/2016 Application Sent via USPS Priority Mail

2/25/2016 Application Delivered

2/26/2016 Pending Credit Card Charge for $680 app Fee

3/1/2016 Credit Card Charged

3/1/2016 I-797C (NOA) letter was sent by USCIS via USPS

3/5/2016 NOA dated 2/26/2016 received

3/8/2016 Biometrics Notification Sent

3/11/2016 Biometrics Appointment Notice Dated 3/5/2016 Received

3/24/2016 Biometrics Appointment

7/5/2016 In Line for Interview

7/5/2016 Interview Scheduled

7/5/2016 Interview Letter dated

7/5/2016 sent

7/8/2016 Interview Letter received

8/10/2016 Citizenship Interview

9/19/2016 Placed in line for oath ceremony

9/21/2016 Oath was Scheduled and Mailed

10/14/2016 Oath Ceremony

Congrats AlmostMex, SalandJay and eighthday!

It's wonderful feeling, isn't it?

So!!!! I just got updated as USC. U should check it too

Congrats!

My wife's was finally updated today - 2 months and 3 days later.

Nothing here yet, either.

I think she's going to go in to the SSA again with her passport and see if they will update it with just that. At least she doesn't need a new card since her's already has her correct name on it and there are no markings on it saying it was issued to an LPR or a USC.

I can't remember what happened with Mrs. T-B.

However, if you go to SSA with U.S. passport in hand, there will be no problems.

Thanks. She may have to do that but she was trying to avoid wasting another half a day at the SSA office. I guess, technically, there's no rush as she already has her number and neither of us is retiring anytime soon.

Has anyone else waited for 6 weeks after updating status with SSA without a response?

Still nothing here, either. She called the SSA today and they claim that they've tried to confirm her USC status with USCIS 3 times but have still received no response. They told her she could come in with her US passport, if she'd like.

Frankly, I think it's stupid that the Department of State can issue a US passport based on the Naturalization certificate but the SSA can't update a person's status (which basically means nothing in everyday life) using the same official document (without separate confirmation from USCIS.)

To piggyback on what other people have said, the U.S. job market is a brutal place. Not getting interviews is a pretty common experience for immigrants and non-immigrants alike, especially if you don't yet have any U.S.-based work experience. And really, fifteen applications means you're only just starting in terms of the average job-seeker.

This is very true! Complete silence is the most common response to job applications here. I've even interviewed, onsite and in person, at several companies that didn't even get back to me with their decision afterwards. Rejection by silent treatment! But it is what it is and, unfortunately, very common in the U.S. these days. It's nothing personal or any reason to get discouraged during your job search. Keep going until you get a "Yes!"

I will absolutely take a job bagging groceries, it is no shame.

Not sure of schedule though as we have 3 kids one is only 2, and hubby works 2pm to 10.30pm

So it must be a morning job and even then the twins who finish school at 4 will be alone for a couple hours. Not sure how getting a late night would work out.

I know I should be filling out more apps but I am under pressure to get a "good job" from my in laws who sponsored me. They also said it must be full time and full benefits. To comply with those specs I sorted those 15 that hit the mark. But it seems a lower end no benefits job will be all I can get

Don't put too much stress on yourself because of what your in-laws say. I'm a lifelong US citizen with a Mechanical Engineering degree and my full-time, salaried engineering job has no benefits, full or otherwise. And, no, I am not a contract employee. It depends on which state you are in but, in some, full-time, professional jobs with benefits are rapidly becoming a thing of the past.

Thanks!

NC arrived today, too, so nothing else to do or wait for!

Nothing yet. She's going to wait, at least, one full month, then go back with her US passport that she just received as proof of citizenship. The lines at our local office are wrap around the building ridiculous, even an hour before they open, so she doesn't want to waste any more time there, if possible.

If you are only worried because you lost and don't have a physical card, it's not a big deal. As long as you know your number (which will not change), you are OK. An employer (or anyone else for that matter - banks, etc.) can not demand to see the physical card for an I-9 as long as you can show them a US Passport, Passport card or combination of state driver's license/ID and your naturalization certificate and can tell them your SSN.

It's frustrating but it seems to be normal these days. Don't stress! It will get updated.

After 5 days of "Post Office Passport Ping Pong", the passport book finally arrived today. Now, just waiting on the return of the NC and done!

Passport book was sent out 1 day before the PP Card was but, so far, is lost in the mail. Passport card arrived yesterday. State Dept said to wait 15 days (from 8/24) and, if not received, call to cancel the passport book.

Has this happened to anyone else? How long did it take after canceling it to get a new one re-issued?

Hmmmm. It seems the Department of State did its part.

The passport card arrived today but I only see one case listed where the passport card arrived before the passport, so I take it that that's not normal.

Priority Mail tracking for the passport book still hasn't changed since last Friday, 8/26 @ 6:30AM (it was mailed on Wed 6/24). It shouldn't take 4 days to go the last 7 miles when it traveled the first 1000 miles within 36 hours. The passport book is starting to sound lost.

Thank you, I get what you are saying but unfortunately in Peru they don't hand out ESTA/VWP so easily. That is why I ask what my fiance needs to obtain that pass. If she applies for ESTA/VWP does she say she is waiting for the paperwork for K-1 to go through and wants to visit me for now? or for my birthday for example in November?

The only times I have seen her is when I have gone to Peru. Other then that we have not tried to get a visitor visa for her because it would be considered fraud from what I have read.

Speaking from personal experience, if she doesn't already have a visitor visa, she won't be issued one. We didn't even bother to try while we waited -- it would have been wasted $$$. It's not fraud to apply for a visitor visa if there is no intent to stay using it but that presumption is almost impossible to overcome and why it most certainly won't be issued. The application $$$ would be a gift to Uncle Sam plus any other money she may be out for travel to the consulate.

Be prepared for all visits to be one-sided until she comes on the K-1. That's just the way it is for some beneficiaries.

If it makes any of you feel any better, my fiancee (now wife) was never able to visit me during our K-1 process but, so as to not be left out of the Customs and Immigration Fun^TM, ICE started giving me, the USC, a hard time upon my return for visiting her too often in her country.

The original update's tracking number supposedly arrived at the main PO facility for Orlando (not at our local PO), which is only 6 or 7 miles away on 8/26 @ 6:30 AM saying 'in transit to destination' and shows no more activity since then (per USPS). As of yet, nothing has been delivered and the status update on DoS's site is still stuck on the second 'Final stages of processing' update with an expected delivery of 8/31. There has been no new USPS tracking number associated with this later update.

It's like they sent a phantom package that disappeared after arriving in Orlando. Also, the first update went from 'final stages' to 'mailed' in one day (8/23 to 8/24). The second 'final stages' has been stuck there since Aug. 24th... It has still been less than 3 weeks and it wasn't expedited but this is all very strange.

Has anyone else seen these seemingly false updates?

SO... I got citizenship. Almost a year ago. I had my SSN card. I was 10 years greencard. Holder. I went to training and lost my SSN stupidly. But i had to update my SSN at that time. So last week. I went to office. Brought my citizenship. Tell them i brought thks and another my ID. Everything seemed so smoothly. All of sudden my officer told me. I gotta wait till. USCIS verify me. And 2 or 3 wks later i gotta call or email back to SSN OFFICE to ask if uscis verify and approve or not. What .. Is that i am panic.

Then gave me letter this

This is to acknowledge that you applied for a SSN on aug 22,2016.

Before we can issue you a social security number card, we must verify the focument(s) you gave us to show your Citizenship with the federal,state,or local office in the united states that issued the documents. This may take up to 4 wks. If that office verifies the authenticity of your documents we will mail you a social security number card. If that office does not verify your documents you are not eligible for a social security number card and we will inform you of this in writing

My officer told me. It prolly your name too. Cause i got two first name. No hypen. Just space. Hopefully my citizenship name wasnt wrong. Hopefully they didnt put my another first name as middle name i still dnt know. Is that common things btw????

My wife is going through the same thing. 4 weeks ago next Tuesday, she updated her status and received the same letter - applied for an SSN (no, not applied for SSN) and it could be up to 4 weeks to verify. Since it is so close to the 4 weeks, she called again yesterday and they said they are still waiting on USCIS.

Don't worry!!! I think it is (unfortunately) completely normal.

USCIS is slow even with other government agencies. They told her that if she had her passport (which should arrive today), it would be faster. I do wonder, however, why one Federal government agency (SSA) puts zero faith and credit in the official documents of another (USCIS) but the Department of State can issue a passport, which the SSA will accept as proof, in far less time using the very same Naturalization Certificate?