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First name spelled two ways

shshsh

Registered Users (C)
Hello everyone,
my problem is that I was born in Croatia under first name spelled as Maida ( also used in birth cer. and passport) then I moved to different country and my name was changed to Majda as well as passport from that country. I came to USA did my college and grad school and got my SS and driving license also under Majda. My highschool diploma is under Majda name. Now, I won DV under Croatia. Name that I enter was Majda but country is Croatia where my name is smelled as 'i'. I already have lawyer that is helping with DV paper work. I told him that I am worried about my name spelled different. I won 2010 EU CN 29xxx going for AOS so I have to have all my papers ready. I already called Croatian concul and they told me to change my croatian passport. But my problem is birth certificate. Please let me know what you would do in my shoes. TNX
 
Hello everyone,
my problem is that I was born in Croatia under first name spelled as Maida ( also used in birth cer. and passport) then I moved to different country and my name was changed to Majda as well as passport from that country. I came to USA did my college and grad school and got my SS and driving license also under Majda. My highschool diploma is under Majda name. Now, I won DV under Croatia. Name that I enter was Majda but country is Croatia where my name is smelled as 'i'. I already have lawyer that is helping with DV paper work. I told him that I am worried about my name spelled different. I won 2010 EU CN 29xxx going for AOS so I have to have all my papers ready. I already called Croatian concul and they told me to change my croatian passport. But my problem is birth certificate. Please let me know what you would do in my shoes. TNX

If I were you, I just would take all the proof and IMO it isn't so bad...you should write "SS" the next time as "SSN" since "SSN" is official for Social Security Number and SS is what the Nazi's were called back in the days....;).

Many people who have born abroad with names like "van der Poort" are named over here as "VanderPoort" and all of a sudden their last name is starting with a "V" instead of a "P" as it was in Europe.

But again if you already spoke with the Consul, you might be better of following his advise...maybe call again and shear whatanother consul or employee has to say and go from there...
 
If I were you, I just would take all the proof and IMO it isn't so bad...you should write "SS" the next time as "SSN" since "SSN" is official for Social Security Number and SS is what the Nazi's were called back in the days....;).

Many people who have born abroad with names like "van der Poort" are named over here as "VanderPoort" and all of a sudden their last name is starting with a "V" instead of a "P" as it was in Europe.

But again if you already spoke with the Consul, you might be better of following his advise...maybe call again and shear whatanother consul or employee has to say and go from there...

Thank you for input and about SSN :))). I am only worried because my CN is so high EU29xxx. I know that I have to wait until my number is 'current' if I am lucky June-July- aug time. I just have to have all areas covered for interview.*
Tnx again
 
Thank you for input and about SSN :))). I am only worried because my CN is so high EU29xxx. I know that I have to wait until my number is 'current' if I am lucky June-July- aug time. I just have to have all areas covered for interview.*
Tnx again

According to a lawyer...if you have a high case number you might be better off doing CP since the waiting times are less...it also depends from USCIS place to another...you can check AOS times on their website or call them. You don't want to risk getting out of time....:)
 
According to a lawyer...if you have a high case number you might be better off doing CP since the waiting times are less...it also depends from USCIS place to another...you can check AOS times on their website or call them. You don't want to risk getting out of time....:)

I spoke with my lawyer he also said to do CP. But I can't get out of USA for many reasons incluging visa so on. I don't have a choice. BTW, I am in NY. I didn't get about "..you can check AOS times on their website or call them". Please exlain more.
TNX
 
I spoke with my lawyer he also said to do CP. But I can't get out of USA for many reasons incluging visa so on. I don't have a choice. BTW, I am in NY. I didn't get about "..you can check AOS times on their website or call them". Please exlain more.
TNX

Hello shshsh,

There are pros and cons of doing AOS vs CP. The CP is advisable when the case number is high as it is supposed to be faster but it has some risks (you can get stuck abroad for weeks, they can revoke your current visa if they don't approve your case, etc).

The I-485 processing times that appear in the uscis.gov website don't apply for DV cases as DV cases are under the sunset provision (because the cases need to be approved before the end of the Fiscal Year). Besides, there is no choice for DV cases to select from.
 
Thanks for your input. Yes, I know from reading and from talking to different people that CP is better then AOS but I have no choice in this case, have to do AOS. Did anyone had yet experience to interview in NY and AOS for H1b visa?
TNX
 
I spoke with my lawyer he also said to do CP. But I can't get out of USA for many reasons incluging visa so on. I don't have a choice. BTW, I am in NY. I didn't get about "..you can check AOS times on their website or call them". Please exlain more.
TNX

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplay.do


I looked on it yesterday...and today it was so hard to find this website again...

I spoke on behalf of my friend with USCIS and they stated that the 4 months that are showing up for Tampa could vary very much due what kind of AOS change you are doing...I explained DV lottery and the man stated that could be faster than others but it can vary if your papers look okay or not...I'm just repeating what the employee stated. Btw he was very friendly and trying to help out.


NY seems more clear...it says Decm. 14th, 2008, which sounds weird but it seems they made an error and should be 2009...Tampa is stating "4 months"!
 
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Thank you so much for your help. Very kind of you. I think everyone can see how much you are trying to help.
I am still trying to understand everything that you wrote. My lawyer has already submitted my paperwork for AOS about two weeks ago. If you are saying that takes +/- 4 mos that is ok. I have time. I know I will be current hopefully sometime during summer.
TNX again.
 
Thank you so much for your help. Very kind of you. I think everyone can see how much you are trying to help.
I am still trying to understand everything that you wrote. My lawyer has already submitted my paperwork for AOS about two weeks ago. If you are saying that takes +/- 4 mos that is ok. I have time. I know I will be current hopefully sometime during summer.
TNX again.

Hello shshsh,

I think that bentlebee is wrong. The website that he says does show the processing times but those times don't apply to DV cases. Also, from what he states, he might believe that the AOS is processed in the Field Office and that's not correct either. The AOS for DV is processed at the National Benefit Center, once they do most of the steps they send the AOS package to the Field Office for interview and final approval/rejection.

The National Benefit Center does not publish the processing times for DV cases.
 
Thank you i2009. Would you know how long will that take? And was it wrong to send AOS now if I will be 'current' next summer?
TNX
 
Hello shshsh,

I think that bentlebee is wrong. The website that he says does show the processing times but those times don't apply to DV cases. Also, from what he states, he might believe that the AOS is processed in the Field Office and that's not correct either. The AOS for DV is processed at the National Benefit Center, once they do most of the steps they send the AOS package to the Field Office for interview and final approval/rejection.

The National Benefit Center does not publish the processing times for DV cases.

I was 100% right. First you send the package to Chicago and than it goes to the nearest field office. Every field office has their own time frame and this was confirmed by the USCIS employee. The interview is held by the nearest field office or you should request a different one.
The time frame of the 4 months is starting when you have your case number from Chicago (which at that point you can go to the USCIS website and track your case status), but from then it can vary depending on what kind of AOS you are doing...in this case all people are under DV staus which according to this employee might be handled different (regarding the time frame) since their is an end date....

So you are lucky that there is no waiting time in NY:)....you can call USCIS and ask the same question...

You can sent your package to Chicago when your number becomes current but some have done it before...some were fine but others got their package returned....it is a risk you can take or wait to be sure.
 
Thank you i2009. Would you know how long will that take? And was it wrong to send AOS now if I will be 'current' next summer?
TNX

Hello shshsh,

It is hard to say how long it will take. I would say that the average is around 3 months (a rapid conclusion from what I have read); there were few cases that were approved in less than a month. It seems that the offices start to speed up the processes at the end of the Fiscal Year so no visas are wasted.

If you read the forums from previous years you will see that all cases are different. I think that you will be fine if your case becomes current in the summer.

There have been some "heated" discussions about when to send the package to the lockbox. There is a memo (you can find a summary here) that says that you can send your package with 90 days prior to the date that your case will become current. Some people were lucky and some were not.

Good luck!
 
Thank you bentlebee and i2009 for all the info today. I will do some more reading on my own because I am so clueless in this area. I kind of gave all my papers that lawyer wanted to him hopping he will take care all this. :)
TNX
 
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