Paperless i94 revisited

[linuxpro]

When I heard about the paperless i94, a feeling of "doom" came over me. I knew it could never work. As expected it did not work.

I have a bit of a "sixth sense" about these things. When I "feel" something is about to fail, it usually does. I am one of those people who can say, "the phone is about to ring", just before the phone rings.

I entered the USA on May 10, 2014 with my foreign fiance. We tried to go to get Social Security Number on May 12. They wanted the i94. The officer could not pull up any evidence that she ever entered the USA. We got married on May 13. We went to the Social Security Admin again on May 22. They wanted the i94 still. The officer still could not pull up any evidence that she ever entered the USA.

It is now June 10, and we still cannot retrieve the info.

We have since left the USA. Had we stayed we could do nothing. We would not be able to get a "green card" or change status if we had bothered. 90 days would have passed, and she would have been out of status.

What do I do now? We cannot obtain an i94. Her social security card is in limbo.

All I wanted was the social security number for her. We could have been married anywhere. The reason we went through all that trouble was for our honeymoon in California and to get an SSN.

[linuxpro]

WHOOP, THERE IT IS! WHOOP, THERE IT IS!

I GOT IT, I GOT IT, I GOT IT, I GOT IT!

I typed every possible combination of her name until I got it. She has a three part name, but no first middle, and last. They entered her name all wrong.

Say for example her name was "Mary Quite Contrary". They entered it like this:

Last/Surname: "MaryQuite" with no space.
First Name: "Contrary"

The other users should know to watch for this!

How do I notify the Social Security Admin?

[linuxpro]

If you have ever called a US government agency you know that when you are waiting on hold, the line drops at exactly one hour of waiting. You have to call back.

Anyway, i wait though two cycles today. When i finally reached someone I was told that the i 94 data cannot be changed. So, evidently my wife never entered the USA. I took some other women who has all the same letters in her name, but out of order.

We have a stamp in her passport, a California marriage license, and photographs with geotags.

I recommend that all foreigners demand to see the screen at the POE or ask the officer to read back the i94 data to you. Also never leave the boarding pass in your passport when you hand it to the officer, like my wife did. If the officer enters your name backward, you will regret it.

[rayb]

Linuxpro,

Your situation is not unique, but there are workarounds. I've had about three I-94 experiences similar to what you are experiencing, out of about 30 I-94's I have had to retrieve, so the percentage of mixed info for this process is probably significant. The good news, however, is that its not that big a deal. The entry stamp in the passport is a backup to the I-94, or even travel receipts.

I know that doesn't help you get your wife an SSN, and the clock for her SSN eligibility is ticking, as a DHS match by SSA within 4 weeks of her 90-day expiration will not allow for an SSN to be issued. Her next opportunity will be when she has an interim Work Authorization or Green Card, neither of which you have applied for.

--Ray B

If you have ever called a US government agency you know that when you are waiting on hold, the line drops at exactly one hour of waiting. You have to call back.

Anyway, i wait though two cycles today. When i finally reached someone I was told that the i 94 data cannot be changed. So, evidently my wife never entered the USA. I took some other women who has all the same letters in her name, but out of order.

We have a stamp in her passport, a California marriage license, and photographs with geotags.

I recommend that all foreigners demand to see the screen at the POE or ask the officer to read back the i94 data to you. Also never leave the boarding pass in your passport when you hand it to the officer, like my wife did. If the officer enters your name backward, you will regret it.

[linuxpro]

We applied for a SSN on May 21, or 22. Her visa expires on August 7. That means they must find her i94 by Jul 11?

I spoke to the SSA at the 1-800 number yesterday. The lady I spoke to was unaware of the change in policy so she had to ask a supervisor.

I will call the other number in about three hours. I will also call the CBP contact number in San Francisco.

No big deal? I hope not. I have googled up some stories that are pretty scary.

Thanx

[rayb]

Linux Guy,

What SSA policy change are you referring to? Far as I know, the rule for SSN's for K1 entrants has been the same for several years.

My interpretation of the SSA policy is that the applicant has to be in the U.S. when applying for an SSN, or it can only be released to her while in the U.S. Having said that, if there is anything to my assumption... your chances of success are now minimized.

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but playing Devil's Advocate. I'd like to see your wife get the SSN, but you may have too many strikes against you. The I-94 doesn't accurately reflect her maiden name. She is now out of the country. Of course the latter doesn't have to be told to SSA staff, but are you using a U.S. address for delivery of the SSN?

--Ray B

We applied for a SSN on May 21, or 22. Her visa expires on August 7. That means they must find her i94 by Jul 11?

I spoke to the SSA at the 1-800 number yesterday. The lady I spoke to was unaware of the change in policy so she had to ask a supervisor.

I will call the other number in about three hours. I will also call the CBP contact number in San Francisco.

No big deal? I hope not. I have googled up some stories that are pretty scary.

Thanx

[linuxpro]

I was referring to the present bane in my life that has been raining on my party for months; The paperless i94 policy. It seems almost nobody in the government is aware.

That is the "policy change" I was referring to.

Yes we have a USA address. It is impossible to obtain a K1 without a USA address, and taxable USA income.

I carefully planned out trip so that the SSA would be issued and done before anyone figured out we had left.

Every goal of our trip was accomplished except for the SSN. That last item was brought down by the paperless i94. The border officer mistyping her name was the one thing I had no control over, could not know about, and had no backup plan for.

I had it all planned for. I even had my lucky pen. We rehearsed everything.

[rayb]

Linux Guy,

If you don't succeed in getting an SSN for your babe before her 90-day period is up, you should start thinking about an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number).

--Ray B

I was referring to the present bane in my life that has been raining on my party for months; The paperless i94 policy. It seems almost nobody in the government is aware.

That is the "policy change" I was referring to.

Yes we have a USA address. It is impossible to obtain a K1 without a USA address, and taxable USA income.

I carefully planned out trip so that the SSA would be issued and done before anyone figured out we had left.

Every goal of our trip was accomplished except for the SSN. That last item was brought down by the paperless i94. The border officer mistyping her name was the one thing I had no control over, could not know about, and had no backup plan for.

I had it all planned for. I even had my lucky pen. We rehearsed everything.

[linuxpro]

Linux Guy,

If you don't succeed in getting an SSN for your babe before her 90-day period is up, you should start thinking about an ITIN (Individual Tax Identification Number).

--Ray B

Thanx Ray

I know about the ITIN. The SSN is easier.

If I was there now, I could get her SSN. I have "puppy eyes"!

At least the trip was very fun. We had an awwwwsome time!

[rayb]

So does this mean you are bringing your new wife back into the States with a spousal immigrant visa so that she can get an SSN?
Or are you going to stay out and forego an SSN application by staying out of the U.S.?

What's the plan now?

--Ray B

Thanx Ray

I know about the ITIN. The SSN is easier.

If I was there now, I could get her SSN. I have "puppy eyes"!

At least the trip was very fun. We had an awwwwsome time!

[linuxpro]

So does this mean you are bringing your new wife back into the States with a spousal immigrant visa so that she can get an SSN?
Or are you going to stay out and forego an SSN application by staying out of the U.S.?

What's the plan now?

--Ray B

Haha

I still have places on my todo list that are in the USA. Would like to see the sunrise on Mt Rushmore, etc.

1. Wait out the SSN.
2. If no luck then get ITIN
3. My tour in Singapore is almost done, then I get shipped back to California. I will sign a new contract with permanent employment in Singapore (boss already said yes).
4. Apply for permanent residence in Singapore.
5. Will get her a tourist visa to Canada next year.
6. She will apply for a USA B2 on her own. She will inform the consular that the plan is to visit Seattle, and drive to Vancouver. If they do not approve it then we only visit Vancouver. In 2016 she can show a history of good travel behavior. Some other USA expats have told me that the Singapore Embassy will give a tourist visa to the spouse of a USC if she has a clean history when it comes to overstaying visas.
7. Thinking of getting Canada residency if we are not too old. We have sponsors there. We can then visit the USA anytime, or even get her a green card if she wants to bother.


If there a great job pops up in the USA we will go there, but unless things change drastically, the future looks bleak. The world economy is a house of cards right now. If it falls, I do not want to be in a country with so many guns. The third world will be safer. I will happily run to Burma with her if that happens.

I have been hated by the families of every woman I have ever dated. Why? Christian Western gun-owning families do not like passive Buddhist son-in-laws. They like Passive Buddhist son-in-laws who had vasectomies, and no children, even less. I have never been loved by my "in-laws" in my entire life. I am 48. It is about time. I think I can give up a lot to be with them.

[rayb]

Linux Guy,

So it sounds like your mind is open for opportunity or inspiration.

Well the place where you married (Auburn) natural and inspiring to some, but not a lick of decent employment there for you. IT pros are a dime a dozen in Northern California, and even Silicon Valley is too competitive and insecure as heck for many professionals.

Perhaps the little lady might have some inkling of where she would like to set up her tent.

--Ray B

Haha

I still have places on my todo list that are in the USA. Would like to see the sunrise on Mt Rushmore, etc.

1. Wait out the SSN.
2. If no luck then get ITIN
3. My tour in Singapore is almost done, then I get shipped back to California. I will sign a new contract with permanent employment in Singapore (boss already said yes).
4. Apply for permanent residence in Singapore.
5. Will get her a tourist visa to Canada next year.
6. She will apply for a USA B2 on her own. She will inform the consular that the plan is to visit Seattle, and drive to Vancouver. If they do not approve it then we only visit Vancouver. In 2016 she can show a history of good travel behavior. Some other USA expats have told me that the Singapore Embassy will give a tourist visa to the spouse of a USC if she has a clean history when it comes to overstaying visas.
7. Thinking of getting Canada residency if we are not too old. We have sponsors there. We can then visit the USA anytime, or even get her a green card if she wants to bother.


If there a great job pops up in the USA we will go there, but unless things change drastically, the future looks bleak. The world economy is a house of cards right now. If it falls, I do not want to be in a country with so many guns. The third world will be safer. I will happily run to Burma with her if that happens.

I have been hated by the families of every woman I have ever dated. Why? Christian Western gun-owning families do not like passive Buddhist son-in-laws. They like Passive Buddhist son-in-laws who had vasectomies, and no children, even less. I have never been loved by my "in-laws" in my entire life. I am 48. It is about time. I think I can give up a lot to be with them.

[linuxpro]

Linux Guy,

So it sounds like your mind is open for opportunity or inspiration.

Well the place where you married (Auburn) natural and inspiring to some, but not a lick of decent employment there for you. IT pros are a dime a dozen in Northern California, and even Silicon Valley is too competitive and insecure as heck for many professionals.

Perhaps the little lady might have some inkling of where she would like to set up her tent.

--Ray B

Would love to "pitch a tent" in Auburn, and so would my wife. As you said, the job market is non-extant. That is part of what drove me to Asia. She would like to live in Auburn, but she is very firmly grounded in reality.

I am working on the PTSD. Singapore is peaceful. Everyone is smaller than me. Nobody is disrespectful. In the USA there are too many "triggers" for a man in my situation. I cannot live in the USA, without getting into fist fights. I am getting too old for that.

We put money down on a condo in Yangon, Burma.

[rayb]

Well, in my opinion, all that matters is that you can support your family unit in comfort, and she will always have an option to get to the States (so long as you are married (or up to two years after your demise). In your shoes, I would just continue as you are doing, so long as you can stay legal and make enough income to be comfortable and maybe to put something aside, also.

I live in Sacramento, and worked for the State as a mainframe analyst until retirement a few years ago, so there were no financial problems here. I now spend half time in Half Moon Bay and half in Sacramento, so I see both sides of California: Valley civil servants (State and Federal) and Bay Area IT people. It's tough getting started in the Valley (including Auburn), because there is too much competition for specialized jobs, and just working for the State means testing and waiting for months for entry-level IT jobs.

Then down in Silicon Valley, where I am close to on weekends, it's competitive as hell and the good work is time-limited or on contracts, which expire after a year or two. For anything more generic, all the big companies hire from temp agencies for the first year or two, with no decent benefits or tenure.

Of course, if you remain an expat for a long time in the future, eventually coming back to the States will be very difficult, financially the longer you are out.

I apologize for seeming to be giving career advice, but I gather that you are probably being town between different magnets.

--Ray B

Would love to "pitch a tent" in Auburn, and so would my wife. As you said, the job market is non-extant. That is part of what drove me to Asia. She would like to live in Auburn, but she is very firmly grounded in reality.

I am working on the PTSD. Singapore is peaceful. Everyone is smaller than me. Nobody is disrespectful. In the USA there are too many "triggers" for a man in my situation. I cannot live in the USA, without getting into fist fights. I am getting too old for that.

We put money down on a condo in Yangon, Burma.

[linuxpro]

We spent two days in half-moon bay. It was nice.

Working as an expat can go either way. American companies come across like they hate Americans. If I apply for a USA job from Singapore, perhaps the HR will think they are getting an Asian. I sometimes think my odds are better.

Work is not so competitive in Asia. Also in the USA, you can find kids right out of high school that know more about Linux than I do. That is not the case in Asia. But American companies seem convinced that the situation is reversed.

I was just lucky that I was given a job working with Unix after my tour in Kuwait. Linux was making it debut as the "new Unix".

We will have our condo in Yangon paid in full in early 2016. As soon as Myanmar opens up, that 160k condo will be worth 250k.

We have no debt. It is easy for us to relocate if we want.

Seriously though, will the i94 name problem burn us when we visit later? I happen to believe it is possible for my wife to qualify for a B2 later. It is perfectly believable that she is only interested in shopping! After all, if she planned to stay in the USA she would have when she had a K1. But somehow I think the i94 is a "ghost" looming over us.