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tonymasiello

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Posts posted by tonymasiello

  3. Chinese Passport renewal

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Has anyone gone to the Chinese Consulate in NYC to renew a Chinese passport? I'm curious to know if they have a same day service or a return by mail service. Also, how do they handle the passport photos?

     

    My wife told me that the web site states that drop off and pickup must be done in person, and that the passport will ready in five days. That's not realistic for us.

     

    We are probably going to travel to NYC over the summer, so any insights on this would be helpful. Thanks!

  4. Wife Received Her Grades

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    This happened to Quan two years ago when she was taking an ESL class at the local community college. She had been getting A's on everything until there was some kind of team project. I think it was a debate. She had a couple of slackers on her team who did no leg work and they all got a B. She was furious about it for days!

  5. Another Alex interviewthread!!

    in Consulate Process: P-3 ~ Interview

    Posted

    Sorry to bring up an old post...

     

    I was thinking of Alex today, and wondering if there had been any update on him. I remember their interview in GUZ was just after ours. I'm glad to hear that there was substance to GUZs actions, even though I'm sorry that Alex went through everything that he did.

     

    I hope he can come back here some day and tell us the whole story, and I hope he finds his special someone, where ever she might be.

  12. credential evaluation service

    in Links & Resources

    Posted

    Quan is beginning the job search process, and the question has come up about the verification of her education credentials, notably her university diploma and degree. We were advised to submit her documents to a credential evaluation service. This one was recommended;

     

    http://www.cedevaluations.com/

     

    Has anyone used one of these services or had any experience getting a university degree from China evaluated here? I'd be interested in what documentation was submitted, what were the results of the evaluation, and did it have any significance with a potential employer or school. Thanks!

  13. how long to wait for a SNN

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    I found several sites with information that SSN is not required to open a bank account. The actual CIP Federal Regulations are part of the Patriot Act, but the actual legal documents are a bit hard to read. This guide was made for foreign students, but I believe the same laws apply for anyone. It does allow banks to establish their own requirements for identity that MAY be above and beyond the requirements of the law.

     

    http://www.nafsa.org/knowledge_community_n...ense_taxes/bank

     

    Opening a Student Bank Account

     

    Included in this resource is information to provide to students to assist them as the apply for a social security number, an individual taxpayer identification number, and a bank account.

     

     

    Banks’ Customer Identification Programs (CIPs)

    U.S. financial institutions are required to verify the identity of every individual who opens a bank account. In compliance with federal regulations, all banks operating in the United States have established Customer Identification Programs (CIPs) that they are to follow for anyone who seeks to open an account. The following minimal information that the banks must obtain from you before allowing you to open an account are:

     

        * Your name

        * Your date of birth

        * Your street address – no P.O. Box

        * An identification number

     

     

    An identification number can be one or more of the following:

     

        * A taxpayer identification number (see discussion below);

        * passport number and country of issuance;

        * alien identification card number; or

        * number and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard.

     

     

    It is important to remember that banks establish their own CIPs and may ask for additional documentation than is described above because they are ultimately responsible for establishing the identity of their customers.

     

    Documentation to Bring with You

    Documents you should take with you to open your account:

     

        * Your unexpired passport

        * Your I-94 card

        * Your I-20, DS-2019, or I-797 approval notice

        * Any secondary form of identification you may have

        * Form W-8 BEN if you are a student not eligible for a SSN or ITIN

        * Letter from your institutions ISSS office (optional)

     

    To assist you, your institution's ISSS office may provide you with a letter to the bank confirming your status at [your institution] and asking for their assistance in opening your account.

     

     

    Taxpayer Identification Numbers

    Banks are required to report any earnings you receive on interest earned on your account. For this reason they will ask you for a taxpayer identification number such as the Social Security Number (SSN) issued to those who work or the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to those individuals who are not eligible for a Social Security Number. Although the banks would greatly prefer that you already have one of these numbers, you can still open a bank account if you do not have one.

     

    If you are eligible for a Social Security Number, we recommend that you apply for your Social Security Number as soon as possible. You are eligible for a Social Security Number if you are in a work-related nonimmigrant status such as H-1B, TN, R-1, J-1, or if you are an F-1 student approved for curricular practical training, optional practical training or have already secured on-campus employment. If you have already applied for the SSN before you try to open a bank account, you should take a copy of the receipt notice with you. The receipt notice can serve as additional documentation that can help establish your identity. As soon as you receive your SSN, you should inform your bank.

     

    If you are not eligible for a Social Security Number, you should apply for an ITIN and, once it is assigned, inform your bank of this number.

     

    If you are an F-1 student who is not employed, you are not eligible for a Social Security Number. You must apply for an ITIN through the IRS instead.

     

    ITIN application procedures require that you present evidence that you own an interest-bearing bank account. You cannot obtain an ITIN until you can establish that you have opened an account with a bank.

     

    Once you have submitted your ITIN application, it will take the IRS approximately 4 to 6 weeks to assign you a number. If your the bank account does not pay any interest, then you must wait to file for your ITIN when you file your required tax forms in April.

  16. how long to wait for a SNN

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted · Edited by tonymasiello (see edit history)

    She can't do a lot of things without that number. I can't file my taxes 187431[/snapback]
    We got screwed by SSA not issuing Quan a number when we applied during the K1 window, and then got shut out from getting it until we received the GC. They are absolutley the poorest govt office that we've had to deal with through this whole process.

     

    That being said, I was able to get many things done without her having a number. I added her to my bank acct (Bank of America), health/life insurance, and got her in-state tuition for school. For taxes, you can get her a taxpayer id to use in place of SSN for this tax year's return. The biggest obsticle for us not having the number was the inability to pursue a driver's licence/permit/id.

     

    However, once we applied for SSN after the GC arrived, the physical card arrived within a week.

  17. I-864 Affidavit of Support

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    If you can reasonably complete your 2005 return before you need to file, then by all means include it. Otherwise, include your 2002-2004 returns, and have copies of your 2005 return ready for the interview or an RFE. It is certainly reasonable not to have the current year return if your filing the I-485 early in the year.

  19. Help

    in General Visa Discussion & First Steps

    Posted

    My wife followed the requirements for Police records, getting them from all three cities she had resided in, including Guilin. At the interview she was asked for none of them. I'd take your chances with the scheduled interview date. There is a very good chance that this will be a non-issue.

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