Dawn there are some practise tests on the dmv site he may find helpful.

wow CONGRATULATIONS ON THE APPROVAL kim and Russell very happy for u both
Gaye good to hear that u arrived safely to USA , hope to u all the happiness in ur new life

Congratulations!!

Thanks!!! We'll have to look that up. I'm sure he'll do fine on the test, but he hates taking tests.

I freaked out about taking the written test, but actually, it wasn't that tough. I read the online DMV handbook through once and passed the test. As for the actual driving test - VERY easy! Tell him to do it soon though because the DL will only be valid until the date on the I-94 and it will have to be renewed once he adjusts status. You have to go in with the NOA1 and pay the renewal fee.

I am freaking out about the written test too, so thank you for saying that it was easy!
You say that the DL is only valid until the I-94 and then we have to renew it when we adjust status. do you mean that we have to renew it once we get the green card, on once we send the paperwork of the adjustment of status? (because that would make a big difference!) I can't remember what I read about it before, but I thought I read that it's when we send the paperwork... I was hoping to get my DL while waiting for AOS/AP/EAD.

You may have to check for the state you are in, I have to wait until I have the new I-94 from uscis.

Darren only has a state ID (we needed it for our bank account); we have already adjusted status, just waiting for the AOS/EAD/AP. Does that mean we can't get his DL until that goes through?

As Saffyre is in Florida too it sounds like you can, In Alabama you cannot take the Drivers tests till you have adjusted status, they require 6 months valid on the visa and I understand that when you adjust status you get a new I-94. Its dissapointing though because I would have liked to be driving when I get the ead. but he ho we all know how this immigration stuff sucks lol.

Hi Dawn, I haven't got the State ID yet - I didnt even know I could get one!
As for the DL, tell Darren to go into DMV with his passport, UK DL, the I-94 and his Noa1 for AOS and he should be able to take the test and get a license for u to 1 year I believe. don't quote me on the dates/times but he should definitely be fine to get a licence. I have mine and I have to take it to be renewed once I get my NOA1.

Hope this helps....

Marco had his AOS approved yesterday!

Congrats!! That is so exciting that you're done with immigration for a while.

Congrats to you both.

Congratulations!!!

Darren and I are still waiting on his AOS/EAD/AP; the AOS was touched today, but no word on the outcome...

Congrats! Glad things are well for you folks.

Has anyone heard from Gaye?

btw.. my man is on his way home!

Great to hear!

I was also wondering what Gaye's been up to...

Just got an RFE! :(They are saying that I don't make enough . I don't have anyone else to sponsor I thought that I made enough !! I did just get a raise right before I sent off the AOS packet. There were two stubs showing that I now make 10$ an hr instead of 9.50 I was just shy of the 125% poverty level, but that was before. Do you think that if I sent recent pay stubs showing the increase and a letter from my manager that would be enough? I am getting another raise in nov as well I am just so upset I don't know what to do if it doesn't work. I work 35 hours a week 10$ an hour equaling 18,200 before taxes, for Paul and I the amount is suposed to be 17,500. If they just put it down that I made $9.50 I make 17,290. JUST under unfortunately. That sucks a lot :S I hope someone can help me out and give me a little info about this. I really hope it will work out if I show them my raise and get a work letter.....
What bad news :'(

Kim - congrats on the approval, Russ will be home with you soon!!!

Nicole - so cool on the AOS!!!

Susie - I would send them anything that has been new since you sent it, particularly if your raise puts you up over the minimum. Good luck!!


Update on us ... we had our ceremonial wedding this past Saturday --- it's all a blur to both of us, you spend all this time planning, and I tell you, the time just disappears, but it was a fabulous time. Once we have some photos up online, I'll share them. On Monday, 9/22 we received a letter for AOS interview ... so we didn't get lucky with a transfer (probably because the raleigh office is new, and they are trying to do all the interviews!) So we have that interview on November 4th.


Hope everyone else is well!!!!

Well, Darren got his EAD/AP, but they are still working on the AOS.

On the sad side, we lost our feline child, Nick, today. I was blessed to have him a part of my life for twelve years, and Darren grew to love him in the short time they had together. He is loved and will be missed.

Sorry if I have not posted in the longest times... the past weeks has been so hectic around here with the kids going to school, the many thousand things that needs to be fixed in the house, working out the re-test for my kids coz they were positive with PDD test which means they are considered to have suspected tb infection even though they only had false positive PDD result because of the BCG vaccine (anti-tb vaccine) they had when they were babies.. still they need to re-evaluated.. we are going back to dept. of health in smithfield this afternoon for the xray reading... last week they had the xray and they also had blood extraction for HIV just for routine check up they said.... we will find out the results today.

and we are getting married on oct. 18, less than 2 weeks.. just a simple exchange of vows in the church with ricky's relatives.. we would have the full wedding ceremony next year coz we don't have enough time nor enough money for a full ceremony this year. Gosh, everything just seems to be spiralling soo fast and I might not be able to really breath well till after the wedding and the filing of AOS.

I am glad almost everybody seems to be moving along fine.

Kim congrats on the visa and the reunion... I am sure you are both still in cloud 9 by now. I am sooo happy for you and Russ.

Nicole congrats on the AOS, hope we get approved just as fast.

Amanda, another congrats for the ceremonial wedding, you are now Mrs Stephen 2x .. waiting for the photos... and good luck in advance for the AOS interview...

Susie, hope everything goes well right after you submit your reply to RFE. I know everything will be ok. You have both come this far, things will work out in the end for the both of you. (((HUGS)))

Dawn, sorry for losing your cat... maybe that will be replaced by a little cutesy Darwn (darrel and dawn) soon. Congrats on the EAD and AP.

Mounia, I hope there would be good news from you soon. Still keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. (((HUGS)))

Hope everybody else is doing fine... miss you all. (((BIGGEST HUG)))

Thanks so much, Gaye...your thoughts and prayers are a comfort to us!

I'm hoping we get a transfer to CSC but it doesn't much matter I wouldn't have thought....

Right now i'll be glad to get my EAD so I can get a job. I don't care what it is, I just need to get out there and meet some people. I love Toby but only having him to talk to all the time is not something i'm used to...

Darren get his AP document yesterday...

I am hearing you Saff... we have not filed AOS yet, maybe next month and though there are still so many things to fix and arrange in the house, I want to go out and work and earn and be able to help out with the finances now.. it is so hard and just thinking of the $2,500++ that we need to give to USCIS for my and my kids AOS and EAD, it is just... hayyy..... well, i just want to be able to help out soon and be able to mingle with other human beings also. I used to live in a city with many people and now, I am here in a town with only 1800 people including cats and dogs... I like it here because Ricky is here but it is still different.




CONGRATS!!!! Next would be AOS approval for you guys!!!!

BIGGEST CONGRATS TO HEROLMOUNIA!!! After 9 loooooong months they finally got approved which means all January filers have been approved finally!


I wish I could post that jumping emoticon and other dancing emoticons but I don't have the link here now, I left it in the Philippines.

Mounia, Just know that all the January filers are very happy for you and Herol.

BIGGEST CONGRATS again!!! God's blessings always.

THANK YOU GAYE FOR ALL THE SUPPORT U HAVE BEEN PROVIDING TO ALL OF US, WE ALL LOVE U
YES IT CERTAINLY WAS LOOOOOONG 9 MONTHS FOR US BUT I THINK IT WAS FOR OUR OWN GOOD THANK GOD BECAUSE I THINK OUR RELATIONSHIP IS MUCH STRONGER NOW , I NEVER SEEN HEROL HAPPY LIKE NOWADAYS HE'S JUMPING lol
NOW WE HAVE ALOT OF WORK TO DO !!! COLLECT THE PROOFS(SKYPE,MSN,YAHOO,GLOBE7,SKYSIPTEL,ICALL, OOVOO) WHAT SCARES ME IS THAT HEROL CAME JUST ONCE TO MOROCCO AND HE STAYED ONLY 5 DAYS, IS THIS A PROBLEM???WE HAVE ONLY 10 PHOTOS TOGETHER BECAUSE BEFORE HE CAME HE ASKED A LAWYER WHO TOLD HIM 2 OR 3 PICS ARE ENOUGH!!!!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH GAYE

Hey everyone .... boy this thread has gotten quiet since we've all moved along ....

Stephen and I are preparing for the AOS interview that is coming up 2 weeks from tomorrow. Otherwise, trying to settle in after the ceremonial wedding, however we are still busy with Youth Soccer and all the other things we are trying to do.

Another bonus though, Stephen went to get his driver's license last week (NC state has strict rules for immigrants and drivers licenses) -- he had to take the written test, sign test, vision test and road test ... but he passed them all. He was ecstatic to finally have a state issued ID!!!

Hope everyone is well and things are progressing as each of you hopes.

Just an update ...

We went to the AOS interview this morning ... 1 hour waiting, 15 minutes in the office, a few questions (how did we meet, how long we had known each other, when did we get married, how is married life?) ... more time spent in silence as he flipped through the original I-129F application and AOS documents we submitted. I saw him stamp it approved. He then asked for a copy of the marriage certificate (they seemed to have lost it in the file). He went to photo copy the marriage certificate and our drivers license. When he left the room I told Stephen to look where the approved stamp was (he was like, oh, WOW!). And that was it. He gave us a document explaining in 2 years we would need to apply to lift the conditions and that in three years Stephen could apply for citizenship. It was much easier than we expected. Should have the GC in 2 weeks.

Hope everyone is well!!

Congratulations Amanda & Stephen!

That is a WOW!!!!! CONGRATS!!! everything has surely moved very fast for the two of you. I just hope our AOS will be just as fast when we file... as of now, we are still saving for the $2,210 (we will most likely skip EAD and just wait for AOS approval before I start working) that we would need for the AOS. It is high because there will be three of us applying.. but I am sure God will make a way since we are also doing our part of the bargain.

Congrats again Amanda and Stephen.

Hello dbears
Why are you going to skip EAD? If you file for the EAD at the same time as the AOS, there is no additional fee, so if it is a money issue, you don't have to skip it.

Thanks a bunch for the heads up Cez, that will be cool if there is no additional fee. I guess I have to be active on VJ again coz I am still totally lost on AOS matters.