Visa Packet BROWN ENVELOPE

[Vann 0]

Hello all. My filipina sweetheart and I were married on January 28th. However, we are overlooking the AOS process and realized there are some documents required from her that we don't have.

The problem is that when she entered her POE they took the brown envelope, opened it, and returned to her her passport, I-94, and X-ray film...nothing more.

My question is--did these people forward the forms in the brown envelope to the proper Immigration people?

Also, the USCIS representative I spoke with over the phone told us that once we mail off the AOS package we will receive a notice from them later on if we need any additional documents to send in.

My question is...did these people screw up and not return to her every necessary document or will these be sent back to us or what? So confused!

Also, the woman told us that as long as we mail in this package within the 90 day period that as long as they receive it my bride will be safe and not deported. However, this woman didn't sound as if she was 100% sure of all of our questions so mine is...is this true? Will she be safe? Her visa expires on April 17th and it will take until next month for me to raise the money for the high filing fee of $1,010. So, should I deliver this through UPS to be faster?

Also...does anyone know where to mail this thing??? LOL! All that I see on many websites is "Chicago Lockbox" but gives no address or anything.

Also...we are required to send in our Marriage Certificate and License? Should we send the originals or will photocopies suffice?

Your help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[Vann 0]

Also, she opted to have her vaccinations done here in America and the woman over the phone mentioned a special surgeon we must go to, however she said we could see them on the website. Does anyone have a link to this list of surgeons? Is there any idea of what the cost is?

Needless to say, my bride and I are quite distressed now.

Are we overworrying? Is this AOS process really as simple as everyone says?

Please help.

[payxibka 10,044]

You are over worrying

[Ngoc-Anh 1]

that is correct that they keep the brown envelope.

The vaccination sheet that they refer to for the aos is that usually your wife should get another DS2050 (I think that is the form) which she can take to a civil surgeon to get it transferred to the required document. Anyhow, not everyone received the DS2050, including me.

What I did for my AOS is that I copied my entire vaccination records booklet (not sure if you got something like that in the Phillipines) and mailed it with the package and I was never asked for anything else, no RFE...

[Vann 0]

You are over worrying

OK, thanks. Do you know any of the answers to the questions I asked? The woman over the phone didn't make it clear and I'd rather hear it from people who lived through this process to talk about it.

Any Immigration Survivors in this process who can help would be appreciated.

[Vann 0]

that is correct that they keep the brown envelope.

The vaccination sheet that they refer to for the aos is that usually your wife should get another DS2050 (I think that is the form) which she can take to a civil surgeon to get it transferred to the required document. Anyhow, not everyone received the DS2050, including me.

What I did for my AOS is that I copied my entire vaccination records booklet (not sure if you got something like that in the Phillipines) and mailed it with the package and I was never asked for anything else, no RFE...

My wife received a vaccination form from St. Lukes in the Philippines and she decided to get the vaccines here in America. So, they put that request on her form and handed it to her but the US customs on the POE took the form along with the brown envelope and never returned the form. Are they supposed to do this?

Can we simply visit one of these surgeons and ask them what she needs?

This is all very strenuous and my wife and I are having headaches.

[jessel chris 0]

during my POE the personnel received my brown envelope told me that they will send my documents to which immigration that my state belongs to and no need to worry about it.. he also said that just to remind you, you have 90 days to get married...

I'm not too sure if im right or wrong but what I've heard from some people that you have until 1 year to file your AOS the important thing is to get married within 90 days and your fiancee will not be deported... CORRECT ME if I'm wrong...

[Kez/JWolf 6]

You are over worrying

OK, thanks. Do you know any of the answers to the questions I asked? The woman over the phone didn't make it clear and I'd rather hear it from people who lived through this process to talk about it.

Any Immigration Survivors in this process who can help would be appreciated.

The POE send all the contents of the brown envelope to USCIS and it becomes part of her immigration file.....

You have to get married within the 90 days.... you do not have to file for AOS within the 90 days, many many people wait a few weeks longer or even a few months longer.... she will not get deported...

She will need to get her vaccinations done... this can be done at a local health clinic (cheaper than at the civil surgeons) make sure you get a record of all the vaccinations she has done... take this at a local civil surgoen and he will complete the I-613a that you need to send with the AOS packet....

You can find a list of civil surgeons on the USCIS website look under civil surgeon locator....

Yes the whole AOS packet goes to the Chicago Lockbox.... the address is on the information page of the application form....

Hope this helps

Kez

[David-and-Mae 15]

Hello all. My filipina sweetheart and I were married on January 28th. However, we are overlooking the AOS process and realized there are some documents required from her that we don't have.

The problem is that when she entered her POE they took the brown envelope, opened it, and returned to her her passport, I-94, and X-ray film...nothing more.

My question is--did these people forward the forms in the brown envelope to the proper Immigration people?

Also, the USCIS representative I spoke with over the phone told us that once we mail off the AOS package we will receive a notice from them later on if we need any additional documents to send in.

My question is...did these people screw up and not return to her every necessary document or will these be sent back to us or what? So confused!

Also, the woman told us that as long as we mail in this package within the 90 day period that as long as they receive it my bride will be safe and not deported. However, this woman didn't sound as if she was 100% sure of all of our questions so mine is...is this true? Will she be safe? Her visa expires on April 17th and it will take until next month for me to raise the money for the high filing fee of $1,010. So, should I deliver this through UPS to be faster?

Also...does anyone know where to mail this thing??? LOL! All that I see on many websites is "Chicago Lockbox" but gives no address or anything.

Also...we are required to send in our Marriage Certificate and License? Should we send the originals or will photocopies suffice?

Your help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

The brown envelope is supposedly to be kept by the Immigration officer at her POE. Don't worry, they didn't screw up on your papers. They will keep it and record it. You will need to get married within 90 days upon her arrival here in US and then afterwards, file for her AOS so she can have her greencard. You really don't have to file for AOS right away as long as you got married within the 90-day period. That will give you enough time to come up with the money for her AOS application. However, without her greencard (or at least EAD), she cannot work and travel outside the country. You might want to at least make her apply for a SS number in case you won't be filing AOS right away because if her I-94 is close to expiring, the SS admin will not assign a number to her until she got her greencard or at least EAD. She can also apply for a state ID at least after 2 weeks of her arrival here (not later or close to expiration of I-94) so she can have a photo ID besides her passport.

Here's where you can mail your AOS:

USCIS Lockbox Addresses:

For United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:

USCIS

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680-4120

For private couriers (non-USPS) deliveries:

USCIS

Attn: FBASI

427 S. LaSalle - 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60605-1029

You will need to include a copy of your marriage certificate along with the AOS packet. I even included a copy of the Marriage License. No need to send originals, copies will suffice. She needs to complete her vaccinations. She should have done it at St. Lukes because you paid for it and also, if she only did that, she will only have to worry about the TD shots, which St. Lukes doesn't have. And that shot can be done for free at your city health dept. Since she didn't have any vaccines from the Philippines, the civil surgeon can do it for her and then record it into I-693a form. The CS will give the completed form sealed in an envelope and never open it. Send it sealed along with the AOS packet. Other's didn't submit that I-693a and most of them received an RFE for it so to save yourself from delays, might as well have it submitted with the packet.

This is all I can help you with. If you have more questions, feel free to ask me.

--Mae

P.S.

fwaguy's right, you are a worrywart

Edited February 11, 2008 by David-Mae Forever

[Minya's wife 24]

Hello all. My filipina sweetheart and I were married on January 28th. However, we are overlooking the AOS process and realized there are some documents required from her that we don't have.

The problem is that when she entered her POE they took the brown envelope, opened it, and returned to her her passport, I-94, and X-ray film...nothing more.

My question is--did these people forward the forms in the brown envelope to the proper Immigration people?

Yes they did, nothing to worry about...according to what you've writte, proper procedure was followed.

Also, the USCIS representative I spoke with over the phone told us that once we mail off the AOS package we will receive a notice from them later on if we need any additional documents to send in.

True, its called a Request for Further Evidence(RFE)....and it will be sent to you only if after you've submitted the AOS papers, they require any further documentation from you.

My question is...did these people screw up and not return to her every necessary document or will these be sent back to us or what? So confused!

Have your ead the guides pertaining to Adjusting Status here on VJ, they should clear up some of your confusion.

Also, the woman told us that as long as we mail in this package within the 90 day period that as long as they receive it my bride will be safe and not deported. However, this woman didn't sound as if she was 100% sure of all of our questions so mine is...is this true? Will she be safe? Her visa expires on April 17th and it will take until next month for me to raise the money for the high filing fee of $1,010.

You need to marry before her visa expires on Apr. 17th.....not necessarily mail the AOS w/in 90 days. The specifications of the K-1 visa (she came on a K-1 visa right?) are that you marry within 90 days of entereing the country. You can choose to wait a little past the 90 days to file for AOS (if you need time to raise the money), your wife will not be deported. She will be what is called "out of status" but it is not a deportable offense because by marrying w/in 90 days you followed the regulation of your visa.

So, should I deliver this through UPS to be faster?

Usually it is recommmended to use US Postal Service, certified/return receipt, and that way you can track your mailing.

Also...does anyone know where to mail this thing??? LOL! All that I see on many websites is "Chicago Lockbox" but gives no address or anything.

Download the I-485 form from USCIS.gov page, and you'll see the proper address for the Chicago Lockbox, which is where you need to mail your AOS papers.

Also...we are required to send in our Marriage Certificate and License? Should we send the originals or will photocopies suffice?

If you have received your marriace certificate back from your country registrar's (after your marriage has been registered, usually takes a few weeks to get this after marriage) then you can copy it, and send it. Do not send the original.

If you haven't received the marriage certificate back from the registrar's office, you should go and get a certified copy from them, and mail that.

Please read the guides, they offer a lot of information to help clear your confusion.

Good luck,

-P