JULY 2015 Filers...

[DreamCatcher77 28]

yeaterday I called to the application support service center and a really nice lady told me that our office was back logged and doing applications of February 28. So I decided to relax since it seemed like we have long ways to go.

And TODAY I got a message that WE ARE SCHEDULED for February 2nd!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

[medicalguy 11]

yeaterday I called to the application support service center and a really nice lady told me that our office was back logged and doing applications of February 28. So I decided to relax since it seemed like we have long ways to go.

And TODAY I got a message that WE ARE SCHEDULED for February 2nd!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

Great! Good luck on your interview!

[KASH2011 382]

yeaterday I called to the application support service center and a really nice lady told me that our office was back logged and doing applications of February 28. So I decided to relax since it seemed like we have long ways to go.

And TODAY I got a message that WE ARE SCHEDULED for February 2nd!

OMG!!!!!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to you!

[DreamCatcher77 28]

Thank you guys!!! We just received a checklist (interview notice) in the mail. One of the things that got me concerned was that it's asking for an original of birth certificate of an applicant. And I don't have it - it's at home with my parents...

Since I was coming in on student visa I was using an international passport with my visa in it and I have my passport from home country.

Because I didn't think I would be getting married and needing the original of birth certificate.

Also because of reasons that I was going to be alone in a foreign country and if that got lost or stolen then I would have all my identities gone and it wold be a sticky mess to get out of.

Anyway, what I am thinking is the following: in order for me to be issued an international passport that got me admitted into US on appropriate visa - appropriate agencies already checked my birth certificate before granting me a travel passport, so we might be ok?

Worst case scenario is me being asked to have that mailed to me and rescheduled... Or maybe we can proceed with interview and bring that in later? I would hope/imagine we won't be straight up denied but you never know.

We have scheduled an info pass prior to the interview to see what our options are.

[medicalguy 11]

Thank you guys!!! We just received a checklist (interview notice) in the mail. One of the things that got me concerned was that it's asking for an original of birth certificate of an applicant. And I don't have it - it's at home with my parents...

Since I was coming in on student visa I was using an international passport with my visa in it and I have my passport from home country.

Because I didn't think I would be getting married and needing the original of birth certificate.

Also because of reasons that I was going to be alone in a foreign country and if that got lost or stolen then I would have all my identities gone and it wold be a sticky mess to get out of.

Anyway, what I am thinking is the following: in order for me to be issued an international passport that got me admitted into US on appropriate visa - appropriate agencies already checked my birth certificate before granting me a travel passport, so we might be ok?

Worst case scenario is me being asked to have that mailed to me and rescheduled... Or maybe we can proceed with interview and bring that in later? I would hope/imagine we won't be straight up denied but you never know.

We have scheduled an info pass prior to the interview to see what our options are.

Can't your parents mail you the original birth certificate before your interview? Also, not sure about your country, but in my country they can issue a Birth certificate copy that is practically another original certificate that you can use for the application.

[DeKi 10]

Thank you guys!!! We just received a checklist (interview notice) in the mail. One of the things that got me concerned was that it's asking for an original of birth certificate of an applicant. And I don't have it - it's at home with my parents...

Since I was coming in on student visa I was using an international passport with my visa in it and I have my passport from home country.

Because I didn't think I would be getting married and needing the original of birth certificate.

Also because of reasons that I was going to be alone in a foreign country and if that got lost or stolen then I would have all my identities gone and it wold be a sticky mess to get out of.

Anyway, what I am thinking is the following: in order for me to be issued an international passport that got me admitted into US on appropriate visa - appropriate agencies already checked my birth certificate before granting me a travel passport, so we might be ok?

Worst case scenario is me being asked to have that mailed to me and rescheduled... Or maybe we can proceed with interview and bring that in later? I would hope/imagine we won't be straight up denied but you never know.

We have scheduled an info pass prior to the interview to see what our options are.

You should try to have your parents mail it to you in advance of the interview. I am surprised you were able to get married without one -- where we live I had to present both mine and my husband's in order to get the marriage license.

Something else to keep in mind is that for immigration purposes you need to present a certified translation copy (see p. 2 on the instructions for I-485 for example). I know there is disagreement among VJ members what that means (whether you have to use a formally certified translator or just write a separate note stating that you certify your own translation), but I understood it to mean the former. So I had my parents get a certified translation in my home country where there are many such businesses and it is not very expensive to get one done especially for such a short document. If I had to do in the US, I wouldn't know where to find such a service, so this seemed easier and worked well for us.

[DreamCatcher77 28]

I have asked my parents to send me one and my mom says it is also "her" document to show that she gave birth to me- this is important since she was re married and for inheritance purposes we will need to prove the connection (she had something mailed to me and it was lost in the last so she is scared to lose it)

In my home country they do not have an electronic database to re-issue a birth certificate, moreover I was born in former USSR- country that doesn't exist anymore... So that would leave me without inheritance potentially since it is literally the only thing showing that she is indeed my mother.

I did have a scanned copy in my e-mail that I used on a website of certified translators rev.com and I had included that scanned original and the certified translation with our case. When I did that, I added "explanation, here is a color scanned copy and my actual document is not with me"

So I thought we would have a RFE if I needed to bring one. But now that it's on a check list..

We were thinking to see if we could walk in for an info pass today as the date we were able to schedule for the first availability is the 12th- way too soon for something to be mailed before Feb.2nd

[babebam 0]

Sending some love to everyone still in the process. We received the green card in the mail and heaved a sigh of relief. Mind you we received it at least a month ago but it got lost in a pile so initially we thought it got lost in shipping. That was an anxiety situation if ever there was one.

Good luck and you can do it!!!!

[DreamCatcher77 28]

Sending some love to everyone still in the process. We received the green card in the mail and heaved a sigh of relief. Mind you we received it at least a month ago but it got lost in a pile so initially we thought it got lost in shipping. That was an anxiety situation if ever there was one.

Good luck and you can do it!!!!

I'm so happy for you that you're done!! Congrats!!!

We went in today and weren't able to get a walk in info pass so we will have to wait untik next week to go in for our scheduled info pass. We were able to find out that they usually work with you and might be able to give me some time to get the document here

[medicalguy 11]

Sending some love to everyone still in the process. We received the green card in the mail and heaved a sigh of relief. Mind you we received it at least a month ago but it got lost in a pile so initially we thought it got lost in shipping. That was an anxiety situation if ever there was one.

Good luck and you can do it!!!!

Congratulations!!! Glad you guys didn't dump that mail pile!

[KASH2011 382]

Sending some love to everyone still in the process. We received the green card in the mail and heaved a sigh of relief. Mind you we received it at least a month ago but it got lost in a pile so initially we thought it got lost in shipping. That was an anxiety situation if ever there was one.

Good luck and you can do it!!!!

Congrats!

[medicalguy 11]

I have asked my parents to send me one and my mom says it is also "her" document to show that she gave birth to me- this is important since she was re married and for inheritance purposes we will need to prove the connection (she had something mailed to me and it was lost in the last so she is scared to lose it)

In my home country they do not have an electronic database to re-issue a birth certificate, moreover I was born in former USSR- country that doesn't exist anymore... So that would leave me without inheritance potentially since it is literally the only thing showing that she is indeed my mother.

I did have a scanned copy in my e-mail that I used on a website of certified translators rev.com and I had included that scanned original and the certified translation with our case. When I did that, I added "explanation, here is a color scanned copy and my actual document is not with me"

So I thought we would have a RFE if I needed to bring one. But now that it's on a check list..

We were thinking to see if we could walk in for an info pass today as the date we were able to schedule for the first availability is the 12th- way too soon for something to be mailed before Feb.2nd

Good luck on your upcoming interview. How did you resolve the birth certificate issue?

[DreamCatcher77 28]

Good luck on your upcoming interview. How did you resolve the birth certificate issue?

We went in for an infopass on the 12th and they told us that it's not a big of a deal and not to worry yet - we won't be denied on the spot and since I have a certified translation I should be able to use that, and if for whatever reason they need the actual physical copy - they usually work with you and will give me 90 days to bring one in. So by that time we will go on a trip for my husband to meet my parents anyway, so I'll have a chance to grab it!

Thank you for following up on this - very thoughtful of you!

I am actually getting a little nervous as it is getting overwhelming realizing that I need to get all the papers ready and select the best items to bring as well as the order of it, so I will be spending all day today organizing, making sure we have copies of everything etc.

[qwertop22 1]

Just a quick update on my interview result.

Will post a detailed interview experience in separate post.

Our interview lasted about 10 minutes, only standard questions and casual conversation , got approved on a spot , got an update online in two days,

than in a few days got welcome letter and GC arrived today.

Thanks to all VJ community for your help.

If you want to read detailed review , please look my separate post.

Thanks to everyone

[DreamCatcher77 28]

Hey guys! Quick update:

Las Vegas office - scheduled for 8:10 am showed up 15m early, waited about 20 min

Got called in by a very nice officer and it lasted literally 15 min- asked some basic questions: how did we meet if my husband is from Vegas. Asked about our joint apartment we already had 2 leases and we told him we lived together before getting married.

He asked some formal questions off the list like military service, communist participation etc.

Asked about my college education "I see you came in on student visa" and I said yes I graduated and got a job etc.

Asked about any trips taken together - we brought a 500 picture album so I quickly located all the trips to Cali, Colorado etc. and he asked about a few family gatherings to name people in the pictures.

Our file was extremely like EXTREMELY organized - accordion file with each section labeled according to the check list (so like "marriage based evidence" and in that section there would be "plastic inserts" (here is me with a confusing description- it's a plastic separator for a binder but it had 2 sides to insert files so we put pay stubs originals in one side and all the copies on the other side - that way there was no hassle, if he asked for something we just pulled out one tab like joint bank statements, other tab would be joint purchases like gym membership, purchase of bed, etc.

Officer was very friendly and APPROVED us!!!!

Case status updates came as text message 1 hour later.

Green card will take 4 weeks (big busy city)

Sending love and luck to all those waiting, be confident and have faith!

Ps. Please ask if you have any questions because I'm so excited and about to go celebrate with my husband and friends!

Edited February 2, 2016 by DreamCatcher77