AOS March 2016 filers/Part 2

[PaddyGirl13 75]

1 hour ago, Linyahui said:

Thanks, PaddyGirl13! I feel especially relieve to have your response as you are now a bona fide green card holder and interviewed at our local office.

There is light at the end of the tunnel...

You're welcome. I know it's a pain in the ### to get an RFE but the good thing is they're working on your case for sure and the RFE items are easy for you to sort out, fingers crossed that you are close to the finish line now!!

[sparkles_ 456]

1 hour ago, PaddyGirl13 said:

You're welcome. I know it's a pain in the ### to get an RFE but the good thing is they're working on your case for sure and the RFE items are easy for you to sort out, fingers crossed that you are close to the finish line now!!

This is what I thought as well, much as it is a pain, it means a real human is finally looking at your case file!! The end is nearrrrrrrr

[Linyahui 103]

2 hours ago, PaddyGirl13 said:

You're welcome. I know it's a pain in the ### to get an RFE but the good thing is they're working on your case for sure and the RFE items are easy for you to sort out, fingers crossed that you are close to the finish line now!!

 

1 hour ago, sparkles_ said:

This is what I thought as well, much as it is a pain, it means a real human is finally looking at your case file!! The end is nearrrrrrrr

YAAAAAAAS

[elikhom 7]

On 6/22/2017 at 10:09 PM, Linyahui said:

March family, we need your help and advice!

 

Hubby and I came home tonight to find an RFE from USCIS. WHY we have to get this after we've already been waiting for 15 months is beyond my comprehension, but there you go.

 

Here are the items being requested:

 

- Copy of the government-registered marriage certificate of the petitioner 

- I-693 Medical Certification by a Civil Surgeon

- Supplemental Form I-693 Proof of Immunization for the beneficiary

-Current pay statement for the beneficiary

-Evidence of a share life together with "IRS income tax transcripts for 2016" circled

 

The pay statement is simple enough. I am assuming the medical certification and proof of immunization are being requested because more than a year has passed since my husband had it done in Taiwan (even though we submitted the I-485 well within that one-year timeline, arghhh).

 

Questions:

1. Why is the marriage certificate specific to me? We already submitted an original copy of our marriage certificate with the original I-485 application. Do they want us to submit another original?

2. Can hubby have the medical stuff done when he's back in Taiwan in a couple of weeks (using the same civil surgeon he did for the F-1 visa that is approved by the US Embassy)? If not, can someone point me in the direction of a list of approved civil surgeons for this purpose?

3. Would the summary printout from TurboTax that I got from filing our 2016 taxes be sufficient for the IRS tax transcript, or do they want the bona fide tax transcript? 

 

Expedient answers much appreciated!! We will also be calling USCIS in the morning for clarity. Sigh...

I think this is good news, at least someone is actively taking a look at your case.

 

On the transcripts, those are easy to obtain, you can request a hard copy from the IRS (just google irs transcripts) or get one online from the website, I have always done printouts either from turbotax or from the irs online service for everything (my own GC 10 years ago, my citizenship 5 years ago, my mother's GC and now my wife's) and never had a problem.

 

On my side, we finally got an interview notice last week for late July. After 16 months it was about time.

[Linyahui 103]

16 minutes ago, elikhom said:

I think this is good news, at least someone is actively taking a look at your case.

 

On the transcripts, those are easy to obtain, you can request a hard copy from the IRS (just google irs transcripts) or get one online from the website, I have always done printouts either from turbotax or from the irs online service for everything (my own GC 10 years ago, my citizenship 5 years ago, my mother's GC and now my wife's) and never had a problem.

 

On my side, we finally got an interview notice last week for late July. After 16 months it was about time.

Thanks, elikhom. We think (hope) that the items being requested will be relatively easy to collect. Hubby has his second medical tomorrow and I've requested the IRS tax transcript. Other items we already have.

 

In other news, a BIG CONGRATS for getting your interview notice!! It sure is about time! Gives me hope that we won't be far behind as we're at the 15.5 month mark. How are you preparing and what are you planning to bring to the interview? Do you have a lawyer? We haven't used a lawyer in the process and sometimes I wonder if that would have helped with the long wait. There are lawyers you can retain just for the interview, but not sure it's worth the money. Thoughts?

[sparkles_ 456]

6 minutes ago, Linyahui said:

Thanks, elikhom. We think (hope) that the items being requested will be relatively easy to collect. Hubby has his second medical tomorrow and I've requested the IRS tax transcript. Other items we already have.

 

In other news, a BIG CONGRATS for getting your interview notice!! It sure is about time! Gives me hope that we won't be far behind as we're at the 15.5 month mark. How are you preparing and what are you planning to bring to the interview? Do you have a lawyer? We haven't used a lawyer in the process and sometimes I wonder if that would have helped with the long wait. There are lawyers you can retain just for the interview, but not sure it's worth the money. Thoughts?

Based on your case and what I know from your posts and your timeline....don't bother with a lawyer. Just make sure you get all the paper documents and photos in order before you go....and bring old proof of relationships just in case. As far back as you can go, bring it as a better safe versus sorry type deal.

[Linyahui 103]

2 minutes ago, sparkles_ said:

Based on your case and what I know from your posts and your timeline....don't bother with a lawyer. Just make sure you get all the paper documents and photos in order before you go....and bring old proof of relationships just in case. As far back as you can go, bring it as a better safe versus sorry type deal.

Thanks, Sparkles. I feel the same...I think we should be fine. However, I will most definitely bring our huge binder and continue to add our proof of relationship items as we go! It will be my fun project while hubby is visiting family in Taiwan next month. 

[elikhom 7]

17 hours ago, Linyahui said:

Thanks, elikhom. We think (hope) that the items being requested will be relatively easy to collect. Hubby has his second medical tomorrow and I've requested the IRS tax transcript. Other items we already have.

 

In other news, a BIG CONGRATS for getting your interview notice!! It sure is about time! Gives me hope that we won't be far behind as we're at the 15.5 month mark. How are you preparing and what are you planning to bring to the interview? Do you have a lawyer? We haven't used a lawyer in the process and sometimes I wonder if that would have helped with the long wait. There are lawyers you can retain just for the interview, but not sure it's worth the money. Thoughts?

I'm just making a file with originals and copies of all the documents that they listed in the interview notice. It's basically everything I already sent plus my new tax return and a few new photos of our last vacations and recent bank statements/insurance bills/etc. 

 

Not planning to hire a lawyer, I only hired one the very first time and tbh it's more for peace of mind than anything else, he only did small talk to the uscis officer for a minute and then it was just questions for me/us and that was it, they were all relatively fast. IIRC most of the time was spent by the officer checking his/her computer and files making sure he had all the forms than asking us for documents.

 

Said that, I'm big on peace of mind, I like to feel well prepared so I'd get one for the interview if that will make you feel better.

[Linyahui 103]

On 6/29/2017 at 8:05 AM, elikhom said:

I'm just making a file with originals and copies of all the documents that they listed in the interview notice. It's basically everything I already sent plus my new tax return and a few new photos of our last vacations and recent bank statements/insurance bills/etc. 

 

Not planning to hire a lawyer, I only hired one the very first time and tbh it's more for peace of mind than anything else, he only did small talk to the uscis officer for a minute and then it was just questions for me/us and that was it, they were all relatively fast. IIRC most of the time was spent by the officer checking his/her computer and files making sure he had all the forms than asking us for documents.

 

Said that, I'm big on peace of mind, I like to feel well prepared so I'd get one for the interview if that will make you feel better.

I'm planning to prepare in the same way...my biggest concern would be if they asked to take a document for which I didn't have a copy. I have a complete duplicate binder at home, but wonder if they lose/ask for one of the documents, then I won't have a copy myself. I guess that's why VisaJourney guides recommend making two copies of everything. Poor trees.

 

I don't think we'll hire a lawyer, either. I can't really see the need for one at this point. Our case is so simple (yet taking so long....). 

 

How do you like Houston, Elikhom? There is a big Taiwanese community down there (and warmer weather). We are weighing our options. What's the job market like, especially in education? 

[elikhom 7]

On 6/30/2017 at 10:51 AM, Linyahui said:

I'm planning to prepare in the same way...my biggest concern would be if they asked to take a document for which I didn't have a copy. I have a complete duplicate binder at home, but wonder if they lose/ask for one of the documents, then I won't have a copy myself. I guess that's why VisaJourney guides recommend making two copies of everything. Poor trees.

 

I don't think we'll hire a lawyer, either. I can't really see the need for one at this point. Our case is so simple (yet taking so long....). 

 

How do you like Houston, Elikhom? There is a big Taiwanese community down there (and warmer weather). We are weighing our options. What's the job market like, especially in education? 

Houston is ok, the economy was roaring till mid 2015 until oil prices tumbled, now it's just average. From what I read education and healthcare are still good areas to be in. If you get a good position here it's a good city, home prices are not that expensive and standard of living is good. Weather is awesome if you have a house or live in apartment complex with a pool as it's warm 3/4ths of the year.

 

We will be here probably for another 5 years or so and then move closer to family, mine lives in Chicago and hers in London so either city is in our long term future.

 

Edited July 5, 2017 by elikhom

[Linyahui 103]

21 hours ago, elikhom said:

Houston is ok, the economy was roaring till mid 2015 until oil prices tumbled, now it's just average. From what I read education and healthcare are still good areas to be in. If you get a good position here it's a good city, home prices are not that expensive and standard of living is good. Weather is awesome if you have a house or live in apartment complex with a pool as it's warm 3/4ths of the year.

 

We will be here probably for another 5 years or so and then move closer to family, mine lives in Chicago and hers in London so either city is in our long term future.

 

Thanks for the feedback. Hubby and I both have some family in the Houston area, plus the climate is more similar to Taiwan. However, I grew up in the Midwest so am not accustomed to the heat/humidity...I might melt, haha. We'd ideally like to stay in the Midwest, but the job situation for both of us hasn't been great (he hasn't found full-time work; I'm not able to grow professionally in my current position), so we're open to new locations. 

 

How are you feeling as we inch closer to your interview date? 

[elikhom 7]

On 7/6/2017 at 10:21 AM, Linyahui said:

Thanks for the feedback. Hubby and I both have some family in the Houston area, plus the climate is more similar to Taiwan. However, I grew up in the Midwest so am not accustomed to the heat/humidity...I might melt, haha. We'd ideally like to stay in the Midwest, but the job situation for both of us hasn't been great (he hasn't found full-time work; I'm not able to grow professionally in my current position), so we're open to new locations. 

 

How are you feeling as we inch closer to your interview date? 

My wife and I are fine so far, maybe once it gets closer to the day I'll start frantically reviewing the documents to see we have everything :-)

[Linyahui 103]

Hey, March 2016 AOS family! We need your help...

 

All of the documents for our RFE have now been collected: IRS tax transcript, hubby's (second) medical exam & immunization record, most recent pay statement from hubby's job, and (another) copy of our marriage certificate.  

 

I'm still feeling a bit unsure about the request for that last item. According to the RFE, USCIS wants us to "furnish a copy of the government-registered marriage certificate of the petitioner." At the top of the letter, "petitioner" is defined as "person who filed I-130 or I-129." Which is me. 

 

This doesn't make sense to me. Why would the marriage certificate *only* be for the petitioner? Are they under the mistaken assumption that I was married before (I wasn't)? I am just planning to send another copy of *our* marriage certificate, which was filed in a U.S. state. 

Am I overthinking this? Feedback appreciated!! 

[sparkles_ 456]

19 hours ago, Linyahui said:

Hey, March 2016 AOS family! We need your help...

 

All of the documents for our RFE have now been collected: IRS tax transcript, hubby's (second) medical exam & immunization record, most recent pay statement from hubby's job, and (another) copy of our marriage certificate.  

 

I'm still feeling a bit unsure about the request for that last item. According to the RFE, USCIS wants us to "furnish a copy of the government-registered marriage certificate of the petitioner." At the top of the letter, "petitioner" is defined as "person who filed I-130 or I-129." Which is me. 

 

This doesn't make sense to me. Why would the marriage certificate *only* be for the petitioner? Are they under the mistaken assumption that I was married before (I wasn't)? I am just planning to send another copy of *our* marriage certificate, which was filed in a U.S. state. 

Am I overthinking this? Feedback appreciated!! 

They're wanting you guys marriage certificate. Those things are worded in the most subtly confusing ways sometimes, I swear. But the i129f and i130 are only the petitioner's file legally, so that's why it's worded as such. They did the same with my husbands birth certificate that we sent with the aos packet....our lawyer said it's codespeak for "we lost it, too lazy to locate, please re send."

Edited July 17, 2017 by sparkles_

[Linyahui 103]

4 hours ago, sparkles_ said:

They're wanting you guys marriage certificate. Those things are worded in the most subtly confusing ways sometimes, I swear. But the i129f and i130 are only the petitioner's file legally, so that's why it's worded as such. They did the same with my husbands birth certificate that we sent with the aos packet....our lawyer said it's codespeak for "we lost it, too lazy to locate, please re send."

That totally makes sense, re: the i-29F is legally the petitioner's file. Thanks, Sparkles! Now I get it. 

 

Will be putting together the RFE response packet tonight. Another question....the box  next to "proof of bona fide marriage" was checked, but ONLY the 2016 IRS tax transcript item from the list of examples was circled. I'm planning to just send the tax transcript and none of the other items (lease, credit card, insurance, etc.) because they weren't circled. Any thoughts about that? Would it help to send additional evidence of our bona fide marriage, although not specifically requested?