Married with an ESTA (tourist) visa

[Teemo 252]

On 8/31/2019 at 11:08 PM, Linda91 said:

Can I somehow describe my situation on the last page with free space for explanations? Or should i just leave without an explanation? It doesn't really give me an "option" to explain myself, like it does with few of the other questions. 

No need. They have a lot of experience with overstays. Overstays are forgiven in your situation. Nothing you say will help here. 

[BarnDance 0]

"Immigrant intent", must be one of the most useless immigration laws ever, and being part of the American system only makes it stranger. If the "intent" is up to a single person to determine - when this person sees/talks to you for under a minute, and nobody after that gives it much consideration - what's the use of this part of the Immigration Law system? It renders down to just a simple guess and to show the system's supposed strength. 

"Intent" as such can only be scrutinized and determined by looking at the whole picture of events and choices from the person in question and by investigating those in a process - by the personnel at USCIS and by gather and sharing information from different parts of the authority system.
 
No one knows what anyone thinks, therefore it's the pattern of behavior and actions you must look at, over a period of time.

Trump has trumped up the system, thank god for him, but there is still a lot of odd things in it that doesn't fit with a country like America and pure logical thinking.

Edited September 10, 2019 by BarnDance

[geowrian 22,335]

Blame the past abuse for the tough stance on immigrant intent. It’s those who have violated the law by overstaying that created the need to presume that others will do the same.

[BarnDance 0]

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

Blame the past abuse for the tough stance on immigrant intent. It’s those who have violated the law by overstaying that created the need to presume that others will do the same.

I am all for it. But it's useless in its current form, as a mind reader-tool. The presumption obviously doesn't lead anywhere when not considered beyond the CBP-men, and as part of the immigration-process.

[Linda91 3]

Do we have to submit 2 photocopies for each form? Or can we submit 2 photocopies for all the forms since we'll send them as a package? 

[MJMH 5]

5 hours ago, Linda91 said:

Do we have to submit 2 photocopies for each form? Or can we submit 2 photocopies for all the forms since we'll send them as a package? 

Treat each form as if you were sending them separately. Each is processed by different agents. Otherwise, you'll get and RFE for the documents not included. I see many people complaining that they got RFEs for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, etc that they had already sent with their original package, and it is because they did not send enough copies of them.

[Linda91 3]

15 hours ago, MJMH said:

Treat each form as if you were sending them separately. Each is processed by different agents. Otherwise, you'll get and RFE for the documents not included. I see many people complaining that they got RFEs for Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, etc that they had already sent with their original package, and it is because they did not send enough copies of them.

That's what i was thinking. We only took 6 photocopies. I needed 6 but then my husband said he noticed he needed 2 of my photocopies too, and suggested i could just send 4. I guess I just have to go take new ones, nothing to discuss about. 

[Linda91 3]

Our package reached USCIS on Wednesday a week ago, how long does it usually take to get an answer back from them? 

 

 

[Just Paul 4,591]

44 minutes ago, Linda91 said:

Our package reached USCIS on Wednesday a week ago, how long does it usually take to get an answer back from them? 

 

 

Typically a couple of weeks.  Sometime upto 2 months.

[Linda91 3]

13 hours ago, Paul & Mary said:

Typically a couple of weeks.  Sometime upto 2 

Thank you! Then I know we still have to wait quite a while! 

[Linda91 3]

We received notice of action form I-797C letters from uscis for the forms we sent. They didn't ask for any more information, just that they will give us an appointment for the biometrics by mail. Does that mean we got approved? Or are they still working with the documents? 

 

Thank you

[Just Paul 4,591]

3 minutes ago, Linda91 said:

Or are they still working with the documents? 

Still working.    You will get a interview notice when they are ready.

[MJMH 5]

10 hours ago, Linda91 said:

We received notice of action form I-797C letters from uscis for the forms we sent. They didn't ask for any more information, just that they will give us an appointment for the biometrics by mail. Does that mean we got approved? Or are they still working with the documents? 

 

Thank you

This is just a normal part of the process. After your biometrics appointment, you'll have to wait quite a bit (between 3 to 12 months) depending on the field office. Then you'll get an appointment letter. At your appointment,  you'll be questioned some more along with your husband, and then the officer will make the decision on whether to approve you on the spot, tell you that he must take your case to his supervisor, etc. They have 180 days to respond with an approval or denial of your I485. You may get RFE (requests for further evidence) either before or after your appointment.  This is also normal, so don't worry too much about it. Not everyone gets them though, every single case is differente than the next, not all circumstances are the same in every case.

[Linda91 3]

Does anyone know if I could possibly get an American driver's license while still waiting for the appointment for the interview? I took the biometrics a few weeks ago. I already got a swedish driver's license. 

Edited November 24, 2019 by Linda91

[HRQX 4,145]

1 hour ago, Linda91 said:

Does anyone know if I could possibly get an American driver's license while still waiting for the appointment for the interview? I took the biometrics a few weeks ago. I already got a swedish driver's license. 

It varies by state. In California, you can't drive using the Swedish DL because you are a resident of California for driving purposes: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/pubs/brochures/howto/htvr33 Before getting the EAD or GC you can only get an AB 60 DL: https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/ab60

Edited November 24, 2019 by HRQX