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Food for thought, but why a K1 versus a CR1? Takes a longer, but it's cheaper in the long run and means you enter the US with a greencard in hand, able to travel freely back to your country, should you choose, and able to work, get a driver's license and really begin your life.

the idea of attorney handling the process is mistaken They get information from you and one of their secretary's type up the petition ($3000 or more) and they mail in the packet and that's it any RFE, it will be extra money to mail it back -after u, again, provide the documents for the proof they do not attend the interview if u go to the word source above in the blue line , you will see many lawyer offices have made mistakes on the petition and caused delays in processing the K1 Best to you but you can do this and if you think not , also be prepared to pay attorney for the AOS expensive part of K1 Research the K1 process, its not that hard to fill out the K1 petition

Online. Use The AR11 form. Also your sponsor must complete the I865 ( paper only i believe)

Have you read the guides at the top of the page? They're a great place to start to understand the process, and then you can ask any questions as you go along and somebody will always be happy to help.

As @OldUser said, expect 90-120 days. If you don't see it after 120, submit an inquiry. Ours took closer to 180 days and one of the 3 were incorrectly statused. When you do receive the card, check it over for any errors - spellings and status. If anything is incorrect, file an I-90 immediately to have it corrected. It won't cost anything as long as the information provided to the DOS was correct at the interview.

Agree with this... Jaycel's EAD status never showed a tracking number until the case status updated to "Card Was Delivered To Me By the Post Office" and that update didn't come until about 2-3 weeks after we received it. Her Green Card was delivered on Friday, Aug 1st and the status still says, "Card Was Produced" and the tracking number is "UNAVAILABLE" In both instances we had the notification from Informed Delivery the day it changed to Card Produced though and were able to track it

Errata sheet at interview

Up to 90-120 days. You may want to sign up for USPS Informed Delivery, it's free. The package with green card will be sent by Lees Summit Production Facility and you'll most likely know about it in USPS Informed Delivery before USCIS will publish USPS tracking number.

1. Your marriage certificate, itself, is a legal name change document. You can immediately, after marriage, start using your new legal name. For USCIS purposes, your new legal name can be any combination of the names listed on the marriage certificate. Use your new legal name on AOS paperwork. 2. Yes, you can apply for a Social Security number before marriage. Use your maiden (Pre-marriage) name for the application. Another option is to wait until naturalization to change your name. In our case, wife has never changed her name, and it has been fine.

This official uscis document gives very clear instructions for documentation specific to each situation https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-130instr.pdf You would do well to study this carefully. It will answer not only this question but many others , and ensure your application is complete and accurate and less likely to get rejected or receive an RFE

Oh, and also now you'll have to enter on your GC each time, so make sure you live in the US and visit Canada from now on, not the other way around!

It's a GC, but as above it will be so interesting to see if the residence since date coincides with one of your visits (hopefully) or with the phone call you had with the agent (hopefully not). Either way I'd definitely order your full immigration file via a FOIA as @OldUser suggested above. If an error is found in the future, even after citizenship, you could have your status revoked, so best to make sure it's legit.

That's likely it. They come from Lee's Summit, Mo. What's the residence since date?

Yup .. this is the start of a long list of "complications", questions, conflicting advice, and so forth. For someone good at researching, sorting out all the conflicting advice, very good at educating yourself, detailed orientated, and has the time, patience, and inclination to do so, then sure you can do it yourself. But it can easily cost you delays due to subtle mistakes. A lawyer will cost you a fortune, but they will compile all the paperwork, and send it to USCIS for you. The downside besides costs is many of them are incompetent and will also mess it all up for you. If you think you can follow simple instructions like "replace this page with your passport", etc .. then using an agency is a good balance. Find one that has done thousands. It will only cost you 1/4 to 1/5 of of what a lawyer will cost you and will save you countless hours of research to say the least. However, you will be the one to do the final assembly of all documents and send it to USCIS. I used an agency, and it was worth every penny.

Yes I have read and i always am

I went to the DMV today to extend my license (which was a REAL ID) expiration date with the extension letter. I was able to get my driver’s license expiration extended but the agent said the letter was not sufficient enough to get a REAL ID again, that it would just be a regular license. I’m pretty sure this is incorrect, did anyone else have this experience 😒?? This is in Arizona

They may well have been referring to the actual visa application part of the process, as that's when you will need to provide the beneficiaries birth certs. For the I-130 they're not required though.

Yes, not long though, the NVC stage is pretty quick and your wife is also at one of the quickest consulates so won't be too much longer. You can see NVC timelines here, it's updated weekly - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/nvc-timeframes.html Make sure you follow the step by step guide posted by @Crazy Cat super carefully to avoid any delays, good luck.

having never been to the US isn't a red flag. like MMRF suggested, you may not need an entire lawyer, but you could get a consultation to answer any questions you have. but over all you 100% can do the process yourself. I know it seems intimidating, but if you do all the research (VJ is great for this) it makes it less intimidating.

Yes. Once all your documents are approved by NVC, they will schedule the interview when your case reaches the front of the line for the london consulate. You will pay 2 fees at NVC.

OK. There are several things needed for NVC. You will receive a document list. You might want to review: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-1-submit-a-petition/step-2-begin-nvc-processing.html https://www.visajourney.com/guides/ir1-spouse-visa/

@mopekmez you can avoid some of these questions if fill out your timeline here: https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=468693

If you don't have any red flags in your relationship or a criminal history by the beneficiary, your money would be better spent by paying for a consultation to ask all your questions and then doing the app yourself. You technically have to do it all yourself anyway, lawyers just fill in the boxes.

I-485s are for people already inside the US. Where is the beneficiary? Your post history indicates the beneficiary is outside the US.

congrats to u both Have a blessed life

My case showed 3 weeks until decision on the day of my oath.

Don't enter on Nexus, when coming on K-1 visa. There's thread going on Somebody used Nexus when entering the US and the immigrant visa was never endorsed. You don't want to be treated as a visitor, you need to be treated as K-1 After you cross the border, yes, you can go to Nexus enrollment center and have an interview on arrival. Then, in subsequent trips, when you become LPR, you can use Nexus lanes or lines at the airport. Is it worth it? Totally. Not only you'd get easier entry next time between US and Canada, but you'd also have TSA PreCheck for US domestic flights. And finally, don't pay $120 out of pocket next time. There's plenty of credit cards which reimburse Nexus / Global Entry / TSA PreCheck fees

How long have you been together? we have been together for almost 2 years How did you meet, and how many times have you met in person? we met online and yes we met 3 times and he totally stayed 70 days i think Is there a large age gap? no we have just 3 years between us Do both of your families know and are accepting of your relationship? yes he stayed at my parents house and he met everybody around me he is coming again in september 5th for one of my friends wedding.

My wife had the same experience. She wasn't able to get her name changed on her SSN until after she received her green card (we applied for but never received her EAD due the green card being received first).

You only pay for one I-130. And when the time comes for the actual visa application if your sibling is the only one moving then it’s only one set of fees, if they change their mind in ~25-30 years and decide to bring any dependents then you pay visa fees, medical fees etc for each of them.

Ok perfect. Thank you. Also Will I be paying separate fees for each derivative or only one fee for my sibling petition ? thanks a bunch!

We dont think we need a red flag but we just scared to do something wrong and get denial and my boyfriend want to work with an Attorney so they can handle the process and we will be more relieved i think. Also since i am a turkish citizen i just dont know what will be the process look like lol and i have never been in the USA before. my bf got arrested because of weed but it was a long time ago like 3-4 i think. And we also want to know if we can do it by ourself.

Most here on VJ do it themselves. Do you have any “ red flag” issues or reasons that you think needs a lawyer ?

Gracias, Eh ma'am. It's more complex because Mama T-B. is still alive and has preferences in regard to her own stuff. See Thrilling Sunday-on-Monday report, see Eh ma'am.

In my experience, it was easy to get SSN before marriage, but I wasn't able to do the name change on the SSN after marriage before getting my EAD.

For name change, I'd think long and hard about this. The easiest time to change name is when becoming a US citizen. Before changing name, I'd also check how easy it is to change name in your country. Yes, if you're in the US, you'd have to deal with your consulate of your country to renew passport to have married name. You can file for AOS with married name and get GC with married name, as long as married name is mentioned in marriage certificate (for example it's your spouse's current name)

Every consulate should send that message to "verbally-approved" visa applicants. Verbal approvals actually mean nothing more than a recommendation. Every visa goes through some form of administrative processing and verification before issue. Too many times, I have seen applicants get so disappointed when their visa suddenly gets delayed, goes into extended AP, or denied after a verbal "approval". That CEAC message explains things pretty well, imho.

I received an approval on 7/25, interview waived! My GC arrived in the mail about a week later. This is without N400.

I still think -- in all instances -- that if there's an opportunity to keep the government off our back now or later, take that opportunity... every time.

The best part. AE refuses to apologize.. Maybe we are getting back to nor.

I have also run into the "only one name on the utility" issue in the past. Put one of your names on one utility, and the other on the other utility so it shows you are at the same address. I also owned my home prior to my marriage. Just note that in a cover letter and note that your spouse is on the insurance policy. Follow TBoneTX's advice. "Life" documents show that you intend to stay together long term. Best of luck on your journey.

You will only file one I130 for your sibling.

Well by default you can only petition for someone you have a relationship with - your sibling. The fact that F4 also allows her family members (spouse, children under 21) doesn't mean you're petitioning them - they're derivatives of her petition.

Very true. Any estate documents -- wills, medical & statutory powers of attorney, HIPAA releases, whatever -- make superlative evidence for ROC, and they're even more valuable to have in "life." See if your state has templates on file; if not, it's well worth finding a lawyer to draft them for you.

That's not how that works....

Wills and Living Wills are an option. Good Luck!

This is normal. If he doesn't drive, you can leave this out. There's health insurance, renters insurance, life insurance and other useful policies you can have in both names.

Application sent in 7/28 Expected delivery 8/1 Conditional green card expires 10/25

Wife had her interview at the embassy yesterday. Was asked how we met, where do I live, do I speak Spanish(yup), where did the engagement and wedding take place, when was the last time she saw me...I was outside and flipped through a few pics. Everything went very well, young lady told her we were approved. Just waiting on emails for the next step now. Good luck to everyone else in the same boat.

That is only applicable if you were married in the Philippines. Since you are married in Utah you need the certified Utah Marriage Certificate. She DOES DEFINITELY need either a CENOMAR or an Advisory on Marriages. She needs to order a CENOMAR from PSA and whichever document she receives from PSA the embassy wants to see it. You can order one online if she doesn't already have one. https://psaserbilis.com.ph/