US Immigration from United Kingdom

Interesting read!

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/12/us/immigration-us-citizenship-rates.html

It is perhaps easy to under-estimate the significance of the medical, K1 and K2 visa applicants are required to undergo. Because of a mental health issued suffered by one of my children in the last 12 months, she is being denied a K2 visa. Our house has been sold and the removal men will be here imminently so at least one child will be allowed to attend school in the US. The Embassy staff weren't alive to the problems of forcing one child to stay behind in the UK. Until the left behind child gets the all clear from the Visa Medical centre, she will be without a family and support network she needs.

We are close to submitting the I-130 online. Spouse (my wife) and I (beneficiary) both live abroad (London, UK).

For the additional proof of marriage, some files are self explanatory, like health insurance for spouse. For other evidence, it isn't as obvious why you are uploading it; for instance individual bank statements with the same address to showed you lived together (it could be to show money being sent to each other or another purpose). Or other proof of address such as utility bills. Is it normal to just upload all the files and let the immigration official work out why you have uploaded it? Would it be a good idea to make a document register and upload it first? i.e. a table with the filename and an explanation of why it has been included? Is there any reason not to do this?

Would love to hear any thoughts people have on the above.

Hi guys,

My K-1 Interview is set for August 22nd in London and if everything gets approved I ll be flying out on October 6th. We both plan on getting married on October 25th at our nearest Courthouse in Frisco, and we both know that we need to obtain a marriage certificate within 10 days of getting married in person.

So my question is, during the interview if the consular asks when s the wedding, is it ok to say that we plan on getting married on that date without it being officially booked?

Cheers.

(Welcome Message copied from October 2023 group **with edits in red**)

Hello August 2024 AOS filers another month another round of AOS submissions! Please be aware that this checklist is NOT all-inclusive and you must consult the USCIS website to crosscheck this checklist against/with. The AOS process has been confusing since the pandemic hit, not to mention the added politics. So please I want to stress that you only use this check sheet as a starting point and guide if you will. The USCIS site will be the final guide. Please ensure that you check your forms for the correct versions and editions because if you use the wrong forms USCIS will reject your application and send it back to you. This is easily checked on the USCIS website prior to downloading your forms. You should also ONLY download your forms from the USCIS website. The current and correct fees can also be ascertained from the USCIS website.

Just a side note before we get started USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 and Form I-131 if filed jointly with Form I-485. Here is the quoted text taken directly from the USCIS website. "To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Form I-765 from Form I-131 filed at the same time. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, when possible, we will adjudicate an applicant's Form I-765 first. If we approve it, we will issue an Employment Authorization Document without any notation about advanced parole. We will adjudicate Form I-131 separately and if we approve it, we will issue an advance parole document". I know this is old news, but I thought it would be good to include it here for your knowledge.

What this means is some people elect to include three (3) copies of their marriage license/certificates one attached to each form (I-485, I-765 and I-131 respectively). I do not know of anyone receiving an RFE for a marriage license/certificate missing on the I-765 or the I-131 since USCIS has started doing this new way of adjudicating the AOS (the marriage license/certificate with form I-485 is required though). This is an age-old concern that has been in play before this new way USCIS started adjudicating these forms. Some filers including me when I filed the AOS back in 2019 sent in three (3) copies of their marriage licenses/certificates. I did it then because of peace of mind and there were some RFEs given out for missing licenses/certificates (back then). USCIS also used to issue Combo Cards, Employment Authorization Document, and Advance Parole (EAD and AP combined in the same card). I've seen now where they have issued an EAD without the AP. Whether you include three (3) copies of your marriage license/certificate is going to be your individual call when you file your AOS. Having said that let's get into the checklist:

AOS Checklist

• Cover Letter listing Table of Contents
• Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $1,225.00 (this includes the Bio-metrics fee, also be aware that fees are supposed to increase in the near future so please double-check before you send your packet off!) As of April 2024, fees have increased for each form. Because forms are being processed separately, you must include a separate check/money order for each individual form's fee. In addition, check this site to make sure you are writing your checks correctly. And always check the fee schedule site to make sure everything is up to date.

Form I-485 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary)

• Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $1440
• Form G-1145
• Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page
• Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp
• Copy of NOA2 Approval letter (from K1 process)
• I-94
• Copy of beneficiary's Birth Certificate
• translation of birth certificate (if needed)
• Certified copy of Marriage License or Certificate
• Passport Photos (2) name written on the back
• Copy of DS-3025

Form I-864 (completed and signed by USC) (goes with form I-485)

• Proof of USC's citizenship (copy of birth certificate, copy of passport bio page, or other)
• Current tax year 2022 and (optional 2021, 2020) Tax Return (with W-2) or Transcripts (transcripts are better if you can get them)
• Employment Verification Letter (updated one - not the one used during the K1 process)
• Pay stubs (last 3 months)

Form I-765 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary)

• Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $520
• Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page
• Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp
• I-94
• Passport Photos (2) name written on the back
• Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process)
• Be sure to use the correct filing code of (c)(9) if this code applies to you. The I-765 instructions explain all the codes in detail. If you are filing under a different code (other than (c)(9) the fee for your AOS will not be correct and USCIS will reject your entire packet.

Form I-131 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary)

• Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page
• Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp
• I-94
• Passport Photos (2) name written on the back
• Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process

Be sure to double-check for the current fees as fees do sometimes increase and they can change on a dime so please check. Additionally, check the forms as listed above i.e., current version and or edition date, there have been many changes to various forms. Consider sending tax transcripts instead of the 1040, and W2s. Also, consider preparing a cover letter for each form in addition to the main cover letter.

Make sure you send long-form birth certificates and not the short form. Hope this helps in your preparation of your AOS. When in doubt ask questions.

Please consider filing the I-131 and the I-765 even if you don't think you'll need them right now. You never know what changes your life will have down the road, so I recommend you file these two forms from the start. There is no extra charge to file them with your AOS and it's better to submit them all at once. There has been much confusion coming out of USCIS, partly due to Covid-19 and partly self-inflicted. This confusion filters on down to the people filing for AOS. The above listing is subject to change at a moment s notice so please check, recheck, and check again BEFORE you send off your packet for any last-minute changes.

Congratulations on the successful submission of your AOS packet!