snooki703

Anyways, H1B through an employer is probably not an option for you since this is for highly skilled foreign workers (Professional in a Specialty Occupation). With a BA only and a bunch of American BAs flooding the market, there is 0 chance IMO of this working.

False.

Plenty of my international student classmates are graduating with sponsorship offers and jobs in marketing, finance, IT, etc. "Highly skilled" is relative and vague, but basically it means that you need a college degree for the job, which the OP has. Definitely more than "0 chance" of getting an H1B sponsorship although admittedly smaller companies are less likely to do so. Be aggressive and persistent.

Could you work as a research assistant/admin staff from the college where you graduated? If you work for a university/higher education institution I believe that as employers, the universities are not subjected to the H1B cap, so theoretically if you are more qualified than US candidates, your need for sponsorship shouldn't hinder you at all.

What is your current employment situation? 90 days of unemployment is the max for OPT, but getting a "job offer" is pretty easy considering that volunteer work can qualify as employment. If you find OPT employment, your best bet is to have that company sponsor you.

Oh and its kind of a long shot but if you were interested in working with the UN/other international NGOs, they have their own visa category- the G-4 visa, which is nice because it doesnt hinge on a quota.

I absolutely recommend hiring a lawyer if you're too busy/overwhelmed right now. No matter how straightforward your case is, its a lot of paper work/things to keep track of. I was more than happy to transfer all the burden to an experienced professional. If you live in the Virginia/Mid-Atlantic area, I can give you the name of the firm I retained - they actually work with clients all over the country but I would recommend them more if you live in the general region of where they practice, just from a logistical stand point.

I agree that if you have a simple case/no overstays you should be fine, but I was definitely willing to pay for mental health and the comfort of knowing that somebody was literally on my side in case there would be any glitches/abnormal processing times/delays. PM me if you'd like the rec.

Schedule an infopass appointment on uscis.gov

Have her A-number on hand. Did you interviewer take your advanced parole for travel? If not, you could try using that but given that its been so long, I would get the stamp.

OMG FREAKING OUTTTTTT

My immigration lawyer told me about a couple that didn't bring any evidence of co-mingled finances or joint bank account statements/credit cards because they were both of an older age and had been used to maintaining separate accounts anyway and didn't bother to change that once they got married. They were approved because the IO has a lot of discretion and basically knew they were a real couple just by body language/the way they finished each other's sentences.

Do your best to bring the affidavits, photos, tax returns, and the joint account statement, even if it doesn't have much activity. If they probe you on the joint accounts, just tell the truth. Its pretty believable and realistic that you still use your old separate banking accounts.

Also, having a child is a HUGE indication of a real marriage, and I honestly think you'll be approved w/o any issues. Bring your child's BC and feel free to bring him to the interview.

So it looks like as long as ICE doesn't issue a deportation order, VWP overstayers can adjust thru USCIS?

I wonder how common it is for ICE to issue removal proceedings for VWP overstayers, and if they keep track of these things at all. Unless the overstayer committed crime/felonies, it seems like overstayers are under the radar.

Our IO didn't ask for it, but we brought it just in case. It was a job offer letter stating my husband's salary and start date, and a pay stub of a bonus he had received in advance of starting. We also brought his W-2 from 2010. Again, they never asked for it but we brought it for mental health.

Most people just bring their three most recent pay stubs. Good luck on your interview! Has it been scheduled already?

Thanks for your reassurance and support everyone!

At 5:59 pm today we got the magical "Card Production Ordered" email/text.

For anyone who gets an interview approval and doesnt see an online update right away - don't panic! It took a grand total of 5 days after the interview for us to get the email. As maxximus mentioned, the stupid email isn't anywhere near important as getting the GC itself so don't let USCIS's technological lags bring you down.

HAPPY. WEDNESDAY.

The interviewer doesn't process or fully approve your green card. They recommend it for approval and send it forward to be checked once more before final approval.

My green card when it arrived had a 3 day difference in the date from approval to the actual residency date. They put the date 3 days BEFORE my actual approval.

You will likely not hear anything for a couple of weeks. This is USCIS after all!

Well, whether it was "approved" or "recommended for approval" I'm concerned that I haven't gotten immediate case updates since most people tend to get email/text notifications of card production the same day of their interview.

Obviously, not everyone gets the email/text immediately for whatever reason (technical glitch,time lag from when io's supervisor actually approve, io delays pushing the order button) but I guess I just want reassurance that this is normal, since most people seem to report on their case timelines that they get an immediate online/email notification.

Also, does anyone know if I should make an info pass and try to get the stamp if the GC doesn't come in by two weeks?

Hi y'all,

As some of you know we got VERBALLY approved just last Friday at our AOS interview.

At the interview, we got a piece of paper titled "Notice to Conditional Permanent Resident" which says that I was granted permanent residency on April 1, 2011 and will expire on March 31, 2013. This paper has my A-Number and full name. It even says when the window for filing for removal of conditions is.

We still have NOT received any USCIS online updates on my I-485. No texts/email notices of approval or card production and I'm starting to get anxious. Could this mean that the IO forgot to report or process our approval?

Theoretically, if she did forget to report our approval to the USCIS card production center or her supervisor or whatever, what should we do? I doubt that the letter I got serves as a green card, but could I make an info-pass and get them to stamp my passport? I'm scared that the USCIS will turn their back on me and claim that they have no record of my approval or ignore the approval paper I was given at the interview and make me wait in limbo, as so many people seem to be in these days.

Does anyone have any stories about not having a text/email/online update after getting verbal approval but getting the GC/Welcome letter anyway? Or have you not had any online updates AND never received your GC.

USCIS has made me really paranoid.

Thanks for any help/replies

Thanks for y'all's replies! Didn't ask for the I551 stamp but I did get a paper that had my name and A number saying that I was a conditional alien so hopefully that's some sort of a receipt in case things go haywire

PS. Tina, I heard about the RFE situation and just wanted to let you know that I'm rooting for you!!! Plus, I'm glad that you now at least know why there was a hold up in your case! Even though it'll be a pain, it seems simple enough to deal with getting the letters from the police. It'll be over before you know it! Keep us posted!

Hey y'all,

Just wanted to share the news that we've been approved!!!!! We will definitely post a full-on review later, although there wasn't anything weird or unexpected that our IO asked, overall a very efficient and painless experience!

A quick question though, when we got home, I checked my email, cell phone and the uscis website, and have NOT received any updates about being approved or my card production being ordered.

For most of the process though, I have received email/text/online updates (such as for the EAD). For those of you who have been approved at your AOS interview, did you get online updates at all, and if so, how long after the interview did it take to get the text/email/online notice of approval or card production?

Thanks!

WOW! Congrats! I am sooooo happy for you.

Good luck Silvana! You've finally made it!

Yes you should bring a certified copy of your marriage certificate.

Also, as long as your wife has all her W2's and 1099's she could just log onto turbotax and start preparing her return - its super easy, especially if you guys are doing the standard deduction. When your done, in about 30 minutes max, they have an option that lets you print out the return, even if you choose to efile. That way you can bring the copy tomorrow.

If you can't do this on time, just bring your wife's W2's to the interview.

GOOD LUCK!!!! Please let us know how it goes.

Hey Tina

Just wanted to cheer you up by saying that you are not the only one that did not get a decision right away. We had our interview this morning, this experience in itself was not bad. She told us from the get go that she would not be able to give us an answer right away because we sent too much stuff with our file and she didn't have time to sort through it

She barely wanted to take additional evidence but I gave her some anyway. She didn't not ask for my passport nor I94, so unfortunately the waiting game continues. I know it sucks big time but just trying to believe for the best and a quick follow up!!!

I have to say I have heard of not able to make a decision because of not enough evidence, but not the other way around!

That's very strange, but at least you have your EAD and can afford to wait a little longer, although I'm sure its getting tiring. Im still surprised that she said you had too much evidence. May I ask, what you originally sent? You would think they would review it during the adjudication phase prior to your interview. sigh.

Wow! Congrats! So weird that they asked for you Social Security card, its not even in the interview list! After reading your review, I'll be sure to bring both of our cards.

Just asked my lawyer this question. She basically confirms what Lindsay says (congrats on the approval, btw!), its a seniority issue. Low ranking I.O.'s sometimes have to look like they're doing quality control and get the approval from their supervisors, higher ranking I.O.'s seem to have more discretion in this way.

xxtinaxx - I'm sure it will all work out - we always read about people who get the card production email or welcome letter two weeks later. Your evidence seems legit. Worst case scenario would be RFE, and it doesn't sound like you have any reason to be suspected for fraud. Stay strong, you'll make it.

Hey y'all,

I'm trying to stay calm before the interview and just be as efficient as I can about collecting evidence to bring in, which makes me wonder:

What exactly separates a couple that gets instant approval at the interview from couples that don't receive any decision until two weeks later/two days later/etc.?

Is it because couples who get instant approval have overwhelming evidence/financial docs/pictures, while those who don't come a little empty-handed? Or is it completely arbitrary? Also is it just me or is there an increasing trend towards I.O.'s not giving instant approvals at interviews, based on recent reviews I've read on VJ....

I am going insane! Happy. Wednesday.

I think you should post your situation in the forum AOS from work, tourist visa... so that experienced members could help you. I'm sorry for your situation though.>.< It makes me more nervous for my interview coming up.

Hey xxtinaxx,

How was your interview? Hope it went well!

The interview notice says that the I-864 should be brought to the interview "unless already submitted" for "each and every sponsor". Obviously it was sent with the original AOS package.

However, since we filed in November 2010, and provided income information and tax returns for 2009 (the previous tax year, at the time of filing AOS), do they expect you to bring updated docs for your co-sponsor such as 2010 W2s + 2010 tax return?

Has anyone ever filed in the previous tax year, to have the interview in the following tax year? Did your IO give an RFE for not bringing an updated tax return/I-864?

2010 Tax Return would be good, in addition to the 2010 W-2s. If relevant, proof of employment letter for your husband stating his salary and/or recent pay stubs.

Good luck!

Application Service Center offices are different from the Field offices where you do the interviews, I think.

No official decisions are made at ASC offices, so it doesn't matter where they are - as long as they can upload biometrics data to the central servers they're fine.

Agreed.ASCs are actually run by Northrup Grumman (a government defense contractor)and all they're doing is technical stuff, not adjudicatory whatsoever

So we got notification of our interview in the mail. Our nearest ASC is in Charleston, West Virginia even though we live in Virginia. Our interview is being held in Norfolk! Norfolk! That is 300 miles from where we are at. Coupled with that, our interview is at 11.30am so we're going to have to go up there the night before. I wonder why we got sent to Norfolk. Wouldn't Charleston WV or Fairfax have been better? Even Charlotte NC is closer.

Don't get me wrong, thrilled to have the interview note! But it's so far away!

The Fairfax office is really backlogged. As of January 31, 2011 they were still processing applications from June, according to the USCIS website. Somehow, we still got to squeeze in the interview there, at the 5 month mark.

Like you said, at least you get to move through the process faster.

Hey guys,

I filed for AOS from a student visa last November and now we finally have a scheduled interview in April

At the time of filing, we used a co-sponsor (my Aunt who's a USC).

In 2010, my husband was a summer intern (since he's still a student, though graduating this year) where he was paid about $25,000. We know its stupid, but we didn't realize how much money he made until they sent his W2s this year and we filed taxes.

We were silly and didn't realize that his income alone from last year was more than the 125% poverty guideline and was definitely enough to support just the two of us.

Do you think we could submit a brand new I-864 at the interview? Would this be allowed? There isn't a problem with our co-sponsor but for mental health's sake, it would be nice for her to not be burdened with supporting me. It would be much better if it was only my husband, in theory, who was supporting me.

Summary: are you allowed to submit a corrected/brand new I-864 to the immigration officer at the time of the interview?

Thanks for y'all's help.

Usually them giving you back the I-94 is a BAD sign.

What about if the I.O. doesn't even ask for the I-94? Is that even worse?

Just wanted to know what to expect for our interview in April....

In fact, why do they take the I-94 at all?