hope.andsun

Hi everyone!

How are you?

I'm sure this has been posted here before, but I am too lazy to go back and look for it.

I entered the US July of 2011 via a K1 fiance visa. I got married September 2011.

I had a 2 years green card from Feb 2012-2014. I am currently a 10 year Green Card holder since Feb. 2014.

My question is, when can I apply for citizenship? I understand that the rule is that we should have been together for 3 years. It's going to be 3 years this September. Or I should count from the time they gave me permanent residency (green card).

Thanks for anyone who has the patience to answer my question as I'm pretty sure it's been asked a thousand times before.

Have a good day!

Hi guys,

Just want to let you know that mine's was approved 3/13/14!

Thank you everyone and good luck!

@hope.andsun, Dave and Kinnari

Please let us know the Receipt Date on your NOA letter. You need that date for the list

Receipt date for mine is November 5, 2013.

Hi everyone!

Haven't been on the forum since AOS days, but now it's time for ROC.

I sent my ROC file on November 4, 2013. Check cashed November 7, 2013. Walk-in biometrics on November 21, 2013. And so the waiting continues.

Hi guys,

I'm due for ROC. And yes, we did receive a letter a month before (September 2013) to not forget that we should file for ROC.

Best of luck to everyone!

Would anyone know what the next step is after receiving our green cards? I know its ROC, but does anyone know the specifics?

THANKS GUYS!!!

Hi guys!

I'm going back to the Philippines this September. My question is, my passport is still in my maiden name but I have my green card. Should I book my flight with my maiden name, whatever's on my passport? What documents should I bring when I leave and go back?

I did that with mine. Your I-94, if I'm not mistaken, should be valid for 60 days if you apply for a driver's license. My I-94 was about to expire so I wasn't allowed. Just wait for your EAD or Green Card. You need proof that you are a legal resident in California, and that it won't expire in 60 days. Trust me, it was annoying.. but nothing I could do about it.

Congratulations! It should be with you in around 10 days.

Helppppppp please!

I cant find my original birth certificate. What do i do? My interview is tomorrow!

Helppp

Did the officer usually asks for it?

Maybe you sent it in with the original packet? I had my interview last Friday, and she didn't ask for it.

Congratulations! I'm very happy for you! Now, you can chill for a while

Thank you! Have you received your GC in the mail already?

Well, I had my interview today @ 1pm in LA. It was very informal and fun. My husband and I were there an hour and a half early, so we had to wait for about 2 hours before being called. We thought it would be like DMV where if you come early, they'll accommodate you immediately but oh well. My husband and I were laughing because we were dressed up too casually (note: matching flannel. yuck) and other people were dressed up a bit semi formally or at least smart casual. Made me a little bit nervous. It was fine though, cause the lady that interviewed us was very laid back and always laughing. She asked me my personal information (name, address, dob etc) and insurances/bank accounts. I think the only serious question she asked us is how we met and that was it. She didn't really say approved or anything, just that we should hear from them in 30 days if it's approved or if they need more evidence. However, when we got home, and checked our status, it was on Card/Document Production already! That was fast! YEY!!!

Thank you everyone for helping me out, everything turned out fine eventually. It's just the waiting is sooo annoying, but there is an end. Happy weekend, everyone!

Also, would anyone know where a good parking space is around the area?

Hi guys,

Tomorrow, my husband and I will be having my AOS interview in Los Angeles, CA. I would just like some feedback regarding this office, how was your experience here? I've read the reviews, but they are not so recent, so hopefully there is someone here who recently had their interview in this place. What documents did they ask from you guys? Here are my documents:

- pictures (wedding, with family, vacations)

- health and car insurance

- marriage certificate

- congratulations letters from friends and family

- tax papers

Should I being anything else? Some people said bring a letter from a relative saying and confirming that we live together.. Do we still need that?

Thank you for your help and sorry for all the questions. We just want to have this interview done with no complications so that we can continue on with our life. Thank you!

On January 31, 2012, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

WOOHOO!!!!!!! Will let you all know when we receive the card in the mail. Finally! Whewwwww, and approved without an interview. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Thank God....no more paperwork until ROC. We did it!

Congratulations! Will be having my interview this Friday, and hopefully things go well! Congrats to everyone!

My immigration lawyer said that we probably won't have an interview. Did anyone just get approved and sent a GCard without an interview?

Usually, people whose cases were transferred don't have an interview..

Four, try not to be desperate now. That is for later.

Oh yeah, the waiting game.. I remember that.

Hi all,

I was wondering if you have any kind advise for me. My fiance and I have been dating for 1 year and 6 months(July 2 is our anniversary) . I know that in order for you to request a Fiance visa is that you have been together for 2 YEARS! I was hoping to send the application on April,but that's only 1year 9months.Anyway, is there a way they can waive that requirement,or is there a chance we can write a letter or something?

Question #2.I've heard that you need to attach translated documents when submitting your packet. Does that has to be notarized or can we just do it ourselves? My boyfriend lives in Paris. Does anybody know a place where you can get them translated? OMG! I'm desperate! I don't know if this is something we can do it ourselves or do we have to go see a lawyer? Some people say we can just do it ourselves ,but I'm scared we screw up or something.

Thank you soooo much for taking the time to read this :-)

With regards to Question # 1 - Yes, you can apply for a fiance's visa.. There is no such thing as you have to have known each other for 2 years.. Their requirements is that you should have SEEN each other or have been with each other personally for the past 2 years. With that, you have to submit proof that your fiance visited you like passport stamps, boarding passes and pictures of the 2 of you together.

The K1 visa process is actually very easy, and if your fiance doesn't really have any criminal record or any hindrances, you can do it on your own. There are some guides here in this website that will help you, and I'm sure that if there is something that confuses you, you can just go here and ask that question.

Here is the guide for a fiance's visa.. I'm sure you guys can do it on your own.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

Regarding translating your papers, I'm not so sure about that, and I'll let someone else give some advice.

Good luck!!

I was a candy striper when I trained to be a nurse's aide, a nurse's aid when I trained to be an LPN, an LPN when I trained to be an RN and then as a GN (grad nurse)I had a preceptor. Because I worked my way through I had the advantage of learning on the job. It is too bad that schools moved away from the clinical aspect. It seems the focus is now on the degree more than the nursing skills. I've worked with some excellent hospital trained nurses without a degree and some really stupid MSN nurses who could not even figure which way to place a fracture pan, insert a foley cath or which direction in the vein the IV needle should go. Unfortunately there is no one standard for training after you graduate. It is up to your employer. I think the preceptor/partner model is the best way to learn. You can read about how to do something forever but until you actually do it and are critiqued on it you will not really know how to do it. Nurse's are trained to assess patients but until you actually listen to breath sounds or heart arrythmias or see an infected post op wound it is just words on a page. I have found that once co workers and physicians know that you are keen to learn they will seek you out to provide you with opportunities to gain skills. When I was a new nurse I mentioned to a doc that I was nervous about using the staple remover. he assigned me a guy who had bilateral fem-pop bypass grafts with ankle to groin staple lines. He took out a couple of staples, handed me the remover and some steri strips and told me to do the rest. By the time I finished I was no longer nervous and actually quite good at it. Hopefully if the OP mentions that she is a bit rusty she will get a job with a mentor. When I was a supervisor I had so much more respect for a nurse who admitted they needed some help than the ones who thought they new everything. There is nothing scarier than a know it all nurse because those are the ones who will make a huge error and hurt someone rather than ask for help.

That's true.. When I was a student, what I actually learned in the classroom was quite different clinically. My last exposure, like I said, was last 2010.. And the only thing I can do is touch up on my studies, which means theory, which means, I have to get used to being in a clinical area again. I never had the luck to really practice what I learned, so that's why I'm going in here, asking for advices, and I think the most important reason why I asked here is just to keep on going and keep on trying and not to give up.

What is an EAD/AP? AOS?

EAD = Employment Authorization Document

AP = Advance Parole

AOS= Adjustment of Status

What I was trying to say was that my papers finally pulled through and my authorization to work was approved, and now I'm looking for a job.

I've been a nurse since 1983. I've worked in Oncology, Brain injury Acute and LTAC, Insurance, detox, Geriatrics, Med surg, Supervisor in SNF and as a Float.

Pull your resume and cover letter together. Contact your local Red Cross and make sure your CPR cert is current. Go to the local hospitals, nursing homes, LTAC, Hospice,School dept, Detox,VNA and Dialysis centers and pick up an application and send it in along with your resume. There is a lot of turnover in nursing. Try to get an agency or hospital job working per diem or as a float until you get more experience. sick calls. It gets you in the door and it gets you experience in different areas of nursing. If you make a good impression you will have a better shot at getting a permanent position. I did that as a new grad and when I went back to acute care after a few years working for an LTAC. If you have not been in clinical for a while definitely ask about a refresher course. IV pumps, even med carts and charting are all computerized now.

All nurses is a resource for CEU's scrubs and anecdotal stories. I've never used it for a job.

Check with Monster.com. Check with your local board of nursing and your local nurses union. Call your husband's Aunt and anyone else who gives you a lead. The best jobs come from word of mouth. I got this job about 12 years ago after an aquaintance at church mentioned it.

Btw not sure if Kaiser is in your area but they have ads online:

http://www.nurse.com/jobs/all-nursing-jobs-with-kaiser-southern-california

Sorry, in my last post, what I was supposed to say was that I have to practice and better at trying to be aggressive but not so much as to scare the recruiters away. I don't know how to edit a post. Lol.

Thank you for your suggestions. Do you think I should volunteer for Red Cross for the meantime? I'll try to do what you suggested. I would love to have refresher courses, although it's an expense that I can't afford right now.. I'll have to research the local nurse union. Thank you!

First off, I'm really thankful for all your suggestions, guys!

CristiFur, I'll keep that in mind. I'm applying on anything related to my course right now.

GandK, LOL! There's a party tonight, and I'll try to do that as well. I am currently trying to expand my network, and will go on volunteer training soon. Hopefully, there's some twist and turns somewhere in the middle and fate will bring me where I'm supposed to be.

Tahoma, I'll try that one! Thank you!

HannahP, I'll talk to my aunt later. I'm really shy about asking for help, cause I wasn't the type to do that, but now, it seems like one of the best options I have. Time to put the pride down for the meantime.

Yeah, I've read a lot on allnurses.com. There was one person who finally got a job, and his/her suggestions was to STALK the recruiters in linkedin.com... Scary right? But, I did what he/she suggested. We'll see where it goes. Suggestions there is just to be aggressive, but doing it probably. Don't be shy and keep asking questions. I have to practice in front of the mirror. The task is starting to become daunting... and I can see why it can get really depressing...

So it's been three years since you had any clinical experience? I would look into taking some refresher courses. Volunteer clinical work. (Free clinics, etc.) Your major disadvantage is that you're looking for work at a time when a fresh new crop of December graduates are also looking for work -- you're competing against people who are only a few months, at most, out of clinicals so their skills are fresher.

I graduated with my BSN in May. Passed NCLEX first week of June. Found a pediatric private duty job in July. Got hired onto a hospital in November. And I'm in one of the least congested areas of the country when it comes to new nursing grads, lol. You might try googling private duty agencies -- a lot of these places seem to take anyone, but the pay is low and the training isn't always the best.

Apply to ANY job that does not specifically state "X experience REQUIRED."

LTACs are another option that often gets overlooked by new grads who have no idea that they even exist.

bigdog's right -- it really is about who you know, esp. in nursing these days because schools are still churning out new grads but the hospitals don't have enough money to invest in training them. But it seems like the only real way to network is to get a tech/CNA job while you're in school. (Which I didn't do.) And that's not an option for you anymore. I really was at a loss as to how to network, myself. I just happened to stumble upon a very small unit that was pretty rapidly expanding.

Technically, my last clinical experience was last 2010. What you said is true.. I'll try not to get my hopes up, although it's a bummer. I guess I just have to get going at it. My husband's aunt is willing to help me, and she told me to just give her a call, although I'm so shy! I'm not used to asking anyone for help. But, after reading what you have to say, maybe I should do that tomorrow. I'll look into private duty jobs and LTAC's. Thank you!

I'm feeling the difficulties right now. Lol. I actually graduated in '09 and got my license '11 due to Social Security issues. I applied for the residency because though I am not a new grad, I am newly licensed, and that was one of their criteria, if I'm not mistaken. I hope they look into it.

Anyway, yeah, I am in allnurses.com as well.. I'm trying to network as that is what everyone says. I just don't know where to start. The dialysis training is not paid, it was just training.. Maybe I should look more into dialysis centers. Whenever I apply online, they always ask for a years experience, so I don't know what to do with that :| I have applied at nursing homes as well, and by the end of the month, will probably volunteer in a hospice, but that's about it. No news yet for an actual job, and I don't really know someone who's "in-the-know". Damn...