J J Moose
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Posts posted by J J Moose
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California Service Center
VJName...........Date of I-751....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved...
SAYLIN.............04/30/13.......05/02/13.......06/04/13.......08/29/13...(Early bio 5/21, Second bio 6/13, "RFE" 8/13 for criminal record, Card received 9/16)
OMENDO.............05/01/13.......05/03/13.......06/12/13.......08/22/13...
ANDYNSTEPH.........05/03/13.......05/09/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
TIMOSHA............05/04/13.......05/06/13.......06/05/13.......08/14/13...
BOCUTZAMICA........05/09/13.......05/13/13.......08/06/13.......08/16/13...
-TEREZEE-..........05/10/13.......05/13/13.......06/10/13.......08/16/13...(Card received 8/22)
PATHWAY2GC.........05/10/13.......05/13/13.......06/18/13.......08/27/13...(Card received 9/13)
LOVEU..............05/13/13.......05/23/13.......06/12/13.......--/--/--...(RFE 8/22)
SCHATZIECHARLIE....05/13/13.......05/15/13.......06/12/13.......08/13/13...(Card received 8/22)
SORCHAINE..........05/13/13.......05/15/13.......06/12/13.......08/27/13...(Card received 9/14)
KPTAYLOR...........05/14/13.......05/20/13.......06/19/13.......09/23/13...
PHANG..............05/17/13.......05/20/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
RUSSIAN_SPY........05/17/13.......05/20/13.......06/14/13.......08/22/13...
SARAH ET LUC.......05/20/13.......05/21/13.......06/19/13.......09/05/13...
VANESKYGH..........05/21/13.......05/29/13.......06/19/13.......08/26/13...(Early bio 6/7)
REDRIBBON..........05/24/13.......05/28/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...
SER-ADAM...........05/24/13.......05/--/13.......--/--/13.......08/27/13...
CHEEZEES...........05/28/13.......05/31/13.......06/27/13.......08/29/13...(Card received 9/14)
FORJOSE............05/28/13.......05/29/13.......06/25/13.......09/10/13...(Card received 9/23)J J Moose..........05/31/13.......06/06/13.......08/05/13.......09/11/13...(Card received 9/28)
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We went to Concentra on the east side of Madison, and they were listed as Civil surgeons on the website. It was two years ago, but they transferred everything just fine and gave my spouse a few of the second doses needed. I would recommend them, but call them first to make sure they are still doing that.
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I know how hard it is to let a prospective wedding date go by and still be separated from the one you love. We went through three tentative wedding dates over the course of almost 2 years before we actually were able to get married in the US. Keep the faith. It's so worth it in the end.
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I am not sure if disability is a mean-tested benefit, but as long as the USC is the one receiving those benefits, it doesn't matter.
Quote from I-864 instructions on USCIS.gov
" Does Receipt of Means-Tested Public Benefits
Disqualify me From being a Sponsor?
No. Receipt of means-tested public benefits does not
disqualify anyone from being a sponsor. However, means-
tested public benefits cannot be accepted as income for the
purposes of meeting the income requirement."
So worst case scenario, your husband might need to have a joint sponsor fill out an I-864, but his receiving disability shouldn't negatively impact you as long as there is a joint sponsor to meet the income requirements.
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To really give you the correct information, we need to know 2 things:
1. Was the medical examination overseas performed within the last year?
2. Did you receive a copy of the DS 2053 and did it show that he had all the necessary vaccinations?
You do not have to redo the entire medial if the overseas medical was within 1 year of your filing date. Some civil surgeons will misinform you and make you have the whole medical again. If you are within the one year time frame, call around and find a civil surgeon that will only provide what you need.
If the DS 2053 shows that you still need some vaccinations, then you need a civil surgeon to fill out the 1 page and the vaccination page of the I-693.
As I understand it, you have to complete this abbreviated version of the I-693 unless you had all your vaccinations overseas.
As the I-693 instructions state:
(2) Even if a new medical examination is not required, you must still show proof that you complied with the
vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS 3025) was not properly completed and included as part
of the original overseas medical examination report, you will have to have the vaccination report completed by
a designated civil surgeon. In this case, you are required to submit the vaccination record and page 1 of Form
I-693.
So as long as you medical exam is current (less than one years old):
- if you had every vaccination indicated on the I-693 then you only have to send in a copy of your DS 2053 (click on link to see the I-693 and what vaccinations are required)
- if you need to add some vaccinations to be compliant, all you need to do is see a civil surgeon and submit page 1 and the vaccination page of I-693. You do not need a whole new medical, and you shouldn't need any additional tests, only possibly additional vaccinations.
Good luck
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I have heard of people getting "walk-in" biometrics appts at certain locations. Take your NOA and passport and hopefully they can just do it at once. Good luck!
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And this may go without saying, but do not leave the US until you get an AP card. That's when you will really run into problems.
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Agreed. It's really hard to find anything with decent coverage and without a super high dedcutible for less than $300-$400 per month. Stuff that only covers major medical (such as a car accident or a hug surgery) may be have cheaper premiums, but it's a bit of a gamble- small incidents can really add up.
As for "free" insurance, I"m not sure what you are referring to other than state run insurance programs for low-income residents. That varies by state and my understanding is that your wife wouldn't be eligible for them anyway, since you had to fill out I-864 affadavits of support (either on your own or with a joint sponsor) that showed adequate income to keep her from becoming a public charge. That means that the income of your wife's sponsors would be included in her income when filling out the paperwork to receive means-tested benefits, including health insurance and it would most likely place her in too high an income bracket to receive assistance.
Here are some links that might prove helpful in shopping for insurance:
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Keep in mind that after you file your I-751 they are going to send you a biometrics appt in the mail. Make sure you have someone checking your mail, so that if that appt comes while you guys are out of the country, you can call and change it. My understanding is that you really don't want to miss a biometrics appt without rescheduling.
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As I understand it, there is a large backlog at the CSC and VSC, and pretty much no ROC's are getting processed since August 2012. I'm pretty confident that this has to do with a huge influx of cases from the deferred action program. Where did you hear that ROC's are getting approved?
Here are my sources:
I know its frustrating, but the good news is that it is nothing personal- the ROC's are all waiting at the bottom of the pile. And at least at his stage in the immigration process, you both can be in the US together, working and building a life together.
As for moving, within 10 days of moving make sure that you file an AR-11 and the USC files an I-865. Since you have a pending case, there is an extra step you can do online or by calling in. Here the information on that at this link.
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I was in a similar situation- living at the time with my father who was the joint sponsor, but moved out a few months after filing. I chose to have my dad and I both file two separate I-864- under mine, I checked "a. I am the petitioner" and on my dad's I checked "d. I am the only joint sponsor."
That being said, I'm not sure if there is an advantage to filing the I-864A- but the I-864 sufficed in my case.
Also, when you do move, make sure you file the AR-11 for your spouse and an I-865 for yourself. If your mom moves, she also needs to fill out a I-865. After you move, you have 10 days to file these.
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When I filed for the K-1 for my Ghanaian spouse, here's the evidence I included:
- my entire passport, showing multiple entries/exits to/from Ghana
- affadavits from a Ghanaian as well my parents
- engagement announcements from my local newspaper
- moneygram receipts of money I had sent him (I was worried about showing that money changed hands, but interestingly, our lawyer said that this was beneficial. If he was paying me for a green card- obviously not the case- then I wouldn't be sending money to him. Me sending him money is behaving like a family member)
- plane tickets
- evidence of my family coming to Ghana to meet him and have an engagement party (plane tickets, photos)
- lots of photos of our relationship, particularly with other people (family and friends)
- emails we wrote back and forth
- phone records (I got these from America, since he wasn't able to get any from Ghana)
Obviously, you might not have all these things, but it's good your thinking ahead and saving things now! With this amount of evidence the interviewer didn't even seem to question the validity of our relationship at all.
However, we did have a terrible time with the American consulate in Accra. They were so disorganized and difficult to deal with. When we got the interview packet, every piece of paper in there was incorrect. Every single document had inaccuracies. The packet listed the wrong fees, the wrong amount of passport photos, it included forms that had been expired for over 6 years, they even gave us the wrong interview date since they scheduled the interview on a public holiday when the consulate is closed. They gave us documents we weren't supposed to see, the cashier tried to shake us down for more money than the interviewer told us to pay- it was awful. This was 2 years ago, so I hope its changed.
We hired a lawyer in the US, and I'm really glad we did. It helped a lot and there were several calls made to senators and the state department on our behalf. If you're doing it on your own, double check and triple check any and all information they give you or tell you at the consulate. Check the guides on VJ well, and look at the department of state website. Don't trust that the consulate is giving you the correct info.
Also, when its time to go through the medical exam, I don't recommend Trinity Clinic. They refused to give us a copy of the vaccination document worksheet (even though the page has instructions on it that tell them to do so) and not having that copy created a mess when we got to the US and wanted to file for a green card.
Sorry if this long, I just want to tell you all the stuff I wish I had known going in. On a brighter note, once you guys get to the US together, the USCIS is much easier to deal with and much better organized. Since we moved stateside, I've been able to handle all the immigration paperwork myself, no lawyer necessary, and it's gone smoothly.
Good luck!
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I have no experience in that part of the world, but I can tell you what we found in Ghana- maybe it will help?
There was only one branch of one bank where we could pay the interview fee. We had to travel there. There was no other way. I would be very leery if I were you handing money over to any "service" who says they will handle the fee for you. There were people who would "help" you with your immigration in Ghana, and many of them were scammers you don't want associated with your immigration case, and you definitely don't want them handling your money.
The police certificate again we got from just one specific police station in the capitol city of Ghana. We had to travel there a couple of times to complete the process and get the certificate. But it was a pretty standard procedure to move through. We started by going to a police station, and they directed us to the central police station that handled such documents.
When we received the packet with my spouse's interview date and info of what to bring, all of it was incorrect. Everything. List of inaccuracies included: expired forms, inaccurate facts about how much money the fee was, inaccuracies about how many passport photos to bring, even the date was wrong because they scheduled the interview on a public holiday when the consulate was closed- everything in there was incorrect. We had a lawyer who made us a packet with the correct forms and information, but my point is that if you are doing this on your own don't necessarily trust the info the consulate gives you. Double check everything against VJ's guides and department of state website. The Georgian consulate may be way more organized than Ghana's was, but to be safe, double check everything in that packet and don't just trust what they give you.
Also, if you need more info regarding that particular region, you could try posting in the region forums.
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Just a heads up- when my spouse had the medical done in Ghana, the clinic did not give us a copy of the test results and that makes things trickier when you get to the US and need to file your AOS paperwork to get a green card. Print off a copy of DS 2035 and at the bottom of "Vaccination Documentation Worksheet" it says "Give Copy to Applicant." If they try to not give you a copy, show them this sheet and tell them that are required to as part of the medical. Do not leave without a copy. We tried coming back for a copy, and the clinic gave us the run around and wouldn't make us a copy. It was really frustrating.
If you do not get a copy of this sheet of paper, then when your fiance gets here, they may end up having to get all those vaccinations again for a US civil surgeon to complete the I-693 which is needed for a green card, since you have no proof of their previous vaccination record. Also bring along any other vaccination records they may have. Obviously, getting double vaccinations is unnecessary and expensive so save yourself the hassle.
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I'm not sure I can answer all your questions but I'll answer what I can.
-Were we supposed to submit an AR-11 Change of address form?
Yes. You were also supposed to file an I-865. I also forgot to file the I-865 on time; researching it on VJ, it seems like a common oversight and most people seem to think its not often punished. I don't know if that's true. My thought is "better late than never" and I do not ever recomend purposely lying to the USCIS, as if they find out the lie it will be so much worse for you. So I would file these both ASAP.
-Do i have the option of sending the AR11 together with my AOS package?
I don't know for sure, but if I were you I would try to file all forms ASAP.
-Next question...together with I864 I have included my W2 and only the first page of my Federal 1040. Am I supposed to send all the pages of my federal tax returns or just the main page stating my earnings. I feel like thats enough for them to see.
The USCIS prefers tax return transcripts. These are obtained from the IRS. The fastest way to get them is to go to your local IRS office and they can get them to you while you're standing there. Otherwise you can order them off the website (here's a link) or call them. I recommend getting the transcripts, but if you do send the tax returns, send the entire thing.
-Last question...since she has been here almost 2 years we really dont see a point in filing for an Advanced parole. Since i see that some people are commenting about applicants with overstays have been or may be denied reentry.
I have seen comments about that as well. I would avoid traveling if I were her until she has a green card in hand.
Good luck!
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If he failed to get his second does of MMR, he should go in and get that vaccination as soon as he can.
My spouse's vaccinations in Ghana were sufficient for him to gain entry, but we had to do another medical once he arrived, and there were shots he had to get that he didn't get in Ghana (such as a flu shot, which I was surprised was required). It sounds like you have a copy of the DS 2053 which is good. Look at the I-693 Form from the USCIS website- on the 5th page it lists all the vaccinations he needs. If he still needs some of those (which I'm sure he does, since he needs another MMR shot), then take the DS 2053 to a civil surgeon and have them fill out the 1 page and the vaccination page of the I-693. You can find a USCIS recognized civil surgeon at this website.
As I understand it, you have to complete this abbreviated version of the I-693 unless he had all his vaccinations overseas.
As the I-693 instructions state:
(2) Even if a new medical examination is not required, you must still show proof that you complied with the
vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS 3025) was not properly completed and included as part
of the original overseas medical examination report, you will have to have the vaccination report completed by
a designated civil surgeon. In this case, you are required to submit the vaccination record and page 1 of Form
I-693.
I remember being really confused about that portion as well, but this is what we did and worked out just fine. Good luck!
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Found a way to talk to an IRS representative. Turns out if you press 1 for English and then # during the next menu, you get to talk to a real person. I'm on hold now waiting to speak with someone.
Unfortunately, our "local IRS office" is over an hour away, and it's hard to find that kind of time during business hours.
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Thanks for the tips, everyone!
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My spouse and I are in the process of filing jointly for ROC. I'm trying to get our paperwork together to file in April (GC expires in June) but I cannot get the tax account transcripts. I've been trying to request them online for about 2 weeks and every time I get a technical error and it says "please try again later." I tried calling the number on the website that's specifically to request transcripts, but after entering in my information, it said my request could not be processed and referred me to the website. I tried calling the main IRS phone number, but after wandering in the endless phone menu for 15 minutes, I ended up in the tax account transcript section and it again told me my request could not be processed. I tried emailing them through their "contact us" page and did not get a response after a week of waiting for one.
Is anyone else having these issues? Does anyone know how to talk to a real person at the IRS? I understand they are very busy right now with tax season, but this important to me and I feel like I'm hitting a wall here.
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Thanks for the info Dave!
I have since managed to find my confirmation on the AR-11, but I was not aware of the I-865 requirement. I will file that immediately. Doing some research on VJ I see that the I-865 is a common oversight and not often penalized, but I will send it in now to get all my ducks in a row.
Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
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My husband and I lived with my parents during the first 6 months of our marriage, and we used my parent's address while we filed for permanent residency because we were still living there. Almost a year and a half ago, we moved into our own apartment, and I am 95% sure that I filed an AR-11 online within the 10 day time frame to tell USCIS that we moved.
Now it is time to file for ROC and USCIS mailed us a letter to remind us- however, they mailed it to my parents' address. This scares me a little. I am frantically going through my paperwork trying to find my copy of the AR-11, bur not having much luck so far.
My questions are:
1. Is there a way to verify that I filed the AR-11 somehow on the USCIS website?
2. If I can't find the paperwork and verify AR-11 was filed what should I do and what can I expect to happen as a consequence for not filing the paper on time?
Thank you for any insight you can offer.
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Sorry it took so long to reply. I had to dig these files up. Here are the examples that were sent to me by my lawyer, using fictitious names and events. I worked off of them to fashion my own affadavits, although she went the extra mile and asked for the birth dates and maiden names of everyone mentioned in the affadavit, which seemed excessive to me. It seems improbable that a government official is going to run the birthdates of people casually mentioned in an affadavit. But the lawyer said that it "lent authority" to the document.
Hope this helps.
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Thanks for your reply, minae. I think your advice is probably smart.
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For us they just used the xray.
I-751 May 2013 Filers
in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion
Posted
California Service Center (19 applicants, 15 approved - 79%)
VJName...........Date of I-751....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved...
SAYLIN.............04/30/13.......05/02/13.......
06/04/13.......08/29/13...(Early bio 5/21, Second bio 6/13, "RFE" 8/13 for criminal record, Card received 9/16)OMENDO.............05/01/13.......05/03/13.......06/12/13.......08/22/13...
ANDYNSTEPH.........05/03/13.......05/09/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
TIMOSHA............05/04/13.......05/06/13.......06/05/13.......08/14/13...
BOCUTZAMICA........05/09/13.......05/13/13.......08/06/13.......08/16/13...
-TEREZEE-..........05/10/13.......05/13/13.......06/10/13.......08/16/13...(Card received 8/22)
PATHWAY2GC.........05/10/13.......05/13/13.......06/18/13.......08/27/13...(Card received 9/13)
LOVEU..............05/13/13.......05/23/13.......06/12/13.......--/--/--...(RFE 8/22)
SCHATZIECHARLIE....05/13/13.......05/15/13.......06/12/13.......08/13/13...(Card received 8/22)
SORCHAINE..........05/13/13.......05/15/13.......06/12/13.......08/27/13...(Card received 9/14)
KPTAYLOR...........05/14/13.......05/20/13.......06/19/13.......09/23/13...
PHANG..............05/17/13.......05/20/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
RUSSIAN_SPY........05/17/13.......05/20/13.......06/14/13.......08/22/13...
SARAH ET LUC.......05/20/13.......05/21/13.......06/19/13.......09/05/13...
VANESKYGH..........05/21/13.......05/29/13.......
06/19/13.......08/26/13...(Early bio 6/7)REDRIBBON..........05/24/13.......05/28/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...
SER-ADAM...........05/24/13.......05/--/13.......--/--/13.......08/27/13...
CHEEZEES...........05/28/13.......05/31/13.......06/27/13.......08/29/13...(Card received 9/14)
FORJOSE............05/28/13.......05/29/13.......06/25/13.......09/10/13...(Card received 9/23)
J J MOOSE..........05/31/13.......06/06/13.......08/05/13.......09/11/13...(Card received 9/28)
Vermont Service Center (25 applicants, 7 approved - 28%)
VJName...........Date of I-751....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved...
VOLKAN.............04/30/13.......05/02/13.......
06/12/13.......--/--/--...(Early bio 5/28, Transferred 9/27)UNIKME.............04/30/13.......05/03/13.......06/07/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/18)
ADTOE1105..........05/01/13.......05/03/13.......06/12/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
KATYA_BG...........05/01/13.......05/06/13.......06/11/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/18)
CANUCKBOS..........05/02/13.......05/06/13.......
06/17/13.......08/26/13...(Early bio 5/28, Card received 9/16)HIKER068...........05/02/13.......05/07/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
MYSTICKAL..........05/03/13.......05/13/13.......
06/13/13.......08/21/13...(Early bio 6/12, Card received 9/19)WHITELOTUS88.......05/03/13.......05/15/13.......06/18/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
DENNN..............05/06/13.......05/08/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
BARKER FAMILY......05/13/13.......05/15/13.......
06/20/13.......08/28/13...(Early bio 6/2, Card received 9/6)LJJ................05/14/13.......05/16/13.......06/21/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/18)
NORWOOD............05/14/13.......05/20/13.......06/18/13.......08/27/13...
UBAMAMA............05/14/13.......05/20/13.......06/26/13.......08/31/13...
SCRIBBLE...........05/15/13.......05/22/13.......06/26/13.......09/03/13...(Card received 9/9)
MR&MRS.BOO.........05/16/13.......05/20/13.......06/19/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
NMERCEDES..........05/17/13.......05/24/13.......06/27/13.......08/23/13...
DINOKEKS...........05/20/13.......05/24/13.......
06/24/13.......--/--/--...(Early bio 6/17, Transferred 9/18)RAHUL77D...........05/20/13.......05/23/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
RDBDDS.............05/21/13.......05/31/13.......07/01/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
BMILES62...........05/23/13.......05/29/13.......
06/28/13.......--/--/--...(Early bio 6/11)JOYJOHN............05/23/13.......05/28/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...
HAYTHAM............05/27/13.......05/28/13.......06/26/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
FELO391971.........05/28/13.......05/29/13.......06/27/13.......--/--/--...
CHINDIAN...........05/28/13.......05/30/13.......06/28/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/18)
KELLY & ROW........05/28/13.......05/31/13.......07/02/13.......--/--/--...(Transferred 9/17)
IMPORTANT!
* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.
* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Quote" it, deleting the "quote" tag at the top of the reply page in your reply.
* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.
* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.
* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.
Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment
Approved = The Date your case was approved
* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.
* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.
* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.