perfect

yes I did my K1 back in 2004 and my son just did K1 for his fiancee from Brazil!

We don't have the NOA2 letter

It's not written in her visa anywhere by CBP on entry

Its not printed on her Visa itself

It's not on the electronic I-94 and she never received a physical I-94 on entry

may end up having to do that!! Thank you....

already checked all those - she said she never received the stapled I-94 and I've reviewed the visa several times and it just isn't on it! So frustrating. The rest of her paperwork is completed - I just need that number for her!~

Nope - tried that already!

Thanks for the idea though.....

I know this has been covered in abundance!

I am trying to help my daughter-in-law with her AOS paperwork.

I can't find it on the visa anywhere

It's not handwritten by CBP on her entry stamp

We can't find the NOA2 for the I-129F

Any ideas peeps?

Thank you.

Honestly, it almost makes me wonder what's the point of legal immigration if "undocumented" immigrants are allowed most of the privileges of being a legal immigrant!!??

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/new-674459-working-california.html

A variety of licensed jobs – including architect, barber, boxer and accountant – soon will be open to undocumented immigrants in California.

The shift figures to change lives for tens of thousands of workers, either in the form of new opportunity or, critics say, in the form of a new wave of unfair competition.

Under SB1159, a law signed in September by Gov. Jerry Brown, all 40 licensing boards working under the California Department of Consumer Affairs must consider applicants regardless of their immigration status. Previously, only legal residents with Social Security numbers could be granted licenses.

The new rule is kicking in at various agencies now and will roll out to all licensed jobs by the start of next year. The boards for eight job categories – accountants, architects, barbers and beauticians, boxers and martial arts fighters, financial advisers, geologists, land surveyors, osteopaths and podiatrists – are already accepting undocumented applicants.

It’s unclear how many people have applied for licenses under the new rules, or how many will, but the impact could be huge. The Public Policy Institute of California estimates the state is home to about 1.85 million undocumented workers.

Critics say the new rules benefit people who, in their view, shouldn’t be hired for any job because of their undocumented status.

“It’s yet another tedious way for California politicians to whittle away the rule of law,” said Bob Dane, spokesman for the Federation for American Immigration Reform, a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates better border security and stopping illegal immigration.

California’s new law, he added, means American workers “are going to face even more stiff competition.”

The new rules figure to change some businesses more than others. Undocumented workers are disproportionally represented in a few industries in California, including farming, restaurant work and transportation. Most aren’t licensed.

But beauticians are licensed and, collectively, salons in California harbor what many describe as “the great secret,” referring to the high number of undocumented immigrants who cut and style hair.

For stylist Rosie Hernandez, getting a license could lead to more personal and professional stability.

Hernandez recently has been working at her Lake Elsinore home because she believed working in a salon meant a greater risk of getting caught working without a license.

Early in her career, the 31-year-old jumped from one beauty salon to the next to avoid being caught by state board officials during inspections.

“I was working with fear … to be working on a client’s hair and thinking that midway I’d have to leave,” Hernandez said in Spanish.

The same goes for Maria Isabel Montano, 45, a Stanton resident, who said she has had to run when state officials inspected a beauty salon where she was working. She also was afraid of others telling on her.

Soon after learning of the new law, Hernandez and Montano signed on for apprenticeship classes at Cosmetica Latina in Downey. Using their federal tax identification numbers instead of Social Security numbers, both women now have apprentice licenses.

“I can work in peace, every day,” Montano said in Spanish.

Maria Teresa Villarreal operates Cosmetica Latina and offers an apprenticeship program for working hairdressers, letting people work and study for a license at the same time.

Villarreal has operated the Spanish-language program for years, catering to people who could legally get licensed.

In February, her school got the go-ahead to begin accepting undocumented students. She said her new students come from throughout Southern California, often after they’ve been fined for working without a license, a penalty of up to $1,000.

“We’re going to help the economy grow in this country, but by complying with the law,” Villarreal said.

Not everyone agrees.

Dane, of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said the move to make licenses open to undocumented workers will “diminish” licensing standards.

He added that licensing boards exist to maintain the integrity of respected professions and that the new law is “counterproductive to maintaining the high standards” of the jobs connected to the state boards.

But to Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Bell Gardens, who initiated the law, allowing skilled immigrant workers to obtain professional licenses will strengthen the state’s workforce and economy.

“This is about doing right by those individuals who have studied, sacrificed and mastered their professions, but are unable to practice because of their immigration status,” said Lara.

“We won't waste their talent any longer.”

Thank you so much!!

I managed to find the answer direct from USCIS website if anyone else is looking for it! Relief!

24. If my Permanent Resident Card expires while I am applying for

naturalization, do I still need to apply for a new card?

If you apply for naturalization 6 months or more before the expiration date on your

Permanent Resident Card (formerly known as an Alien Registration Card or “Green

Card”), you do not have to apply for a new card. However, you may apply for a renewal

card if you wish by using an “Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card” (Form I-

90) and paying the appropriate fee. Call the USCIS Forms Line or visit www.uscis.gov.

If you apply for naturalization less than 6 months before the expiration date on your

Permanent Resident Card, or do not apply for naturalization until your card has already

expired, you must renew your card.

Thanks - looking at the charts for the last 6 months the timeline runs between 5-10 months! Yikes

So...if it takes the full ten months and her green card expired just before her interview/oath, does she need to renew her green card? Is she considered out of status? Does she have to stop working?

I am asking this on behalf of a friend!

She wants to apply for citizenship next month - has lived here on green card for 9½ years - came as parent of son became US citizen 20 years ago

However, we were looking at processing times last night on USCIS (which was last updated May 31) and it shows approximately a 12 months timescale for petition to be approved (working on Aug 2014). Then of course you have to await interview and then in Cali, a different date for oath. so at best...maybe 16 months.

So...the problem is, her green card will expire in June of next year, approximately 3 months before the projected processing time from USCIS. I know this seems like a dumb question, but does she need to also apply for a new green card? It almost seems pointless because the processing time for these is also 10 months (Sept 2014) so there would be a time period where she would have no green card while she awaits either citizenship or a new green card. Would she be considered out of status at this time? Is there a stamp she can get in her passport to extend until she received citizenship? Would she have to stop working? I'm sure this has happened to other people but we don't know the answers to those important questions.

Here is her possible timeline:

Apply for N400 August 2014 (currently processing Aug 2014)

Green card expires June 2016 (can't apply until 90 days before this so earliest would be March 2016)

Likely oath for N400 - approx. Dec 2016

Likely new green card would be approved- June 2017

SO many questions - any help would be very much appreciated.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3137713/US-says-truck-hijacked-Mexico-visas-stolen.html

A truck carrying hundreds of new US visas has been hijacked in northern Mexico and the visas inside have been stolen, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico has confirmed.

The embassy said in a statement Wednesday that the theft occurred on June 7 'in northern Mexico,' without specifying where.

The truck vanished in Matamoros, a city located on the southern bank of the Rio Grande directly across the border from Brownsville, Texas.

It was making a trip from the United States to U.S. Consulates in the cities of Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Scroll down for video

Some approved border crossing cards also were stolen.

An electronic alert has been issued so that the stolen cards cannot be used to cross the border.

The cards were re-issued for the intended holders, but they have also been advised of the robbery in case the cards are used in attempts at identity theft.

The US diplomatic mission warned that personal data in the applications could be used for criminal activities, Sputnik News reported.

Mexican police suspect that smugglers need the papers to traffic people illegally across the border.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3137713/US-says-truck-hijacked-Mexico-visas-stolen.html#ixzz3e1GiRzn3
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

I am so sorry you are going through this.

I was in an abusive relationship many years ago and also my son was falsely accused of abuse by a vindictive ex-girlfriend who just wanted to destroy him - my point being that I have seen both sides of the story. The attorney he retained, although very good, warned him that few men ever manage to successfully fight a TRO and to be prepared for a 5 year full restraining order to be awarded at the court hearing. (California)

I am also here to tell you that you can successfully fight it - I helped him look through the alleged evidence which we were successfully able to use to prove her a liar, including phone records the judge saw through her completely and saw it for the vindictive false allegations that it was. In his case he never lifted a finger, raised his voice or made any other threats - she just alleged that she was in fear of her life because he wanted to hurt himself because he was suffering from acute situational depression!

A good lawyer will also tell you that if she willingly asked you to reconcile, she wasn't THAT scared of you and hopefully you can make a good case for manipulation for the benefit of immigration!

Bottom line is - this can be successfully fought. Just review the facts, dates etc and prepare a strong defense in which you can prove her a liar and show motive.

I sincerely hope you find your strength to fight and clear your name.

http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/other-ways-get-green-card/green-card-american-indian-born-Canada

LinkedIn for sure! Make a good profile....it acts as your online bio/resume. Get people you have worked with to make recommendations....these act as your on online references.

It saves a couple of steps for potential employers....helps them to review you before interview and having to contact former employers. I get connected frequently through people on LinkedIn who have matched my skills and experience with an opening they are looking to fill.

Glassdoor I use more for reviewing the culture of companies I'm interested in.....reviews given by employees and former employees. If I don't like what I read consistently I usually don't interview at that company! Saves me time and drama!

I like Indeed.com most for overall job hunting as it collates jobs from all other major jobs boards. If you are in IT, the. Dice.com and Cybercoders.com are more specific to you!

Hope that helps.

Thanks...that's exactly what I told her but she said he asked at the embassy and they said he would be able to use his business visa! I told her that CBP is a different entity than the consulate and ultimately who determines entry to he US. Hope she listens, otherwise they will get a nasty surprise!

Sister of a friend has fiancée in Europe who has his consulate interview next week. They set a wedding date for August but he wants to come here for 3 months the week after his interview (March). I reminded her that the k1 is a single entry visa and that won't work if they are getting married in August. She then says he has a visitor visa and will use that instead.

Can he tell CBP on arrival at LAX in March which visa he wants to use for that entry or do they decide for him....ie could he potentially be screwed for an August wedding if CBP decides to activate the K1 on entry in March? Does he have any say in it at all?

Or...she may be thinking U visa which would be much easier for her to get. Alll she really has to do is report that she was the victim of a crime (check) and prove that she reported it to the police (check) and they investigated. No arrests actually need to happen! She may be aware that VAWA is not going to work......U visa probably will! Just a thought......I work in a large law firm and we have (sadly) dealt with many similar cases and almost every time, the U visa was obtained.

I told my son who petitioned his fiancée in goiania to expect the process to take 9 months from start to finish. They received approval in 9 days and visa in hand in 4 months!! Longest wait was for interview in rio - that itself was about 8 weeks!

The bank is wrongly applying the "Know your Client" part of the Patriot Act when it relates to opening a bank account! I had no problem getting my bank account with SSN and UK Passport.

http://www.ffiec.gov/bsa_aml_infobase/pages_manual/olm_011.htm

The CIP must contain account-opening procedures detailing the identifying information that must be obtained from each customer.⁴⁵When an individual opens a new account for an entity that is not a legal person or for another individual who lacks legal capacity, the identifying information for the individual opening the account must be obtained. In contrast, when an account is opened by an agent on behalf of another person, the bank must obtain the identifying information of the person on whose behalf the account is being opened. At a minimum, the bank must obtain the following identifying information from each customer before opening the account:⁴⁶For credit card customers, the bank may obtain identifying information from a third-party source before extending credit.

• Name.
• Date of birth for individuals.
• Address.⁴⁷For an individual: a residential or business street address, or if the individual does not have such an address, an Army Post Office (APO) or Fleet Post Office (FPO) box number, the residential or business street address of next of kin or of another contact individual, or a description of the customer's physical location. For a "person" other than an individual (such as a corporation, partnership, or trust): a principal place of business, local office, or other physical location.
• Identification number.⁴⁸An identification number for a U.S. person is a taxpayer identification number (TIN) (or evidence of an application for one), and an identification number for a non-U.S. person is one or more of the following: a TIN; a passport number and country of issuance; an alien identification card number; or a number and country of issuance of any other unexpired government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard. TIN is defined by section 6109 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 USC 6109) and the IRS regulations implementing that section (e.g., Social Security number (SSN), individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), or employer identification number).

Based on its risk assessment, a bank may require identifying information in addition to the items above for certain customers or product lines.

The CIP must contain risk-based procedures for verifying the identity of the customer within a reasonable period of time after the account is opened. The verification procedures must use "the information obtained in accordance with [31 CFR 1020.100] paragraph (a)(2)(i)," namely the identifying information obtained by the bank. A bank need not establish the accuracy of every element of identifying information obtained, but it must verify enough information to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of the customer. The bank’s procedures must describe when it will use documents, nondocumentary methods, or a combination of both.

A bank using documentary methods to verify a customer’s identity must have procedures that set forth the minimum acceptable documentation. The CIP rule gives examples of types of documents that have long been considered primary sources of identification. The rule reflects the federal banking agencies’ expectations that banks will review an unexpired government-issued form of identification from most customers. This identification must provide evidence of a customer’s nationality or residence and bear a photograph or similar safeguard; examples include a driver’s license or passport. However, other forms of identification may be used if they enable the bank to form a reasonable belief that it knows the true identity of the customer. Nonetheless, given the availability of counterfeit and fraudulently obtained documents, a bank is encouraged to review more than a single document to ensure that it has a reasonable belief that it knows the customer’s true identity.

I had the option of doing either and used the 5 year rule as the evidence requirement is easier!

http://taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/acacalculator.cfm

https://www.healthcareact.com/calculators-penalty.asp

Good recruiters will do skills-based testing and send you the results.

Also here in Cali, a lot of jobs are done through networks like Linked-In - get your clients to add recommendations once you have created your LinkedIn-In profile. it serves as your self-marketing bio with public references - have found that VERY helpful!

Also, I have found, (contrary to the advice of may recruiters) that keeping your resume in more of a UK format actually helps you stand out from the crowd and will get you noticed more than if you make it the standard US template. In this market, you need to do something to make yourself stand out over your competition!

When I was unemployed, (due to reduction in force) I applied for 560 jobs, got 56 interviews and was offered 5 jobs, all professional and all earning between $50000 and $74000 - all of which the job description stated degree required!

I've found that showing that I had a "United Kingdom general education" and having a neutral British accent has opened up many doors, even though I don't have a degree. I found ways to make my resume stand out from my competition and have only been unemployed for 9 months during the ten years I've been here (and that was because of a reduction in force). Otherwise I have held jobs in which the job description stated it required a degree and which have paid on the higher end ($25-$41 per hour, and I'm only in the admin field, nothing special!). I think if you can market yourself and interview well...lack of a degree shouldn't stop you getting a good job. Even Google recognizes that experience over a degree (which it used to insist on) actually isn't best practice!
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-hires-people-2013-6

http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/25/why-google-doesnt-care-about-college-degrees-in-5-quotes/

Maybe the market place you're in makes a difference too - I'm in Southern California. Also agree with Novedsac that getting a good recruiter who will properly market your skills and experience is important. Pick one that is not just a glorified sales rep who is trying to put bums on seats but one who wants to place you in a long-term career position for the good of you and the company!

Hope that helps

I'm the same vintage as you are with some of the same troubles when I first arrived here ten years ago!

Even community college wouldn't let me enroll and wanted me to get my GCE O'level certificates which were lost years before. The exam board doesn't even exist anymore and the high school I went to doesn't exist either. I decided I wasn't going to go that route and always put "united Kingdom education" (One employer in CA told me that UK education as was back in the 1980s is equivalent to an AA here anyway and he wasn't remotely concerned about it!)

I always answer yes to the question did I graduate and yes to GED and if there is a box marked other put "United Kingdom education" and let them know that I have the equivalent or more. It's worked since I have always managed to get interviews and have been employed for all but 9 months of my time here after receiving EAD in well-paid professional jobs.

Also, try and use recruiters if you can - they will give you skills tests which are work-related and which can act as part of your marketing plan, thereby circumventing the need for outdated education certificates anyway!

Hope that helps and good luck. Keep your chin up.

That's really helpful - thank you so much!

I see you will be living pretty close too - relatively speaking. She will be living in Irvine, CA! (Assuming her visa is approved, of course)

My future daughter-in-law has her interview in Rio in 2 weeks and because my son just lost his job he isn't able to fly there to be with her. Her Mother was going to accompany her but because of financial constraints, she will now be traveling by herself.

Should I be concerned about her safety being a lone female in Rio? Are there parts of the city she should avoid? Any recommendations about where to stay so we're less worried about her being safe?

Many thanks for any ideas/insights