mentaleruptions

Its been a long time since ive been on Visa Journey and I got a few questions with this application (doing it online).

Where did you apply for your immigrant visa or adjustment of status?

I wasn't expecting such responses but i am curious. If one was to report this behavior how would one go about it ?

What would you report? Unless you have clear evidence that a company is deliberately hiring illegal aliens, it would seem presumptuous to call them on mere suspicion. Secondly, from what I observed, those illegals who are caught are let go - we have no systematic deportation of illegals in this country unless they are convicted felons.

If one had such evidence and could easily prove it then who would one contact.

Tom

I wasn't expecting such responses but i am curious. If one was to report this behavior how would one go about it ?

I'd be angry that the illegals keep the wages low and pay less taxes than you.

I just took on a second job as a server for a big chain restaurant. All of the kitchen crew is hispanic along with the bussers, while maybe two of the servers are of hispanic descent but look and sound like they were born and raised here. Regardless of what one thinks about illegal immigration, the restaurant industry alone would come to a screeching halt without a steady flow of undocumented workers. I'm not going to get into a drawn out argument over whether it's right or wrong - that point seem moot by now. The fact is they are here, have been here and will continue to be here...and we've all benefitted from it in one way or another.

Id like to say im in no way wanting to start an arguement and i do feel anyone in this world has the right to a better life. Just wanting to cover myself on the off chance someone blows the whistle on things mentioned in this subject.

Tom

So lets say this company actually helped people illegaly enter the country and I new about that ? I'm sure without saying so that it's obvious where this is going so I'm wanting to make sure I'm more than covered.

Tom

Speaking hypothetically here going through immigration myself having got the K-1 Visa and now in possession of a two year temporary green card would my immigration status be at risk if I took employment with a company that knowingly employees illegal immigrants ? If I was to turn a blind eye and be found out could this be used against me to either deport me from the country or be denied on my application to get my ten year green card?

Not that I plan on taking such a job nor do I condone such things but I'm merely curious as to what affect this could have on ones immigration status.

Tom

I think we will have H&R Block do our taxes. This is all to confusing for me and if they screw it up they can pickup the bill but i will post back what they tell me and what the outcome is.

Tom

We are just about to file our joint taxes for the year 2006 and im a little confused.

I left my job in the UK in Feb of 2006, moved to the US on K1, got married, filed AOS, got green card and started working in August of 06. I have my W2 for the four months that i worked in 06 but what im unsure about is my earnings from the UK.

Do i have to include any money i made in 2006 from my UK job with my US taxes or do i just file my W2 jointly with my wife and forget about any monay from back home ? I dont want to go and file my taxes then get asked about my UK earnings and cant find any information that points me in the right direction so any help/advice is appreciated.

Thanks,

Tom

If you have a printer id print ur own photos out.

We only took a handfull from the wedding and some from over the last few years and we printed our own. The guy doing the interview asked to see them, glanced and then said that they where OK and didnt want to keep any.

We took the stuff you listed and just took our original application and the application for AOS and he didnt ask to see any of it. Best thing to do is take as much as you can even if you think its not needed and keep it organized so you can easily pull the things out you get asked for. Chances are you will end up with a stack of documents as we did and be asked for very little. Our interview was over in minutes and was more like a formal chat than anything else. The only thing he did was call me in first, asked me to describe our bedroom then called Mandy in and asked her the same question then we just laughed and joked about the entire process and how the goverment agencies dont communicate real well with one another.

I know its easy to say but if you have made it this far on your own without any lawyers then this interview is a walk in the park. I actually felt like i was missing something because the interview went by and like i said felt more like a conversation than anything else kinda like going to the doctors for a checkup lol. So pack all that you can, keep it organized and print your own pictures and write on the back what, when and where.

If there is a walmart near, you can get the 6x4 picture paper really cheap. I picked some up for $0.99 for 12 sheets or maybe it was more i cant recall now and just printed my own on low quality. They where not the best of prints but they where pictures none the less.

Good luck and all the best with your interview.

Tom

Just went to the mail and my EAD card was there just need the greencard now....

So on the 7th we had our AOS interview and all went well. We where told the application was approved but the FBI name check hadnt come back yet so we had to join the waiting list because we all know theres no telling how long it takes.

This morning we have emails about the case so i logged into the uscis.gov website and it says:

Application Type: I485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status

Current Status:

On August 11, 2006, a welcome notice was mailed for this case. If 30 days have passed and you have not received this notice. Please call the National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283 during business hours.

Im taking a guess this means the FBI name check must have come back and our application was approved ?? It also shows the EAD was approved which we already knew as we where told this at the interview. Just not sure what the normal process is this far in the application so just wondering what the above means.

Thanks,

Tom

the last updated date changes everytime your application is picked up for processing. But the status dosen't change. This is normal.

"* Note on "Last Updated" date:

Your case may have a new "Last Updated" date and you may receive an Email Notification of your case being updated, without the status of the case changing. This is due to internal USCIS processing being performed on your Case. This will be reflected in the "Last Updated" date, but may not result in a different status message."

I overlooked that part of the page now it makes sense. Thanks

I just checked the USCIS online case status for my EAD and AOS and they both say they where last updated today but when i then click on the case numbers to view the information there hasnt been anything added the last thing noted was receipt of application and payment.

Is this kinda normal for how there system works ??

Tom

Is there a website i can check for updates on my case ?? I remember that when we first filed for the K-1 process you could sign up and check for updates on a USCIS website but can i do this now im going through AOS and if so how do i go about doing this ??

Thanks,

Tom

So is this for 2006 only?? It is a very good thing to have but the cost must go up each year?

Janice

Well the cost is what the Medical place decides because for the full medical i got 6 different quotes on the price so i think they just add what ever they want which sucks. Id shop around for the best price as some wanted $200 just to do the I-693A but i got it done for $50 in the end.

Tom

When i went to Americas Urgent Care here in Ohio to get the I-693A done i snagged a copy of the USCIS Cost Schedule they had which outlines what is needed for AOS when it comes to vaccinations. I figured this would come in handy for some people so ive attached a scan of the list i got. If admins want to add this to the site in the gallery then please do.

Tom

Send two checks payable to Department of Homeland Security

1) AOS + Biometrics= $395

2) EAD= $180

you will need to mail your application to:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680-4120

Or, for non-United States Postal Service (USPS) deliveries (e.g. private couriers)

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Attn: FBASI

427 S. LaSalle – 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60605-1098

So if we send it via fedex we send it to the top address ??

Where do we send this all off too ?? We are in Ohio right now so wanting to make sure i send it to the right place.

Tom

We have got:

G-325A Complete and signed

Work Suppliments for G-325A

I-485 Complete and signed

I-765 Complete and signed

I-864 Complete and signed

Last years W-2

Last years IRS Transcript

Copy of I-92

Copy of birth certificate

Copy of marriage certificate

Copy of last marriage certificate

Copy of divorce Decree

Copy of passport

2 passport photos

Check for payment for AOS, AED and Biometrics (should this be one check or one check for each thing ??)

Anything else we are missing ??

Thanks,

Tom

They must be IRS transcripts, not your own print-outs of the return you submitted.

They can be printouts.

So i could login to H & R and print the last 3 years out ?? Even though one is required we are sending all 3 to be on the safe side.

They must be IRS transcripts, not your own print-outs of the return you submitted.

Do you request the IRS to send the copy home or have them mailed directly to the USCIS?

We just faxed the form to request them off and you have them sent to urself.

Do we send original W2's then or can we submit copies ?? Im just wondering if all documents we submit like birth cert, marriage cert and stuff also have to be originals or copies ??

Tom

You must send only one year now (rules changed Nov. 2005).

You should send a 2005 tax transcript AND W2s.

For the transcripts do we need to get them from the IRS or can we print them from the online thing we filed them with ?? I know about the change and them only needing one now but we are going to send the last 3 years because people are still having problems.

Tom

We are just reading the instructions for the I-864 affidavit of support and it says the following:

A copy of your complete Federal income tax return, as

filed with the Internal Revenue Service, for each of the

most recent 3 tax years. If you were not required to file a

tax return in any of the most recent 3 tax years, you must

provide an explanation. If you filed a joint income tax

return and are using only your own income to qualify,

you must also submit copies of your W-2s for each of

the most recent 3 tax years, and if necessary to meet the

income requirement, evidence of other income reported

on your tax returns, such as Forms 1099.

Does this mean we have to obtain full copies of my wifes last 3 tax years or do we just send the W2's ?? I thought all that was needed was the W2's to show income or am i mistaken here ?? Also with the poverty guidelines do all of the last 3 years have to fall into the bracket or only the recent ??

Tom

Just a helpful hint for when you go back to the doctor's office to have the I-94 removed from the sealed envelope:

Don't tell that lady (the one who knew what she was doing" ) that you got the information here on VJ.....she might refuse again since - you guessed it - "she still knows what she is doing"

Tell her you talked to someone at USCIS...might work better

Good luck,

CW

Yea im going to tell her i called the USCIS just to double check what i do and dont send as im sure id hit a brick wall otherwise. Ill be going tomorrow as i didnt get a chance to today so thanks for everyones help im really glad i asked.

Tom