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Entertaining them with a cup of coffee/tea and sandwich, then playing the DVD of one's marriage ceremony (if there is one) won't be a bad idea. just kidding.

Or let the dogs out so they could scare the officers away! Just kidding.

My interview is tomorrow at 1245. The only thing that is stressing me out is the evidence. I've sent all of the evidence together with the application and it's a pain in the neck to gather all those documents all over again. But it's my fault for not making copies. Right now I'm searching high and low for my joint credit card statement/contract and my bank statement. I'm not sure if I still have a copy of my apartment lease with me as I'd sent them the last one I had. I hope everything's better at your end!

There is a question that asks "Have you ever applied for employment authorization in the US?"

Should I say yes or no? Because technically post-graduate OPT can work here and I have a card. But the number starts with EAC.

Help? Thanks!

Yes.

I'm only just starting the process, but I'm trying to gather all the facts that I can. This might be a silly question, but how do you know where your interview will be? Do you pick which consulate you want to have your interview at or do they assign one to you? I'm in Canada and know that my medical interview can only be in Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto. There is a consular office where I live (Calgary), but it would be great if I could do my medical and consular interview the same day. If this topic is addressed somewhere else on the site, can someone please direct me? Thanks for your help!

They usually send you the notice of action to inform you of the next step ie. biometrics (date/time and location) and interview (date/time and location). You can't pick a date, it's all up to them! I'm not sure what a medical interview is but as far as I know, most of us here had to go through the medical examination and have it submitted together with the application before the interview itself. You might want to create a new topic and hopefully get some helpful advice from the more experienced.

Well I'm in the Jan batch (via Chicago Lockbox) but not scheduled to be interviewed at Baltimore. Not going to be much of a help but thought I could share some info.. I have a detailed timeline below Oh, and my interview is this Friday!

JudyJones, MarcAntony, did the IO stamp your passport? I heard that they don't really do this anymore but I'm jut slightly curious. If they did stamp your passport, then I guess you don't have anything to worry about anymore other than to wait for the GC to arrive. CONGRATULATIONS to the both of you!

Well I was wondering same thing too, but we might end up being banned from this thread. A real marriage doesn't worry about any home visit before, on, and after interview. Very straight forward.

Maybe they have a messy house? I'd be ashamed to have the officers over in my apartment if it looks like a pigsty!

Thanks, M&L! Yeah, I guess I need to bring all the evidence again...do I have to bring the affidavit too? I'm currently not working as I had to put work on hold when my OPT expired. So I haven't worked since February 18th but I'm going to get rehired back to work next week. I wonder if that's going to affect me. This is because I'm my own sponsor as I earn above the poverty line, and my husband is in school, but I also have a joint sponsor as a back up. I'm kinda worried about that now..

Thanks for the review and congratulations! I hope you've already received your GC in hand! I'm having my interview in Atlanta on Friday and I hope it will go smoothly too! Just reviewed a lot of questions with the hubby and i realized that it's a really good bonding experience. LOL he has a better memory than i do! But anyway, was it hard to find a parking spot?

Anxiety is finally kicking in and I need advice/tips on what to bring for the interview. I'd sent all the evidence (photos, lease, bank/credit card/statements, utility bill, etc) with the AoS packet and I was wondering if I should bring all the evidence to the interview again. I know I should bring personal items like photo albums, trinkets, marriage certificate, and etc.. but do I still have to bring all the paystubs, lease agreement, insurance card, etc to prove that we are co-mingling?

Thanks! But what all do i need to bring to the SS office so they would remove the restrictions? GC and passport..or am I missing some other documents?

I guess I can only get it renewed when I have my gc in hand! Thanks for the info, Harpa!

But what all do I need to present to the officer when I do get my DL renewed? GC, SS card and will they need my passport too?

I applied for a ss card back when i had an on campus job and i've been using that ss card ever since. I read somewhere that you will need to reapply for a ssn once you receive your gc. A little confusion here though.. i thought an individual gets only one ssn no matter what happens? Or does that only apply to usc? I need to get my expired driver's license renewed and I was wondering if that's going to be a problem.. with only my EAD and not having a "new" ssn. In addition to that, i need to get re-hired back at work soon too so I'm kinda lost right now. My interview is this friday and i guess the anxiety is finally kicking in! Please help me. Any info/advice/help at all would be vastly appreciated! Thank you.

Aww, congratulations! You should make a copy of your GC and frame it up!

My EAD/AP card finally arrived on the 16th. Time to get my expired dl renewed and as far as i could remember, when i first got my dl it was when i was still a student on f-1 so all i needed was my ssn ( i had an on campus job) and my i-20. Right now, I need to get my dl renewed and i'm LOST.

I was in the international honor society so i added that just because i feel like i'm part of an organization. I also added the university i'd attended.. just because.

and for the current status, i'd put student (assuming you entered with your student visa) and out of status next to it.

The question threw me off, since I am here on a work visa, I just wanted to be sure. Thank you.

It's going to be Yes cos you've never applied for it before. Work visa is not I-765.

It'd be AoS and you file the i-130. && Congratulations!

Lets try it this way.

I have an employment authorization based on economy hardship from March 2011 - March 2012. I graduated (F-1) in June 2011 and was required to apply for a Post completion OPT which was approved in September 2011. So, I started OPT job in June 2011 by using the employment authorization based on economy hardship while I was waiting for employment authorization for OPT to be approved in September 2011.

Question: Will I penalized for working with the "employment authorization on economy hardship" after graduation ?

Employment is limited to no more than 20 hours per week when school is in session, full-time during holidays or vacation periods. Employment authorization is automatically terminated when a student fails to maintain status. Students may work for an employer at any job, anywhere in the United States. A job offer is not required in advance of obtaining employment authorization.

Students seeking employment authorization based on economic hardship will need to apply by mail to the C.I.S. Nebraska Service Center to obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), which is valid in one-year intervals. There is a $120 fee for the EAD

As far as I know, once you graduate your ead card based on economy hardship would be invalid and that's why they give you the option of staying for another year for opt or leave as you're no longer a student. I know you have a grace period of 60 days between graduation and employment. and you are not allowed to work until you receive your card in hand. if you can't find a job within the time frame, you are supposed to leave the country but most people stay through the validity of their opt.

I don't think you'd be penalized but you should not hide it from USCIS.

Bring a copy of the full AOS package you submitted, and originals for each copy you sent - i.e. marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc. It is also advisable to bring recent bank statements, bills, phone statements..

Yeah bring all that and your interview notice and the government issued photo id, passport, all visas you've had prior to the application, social security card, old/expired ead/ap card, photos and memorabilia related to your relationship.

If you want you couuld also give them a call and let them know that you'd received a somewhat "blank" letter. explain to them and see if they could/would send you another letter. otherwise all the stuff mentioned should suffice.

I hope they had the address part for the interview filled!

Woah, I just read your timeline; we have an almost identical timeline. My letter is sent on the 28 (which is today) and is schedule for the 29 of March. I haven't received any notice for AED either.

Good luck to both of us!!

Good luck! Let me know how it goes on your interview!

Btw, does anyone know if the original birth certificate is needed for the interview or a copy will do?

that's great news. you got your appointment really fast and if everything works out, you won't even need the EAD/AP. I got mine one day before I received my actual GC. so worthless.

Thank you! I see that the timeline of my progress is somewhat similar to yours and that makes me feel a little bit better. I was never worried about the interview but now that it's the next step, my heart is trying to out beat me. I guess I need to start to compile all the evidence of our bonefide marriage for the interview instead of waiting til the 11th hour to do that.

Much confusion here. NBC is in Missouri. Your interview will not be there, or any other service center. National service centers don't do interviews (so forget TSC, also TSC does not do anything with any AOS anything). Your interview will be at your local office, which will be in Alabama somewhere. You generally do not cross state lines, even if an office in another state is closer. The email you notice you get says NBC, but that is because the email notification system is new and their system isn't set up right. You will get an paper interview notice that will tell you the time and location of your interview.

Yes, it is normal that you haven't heard anything yet about EAD/AP.

Harpa, there isn't any USCIS local office here in AL. The closest would be in New Orleans and Atlanta of which the former is 2 hours away and the latter is 5. I know that most people usually have their interviews done at the local office in Atlanta but I was confused when NBC was mentioned. I thought the NBC only collects and send the applications off to specific offices or service centers for processing. But thanks for detailed explanation! I appreciate it!

[

On February 27, 2012, we mailed you an appointment notice for an interview for March 30, 2012, at NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER. Please follow the instructions on the notice. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Hey guys, so I'm located in Alabama now and as far as I know the closest ASC is New Orleans and the other local office would be in Atlanta. If I'm scheduled for an interview at the National Benefits Center, does that mean I'd have to fly to Texas seeing that TSC deals with applications around my region. Question is, where is this place? I'm just a tad curious now and I know I will get more information when the hard copy notice arrives but..the I'm excited and worried all at the same time!

In addition to that, I have yet to receive any news on my AP/EAD card. No updates, RFEs..nothing has been touched since Jan 17. The last time the case was updated was when they informed me that they had received my application. I have also already completed the biometrics 3 weeks ago. Is this normal? I thought the usual process is to receive the EAD/AP and then the letter for the I485 interview.

You are now in a NEW period of authorized stay because you filed the I-485 package. Please don't panic and leave the country. Leaving the country now will abandon your process.

Thanks, but won't I violate the i-94 if I'm still in the country after April 17? I thought overstay happens when one is still present in the country after the date on their i-94 no matter what visa or adjustment they are waiting on. I could be mistaken, which I hope I am..

No worry! You are in legal status once you filed for AOS! If you need to work, you can apply for a new EAD.

Thank you, I had to put my job my hold until I receive the new EAD so I could get back to work. But I guess every one has to be apart of this torturous waiting game!

I did a walk-in at the ASC in New Orleans. It's been 2 weeks since the biometrics. I understand that it could take up to 90 days for them to process the ead/ap. However my opt expired a week ago. I checked my i-94, stamps, and i-20, they all had D/S on it. I read about the 60 days grace period after the opt expires and I hope it applies to me. Does that mean I have to leave in 60 days time.. if D/S means 60 days after feb 17th? Also, I came across this odd thing on my i-20 and opt/ead card. On my i-20 for the opt, my employment ends 02/13/2012 but on my opt/ead card it ends 02/17/2012. I stopped working on feb 17th but I was terminated from my job on feb 19th as my boss was not around to officially terminate me. I'm so confused as to when I should have stopped working. And right now, I'm worried that I'd have to leave the country in order to not trigger the ban.