Shezi

Woohoo!!! I can work!!! Case status was updated today and the work authorization has been approved :-)

WOW! That's fantastic news Sarah - I think you're the first of us to make it this far!!! Let's hope the rest of us enjoy a 'domino effect'!

Just got home from biometrics appointment in Nashville (we made an early weekend of it ), got there an hour early, they didn't care - we were in and out in 20 mins! Lots of fingerprinting, photo, electronic signature. And yes - they queried my name and asked for my marriage certificate so thanks for advance notice on that Sarah! Of course I took it

Visa is in hand!!!!!!, Julian arrives on the 30th , Just about 1 year from the date I mailed the petition.

A long time, a lot of waiting... lots of stress.... I feel for you both. We all know what that's like here. BUT...... now he can come and marry his lovely fiancée and all will be well. It's a funny thing Mary, it doesn't seem to matter how much angst was involved pre-immigration, we all seem to agree that once you're together it's so worth it

Best wishes to you both - have a lovely wedding day! So many of us marrying in the winter lol!

Hi everyone: long time, no see! Need to get a moment one of these days to catch up on all of the new posts!

We made it through our wedding, although things still have not settled back to something resembling normality: really excited for that day to come. Getting documents together for AOS and trying my best to enjoy the last few days of my new mother-in-law staying with us (3 weeks!) in our 450 square feet that's barely enough space for 2. <breathe>

The wedding was so, so, so great, though. Worth every penny, hour of missed sleep, new gray hair, etc. etc. We don't have too many photos yet (grrr pro photographer promising to give us teasers in 3-5 days and it's now been 10!), but here's one I like [of ME. Bonus shot of the back of Aaron's head...].

What a happy day - you look great!

Finally got around to opening a bank account yesterday - first foreign bank account ever! Biometrics on Friday this week... feels great to be doing something!

Sorry Lewis - that wasn't my intention - was just trying to give a view on what can be done if you're pushed for time. Like you, I was reading constantly about others' experiences to try to gain a perspective on what was realistic - we'd moved our wedding date so many times because Vermont took so long to approve the petition and I was supposed to give 3 months' notice at work which was a bit of a killer. Sorry it made you feel worse

I wrote a pretty pathetic email pleading with them and stressing how pushed for time I was, then I just got what seemed like a pretty generic response.

I guess I will explain how that will leave me with only a few days to actually get there once I get my passport back and that's providing everything is ok at the interview.

I put my wedding date in my cover letter (sent cover letter, readiness form, all other forms together). I also said if they could advise if the date was realistic or not, I would appreciate it. I had medical on a Friday, sent forms following Monday, they assigned an interview 2 days later for the following week. For clarity, when I sent the forms in (Oct 1st), our wedding date was November 10th. Interview Oct 12th, once we got that date we booked flights.

When the schedule is pretty tight, there have to be some risks and compromises. For example, I confirmed that I would be available for interview at short notice and (since my fiancé came to the UK to get me) there were 2 flights to pay for without being sure we would get to travel. My visa and passport arrived 4 days before flying. It can be very nerve-wracking but at least we were able to keep our wedding date. In our case, we have 5 kids between us who needed flights paid for so a lot of money had been invested in the date! Fortunately for us, DoS were very accommodating.

Things are going well here, just in that waiting process now. I got a credit card the other day, so I'll use that for everything I'm buying instead of my debit card,as it's so important to start building up a credit rating. Apparently you should only use 70% of your credit limit and pay the credit card off in full each month, all of which helps the rating.

That's exactly the advice we got at the car dealer - we put my name on the financing too to get some credit history going. Little by little it all helps to establish us here, right?

Ai, I haven't seen any Alfa Romeo in this neighborhood : o) just driving around in inefficient, big cars haha.

I haven't seen a single Alfa since I landed in the States - I got a Toyota Love driving myself around though.

... We just got me a debit card and that's it haha. Still need drivers, SSN etc. and we just sent out our AOS last Friday :s let's just say we're kinda comfortable : o)

We haven't done bank or drivers' license yet but I have my SSN and we got me a car last weekend! It isn't quite the Alfa Romeo I sold in the UK but it's sweet. I have my biometrics appointment on the 25th - how's everyone else getting on?

Hi all,

I know that I've totally disappeared for a bit now, and I do apologize. My life has really just been hell for the past 6 months or so. I've had family medical issues, personal medical issues, a dead computer, trying to work two jobs with no computer (when both rely on a computer), and issues with removing my fiance's kids from England. I just wanted to pop in with a quick update. They went through multiple statements and rebuttals and his ex is still trying to block the move. She's not making sense in some of her statements and suddenly has decided that she'll keep the kids full time when she's never wanted them before. Things went to a hearing and I had to fly over to give a statement and be cross examined. The trip was pure misery. I got sick for the first week I was there, then we had court for 2 days. I really only got 3 days to enjoy my stay in the UK.

Due to a number of delays on the part of the court adviser and a few other things, we barely had 1/2 a full day of court in the two days I was there. They put me on the stand and started with my fiance, but had to stop after he was being cross examined for over an hour and on the stand for over 2.5 hours total that day. The next scheduled date is April. Thankfully they allowed me to give my statement first, as I can't make it back for April. I've had to write to London and ask for an extension of our petition based on the court dates. Our current petition expires Feb 1. I've not heard back from London, so may try to call this week to see if there is any news. Please keep fingers crossed for us. If we get approval to move, but the petition is not extended, then we will get married over the next few months and then apply for the spousal visa. We've weighed all the options and feel that it is in the best interest for everyone to make the move, so are praying that we're approved. I really hope everyone else is having a much easier process. I'll come back and get caught up on posts once I'm caught up on the work I've missed while I was abroad.

I'm so sorry to read all that you've been through Meg - it's such a shame when people just can't bring themselves to make the right choices - especially where children are involved! I hope you get your extension AND approval to remove the children and that things get a lot easier for you both this year

Shezi

Thanks and welcome back! Rob is probably going to wait to apply anywhere, just to be on the safe side. In the meantime, he is playing A LOT of video games.

I can relate.... lol!

The Embassy emailed to request his passport!!!! YAY!!!!

Sounds very optimistic Mary - hopefully you will know soon so you can arrange flight x

I got married

Picture! (I can't figure out how to embed a photo from Flickr into here, and it says it's too big to upload as it is... I don't feel like editing it smaller right now LOL)

Now we just have to wait for our marriage certificate, so that we can apply for my SSN, and get the ball rolling on the AOS paperwork. How long did it take you guys to prepare the package? I think we're going to start working on it this week. Any advice or anything I should know about that's important before getting started? I haven't really looked through the guides yet at all...

Nice job!!!!

my husband and i have been so busy and also we have been procrastinating . all the aos papers are done and everything is copied i just have to go send them.

where do i send them too. the instructions kind of confused me so i still send them to the dallas lockbox because that is the closest one?

I'm pretty sure that all the K-1 AOS go to Chicago. I don't think it's based on where's nearest, I think I read in the instructions that it's based on types of cases. Read through your instructions again - for those of us who checked box 'C' in Part 2 of the form, it says in 'D' of the 'Where Should You File Form I-485?' (page 5 of instructions) to send to USCIS Chicago Lockbox facility.

Hope that helps

ConGraTuLaTions My wife's took about 3 weeks.

I guess Christmas interferes...

So.... 2013 rolls around... I remember New Year's eve a year ago, we weren't even engaged yet (though we had looked at rings ) Now I'm living in TN with my husband, missing my salary in the UK but enjoying not having school stress! We petitioned USCIS on Feb 28th 2012. It was such a relief to get an approval on Sept 6th though so hard to wait most of the year for it. I know you can all relate to this...

We filed our AOS forms and applied for EAD, I update our timeline in VJ with these details and once again I get the 'Based on timeline data, ... may be adjudicated between...' projection. It feels a little strange to have another set of dates to anticipate. What feels REALLY weird though is what the dates are:

Exactly a year on...

Just a thought - since we are now married and I-485 filed, the departure date on my I-94 will come up late January. Do we just light a candle in its honour and generally ignore it?

Just received my social security card in today's mail... wow that took more than a month! Applied November 27th!

How long does it take to get the AOS notification email once they have received the package? I'm sure the holidays have delayed mine, I'm just wondering. The post office confirmed delivery on Saturday morning, so I'm hoping to hear something by next week.

we sent ours off on Mon 17th Dec by overnight delivery, received 2 text messages Thursday night with receipt numbers, uploaded on to the system Friday morning. Hard copies came in the mail Mon 24th. I think at this time of year it's hard to say because mail is interrupted. Maybe we just got lucky - maybe Chicago just work faster than Vermont and ours slipped through.

Merry Christmas all!

I haven't had time to come on here since I've been down in Florida, but I arrived safely on Friday. We had a 2-hour wait at the POE (it was super busy), and then there was an accident on a section of the highway through Georgia, and they detoured us through a couple of small towns, which took 3 hours! It was nuts. But I'm so glad to be here now

My parents and sister (and her family) are down and we celebrated Christmas all together - they'll stay down for the wedding, which is planned for January 1 (and I have a week to arrange everything - eeps!)

Well done KT - glad you made it... I don't envy you the arrangements, I had 10 days before everyone started to arrive, then 2 more days before the wedding! We just about managed it - hope it all goes smoothly and a Happy New Year to you both x

I received 2 hard copy receipts from USCIS in the mail this morning! I was expecting that to get caught up in Christmas mail so kinda impressed!

Merry Christmas everyone! Looking forward to a less challenging 2013!

That's a hard one to answer, because it seems like there is no consitency in answers across the boards. The last few threads I saw before I sent off our package is that you'll need 2 for AOS, 2 for employment authorization, and 2 for AP. We submitted 6 in total, but I truly cannot say if that was the right thing to do. The one argument for sending that many is that each application is processed separately, so they need individual pictures. I have no idea if this is true. I say more is better!

I thought the same but still only sent 4!

Just checked the USCIS website and my receipt numbers have been loaded into the system. It's ages now since I checked the website every day (remember that???)... don't think I'm going to look again for a while

ConGrats! I sent my package out yesterday from New Jersey.

Just received a receipt from USCIS for my AOS application though the case status isn't yet updated... they have, however, 'cashed the check'

Hi guys!

Congratulations KT and Tommy!

So happy to be here and everything is going good. Except they told me I had to wait 3-4 weeks for my SSN.... I really need it beacuse my fiancé lease is up soon and we wanted to find a new place together which is really hard for me without and SSN..... We are getting married in January so no AOS yet.

Gavin, one question. Is it correct that I can't apply for a drivers license before I have NOA1 from the AOS? How I understand it is that the I-94 and the visa is not enough?

I think it depends on the state law... here in TN it seems that I-94 in a valid passport is enough

Guys!! THIS IS MY LAST NIGHT IN CANADA!!!

We're heading out tomorrow at around 4am. Tomorrow is POE, but I won't be reunited with Tom until Friday, because we're driving down. Any last minute advice for POE? I have all the paperwork ready to go (I think! - sealed envelope... Passport with visa inside... Itemized list of the boxes in the van...)

Do you guys think I should bother getting a SSN in my maiden name? I arrive on the 21st, then there's two holidays in there, and we'll be married on the 1st of January. Should I just wait til I have the marriage certificate and apply with my married name?

Drive safely KT and congrats!!

Just a reminder that the USCIS case status takes ages to update, so don't worry if it doesn't update for awhile.

Today (December 19th) our case number was finally found on the system as Acceptance on November 28th! - I know it's further along as I have my biometrics appointment tomorrow.

Good luck for tomorrow Gavin. It's a bit of a pain still having to do paperwork but it's so much easier doing it together, right? It took us ages to get moving on the AOS stuff - my son stayed from the wedding until after Thanksgiving, so we avoided doing paperwork stuff. Glad it's behind us though.

Took our AOS pack to the post office yesterday - sent express so should have been delivered in Chicago by noon today! Woohoo!!

Gavin / Heather, I don't have a copy of the medical stuff I don't think, how did you get a copy of your DS-3025? I just filled in the vaccination record on the medical form myself and attached copies of the pages in my vaccination record booklet. I am sooooooo expecting RFEs all over the place

Question about changing name:

I and my wife went to the Social Security office and apply for one - we got the card. The officer in charge told us that she still has to use her maiden name. He said use the new name (my last name) for all green card application and go back here (to SS office) to change it and get a new card issued. Ok, that's fine.

Now, how do I go about which names to use for my health insurance and other insurance, bank account? what name should I use for her? This is too confusing. please help.

I used my married name for my social security application.