psals

Definitely bring originals, plus a copy of everything. My dad's file was missing the I-130 approval letter even though we sent it in with the AOS packet, but we had the original at the interview, which she kept, and let us keep the copy. And they'll need birth certificate originals and copies, regardless of where you were born.

Finally got an email update that my father's card is in production. We were a little nervous because he had a follow-up appointment after the initial AOS interview ; they wanted a birth affidavit and baptism certificate, but all seems to be in order now. Good luck to those still waiting!

You should be fine. My father was told to come back with an affidavit of birth from a close relative and his baptism certificate after he had the first interview (at the first interview, he was told that his birth was registered very late so he'd need additional paperwork). He went back this past week on Friday, the lady just took the original affidavit, checked the original baptism certificate and took the copy for her records. Didn't ask any questions; just she said everything looked good and that he'd get his card in the mail in two weeks.

My mother got her greencard in the mail today. Hurrah! Now to wait until Jan 6th to hand-in the birth affidavit and baptism certificate for my father's application, and hopefully no further hurdles after that.

Hah! Sorry ... the crawling bug has been one of my favorites for years. Sometimes it gets me too!

My parents' AOS interviews were scheduled for Dec 7th at 8:30am and 9am in Newark, New Jersey. We arrived at the building at 8:15am but it took about 20 minutes to get through the snaking line through security. After getting through security, we went up to the 13th floor and waited until about 11am to be called in. My parents were called in together and I accompanied them. We were all sworn-in and asked the following:

1. Originals of their birth certificates, and my birth certificate

2. My father was asked about his army service and what other occupation he has had since retirement

3. Number of US visas they've been issued

4. How often they travel to the US, if separate or together

5. Why they live with my sister even though I'm the petitioner

6. The number of days they visited family in Canada prior to entering the US

7. Whether my father was baptized (this was a strange question, but almost immediately I realized that there was something amiss with his birth certificate)

7. All the standard questions at the back of the I-485 form

The interviewing officer was very business-like yet she seemed compassionate. There were a few times where my parents spoke over each other while answering a question, or only one of them answered audibly, but she kept trucking along through the interview. My mother was approved right away, but my father was told to come back early next month with his baptism certificate and one sworn affidavit (from a close relative) because his birth was registered well after the fact. We have his baptism certificate ready to go and are working on getting the affidavit from an aunt. He goes back on Jan 6th to give them the additional documents; based on what the interviewing officer told us, everything should be approved once that is received. Yay!

Interestingly enough, after the interviewing officer had closed up her files and put them away, while we were getting our stuff together to leave, she asked me how I got my citizenship and I told her it was by marriage. I wonder what made her curious...

Had the interview on Dec 7 and received approval. Got a text and email later that night saying the card is in production!

I just received an email scheduling my parent's AOS interview in December. I have a few questions:

1. Does the US citizen have to accompany the parent at the interview?

2. Can the US citizen accompany the parent at the interview?

3. Should the US citizen accompany the parent at the interview?

Because the interview is set at the local office several states from where I live, I'm trying to decide if I should fly up there for the interview.

TIA!

"Touch" today says an interview notice was mailed and it has been scheduled for Dec 7th at the National Benefits Center. I'm presuming the letter will actually state that the interview will take place at the local office, and not require the applicant to fly to Missouri?

Nothing yet...

Damn this waiting.

You hope for a 'touch' or something.

No touches since September 10 though.... Grrrrrr!!!

No touches since our NOA date too. But biometrics is already done.

Do they have interviews for AOS parents too? Or only for spouses?

OMG I JUST GOT MY BIOMETRICS APPOINTMENT LETTER IN MY MAIL!!!!! RIGHT NOW!!!! its dated 28 september, and my appointment is on the 26th of October, but Im going to attempt a walk in tomorrow! wish me luck guys!!!

Do you need a specific reason for doing a walk-in instead of keeping the scheduled appointment? Or can anyone give it a shot?

Received biometrics appointment letter yesterday - scheduled for October 24th.

I live in Deerfield beach, 45 minutes-1hr away from you. Have you gotten anything yet?

Im kinda glad i didn't get anything today though, because the maintenance people from m complex were power washing the stairs and the mailboxes are all in the first place, all the enveloped were wet! Hopefully I do get it tomorrow

I'm in Fort Lauderdale and nothing yet. I'm not overly worried until we get to the 30-day mark.

Another September filer here. Sent package by FedEx on Sept 7th, delivered on Sept 8th. Got email notification on Sept 21 and check cashed Sept 22. Haven't received hard copy NOA1 yet, nor biometrics appointment. Let the waiting game continue.

Many thanks, everyone.

How long is it taking the guys at the Chicago lockbox currently to acknowledge an I-485 filing and cash a check? It has been a little over 2 weeks since FedEx delivered the package, and they haven't bounced the submission back nor acknowledged its receipt. Should I wait the 30 days before starting to worry?

TIA!

By way of update, I decided not to go the route of filing their I-485 right now. We'll just wait until they go back to their home country in the fall and go the route of the NVC.

That said, once the NVC assigns case numbers (hasn't yet) and I pay the various fees, is there a time limit within which I must file the I-864 support package? I know there is a guide on here for Flying through the NVC, but is there a way to slow things down so that they don't have to return to their home country for the interview mid-way through their US trip?

Many thanks.

Update: The paperwork they had ready to go was for the NVC process, but I still need to get all those documents mailed from their home country. So the timing of all of this may not work ultimately. But it looks like both processes require the same supporting paperwork so there may not be much more to collect apart from what they already have gathered. We're okay proceeding with either option, but just want to make sure that the option we pick isn't something that is a big no-no.

My I-130s for my parents were recently approved. I posted a question and received answers on filing I-485s for them to AOS while they're in the US for a few months right now (as opposed to filing in their home country when they go home in a few months). A few follow-up questions if anyone has had experience with the following:

1. Is it too risky to file for AOS because they entered the US on visitor's visas? They really have no intention of staying here permanently (even have their return flight tickets and weddings to attend at home) but I read on one of the posts in this forum that filing AOS paperwork when family members enter the country on visitor's visas is risky.

2. I still haven't received any information/update from NVC (no case number either) so what do I do if I want to proceed the route of applying for their AOS while they're here, as opposed to proceeding with the NVC process? Do I need to notify NVC of something? Do I do something in response to the notices/fee payment letters they send me? If so, what?

3. Completed I-693 forms have to be filed with the I-485 application, correct? I'm confused because when my husband filed an I-485 for me years ago, I did not submit the medical stuff until we were at the interview before the immigration officer.

TIA!

Then they'll have to wait for the NVC process to be completed, and interview for the visas in their home country. As I said, visa interviews are not conducted in the United States.

Got it. Sounds like there's only two possibilities:

1. Go through the NVC process and go home for the interviews, OR

2. Do the I-485 AOS while they're here and stay the 4 or so months in the US (checked the processing time last night) until the approval comes through.

I'll figure out their schedules and see which one makes more sense.

Many thanks again for all your help.

You cannot interview for a visa in the US. Only US consulates are allowed to conduct visa interviews, and there are no US consulates in the United States.

If your parents did not intend to stay permanently in the US when they arrived then they can apply to adjust their status and get their green cards, and skip the visa application process. The following guide gives an overview of the process, but it presumes the "immediate relative" is a spouse, and that an I-130 will be sent concurrently, so you'll have to make adjustments to the process and required documents accordingly. You don't need to submit an I-130 because it's already been approved. Follow the instructions for the I-485, and submit a copy of the I-130 approval notice.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=i130guide2

Thank you. They're definitely not going to stay here permanently right now, they have to go back after a few months to take care of things in their home country.

I just received two letters of approval of my I-130 applications for my parents today. Wahoo!

But, my parents arrived in the US a couple of days ago on visitor's visas and plan on staying here for a few months. They have all their paperwork ready to file for the NVC steps. But I'm a little confused about how I go about letting the processing guys know that my parents are in the US already and try to get their interviews while they're here in the US. Is that even possible? Or will they have to go back to their home country for the interviews? Any help is appreciated! Much thanks.

Check at the very bottom of the RFE on the left of the barcode, the address should be there. I just sent mine in with the additional evidence a couple of days ago to:

USCIS - California Service Center

PO Box 10590

Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0590

Remember to make a copy of the RFE letter for your records, in case you need to follow-up with them regarding the RFE.

I had the same question last month and came here for answers - my parents' I-130 is currently pending and they wanted to visit the US on their 10-year visa. My father just arrived in the US last week, he carried with him bank statements from India, house title/paperwork, and a copy of the I-130 submission (just in case the immigration officer at the airport questioned him). He flew through immigration easily, not a question asked about the I-130 application. Hopefully your parents have a similar experience.