blackberryapple

I checked the USCIS website today and I am approved!!

You guys should start receiving approvals soon too!

Citizenship next

Hey VJ Family,

I am an October ROC applicant.

How are your experiences with that so far, were your employers understanding? Or did you have to do a lot of explaining and provide more documents? I don't think this will affect my eligibility for employment with my future company, but just want to be prepared

Can I please be added to the October list?

Thanks

Hey All,

I received a letter from the USCIS mentioning that my green card is extended for another 1 year, but there is nothing updated online. Will it keep being that way?

Any input would be appreciated

Thanks

I sent my papers in yesterday and it was delivered today.

I totally didn't include copies of my husband's US passport, which freaks me out.

I just remembered browsing through the list of documents but none really mentioned about including that. I did include a copy of my green card(front and back), and my hubby did sign the form and wrote a cover letter.

Did you guys include copies of your US spouse's documents?

Thanks

Your list looks great as it is. Do you have any retirement account with beneficiary? If so you could add that. Good luck!

We don't! We are a young couple fresh out of college so that's why we don't have a ton of stuff together, but hopefully this'll work I'm still waiting on my company's insurance but I'll definitely add my hubby to that once I have it

We dont have a joint bank account I do have access to his account and vice versa though.

I really hope its enough!

Thanks guys

Hey guys!

I am putting my file together for the ROC, my green card expires on 10/31/14 so I don't have much time. Hubby was overseas so that's why.

I need some input about my list please :

• Copies of the passports and green card of green card holder
• Jointly filed tax transcripts for year 2012 & 2013
• W2 form for green card holder listing address
• Residential leases showing both names
• Utility bills, online purchases & letters showing proof of residence
• Pictures with friends & family
• Copies of joint AAA membership.
• Copies of joint car insurance ******** I have a car but that car its under my name since it was a gift from someone else and adding my hubby to it will take 3 weeks to receive the title so thats why i didnt bother
• Copy of our visa credit cards showing a joint account.
• Tickets of performances that we enjoyed together
• Joint dog adoption form from PAWS
• Receipts of hotels & car rentals from trips we took together

Is that enough??????/

Thanks guys

Thanks guys for answering

My problem is that : for the first apartment, bills were under his name becaus I was in malaysia that time visiting when he found the apartment. For the second apartment, bills were under my name becaus he was jobless they time and it was easier for me to pay the bills

Other evidences of co mingling of finances include various other things that he paid for me, like my tuition fees etc. is that fine? Should I show that ??

We don't have a joint bank account but we do have a credit card together

1. Getting ready now and tell him to sign every forms he needs to sign before he leaves.

2. USCIS requires all supporting papers under both names, so it won't help your bill has your name only. Adding spouse name to bills or statements for recent months will not help, RFE will occur because they need 2-year spanning bonafide evidences, not just a few recent bills. You can explain why you don't have joint bills on your head letter.

3. ROC is your application so there is no need of your US citizen spouse's presence when you are waiting for the outcome, unless they need you two to be interviewed.

4. Driver licenses with same address, joint car insurance, health insurance, life insurance within last 2 years are really essential. Collect as much as you can, you can call your insurance company, they will provide all certificates of coverage you had with them before.

5. Don't send clumpsy tax returns, RFE is really easy to occur if missing a W2, 1099 or something. Order and Print Tax transcripts within minutes at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

6. Believe in God and keep faith. Good luck.

Thank you for your reply

1. No problem at all

2. For our first apartment bills were under his name and for the second apartment, bills were under my name. Will that be fine?

3. No problem. If there is indeed an interview he will be present no matter what

4. My drivers license recently expired, it had a different address but since we are living with his parents I will use their address. We are both quite young, I'm only 24 and both of us recently graduated. So we don't have a car, mortgage payment or whatever. Even our health insurance was from our school so I don't know how that works. The insurance company does know we are married though cause in all our papers we listed that we are married

5. I don't think I kept all my w2s omg. Will a tax transcript for 2 years suffice?

As for more evidences of co mingling of finances, is it a good move to show that my husband paid a lot for my bills : like tuition fees, credit card and etc. I have all those records

Wow, time sure flies. It has been 2 years since my AOS from F1 got approved.

My Conditional Green Card expires in October, so I am getting ready to file my ROC.

Evidences of bona fide marriage include :

1. Joint Leases (we moved twice)

2. Pictures of us with family members & friends from both side

3. Joint Tax Returns

4. Joint credit card

5. Utility bills under my name

6. Letters sent to our home with both our names

7. Affidavit from Mother in law

8. Receipts of a gifts to each other

Now, I want to be clear that we are still very much married and intend to stay this way. My husband however, has developed health problems that is preventing him from properly walking. He has been limping and walking with a crutch for a few months now. He did some checkups and the doctor said that he needs to undergo treatment. Unfortunately it is rather expensive to go through with the treatments in the USA, and therefore his grandmother wants him to go to China for the treatments instead and she will cover the bill.

I plan to file my ROC in early August, within the 90 day period of my GC expiring. The problem is, he plans to leave the country in late June. The treatment takes at least 3 months, and his relatives apparently want him to stay longer because they claim that once he starts working, he won't be able to visit them that often. As a wife, I want my husband to be healthy so I really don't mind him going to China, and I understand that he misses his relatives so I don't mind him visiting either. I am pretty independent so I don't mind him away since he will return anyways. I am not going with him to China because I just graduated, and already went back to Malaysia for 2 months. And since my husband is not working, I kinda need a job to support both of us. However, I have to admit that I am worried about my ROC.

Lets say that we jointly file my ROC in early August, whilst he is away - will that be possible? Is it fine if we are temporarily separated for the time being? I am just worried that the USCIS will think its a red flag that he is away while I am staying?

Lastly, should I even mention that he is away in our application? The reason being, both of our permanent addresses are his parents house - which we are living in. I will stay there for a month or so longer until I move to NYC first to look for a job. When I have a new apartment in NYC, both me and my husband's name will be in the lease as he will be back after China

Hello Visa Journey Family!

I figured I should share my experience of entering the US border using my Advance Parole.

Just for some background information. I was on F1 visa, but I was out of status for 60 days before filling everything (took some time to gather the joint sponsor stuff).

My flight was from Hong Kong to Chicago O Hare International Airport. My AP was approved on August 3rd 2012, a bit earlier than the 60 day time frame due to the fact that I requested for it to be expedited. (In short, just call/make infopass appointment). I actually left without the AP in hand, on the 5th of August because of a very emergent situation at home. The AP document was actually sent out only on the 17th of August, reaching my house's mail box a few days later. Hence, my husband had to ship the AP document to me so that I could return to the US.

Now, on to the experience at the port.

I queued up at the 'visitor' line. Took close to 40 minutes for my turn. I was greeted with a 'good morning' followed by a question of 'is this your first time using an advance parole?" - to which I answered 'yes'. The officer at the first inspection was courteous at the beginning, not too bad until I saw him tossing my AP document from one end of his desk to the other. He entered some data into the computer, took my finger prints(made me repeat that twice), took a picture of me using the webcam. He then called upon an office on duty nearby and explained to him that he was going to refer me to second inspection because it is my first time using an AP and that he wants the other officers to "check what is it all about". They talked amongst themselves something about how they 'don't print APs anymore(???)'.

Anyways, after that I was escorted by the said officer on duty to a waiting area where there were quite a few people. There were small rooms inside that waiting area where I saw a few people being called into for further questioning. The wait was dreadful as I was scared and nervous. No one spoke to me about anything, my passport and AP were taken away by the officer and he only told me to take a seat and wait for my name to be called. I waited for more than 2 hours. During that time, many of those who arrived around the same time as me already got their passports back but I was still there. As far as I know there were quite a few officers inside, and there were so many people waiting too! Not just foreigners, but even PR and US citizens! The officers were not rude, but I won't say that they were totally friendly either. They were stern, serious and a bit intimidating.

Thankfully, after more than 2 hours of waiting. An officer called my name and I came forward to him. He returned my passport, AP document and told me to have a good day. At the customs check, I didn't get too much trouble. But my customs declaration stated that I visited several countries including Myanmar (for religious purposes, we are very staunch Buddhists), so the officer asked me what was I adjusting my status from and whether I brought any food items back(which I didn't).

After that, I was free to go !!!

Overall, yeah the waiting sucks but at least I got through. Furthermore, I received a letter from my attorney about our interview date ! It's going to be on Halloween day !!!!!!

How do you guys expedited AP processing?

My expedite was a nightmare, I went to Infopass but no luck because my I 485 still had a RFE. Then I called the service line and did it through the phone. The next day they emailed and asked me for evidence. Yesterday my RFE response got to them and today I received another email stating that my expedite has been granted plus the approval notice and AP will be sent to my address.

My reason to expedite was a really ill father at my home country, I had doctor's notes and my husband's ticket to my home country to care for my dad till I rejoin them.

I just checked mine, It's the approval date

Thank you so much, I realized that your AP was approved rather quickly! Did you expedite it? =)

Also, when they mailed you the AP, did they notify you via status updates/emails?

Thanks

Hey guys, a quick question here.

For those of you who already received your AP document - in regards to the date on the document it self, is it actually the date of approval that is on there or rather, a later date than the approval day?

Just wondering because I have no idea how many days it would take for the USCIS to actually print the document and send it out after approval,and furthermore I only received an email from them saying my AP was approved, the case status online is still under 'initial review'.

Thanks

Hey guys.

I have a situation here.

Well, my dad is ill in my home country and hence I requested an expedite this Tuesday.

I already received the email notice from USCIS stating this :

Type of service requested:

-- Expedite

The status of this service request is:

Your Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, was approved on 08/03/2012. Your Travel Document and approval notice will be mailed to the address on file. If you do not receive the travel document within 30 days from the date of this notice, please contact customer service at the number below for additional assistance.

Well, it was a relive knowing that my travel document is approved. And I do wish to travel tomorrow if possible due to my dad's condition. However, I have not receive my AP in hand and naturally I know it is a risk to travel.

My question is, has anyone traveled without AP in hand but already received approval? If so, what were the questions asked at the US entry port?

Thanks in advance

AP does not require biometrics.

Just checked, I think they changed the rules about biometrics.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=b11747a55773d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD

Biometric Services Requirement: Refugee Travel Document and Reentry Permit applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 must complete biometrics. After you have filed this application, USCIS will notify you in writing of the time and location of your biometrics appointment. Failure to appear to be fingerprinted or for other biometric services may result in a denial of your application.

what should I do now???????

You stated that you fell out of school which means you are out of status right? How are you going to travel on AP knowing that you pretty much overstayed. I think you would be banned for 3 to 10 yrs. Didn't your attorney advise you on that?

I appreciate your comment and yes for your reference - I did discuss this issue with my lawyer. Alas, nothing in the immigration issue is absolute nor guaranteed. But as far as I know, I did not fall out of status for more than 180 days. "An overstay of 180 days or more (six months) results in a 3-year bar. An overstay of a year or more generates a 10-year bar". Whether or not I will be inadmissible is very much unclear, but if your question is whether I am aware of the fact? Yes I am

AP does not require biometrics.

Thank you for your reply.

Hello Visajourney Family ! =) This is my first post here so if you guys would be nice that would be awesome.

A little background information about myself. I came to the US back in January 2010 as a F1 student, maintained that legal status all the while. It was only until late March 2012 when I dropped out of school. I have been with my now-husband (US citizen by birth) for quite some time now and we both felt that it was now time. Thus, we were legally wed on April 6th 2012. We then encountered various problems with joint-sponsors and such which resulted in the delay of the filing process. On June 25 we finally gathered everything together and our attorney sent our finalized package to the Chicago Lockbox.

I received my first NOA in the mail on July 7th(even though the notice date on the NOA is June 28th).

My father is rather ill in Malaysia, his health was always bad and he has been suffering from various sickness since I was a kid. Of late his health took an even worse turn because he had sort of a stroke at home, and moreover he also requires eye surgery which requires someone to be at home in order to care for him. My mom is working, we are not rich so we need whatever income we can get. My brother is away for college and it would be a waste financially to make him abandon his studies to care for my father. Furthermore, I have not seen my parents for more than 2.5 years, that feeling of missing and worrying about a beloved family member is too much to bear...... I really wish to be there for him.

On July 10th, I was still yet to receive my biometrics appointment notice. I did however, called the USCIS helpline and explained my situation to them - about my dad's situation and how I wish to travel back ASAP. A representative told me that I could try and expedite my AP through the phone and he did so for me. He also mentioned that I would hear back from them in 5 days.

On July 12th, I received my biometrics appointment notice for July 17th. I decided to make a walk in attempt today at the Chicago branch and was however denied. =( The guard said something like I needed show proof that I wouldn't be able to make it on the appointment day to be allowed in.

I called the USCIS helpline again today, June 13th to explain about the fact that my biometrics appointment is not till the 17th and I fear that the USCIS might deny my AP because they will see that I have not done my biometrics yet. The female representative mentioned that sometimes they take slightly longer than 5 days for them to process expedite requests and urged me to wait and call back if they still havent gotten back to me within the 5 day frame.

I am rather worried about my situation because :

1. My appointment for biometrics is not till July 17th, but since I request an expedite on July 10th - assume they make the 5 day mark, they ought to get back to me on the 15th and I wouldn't have my biometrics done by then!

2. Fear that they might not see that my biometrics appointment is on the 17th and automatically deny my expedite on the grounds of incomplete biometrics.

I guess my only hope right now is that the USCIS will somehow knowledge that my biometrics appointment is on the 17th and make a decision in regards to my expedite AP after the biometrics have been completed.

So, after my long winded explanation. Any advises, suggestions ??????????????????????

Thanks in advance