Kim & Gesner

iaia, congrats on your interview notice!!! Lots of good things going on with everyone!

My last day at work is Dec 7th. I changed it so I can work through a full pay period. I will be leaving Maryland Nov 8th. Gesi starts work tomorrow and is sooo excited! Last week he went shopping for work clothes, boots, etc. lol He didn't have anything because he came for a visit in March and never left, haha. My boss asked me to stay, said they were making changes and these would be good changes and advancement opportunities would be coming. But talking to Gesi and hearing how happy he is being around family and friends in Florida with a job...... I couldn't take that away from him. I can find a job anywhere....

Naw lol he knows nothing about the medical field. He is a land surveyor. I am not sure what she is working on but we'll see soon enough.

Thanks everyone!! We are good. Gesi is in Florida and wasnt effected being on the western side of the state. I was called into work Monday morning and left this morning at 7am, to be on standby but work was slow (thank goodness). People took the warnings seriously and wasn't out on the roads. We received almost 8inches of rain but faired well with the winds. Just little damage in all. Other areas were not as lucky. But all in all, I think we came out lucky!!

And Gesi's GC came in the mail today!!! I put my notice in and my boss flipped! I offered a 30 day notice and she said she is not accepting it yet. She said give her a week and we will talk again, lol not sure what that is about but she clearly does not want me to leave. She asked if Gesi can't find a job in this area. lol I guess we'll see what she says in a week or so.

And congrats for all the movement to everyone!!! Things are moving for sure!!!

Gesi starts his new job Monday, well he starts orientation. I decided to put my notice in and last day will be Nov 30th. We will miss each other's birthdays (both in Nov) but we will be together for Christmas and New Years. It will allow me to start submitting resumes and gather a few checks (along with him gathering a few checks) before I leave Maryland. And it's giving my boss 30 days notice.

The GC has been mailed so I am just waiting for that. Gesi's aunt told us she has a small pool house with a sitting room, kitchen and bathroom we are free to use until we find our own place. She said our bedroom is just off the back of the house and there are sliding doors out to the pool so we have easy access to our bedroom/bathroom inside as well. I've been looking at houses and omg they are sooo much cheaper than here like a 1/4 of the price of homes in our area!! I found one with a POOL, 3 bedroom, 2 bath, modest home with canal access/boat dock for $106,000 - a house here would be like 300,000+ so I am super excited about house shopping! lol

And my friend Sandy and I are ready and prepared for the storm Sandy. We will most likely lose power and some news is saying possible to be without power for up to a week or longer (praying that isnt the case) so I might not be logging on here for awhile. But once I am back, I will give any updates

EDIT:

JUST GOT MY UPDATE!! AFTER I PRESS "POST"!!! LOL!!

EAD IN PRODUCTION!!!

Awesome!!! Congrats!!

We got our welcome letter today for the I-485 and the approval letter for the I-130. Also got text notice that his GC has been mailed!!!! God is good!! Now we just have to work on when I will put my notice in and pack up!

Is it something that he really likes or just to start?

Just to start but who knows, he may enjoy it. I am not totally sure what he will be doing but it's not a job in his field, but at this point, he is happy to have a job!

Soooo, lots going on!! It's exciting to see movement for almost everyone. For those who are still waiting, just know it's coming soon!!!

As for us, lots going on. Gesi got a job IN FLORIDA!! lol I got off work last night at 2am, came home, booked his last minute flight for 9:30 this morning. Took him to DCA and dropped him off, got home around 7am and went to sleep! lol So he is officially in Florida now (thanks to his uncle down there coming through for us). I guess everyone knew a move was coming, we just didn't know when and where (Texas or Florida).

So I will start submitting my resume to hospitals down there. Not sure when I will move as I will have to give notice of course when we figure it all out. But goodness my head is spinning and I miss him already so much! He's called 21 times already today, haha. He is soooo excited and proud right now. It's a good time for the Valmera family

On another note, looks like I am going to have to deal with Hurricane Sandy coming up and possibly taking a turn into the mid Atlantic coast. Not fun!

https://www.facebook...4660829?fref=ts

FACEBOOK PAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JOIN ME!!!!!

I joined!!

SMS from USCIS at 6pm regarding my EAD:

'Card/ Document Production

On October 24, 2012, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.'

Chuffed to bits

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know you've been waiting.... and waiting!!

SMS received at 5 pm

Card/ Document Production

On October 24, 2012, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

EAD/AP COMBOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Awesome!!!!! More good news!!!

Congrats to everyone on approvals, interview dates, and EAD's

I woke up this morning to check my uscis and nothing new, so I decided to call and see what info I could get about my EAD since my interview is only 2weeks away, only to be told im still within the 3month time frame and to wait

I took a small nap, woke-up and checked again....EAD in production!

Im ecstatic! Ill run to the mailbox for the next couple of days. Although its on its way, I dont think I'll have enough time to do anything with it for the interview. What do you guys think? Should I wait for an approval until after my interview to head over to the SS with hopefully a GC on hand, or should I just go right as soon as my ead gets here?

Im asking because im not sure what the difference will be with an ead issued ss# card, and a GC issued ss#. I guess its my ocd kicking in.... I rather have a normal ss# card than the ss# card stamped with the "for work only" I think id find myself right back at the office after receiving the GC

We checked the mail everyday as well for our EAD after our production email on Oct 6th but then we got more texts our case was updated then the last text Oct 12th that is has been mailed so no need to check mail everyday until you know it's been mailed. We received ours Oct 15th, interview was Oct 16th so we had NO time to do anything. We left Baltimore after the interview and stopped by the SS Admin and got his card ordered.

OH and BTW we have never received any text updates on our decision..... I had just happen to go online and check. I wonder why??

I'm still here with you guys! I am anxious to see you guys get your approvals. BTW, I did't even notice the I-130 was also approved yesterday as well. I guess that is a common thing to approve both at the same time.

No text or anything, I will check the website tho.

Congrats Kim and Gesi!!! Are you pregnant also???

No, not pregnant, lol I think it was the stress of it all. Not upset about it, we aren't prepared for a baby. lol

I posted our interview experience. All in all it's done, we were approved, thankfully!!

Awesome! Congrats on your approval!!!

Omg I am so happy for you and Gesi. Congrats

Thank you! We are so happy and very relieved!!

just checked the status online. EAD changed to card ordered production today, but did not receive text notification, maybe they will text later. at least something is moving along.

Same here, I haven't received text notification. I was actually in the middle of checking out drivers license info for Gesi and just decided to check and viola!! Congrats on your EAD!!

Congratulations!!! I was paying close attention to your posts and glad to hear it all turned out well.

Aww thank you! It was sweet to follow our journey. It's such a relief.... I cried! haha

After a week of wondering and questioning our interview, we got APPROVED!!!

OMG, does this mean we are approved/??????

Decision

On October 22, 2012, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before receiving your card, please call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

During this step the formal decision (approved/denied) is written and the decision notice is mailed and/or emailed to the applicant/petitioner. You can use our current processing time to gauge when you can expect to receive a final decision.

I have a question about Gesi's SSN. Of course it's stamped for work only, something about DHS authorization. My question is, what are the restrictions and limitations for using the card? I know it's for working but does that mean he cannot present the card when applying for a drivers license or being added to my bank accounts? I guess it may be a stupid question but what ARE the restrictions for having a work only SS card?? What can and what can't he do with it????

Our IO asked to see my husbands original birth certificate. We had official "copies" but he did ask to see the original.

PREPARING INTERVIEWS ....

what are you guys bringing to the interview?

1) A full copy of the file you sent?

2) + updated (last 2 months) paystubs, bank statements, and new photos?)

3) Did you keep copies of EVERY tax return/transcript page? and all pay stubs?

(I am going to my FIL (joint sponsor) tomorrow, I didn't made copies of every tax return page when I sent the package, and now I think I should get copies. he is traveling and not coming back until after interview, so tomorrow is my last chance)

4) Does the USC need to bring his passport? or just id (license) Hubby has his passport expired, like 10 years expired. We want to renew it so he can go meet my parents & country for xmas. Renewal takes at least a month, but I am afraid he needs it for the interview then we should wait until after interview (nov 6) to renew. though that would delay renewal process and make it tighter to buy tickets.

1) We took an exact copy of the package mailed but it wasn't needed.

2 & 3) I took updated pay stubs to reflect income since submitting the package but they were not asked for.

4) My passport wasn't asked for, just my ID so make sure the USC has their government issued ID. I renewed my passport but had it in time for the interview. I took my old one and my new one but again, it wasn't needed for my interview. I am not sure about anyone else's interview.

We were asked for:

Photos ID for me (USC), Gesi's passport and I-94 (which they kept/it expired Sept 2nd).

We also showed him Gesi's EAD/AP Combo card.

He asked for our original marriage certificate (at that time he did say he doesn't suspect we're lying, he just wants to see it in his hands, maybe to feel the seal stamp for authenticity??? - this was also at the beginning of the interview).

He also asked to see Gesi's original BC (which also looks like a Katrina survivor, haha that was funny). It's protected in a sheet protector to keep it together, lol.

And we were asked to see wedding photos. I told him we had copies of the ones submitted in the packet. He said "I am sure they are in here somewhere but I will look at the ones you brought". He then asked to see any additional photos of us together which I handed him as well. He didn't ask who were in the photos or where we were. He didn't even really look at them, just thumbed through as of shuffling a deck of cards.

Then he asked if we had any extra documentation or evidence since submitting packet. That's when I showed him a print out from USCIS website showing the EAD card was just mailed on Oct 12th and that's why we hadn't added him to my accounts or insurances. He said he understood.

The interview seem fine until he started asking about Gesi's kids and their ages (4, 6 and 9) and the date of his divorce (Dec 2009). That's when it went downhill.

But that is all that was asked of us.

Still no news... the waiting continues....

Awwww she's so cute. I love this movie too

I'd like to thank everyone on VJ who has helped(especially Ibee, Mrs. Gore and my August AOS filers family)me in one way or another in this process. I had my interview yesterday at the Holtsville office, interview was initially scheduled for 12:45pm but we weren't called in until about1:35pm. We were escorted to the office by a white female in her mid to late 50s. When we got into her office she asked us to remain standing until after she swear us in. After we were sworn in, se asked my husband fir his ID AND BIRTH CERTIFICATE and me my passport old and new. She looked at my husband's ID and right away the issues started because my husband's ID still states his old addres(my husband is the biggest procrastinator in the world). She looked at his ID then at our file and asked him where does he live he responded with our current address. She asked him so why does your ID say XYZ(old address) he responded because I'm a procrastinator and fr the longest while my wife asked me to change it and I kept dragging my feet. She told him "that has nothing to do with her cuz by law he has 10 days to notify the government of his change of address and according to your file its been more than 6 months since you've been living at your current address so you had more than enough time to get it done. I was like oh boy here we go, I was pissed as hell cause I've been asking begging even my husband to get his ID updated, every time we have an argument (even before we were married) its about his procrastination. He was like I'm sorry, she was like don't tell me you're sorry do you realize that you're in a federal building technically lying to a federal agent because here you are telling me that you live at so and so but your ID say something else?

Then she turned to me and she said so I see here that you lost your I-94? I said yes ma'am. She asked did you get a replacement, I said no ma'am but I do have a FOIA report with my I-94# and the name of the officer who inspected (basically my entire arrival record) me. She said to me we can't accept that, there's a form for this on our website that you needed to file and we'd send a replacement. So I started to explain to her why I did it that way and she wasn't interested. She said you really cut corners with this, you went around the whole process of obtaining the replacement. She picked up my passport to look at my visa and she said to herself " and you were only issued a 3 month visa, that's interesting I wonder why. At this point I said to myself I'm definitely not getting approved today.

Then she turned her attention back to my husband and asked him whether he has met any of my family members, he answered yes my grandmother and my aunt. She asked how about her parents have you met them? He said No, she asked why not he said because they're back in her country. She asked him whether he's visited my country he said No. She then said to him so why didn't you visit them they're your in-laws. He said because my wife wouldn't be able to go with me. She asked him so why don't they come up here to visit, I would imagine that they'd like to meet their daughter's husband? So he said I don't know I would imagine that they'd have to go through a process like my wife did and obtain a visa. She said to him so what your wife got a visa it shouldn't be that hard for her patents to get one. My husband just went quiet, I could tell he felt so defeated he had no idea he to respond to her. Before he got with me he didn't know anything about the immigration system(he still doesn't know). At this point the poor boy is so flustered, I looked at him and he was as pale as a ghost. She then asked him what was the reason your wife came to the U.S he said she did occasional babysitting in his mind he heard what has she been doing? She then said I see.

She turned back to me and said well Mrs. Jordan I must tell you that the burden of proof is on you. You must prove to me that this relationship is real and give me a reason to want to approve this petition. Did you bring me any proof today? I said yes and took it out the folder and handed it to her( lease, bank statement, utility bills). She asked whether I had any pictures to show her? I handed her our (small) album and she asked me do I know his family. I told her yes, I've met his mom and sisters (even lived with them) and showed her pictures with us hanging around the house for our weekend family/game nights. She then said she had to do a background check and we'd find out later today or at some point whether we were approved if everything checked out. She inserted some stuff into her computer then turned back to me and asked did you go to college? I said yes ma'am but not up here back in my country. She asked what did you study I said computer science with a minor in child psychology and electrical engineering. She asked do you work? I said occasional babysitting. She asked would you like to work? I said absolutely. She asked doing what? I said either a physical or occupational therapist for kids with special needs. She smiled at me and said you're all over the place. I said I know have to keep my options opens. She asked me whether my husband and I had any plans to travel. My husband(finally getting his tongue back) said he'd love for us to go to Mexico since our 2yr anniversary is coming up and it'd be our honeymoon also

She then said I'm going to approve your case so you guys can go take a trip. Enjoy your honeymoon and you go get a job and help kids. I couldn't believe my ears. What started of seeming to be a nightmare turned out for the best in the end. She said that we were gonna have to sit out in the waiting room while she updated the system and she's going to put the seal in my passport so I could leave the country and get my SS#. She explained how i need to go about with the ROC, she shook our hands and said have a great day and welcome to America

Wow, congrats!! It sound scary for a moment but at least she asked questions that allowed you to divulge personal feeling. Our guy was so cut and dry, just yes/no questions and no opportunity to explain anything or he cut us off, like he didnt want us to say anything more than what he asked. We haven't heard anything despite the prayers and constant checks on the uscis website. I keep telling myself no news is better than a denial

Well Gesi got his SS card in the mail today, so that was good. The stress is getting to him, he is arguing with me on everything. I am now 4 days late for my monthly but will wait a few more days before testing. I have never, ever skipped a monthly before and I am showing absolutely NO signs of starting one and yesterday I had a small bout of nausea and today again, it woke me up thinking I was gonna throw up but it was just nausea again.

But overall the positive news is he can start looking for work now!!

Thanks everyone. I am trying to stay positive. I was just so sure things would go so smoothly, never, ever thought they would suspect Gesi of possible fraud.