channie14

I have married my US citizen husband and had my first Greencard issued which was valid for two years. My Greencard expires October 25 and I need to put in my renewal docs to receive my ten year Greencard. My question is; i returned to my home country of Australia in February to spend extended time with my family. I was due to return to the US in 4 weeks but my father has passed away suddenly and under the circumstances I'm just not ready to leave my family yet. Can I apply to renew the Greencard while I'm in my home country or I have to be on the US to do that? Any info is appreciated. Thank you.

Hi All,

I'm currently living in the US, I have my 2 year permanent residency card which expires in October of 2015. I'm of the understanding that I need to apply for my Greencard 90 days before my permanent residency card expires. My question is, can I put those Greencard papers in from overseas, or do I actually need to be in the United States to do it? I plan to be in my home country (Australia) visiting for an extended time around the same time that I will need to be organizing the Greencard papers.

Any info would be great!

Thank you!

thank you so much for your help! so basically worst case scenario is we would need to reapply for the CR1. I will look into Direct Consular Filing too. I just wanted to make sure we can still definitely apply for the CR1 if we had to abandon the K1, I didn't want to abandon the K1 if it would make our CR1 application more difficult regarding them asking questions as to why we had to go that route etc. Thanks again!

Hi all,

I have a question regarding leaving the US prior to getting your AP document. I may need to return to Australia for around 6 months and I haven't received my AP document yet - I've done my biometrics appointment and now just waiting on my AP doc and EAD, but a few circumstances have changed and i may need to go home temporarily. My question is; where does that leave my US status at if I need to leave? Would I have to reapply for a spousal visa from Australia and start over an entire new visa process? What steps are required?

If anyone can shed some light i'd really appreciate it. Thank you!

That's an idea! Excellent, thanks again.

Ok, gotcha. Thank you for the details, super helpful.

Ok, but when you receive your EAD and AP that doesn't change your status to permanent in the US does it? My status would still be pending until I have my interview wouldn't it? So basically if I leave the US for an extended period of time it would void my status here and if we ever wanted to live back in the US we'd need to start a US visa process again for me?

Hello, my husband and I have applied for AOS and are now waiting to receive my AP and EAD - but we have decided that we would like to live in my home country (Australia), and for this we decided it would be best for me to go back to Australia and work and we would put in his Australia Visa application while he waits in the US for approval and I'm in Australia working - my question is; what happens to my status in the US if I leave after receiving my AP and EAD? Can you come back to the US for your interview? or are there any other options?

ok, thanks for that.

What happens if you do not file your adjustment of status forms because you need to return to your home country to work? Or what if you do file them and still return to your home country to work - where does that leave you? Would you need to start the process all over again and instead of getting a fiance visa you would need to apply for a visa for couples who are already married?

ok, thank you so much

So I went to apply for my social security number yesterday and all was fine but they told me that they have to confirm my documents with immigration before they will send me my SSN - is this normal? I'm in the country and they said it can take up to 4 weeks for immigration to get back to them confirming my docs???

No problems, thanks for your help!

Hi all,

Do you need to do a driving test when you will be transferring to a US license from a Canadian license - the road rules are the same in both countries so wasn't sure?

Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks

Great, thank you!

When filling out the I-485, do you use your married name or continue to use your maiden name?

Thanks everyone!

True that!

I arrive on Jan 18th and the wedding is on Jan 26th, I only just realised you're meant to wait 1-2 weeks before attempting to get your SSN#, so I'll try and get it the day before the wedding as I would have been in the US a week by then - hopefully that isn't too soon to try and get the SSN#.

Because the wedding is so soon after I arrive in the US I wasn't sure if I should just wait and get the SSN# after I'm married and have it in my married name instead of going back and having to change my name etc. All the info on here and what most people are saying to me is to try and get the SSN# before I'm married.

Have a question for you. Are you planning on getting your SSN# before you're married or after?

Haha yep! I will try the day before our wedding - that will have been right on one week since I arrived so fingers crossed I can get it done that morning. Otherwise, I'll have to go back after the wedding. Thanks again for your help!

Awesome, thank you! Sounds like the best thing to do is try and get it before I'm married, but yeah our wedding is a week after I arrive so may make that a little hard. Hopefully I can do it that way!

Cool, thanks for the help

Would love to get in touch with anyone moving to the Islands. I relocate to Honolulu on January 18th to be with my fiance and marry on Jan 26th. Aside from him I know nobody so would be great to hear from anyone

Hey guys,

I'm an Aussie living in Vancouver for the past 3 yrs on a work permit, just had my K-1 approved (met my fiance on vacation). I move to Honolulu on Jan 18th - wedding is Jan 26th (Australia Day )

Would love to keep in touch with ppl on the Islands going through this process, aside from my fiance I know nobody!

Chantelle