Kumi and Drake

Fortunately, I didn't have to, although I almost did change my career/industry of choice because I found it hard to find the job that I'm specialized at. After college, I worked as a corporate video editor for a university and applying in this field of industry here in the US made me realize I was under qualified for some, and/or my lack of experience in the industry here in the US made it hard for me to find an employer that will consider me. It's getting the interviews, but not getting the job offer.

I did look into (and still currently considering) working online as a freelance video specialist, but I need to invest on a good computer and a bunch of software... which isn't our priority right now >.<

Hi Stuart and Katie! It's been a while since I talked to you guys! I've dealt with the frustration of job hunting too and I know the resources that helped me most was going to a local career workshop I saw at MeetUp.org, and signing up at UpwardlyGlobal which has a bunch of training for new immigrants and they give you access to the job board once you finish all of it and it's all for free. You might want to look into it. I was in the middle of my workshop and training when I got the interview opportunity for the job I had now and my adviser helped me out tremendously. I have a bunch of other websites too but these two have helped me out at least in networking and resume building and job application/interview preparation.

GC arrived in the mail this morning! See you in 2 years USCIS! Woot woot!

Finally! Congrats sis!

I really hope so! I talked to an Immigration Officer yesterday and he said, it's nothing. Just a lapse/lag in the system (WOW 3 months of lag?!). That I should be ok because I have my EAD/AP and should be busy with work. That's it. LOL. How's job hunting for you going?

Pfft lapse. Or maybe USCIS just wants to keep you in the dark for a little bit more then surprise you with the GC when you least expect it. ;D I'll cross my fingers for you and the rest of the October filers who hasn't been approved yet.

Doin' good so far (I think) with the job hunting. Passed the first interview and I had a video skills practice yesterday. Here's hoping!

Hi all. Apologies, been extremely busy with work.

Anyway, weird thing about my AP status happened today. Note that I already have my EAD/AP Combo Card but both my husband and I got an alert through sms and email that my I-131 / AP status had changed, that my address was updated. I got excited, I thought I was getting news about my GC. Oh well.

Got my potential interview waiver on January 17th (letter dated Jan 10th). Still no movement on my AOS Case Status.

That might be a good sign! You might receive your GC soon!

We got to be friends and we were playing an online game. And that was back in 2005 and have been friends ever since. We first met in May 2012. And now we're married.

OOT. Couldn't help it but -

simba has just started going out now and has even made some cat friends, he seems so much more relaved, outdoor was the right choice for him

Our cat's name is Nala.

Our cat is indoor. The previous cat Robi that my husband and his family had was an outdoor cat and got ran over. So we rather have our cat indoors.

Kumi, that's very interesting to hear this from your perspective! So, how long have you been driving so far?

Not very long! I just recently got my driver's permit. I drive a couple of minutes within the neighborhood and in the church's parking lot right beside where we live. At first, yup I was very apprehensive and scared of learning it but when I got comfortable enough about the idea of driving around (I'm still scared of doing it on highways), I would always remind my husband that he needs to let me drive around for a while (which is like a couple of minutes). Slowly easing your fiance to the idea will help. She might be too shy to try driving with other people around too (which was what I felt) so maybe you could find a parking area where there's not too much people.

It helps too to familiarize herself with the surroundings whenever you guys go out. Remembering the landmarks and street signs (and familiarizing with the road signs) will help.

One time my husband parked the car somewhere within the neighborhood I wasn't familiar with, got out and exchanged seats with me and told me to take us home. Of course I was getting paranoid, but he says if you took a wrong turn, you'll know. So i just drove around, took two wrong turns, but I realized (without my husband telling me) that I finally recognized where I was and I took us home safe and sound. It might not work for your fiance if you surprise attack her like that though, but you know her well enough to know how she'll respond to something like that.

Third world. Those words. But yeah, I came from a country where driving cars are more of a luxury than a necessity so I never learned it. My in-laws have been trying to teach me, especially my husband. But what they pointed it is, they're so accustomed to driving that they have developed bad driving habits, which they don't want me to pick up on. Maybe you could enroll her in a driving school (which is my plan too). And just teach her basics in a parking lot. I was scared of learning how to drive because I got so used to commuting, which is probably something that your fiance feels too. That's how they eased me into it. And when I got my learner's permit, I got a bit confident enough to just drive around the neighborhood while my husband still teaches me. Good luck!

I am in the same position too. Been trying to look hard for jobs that need my skills. Not hearing from them makes me depressed most of the time. However, hearing from one of them actually gave me hope. I think I might have messed up the interview but here's hoping I hear from them within the week. Don't lose hope. I had my resume looked at by an agency and she made some changes. Keep networking and try asking for people around you if they know any jobs you could apply too. You're not alone, a handful (if not all) are having the same trouble too. Maybe have some back up plan and get some classes or certificates or, in my case, I plan on working online if within the next 6 months I still have no luck.

Finally some good news for me. I got the GC. Everyone who had the interview waiver has a big chance that within the week or so you may get an update for your GC. Mine took about three weeks from the waiver till it got delivered. Don't lose hope!

LUCKY! Don't worry. And don't beat yourself up too much! Crossing my fingers for you that you may get a call back from them!

Thanks sis! And don't worry. I'm pretty sure you'll be hearing form USCIS very soon. They might send you the Welcome to US letter first without any warning and then update you with the card production for your GC

How's everyone? And congrats on the recent approvals/updates!

I got an update again from USCIS and my card is now on it's way. Also got done with two job interviews today. I am scared I didn't do too well so I'm just beating myself up over it... At the very least, I got the experience of how job interviews are in the US.

2) Case status updated to Testing and Interview! YAYYY! Does that mean no chance of waiver, then? Did anyone who got a waiver have their case status updated to this?

I got the waiver after no updates or changes in my AOS status. I just got the mail one day saying we're a potential interview waiver case and that there's an additional 6 more months of processing. However, a week after that I got an update saying the card is in production. I think it's always a 50-50 when it comes to USCIS processing our documents. But yay for you. Even if you get an interview, most usually get an approval right on the spot!

Congrats on the recent approvals! I got an update saying my card is in production, after receiving a letter of interview waiver. Applicants who got the same waiver letter might be getting an update soon too!

For those who got the "potential interview waiver case" letter - did your status on USCIS change when they sent it? Just curious..

Nope. My USCIS status is still the same; it's still in the acceptance status.

I'm from Las Pinas. There's not much to see in Las Pinas (except the Bamboo Organ). This city is more of a suburban area - full of neighborhoods, bank branches everywhere, and two SM areas within the area lol

Congrats! A greencard and a job offer would make my day complete too!

I also got an Interview Waiver Case Notice .... :/

Oh no. Welcome to the club lol. Well, there's no use being upset over it. Looking at the bright side of it, there's still a possibility that they'll just send us our green cards before the additional 6 months in the process (basing this in a couple of posts I've read where they actually got it a couple of months after getting the letter.) I see it as additional time for my husband and I to build up our evidences in case they do ask us to be interviewed.

Firstly congrats to everyone who have received their combo cards and recently Green Cards

I just have a quick question: I received my EAD card mid decemeber, and my 1-485 status is still on acceptance. Is this just a case of "no news is good news" and we most likely wont be needed for interview and the GC will be processed slower?

Thank you

P.s, I will have to do both paper and driving test for my drivers licence here in Illinois.

We're almost the same with our timeline and received my EAD around the same time. My I-485 is still on acceptance too. So it's either you might get the interview waiver or you may be hearing for an interview schedule sometime soon. I got the interview waiver letter so my GC might take a while.

Sorry to hear that. At least you have your EAD right? I believe there's no correspondence needed for this. It's a wait-till-you-hear-from-us type of notice.

Yup, at least I have the ead. And thank you, at least I know now that we don't have to do anything else except wait lol

Just got the letter today. Glad this thread was here.

I got a letter from USCIS "Notice of Potential Interview Waiver Case". I don't know if we need to do anything regarding it. Based from what I read, the interview waiver makes it longer to get approved for the AOS >.< We don't mind though, at least that gets us a chance to build more evidence for our married life and get full time jobs till they decide they might want to interview us. Did anybody else get the letter too, and did you call USCIS to confirm this or is it just for notification and a reply from us (the petitioners) isn't really needed?

And congrats to everyone who got their GC! <3

Westin and I are doing great!