Mmelon

Thanks for the support and suggestions everyone! It is nice to remind myself that there are other going through the same "battle" of language learning as well. 

18 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

The chief goal is to find any avenue that yields any progress at all, and to follow it.

This rings so true to me! This is obviously not my first attempt at trying to find English resources for him (we've been married for almost 5 years, which as how long he's been living in the U.S.). I even took ESL training myself to be better equipped to teach him. He needs to decide he wants to do this.

11 hours ago, bakphx1 said:

It may seem beneath him but use children’s books, Sesame Street and other children’s readers video games a on YouTube.

 

You can passively understand (or think you do) a language, but speaking it takes forming certain pathways in the brain and training the muscles (mouth tongue and brain).  Making yourself put a sentence together is different than just listening. 

 

Its like learning a musical instrument.  You’re have to make mistakes to get better.  I get frustrated with others who say the same thing about not wanting to practice.

 

Either practice and get better or make excuses, those are the same options everyone has.  Also enroll in adult literacy.

I absolutely agree with you about continuing to practice and get better and quit making excuses and that is a continued conversation that we have. I can't force him to be motivated to learn though. All I can do is encourage him to and provide as much support as I can. He has a pretty negative mindset and an attitude that he can never acheive this and doesn't seem to understand that you just don't wake up one day knowing how to speak a new language without putting any work into it. But I didn't want this post to be about me complaining about my husband. I want to do what I can to help him.

3 hours ago, Ontarkie said:

Look up homeschooling websites there are a lot of free resources. Find the book How to read in 100 Easy Lessons. This way you can help him at home and then maybe he will start feeling better about himself. 

I didn't think of looking for homeschooling websites! That's a good idea. I was homeschooled, but didn't have access to info on the internet as our curriculum was all in books and my mom has an aversion to modern technology! I often have come up with lesson plans, but my husband has always been less than than thrilled at my attempts and we would end up in an argument. 😑 But we need to keep on trying and find something that works!

Thanks for the replies everyone! I appreciate all the suggestions. I agree that exposure to the language that you are trying to learn is the best way to learn (that's how I learned to speak Spanish-total immersion!). My husband is quite shy and extremely self-conscious about not being able to read or write and has been unwilling to go to a physical classroom to learn for that reason. He claims it is a childhood trauma from experiences he had in school when he was young. We have gone back and forth on the issue a lot and it has caused a lot of heartache for both of us. That is why I am trying to find resources that we can use by ourselves at home. I think of that phrase that says "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." If he won't go to class, I want to provide another option. 

I have used Duolingo myself in the past, but I don't think it would work for someone who can't really read. I have never heard of Italki.com but will definitely look at it and see if it would help us! We get Rosetta Stone for free through our library system, so at least we haven't had to pay for it. 😊 I like the idea of using children's books and materials. I'd thought of that wasn't sure if he'd be offended by it. 

I am looking for online resources to help my husband learn English. He is a permanent resident in the US now and has been here for several years. He is not really literate in his native language (Spanish) and not at all in English. He understands probably 85% of the English he hears on TV and in conversation around him but does not speak much. We have done Rosetta Stone for awhile but it isn't that helpful. He is not at all comfortable attending an ESL school and most I have looked into expect you to be somewhat literate. I'm looking for online worksheets and lessons that I can work on with him at home. Any ideas?

I just check the USCIS case status online and it says we are approved as of 8/11/2016! Yay!! Can someone update the timeline? Ours was processed at CSC.

Updated to include biometrics for MMELON.

California Service Center (26 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
ORTOLAN...............01/29/16......02/01/16......03/11/16......--/--/--
MELI BZ...............01/30/16......02/02/16......03/11/16......--/--/--
STANOS86..............02/01/16......02/03/16......03/10/16......--/--/--
UYSH..................02/01/16......02/02/16......03/07/16......--/--/--
PRIYAJASMINE..........02/05/16......02/08/16......03/09/16......--/--/--
MILY90................02/05/16......02/08/16......03/07/16......--/--/--
JJ&MM.................02/08/16......02/16/16......03/07/16......--/--/-- early biometrics 02/29/16
EL CAPITAN............02/11/16......02/16/16......03/09/16......--/--/--
CANAM68...............02/12/16......02/16/16......03/07/16......--/--/--
PCPOLI................02/12/16......02/16/16......03/11/16......--/--/--
BOY&BELL..............02/12/16......02/16/16......03/07/16......--/--/--
NONOFURBUSINESS.......02/13/16......02/16/16......--/--/16......--/--/--
NOELANNE..............02/16/16......02/19/16......03/31/16......--/--/--
CMELLGREN.............02/16/16......02/17/16......03/07/16......--/--/--
LEON&MYLEN............02/16/16......02/19/16......04/01/16......--/--/--
GOCHICAGO.............02/17/16......02/22/16......03/28/16......--/--/--
RAMII.................02/19/16......02/24/16......03/28/16......--/--/--
CATHYVRPH.............02/20/16......02/22/16......03/28/16......--/--/--
J ANN.................02/22/16......02/23/16......03/31/16......--/--/--
FOXY05................02/23/16......02/25/16......04/01/16......--/--/--
MMELON................02/24/16......02/26/16......03/28/16......--/--/--
TEANET................02/24/16......02/25/16......03/28/16......--/--/--
CTDSRITZ..............02/25/16......03/05/16......03/31/16......--/--/--
WURSTBROT_ROYAL.......02/27/16......02/29/16......03/31/16......--/--/--
TEXAN86...............02/29/16......03/02/16......03/29/16......--/--/--

Opps, I forgot to ask, how will be be notified of the time and date for biometrics? By mail?

We just got our NOA1 in the mail today. Our Receipt date is 2/26/2016. Can someone update the information for me on the list? =) (I included the form for them to email/text me when they received the package, but they never did.)

Hi Everyone, I just added our info. I hope I updated the list correctly. We sent our ROC on 2/24/16 to the California Service Center. It is supposed to arrive tomorrow!

Current as of 2/25/2016

California Service Center (16 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)
VJName............................Date of I-751........NOA1 Date.....Biometrics.....Approved

ORTOLAN............................01/29/16..............02/01/16..............--/--/16..............--/--/--

MELI BZ...............................01/30/16..............02/02/16..............--/--/16..............--/--/--
STANOS86..........................02/01/16..............02/03/16...............--/--/16..............--/--/--
UYSH...................................02/01/16..............02/02/16...............--/--/16.............--/--/--
PRIYAJASMINE...................02/05/16.................--/--/16...............--/--/16.............--/--/--
MILY90.................................02/05/16.............02/08/16...............--/--/16............--/--/--
JJ&MM.................................02/08/16..............02/16/16................--/--/16..............--/--/-
El Capitan............................02/11/16..............02/16/16................--/--/16............--/--/--
CANAM68............................02/12/16..............02/16/16................--/--/16............--/--/--
Boy&Bell...............................02/12/16..............02/16/16................--/--/16............--/--/--
Nonofurbusines....................02/13/16..............02/20/16................--/--/16............--/--/--
NoelAnne..............................02/16/16.................--/--/16................--/--/16............--/--/--
cmellgren..............................02/16/16.................02/17/16................--/--/16............--/--/-
GoChicago...........................02/17/16..................--/--/16................--/--/16............--/--/--
Wurstbrot_Royal,,,,..............02/20/16..................--/--/16................--/--/16............--/--/--

Mmelon.................................02/24/2016.............--/--/16................--/--/16.............--/--/--


Vermont Service Center (13 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)
VJName..........................Date of I-751......NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved

WYDOT.............................01/29/16.............02/01/16..........03/08/16.........--/--/--
LECIGA.............................02/03/16.............02/05/16........... --/--/16...........--/--/--
Mizwah..............................02/04/16.............02/12/16............--/--/16............--/--/--
JWPOMALAZA.................02/04/16.............02/11/16...........03/10/16..........--/--/--
KALUSHA.........................02/05/16.............02/09/16.......... 03/08/16.........--/--/--
NMIC7...............................02/05/16.............02/09/16...........03/08/16.........--/--/--
GINGERSNAP..................02/08/16...............--/--/16..............--/--/16...........--/--/--
SHAIZ...............................02/10/16................--/--/16..............--/--/16...........--/--/--
TNJ...................................02/10/16..............02/16/16.............--/--/16...........--/--/--
JOHNE.............................02/18/16................--/--/16..............--/--/16............--/--/--
YUKSTER.........................02/20/16...............--/--/16..............--/--/16............--/--/--

YOLKANAV.......................02/22/16...............--/--/16..............--/--/16............--/--/--

SIO05................................02/23/16...............--/--/16..............--/--/16.............--/--/--

Received the welcome letter and two year Green card in the mail today! =)

Hi did you log into your uscis account & see what it says on there as you might have a tracking number for the green card

Update today saying that the card was sent, but still no tracking number.

Here is my update. Not a very happy one. About four hours after receiving the initial email that I posted on here, I received another text and email update, this time saying

"On April 25, 2014, 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."

I immediately checked the case status online, and instead of being in card production like it was when I checked it earlier, it was on "Decision."

I don't know if the system is just being weird or what. It is frustrating not knowing what is going on and feeling like they are toying with us. Maybe I will give them a call on Monday to see what is going on.

Hi just to put your mind at rest the two notifications you have received are normal you have nothing to be worried about, the first was to let you know the card was going into production & the second was about them sending you the NOA2 for the I-485, you will get another when they post your card out to you. Now relax ☺

Thanks for your post! Today we got a case update again moving us back into "card production." We hope they send the card fast because we are about to travel abroad on May 13th to visit my husband's family, and we would much rather have the green card at the airport than the advance parole!

Here is my update. Not a very happy one. About four hours after receiving the initial email that I posted on here, I received another text and email update, this time saying

"On April 25, 2014, 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."

I immediately checked the case status online, and instead of being in card production like it was when I checked it earlier, it was on "Decision."

I don't know if the system is just being weird or what. It is frustrating not knowing what is going on and feeling like they are toying with us. Maybe I will give them a call on Monday to see what is going on.

Did you get a letter stating they may waiver your interview?

I hope it is a correct update for you that would be amazing.

No, we did not get any sort of letter in the mail. We literally heard nothing from USCIS until I got the email.

Just got an email and text from USCIS for my husband's AOS application. "On April 25, 2014, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you.

He got his EAD/AP documents about a month ago, but we never heard anything since about the I-485 until today. No letters, no interviews, no nothing. Can this be true? =D If it is, it is the only part of this darned process that has gone smoothly for us!!

How do I find out where my local AOS processing center is? If it starts out at the national benefits center, does it always get sent out to a field office?

We finally received EAD/AP in the mail today! It took a long time for it to get here despite the usps tracking saying it was sent 2-day priority. But at least it got here!

Well firstly you are doing the removal of barriers to get your husband the CR-1 visa, not adjustment of status those are two completely different things.

As per the passport and name changes, I only can tell you that my sister traveled on her passport after her divorce. Her other documents were switched to her maiden name but she just got the passport 1 year prior to the divorce and you can't simply do a name change you need to pay for a new passport and they will change the name.. As per throwing up red flags, It is entirely up to that officer. Some people choose not to take their spouses name, and a growing number of husbands are taking their wife's name. Some countries such as Ecuador it is not customary to take your spouses last name nor can you change your name in Ecuador with out a court process.

If you want to keep your husbands name just go to the SSA change your name there, then go to the dmv and who ever and go from there. I would worry about your passport if it still has time on it. But that may not be "official passport rules" my sister didn't have an issue.

Thanks! We got married on a K-1 visa and are now adjusting status for my husband to become a resident. =)

I hope I am posting in the correct forum. I am the U.S. citizen and I would like to change my name to my husband's last name. I know the first step is to go change it through social security, but my question is, once I change my name on social security and my driver's license and other forms of ID, do I have to change it on my passport right away? I have a few years left on my passport before it expires, but will they still accept it in my maiden name? We are hoping to travel in April, so I don't know if it would be better to just wait, or to go ahead and change it now. We are in the process of adjusting my husband's status to conditional permanent resident and I kind of wanted to change my name before the AOS interview. I am worried the interviewer will think it strange that I did not take my husband's name. =/

My husband's EAD and AP approval were updated on the USCIS website on Thursday last week. I just checked again today, and we have a tracking number for EAD and it is on its way! But I am a little confused. I thought EAD and AP came on a combo card together, but on the website AP status just says "post-decision activity." Others who have already received these documents, are they mailed separately?

I checked the case status on the USCIS website this morning, and my husband got his approval for EAD/AP! We did not receive any texts or emails though. This is a relief. We were starting to think something was wrong.

I bet you receive something in the next 10 days.. You are on the same time frame as us. bettcha you do.....I doubt if we have any advantage except the lengthy marriage before AOS. Good luck..

I don't expect our interview for about 3-4 months.. If sooner it would be great.

Yeah I am expecting to hear something very soon. I would actually be ok if our interview is not for a few months. We've only been married for 4 months and I feel like we are not in a position where we have a lot of evidences of a bona fide relationship and I am terrified of having to "prove" it yet. We would be happy just to have the EAD/AP card. Good luck to you too!

I'm starting to think my AP/EAD has just been forgotten about. Over two months now and it still just says they've received it etc.

Keep trying to tell myself it doesn't matter and I'm lucky that I've got an interview appointment, but I really wanted to visit home this month. :/

How many others out there are still waiting for AP/EAD?

Still waiting as well. EAD/AP NOA1 date is December 17th. We had biometrics over a month ago and haven't had any updates since then.

It looks like the reasons was because you left the filing date blank for those items. It is a quirk of the system. I've added those dates (check them if you can) and your timeline information now shows up!

Thanks! It all shows up now. =)