charlottelizabeth

I included a copy of my co-sponsors BC as well as a copy of their ID. I'm not certain it's 100% required (a copy of their American passport is usually enough to prove US citizenship) but I liked to know I was covering all the bases.

Have you already completed and sent through the medical, police certificate etc? Or is your fiance still putting all that together? Sounds like it doesn't matter either way, as long as you get those docs in before the interview date in Oct (if you haven't already). It's the home stretch from there.

Packet 3 is your instructions - eg, medical, police clearance docs etc. Packet 4 is your appointment package. It sounds like you got both at the same time which is weird since I thought you had to sign an interview readiness form in with the rest of your packet 3 docs before you could be assigned an interview date. For me, I got an interview date set for 2 weeks after sending in my packet 3 docs (and yes, send them all in together, less chance of confusion or lost documents). Good luck.

Yes, you do. You will get a RFE if you don't provide all the information requested. Good luck

I had two co-sponsors when I had my interview in Sydney (Sept 2013). They certainly looked over them but seemed happy enough since they made well over the poverty threshold. It is nerve wrecking but you shouldn't have any issues provided your co-sponsors income is all legal, etc. Good luck!

Interviews are only held on Tuesday's and only in Sydney. Not sure what the Melbourne review you saw was about

If you're worried about your income on paper, provide the tax info for the year's prior to your traveling and enclose a note explaining the big gap in employment. You shouldn't have a problem.

Good luck.

I did my medical in Perth, Western Aus in mid 2013 and it cost me a little over $500. Just for me. I'd definitely expect it to be more for you plus two teens. Good luck.

For us, all the money and time spent on getting the K1 visa, and then the LPR status, ROC, etc.. Isn't worth abandoning. I actually worried for the same reasons as you until I learned of the tax treaty between AU & the US. Since your hubby is a USC, you will always have that aspect in your life anyway.. There's no getting away from that. So, in my opinion I think the benefits of US citizenship outweigh the cons of living abroad as a USC.. That's just my opinion though and unlike you we will likely be back and forth between the two countries for many years to come. Good luck on your move!

I wouldn't commit to any date. I know it's hard but the chances of you losing money and time from the visa processing is huge. My then fiance and I sent off our K-1 petition back in Sept 2012, expecting a 4 month wait, 6 at the most. It took 9 months. That's just to get the approval - I then had to do the medical, the interview etc, which took another 2 months. The reason ours was delayed so much is because it coincided with the new DACA laws that were being put in force back then. My point is you just don't know what could prop up to delay events. Good luck and I wish you a speedy approval.

Mine took 8 business days to get back to me.

I would get citizenship first just to avoid the residency expiring and all the problems/hassle that comes with that. If you went the K-1 route, you can get citizenship within 5 years. Yes, you do have to file taxes abroad as a citizen (and even as a resident) but Australia and America also have a tax-type treaty with eachother - you still need to file but you will either be taxed at a much lower rate or not get taxed at all (Dependant on your income type) while living there.

http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/International-Businesses/Australia-Tax-Treaty-Documents

It was really hard, and we had a 6 month old at the time of filing too. My husband started off on a working/holiday visa that was extended, so he was living with me in Australia for 18 months.. We filed Sept 2012, he had to leave AU in Jan 2013. We got the K-1 in Sept 2013.. We managed a holiday to see him in the US on the VWP for a month in June 2013 so the longest block of time we were apart was 5 months - but yes, it was a very hard time for us! A lot of skyping!

My husband (then fiance) and I went into the K-1 process with a 6 month time frame maybe. Boy, we were horrendously mistaken! Through no fault of our own, the processing centres slowed almost to a halt after we filed (around when the DACA law passed).. It took us just OVER A YEAR to receive the K-1 visa. Having said that, I do know others who got theirs in under 6 months.. So, I wish you luck, but it's something you just simply cannot predict!

It was just over two weeks for me

WITH fingerprints. Good luck

Ok yea - my office is Raleigh (but it hasn't even been transferred there yet :/) Thanks again. More waiting, I suppose.

Ah, that sucks Raleigh is at Nov 2013. I suppose there is no harm in calling USCIS and asking why it hasn't been transferred to your local office yet? I would make sure you ask to speak to a tier 2 officer though.. good luck!

Is Dallas one of them?

Dallas is possibly the worst.. very backlogged there, they're currently processing end July 2013

Thanks for the info!

Well that's just awesome. It appears most people whose apps get transferred to a local office, are being done so rather quickly (around biometrics time). And considering mine never changed to Interview/Testing since February, can I assume that I was waivered?!

Not necessarily, where is your local office? Some are just processing really slow at the moment, I know a few offices are still only up to Oct-Nov filers.

Just curious... How can you tell if your application is still at NBC or if it has been transferred to the local office?

And also - I get that if you are an interview waiver, you do not attend an interview... but are these cases processed faster? TIA!

Your case status will change to let you know.

Interview waivers I believe are currently taking up to 6 months longer to clear than those who are getting interviews. So not a great thing to receive, really!

Wow congrats!

Me and my wife do not have joint bank account cuz we prefer to be financially separate. Hope that will not be a big issue.

It will probably only be an issue if you have nothing else in both your names. Do you have both names on a mortgage/rental agreement/car insurance or anything similar? If not then you might get some raised eyebrows.

I just wanted to know if there is anyone else at the national benefits center? mi local office is Salt Lake City, UT and apparently they are still processing cases from October 2013. I really don't know if that matters knowing that mine is being processed at the NBC and also that is still on acceptance. Should I call USCIS? or is this normal? I

EVERYONE'S case starts at the NBC. Once they're done with your case there, it will be transferred to your local office. Another reason for it still being at NBC is that you could be a potential interview waiver case.

Hi Everyone

I have a quick question. I filed the AOS along with I-765 and I-131 for my wife who entered on a K-1 visa.. It was received by USCIS on February 26, 2014. Last week I received the EAD combo card in the mail. My status for the I-485 still shows in the acceptance stage on the case status site.

When I sent off the AOS package I included my 2012 tax return and transcripts for three years as well. I had not filed 2013 taxes at the time of filing since it was not due. I was wondering if this will be a problem for our application. We have not received anything or heard from them at all. I have since filed an extension for my 2013 taxes.

Also any idea why I have not heard regarding an interview or anything.

Any insight would be highly appreciated.

As for the interview date it all depends on your field office! They all process at different rates depending on how backlogged they are. Which office is closest to you?

I received my Interview letter and i was looking what they're asking me to bring to the interview. There is a point there that says to bring "all documentation establishing your eligibility for LPR status". Is this like Marriage Certificate, NOA2, i94 and stuff like that?

Yes, exactly that good luck for your interview!

Received my Green Card in the mail yesterday!! I am looking forward to the next (almost) 2 years of immigration freedom! Thanks for all the help and support VJ, see you guys again at ROC - good luck!

Received my Green Card in the mail yesterday!! I am looking forward to the next (almost) 2 years of immigration freedom! Thanks for all the help and support VJ, see you guys again at ROC - good luck!

Hey thanks for the info!! Raleigh is my office (although the office is in Durham, just outside of Raleigh). That makes sense for the Green Card, but what I'm really waiting on is my EAD/AP. Which has yet to be touched since the initial NOA. Seemingly odd since they are processing those cards within 3months (unless I am mistaken?!).

I never thought I'd be begging to work, but damn! Haha.

Oh! Sorry! Yes, I would think about calling & enquiring about that! Most people got theirs between 65-80 days!