Elove

On 2/24/2022 at 10:27 AM, jan22 said:

Why do you need/want an R-1 to work for the church?  You can work for them right now with your current work permit.  Is tbere something in your asylum case so it makes sense to change to a more restrictive status where you can only work one place?  (No need to answer these questions -- just posing them for you to think about).

 

It may be a moot point, however.  Do you have an unexpired non-immigrant status (an unexpired I-94 from your entry into the US)?  If not, you cannot apply for a change of status.  With the asylum application, you may be in a period of authorized stay while waiting for the case to be processed,, but it doesn't grant you a specific status unless the status granted at your initial entry into the US is still valid (for example, an entry as a tourist).  You need to be in status to apply to change that status.  And, getting an approved change of starus is what it would take for you to get R-1 status.  That is unless you choose to leave the US to apply for an R-1 visa, which would then be denied because you have immigrant intent (and possibly an ineligibility for overstaying your last US entry). 

 

My suggestion, if you want to work for the church, is to do so on your current work permit.  If you are planning to use the R-1 as the stepping stone to getting a special immigrant religious-worker-based green card, please note that you do not have to be working in R-1 status for the church to file the I-360 petition for you. It requires two years of religious work experience, but you do not need for those two years to be under R-1 status, as long as the work you do meets the requirements of the religious worker category.  See the Checklist for Religious Workers on the USCIS website: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/checklist-of-required-initial-evidence-for-form-i-360-for-informational-purposes-only for more information.

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation, I didn’t know about the I-360 petition, thanks for enlightening me on that. 
A follow up question , can I file for the I-360 as a special immigrant (I am the church minister) from USA or I am required to leave the states and file from abroad ? 

By the way; my husband is the one with a pending asylum case. I have been working as a minister for close to 5 years now here in the states. 
thanks 

12 minutes ago, Boiler said:

There are so many issues here, Just start with one. R1 is a non immigrant visa, you have applied for asylum which does suggest immigrant intent.

 

Freebie second, takes some time to get EAD so difficult to believe you are still in status.

Well maybe you are choosing to answer a different question than I am asking . Will wait to hear from others who might have more knowledge in the subject. Thank you . 

3 hours ago, Boiler said:

Work Permit does not really mean much, which visa did you enter on.

Came with spouse. Pending asylum case . Let me expand,My line of reasoning is this , if my church petitions for me and I get approved , with the R-1 visa, you allowed to work just for the religious organization that petitioned for you. That is where the work permit question comes in , what happens to the work permit I currently have? Does it get cancelled ? Does it continue to be valid ? 

I have a question on the R-1 visas. I am already here in the USA , my spouse has a pending asylum  case ,I do have a work permit expiring in 2 years .I am an evangelist and my church want to sponsor an R-1 visa for me. Do I lose my current work permit? Any one with some knowledge on how these really works ? Please help . 

how is getting divorced an option? am lost

ok . thank you

does everyone have two case numbers?

I'm a July filer and I filed without form I-864 Affidavit of Support. I received my RFE (Request for Evidence) and I would like to get a form I-864 example! I need the one for 2013; the newest form that is a little different than the older one from 2010-12. Thank you!!!

just to let you know, all immigration forms you will need are found on the USCIS website . here is the link to the form you looking for

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864.pdf

So I was looking at the official USCIS timelines and it shows ROC takes 6 months, so does that mean there will be a period of time when our gc will expire and we can't travel or work? Or does EAD and AP apply here as well?

the I-751 and accompanying documents are mailed to either the USCIS California or Vermont Service Centers, depending on your state of residence.you will receive a notice of receipt for the form stating that "Your alien card is extended one year- employment and travel authorized. keep the receipt with your green card.

in case you were still wondering , i found this inf online .

Do not worry guys , you will make it. It is completely normal to be nervous but there is nothing to worry about over there. My advice is stay cool , answer only the questions asked and don't try to "over convince" , they give a conditional green card in consideration that you just married and have not acquired a lot together, so don't worry if you just have a small binder , size here doesn't really matter , what matters is the chemistry between the two of you. Make sure you both know the story of how you met ,they have asked everyone this

Good luck to both of you!!

Purpose of visit--------- Adjustment of status from F1

Local Office --------- Los Angeles

Appointment --------- 10:15 am

Time arrived. --------- 9:45am

Time called in. --------- 11:51 am

The I.O ---------- Asian lady in her late 40s to early 50s

This is how it all went

Called in and followed her to her office ,

She swore us in and asked us to sit down.

Asked for our IDs and passports as well as our birth certificates

Set them on her desk and she asked husband first.

" what is your address", we have a new add from the one when we filed initially

She just crossed out the old add and asked husband for the new add

Then proceeded to ask place of birth, date of birth , parents name and then the yes no questions on the 485 form

She then turn to wife asked her place birth, date of birth, social security numbers

Then she asked for our joint ownership

Documents we had:

Auto insurance in both names

Bank statements

Sprint phone bills

Electric bill

Letter from work showing wife as the emergency contact

Letter from work showing husband as the emergency contact

Letter from school showing wife as the emergency contact

We had about 14 pics , she kept them all . some wedding , some family photos

We did not have a lease together so we were nervous about that, and yes she did ask for it. We just told her the truth , we don't have one because we just couldn't add the husband to it ,

She then asked us how we met, and we told our story and she seemed interested in our love story

All along she been typing things on her computer.

After that she asked if we had met each other's parents

She then got up and left to make copies I guess.

She came back and then she said she was keeping my ead since I no longer need it as she was approving us. Then it was a quick review on how we will go about removing the conditions and that was it.

Approved right there on the spot, interesting interview , 10mins of conversation and that was it. Thank you guys

I finally got an interview date Pheww , August 2 is the day!!

Hey guys, has anyone tried to leave and reenter the US with an EAD advance parole card? I'm thinking of going to Niagara Falls for my birthday on July 7th, but am scared they wont let me back in the USA. I know the card is authorization that I can leave the country while my paperwork is filing, but it also says its not guaranteed reentry.

Thank you for any help.

You only have a week left before the interview, forget about your birthday celebrate it after your interview lol.

Finally some progress after waiting forever , now status in testing and interview

But isn't it true they can only approve your EAD if biometrics have been cleared, they told me that my biometrics came back on April 22 the day I did them. I never got any RFE so what's the silence about, I know they are slammed but come on 1 person can't keep getting screwed up in any direction. Sorry I had to vent my frustrations , now let me go to work :)

I am wondering if calling the USCIS on I-485 case status will help me at all. Why I still haven't received updates on my case up to now I don't know. Even those from busier states have at least been moved to testing and interview after biometrics , 59 days after my biometrics and still no movement!!!

Today was my first day at work , now I can't wait for that first paycheck , and of coz the interview date

Finally my EAD went into production . I called my employer and I start tomorrow!!! I really needed this thing , now let me take a nap

I had an offer letter as well.i got a job offer may 27 . I have had enough with these ppl just that not it's not i will use a different grocery store kind of a deal, otherwise I am so overrrr these ppl

I just called them right now and they told me to wait, seems like they like to say that a lot huh?

What exactly did you include in your fax? I had my i765 receipt notice, a letter stating why I need this asap and a copy of a job offer that I got.

I had an offer letter as well.i got a job offer may 27 . I have had enough with these ppl just that not it's not i will use a different grocery store kind of a deal, otherwise I am so overrrr these ppl

Just got an email, no text, that the ead was approved today and went to card production!!!!!!!! Only an hour after I faxed in the stuff

Lucky you, I faxed mine yesterday and still no word. All thumbs down to these uscis ppl.

Elove, I can't believe there hasn't been movement on your case! I can feel your frustration through your post. i would be frustrated too, especially since we have proven time and time again that when we call to inquire about our items, things happen within a day or two!

I called yesterday about the EAD just to test this theory ... Again! And I was proven right ... Again! Even when the T2 rep said it wouldn't be adjunicated until the end of July.

I would call tomorrow and speak to a Tier 2.

Does your case number begin with MSC or CSC?

I did call T2 today she is the one who told me the request for expediting the EAD was passed to an officer and he has requested evidence supporting the reasons you cited in your request. I have to wait for the letter and then fax back the supporting documents with the notice. MSC

Seems like april filers have been on the roll. Unfortunately my case is probably being handled by either a lazy person or maybe he is on vacation in Hawaii. My case is simple, but I never got any updates after my biometrics. I inquired about it and was told expect a long delay for your local office. EAD which are supposedly handled by the NBC , u would think , do not have anything to do with the local office so I would expect when april filers start receiving their EADs I would also get one but obviously not happening. I called on Monday to see if I can expedite the EAD , because my wife lost half her hours to go back to school for her phD ,I already have a job offer pending the EAD, guess what I got today, they actually need evidence that I got a job offer, and my wife lost hrs , " I do have the evidence " , like seriously? When ppl that even filed weeks after me already got approved !!!

Here is the good part, they mailed me something requesting the evidence and I can fax the evidence but only when I receive the letter, hahaha ridiculously fun. Anyways they hold the cards you got to play by their rules. So I will just wait now. One day while I am waiting my turn to cast my vote for the running president as an American citizen I will probably be laughing about this whole experience , I hope :)

Why they keep skipping my papers I have no idea, this is just messed up and starting to get frustrating.