le_chat_fou

I have been scheduled for an interview for mid-June, but I did not go through the K1 process. I have heard/read about some cases that went through the K1 process and did get interviewed. No worries! and congrats!

it will take less than a wk to get the hardcopy. ours took 3days.

anyways on the letter it will tell u what to bring. but VJ'ers advice bring everything. same evidence from K1 stage. goodluck

I'll check again today since it has been about 3 days.

I didn't go through the K1 stage.. We met and got married while I had my F-1 student status. I'll look at the guidelines for K1 so I can get an idea of what a need to gather. I'm assuming I'll have most of it since we ended up sending in over a pound of paperwork and evidence when we submitted all the AOS application.

Thanks for the replies! I still feel super excited. I've been checking my mail box everyday, but there is nothing so far. I am giving it a week and a half before I worry about it being lost in the mail.

They should have sent you some kind of receipt. My husband has filled with Turbo Tax as well for the past three years. He had saved the receipts/verifications from each filling on his computer which is what we used for the sponsorship paperwork. If you don't have these, I'm pretty sure you can contact the IRS and ask for some sort of copy? Turbo Tax probably keeps records of your filings as well. Check on their website or call them.

Hope that helps!

Hi! I received a text this morning from USCIS notifying me that I have been scheduled for an interview on the 25th of June. I have not yet received an actual paper notification in the mail giving more details as to the location of the interview and what not, but my questions to you are:

• What paperwork (if any) should I start preparing for the interview?
• What kinds of things do they ask? (can I even ask that here?) haha
• Will this interview be just for me or both my husband and me?
• Do you have any tips for this?

Now that I am typing this, I should probably wait to get the paper notice first. However, these questions keep on popping up in my head!

Edit:

PS: sorry if this is in the wrong forum! (Which happened with my first post not too long ago..)

Hi! I am not too familiar with the J-1 visa (student exchange, right?) but as far as the F-1, you can go talk directly with your college. They should an office the deals with international students or at least some sort of adviser that handles these cases. The office in charge of these types of cases at university I went to are very thorough with all the paperwork they handle (since it is in a border city and has a heavy influx of international students) and with all the questions I had. They had me go to a mandatory orientation to get my visa. In the orientation they gave me a checklist with all the documentation I needed to apply for the visa. They were the middle men and sent in my application for me.

If I were you, I would go ASAP to inquire about the process the college you plan on going to uses and also about how your current status can affect what you want to do. Well.. as best as they can. These advisers as not immigration lawyers but can definitely guide you in the correct direction.

All of these dates you mentioned are coming up soon! Go ask before you miss other deadlines you might not be aware of. Also, start gathering documents related to your high school (or equivalent) education and such.

Good luck!!

Visa is not relevant; it's the status granted on the I-94. What visa did you *last* enter the U.S. on? And what does it say on the *last* I-94 that you received on that last entry? If you entered as F-1, the I-94 expiration is likely to be "D/S".

In any case, even if your status is expired, you have an I-485 receipt, and that is enough to prove you are authorized to stay in the U.S. I think you can just bring your passport and I-94 (expired or not) and the receipt.

Yeah my last I-94 said "D/S". In the checkpoint, I did not show my I-94 at all and had no issues. The receipts and passport proved to be enough documentation at least with the officer we encountered.

Alrighty! I'm here in Dallas reporting back to you guys.

We got to the Sierra Blanca checkpoint. My dad handed the officer his tourist visa and I-94 and I handed him my receipts and my passport. (Note: my passport currently does not have ANY visas in it since my previous one had expired.) We had also two other passengers which happened to US citizens, but they showed the officer their paperwork after we did.

The officer did not ask us (or me) any other questions other than our destination (Dallas, TX). He then proceeded to stare at my receipts. He was staring at them so profoundly that it gave me the impression that he had never seen anything like that before. I told him that it was my receipts for my change of status and my biometrics notice. Without looking up he said, "I know what they are," and handed them back and we were waved on.

I guess I came off a little condescending to this man about documentation because his tone of voice when he responded was not very positive... whoops.

So in conclusion, the receipts and passport were enough. I was carrying our marriage license but I didn't need it. Thanks again for the responses and tips!

It absolutely should suffice. Let us know your actual experience.

Will do! Our car trip will occur this upcoming Monday. I'll be sure to report back as soon as possible. Thanks again!

I know that if you get married through the Catholic church, it is the same as getting married though the court. At least in El Paso, TX that is. They pretty much do the paper work for you by default (as in the marriage license paperwork) so you get a two in one wedding. It seems pretty risky as others have said! I would personally hold off on this just in case it puts your status at risk.

Bring whatever documentation you have that proves your authorization to be in the U.S. legally. The original receipt and biometrics notice should do it.

The inland CBP agents vary in their professionalism. It's wisest to assume that they're bored and are looking to bust someone.

Wherever you go, avoid the inland checkpoint south of Alpine (Texas) like the plague. This is sound advice even if you're a born U.S. citizen.

From my understanding, we are passing through the Sierra Blanca checkpoint. It's the one on I-10 W if you are driving from El Paso, TX to Dallas, TX. I driven through there various times in cars with Mexican plates and other with American plates. At times, they will just let everyone pass by no matter the plates or the type of car. Sometimes, they stop everyone. When, I have been stopped it really depends on the agent whether or not I will have to show anything at all. I have noticed though that if a US citizen is riding with us, they usually just glance blankly at paperwork and give it back right away. That will be the case this time. I know I'm am here legally due to my pending status, I just want to avoid time delays and hassles on our trip.

I will definitely take the original receipts, the biometrics notice, my passport, and our marriage certificate (and of course my current driver's license). I can't think of anything else at this moment in time. That should suffice, no?

This post should help....

It definitely did. I had a freak-out moment there! Thanks!

what visa did you use to arrive in the USA ?

A G-4 visa, but that was many years ago. OK, here is some background info:

I arrived here (legally) as a temporary resident when I was 6 years old with a G-4 visa.

When the G-4 expired, my family and I got tourists visas and a few months later I began to study with an F-1 student visa.

Then, I filed (and received) an EAD, known as an OPT for students. Which is the one you get after you finish your college career.

During this time (OPT time I mean), I got married and filed for an AOS.

Now, my student visa is expired because the OPT is expired, meaning I have and expired I-94 as well.

My tourist visa happens to still be valid because we we got it, we opted for the 10-year visa.

They will want your passport with the I94 arrival record in it. Doesn't hurt to bring along the receipts also to prove you filed for AOS if they ask.

Alrighty, so passport... check

I94... expired

Actually my student visa, my opt, and my I-94 (by default) already expired by the time I filed for my AOS.

I have my tourist visa still unexpired but I doubt that will do much for me.

Should I just bring that anyway?

I also have a valid US driver's license. Would that help at all?

Hi! New here! Just had a quick question. I recently filed for my GC. I have received by receipts and my biometrics appointment notification about a week or two ago. I want to travel within the US by car and I will pass one BP checkpoint on the way. What documentation would I need to show? I am under the impression that the receipts can be enough? Help!

-Ana