Cheryl-Hossein

I just spoke to a DOS rep while trying to track down where our petition currently is. She says they do not know how the shutdown, if it happens will effect them. It may be she can't tell us anything yet, or they honestly don't know yet.
I think the majority of the general public is outraged enough and they're just posturing, and there will be some last minute save at the buzzer, or it will only be for a few days at most.

US Congressman.  They have special reps in their offices who only deal with USCIS and other immigration agencies.  My Congressman's office has been so helpful in monitoring the status of my husband's ROC.
 
https://www.house.gov/representatives/find/

My husband is a Seyed. We did all his paperwork with "Seyed Mohammad" as his first name.  I think as long as you pick a way and stick with it throughout the process, you'll be fine.  I chose that way because all his documents from Iran listed the Seyed.
 
P.S. -- Feel free to contact me directly with any questions you have.  I'm happy to pay-it-forward.

My husband is a Seyed. We did all his paperwork with "Seyed Mohammad" as his first name.  I think as long as you pick a way and stick with it throughout the process, you'll be fine.  I chose that way because all his documents from Iran listed the Seyed.
 
P.S. -- Feel free to contact me directly with any questions you have.  I'm happy to pay-it-forward.

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

I'm a California Notary. All the advice they gave you is solid.
Just wanted to provide a little clarification for you. A JURAT or AFFIDAVIT is the same thing as an OATH. So when a notary does a Jurat, not only do they watch you sign the document and stamp it with their seal, they also give you a brief oath where you swear that what it says in the attached document is the truth under penalty of the law.
Also, remind your friends to take ID with them when they go to the Notary.

His green card does not give him any benefits of having a US passport.
It does, as you said, give him the right to enter the US.
Certain countries (including Canada and some Central American and Caribbean countries) allow US permanent residents to enter with their foreign passports and green cards.
For example, as an Egyptian, I always needed a visa to visit Canada, but after I got my green card, I flew to Montreal and just presented my Egyptian passport and green card (no visit visa) and I was allowed to enter.
For Europe, he will need to apply for visit visas. I think that his chances of being granted a visa will go up significantly because he has a green card... the consulate officials will feel that there is less risk of him overstaying his visa since he is legally allowed to live in the US.
My friend is an Iranian who is married to an Italian. When he was on a work visa, it was very hard for him to get an Italian (Schengen) visa, but after he got his green card, he got a visa easily, even though he told them he was going to visit his fiancee's family (which may have made them think he might want to live in Italy).

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

I hope AP goes quickly for you. We were surprised about no AP too, but I think we had a couple of thing in our favor. 1) he had a military waiver, so he didn't do the two years of service; 2) I was in Ankara with him and when they found out they had me come back the following day to be interviewed also; 3) I'm a legal assistant, so our paperwork was flawless.
Also, I think the Ankara embassy is probably more used to dealing with Iranian applicants than the German embassy. I know it's difficult, but I'm sure you will get your visa soon.

You only need the first shot in the series for AOS. If your DS-3025 is complete, then you don't need to see a civil surgeon...you can just submit the properly completed DS-3025 with your AOS application.
This post will help you determine if your DS-3025 is complete: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/428381-i-693-report-of-medical-examination-and-vaccination-report/?p=6206232
The table listed here will show you which vaccines you need based on age: http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/civil/vaccination-civil-technical-instructions.html#tbl1

My fiance has a very Muslim name (even though he is secular himself) -- two prophet names, plus an honorific meaning that he is directly descended from the prophets. We're K-1, but he was approved without AP, and received his visa a week later. I think the embassy interviewers are smart enough to see beyond common Muslim names.

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

I work for one of the unions that processes advisory opinion letters for O-1 Visas. Sure, it's possible to do one without a lawyer, but I've looked at nearly 500 cases this year and I can't remember a single one that did not use a lawyer. It's a very very specific visa. Unless the beneficiary is an Oscar or Grammy winner (or whatever might be the equivalent for dance, in the case of bboying), you must back up evidence like crazy.
You must have itineraries accounting for every moment of the requested time of the visa, deal memos or contracts with salary showing they make well above the "normal" or average salary. I would look up union scale for a dancer or choreographer to see if he comes anywhere close. There are many various unions for dancers and choreographers, and the lawyer can advise you which two will be best for his situation. You must have letters of recommendation from respected individuals in his field. He must show a history of box office or sales receipts. He must show evidence of press in respected trade journals or national/international newspapers or magazines. (Ones the caliber of Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, NY Times, Vanity Fair -- not local papers or blogs). The company or companies he'll be working for must be of a distinguished nature -- meaning they can show a history of success in the industry, awards won. It also means they must be legit, tax-paying organizations -- not some guy who books dancers in his spare time.
If he's at all serious about an O visa, he should consult with a lawyer. One of the P visas (P-2 or P-3, I think, but don't quote me), might be an option. It's a performer as part of a touring group. But these are also very specific, and I believe they are limited to a certain number per year.
If I was his lawyer (and I'm not a lawyer at all), I would also downplay the "bboy" aspect. He is a respected dancer, who just happens to specialize in this specific genre.
Good luck -- I hope this helps.

I'm not trying to be discouraging, but I really don't think the O-1 visa is for him. If he can't prove that he makes an above average salary, that is already one major strike against him. It's an expensive visa to process and really does require someone who is experienced in such matters. A lawyer will be happy to take his money -- and the lawyer must be paid upfront regardless if he gets the visa or not. It doesn't sound like he has that kind of disposable income.
In the field I work in, it's reserved for people who have name recognition to the general public -- think director Peter Jackson, or actress Maggie Smith, singer Adele -- people who have been nominated for Oscars and Grammys and Emmys. Even then, the awards aren't enough. It still needs to be backed up with hardcore evidence.
I know your boyfriend must be very talented, but the O-1 visa is reserved for "extraordinary achievement". There's only a tiny percentage of the public who meets that criteria. Again, I urge him to look into P visas, or a vistior visa.

I'm not trying to be discouraging, but I really don't think the O-1 visa is for him. If he can't prove that he makes an above average salary, that is already one major strike against him. It's an expensive visa to process and really does require someone who is experienced in such matters. A lawyer will be happy to take his money -- and the lawyer must be paid upfront regardless if he gets the visa or not. It doesn't sound like he has that kind of disposable income.
In the field I work in, it's reserved for people who have name recognition to the general public -- think director Peter Jackson, or actress Maggie Smith, singer Adele -- people who have been nominated for Oscars and Grammys and Emmys. Even then, the awards aren't enough. It still needs to be backed up with hardcore evidence.
I know your boyfriend must be very talented, but the O-1 visa is reserved for "extraordinary achievement". There's only a tiny percentage of the public who meets that criteria. Again, I urge him to look into P visas, or a vistior visa.

I work for one of the unions that processes advisory opinion letters for O-1 Visas. Sure, it's possible to do one without a lawyer, but I've looked at nearly 500 cases this year and I can't remember a single one that did not use a lawyer. It's a very very specific visa. Unless the beneficiary is an Oscar or Grammy winner (or whatever might be the equivalent for dance, in the case of bboying), you must back up evidence like crazy.
You must have itineraries accounting for every moment of the requested time of the visa, deal memos or contracts with salary showing they make well above the "normal" or average salary. I would look up union scale for a dancer or choreographer to see if he comes anywhere close. There are many various unions for dancers and choreographers, and the lawyer can advise you which two will be best for his situation. You must have letters of recommendation from respected individuals in his field. He must show a history of box office or sales receipts. He must show evidence of press in respected trade journals or national/international newspapers or magazines. (Ones the caliber of Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, NY Times, Vanity Fair -- not local papers or blogs). The company or companies he'll be working for must be of a distinguished nature -- meaning they can show a history of success in the industry, awards won. It also means they must be legit, tax-paying organizations -- not some guy who books dancers in his spare time.
If he's at all serious about an O visa, he should consult with a lawyer. One of the P visas (P-2 or P-3, I think, but don't quote me), might be an option. It's a performer as part of a touring group. But these are also very specific, and I believe they are limited to a certain number per year.
If I was his lawyer (and I'm not a lawyer at all), I would also downplay the "bboy" aspect. He is a respected dancer, who just happens to specialize in this specific genre.
Good luck -- I hope this helps.

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

48? Are you saying Hawaii and Alaska aren't allowed until you have Advanced Parole?

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

If you've got a Smart Phone, download the Genius Scan App. It's the best of both worlds. You can take a photo, but also crop so it looks like a scanned document. It's really high quality. I use it for my home office all the time.

Not a same sex couple, but I am so happy the tides are turning in the US. I'm in California and I'm witnessing my best friend's wedding on Tuesday, and have several more friends getting married in the coming months. I wish you the best of luck and hope you have a speedy process!

He only needs to state Self-employed for name and address of employer and then list his occupation and the date from 5 years ago to present. No need to list every single client he has had in the last 5 years.