PBJ

In the interests of sharing, here's a copy of the letter that USCIS have recommended attaching to the new application:

The lawyer is Stephen Heller and his consultations are most definitely not free! But he is good and knows his stuff. He can define your situation much more clearly than any drastic advice on this forum can. Just don't go seeking legal advice as some sort of fix!

Hi all -
This is my first post in a while as I haven't needed to be on here recently. I got to the US on a K1 last July and filed AOS in Sep 2014. Well this morning I finally received my Green Card welcome letter and it feels great so I had to share!
I'm here not just to be smug: I do have specific circumstances around historic UK police cautions that could have easily derailed this whole endeavour, and so I post here perhaps to give some hope to those in similar situations. Over the past year I have received a whole lot of direct messages from some of those people, so let me say this post is for them.
If you're interested in the long story, here is the thread:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/499547-expecting-denial-got-approved/
And a little more detail on my case since arriving last summer:
I had my interview 16 days ago, despite initially receiving a letter stating I was unlikely to be interviewed. I attended with my wife and armed with a bag full of evidence of our co-mingling, our finances, our wedding, even wedding ring receipts and signed affidavits from our family and friends stating we are the real thing. We took everything, because why not. The interviewing officer asked for none of these things and simply took copies of some of our wedding photographs. We also faced no further questions about the legitimacy of our relationship, and instead the interview was taken up by my repeating answers to those questions we've all faced on the i-485 and the landing card about whether you've ever been a murderer or a pimp or a nazi. It all seemed a little strange to me but of course very easy to answer a clear NO to everything.
The interview seemed to be plain sailing when suddenly a supervising officer entered the room and explained that he needed further detail from the file regarding my UK police history. Whilst thumbing through the paperwork this second guy was very apologetic about interrupting but that he required further clarification on what constitutes a caution in the UK since there is no comparable charge under US law. I politely offered them a copy of the subject access report which expands further on the police certificate; worryingly they had not seen this despite it being in my application. Lesson learned: be thorough, and speak up if you have information supporting your case, even if its evidenced already! They are human and may have missed it!
I'm surprised the supervising officer was not already knowledgeable on UK police cautions, but its possible these situations don't come through very often. I appreciated his candor and also his apologies for delaying the situation; he could not have been more understanding and supportive even as I started to think the worst.
The interviewing officer concluded the interview and stated a decision would be pending further investigation but that I would receive notification anywhere between 14 - 90 days. I was gutted. It felt horrible to have come this far, to have uprooted my life and started over, only to have this whole fuss come to bite me at the last hurdle. I stressed and stressed all over again for days afterwards.
Well, 16 days later I got my welcome letter, so i'm now officially a legal permanent resident!
Despite the ebb and flow of expectations for coming on two years now, with rattled nerves based on some poor choices in my past, things turned out ok for me after all, and my wife and I can carry on with our blissful lives together in sunny California. Thank you America, and I owe even bigger thank you's to visajourney.com for seeing me through this whole process. Everything here from the guides to the reviews to the timelines and of course all the helpful feedback in the forums has carried us through this grueling process. I honestly do not know if we would have made it without this website. Hooray for the internet, and hooray for all the good people who stick around to pass on their invaluable knowledge.
THANK YOU / PEACE & LOVE
D&K

Do you really not understand the difference between initial evidence that is required at the time of filing the I-485, and other evidence that is asked for, either in an RFE or at an interview? This has nothing to do with what is required for ROC. We are talking about what is required for AOS.
You are referring to the initial evidence required with filing the I-485 from page 4 of the instructions. The instructions also state this, on page 6:

I already quoted a USCIS source. You can read very clearly that relationship evidence IS required for an interview. The AOS interview letters come directly from the USCIS and state at the top if you do not bring what is stated in the letter, then you can be denied and cites 8 cfr 103.2(b)(13). You can see a copy of an AOS letter here(and find more on your own through Google) > http://candleforlove.com/FAQ/AOS/Sample_AOS_Interview_Letter.JPG
YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH YOU:
Supporting evidence of your relationship, such as copies of any documentation regarding joint assets or liabilities you and your spouse may have together. This may include: tax returns, bank statements, insurance documents (car, life, health), property documents (Car, house, etc.), rental agreements, utility bills, credit cards, contracts, leases, photos, correspondence and/or any other documents you feel may substantiate your relationship.
How about the federal regulations code mentioned in the interview letter? http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/8/103.2
They can ask for other evidence, such as the relationship evidence that is listed as required for the AOS interview. I hope no one would take a copy of the I-485 instructions to an interview and tell the IO they do not have to submit anything else, or send a copy back as an RFE response instead of providing what they asked for. Well, unless they want to be denied that is. I strongly suggest people simply follow the instructions and requirements given to them by the USCIS and provide what is asked for.

My wife is in the same boat...just few months behind you.
Yes, you are supposed to renew EAD/AP at about 90 days prior to the expiration.
If your GC is approved during the 90 day window, terrific,
but if not, you at least have renewed EAD/AP on hand.
Also, on your potential interview waiver letter, it should have a project date
on when your case will be processed. Our's was about 6 months out
from the date we received the letter, which was around Sept/2015.
Since you are 3 months ahead of us, I'm speculating that your expected
processing time is around June/2015...so you probably still have about 2 months to go.

Hi all
My i-485 is pending following an RFE and response back in October. MyUSCIS/egov status currently shows that the RFE response was received and the NBC office is currently processing it. It also states that I would receive a decision or update by 3 December, which has now passed.
What should I do here? Is there any way I can follow this up for further info? Should I expect to have an interview at this stage?
I have completed biometrics, my EAD and AP has already been issued and I have SSN and driver license so all is well; i'm just being thorough.
Thanks all!
D

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

Thanks for sharing some good news and positivity and glad things are going well for you

Very well said!
I can relate to a lot of what you have said.
Good luck to you both.

You nailed it. I love the positive side of this post. Very enlightening.

It was nice of you to share this to help people stay focused.

Your dissuasion gave me a beautiful reminder to stay hopeful and remember the love we have for one another. Thank you for taking the time to keep us at ease at this discontenting period.

so touching!!!!! this is the first time I saw you posting, I had to watch your video and it made me tear.
I wish you the best in your life together!!!!

Exactly what i needed to hear this morning and the best thing i have heard today. Thank you and God bless you too.

Thanks for such a positive post.
Well done for your visa journey accomplishments, especially with an uncertain and difficult case. Congratulations on your new life, may you continue to cherish it and revel.
Your hope and positivity comes to us at a good time as our case has just taken a very uncertain turn and we are having a dark few days. So thank you for sharing.

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

A bit of a random post here but bear with me...
I came to the US on a K1 in July and i'm living blissfully happy with my wife here in California. This website helped me the whole way through the grueling process - I certainly could not have done it without all the support and advice this brilliant resource provides. US immigration can be unbearably drawn out and I remember toiling through days and weeks on my own wondering if it was ever going to end. It's a huge mountain of confusing paperwork and documentation and reference numbers and all kinds of strict administrative processes. It can also leach plenty of hard earned money out of your pocket, with no recourse to getting it back if it all falls through. Oh and on top of that I had further stress from minor historic offenses which could've cost me everything.
Its clearly long winded, hard work, and expensive. They don't make it easy.
So now I'm reflecting on this struggle, nine months after starting it all, from the privileged position of having successfully completed much of it. I'm living with my wonderful wife, I have permission to work, social security sorted and driver license on the way, and hopefully green card delivered in the not too distant future. I came from a position of disadvantage, I fought against it, I read hard and took advice, and I came through it.
This morning I updated my timeline and it felt great to be looking at all those blue boxes with green ticks. There's still plenty to do, I know, but I feel like a hill has been climbed and that feels good.
On the rare occasions I check back here at visajourney, I feel great sympathy for all the honest, well-meaning folks who are despairing at their current K1 circumstances. Its important to stay focused, keep your convictions, be honest, take advice from people who know better and be humble with Uncle Sam's way of doing things. I just want to let those people know that time falls away, things will move for you, and I wish you all the best in your struggle to get wherever you're going.
Keep the love and nothing can separate you from the person you've chosen to be with!
Peace,
D
x

Aww, well thank you. I do try not to get too worked up about things, even emigrating and getting a whole new life.
And you were always so helpful and patient with your advice; its impossible to be anything but grateful to that considering where I am now.
Glad you love the proposal video too! It wasn't easy to pull off! There's a making-of on my YouTube channel, and i've written plenty about that time and my life since on my blog: http://www.davidanthonyfearn.com/blog. Sorry for the shameless plug but hey, this is the internet and all dots have to be connected if its going to be worth anything.
Thanks for reading.
D
x