Erica & L

The USCIS will only accept the I-693 in the sealed envelope. The other copy is for your records

I'm born and raised in Vancouver, BC but I've been here for almost 11 months. I miss Canada a lot. My wife and I both don't like living in Alabama (we didn't really have much choice as we currently live in a suite rented by my mother-in-law or else we couldn't really afford normal renting circumstances on one barely above minimum wage income) but we are moving to Portland in a couple months! As you can imagine, being a gay couple in the middle of the bible belt has it's moments.
I miss my friends a lot. It was really hard and I had a lot of days that I curled up in a ball and cried and hugged my wife because I'd see something on Facebook or talk to them and it would just make me so sad that I couldn't be there. We are friends with people here but my wife works a lot and they don't live within walking-distance. There's no public transit here so I can't really go out, go the store, go to the mall etc to occupy myself because we don't live within walking distance of anything and it has been 11 really longs months without being able to have any employment. I miss feeling like an independent, functioning adult. I've lived on my own and supported myself for the past 6 years and to suddenly have to rely on my in laws to support us in some aspects and provide a roof over our head essentially hasn't been the easiest situation. Like, it makes me feel awful about myself some days but at the same time we are stuck.
On the bright side, I got my EAD approved and will be working asap so we can finally have two incomes coming in! And my wife's family is moving to Texas in 3-4 months, we are sort of on a timeline to save up enough money to start our life in Portland. Even though I don't have my GC, my friends can drive down and visit with us, when I get my GC we can go up to Vancouver to visit them and I'm really excited. We'll have our own little apartment and everything and I will finally start feeling like a human being again!
My wife LOVES Canada, like probably more than I do Loves my friends more than most of her friends down here. Loves the west coast in general and she had never left the south until she came up to meet me. We plan to move back there eventually but because schooling and the cost of living is cheaper in the US, we think it's best to finish up all of that and settle back down and go through Canadian immigration once we both have careers etc. She's been my rock throughout this entire process and always been on my side whenever I was feeling down in the dumps. I think has hard as this process has been, it's never taken a toll on our relationship. In a few months we will look back and think about the last year as something we pushed through and accomplished together and I think that's a bond a lot of us on here can share that a lot of other couples can't experience

I hope you get to live in Canada one day with your wife. Sounds like you two are a perfect match and she has really supported you throughout this year and vice versa.
I hope one day maybe me and the husband can live in Canada. The only problem is he has had a kidney transplant and he has to take medication daily for his weakened immune system so that may disqualify him immediately at the medical.

Erica - I"m happy you're finally able to get working and you guys have some plans. I know it took a while for you guys to get stuff rolling but I'm so happy for you that is has!

30-90 days from the date on your hard copy NOA1, providing you don't have any RFEs to delay the process. From what I've seen, it generally takes about 7-10 days to get the EAD once it goes to document in production, to being mailed out, to finally receiving the card in the mail.

Guys, this doesn't need to be a debate on abortion.
The fact is that the OP's timeline will not be affected by a baby in any way shape or form.

I'm just throwing this out there (because it's been grinding my gears from most of your posts I see) that although you are giving the OP correct information, your tone and wording, in most threads, is really unnecessary and almost condescending. Many people might not know all the facts, thus why they're asking for clarification, there is no reason to tell people to "stop trying to circumvent the system just because you want to be together faster" when they are clearly looking for answers and the correct and legal way to proceed. Half that paragraph could have been cut to avoid your personal remarks and just include the facts.
In addition, it seems like any thread who has someone who is AOSing fro a tourist visa you have a bitter attitude with. Myself, and various other people adjust from a B2 visa who had no pre-conceived intent to want to immigrate, just solely because we didn't have to go through consulate processing isn't a reason to make assumptions or speculate one's case. Life happens, circumstances do change, doesn't mean "fraud" needs to be screamed at every opportunity. Leave the judgement for the USCIS.

I'm just throwing this out there (because it's been grinding my gears from most of your posts I see) that although you are giving the OP correct information, your tone and wording, in most threads, is really unnecessary and almost condescending. Many people might not know all the facts, thus why they're asking for clarification, there is no reason to tell people to "stop trying to circumvent the system just because you want to be together faster" when they are clearly looking for answers and the correct and legal way to proceed. Half that paragraph could have been cut to avoid your personal remarks and just include the facts.
In addition, it seems like any thread who has someone who is AOSing fro a tourist visa you have a bitter attitude with. Myself, and various other people adjust from a B2 visa who had no pre-conceived intent to want to immigrate, just solely because we didn't have to go through consulate processing isn't a reason to make assumptions or speculate one's case. Life happens, circumstances do change, doesn't mean "fraud" needs to be screamed at every opportunity. Leave the judgement for the USCIS.

Maybe now on every Dateline or crime-related show they better start being more specific, such as: "Heterosexual couple murdered in their home" or "straight male kidnapped at gunpoint" or "trans* man attacked by cis woman" being that it is apparently important to mention these women' sexuality. They are sick human beings, having "lesbian" even in the title is utterly pointless and doesn't have anything to do with the fact that they are abusers.
The media is stupid.

I'm just throwing this out there (because it's been grinding my gears from most of your posts I see) that although you are giving the OP correct information, your tone and wording, in most threads, is really unnecessary and almost condescending. Many people might not know all the facts, thus why they're asking for clarification, there is no reason to tell people to "stop trying to circumvent the system just because you want to be together faster" when they are clearly looking for answers and the correct and legal way to proceed. Half that paragraph could have been cut to avoid your personal remarks and just include the facts.
In addition, it seems like any thread who has someone who is AOSing fro a tourist visa you have a bitter attitude with. Myself, and various other people adjust from a B2 visa who had no pre-conceived intent to want to immigrate, just solely because we didn't have to go through consulate processing isn't a reason to make assumptions or speculate one's case. Life happens, circumstances do change, doesn't mean "fraud" needs to be screamed at every opportunity. Leave the judgement for the USCIS.

I'm just throwing this out there (because it's been grinding my gears from most of your posts I see) that although you are giving the OP correct information, your tone and wording, in most threads, is really unnecessary and almost condescending. Many people might not know all the facts, thus why they're asking for clarification, there is no reason to tell people to "stop trying to circumvent the system just because you want to be together faster" when they are clearly looking for answers and the correct and legal way to proceed. Half that paragraph could have been cut to avoid your personal remarks and just include the facts.
In addition, it seems like any thread who has someone who is AOSing fro a tourist visa you have a bitter attitude with. Myself, and various other people adjust from a B2 visa who had no pre-conceived intent to want to immigrate, just solely because we didn't have to go through consulate processing isn't a reason to make assumptions or speculate one's case. Life happens, circumstances do change, doesn't mean "fraud" needs to be screamed at every opportunity. Leave the judgement for the USCIS.

I'm just throwing this out there (because it's been grinding my gears from most of your posts I see) that although you are giving the OP correct information, your tone and wording, in most threads, is really unnecessary and almost condescending. Many people might not know all the facts, thus why they're asking for clarification, there is no reason to tell people to "stop trying to circumvent the system just because you want to be together faster" when they are clearly looking for answers and the correct and legal way to proceed. Half that paragraph could have been cut to avoid your personal remarks and just include the facts.
In addition, it seems like any thread who has someone who is AOSing fro a tourist visa you have a bitter attitude with. Myself, and various other people adjust from a B2 visa who had no pre-conceived intent to want to immigrate, just solely because we didn't have to go through consulate processing isn't a reason to make assumptions or speculate one's case. Life happens, circumstances do change, doesn't mean "fraud" needs to be screamed at every opportunity. Leave the judgement for the USCIS.

I'm just throwing this out there (because it's been grinding my gears from most of your posts I see) that although you are giving the OP correct information, your tone and wording, in most threads, is really unnecessary and almost condescending. Many people might not know all the facts, thus why they're asking for clarification, there is no reason to tell people to "stop trying to circumvent the system just because you want to be together faster" when they are clearly looking for answers and the correct and legal way to proceed. Half that paragraph could have been cut to avoid your personal remarks and just include the facts.
In addition, it seems like any thread who has someone who is AOSing fro a tourist visa you have a bitter attitude with. Myself, and various other people adjust from a B2 visa who had no pre-conceived intent to want to immigrate, just solely because we didn't have to go through consulate processing isn't a reason to make assumptions or speculate one's case. Life happens, circumstances do change, doesn't mean "fraud" needs to be screamed at every opportunity. Leave the judgement for the USCIS.

It can take up to 30 days for your NOA1 and for them to cash your check.
From many timelines I've seen, it's taken 1-2 weeks on average. Mine took about 8 days.
Fill out form G-1145 with your package, which will allow to get the text/e-mail notifications first, followed by having your checks or money orders cashed, then you'll get your NOA1 in the mail around a week later.

Maybe now on every Dateline or crime-related show they better start being more specific, such as: "Heterosexual couple murdered in their home" or "straight male kidnapped at gunpoint" or "trans* man attacked by cis woman" being that it is apparently important to mention these women' sexuality. They are sick human beings, having "lesbian" even in the title is utterly pointless and doesn't have anything to do with the fact that they are abusers.
The media is stupid.

Maybe now on every Dateline or crime-related show they better start being more specific, such as: "Heterosexual couple murdered in their home" or "straight male kidnapped at gunpoint" or "trans* man attacked by cis woman" being that it is apparently important to mention these women' sexuality. They are sick human beings, having "lesbian" even in the title is utterly pointless and doesn't have anything to do with the fact that they are abusers.
The media is stupid.

Maybe now on every Dateline or crime-related show they better start being more specific, such as: "Heterosexual couple murdered in their home" or "straight male kidnapped at gunpoint" or "trans* man attacked by cis woman" being that it is apparently important to mention these women' sexuality. They are sick human beings, having "lesbian" even in the title is utterly pointless and doesn't have anything to do with the fact that they are abusers.
The media is stupid.

Maybe now on every Dateline or crime-related show they better start being more specific, such as: "Heterosexual couple murdered in their home" or "straight male kidnapped at gunpoint" or "trans* man attacked by cis woman" being that it is apparently important to mention these women' sexuality. They are sick human beings, having "lesbian" even in the title is utterly pointless and doesn't have anything to do with the fact that they are abusers.
The media is stupid.

That's insanely fast then and awesome for you! I'm just hoping to get my EAD soon if anything!

Your birth certificate, as long as it's certified, is your birth certificate whether you got it when you were 6 or yesterday. I've lost mine twice and gotten new ones, in fact, I got a new one right before sending off my AOS. I can't imagine it being a problem let alone needing an affidavit for anything!

You should have put "married filing separately" and wherever it asked for her SSN, you put "NRA" for Non-Resident Alien.
The trick is, you can't efile when you do this, so wherever it asks for the SSN you skip, complete the return, print it out, fill in NRA in the appropriate area by hand, then mail.
When you said it "didn't let you go to the next page until you put in a number" I find that strange because I also used TurboTax, did MFS and put NRA in for myself when I did my wife's taxes and I had no issues. It came up as a "suggested error" but did let me pass it and continue.
You are not legally single, so they may question why you didn't file MFJ or MFS. I suggest you amend and that way you have the corrected tax forms just in case any issues arise and also just to keep your tax history accurate.

That's awful, I'm sorry it went so poorly. I'm usually very out-spoken but I would definitely get thrown off-guard and intimidated which would probably throw off anyone during an interview, which doesn't mean your marriage isn't bona fide.
Sounds like he was having a bad day or on a power trip, because being an USCIS officer or not, there is no reason to treat someone like that or be a general dickwad. You guys are still people, going through a difficult enough process as it is, and deserve to be spoken to as human beings.
Good luck, hope it all works out!

I don't know how comfortable I'd feel if my wife didn't share financial information with me. Right now, she's the only one who can work, and when she was in Canada, I was the only one who could work. We've yet to be together and have two incomes coming in at the same time but we share a bank account, make budgets together. What's hers is mine and what's mine is hers. We have never given each other "allowances" or something, you should be equal partners, not acting like parent and child, imo.

Cut them some slack people, they didn't have many choices before DOMA was booted out. Its alot easier for the heterosexual couples to say you should never have lied. I would think about getting advice from an immigration attorney, maybe they can advise you. I'd hope that when you apply this time around as a same sex couple they'd at least have a little understanding of why you lied in the past…..but this is a government agency that you're dealing with so logic may not apply!!!! Good luck :-)

With the goverment, being honest is always the best policy, but I don't really see how everyone repeating this to the OP over and over again is going to change the situation. I'm sure they are aware they should not have lied, but like lynndy38 said, it's a lot easier to pass judgement in the moment than it probably was for OP to make that tough decision just for him and his partner to be able to stay together in the same country. I personally probably wouldn't have been thinking logically and more desperately if I had been in the situation too and was facing separation from my wife.
All you can do from here is be honest about the situation, no more lies or bending the truth. Do the process all by the book. Good luck!