Dakine

the new fees do include AP and EAD....

GREAT! They are giving nothing for nothing!

GC processing is faster than AP or EAD at this time.

They do say they will speed up processing times with the fee increase.

Don't hold your breath!

How do you figure GC processing is faster than AP of EAD?

Because it happens from time to time does not make it a rule

Definitely not a Rule. But at this time and the last couple months it's happening unless there is a RFE involved.

Things can change tho depending what the man wants to set priorities on.

Lots getting their GCs in 2 to 3 months.

Recently it's been the AOS , CRs and IRs

I think we may have over paid our fees. When we mailed our packet off on Monday we included one check for $765.00. Now I'm re-doing the math and it appears we should have only paid $745.00... Which is correct? Will this result in a RFE for a new check? Or have we paid the correct fee?

Maybe you will get lucky and they will send the entire package back and you can delete the AP and EAD as they are a waste of time and money.

The GC processing at this time is as fast or faster than the EAD and AP.

Only will cost you $395!

I thought it had to be 3 seperate payments, except for the bio fee can be included in with the AOS. Someone clarify if I am wrong.

Actually it would be more than 3 including Biometrics!

the new fees do include AP and EAD....

GREAT! They are giving nothing for nothing!

GC processing is faster than AP or EAD at this time.

They do say they will speed up processing times with the fee increase.

Don't hold your breath!

Wind mills have worked in Holland for "awhile".

Yeah a bit different trip tho but they definitely don't hurt the scenary!

I've read the FAQ and the list here, and it seems that should my wife and I go on an overseas trip (Hong Kong) before we file for her I-751 all she needs is her country (S.Africa) passport and her Temp. Green Card; is that correct? Since her temp Green Card doesn't expire until 26Mar 2008 we should be OK when we come back through custom (LAX), no?

I might just be a bit paranoid and anxious, but we plan to file the I-751 exactly 90 days prior to Temp. Green Card expiration date (26Jan'08). But since that's a Sat. I figure it won't matter that much to send it in the following Monday (28Jan'08). Plus, rather than using attorney as we've done thus far in our process (K1 visa) we plan on filing the I-751 ourselves since it seems like it's only ONE form with various evidences, is that how you all persieves this? Though I am reading a bit of "horror" story with RFE and interviews which I don't think are good per se, but aside from bank statements, credit card, house deeds, utilities bills, life insurance, and 401(k) I'm just not sure what else to include without inundate them only to get RFE and/or interviews.

Let me know what you all think for our travel and filing for I-751. Sorry for being verbose, but these has been on our minds and don't have anyone to consult with...

-Rich

Don't forget the notarized letters from 2 peeps that have known you since the "get go" that are willing to testify if needed that you have a bonafide marriage.

Do Info Pass and there shouldn't be a problem getting it changed at all.

They are all tied in to the same computers.

Just be sure not to miss the appointment one way or the other as doing so is grounds for denial if you do!

No biggy to leave it as it is tho.

Heck we had to fly to do ours at a cost of $500+.

Yep, I agree that just going with the appointment they've given me is no big deal - it's entirely possible and not a problem at all (I know the half-day trip has nothing on the ones some people have to make to get to their appointments, I'm lucky!), just made me wonder if biometrics can be done at different offices without causing major dramas. Although most things with USCIS seem to have the potential to cause major dramas: the apparent nightmarishness of changing addresses with them being the whole reason we used my m-i-l's address in the first place!

I think you should just make an Infopass in Cincy to talk to them and see what they say. Just explain that you used her address because it's your "permanent" address, but you're currently in Cincinnati. The worst that could happen is that they say no. Then, you go to Columbus!

Haha, I do need to remember that 'the worst that can happen is that they say no' thing - rather than thinking 'oooohhhh I might really annoy them if I dare to even ask!' Hmm... when you go to the biometrics appointment, do you get some kind of proof that you've attended? Just in case I did go to the Cincy office, and they agreed to do my biometrics there... wouldn't want my application to be considered 'abandoned' due to failure to show up at Columbus!

When you go, they scan your biometrics appointment letter and enter all of your information into their system. About a day or two afterward, it makes it into your file somehow. Plus, they stamp, date, and sign your letter indicating that your biometrics were completed.

If you did go for an infopass and they scheduled you for a biometrics appointment in Cincy, I am sure they would deschedule the other appointment. I bet you could even ask them to make your local office Cincinnati. It's definitely worth a shot.

Thank you! I might do it... can't hurt (or at least I hope not), after all!

Hint! Be sure when you do Biometrics they have the correct info, A # and spelling that they stick in the computer. They screwed ours up!

Not once but 2 times. Yeah 3 trips total at $500+ a trip!!

They were VERY nice because of their screw ups. Not nice enuf to pick us up in a Limo at the airport tho! !!!!

Also be aggressive and if you don't like the first picture they take ask them to take another.

How did you know that they screwed up your info?? Did you get some kind of a notice?

They faxed us another Bio appointment and send us temporary GCs which ended up being worthless as SSA couldn't pull them up in their database.

We flew back a 2nd time and I blew it by not being more aggressive and checking what they were putting in the computer again and figured they'd get it correct! WRONG again! Same trip! Waited 3 weeks and no GCs so I called again! 3rd time I checked EVERYTHING and made sure. Got the welcome notice via email and the GCs a week later.

On second thought if I were you I'd stick with your original appointment. Bird in the hand is worth !!!!!!!!!

Do Info Pass and there shouldn't be a problem getting it changed at all.

They are all tied in to the same computers.

Just be sure not to miss the appointment one way or the other as doing so is grounds for denial if you do!

No biggy to leave it as it is tho.

Heck we had to fly to do ours at a cost of $500+.

Yep, I agree that just going with the appointment they've given me is no big deal - it's entirely possible and not a problem at all (I know the half-day trip has nothing on the ones some people have to make to get to their appointments, I'm lucky!), just made me wonder if biometrics can be done at different offices without causing major dramas. Although most things with USCIS seem to have the potential to cause major dramas: the apparent nightmarishness of changing addresses with them being the whole reason we used my m-i-l's address in the first place!

I think you should just make an Infopass in Cincy to talk to them and see what they say. Just explain that you used her address because it's your "permanent" address, but you're currently in Cincinnati. The worst that could happen is that they say no. Then, you go to Columbus!

Haha, I do need to remember that 'the worst that can happen is that they say no' thing - rather than thinking 'oooohhhh I might really annoy them if I dare to even ask!' Hmm... when you go to the biometrics appointment, do you get some kind of proof that you've attended? Just in case I did go to the Cincy office, and they agreed to do my biometrics there... wouldn't want my application to be considered 'abandoned' due to failure to show up at Columbus!

When you go, they scan your biometrics appointment letter and enter all of your information into their system. About a day or two afterward, it makes it into your file somehow. Plus, they stamp, date, and sign your letter indicating that your biometrics were completed.

If you did go for an infopass and they scheduled you for a biometrics appointment in Cincy, I am sure they would deschedule the other appointment. I bet you could even ask them to make your local office Cincinnati. It's definitely worth a shot.

Thank you! I might do it... can't hurt (or at least I hope not), after all!

Hint! Be sure when you do Biometrics they have the correct info, A # and spelling that they stick in the computer. They screwed ours up!

Not once but 2 times. Yeah 3 trips total at $500+ a trip!!

They were VERY nice because of their screw ups. Not nice enuf to pick us up in a Limo at the airport tho! !!!!

Also be aggressive and if you don't like the first picture they take ask them to take another.

I am just curious as now my beautiful baby has arrived, if we get married now, and submit our paperwork to apply for AOS, when can I still pay the $395 and not the $1095, if I can still make the deadline I would like to for sure. I was reading all these posts on this a few weeks ago and was having trouble sorting out when I would have to start paying more for the AOS for the K-1 visa.

We have not yet married or applied for SS# as she got here 3 days ago. Also I read that you have to wait 2 weeks to get a SS# or to apply for one, is this the correct # of weeks to wait?

Thanks all

Getting married ASAP is more important as no need SSN to apply for AOS.

Apply for AOS ASAP also even if you don't have all the documents. You'll save big bucks and only maybe have to deal with a RFE. Worst they can do is send it all back!

Total new fee for AOS "reads" $1010.

hi! to anyone who can help:

my fiance is not working right now and we have our interview scheduled for the 26th of this month. in filling out the DS-156 yesterday, i used the example form from VJ. i´m mainly worried about the question that asks about how he will pay for his ticket to the US -- on the example it says ¨myself¨, but he obviously can´t pay for the ticket by himself, so we put my name & myself. is that going to be a problem? should we go ahead and buy him a ticket? or should i write an additional statment saying that i will be paying for his fare? as usual, its always the little tiny details that i worry about and the ambiguity of what they´re looking for. THANKS for any help or advice!!

aes

If the example doesn't apply to your personal situation, don't follow it. Fill in the form with your name as the person who will pay for the ticket - no reason whatsoever to include an additional statement as the form does not ask for this. Since you already have to prove financial support for him, it makes no difference. His income is not an issue - yours, as the USC, is the issue. Do NOT buy a ticket until you have the visa in hand - otherwise you are asking for trouble since you have no way to know if the visa will be issued at the interview or if you will face namechecks, fingerprint hits, eligiblity issues, etc.

It is supremely unwise to buy the ticket before the visa is in hand.

Yeah USCIS says not to . At the same time it does show confidence in passing the interview. Plus you can get reservations you can change at little or no cost!

Do Info Pass and there shouldn't be a problem getting it changed at all.

They are all tied in to the same computers.

Just be sure not to miss the appointment one way or the other as doing so is grounds for denial if you do!

No biggy to leave it as it is tho.

Heck we had to fly to do ours at a cost of $500+.

Just wondering if we send in both part 1 and part 2 or just part 1?

You send both.

Also separate DS 230s Part 1 and 2 for each family member.

am just wondering isnt the ds 156 and ds 230 , the same thing ?, and if not what exactly is ds 230 required for ?

CR-1 is immigrant!

You can file them together, but you do have to prepare seperate applications. Generally for most jobs, at least outside of agriculture. You need to be 16 to get a job. Its possible he may have his green card by the time he wants to get a part time job. So you could save yourself the cost for an EAD

I guess 2 applications also means paying double for all the paper work to with the fees going up in july

Yep! Looks like 2 xs 1010 since since child is over 14! That HURTS!!!

Can I use the letter I got from my employer in Dec '06 (for k1) to attach to the I-864?

Obviously it's better to have an updated one but give it a shot! It may fly!

If it does fly.

Be prepared to answer why tho if they ask at the interview.

Just wondering if we send in both part 1 and part 2 or just part 1?

Also separate DS 230s Part 1 and 2 for each family member.

You peeps are making a SIMPLE thing very confusing!!

For one you don't need an ITR thats been excepted by IRS.

Just submit a copy of the ITR you are or have submitted. Tax transcripts are better but not required.

K1 can get SSN until 14 days prior to I-94 expiration and can work until such time.

K1 and K3 can apply for EAD and then they can get SSN also.

K3s have to wait until they get their GC to get SSN unless they get EAD.

Waste of money to apply for EAD if you are applying for AOS as it takes [unless RFE bigtime] as long or longer to get EAD than you get GC.

Waste of time and money also to apply for advanced parole as it takes as much time to get as the GC also!

Bottomline is get your AOS application in before 7/30/2007 unless you want to pay $1,010 instead of $395!!!

Even if it means you may get a RFE. No biggy! You save bucks and maybe lose a week or so.

One person that was transferred to CSC got their GC without interview and didn't even submit ITRs.

###### happens!! Sometimes good!

Aloha!

WOW ! you have censors here!

I got married in India last year and filed the I-130 and 129F/k3 in the US. Apparently they both have the same processing times and I received approval notices for both last week. My husband lives in India and has never been to the US before. The approval notice for the I-130 says "the petition indicates that the person for whom you are petitioning is in the US and will apply for adjustment of status." I have called USCIS and NVC five times and got five different answers about what to do...they include "send USCIS a letter asking them to correct their mistake, file I-824 (more paperwork to process and $200), contact NVC (who could not help me because they had no info yet), let him come on the K3 because it takes less than a month and then do the adjustment of status (does K3 really work that fast?), and finally an immigration officer said to do nothing it will get taken care of in India (why would they mail it to India if they think he is in the US?)

Does anyone have any advice on what to do? I am very confused. The K3 approval notice looks fine, but I would rather have him come with an I130 visa. I also don't want any confusion with his paperwork when he attends his visa interview. The people at NVC said they would not be receiving any info on him if the approval says he is in the US.

Try and do a Info pass at your local USCIS office! They may be able to "pull up" and correct.

Difficult to get correct info on the phone!

Hardest part is you don't know if the info given on the phone is correct or not!

Been there! done that many times.

Stick with the CR as it's a MUCH better visa. K3s suck. Been there done that also!

Actually!! An AOS applicant has 87 days to respond to a USCIS RFE. If the applicant does not respond within 87 days, the application is considered abandoned and will be denied.

Aloha!

My wife and I (the USC) got married last week and now I want to file AOS, get a SSN, add her to my insurance, get a driver's license, etc. Our marriage certificate lists her original name but we want to change both her first name (to her easier-to-pronounce nickname) and her last name (to mine). I'd really like to do it as soon as possible so we won't have too much confusion and won't have to change it in too many places.

I've read what I can on the subject but am pretty confused. Most of the discussion threads I read pertain to changing only the last name or assume it's been changed on the marriage certificate already. It sounds like it would be best to change it first at SSN but I'm not sure if we have the supporting evidence necessary. I also tried calling the attorney that I used to do the I-129f but I don't think they know what they're talking about. They basically told me to wait until after she gets a green card and that she probably wouldn't be able to get a SSN before then.

I did discover, while reading the discussions here, that I need to act fast because the SSN office won't issue a SSN card if the immigrant is 14 days from being out of status (which means we have to get it done this week!).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

:Sabaidee:

Go for the SSN ASAP. "Most" SSA offices won't give SSN within 14 days of I-94 expiration!

They are all different tho. Some SS offices have to be coached even to give one to a K1 at all.

People have had to print out the rules and regs of SSA and take it in and show them after SSA wouldn't give it the first time.

No reason to take a chance. Do it and worry about the name change later.

I imagine you do want her new name on the GC tho.

No need for a SSN on the I-485 tho!

Aloha

You HAVE to submit at least 2 NOTARIZED letters from reliable people who will testify if asked to you have a bonafide marriage!!

More ammo you submit the better chance you won't be required to have an interview!/b]

Where's the joint bills?

Life insurance ?

Will?

No need ITRs unless they were filed jointly!

Aloha

...

As for Tareq, you probably waited longer than you should have before pursuing other options. The USPS does not take that long to deliver mail, and once the check was deposited, they put you in the system, but they failed to get the NOA1 out to you.

You are right! I should have filed the day I found out about my case number. I kept thinking that it is USCIS and they are slow so maybe I would get my NOA1 in the mail today but that never happened.

Reason I am in a hurry is because I am planning to visit Pakistan in December and I want to have the visa stamped on her passport so that she can tag along when I come back.

I am ready to file I-129F on Monday without the NOA1. I'll see what happens. Hoping that since I am including enough evidence that I have already filed an I-130, they should not be picky about the NOA1 which they never sent me. I am realizing that if I wait any longer, who knows if they will ever send an NOA1. I have read here that another person got their NOA2 but never received their NOA1. So it's useless to wait because I want to pursue K3 and not CR1/IR1

Believe me you will regret it like I do as we went thru hell adjusting status. No need with the CR-1.