PabloGarcia

We had some stuff that I probably wouldnt have included if I had done a better job of reviewing the chat logs and it never came up. Just be prepared to address it. Also out of context the sentence you posted doesnt really seem like a big deal.

Departments within the same agencies don't even work together in my experience!

We only bought a round trip ticket from Europe because it was a lot cheaper. I cancelled the return leg when we arrived in the USA. No problems

So, I received an update on the i485 on the 19th about going to testing and interview, no updates since then, but I checked online and it says the case was last "touched" on the 29th (yesterday) but no emails or anything... Could that mean we got an interview date already? Or what could it mean?

This happened to me this morning. I guess we will have to wait and see

Call Delta. They helped me out when I booked a ticket in my wifes married name with a different passport name.

what date is your interview? once you will have GC you don't need EAD or AP...

Still no interview date...just the text message that our case was changed to testing and interview

You will get a letter in the mail with your interview date.

I got my testing and interview notice last week but my EAD/AP is still in review, which is kind of worrying me because we need that for a trip back to Romania in August!

Whoops sorry!

Check the Nov TSC filers thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/498362-filer-november-2013-waiting-for-noa2/

I think you want to read this thread on what happened to one person driving in CA after arriving with on a K-1, and making the assumption they were legally driving.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/196639-driving-in-california-a-warning-to-all-you-non-resident-newlyweds/

Yikes...thanks for sharing that.

I doubt that is gonna wash if your wife is stopped by the CHP.

Taken from the DMV CA drivers handbook

"If you become a California resident, you must get a California driver license within 10 days. Residency is established by voting in a California election, paying resident tuition, filing for a homeowners property tax exemption, or any other privilege or benefit not ordinarily extended to nonresidents."

The AOS that I assume your wife either is or has submitted to get a GC would be a privilege not ordinarily extended to nonresidents. That sounds like very duff info given to you by your local DMV office, but as I said, it's not me you need to worry about, it's the cop if she's unfortunate enough to be stopped.

If you want further clarification, try tweeting CA DMV on twitter. They are very helpful and always responded to my tweets when I had a question.

My wife cant vote until she is a citizen, she cant qualify for resident tuition until shes lived here for 1 year, she cant file for any tax exemptions since she doesn't own property or pay taxes since shes not allowed to work. As for the application, anyone can file it, even people living overseas (there is a portion of the applications we filled out for people doing just this) so I dont know how that determines residency anywhere.

I looked into this pretty thoroughly and was eventually confirmed by a supervisor at the DMV so im going to take their word for it.

She's driving illegally then. She might want to be extra careful at stop signs!

Not according to the supervisor at the DMV that rejected our initial attempt at getting a license.

As an example, California recognizes a foreign DL. However, when you become a permanent resident of the state you have 10 days to get a California DL. Since my wife is in this weird immigration limbo, legally here on her K-1 but not a permanent resident of anywhere (until she gets her GC or EAD/AP), shes been driving with her foreign license.

We just got our testing and interview email notice!

For what its worth It took me about 4 months and 200 resumes to get 6 interviews and finally a job and im an American Citizen. My wife is a pharmacist from Romania and were looking at like another year before the US Pharmacy Board even recognizes her degree and even once that is done she has to intern for a year before becoming fully certified to practice in the USA! Just be patient and send out lots of resumes.

California doesn't recognize the IDP. They won't take your foreign license either.

Updating with the last two threads since West Sacramento Was bumped off the list.

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Add your info alphabetically
City - Date - Reason - Successful
Take out the top and bottom "quote" tags so your edit is not in a box.
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ALABAMA
Birmingham, AL - The guard told us it was not our date. I told him that I had to work that date, but was off today. He give us a hard time, but finally agreed to let us through. Funny because there was only one other customer there. Successfu

CALIFORNIA
Buena Park - No reason, just gave security guard my appt letter. YES
Chula Vista - 2 Walk-ins, first was 10 days early and the second was 23 days before the appointment. Successful.
El Monte - 13 days early. Work conflict. Sup wasn't nice about it, but biometrics got done!
Gardena - 5/24/12
Los Angeles - (USCIS Fairfax on W. Pico). Successful with no questions asked.
Los Angeles - (downtown) July 2012. NO

Los Angeles - San Fernando valley (Chatsworth) division: successful walk-in, no questions asked, short wait. 6/11/13.
Oakland - Oct 2013 successful
Pomona - long wait. Successful
Santa Ana - Walked in 2 times in June 2012. No questions asked. The friendly security guards even told me I could go inside to fill out the form for my wife but will have to wait outside afterwards.
Santa Ana - early walk-in successful, the day after I recieved the biometrics letter (original appointment date: 03/11)! Really nice staff and security guards.
Santa Rosa - Walked in right after lunch. very few people. They were not happy and pointed out the scheduled date many times, but didn't send us away. I'm glad we were in the area and busy on our actual day.
San Marcos - Walked in at a little after 2pm and we're 2nd in line. Showed Appointment Notice and passport. Entire process only took 15 minutes and didn't have to pay parking fee (inside a small shopping center)
San Marcos - Walked in right after I got apt letter, went 20 min before closing, was the only one there, didn't give any reason, was in and out in 7 min, free ample parking space.
San Jose - 4/29/14 - Successful. Appointment for 5/14/14. Did a walk-in at 11.20am. Staff was pleasant and polite. In and out in 10 minutes.

West Sacramento - 4/28/14 - Unsuccessful

COLORADO
Aurora - Went 10 days early. Reason: I was in the area and had lots of meetings on appointment day. Successful. I arrived at 8 am and saw that lots of people were waiting. Left, did some chores, and came back at 9:15. Finished biometrics in 10 minutes.
Denver - went in 2 days early because I couldn't get the day off of work to take hubby on exact date and we had no issues

FLORIDA
Jacksonville - May 2013- Gave no reason, 2 weeks before appointment, successful in 25 minutes.
Miami - June 2012 - Gave no reason. Showed up 2 weeks before - was in and out in 5 minutes.
Oakland Park - Feb 2013 - Gave no reason, 2 weeks before appointment, succsessful in 10 minutes.

GEORGIA
Atlanta - No reason Officer had us wait outside until the earliest appts went in (about 15 minutes). Yes.
Atlanta - Our appt was for 6/13 went in 5/25 and we were successful with no questions. The office just wrote on our form Walk-in.
Atlanta - Appointment for 04/26/13. Did a walk-in at 3PM 04/17/13 successfully. Reason was husband is working on appointment day. No question of reason though.
Atlanta - Appointment for 10/18/13. Did a walk-in at 3PM 10/01/13 as we are on vacation on appointment day. No problems, the place was deserted. Successful - in and out in 10 minutes.

ILLINOIS
Naperville (abut 30 miles west of Chicago) - My appt was 8/13. Went on 8/30 at 2pm but was unsuccessful - only one technician on duty. I asked if there was any point in trying again and was told 'I can't tell you not to try again but to try earlier in the day'. I went on 8/1 at 11am and was seen after the 11am appts. I was in and out in about 25 minutes. I was told that I shouldn't really be doing this and not to do it again but at least they saw me. I didn't give any reason for wanting an earlier appt. I just said that I had been waiting so long during the whole K1 process, I would like to get a head start on AOS!

INDIANA
Michigan City - January 2012 - No reason needed - Yes to successful walk-in(asked about it, I was there the same day as appointment)

IOWA
Des Moines - April 2010 - Husbands erratic work schedule meant rescheduling wouldn't help because there was still no guarantee the new date would work - Successful
Des Moines - March 2011 - To get it over with - Successful (advised they were being more strict but letting them proceed due to no-one else being there)

LOUISIANA
Metairie - Unsuccessful. You must arrive on the correct day at the exact time of your appointment, or they will not see you. Tried for AOS, ROC and N-400. Two friends have also tried it and been refused.

MARYLAND
Baltimore - April/2013, told guard I will have oral surgery couple days before appointment & will be very swollen/bruised, she asked for supporting documents which I provided. Denied walk in. Was told I could come the day of if I was feeling well enough or after appointment date but not before.
Wheaton - told Security guard I was not going to be in State on the day. Yes
Wheaton - July 2012, asked why could not make appointment, said attending wedding. Successful(out in 10 minutes).
Wheaton - Dec 27, 2013 - Told guard we had an 01/07/14 appointment in Baltimore but had a dr. appointment the same day. He passed us on through. The gentleman who we talked to gave us a lecture about going to the wrong place, that people would be waiting for us on the appointed day, that it wasn't fair to them, etc, etc. - but then said he would allow it this time but to do all other appointments on the scheduled date at the right office.

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston - I took my wife for her scheduled biometrics appointment on 1/14/14. In an effort to get some info for this thread I asked the woman at the front desk if they allow early walk-ins, this was her reply: "It depends on what the reason is. If you legitimately need to come at an earlier date they will allow it, but if you just walk in for no apparent reason, they may not."
Boston - Tried to do early walk in for my appointment in Lawrence, told them I worked in Boston and would have to take time off to go to Lawrence. They asked me if I couldn't make it on the original date, I said I could, just didn't want to take time off from work. They told me I'd have to come back on the day of my appointment, but I could do it in Boston. Still waiting to go back. - Not successful.
Lawrence - did an early walk in 3 weeks before my appointment. Just asked politely if it was ok as I was in the area that day anyway. They couldn't have been nicer. Done and on my way home in less than 25mins! Was quite anxious beforehand as I'd heard bad things about Lawrence. But they were all friendly and really nice and accommodating.

MINNESOTA
Duluth - successful
Minneapolis - May 2012- NO because one of the computers was down
St Paul - No reason asked or given. Successful
St Paul - April 14th, 2014. Guard noted we were kind of early but I can let you in, as we're not busy. We mentioned we had a trip planned on the appointment day, after his comment. Successful

MISSOURI
St. Louis - No problems, no questions asked, Successful

MONTANA
Helena - family had appts on different days. Did all the same day. Friendly office.

NEBRASKA
Omaha - 3/22/2012- appointment was for Apr 5. No questions. Successful

Omaha - 4/08/2014 - Appointment was for 4/18. No questions asked. Successful

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Manchester - Did routine security check and showed I-797 to guy at the window who said the decision would be the department's whether to take early appointment or not. Lady gave me lecture on how to change appt, if not able to make it and said they need to stop early walk-ins as they schedule staff based on # of persons per appt, Asked why I wanted it done, told the truth...it was anxiety....

NEW JERSEY
Hackensack - The guard asked me what I was doing there on 8/20/12 when my schedule was 8/30/12. I told him my sister will be having her baby and I will fly to Rochester on 8/25/12 to be with her. The guard let me talk with the manager and the manager checked my roundtrip ticket. The walk-in attempt was SUCCESSFUL.

NEW YORK

Brooklyn (60th St) - 5/7/14 (9am Wednesday morning) - no reason asked or given - successful, but an hour or so wait

Holtsville (Long Island) - 5/22/12 No reason asked. YES
Manhattan - 01/15/2013, Couldn't get to Philadelphia, Walk in Successful
Port Chester - 02/21/2013, No reasons asked, very friendly, successful. Note: I am living in Connecticut but close enough to the New York state line - got my appointment scheduled automatically for the Port Chester, NY office and not the CT one.

OHIO
Cleveland - no questions. Successful.

PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia - Drummond Road -Successful. No questions asked. YES
Philadelphia - Oct 2013 successful

Philadelphia (May 12, 2014) - Drummond Road. Original appt was for May 27; walked in to expedite & because of Memorial Day Weekend issues. Service center was crowded, multiple other people trying to walk-in biometrics. Reception was cranky and hostile, but allowed the walk-in appointment. Took almost three hours. SUCCESS, but highly stressful and not recommended on a Monday AM unless an emergency.
Pittsburgh - did this twice and no questions asked! YES
York - Successful. Place was basically empty and took less than 10 mins. They realized i was a walk-in after the process was done and just told me there isnt any problem with it, just to let them know when you get there. Pretty awesome people.

TENNESSEE
Nashville - unsuccessful

TEXAS
Austin - We were in the area that day (we live an hour away) - Yes
Austin - Feb 2014. Went in 2 days earlier at mid-morning with reason that I could not attend scheduled appt due to school run commitment. Was initially told to come back after 12noon but then the guy at Reception changed his mind and went into the Supervisors office who stamped and signed my Appt letter and they let me wait then and there. Was in and out in 20 mins.
Dallas (Whitehurst) - Yes, had to give a reason, come early and they will take you
Fort Worth (Landmark Lake) - Successful, but they were not happy about doing it early.
Houston (Hwy 290 office) - Jan 2012 - gave no reason, only appt letter. Yes (3 times-AOS, ROC, Citizenship)
Houston SW (Sugarland) - No questions. YES
Houston SW (Sugarland) - Successful, but they were not happy about doing it early.

VIRGINIA
Alexandria - Successful

You should look into what happens at the border to Americans of Mexican descent that find themselves trying to return from south of the border without their passport. Getting turned away is not an uncommon occurrence. Granted if you're white, speak English with no accent, and are not a smart azz, you're probably going to get in, after going through a certain amount of hassle. But don't be a naturalized citizen or a minority trying to do the same. Hopefully you have a friend or family member on the right side of the border that can access and bring enough documents to get you in.

As an american of "Mexican" descent ive never had any problems getting back into the USA with a passport.

We did a K-1 and set a copy of the birth cert and brought the original to the interview. It wasnt even certified copy (just the translation).

I requested them so hopefully they come in time before I leave in next Friday. I do have the W-2 just in case the transscripts dont come on time. The vaccination sheet you mean the one from the medical?

Yes if its possible make a copy. I remember they just had it stapled to the outside of the X-ray envelope but you will hand that over to the person interviewing you. You may or may not get it back at the POE. Im just suggesting you make a copy for your own records in case you dont get a copy. We didnt make a copy and its causing some problems and may result in having to redo the entire medical here in the USA.

Hey guys,

My fiancé and I will be having the interview in about 2 weeks at the Romanian Embassy. Any advice or things we should be on the look out for? I will be accompanying my fiancé. I believe we have all the papers needed:

Birth certificate (copy/original)

Reaffirmed intent to marry

Police clearance

Medical

I-134

Letter from employer, bank statements, and the past two years tax return

Additional evidence of the relationship

2 passport photos

Fiancé passport

DS-160 confirmation

TNT confirmation

Missing anything?

Everything looks good...maybe bring a from 2013 W-2 if you dont have the transcript for the return for 2013 yet. I think I remember them asking for that because we had an interview in February.

Some things I wish we had done but didn't. Make sure to make a copy of your DS-2035 (Vaccination Sheet) before you hand it over to the people at the interview. We didnt get a copy at the POE so when we filed for AOS its kind of a missing document that I wish I had. Also the instruction packet we received had the wrong address for the embassy and that was a little confusing. The old address was near the Intercontinental Hotel. The new address is north of the City near the Baneasa shopping center. Dont worry about getting there early. We were there like an hour and a half early (im #######) and they just turned us away and told us to come back 15 minutes before our interview. We went over and got some Coffee at the shopping center near by and then took a quick cab ride to the Embassy.

Take a deep breath and stay positive! Good luck

I only knew my wife for 2 months before we filed. Our interview 4 months later was effortless. It helps that I met her friends and family and that I had gone back to see her a few times and was present at the interview. We were worried about the time but it wasn't an issue.

What date was the original appoiment schedule ??

Yes and the woman suggested I reschedule (to a later date).

May 14. Anyways it doesnt matter becuase im just going to hold my original date.