Lilay

2 hours ago, methold said:

Does anyone know how long it takes to receive the Extension Letter and Green Card?

As far as I know, the extension letter comes within 2 weeks of filing.

I am sending my documents today! So nervous and excited...!

42 minutes ago, charmander said:

Ok. So; neither I-751 nor N400 requires marriages registered at home countries, passport is a different story though. I-751 does not require a copy of the passport as part of the evidence, N400 however requires you to bring all valid and expired passports to the naturalization interview. Hence, this won't cause you any issue for I-751 but N400 is a maybe, especially if you apply naturalization under marriage to a US citizen clause. N400 is a "maybe" because it all depends how the interviewing officer would react to not changing your official name at your passport. He/she may not care at all, or pick on this issue and question why you have not made the change with Turkish authorities that could yield more questioning of your marital union. If you never traveled with your current passport, you could just say it was expensive and difficult to deal with the consulate (which is absolutely true); but if you've traveled with your passport in your maiden name for 2-3 years after getting married, it could raise more flags.

 

If I were, you I'd register the marriage with the consulate before the N400 application. They do this by mail (I've done it myself). You simply fill out a form, include a copy of marriage certificate, and the payment in money order. Remember to do this with the consulate that has jurisdiction over the state where you got married not where you live now. For passport renewal I believe you need to go to consulate in person but I'd check also check this with the consulate to be sure. This would eliminate all potential issues you may encounter at N400 stage. Good luck!

Charmander, you've been such a great help! I appreciate it! Thank you so much!!

31 minutes ago, charmander said:

A quick question: does your name on the GC match your passport? I'll elaborate more depending on your answer.

 

Thank you for your reply Charmander! No, my name on my passport is my maiden name, and my name here is my married name.

Hey everyone!

Would it create a problem if I do not register our marriage in my home country? I do not plan to stay a citizen, and they do require me to renew my passport and travel to the Turkish embassy to do that... It just will cost me a lot of money and time.

Will this create a problem when removing conditions?

Thank you!

Hi everyone!

My husband and I are getting ready to file I-751 to remove my conditions. However, I am worried about not registering our marriage in my home country, Turkey. I have not done this, since I am not planning on still being a citizen after I get my US citizenship, plus, if I file this, I will need to renew my passport, which I have to travel long distances for and pay lots of money for traveling... I never thought that this might create a problem when submitting this form.

I would really appreciate some input on this, so if I need to, I can go ahead and quickly register my marriage in Turkey.

Thank you!

Another AOS April filer here Hi everyone. Got my NOA today. Good luck to all on the journey!

Hello everyone!

My boyfriend and I just got engaged, which means we're officially starting down the long, long road to citizenship. This forum has been exceptionally useful so far, and I'm hoping someone can help me with some specific questions I have about submitting the evidence that we've met over the past two years.

Some background: my fiancé is from Venezuela, but we're currently living together in Argentina. I came here in March 2014 on a Fulbright grant, and he joined me in June after things started to get really bad in Venezuela (we've been dating since 2011 and prior to Argentina had been back and forth many times between the US and Venezuela). Although I had to go back home after my grant ended in December, he ended up getting a job and has been here ever since. He is now a legal resident with a bank account, DNI (Argentine ID), etc.

My next job doesn't start until July, so I was able to come back to Argentina for a few months and want to gather as much evidence as possible before I leave so I can start the petition in July/August. We actually have 4 trips we can work with during the 2 year period: I lived in Venezuela with him from August to December 2013, we both came back to the United States in December and he spent Christmas 2013 with my family, then June to December 2014 in Argentina, and finally April to June 2015, also in Argentina.

I'll definitely be providing copies of both our passports, and I have copies of all of our flight itineraries, although not the actual boarding passes. I'm a little worried because we never actually traveled together, not even when he came to the US in December 2013 (the only flight he could get left a day earlier than mine), and our particular timeline is very confusing. I can keep the boarding pass for my flight back to the US, but I'm flying out of Chile, not Argentina, which makes things even more convoluted.

I also don't have any credit card records for either of my trips, since both Argentina and Venezuela have a currency control that makes it way more cost effective to pay in cash. He might be able to get access to his bank statements from when he was in the US, but I'm not sure.

We do live together here in Argentina, and I was thinking I might be able to provide a copy of our apartment contract, though it's signed only in my name. I also have copies of cell phone and internet bills that are addressed to each of us individually, but show the same address. His DNI (the Argentine ID) also has our address listed on it, as does a Certificate of Residency he had to get (this is the best because it actually states that he lives with his "pareja" and gives my name and passport number). Will this be enough (in addition to plenty of pictures)? I'd prefer to translate as little as possible -- the contract, for example, is very long and would probably be a big pain.

Does anyone have other suggestions for primary documentation? It's very possible that my fiancé and I won't see each other again until he has a visa in hand (he has to go back to Venezuela to finish his degree, and it's getting very difficult and expensive to leave the country) so I want to make sure we have as much done as possible before I leave in June.

Thank you, and please excuse the long post!

Hey! First of all, congrats on getting engaged and welcome aboard

About providing evidence, don't worry so much. It seems to me like you have enough evidence to show them. Photos are usually the most important thing. Try to provide photos in different places, with different people, different surroundings. For us, we only put not more than 8 photos, in addition to the receipts from the gifts we bought for each other (usually Amazon receipts), flights that show that we were in the same place the same time. They won't look at the times of the flights and think you're plotting something. The tickets and the passport stamps should be enough to show you were travelling together.

Try not to stress too much! They are really capable of understanding if the relationship is fake or not

Obviously you need that for AOS.

But for EAD and AP you need your I-94, passport biographical page, and visa page. Each.

I think I couldn't make it clear in my question, I'm sorry!

Do I need to have 3 marriage certificates and 3 passport copies in the package, just because I am filing for 3 forms, or will one of each that I attach with I-485 will be enough for the others?

Yes, yes and yes.

2 photos each for each form. And attached to each form seperately.

Also yes they should be recent. And should be US passport sized.

Thanks for the reply!

Also, in all the cover letters I see, there is a biographical page and marriage certificate listed for all the forms. Since I am applying to them all in the same package, would it not be enough to put just one marriage certificate, one passport bio page and one G-1145? Or do I really need three of these all?

Hi everyone!

My husband and I will be applying for my AOS soon. I am also applying for EAD and AP. On the guide for AOS in Guides section of VJ, it only mentions 2 pass type photos for the G-325a only. Do I also need to attach two photos for both EAD and AP? So will it be 6 photos in total? And can I put all of the photos in the same bag or do I need to attach them behind the corresponding forms?

Thanks!

And also, do the photos really have to be taken in the last 30 days? I look the same as last year

Are you going to start work or something similar to fill your time? The stress of moving to the US initially by myself was palpable. Much of this will dissipate over months, but it could take years before the US truly feels like your "home". Hopefully you can start work soon because sitting at home in a new environment is particularly troublesome to one's health after moving, I think.

Thank you everyone for your replies. It means a lot..

Yes, I'm planning on working as soon as I get my work permit. We are planning on applying for AOS in a week or two.

Dear VJ friends, you've always been very helpful and great at giving advice. And now I'm not asking advice for anything about the visa process, but about how to deal with getting adjusted to my new life.

When I was in my country, I was waiting impatiently to come be with my love. I thought I would be happy forever and ever without any problems. But now I find myself crying and getting really emotional, only with the thought of my mom's hugs or the days I used to spend with my friends. I'd never lived away from my parents until now, and it seems so hard to think that I will someday get used to being without them. I feel so lonely here, my husband's family is very supportive and I never regret marrying my husband, I'm very happy with my marriage (married for 2 weeks now). But one side of me, which is always homesick, makes me want to cry all the time because I can't fully enjoy the happiness my marriage has brought to me.

I've read some people talking about the homesickness that you will feel for the first few months and that it's normal. That's what I'd like to think. I'm trying to be patient and give some time to myself, and my husband is extremely supportive. But sitting at home all day while he's at work, without a job and a car, is making me depressed. And he has work trips every month for two weeks. I know that this is only temporary, and I'm sorry if I sound like I'm not patient enough, but I just need some advice or experience from those of you who have been through this.

Thank you!

Hi

My case is currently at the embassy, and I've already received my instructions and sent the package to my embassy, and also have an interview date for 8th of December.

The last time I checked my NVC status update, it was "Ready" with the last updated date to be the day I got my instructions (late October).

But today I checked again and found out that the last updated date is now 10 November.

I know it's nothing to worry about, but it just made me wonder. What does this update mean? Does it mean they have received my package and are checking the files?

Thanks!

I'm also very curious about this! I've studied English Language and Literature in my country at an internationaly accepted university, but I'm hopeless about finding a job that is related to that...

I need to send my NOA2 packet to china, do you just write the english address on there and on the customs form? I cannot write chinese. I had sent letters by printing a label in chinese, but I cannot do that with a package because I also need to fill out the customs form at the post office.

You don't need to know Chinese to write Chinese You can just copy the symbols carefully! It will be like drawing.

My fiance doesn't know Turkish, but he sends me lots of things with my Turkish address on.

I'm very sorry for what you are going through... And thank you so much for all the advice you gave to us in your posts.

Please don't ever think whether he loved you or not. I always believe if there isn't trust and honesty, love doesn't mean anything. He might have loved you, but he lied to you... And I can't think of a reason why someone would want to intentionaly make the person he/she loves upset and ruin their life.

You don't have to endure anything. If you are unhappy, divorce! Children raised in homes where there are arguments all the time are more effected than living with a single but happy mother and not having a father nearby. I have seen a lot of examples for this.

Thanks - I just want to confirm one more thing - the NOA2 is the a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E).?

Yes

Thanks - I read this one - so we should expect to how the instruction from Visa Center (like to get medical exam, criminal records , and interview date, etc. ) soon. Am I correct?

Post Decision Activity

For approved applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include USCIS sending notification of the approved application/petition to the National Visa Center or the Department of State. For denied applications/petitions, post-decision activity may include the processing of an appeal and/or motions to reopen or reconsider and revocations.

No, Visa Center (NVC) will get the case from the service center and assign a case number to it. Then it will send it to the beneficiary's country, to the embassy. The embassy will be the one who contacts you and gives you instructions. NVC only assigns case number and sends the petitions to the embassies.

When I receive a message like " we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)."

Does this mean I am done with the USCIS? And the next step is to work with Visa Center?

Of course, I investigated very carefully all steps but there was something unexpected for my case which scares me right now

NOA2 is one of the first steps of your journey with USCIS. You are never completely done with USCIS until you are a citizen. But if you are asking about K1 visa process only, then mostly yes. But your embassy has the right to send it back to USCIS for further investigation.

Your plan would work just fine. Though remember there is a difference between the marriage license and the marriage certificate. You apply for the marriage license before you get married. There are certain requirements to meet (depends on your location) and you will have a certain period to use it (again depends on your location). There may be a "cooling off" period - ie in some places you must apply for the license then wait a certain amount of time, then have the wedding. In other places (Las Vegas is famous for this) you can apply for the license and get married all on the same day.

The marriage certificate is what proves you are married. In some places this is a separate document to the marriage license, in others is simply the marriage license that has been signed by all parties and witnesses. The original stays at the court - you get a certified copy. You should ask for several certified copies (there will probably be a fee for extra copies). In some states you can get the marriage certificate on the day of your wedding, in others you have to wait and get it days or weeks later. You might be able to get a copy sooner if you ask.

thanks so much for all the usedul info! It helped a lot I'll follow your recommendations and research more about how Nashville does the wedding stuff.

The K-1 expires the moment you enter the country. The I-94 you will be granted gives you 90 days of authorised stay. You need to get married within that 90 days.

You don't have to apply for AOS within that 90 days, but it is better if you can.

Once you apply for AOS you will be in a new period of authorised stay.

You should apply for your SSN before you get married. These days there is no need to wait for 2 weeks to apply. Apply as soon as you can.

Not many places require an SSN to marry any more. There might still be a few. But most places will accept a passport in place of an SSN. However you should get your SSN before your wedding anyway, it will make your life easier.

When you apply for AOS for your green card (through form I-485) you should also submit forms I-765 and I-131 for your EAD and AP. These will take 60-90 days and will allow you to work and travel outside the US while you wait for your green card. The green card itself can take up to a year. You may or may not have an AOS interview. Usually those who are interviewed get their green cards faster.

Some people have a court wedding as soon as possible so they can get their marriage certificate and get started on the AOS, and then have their "big day" wedding later. You can do that if you want to be able to work sooner rather than later, but you don't have to.

Thank you so much Lainie B, this answers to a lot in my mind! I've just been reading in a lot of topics that I should apply to AOS within 90 days of arrival. I was so confused.

So my plan now would be:

Get to the US on 22nd Jan.

Apply for SSN a few days later, as soon as I can.

Get married on Feb 22nd on wedding day as planned. (I've heard that certified marriage license might take a few weeks to arrive so might as well wait for it)

Honeymoon for a week.

When the certified license arrives, apply for AOS, EAD and AP.

Would this work fine?

Thanks again!

http://www.nashvilleclerk.com/living/marriage-license/

They ask for an SSN - for people who have been issued with one. I would email/call them and confirm if you can get a marriage license without one.

Even if they say that you don't need it to get the marriage license, you've still got a whole month before your wedding. So why not just head to the SS office as soon as you are able and get it out of the way before the wedding?

Thanks for looking into it for me! I will get the SSN before the wedding, so it'll be fine , I guess

Hi everyone!

My K1 interview at the embassy is on December 8th and I'm planning to leave my country to go to the US on January 22nd if everything goes right.

I've been reading a lot about the order of applying to these things and it seems to me like everyone says something different. Some say to apply for SSN before getting married, and some say after since the last name will change... Some say to apply immidiately and some say to apply after 2 weeks... :/

I have a few questions:

- I'm confused about one thing: I know K1 expires in 3 months and we need to apply for AOS while it's valid. But do we need to get our NOA for AOS within these 3 months also?? Or is applying for it within the three months enough? I've read that some take a few months to get approved. Since the wedding is on the second month of my arrival, I don't want to do anything wrong.

- We planned our wedding date to be 22nd of February, which is a month after I arrive to the US (22nd January). Should we get married before our wedding date to get everything ready? I've read that TN marriage laws requires SSN but I might be wrong. And I know I have to wait 2 weeks to apply for SSN... But some say don't get SSN before marriage. How should I set the order?? Will I be able to get everything done in time??

I really don't understand what to do... I would be so thankful if you could help me out. Thanks!

Me and my girlfriend from Poland want to visit here in the US to get to know each other more. Is the visa process any more difficult to go through from there than other countries? She seems to think it is.

Thanks

Do you mean the tourist visa process? I really don't think it is, as long as she has strong ties to her country.

Hi! I discovered VisaJorney a couple of days ago but I enrolled just yesterday. It's awesome! I'm Italian and my boyfriend is Costa Rican but he is a U.S. citizen through naturalization. I found very helpful the K1 guide and also some discussions about form I-129f

We're collecting everything we need for the I-129f package and we hope everything will be fine.

Still thanks for this forum!

It really is an awesome website for everything about visas I don't think I would be able to manage everything without VisaJourney and the helpful people here.

Don't hesitate to ask questions if you have any before filing! Good luck!

Just called and got my case number!! Yay!!!

I'll call and book the medical exam straight away.

Maybe your case number is available, too. Try calling!

Yay!!! So happy for you! Did they tell you it got there yesterday? My fiancé waited 40 minute on hold and he will not like it when I ask him to call again today

Hopefully they'll send it soon to your country! Let me know if you have any updates!