Emily975

Ok, so I just want a sanity check... I don't know if this is new policy or do I just always get an incompetent clerk?!

In last 6 months I sent two packages back home to my sister (EU country) like I did before. Both times the estimated duties and fees to be collected on their side were $200+ (plus the cost of sending the package which is $50-60 to begin with). Now the package is a gift with value of ~$100 and it's nothing that could remotely be considered commercial (couple of books, some candy, a cd ... literally a birthday present). I know they've been trying to crack down on fake gifts but paying $300+ on a $100 worth of stuff is ... insane. Is my only option to bring stuff with when I travel over?!

3 minutes ago, Highmystic said:

I have to admit, I have not done much reading on it as yet, just saying what the clerk at motor vehicles stated.    So, If I want to go in to a federal building,  such as USCIS,    I don't need the RealID, just my DL and Passport? 

No, you need passport or green card (people tend to forget that green card is perfectly valid form of ID). Your DL will become just that - DL (and it will probably get you into clubs and you will be able to buy alcohol with it, but not that much more).

As for OP - you've gotten your answer. However, if you have issues with that you will have quite a culture shock here and a lot of trouble adjusting. I suggest you talk to your (future) spouse about it.

45 minutes ago, Highmystic said:

Actually the "national id" of sorts,  goes into effect in 2020.  If you do not have the star on your DL,  You can not board an airplane, go in to any federal building.  My DL  needs to be updated in 2020 if I ever want to get back to the Philippines.  Or take a slow boat.

um.... no. If you want to go to Philippines (or anywhere else outside of US) you need your passport (either Philippino or US - wherever you are citizen). You do NOT need to update your DL to RealID, as long as you have another valid form of federally recognized ID - and as an immigrant you should have (at least) 2 - your country's passport and Green Card.

21 hours ago, millefleur said:

Try making an Infopass appointment? The USCIS office here was very helpful during our I-90 process whenever we had questions.

Yeaaaah, for my experience with USCIS line helpfulness see my post from 1/18. 

Ugh.

This is my only comment.

But thank you for the advice. I was hoping for 'we've mailed the card' to make it clear but.....

From the webpage: "The extended partial government shutdown has resulted in a substantial backlog of CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) applications and renewals.
Applicants for Global Entry (GE), SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST should expect significant delays in application processing times and limited appointment availability at TTP enrollment centers.
Conditionally approved GE members should seek to complete their GE interviews without an appointment upon arrival from an international flight at any of the 49 airports participating in CBP's Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) program."

And the pilgramage continues. They have approved the request and produced the green card - they are just performing last quality checks (that's what USCIS stauts page says). FOR PAST 3 WEEKS!!! It also says 'we will mail the card to the address provided'. Does that mean that they haven't mailed it yet or am I up for another battle with them and USPS?

@TBoneTX Honest question - what benefit does it have? I was in same shoes (stolen wallet overseas) and while there was always 'provide photocopies of your GC (if available)' I still had to get boarding foil and new GC, paid through the nose and in general photocopies didn't really do anything to expedite or make process easier?

Update:

I managed to get through agent on 1/7, told them my predicament and they said - yes, you need a stamp, we'll put you in the system and agent will call you in 24-48 hours to get you an appointment date since it's urgent.

No call, I call again 1/9, go through the same process again, tell them that I didn't receive any communication ('I'm so sorry about that!') and they say they will call in 24-48 hrs.

Guess what... I call them again on 1/14, again through the same process, they are again apologetic and say that I'll recieve call in 24-48 hours to schedule appointment.

It's 1/18. I still haven't received my call (or email, for that matter). My travel date came and went (...good thing my bosses understand) and I'm still without the stamp or appointment.

My I-90 was processed and I got biometrics taken today. I told the agent what happened and he told me that supposedly there's no chance of getting appointment before getting your biometrics taken (...and yet, they didn't even take them, just 'checked' them......) and that I should try after 24 hours when my biometrics hit the system. I'm... Disappointed? Frustrated? Pissed? To put cherry on this cake, agent has also said that it can take up to 12 months for me to get the GC. 😤

So I lost my green card... I filed I-90 last week and nothing has happened yet (...and I'm not expecting anything to happen for a while, especially due to the holidays). I'm traveling (...at least planning on) on 1/17. I figured I need the I-551 stamp in my passport but I can't schedule an appointment in my local USCIS office ('This office is not accepting walk-in requests or scheduling InfoPass appointments.' 'If you need help with document services (such as passport stamps and advance parole) or have an emergency, call the USCIS Contact Center...'). I tried calling but I can't get through to an agent (... because it's a maze...). So... what else is there to do? Show up at the office? 

I know, I-90. But... I'm traveling this Saturday and all things considered that won't be of much help... Is there any way of getting the stamp at USCIS? Or any other way that wouldn't make me push the travel date too much? (I'm 10 year GC holder if that makes any difference)

If it is of any consolation, they are probably asking so they know if you need any immigration benefits from potential employers (e.g. H1B transfer, OPT ...).

I usually put 'authorized to work without limitations' on my CVs. They don't need to know what your immigration status is (and granted, most of people you will be dealing it have absolutely no clue what EAD, K1 or anything else is), but knowing that they don't need to do anything about it, might help (...however, checking the 'EAD discrimination' thread that might not always be the case).

I just recently found this webpage - it will show you average wait times at entry to US. Act accordingly.

https://awt.cbp.gov

p.s.: this would be generally useful for visajourney, no?

Please keep in mind that your company sponsoring your green card is purely and solely their good will. There is absolutely no requirement (legal or otherwise) for them to do it. A lot of companies will file after a certain amount of time (i.e a year, two years.... or just before L1 expires) or they tie it to performance reviews. Or they have a policy of not doing it AT ALL. Talk to the immigration lawyer of the company you work for.

That being said, my ex-husband's company sponosred him (and he sponsored me) after 2 years of US employment. The process took about 8 months, but that was 3 years ago so I suspect timelines are a lot longer nowadays.

I think a lot depends on your 90 alotted days.

If you leave before 90 days are up then you're ok.

If you stay past the 90 days (and not file for AOS) you start accumulating overstay. At some point you will get a ban.

So... your possibilities:

- Leave before 90 days that you are allowed on K1 is up and re-enter at later date for divorce proceedings;

- File for AOS and work on your marriage;

- Don't file for AOS and work on your marriage but keep in mind you are deportable and are accumulating overstay. If you decide not to go forward with AOS you might get a ban (if you stayed long enough past 90 day mark).

@OP - according to your timeline your husband has GC in hand? If that is true, then his EAD/AP became invalid on the day he received GC and GC serves as his work permit and trevel authorization (as well as permanent residency 'certificate').

If he doesn't have GC then yes, he should not travel and probably work. There is a grace period (I think 90 days?) but you should get on renewing it ASAP. (again, if he doesn't have GC).

7 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Canada does allow for common law partners.   My ex and I never married and lived together for 9 years. But Canada, esp Alberta, gives common-law couples the same rights as married couples. 

That is exactly my thought... Me an my (now ex) husband were together for 7 years before marrying (lived together for 2.5) and if we didn't move (immigrate) we would have never gotten married. However, where we lived 'common law marriage' steps into account after living together 'long enough' which in all practicality means that in eyes of our home country we were married before 'tying the knot' for immigration purposes. Would we EVER gotten married if we stayed home? Certainly not. Did we defraud anyone by getting married for me to gain immigration benefits? _I_ don't think so ...

I don't think it will work - you need actual green card to scan at the kiosk. (US citizens scan their passports, GC holders scan the back of GC). You might be able to get approved (but I somewhat doubt it) but you won't be able to use global entry until you have GC.

I have it, but I got it based on being US LPR (my country of citizenship does not qualify). Tbh, the procedure to get it is not all that different from GC process... a bit shorter, but not much less scrutanizing. But in my opinion it's absolutely worth it.

I don't think it will affect your CR1 in any way.

Ok, this thread is all sorts of weird...

OP says he's bringing his Belgian wife. Which probably means CR1 or IR1 - with both of those she can work as soon as her visa gets stamped (endorsed) at POE.

If he's doing K1 or adjusting status from other visa from within the US it will be 3-5 months (?) for work permit (EAD). I don't think there is a high chance of any type of work visa being processed faster than that?

Hi all,

My husband and I got married about 4 years ago (after being in a relationship for 10 years) in our home country. Husband got transfered for work (L1) and I came with him (L2). His company sponosred his Green Card about two years ago and I went through process with him, so we both have our 10 year GCs now. Unfortunately we separated last year and we're getting a divorce. I don't anticipate any drama / issues with divorce (it's amicable and no fault). We are getting the divorce in our home country (faster, less complicated, cheaper than in US). 

I was wondering what do I need to do regarding my immigration status... send USCIS the (translated) divorce decree? Anything else? Is there any possibility that even though I have my 10 year GC I'm still somehow bound to my husband? Are there any other reprocussions?

Thanks!

So, I can tell you first (well, second, really) hand how it goes. My husband had exact same questions and he decided to try it out (it's also a EU country). First issue? They wouldn't check in his bag without a passport. Airline employee aknowledged that yes, he theoretically doesn't need passport but she can't really check in his bag (or him) without it.  TSA agent actually took his ID without an issue (again, EU markings on it). I guess they don't care too much when you're leaving  Boarding the plane, again - agent aknowledged that theoretically he can travel without the passport but they can't let him board the plane without it. So there was that. Once in EU, no-one ask for passport again. 
Going back, he was able to check his bags in and get on the flight with just EU id (he traveled from one EU country to another and then to US). When asked about ESTA, he always replied green card... again it became and issue with the flight crew. He got into the heated argument with one of them and... yeah, had to show passport at the end. Entering US he has global entry program (which I highly and warmly recommend to anyone that travels a lot) so he did not interact with anyone and the kiosk only requires green card.
 

tl;dr - it's usually airline crews that complicate stuff, not border personell.

Some second hand experience about dentistry:

- you will need re-certification.

- depending on the state you might be looking at up to 3 years of additional education (college) and about $100k cost.

- competition to get into those colleges / schools is insane (for international students at least, but I believe same goes for USCs). A friend that applied said that there is 2500 candidates for 60 spots where she applied. She didn't get in.

- it is very normal to go 3 - 4 application cycles (3-4 years) before you get in. Each application cycle bring additional cost.

- you can not practice as a dentist before or while at school (again, state specific I believe). You can assist or do dental hygienist's jobs.

So if you have a lot of money and time at your disposal... it's an option. Otherwise it will be VERY difficult.

As suggested above - diversity lotery, spousal/fiance visa. I doubt you are eligable for asylum.

OP - these are not directly connected to immigration but:

- Multiple copies of birth certificate;

- Original of high school diploma (or equivalent);

- Original of college diploma (or equivalent) + transcripts (original or notarised);

- Proof of any additional courses/certifications ... etc.;

- Important medical records (i.e. records of operations, management of chronical diseases, vaccination records);

- International driver's license (if applicable) - for me, in CA, it allowed me to drive while I had my 'temporary permit' (otherwise I would get a learner's permit).

I know, this is super random list and as I said it's not connected directly to immigration; but if your spouse will want to work asap, it's good to have these things handy (I learned that the hard way ).