silly_chick

Gee, people, where do you find those women? In isolated Siberian villages?

where did YOU see that there is a fee waiver available?

I really have to add, while I dont know the real answer, I just cant fathom there being any sort of *fee waiver*. I mean, if you can't afford to file, you must need to use a co-sponsor, who could probably help in the fee dept among other things.

I would really like to be shown where you saw this information, but I amagine I won't see anything other than, oh, my cousins' wife's friend's mother said it was done in her case

BEFORE making rude comments, maybe you should have done some research. Here's the link: http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/for...info.htm#Waiver

USCIS fee waiver policy does exist, and I haven't heard it from my brother or neighbour, because unlike some other people, I don't talk about things I don't know.

I came here to get some help and guidance, if you can't do that, why bother posting?

Hi all,

I've been looking for any kind of info about USCIS fee waivers on the net - no luck. I did a search on this forum, but all I got was a gazillion of some mysterious IMBRA waivers, wiavers of grounds of unadmissability etc. Seems like everybody's doing well financially and can afford to pay almost $1,000 for AOS to USCIS

Anyways, if anyone has any experience applying for a fee waiver, please, share it! I would appreciate it a lot. Actually, we already sent our paperwork with a very well documented fee waiver request, so I may be the frist on this forum to have done this. If our waiver is denied, USCIS will return our package (which is good - we won't have to fill it all out again!) and we will have to find money to write those checks (and in our situation, it is a very significant amount).

Please, if you ever did this, or if you know somebody who did, share your experience!

I'd say that if she can't drive, it's a much better idea to start learning while she's still in Russia, and preferably, on a car with a stick shift. If you can drive a stick shift, you won't have any problems driving in the U.S. As far as I'm aware, most rules in Russia and the U.S. are very similar, so she won't have to "correct" anything in her driving.

I also think it's a very good idea for her to start reading, watching TV and thinking in English - if her English is not good enough, she will have a hard time finiding a good job, making friends etc.

Other than what's already been said, I don't know. A lot depends on where in Russia you wife lived and where in the U.S. she's moving.

Dear Administartor,

Is it possible for me to change my username? I don't like silly_chick any more.

Hi all,

I know I may be asking the dumbest question on Earth, but when you file forms with USCIS, do you mail just the actual forms or attach those pages with instructions as well?..

And BTW, I saw that new I-864, and it looks like we don't have to notarize it any more, am I right?

Thanks!

It's somehow strange to hear that it is usual in Russia to do "double-dipping and touching of food". And knife licking. Very strange to hear it really. If workin4somethin had it in the family of his fiancee, it doesn't mean that it is general for a whole Russia.

You maybe surprised, but on russian forum (where russian women discuss their life in US with their American husbands and step-children) women say that they are shocked how their American step-children behave. They say that American children behave as pigs - they don't like to clean hands before eating, don't to wash faces in the mornings, don't clean their rooms, throw toilet paper on the floor, etc. Also women are shocked how Americans eat - noisy, not pleasant, and doing some not pleasant things while eating. That's what many russian women say. And WHAT? And after reading this I should start to think that ALL American people do it? That a whole country is like this??

Does it depend just on people? I am sure it does. There are always people who behave like pigs, in each country. But it doesn't mean that a whole country is like this.

So why you, guys, say such not pleasant things towards a whole Russia? My fiance for example says that I'm thinking too much about how clean things are. And I am russian. So what??

I just hate when someone has bad experience with things and then makes a comment towards a whole country.

Yes, you're exactly right. These things bother me too - one Russian girl is a pig, and people tend to think that we all are.

Satellite, you always have something rude to say, I'm not surprised. But what makes me different is that I grew up in Russia and I know better than all of you American people altogether. And I don't judge by my family - I just said that in my family this stuff was kinda over the board. I just KNOW that finger-licking is NOT considered normal in Russia, that's it.

I guess this indicates that all women are different, even from the FSU.

That's quite a racist statement. I find it offensive. Everybody's different.

I just get the impression that you guys see something that impresses/annoys you, and right away think that it's a general rule, when, in fact, it may be a rare exception.

Workin4somethin, trust me, if I saw somebody doing that to a cake, I would have puked right there, and wouldn't have touched that. My family were (and are) totally obsessed with cleaning, and most people I knew were like that too.

Thanks for the replies - Do you know how is it legally possible to continue studies during the adjustment period if the you have been removed from sevis? I know you can, but from a technical law standpoint, how does this work?

If an AOS app is denied, is it possible to resume studying as an F1? An international advisor seems to think so, but haven't read or heard about this anywhere else. I.e. USCIS.gov.

You can study while your AOS is pending, it's fine. If it is denied, then it is harder. You will be terminated in SEVIS and unable to resume your studies as an F-1 and you will have established immigrant intent by applying for AOS. However, if you haven't done anything illegal, your AOS most likely will be approved, so good luck!

A non-citizen or non-resident can get a loan if he/she has a creditworthy U.S. citizen co-signer, but it is only true for private loans, not for FAFSA (I think). Most merit-based scholarships are available to anyone, regardless of citizenship status.

Okay... This is my area of expertise!

If your friend is on an F1 visa, she can do 1 year of Practical Training (which is work, authorized by USCIS) after completing her studies. She should apply for her EAD at least 90 days before her program end date. I've never heard about OPT being denied, USCIS always approves this type of employment.

Then, once she finds a job, if the employer likes her, he can sponsor an H1-B (work visa), which (if approved) will allow her to work for this particular employer for 3 more years. It can be extended too, and eventually you can get a green card based on employment. Here in Silicon Valley thousands of highly skilled workers (mostly from India) get their Green cards this way.

Your friend can also work part-tim on campus without any USCIS authorization.

I would like my mom to come to visit me. I came to US on a student's visa, and married a US citizen. My AOS is pending. I would like to invite my mom to my graduation this June.

Does anyone have experience with inviting parents to visit? Does it worth trying at all???

Thanks in advance!

I did the same thing (F1 and got married here), but I'm not going to apply for AOS. My parents want to visit us in summer, but I can't give anyone any advice, because they never had any problems with any visas, including the U.S., and they sure are way above "average" in terms of financial well-being. Anyways, I do not see any problem with trying - people get U.S. visas all the time, it's not THAT hard.

I hope all will be well for your mother!

...and I sure hope the in-laws won't have any problems either!

Congrats on your success!

I couldn't change my name with SSA, because my immigration documents are in my maiden name, and of course nobody knows what a non-immigrant in the U.S. should do to change his/her name with USCIS. And since I am not applying for a GC, seems like I will have to use my maiden name for employment

Anyways, it's good to know that everything went well for you!

It's probably safer to maintain your f1 status until you get approved. Not legally required though, after you get your NOA1.

I disagree with that. Once you file for AOS you are no longer F-1, and if you try to enter the country or get another F-1 vise while out of the country your AOS will be considered abandoned. So all you need to do is wait for your EAD and you can start work.

Alex

I agree with that. Was in the same situation and was debating to apply for the OPT or not after filing for the AOS. I didn't. Doesn't make sense. You cann't have 2 status. It's complicated enough with 1.

Good luck,

Anna

Yes, that's true. Once you get a NOA for your I-485 you should be terminated in the SEVIS system and your status changes to "AOS pending".

Where's the option "My family outside the U.S. has been sending me money"?

Didn't think of it. I just assumed if you were married you could support yourself. Clearly, I was mistaken.

Clearly, our families overseas are supposedly adults as well, and they should be able to support themselves.

Where's the option "My family outside the U.S. has been sending me money"?

Yep, I got a job! I got hired by my school, since I'm allowed to work part-time on campus. The job is fun - front-desk/customer service type, just what I wanted, and the money is a lot better than I had expected! It'll be good for our little family, because my hubby and me have been struggling to pay the bills for a while, so we'll be much better off. And this on campus job means that I'll get a SSN, which is good too

I'm happy today!!! Just wanted to share!!

Come on, relax! How are these folks supposed to know anything about immigration?

I took a class on immigration processing and hiring non-American specialists at school, and I was the only one who had a clue about what foreigners go through. And of course, 90% of the students thought that if you marry a U.S. citizen, you automatically become a citizen too

Congratulations!

Hey, if you don't have an I-94, it can be a real problem...

You usually fill them out onboard the plane. It's a medium-sized piece of white paper (or green for some countries or types of visa). Then at the POE the immigration officer takes the top part of this paper (with your personal info) and gives you a small bottom part - he/she stamps it with smth like "Admitted" and the expiration date. Some I-94's don't expire - like those for student visa holders, but most of them would have an exact expiration date.

You probably have that paper - no one would have let you in without one - but it looks so unofficial that you could have totally forgotten about it or just paid no attention to it at all.

Best of luck to you!

I don't have a last name (Indonesians frequently only have one name) So I'll definitely take my fiance's last name after we get married. So I can stop having random made up name, in my K1 Visa, they put FNU(First name Unavailable?) as my first name and put my first name as my last name. In my arrival card I put my first name in first name field and left the last name field blank, the officer put an arrow moving my first name to my last name field and put FNU as my first name. Then when we went to get a marriage license, they had problem giving us one cuz the computer wouldnt let them proceed when the last name field is still blank, so they put 'No last name' in last name field, so my name in the license appeared to be 'XX No Last Name'. Five minutes after we left the office they called and told us to come back to get a new marriage license cuz they decided to change my last name, we went back, they gave us a new license, and my name on it is 'XX Legally Omitted' So I'm Miss Legally Omitted until we get married, I wonder if the minister will go 'Will you, XX Legally Omitted take this blablabla'

Wow, I never knew that about Indonesians! How cute!! BTW, the person who will perform the marriage ceremony most likely will refer to you by your first name only, so you won't be called Legally Omitted at your wedding for sure!

And that NMN instead of a middle name is real weird - I have no middle name either, and always leave this space blank. It has always worked.

Oh, by the way, I don't know about other states, but in CA you just need to show your marriage certificate if you want to change your name - that's enough. Our certificate doesn't have a specific part which says smth like "I want my last name changed to", but it's perfectly okay to just tell everybody that you want your name changed to your husband's, and point at the line where your hubby name is on the certificate.

And you can change your passport too, but, as far as I understand, you're not obligated to do it at all.

Best of luck to you all!

I thought everybody hated this stinky holiday... There's something very... soviet about it.

Wow, that's so sweet!

Good luck to you! I've never been to these regions in Russia, and I hope I'll get to see the Far East some time in the future! I've heard it's extremely beautiful.

I'm shocked that a one month salary can last you a year over there - I had no clue that the cost of living was so cheap!! In Moscow it wasn't that way and it's getting more and more expensive...

I hope you'll have a great time and successful business and all!

Oh well... I'm still having serious issues with my family, especialy my mother. She could never understand why I would want to be with a man 20 years older and from another country. Oh, I met him on the net too, and of course that means that I'm not quite normal and probably should have been going out more. She has said so much about me and my relationship, that I really give up - I just hope she will understand after a while.

My parents' biggest concern was that my hubby wanted to rip me off and somehow through me steal all their money. Before I left for CA to do my studies (and my folks knew that my sweetheart was going to move to CA as well - to be with me!!! Woo Hoo!!), my dad had clearly stated that he was not going to support my husband and pay his bills. What a BS... It was hard to convince them of our good intentions, mostly because something like that had happened to their friends before - their daughter married a guy from another country, and eventually he stole $500,000 from her account and disappeared, after verbally and emotionally abusing her for nearly 8 years. I imagine, it's hard to have faith in people after something like that. I just hope they will see how happy I am in time.

Friends were mostly okay with my choice, though, except for the fact that it had all started on the net

Best of luck to you!!!