fullglass

As you can see in the timeline in my signature, I did my biometrics september 3rd, 21 days ago (almost 22).

Most people, even people that did biometrics after than me, received the update stating that they are on the "testing and interview" stage. And looking people that filed in July, June, May, etc, they all take in betweeen 7 and 14 days to receive that update.

I wonder if that's something to do with my attorney. I didn't send them a copy of my biometrics receipt yet, but I think that would be just for their records.

I know that my petition is still in normal processing times, but this no "testing and interview" update is nerve wrecking.

Is there something I can do? Is there a reason to be worried or not?

Even if you get to "testing and interview" status, that only means that you are in line to be scheduled and not actually scheduled. depending on how many cases there are before yours, it could take a while for you to be actually scheduled after going into "testing and interview" status. you will know when you are actually scheduled because the USCIS update website will list the time/date to show up for the interview and that a interview notice has been sent to the address they have on file for you.

EVERY case will be different. For example, I am a USC that applied for AOS for my spouse in December 2013. It is now September 2014, about to the October, and my spouse still is in pending status. There are other people that applied under the same basis and situation, yet they received their green card in 3 to 4 months.

Did you contact them after 30 days that you didn't receive the letter? Thank you for your comment. :-)

No, I just waited. I received the NOA's so I knew that they received the package.

Spouse is a USC. And I filed the I-130 and I-485 concurrently. I wont maintain my F1 status. I have been with my spouse for almost a year and a half. Been living with her for almost a year now. I have faith in my application. So I should just stop working then, before I cause any rifts?

If you stopped attending classes/withdrew from school, then no you wouldn't be able to work at all (on or off campus) until you receive your EAD.

I got my biometric notice about 1.5 months after sending off the AOS packet.

I don't understand how it is half truths? OP said s/he is working on campus (as a student worker I assumed), so OPT/CPT does not apply at this point. Which is why we said that OP can work on campus as long as they are maintaining their status. Sorry if I don't understand correctly what you mean.

Only read what you typed, which you stated the OP could still work. Just wanted to clarify that if the other conditions didn't apply, her only option of working is strictly on campus.

Thank you for your quick response. I am on campus, at the school that my I-20 (current) is for. I withdrew from school a couple weeks ago now because all my money went into adjusting my status. My ISSS office says they are notifying whomever that I am not enrolled and thereby out of status tomorrow. Should I stop working now then? I have been married going on 2 months now. I dont want anything to jeopardize my status application.

Thank you in advance :]

Is your spouse a USC or LPR?

If your spouse is an USC, you have the option to file the I130 and I1485 concurrently. Once you send off the applications and USCIS receives them, you are in pending status. You can choose to maintain or F1 status or not. However, keep in mind that if you do maintain your F1 status, you have that to fall back on and can still stay in the US if the AOS doesn't get approved, whereas if you don't maintain the F1 status and the AOS doesn't get approved, you would have to leave the US immediately.

Yes, if you are still a student going to school and maintaining your F-1 status, you can keep working.

Yes, you should be able to still work under your F1 Visa, just don't violate the terms of the visa. (e.g. Study part time, work more than 20 hours a week without EAD, etc.)

The two posts above are only half-truths.

1. you can work on campus, if available, without obtaining authorization from DHS.

2. you can work off campus if you are on OPT/CPT.

3. you can work off campus if DHS has granted you permission based on financial hardship circumstances.

I am actually not enrolled at the moment. I was enrolled and then I dropped my classes because all of my money went to applying for AOS. Does that mean I need to stop working now? I had already spoke to my ISSS office and they said they are sending out my notice in 2 days, but the Chicago office already has my paperwork for AOS. I dont know if I should stop working now or continue? I definitely need money to pay the bills in our house and our rent.

If you dropped classes, then you wouldn't be able to work on campus. Also, if you don't have approval from DHS to work nor on OPT/CPT, then no you are not legally allowed to work.

Hi Everyone,

This website has truly been a life saver. I recently sent off my application for AOS (like two days ago), adjust from F-1 to permanent resident through marriage to my beautiful wife (same-sex marriage). We are now awaiting the text/email notifications and NOA's.

My question was, am I able to still work at my school while under my Student Visa status as I am not out of status as yet, or am I not supposed to???

If there is anyone that can shed some light on this, that would be helpful I don't want to jeopardize my application.

With an F1 Student Visa, you are only allowed to work on campus, if available. The only other way you are allowed to work off campus is if:

1. you are on opt/cpt.

2. DHS granted you permission to work under financial hardship circumstances.

While you are in pending status, yes you are still allowed to work as long as you are following the guidelines by USCIS.

Good Morning,

My interview is coming up on October 16, 2014. We are just in the middle of making sure we got everything. I just have a few questions:

1.) On the I797C that we got it says to bring in a certified copy of our marriage document issued by the appropriate civil authority. We have the original that was sent to us. Should we just bring this one just so they can make copies or would it be better to order one and have another original mailed to us just in case?

2.) Is it better to have everything in one binder with organized tabs or loose in a box? I was thinking binder with tabs for easy find and easy access.

Just trying to get all our ducks in a row and not get too nervous about it. Any help/tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to everyone.

When in doubt, better to be safe than sorry.

What I did was I made two binders, one binder of only originals and the other binder of all copies (and readily available for the IO to keep in case). I used the plastic cover sleeves and used tabs to mark each section so I can easily flip to a document if requested.

1. I had my original marrige certificate and then went back to the civil authority and ordered another original and made copies.

2. binder option is better than taking a box.

You don't want to inconvenience the IO. Just have copies of every original document and have the copies available to where the IO can keep if necessary.

Ok, so we are at Tampa field office. Sent the papers for AOS in march, the biometrics fee was missing, so they received it in May. Went for biometrics a couple weeks later. In June we receive a letter stating that we qualify for a waiver on the interview, but they aplogize because it will take 8-9 months more to have the green card... That take us to december/january next year! I think it's crazy that it takes so long, and i can visit my family and friends for another year or go on the honey moon we have planned for so long!

cool story

Okay, I stand corrected.

Did u try to call or something? too much time with no response

Called the 800 USCIS number and they weren't able to tell me anything and only saw what I saw on the USCIS website.

Scheduled an INFOPass, and that proved to be a complete waste of time.

So now, it's just a matter of waiting.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if someone is currently on OPT/CPT, they should have working authorization no? Meaning they would have an SSN for work purposes only. So if the OP decided to get married to a USC and apply for AOS, he would be in pending status (AOS from F1 to PR), meaning technically he is not bound to the conditions of an F1 Student Visa holder any longer, meaning he could theoretically continue working....again, corrent me if I'm wrong.

Also, if the OP is in pending status, he wouldn't have to worry about going out of status. And you don't need the green card to continue working, as that is what the EAD for prior to receiving the green card.

Please i need help, our AOS interview is on the 23rd of this month in New York and we dont have a enough of documents to prove our marriage. we already submit affidavit from friends, bank statement to the account we both use, pictures and some trip we both had together. so we dont know what what take to the interview all we have right now is photo album, our IDs, we dont have nothing joint since i got my SSn late, and we live as a room mate and we dont have anything in the house in our name. please what can he add to our documents..

Thank you for your time

You are NOW just realizing, 6 days prior to your interview, that you don't have enough evidence? Do you have wedding photos at least?

And just because you didn't have an SSN is NOT a valid excuse, as most places will allow the main person on the account to add names, or at least in care of, to the account.

Oof that's pretty rough given that you had tax returns and paystubs with you. Owing to your experience, I'll be sure to take a letter with me from my employer or something (I assume that's what you had to submit).

Take everything with you just in case. They only looked at my photo album. But it's better to have too much info. than not enough.

so,is ur spouse got GN or not?

Not yet.

I believe that my field office will be Tampa. I am adjusting from a J-1 visa to permanent resident on the basis of marriage to a US citizen. I have been in "scheduling" since the beginning of August. I am also curious to know how quickly they are moving. I have no idea myself. I received my AP/EAD card a couple of weeks ago though I understand that is processed separately anyway.

Fullglass: do you mind if I ask what you received the RFE for?

You're EAD is different and has no relevance to your interview scheduling. In fact, I've read that some people get their EAD after they get their green card, which is voided at that point anyway.

RFE was for employment verification, even though I brought tax returns and every pay stub available. The IO did state that everything was good and there was more than enough evidence that supports my marriage as genuine, but that they really needed that verification.

You're lucky then.Im already 4 months on Testing&Interview.Seems like Tampa is very very slow

Based on your timeline, if you applied in May and already in Testing/Interview status as of July, technically your case moved alot faster than ours.

Also, before you go to the interview, prepare every detail for evidence, small or big. We got an RFE at the interview. Luckily, it was for something minor and we sent it off the same day, but it's been 3 months since any update.

We interviewed back in July and applied in February.

When you actually get scheduled you will know because the USCIS website will let you know of the date/time you are to appear at the field office for interview, as well as informing you that an interview notice as been sent to the address they have on file for you.

From the time the website stated "Testing/Interview" Status to "Interview Scheduled", it was about a 3-month period for us.

Yes, I applied for AOS for my spouse.

My apologies if this was answered elsewhere but I havn't been able to find it in the forum.

We are filling out an I-130 form for my wife who is on a F-! visa. She is a research assistant on campus, so she gets a stipend every two weeks. Does that qualify as employment and should we put the university as her employer in section C, question 15?

Also, since she is on F-1, her I-94 just lists "D/S" under expiration date, what date should we put to answer question 14 on the form?

Thanks.

Yes, answer truthfully.

And I would write/type out "Duration of Status", rather than just putting "D/S".

There are many factors involved prior to having your actual interview date/time set by USCIS. Also, how many cases and applications prior to yours plays a huge factor as well. But you will know when you have been scheduled, as the USCIS website will tell you your date/time to show, as well as informing you that an actual interview notice has been sent to the address they have on file for you.

this is all great information but one big question, you are talking about separate "packages" but are all these separate "packages" being delivered in one big envelope, since they are all going to the same place (chicago lockbox) ?

Thanks!

yes, send all applications/evidence/etc. in one big envelope, but separate the contents accordingly (i.e. everything and anything related to Form I130 clipped in one packet, same for Form I485, etc.).

ar-11 process online for each application filed and the sponsor form I865.

I would call USCIS a few days later and verify that the correct address and spelling has been updated.

yes, i am. the one off of hoover.

I did. I was thinking about the 2nd letter, since OP said "different address". Mostly a "#######, how does this happen? Was it USCIS, or USPS". Hardly matters, but hey, your snarkiness is UNappreciated

Take my comment how you wish. But seriously, you should give reading a try next time