Ben&Les

You apply through www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov but since we don't have a social security number it cannot verify my identity online and I need to call According to NY State we are currently PRUCOLs lol.. that's a funny name for adjustment of status applicants

Some quotes from an NY State website i found:

"New York City is a city of immigrants. More than 3 million residents are foreign-born. There are more health insurance and health care options for immigrants in NYC than in many other states."

"Getting health insurance through NY State of Health will not affect your immigration status. It will not be held against you if you apply to change or renew your immigration status."

• The information you provide on the application is only used to see if you or your family members are eligible for health insurance.
• The federal government has said online here and here, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirmed in a letter, that information from the marketplaces is protected and it won’t be used against immigrants or members of their households for other purposes."

I am on the phone with them now to learn more.. will post another update about this soon.

Cool! Thanks. The website isn't really working on my end. I will just wait for my EAD card so I can apply for a SSN and *then* do Medicaid.

Can't wait until I get some kind of update on the paperwork!

For anyone in New York State, you might be happy to find out that we once we get our hard copy NOAs in the mail we are eligible for Medicaid because we are now considered "lawful present immigrants" (Note how we are not 'permanent' immigrants since our status is pending). And this does not affect the affidavit of support because it is excluded as per USCIS law, and even if it wasn't, New York State law says its excluded anyways because Medicaid here is paid entirely by the State without any federal money so in essense you are not using federal government money

Really! Any idea how that works exactly, i.e. the sign up process?

Had my biometrics this morning, had to pretty far out on the D line (almost as far as Coney Island). The USCIS center was in this semi-abandoned shopping center. Weird location. People were friendly & helpful though. It took about 30mins so that's good! For people with a name-change, make sure you bring your marriage certificate. They asked for it 3 times.

Anyone have any idea how long it takes on average between the bio-appointment and the card production? I saw someone with 4 days, but I'm taking that as a very rare exception...

Well only thing I can think of is that you're probably supposed to send separate checks AND more importantly, that there is no fee for the i765 when filing concurrently with i485/i130. In other words, you made out a check that's too big. The amount is incorrect... (it should be 1490 in total, but i would just make out two checks: 1070/420).

Bad news: delay

Good news: you saved 380 dollars

Ah I'm sorry! Can't a joint sponsor be virtually anyone though?

I am worried about the RFE too now. We didn't add tax returns for last year (he didn't file one, he was a student + no income). We added proof (enrolment letter) and explanation for the lack of the 2103 tax return. We do have a joint-sponsor...

Does that mean they won't care about the missing tax returns (because we have a joint-sponsor) or will they still want them regardless?

Thanks! Yes I understand that it is a requirement, but I've seen posts on VJ about people who didn't file taxes for the most recent tax year and they included a statement explaining why and didn't get an RFE. So I thought it could work. I guess it depends of who is reviewing the case. Do you think my husband can file for taxes now? Or is it too late? I don't really know how it works...

That seems so unfair that they would want the return, though, if he was a student last year and just started working!

Oh I'm sorry Aurore! That's awful. Though my husband has a job now (was a student last year) we asked his dad to sponsor us just to be safe. Hopefully calling will help?

Why does everyone do the early walk-in biometrics by the way? Do you think it speeds up the process?

Also, I got here on the VWP and applied for AOS... am wondering, when should I apply for a SSN? After EAD? Or after the GC?

They received ours Sept 4th and we got a notice of receipt right away.

Now is there any way to check the status over the next few months?

You can check the status of your application on the USCIS website. You just need the case numbers assigned to you in the text/mail/letter they sent you upon receipt!

Yes would love to know how that went!

Just got my receipts via mail & text last night at 12... excited!

(Sent out my paperwork last week, it arrived in Chicago the 12th... so pretty fast)

Hey Iris! I will definitely keep posting. My VWP expires tomorrow. So yes, slightly worried! Excited and happy too, though! And that wins out in the end =D

Good luck guys!!

Hey guys! This forum has been a great support for me the last couple of weeks!

Filed AOS last week (Chicago) on a VWP stay.... anxiously awaiting the first receipts and confirmations. I like worrying about things like this