zilchfox

As long as your EAD card says "SERVED AS I-512" at the bottom you're good and have an EAD/AP combo card. Sometimes the AP statuses do not get updated on the site. If it says "NOT VALID FOR REENTRY TO US", then AP was not applied to the card, and may be processed separately (unfortunately), which means you should NOT travel outside the US, otherwise you still gain the benefits of EAD.

Back in March, I got a $500 secured BankAmericard from Bank of America with a $99 deposit. Normally they'd auto-check after 12 months of using it to see if you can "graduate" (their term, not mine) to a regular credit card, however I decided to call and check to see if they'd do it earlier, and to my surprise that was a resounding YES! They checked my payment and usage history (high usage, yet card always paid off in full every month), and upon graduation they also said I was pre-approved for a $500 credit line increase, so now I have a $1000 unsecured card, which should definitely help my credit score going forward

If you guys have a secured credit card for a while and you've been good with payments, give them a shout and see if you can get your deposit back!

It's an approval, definitely take it. Congrats.

First I've heard you can do this, but there's lots of info on the internet I found that supports you can...uhm...seems like what you did was correct at least... what does the rejection letter say EXACTLY?

Can you do this? Yes, if your husband already has a B2, however gaining a B2 while a I-130 is pending can be very difficult or may end up in denial of the B2.

Could this affect our current I-130 petition? The visits may help SUPPORT the legitimacy of the I-130 petition even further, however see response 1.

What should I be aware of? Having a pending I-130 petition is clear indication of immigration intent, thus expect extra scrutiny at POE when visiting on a B2 - having extremely strong ties back to his home country to convince the POE officer is highly recommended before even making the trip (i.e., evidence of a job, two-way plane tickets, proof of mortgage/rent back home, other bills, etc.). It may be better for you to visit him instead, if you can.

See here: 

Atlanta filer here, filed Dec 13th, approved on April 24th without an interview.

Your RFIE will delay things, but the good news is you have your EAD so you can start finding work if you haven't already. Some AOS petitions can take up to a year, and the EAD can be renewed an infinite number of times for free, as long as you have a pending I-485 application.

Call your Post Office, you might be able to go pick it up instead.

Hrm...perhaps you'll be summoned for another interview for the I-751 itself, and once that's done, the N-400 will auto-approve based on your interview today. This is the first I've heard where they weren't together and that the N-400 came first.

On 7/4/2017 at 10:21 PM, NikLR said:

It's not a bad thing to keep claiming even with a part time job.  My first job here, my paycheck was less than my EI payment.  I may have well have not worked and that was 30+ hours a week.  At least the minimum wage has gone up where I live, but the cost of living is so high that you'd need 3 people at minimum wage, pouring all their earnings just to have a 2 bedroom apt.  It's ridiculous. 

Yep, my first paycheck was a measly $80 because I was hired and worked a very short, single shift right at the end of the payroll period. I'm fortunate to have been re-hired by my previous company except now state-side, so they matched my pay for when I was living in Calgary (In USD equivalency) and bridged my service so now it states I've worked for them for 2.75 years instead of just one month  and double-fortunate that GA is actually really cheap to live. Downside is although they re-hired me, they unfortunately only re-hired me as a part timer (I was previously full time), and for others the minimum wage of GA is actually LOWER than the federal minimum wage, so that kinda sucks too.

Another small update. Although this reporting period I don't think I'll get anything anyways due to the number of hours I worked, ensure that you check that the report has been posted on EI Canada's website the following business day after your call — I just had a small issue where I called last Friday to report my numbers, and they didn't post the report to the website. Should I have been eligible for any payments that period, it never would have came and it may have been treated as "late", thus potentially threatening the eligibility of my remaining EI period. I called again this morning and Brad told me it didn't process "for some reason" so he forced it through. I didn't need to report my numbers again as he already had them on file from my last call (which was also with Brad).

As per the aforementioned responses, perhaps you'll want to plan a U.S. destination honeymoon, or wait until you have your AP or Green Card, whichever happens first (usually AP).

Just now, Rsul96 said:

 

How long will that delay the process for my wife and I? I'm stressing out over this. Will it take them a few weeks? A month? I really am beating myself up over this because I wanted everything done perfectly the first time but was being rushed and am stressed from work etc.

It typically takes a week or so for them to even acknowledge receipt of a petition, it might already be on it's way back to you now with a rejection letter attached.

They'll reject the application and return everything you sent, or accept the application pending RFIE for payment.

I know with a K-1 you need to initiate it yourself at the Social Security Administrative office, but...not sure with IR-1/CR-1. My guess is yes you still do. The green card should come in the mail automatically within the next few weeks after POE, that much I know.

1 minute ago, S_Flores said:

Thank you for your reply!

 

Really? Then the process would take longer if we the case has to be reassigned? Sigh.

Probably not too much longer is my guess.

23 minutes ago, S_Flores said:

Hi. I need help. 

I am a Filipina but I am currently here in the Middle East working as an Engineer.

 

I have a question for the fiance visa:

If after we have completed and submitted the forms and all the requirements, and I suddenly change work or leave my work because of the crisis here in the Middle East, will this affect our application?

 

Nope, you should be fine, especially as the beneficiary. If you move, you will need to update them on your new address.

Well... you'll at least get brownie points if you disclosed your employment on your I-485 application, regardless if it was unauthorized. In a typical sense, it'd be treated nearly the same as one who filed I-485 after "overstaying" their K-1 visa of 90 days — simply ignored. If you did not disclose your work on the I-485, authorized or not, expect scrutiny at the interview.

In fact, expect scrutiny regardless. You knew the rules, and you decided to ignore them, you worked while unauthorized anyways, and now it's most likely you'll face the consequences for it.

If they overlook your issue, then great, however if they decide to decline your application, then it is what it is. I wish you the best, OP.

1 hour ago, Marzena & Stephen said:

Interesting. I have heard others say they had to retake the exam. I should try reaching out to the DMV in Chicago and ask. I tried in the past but apparently I contacted the incorrect DMV (it was a company vs the registry office I guess? weird?)

 

I found some info that it looks like you'll have to take the written and vision exam for Illinois if you hold a Canadian license, but that's it. That info was from 2012, however.

2 years is normal, and now that you're both over 18, you're fine. Cheers.

On 6/19/2017 at 6:32 PM, Cryssiekins said:

Most states I think have a reciprocal agreement with Canadian provinces so you should be able to surrender your Canadian one for a state issued one.

I wish that were the case honestly, but I think it's mainly just the states that border Canada that do, with the odd one here or there that does, too. In Georgia, I unfortunately had to take both a written test to get my learner's permit AND then the next day my drivers' test to get my full license. It didn't cost much for me to do, but it still sucked to have to do those tests over again, I'm just glad I passed both tests the first time. They didn't seem to care about my Canadian drivers license, and didn't want me to give it to them, so I have it sitting in a sock drawer at home now.

Insurance should have nothing to do with her LPR status. There are only really a few things LPRs can't do that naturalized citizens can do (although all those things are rather important), but insurance shouldn't be one of them.

Study and practice English, re-apply and try again. The English test is probably one of the major reasons why many LPRs never get citizenship in the end, and just stick with being an LPR for the rest of their lives.

This is the guide you will be following: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

Good luck.

Small update -

First time calling in reports with a PART TIME job, they asked hours and U.S. dollars worked for the two week reporting period — you still get benefits based on how many hours you work, however the more hours you work dollars you earn, the less benefits you get.

Cheers.

Too late on K-1, as per previous replies, you must wait on EAD now. For those who are nervous about getting an SSN with your maiden name on it, don't be, it can always be changed afterwards — your SSN number will stay the same, as it's yours for life, and you can always update the name for free.

Cheers!

Yes — if you're going for the 5-year rule, your marriage or divorce will have no effect on applying for citizenship. The only effect is you can no longer file at 3 years.