TheAndies

It really depends on the airport and time you fly in.

I did my POE at Newark Airport arriving around 11pm, we were the only plane to come in at the time (and probably one of the last). There was literally no line, so I walked straight up, informed the CBP agent I was doing K-1 and this was my POE and she checked me in, hi-fived me and said 'welcome to america'. I was then led into a secondary room literally behind her with a CBP guard and maybe 5 officers (unsure if they were CBP or USCIS), on a raised platform. I was called up after literally sitting down, handed my passport and exit slip (there was no interview - just stamping of documents).

- After collecting my luggage, I showed the secondary officers my K-1 visa, passport and extra documentation, and again had Hi-fives and congratulation cheers.

I was probably out of the airport within 20 mins of landing, and that includes stopping for coffee.

I'd expect *very* different results from large and/or more 'touristy' airports (like JFK, Miami, O'hare.etc .etc .etc)

I believe that you are the one who is supposed to update SSA when your immigration status changes. They don't know otherwise.

You may be correct however, we had two info pass appointments (one during AOS and one during a GC expedite request), and I raised the question of EAD and SSA/SSN and at both times (pointing out I was actively job hunting), the 3 case officers (there were two at the field office on the second one), said it was an automatic process with no work required on our part - but to check in person if worried - which we did!

Hi Guys,

I just wanted to put this up today as it shocked me and my significant other today -

(A little background as per my timeline, I came in on a K-1, got EAD in 08/15, GC in 12/15 and GC replacement in 04/16 due to incorrect data on the first).

I had a job interview this afternoon so decided to go to the social security office in the am to 100% check that I was on the E-verify list with everything accurate (due to the issues with my first GC).

We went to our local social security office today to check & request a new social security card (without the DHS AUTH FOR WORK notice). I took in my Green card, NYS drivers license and old card, explained the situation and the manager was only to happy to check.... and find that there was no record of me having EAD let alone a green card.

- USCIS hadn't notified them or they hadn't updated their records (to clarify I registered for a SSN before AOS, but included it with all the paperwork).

Either way he's processed the update and said that it will take around 4 weeks for them to verify the data with USCIS and then an extra week for a new card to go into production. As I had an interview, he also wrote, signed and printed out some paperwork to clarify the situation to a potential employer with the numbers for the field office, which was a really nice touch - so nice he went the extra mile!

So its essentially all sorted for me now, but just in case anyone else hadn't checked with their local field office and has recently adjusted status - I recommend double checking to be safe! Whilst I doubt it would hurt career prospects, its one extra headache (and slight embarrassment) you don't want to have to go through!!!

Hey

Looking back at our time line it took about 11 days for the NOA to arrive so I wouldn't freak out just yet. Have you looked at current processing times? Failing that, you can try calling USCIS customer services - they are typically pretty friendly and can look into cases for you

If you dont hear anything in another week or two, you can also file an infopass and speak to someone in person at your local USCIS office (again I dont think you need to do anything like that yet).

As Limey said, bring over an unlocked phone and it should work OK - I came over with an old (unlocked) iphone4 and put a walmart sim in it to get up and running.

I got my U.S iPhone from Verizon, I explained my situation to a woman at the store and she was pretty understanding/cool over the whole situation and suggested the easiest way forward was to switch my significant others plan into a family plan and add a new iPhone to it. as the plan was setup already no credit checks would be needed. So we read the fine print, set it up and I paid about $200 for the phone (I paid more simply as I wanted one with alot of space and line activation). Aside from the low data (we get about 10 gig/ month to share), its all good!

No problem, If you have any other UK/NY state specific questions - don't hesitate to ask! We wouldn't have made it this far without this forum, so happy to help!

Hey! As others have mentioned the ACRO certificate I won't dwell on that...

Credit

I have a long (perfect) credit history in the UK... aside from my AMEX (more paperwork), it doesn't transfer over. Capital One will start sending you mail for credit building cards once you get EAD though, so you can build history from there if you like - or get a card from your bank (though i'd personally wait till you work auth to avoid being rejected).

Driving

Am I right in assuming (via your profile) you'll be moving to NY State? If so, I can shed some light on the exact details of driving here -

I have a UK drivers license (10+ years), but opted to not drive whilst filing for Adjustment of Status. Once I got EAD, I went to the social security office and applied for a SSN, and when that arrived in the mail about a week later, I took my EAD card, SSN and passport as 'proof' and went to the local DMV for a learners permit.

- NY State wont take into account prior driving experience from the UK, they only accept Canadian drivers licenses for a straight swap - so you would get treated as a straight new driver (though as others have said - get a license in the UK for driving experience if nothing else).

- NY State DMV will ask you to surrender your UK license if you do file for a learners permit. But they don't specifically ask unless you mention it, so just don't mention you have one

- Once you file for it, they give you the DMV handbook (you can download it in advance off their site), I spent 2 days reading it to familiarize myself in differences between UK and US roads (School buses, stop signs and flashing amber/ red lights on traffic lights). I then walked in and took the written test in my local DMV office, it's multiple choice, really not tough and I scored 100% after literally 5 minutes in the room. Just memorize the alcohol/drug bits.

- Once you've got that and your permit in hand, book the 5 hour classroom (either through a car school or university), I did mine in an evening, EZ.

- Once you've got your certificate of attendance, you can book a road test. You need 48 hours of 'real world' driving in the US. I just booked it. It takes about 3 months for a slot. Be prepared to be overly nice to the road test instructors. I've never heard of stories of nice ones. Mine yelled at me solidly throughout the road test, mocked my driving ability, questioned my judgement and then told me I passed with flying colors before yelling at a pedestrian. Nice people(!). They give you a receipt there and then which is as good as a license, whilst your main one is printed and mailed.

That's all there is to it! I wrapped mine up in 3 months, and that was largely due to waiting for the road test. Be aware your learners permit/license will say 'temporary visitor' on it with your EAD expiry date on it (if you go down the EAD route). I'm actually heading to the DMV today to show my (new/second) green card to remove that condition. Also take the defensive driving course if offered (or book it online), it lowers your car insurance further.

One side note - When getting car insurance here, I was asked by the person on the phone if I had a UK driving experience, I said yes - and they classed me as a 'experienced, competent driver' and lowered my and all the drivers in the house's insurance by $30 a month.

Hope this helps! sorry for the wall of text!

We are going through this at the moment (received wrong date of birth rather than expiry date),

Hypnos is right - EAD will work fine whilst you wait (probably 6 months) for the new GC from your I-90.

Do you have an SSN? if so you can self-check on USCIS's e-verify site (https://www.uscis.gov/mye-verify/self-check) - if there is an issue on that site, you should be able to bring it up at your infopass once you've filed your I-90 -or- pop into your nearest social security office and explain the issue.

Here is our time line on the I-90 process so far -

- Called USCIS immediately after seeing wrong details on the GC, Woman was super helpful and gave us advice on filing the I-90.

- Include a cover letter and state clearly its *their* fault (or they will charge you for the new GC).

- We completed the paperwork that evening, and took photos to support our case (for us it was scans of passport, EAD card, drivers license and birth certificate and showing that we even had an RFE on the birth certificate!).

- 1 week before xmas - Had USPS overnight it to Phoenix the next morning

- 10th January, NOA1 accepting case, requests us to signup for an ELIS account.

- 15 January, Biometrics appointment request,

- 22 January, Biometrics appointment,

- 23 January, USCIS waves GC replacement & biometrics fee's yay!

We've had nothing since then, so guessing its in a pile of other I-90's waiting to be processed, the lady that conducted the biometrics told us that even an expedited case request (that we requested), will still take up to 6 months from I-90 file to GC in hand, and that we could now request an Infopass to receive the passport stamp for travel.

OK, I understand that the holidays are amazing at draining bank accounts!

Personally, I wouldn't use a gofundme page incase it came back to bite me in the future but its obv your call - but putting out two other options:

1) Delaying the paperwork till after the holidays (I know that your keen to get it in the mail and done, but it may be worth recouping a little before going down this route - K1 or K3's are expensive!).

2) As you said its a temporary situation, borrow the money from a family member (I know not everyone can do this as times are tough, just floating it out there), as I assume it would be friends and family primarily paying into your gofundme page in the first place?

With the gofundme page, whats your plan if the page gets less than what you were hoping for?

If I was you, i'd prepare the paperwork now whilst he's there, get everything sorted out and use the time to double check everything is 100% right and all boxes are ticked (as you dont want an RFE from rushing the paperwork), relax a little and then actually file for it once you have recoup'd from the holidays. I'm all too familiar with wanting to get everything just sorted to be together with your loved one but just go with the flow.

Hey,

Not sure about it being sent via a 3rd Party, the consulate usually sends your passport back via them directly as its a secure courier service as it contains not just your passport with the embassy stamp but the paperwork you need to hand over to the border agent at POE (hence why DX costs so much!!!). Maybe its because they dont have vans/ staff in North Aberdeenshire?

When I went through this (back in Feb of this year), it took about a week and a half from the interview to getting my passport back where it was delivered and signed for at the door of my parents house (i'd moved back in with them in prep to move to the states and they were home to sign for it whilst I was at work). I don't recall getting a tracking number though - just an email to say it would be delivered that day.

Have you tried phoning DX direct rather than Royal Mail? im sure speaking to a representative from there could help clear things out for you - and maybe get that tracking number (they should have it in their system as they placed the order with RM).

Hope this helps! I know how anxious it feels to get your passport back and start planning your flights.etc! Just expect it to take slightly longer than usual due to the xmas mail load, but im sure its on its way!

First off, congrats on getting engaged

I take it he be returning to Canada in the new year? and then if married file for a K-3?

As others have said before me, during the AOS phase (once married and your K visa is approved) you need to be able to prove you can support yourself and your fiance without being a ward of the state (wellfare), hence the need to file your IRS transcripts/ proof of ongoing employement (or if your self employed, proof of reliable income) as evidence along with proof of any savings you and your fiance have. Renember that untill EAD is approved he cannot work legally in the U.S and as such is entirely dependent on you. This can take a few months to get approved.

From memory you have to be earning about 125% over the poverty line (I could be wrong here - but its around that mark) in order to sponsor without requiring a co-sponsor (parent.etc).

USCIS can and do look at social media/ online for evidence of a relationship and I suspect that they could find a gofundme page however as long as your evidence is strong I doubt it would be an issue, but it may raise questions on why you need a go fund me page in the first place.

Hey guys - Thank you so much for your replies!

We didn't go for an infopass in the end, we called the 1-800 number on the letter that comes with the GC. The lady on the other end was fantastic, empathatic and was super helpful. She asked me if not having the green card would be a hinderance to work or travel. I replied no to work as I have my EAD card still and can use that (and she agreed), but I did say I was dissapointed in the error as my wife and I were planning on visiting some friends in Toronto in Feb and started making travel arrangements after the GC arrived but before we noticed the problem.

She said if we can guarentee that we can complete the paperwork, submit evidence and overnight the GC then she will raise it as an expedited service request to help us out and try and keep our Canada plans on track (which was amazing).

So we completed the paperwork that afternoon (I-90, coverletter, copy of my birth certificate and photographs of my EAD card, passport, original K-1 visa.etc) and rushed it overnight signed for ($24 but whats that against the cost of K1 through to AOS!). It was signed for at 10am and has been marked for a case officer to review, and the USCIS.gov site shows that it is marked as expedited!

Hopefully this will all get sorted soon!

Hi, Just to confirm -

NY State full license holder here.

I filed for a learners permit the day my EAD/ AP card came through and used it as proof at the DMV along with my SSN and various other bits. They were only interested in the EAD card.

Past the theory test there and then, filed for the 5 hour road course - again no problems.

Received my Green card *the day* of my driving test, passed the test (the guy was a real grouch but still passed me) - he only asked me if I had a license in my country of origin (UK), I replied yes... for 13 years. Drove home and got the GC out of the mailbox!

My full license came through a few weeks ago and just says temporary visitor on it. Take your Green card to the DMV when it shows up and they will update their records and send out a new license in the mail - takes 2 weeks.

Hi Guys,

(my wife the USC usually posts on this account),

My Green card arrived in the mail today However it has an incorrect birthdate. I believe this is a clerical error on their side, as my work Authorization / AP and the I-94 in my passport (for the K1) all have the correct DOB. Which is so sad as we thought we were finished with paperwork on this till GC lifting conditions.

We are schedulling an infopass appointment to correct this, and i'm going to call the permenant resident 1-800 number tomorrow to let USCIS know but I have a couple of questions regarding this...

1) Does this throw my status back to temporary visitor, or do I remain a perminant resident during the card re-issuance (as I believe I have to return my old one with the paperwork)?
> Strangely enough, the RFE we recieved during the adjustment of status was my birth certificate (as it wasnt apostle signed) - which we obv cleared up.

2) Does this affect the Work Authorization or AP, as I have a job interview on Friday!

3) If yes to 2), does this affect my US drivers permit (my road test is tomorrow - its been a v.busy week!).

I've read online where some people have recieved stamps in their passport to state they can travel freely during this time as if they had their greencard at infopass appointments and wanted to double check if that is the case? Realistically, we have no real plans to travel anywhere other than possibly Toronto in the new year to see some friends so its not a huge deal.

Finally,

Is the processing time for something like this stil roughly 90 days from file to new GC? (inc if they do find the error was their side?) .

Many thanks in advance for any help!

Hi everyone! Just wanted to update that we literally just received notice that the GC is being produced. No interview or waiver or anything like that. We put in a service request about 4 weeks ago, but told we were still in normal processing time. Anyway - just thought I'd let everyone know.

Congrats to all the recent approvals and for those still waiting, it'll happen soon. Hang in there

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Did the folks you mentioned go thru the New York City office? Once the application is processed the timeline switches to the field office timeline. I know here in Portland it is taking 6 months to get an interview.

Yeah, there was at least one case I can recall off the top of my head in NYC.

Hi there - needing some guidance:

We submitted the response to our RFE and got notice they received in on July 10th (so 101 days ago). My husband received his EAD/AP on August 28th but we've heard nothing about AOS - the case status just says "RFE received on...". I've seen people who filed when we did (May) get approved for GCs after having RFEs as well.

Should we submit a service request? Or just wait it out? Trying to gauge what to do - just like everyone else, we're at the point where we want to be done with it, at least for a little while lol

Thanks so much!

And I see I've put it in the wrong forum since our AOS is marriage based - Mods, please move it to where it belongs! Sorry!!!

Hey guys, bit of an update. We put in a service request online about 10 days ago, got the usual "still within normal processing time" response expect a decision within 90 days of receipt.

Yesterday I logged into our USCIS account for my morning check and saw that we got approved for EAD/AP yesterday morning (the emails came last night!) :joy:

I highly recommend filing a service request if you haven't already because the pattern really shows that they're approved within a few weeks of receiving it.

One question - does that mean that our RFE response information was sufficient if they moved on to approve EAD/AP? Hoping so.

Letter after the service request we made 8/12 :

Your case is within our current processing times. Our systems show that we received your response to our RFE (I-485)

on June 30, 2015. Your I-765 will be processed within 90 days of the receipt of the requested evidence.

I have seen others with a much later RFE receipt date already with their EAD/AP cards. That just sucks ! It would make it until Sept. 30 !

I haven't received our service request letter yet (we requested on Thursday) but I have a feeling we'll be getting the same answer. Guess we're in this together...but it still really sucks.

My rfe was received on the 14th and still nothing smh....I NEED A LIFE!

RFE stats on my signature, still waiting.

Looks like we're all in the same boat.... :clock:

Hi everyone,

Been awhile since I've posted - but congratulations to everyone who's received approved EAD/AP and interview updates!

Our RFE was received on July 10th and we haven't heard a single peep on anything other than that.

Anyone else still waiting or had any experience with RFE and EAD/AP approval from this group?

Hi again - I thought I would give an update (and honestly, I have another question).

My husband and I went to an infopass appointment and the immigration officer was super helpful and went through everything with us. So we're pretty set with how we need to respond to it in regards to assets and whatnot.

But now I have a couple questions: I just found out today that I got a new job (yay!), full time staff position - no longer freelance/self employed. I got an offer letter on company letterhead, signed by the HR director listing the salary (way over the 125%), benefits, start date, everything.

Can I include that offer letter as proof of new employment with the RFE (the RFE was for i-864, not meeting the 125% etc.) Just to show I'm now working? Also, stupid question - the offer letter is made out to "Andie" but my full name is "Andrea" - would that be a problem at all?

And finally - now that I have full benefits, can I put my husband on my health insurance plan? He doesn't have EAD/AP yet, but has a SSN and I want to make sure he's covered if it's allowed.

As always, thank you so much!!

Thanks for that info. Guess its depending on who you get. Just a question if you don't mind. See when you book the infopass, do you select "information on services" option for an RFE?.

Yeah, I think it depends on the person you get, but my husband and I went into the conversation very friendly and were really polite and made her laugh a few times, which I think helped. The reason we chose when booking, I can't remember what it was verbatim, but it was something like "information on case status" or "questions on case status".

Just wanted to follow up with everyone here because I'm seeing how a few people are getting RFEs - my husband and I went for an infopass appointment yesterday in NYC (a block away from where we got married!) because we really wanted information about our RFE and I wanted to get answers directly from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I've been reading on here how sometimes infopass appointments are useless and not helpful, especially regarding RFEs, but I would just like to say that in our situation that was just not the case at all. They were SO helpful.

We spoke to an officer who was so friendly and very happy to help. She went over our RFE (which was mainly for the i-864 and because of my husband's birth certificate). She looked at the copies of what we sent the first time around and then looked at our file on the computer and said that we were a pretty straightforward case and told us how to respond to the RFE, what to include and made a note on our file on the computer about how we came in for more information and help.

She was very helpful, answered all of our questions. We also asked, because I've seen conflicting information on here, if because we got the RFE for the i-485, if they stopped processing the EAD/AP and she said no and that we should still expect to be on track with that.

All in all, she was very helpful and put our minds at ease. So based on this experience, my advice to anyone who has questions about their RFE, book an infopass appointment. I'm so thankful that we did.

i am in NY ,too. After you got RFE how soon the USCIS update the status?? I have sent back my RFE response by 6/4/2015, till now i didinot see any update from USCIS ,not even RFE RR

Hello fellow NYer! We got our RFE on 5/22 but haven't sent the response back yet as it's a more involved RFE, so we have an infopass appointment on Tuesday in NYC to hopefully sort it out (fingers crossed for us please!) I would assume that once they receive the RFE your USCIS status will update (which happened for us when we got an RFE when waiting for the i-129F approval). But since you sent it on the 4th, I would wait at least a week or two before you see any update on the site.

Good luck!