TheAndies

Awesome, that just removed the headache I have had for the last few days.
And I knew it was federal and not state, I just needed confirmation to ease my overly stressed mind, hahaha!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

Hi everyone,
I have a couple of questions that I either can't find the answers for, or am finding conflicting information on, so any help clarifying would be much appreciated.
My fiance arrives on a K1 visa on April 11th, we are going to city hall in NYC to get married on April 17th (his parents are flying in, so time is of the essence). We really want to apply for his SSN ASAP so it's one less thing to worry about, but I've read that we have to wait 10 business days so he's processed into the system after his POE. But I've also read that because the I-94 is now electronic, it's processed immediately and we don't have to wait. Which information is correct?
My second question - if we have to wait the 10 days before applying: Two days after we're married we are flying to New Orleans to visit family (and so his parents can meet my extended family, etc.) for about a month. If we have to wait 10 business days before filing for a SSN, can we apply for one in the New Orleans SS office despite the fact that I am a NY resident and he will be as well?
I called social security yesterday to get some answers, waited on hold for about 45 minutes and the woman that I finally got through to had NO idea what I was talking about. When I said he was coming in on a K1 fiance visa and explained my whole situation, she asked if he was a refugee and if he already had his work authorization because he would need that to file for a SSN.
Thank you so much for any help!

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.

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

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.

Biometrics done early this morning! Now back to waiting....

Biometrics done early this morning! Now back to waiting....

Got married last week and literally just mailed off our AOS package!!! And now...waiting round 2 starts. But at least we're together!

As for what we put in the package - all basic documents that they asked for...no photos or anything like that. Here's hoping we did it right!

You MUST file them together to save money and save time.
This is how you should submit your packet:
Check
Cover Letter+passport sized photos in a small envelope
I-485
I-765
G-325a for the applicant (this is now the K1 visa holder)
I-131 (if applying for AP)
Proof of USC passport/ birth certificate/naturalization certificate (whichever applies to your situation)
Beneficiary's Birth Certificate+Passport+Copy of K1+Copy of I-94
Marriage Certificate
I-864
Letter of Employment for the USC or whoever is the sponsor, if you have a joint sponsor there will be two I-864
Paystubs/copies of checks, these now have to be all 2015 so if you have Jan-present time (if you don't have, you can go ahead and send with letter of employment and Tax Returns)
Tax Returns copies/transcripts for the past 3 years. If you are filing AOS after April 15 you must include 2014 Income Tax.
You can put a copy of your vaccination record that the docs in your country gave you at the back of the packet, or anywhere in the packet
This is how an immigration attorney of 50 years does these packets, so I have it on good authority that this is the way.
Remember guys. we want to make it as easy as possible for the CO to go through our files so in your cover letters make either bullet points or numbers, or some organized way to list and show them where everything is.
Just my two cents.

I'm fairly certain that filing EAD and AP WITH your AOS allows the fees to be waived. File them separately, then you have to pay the additional fees. I plan on filing for both of them with AOS, just makes more sense
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/541434-aoseadapuscis-office/

Hey guys I just wanted to let those who have arrived in the US a piece of advice. We are getting married this Friday and started to get the AOS paper work ready. Yesterday we went to get his SS card but noticed that the electronic I-94 only had my fiance's first name and 1 last name, not his complete name.
At the SS office, they wouldn't allow us to get a card because of this mistake. We were able to get it fixed by calling CBP, deferred action.
Guys, make sure the electronic I-94 has your complete name, or else your SS card will be incorrect and it will be a hassle later for the AOS. Just an advice.

Here it is! http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/542054-aos-thread-june-2014-tsc-filers/

Dear all,
This thread is a branch from the NOA2 Approval Thread - June 2014 TSC Filers.
We all liked the idea of continuing to support one another through the new and yet unknown process to us that is the AOS. Some of us are still waiting for our significant others to join us in the USA, others are already deep in the process. As always you support, help and advice is appreciated. We all got through our interviews and now the real fun begins. Also, feel free to share news of weddings, moves, and etc. I don't mind this being a general support thread for one another.
As always with much love and respect to you all!

You do not need to wait to apply for the SSN. The I-94 is electronic now, which means the SAVE database is updated immediately. The information you are reading about having to wait 2 weeks is from when the I-94's were still on paper.
You can apply at ANY SSA office in the country, as the SSA is federal, not state.

YAY!!!!!! I have been thinking about you guys all day!! SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!! :joy:

Ya'll we have been APPROVED! Thank you all so so much for your amazing support and help! Much love to TheAndies and nitsirk7562 for sharing our rants!

I'm on the train heading towards Gatwick... flight leaves just after 11am tomorrow. Nervous, excited and cannot believe this is happening!

Of COURSE it's nerves! Good thing you're going to the doc tomorrow, you don't want to be a zombie but you don't want to be a mess either! I completely understand - it's a huge life change. You're going to be with the love of your life, but you're leaving behind a lot. My fiance won't be here until mid-April (he has to serve his notice at work, pack/shipping, do all that fun stuff) but I know how hard that one-way flight will be for him.
It'll all be worth it and in a few weeks, you'll be settled and have your happily ever after!

Awww, well we're all here for you! Try and enjoy this moment - it'll be something you can look back on in a few years and smile about

Yup, it'll say administrative processing while they get it all finalized and printed out. It'll changed to "issued" after it's been printed - usually a couple of days. Congrats!

I know this is really a stressful time for you but you guys are strong and your love will move mountains. Keep doing everything you have been doing, keeping in touch with congresspeople and bugging USCIS. Make noise!
I remember you mentioned your situation is a bit complicated because you are a national of another country living in Turkey so they are probably doing more checks. I understand this explanation does not help you much but I just want you guys to know that you are not doomed. Everything that is put in your way is something that you can overcome. This thread is in contact with a writer for the NY times and they are going to do a new story about K1 visa applicants. I think you should definitely share your story (they will change names to protect your privacy).
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/536174-ny-times-article-about-processing-times-need-info-by-monday/page-5#entry7479371

Thank you so much!!
Thank you!!!! He officially gave his notice at work today (lol, went right from the embassy to do that) and he should be here by mid-April (giving himself time to finish work, pack, ship things, etc.)

Hey everyone! I've been so busy all day and I've been meaning to post this literally since I found at at 3:45 this morning (when my fiance called me from London)...but he had his interview this morning!!

WE'RE APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :joy: :joy:
Just wanted to share that with you guys. I'm so glad to have shared in this experience with all of you, our little VisaJourney family. You've kept me sane and helped me so much along the way. But I won't be disappearing - I want to keep up with everyone's progress and interviews! And hey, we still have weddings and AOS to deal with! All the waiting, all the skype calls, being apart - in the end, this whole journey is all worth it. Stay strong everyone - there's a light at the end of the tunnel!!

Hey everyone! I've been so busy all day and I've been meaning to post this literally since I found at at 3:45 this morning (when my fiance called me from London)...but he had his interview this morning!!

WE'RE APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :joy: :joy:
Just wanted to share that with you guys. I'm so glad to have shared in this experience with all of you, our little VisaJourney family. You've kept me sane and helped me so much along the way. But I won't be disappearing - I want to keep up with everyone's progress and interviews! And hey, we still have weddings and AOS to deal with! All the waiting, all the skype calls, being apart - in the end, this whole journey is all worth it. Stay strong everyone - there's a light at the end of the tunnel!!

Huge congrats on all the new interview dates guys!!!! It's almost over!!! (well, this part anyway!) :joy: