qiri

Concreterose - I am so sorry, that is so annoying! The same thing nearly happened to me, but it sounds like we had a very sympathetic interviewer unlike you. I hope the next one goes smoothly!

I haven't updated in a while but want to share my experience for all the future filers! We got our interview notification in mid-July via e-mail for August . We moved from Illinois July 1 and were living at my parents until our new home in Connecticut was ready. We finally moved in on August 1. With all the mail forwarding, we didn;t get our physical interview notice until around August 7th. I read the checklist carefully on what to bring, but (with great regret) I didn't read the WHOLE notice. First mistake.

My husband had his fingerprinting in Indianapolis so I assumed (second mistake) that this was our office. So when we got our interview notice I booked very expensive plane tickets from Connecticut to Indianapolis and arranged our interview vacation! We got in late Sunday night and we were sitting down reviewing all our paperwork. And then OH MY GOD, OUR INTERVIEW IS NOT IN INDIANAPOLIS. Epic fail on my part.

Fortunately, our interview was in Chicago. So we woke up at around 4 AM and drove the 3 hours to Chicago and with a large surcharge on our rental car and two extra plane flights, we made it. At least I noticed the night before, but I am not sure my husband will ever let me live it down. I suppose I DID fly us to the wrong city. My bad.

Then, when we finally got to the interview, our agent told us since we had moved to CT we are out of their jurisdiction and now our interview would have to be in Hartford. My husband and I were about ready to have meltdowns (seeing that we had made an incredibly expensive and inefficient journey to get to this interview). Fortunately, she felt super bad for us and got her supervisor's permission to conduct the interview.

The interview itself was very easy, our case was pretty boring and she agreed! I kept trying to give her more evidence and at one point she just stopped me and said, that's enough, I'm convinced! A couple days later we recieved notification that our application was approved. The Chicago office was very nice, well organized, and ran smoothly. Best part, we got to spend the rest of the day in Chicago (our favorite city and where we got engaged!).

So that's my story, this crazy life chapter closed! Good luck to all my fellow March filers still waiting and thank you to everyone on the forum for their help!

Recieved EAD card on Wednesday, exactly 7 days after approval notice as usual. Hoping for interview date soon, but with the EAD in hand they can take their sweet time

Finally got an update on my case - received an email that my card is in production! First step - now hoping for an ready for interview soon.

Also, belated congrats!

Best day yet! EAD is ordered and in production!!

Friday is day 75 so I was all geared up to contact our congressman and submit an inquiry to USCIS ... but I didn't end up doing anything! So excited!

Just an update - On May 20th i called up USCIS and submitted an inquiry into the EAD and AP, since it was day 75. The next day, i emailed my senator and asked them to help me out. I was going out of the country for 10 days.

Got the text updates on May 21st as the flight was on the runway about to take off that the EAD and AP were approved! Pretty wild. :-)

I really think it was indeed the senator and not the USCIS inquiry that helped. Thanks to all those who recommended i follow that path. I would highly recommend to others that they reach out on day 75 too.

Came back to the US yesterday to find my EAD + AP card in my mailbox. Feels great. :-)

My local office is chicago, so i imagine it's a long wait now for the interview.

Congrats!

We are getting close to day 75 so most likely following same path. What did you count as day 1?

Does anyone have a sample letter of what to write to senator? Or should we write congressman? Is it worth also opening an inquiry with USCIS, I am hesitant since they are so adament you cannot inquire until 90 days?

Thanks!

Still nothing for me. I've been checking the case status every morning and it's still the initial "case received/fingerprint fee received" stage. I will reach 75 days on June 1st so maybe I'll put in a case inquiry. My local office is Chicago so I knew that the interview might take a long time, but come on, EAD!

I hear ya... so frustrating! This week will be good I can feel it!

Congrats kkjiang! Love your excitement You're almost there!!

qiri It seems we are very similar in timeline and also at Indianapolis office - do you know anything about how fast they move? I'm not too worried about the workpermit as I have one now - just hate the waiting proces (like everybody on here :-p)

Wow we do! I haven't seen anyone else from Indianapolis, nice to know there is someone out there! I wish I knew how Indianapolis moves...the USCIS processing time says they're looking at applications from last September but I think those estimates must be highly inaccurate (every city I checked was like 7 months behind according to USCIS).

I'll post here as soon as we hear anything! Hope we both hear something soon

This process is sooooo painful! I would be happy to wait 3x longer for the interview if we could just get the EAD a litttttttle faster! Alas, we will be patient. Hopefully Indianapolis isn't like ridiculously backlogged?

We are at day 59 total and a month post biometrics...am I wrong to be optimistic that we may not get an RFE?

Oh also, on the USCIS website I am subscribed to mobile/email updates - do those come in right away? I.E. should I stop obsessively checking the website as well?

One can hope! Congrats to everyone who has received good news recently!

Hi everyone - I have a few questions:

-We are moving at the end of June and I'm beginning to get worried we might not have an interview by then. I know we simply change our address online, but if/when we get an ointerview will we have to trek back to this part of the country for it or will they switch offices? (Currently in Indianapolis, likely next office in NYC) Does this delay things?

-Is there anything to do to speed up EAD at this point in our process? I don't think so, but we're desperate since his employment ends June 31 and the next job begins July 1 if he can provide EAD!

Thanks!

Great news Chewy!

Really hoping we hear something soon, I wish at least the EAD would go faster because it is making job hunting for my husband extremely difficult!

Got biometrics appointment! I wish we could go for a walk in but Indianapolis is over two hours away so I don't think it is worth the risk of having to take 2 full days off work. Hope things keep progressing quickly!

Received our NOA1 emails and texts last night (and got 10 emails and texts...it was a little excessive)!!

I would bring other forms of ID like gov issued drivers license and social security card. Since not all USC even have a passport, they should accept other forms of ID. Just make sure you have the originals!

I think you need to provide W2s if you supply tax return. The easier solution is getting your tax return transcript (assuming your return has been processed) free online from the IRS and then you don't need to provide all the additional files. But either way works as I understand!

1) Form I-485: "Current USCIS Status" and "Expires on" . --> Would I put "F1" and "expiration date of visa" respectively here?

I would put "F1 Visa Holder" and then yes the expiration of the visa

2) Form I-485: "Nonimigrant visa number" --> I have looked online for this, but cannot come to an answer. There is nothing called this or similar to this on my visa. I am not sure what to put here.

It is generally the RED number on the visa itself. You can google it too for a picture of where to find it.

3) Form I-130, question 22: "USCIS office in.." ---> how do I know which USCIS office I should use? Simply the closest to where I live? Or is there a designated office for certain locations?

Closest, at least thats what I did!

4) Form G-325A: "File number" ---> Starts with an "A" according to the form, however I have no idea where this number would come from.

5) Form G-325A: "Alien Registration Number" --> Exactly the same as above, starts with an "A" , yet I don't know where to get it from.

6) Form I-765, question 16: "Who may file form I-765" --> I am not sure on the category, I belive it might be (a)(9) "k-3 Nonimmigrant Spouse of US citizen or K-4 Dependent" . (I got married to a US citizen, currently going to college on a F1 visa. I have been in the US for more than 90 days. And I am applying for a green card.) If (a)(9) is the right category, which parenthesis would I leave blank on the form? (there are three parenthesis to fill).

We were ©(9) but I am not very familiar with the categories so I'll leave this to someone else. As far as how to enter, I left the third one blank.

Good luck!

Just mailed our AOS package with I-130, I-485, I-765, and I-131 forms! To be delivered Monday morning...crossing our fingers!

I wish the USCIS would just simply use their brains and see that since you and your husband are enrolled in PhD programs, your earning potential is obviously enough to place you above the poverty line. They really should allow education exemption. I don't think our level of education was even asked for on one form!

My husband and I are both veterinarians and he is currently completing a one year internship while I am job hunting. Clearly between the two of us we will make enough money to meet requirements but I am worried we will get RFE due to technicality (since his job has an end date and we are basing the 864 off his income).

Best of luck to you, the whole process can really make you crazy!

Haha, good point! I think I copied that from some other cover letter but it does sound ridiculous. Thanks!

Hi! We are about ready to submit, just have to get our photos and the medical form back from the civil surgeon! I was wondering if anyone wouldn't mind scanning over our cover letters to make sure things look OK and we arent missing anything. Hopefully they will be useful also to someone in the future. I am the USC and my husband is here on an E3 visa from Australia.

Overall Cover Letter:

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680-4120

March 18, 2015

Petitioner (U.S. Citizen): ##NAME##

Beneficiary (Alien Spouse): ##NAME##

Dear Sir/ Madam:

Please kindly find enclosed documentation for the concurrent filing of the following forms: I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative), I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), and I-131 (Application for Travel Document). This is an original submission.

Contents include (in exact order):

1. Form G-1145 – E-notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

2. Form I-130 – Petition for Alien Relative

a. Includes cover letter, payment, and supporting documentation

3. Form I-485 – Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Status

a. Includes cover letter, payment, and supporting documentation

4. Form I-765 – Application for Employment Authorization

a. Copy of form I-94 – Arrival/Departure Record

b. Copy of beneficiary’s passport with biographic page and current visa/entry stamps

c. Two passport style photos of beneficiary, ##NAME##

5. Form I-131 – Application for Travel Documentation

a. Copy of beneficiary’s passport with biographic page and current visa/entry stamps

b. Two passport style photos of beneficiary, ##NAME#

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

##NAME##

i130 Cover Letter:

SUBJECT: Concurrent Filing of I-130, I-485, I-765, and I-131

Dear Sir/ Madam:

Please kindly find enclosed form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) and the supporting forms and documentation. Contents include (in the exact order):

1. Payment in the form of personal check for $420, payable to Department of Homeland Security

2. Form I-130 – Petition for Alien Relative

3. Copy of United States birth certificate for petitioner, ##NAME##

4. Copy of Australian birth certificate for beneficiary, ##NAME##

5. Copy of marriage license

6. Form G-325A – Biographic Information: Filled out and signed by petitioner, ##NAME##

7. Single passport style photo of petitioner, ##NAME##

8. Form G-325A – Biographic Information: Filled out and signed by beneficiary, ##NAME##

9. Single passport style photo of beneficiary, ##NAME##

10. Evidence of a bona-fide marriage:

a. Title of vehicle exhibiting co-ownership

b. Lease of current residence co-signed (first page and signature page included)

c. Bank statement showing co-ownership

d. Auto insurance with both petitioner and beneficiary listed

e. Selection of photographs exhibiting relationship

I am sure I will come up with some questions in the next 24 hours, thank you all for your help!!

My husband is on an E3 from Australia so we are going through same process. The guide posted above is a great way to start.

I wish someone had told me one piece of advice way back and that is to get started on your i-693 (Medical Examination). You need to make an appointment with a civil surgeon and provide vaccination records (which in my husbands case was not possible). We ended up driving over an hour to some sketchy town in order to get an appointment soon as the closer options were booked for months.

It's a daunting process, but this forum and website are extremely helpful!

Hi! I am starting the process (that we've been procrastinating since November...). It is fairly overwhelming but I am very grateful for this website and forum. I am really sorry if these questions have been answered - did my best to read forums but it is unclear!

1. For the I-130 what type of copies of birth certificate are needed? Can I simply photocopy front and back each of ours and include it? My husband's BC is Australian and not on standard paper size, I am hoping a proper copy shop can handle this!

2. Since the i130 and i485 both require BC and Marriage cert, do I need double copies? If so, do I need to get an additonal certified marriage license?

Thank you in advance!