Anna Sif

Biometrics: July 21st

Interview Notice: August 13th

Interview: Oct. 9th

Hope you get your notice soon!!

I got my vaccines at my local GGD (Gemeentelijke gezondheidsdiensten). When you get packet 3, it includes a list of which vaccines you need, bring them to the GGD and they'll give you a book and register all your shots. If you don't get all in NL (Hepatitis one needs 3 shots over 5-6 month period), you can get the rest here in the US.

The US embassy will send you a letter with the doctor info for your medical. You can call and make an appointment once you get the info. You can only get the medical exam done there. You'll have to go to a place to get your X ray and then to a doctor for the exam.

In my case, noone I know (other than my fiance for notices) was contacted either from USCIS or the embassy.

We dressed as we usually do for the interview: jeans, t shirts... I have full sleeves tattooed in my arms and they were in plain view. Most people in the waiting room were dressed pretty casually. I don't think they really care how you dress.

I haven't lived in the same city as my parents since 1992, so I guess they're more used to the idea, but sometimes my mum gets in drama queen mode kinda implying I keep moving farther and farther away from her, which obviously wasn't premeditated. The good thing is that they adore my husband, so they're happy I found such a good man.

It's hard to talk to your parents as an adult, cos they will always consider you their "kid". If talking is difficult, maybe you want to send them a letter, explaining why you've made the choices you've made and that they make YOU happy. That way at least you don't get interrupted and they will have that information in the back on their heads. It won't prevent them from all of a sudden being 100% supportive, but it might mitigate their anxiety about you being away and wondering if you're making the right choices.

Just Google "health insurance for immigrants" in the case of the one emmigrating and "temporary health care" for the USC.

I did both to get myself and my husband insured and found search sites that will find and compare coverage and prices in your state, both if you're a resident or a citizen looking for temporary coverage. We're paying 100 bucks a month each.

It took us about a week to get the policy and be covered.

Google!

Congrats!!!

I got a call for a seasonal job for a clothing store, a day after getting a phone interview with a very cool Coop I'd prefer to work at... So if the Coop doesn't call again next week for a personal interview, I'll be selling clothes for the next 3 months!! I can't wait to be out of the house and making money!

Even though my country shows up as Netherlands, cos that's where I was living when I went through my K1, I'm from Espana!!

Hola!!

I've been here for over 6 months and I miss mi familia.

Anyone going home por Navidades? I'm not sure if I can make it, and I'm very bummed.

Of course I'm not expecting to get contacted or hired at the first place I applied at, and I expect lots of rejections before I get a job. I'm just surprised that I haven't even been invited to interviews at any of them.

Some might not find my qualifications to their needs, but I wonder, if references and proof of past experience are a must in applications (as seems to be the case) how many employers would be willing to call a foreign country to speak to a past supervisor?

I think in a way it's natural that people will go to the easy option and hire a national instead of a foreigner.

I guess the hardest is getting the foot in, and once you get a first job, the rest will come easier. So good luck to us all on the hunt!

hi, everyone.

I just got my 2 year GC and they've slightly misspeled my first name: Ana instead of Anna... my birth certificate has my name with just one n, so that's probably where they got it from...

I was just wondering in the case of people who've had misspells, how bad were they?

I'm just considering if it's worth going through the whole replacement process with such a slight misspell.

I will call USCIS before I travel to make sure it's ok, but just wondering what you guys think...

Thanx

yeah, even if they don't openly admit they'd rather hire a US citizen than a legal immigrant, how can you know if that's not the case?

I've been applying for tons of jobs that I'm prefectly capable of doing since I got my EAD and haven't had any replies. I'm also wondering if the fact that all my work references are abroad is a deterrent since employers probably don't want to bother having to contact a company/supervisor in a foreign country.

Wohoo!! Got my Green Card in the post yesterday!!! 126 days in total, I think from filing AOS to getting the card.

A bientot, USCIS til 2009!!

They spelled my first name with only 1 n in the card, though, Ana instead of Anna. Anyone thinks this could cause problems?

Time to celebrate!

My POE was Seattle and the officer didn't mention any possible temporary EA stamp, but I didn't ask either. By the time you get a SSN, find a job where they'll be comfortable with your temp status, etc. your K1 might be expired.

Just try to get married and file AOS and EAD asap so you can work asap, but count on at least 2 months from the time you marry/file AOS til you're able to work.

I suggest volunteering in activities you enjoy in the meantime. Not only is it a great way to be useful and meet people, but it'll provide you with references for when you start looking for work once you're "legal".

Thank you for the good luck wishes!!

We're approved!!!!

The interview was really easy, I put a new post about it.

Good luck to everyone still having to go through it.

yay! We're aproved!! My GC is in production.

We had our appointment in portland, OR yesterday at 2 pm. After a 25 minute wait, a very nice lady officer took us to her office where she took our oaths. She then checked both our passports and took my I-94, and checked my AED card.

She had our file at her desk and she started checking that all my personal info (full name, address, phone #) were ok. She then started asking me some of the I 485 Biographical questions like have i ever been arrested/deported/dealt drugs/belonged to a communist group, and checked the already filled answers on my file. In between these questions she asked my husband when my birthday is, and I think she just caught him so off guard that he froze and took him a few (agonizing) seconds to answer, so you might want to refresh dates like these before your interviews.

She then asked how we met and a brief history of our relationship and how our wedding was. She asked for supporting documents that we live together (we had brought copies and originals of gas bill, our apartment lease, joint account summary, and health insurance policy, she kept the copies). I mentioned I had also brought a photo album and she asked to see the wedding ceremony pics. I explained who people were on the photos.

After that she just said we're aproved and I should get my GC in the mail in a couple of weeks.

So, it really was a breeze and boy are we glad we don't have to deal with any more papers for the next 21 months!!!

Thanx, everyone. I'll bring my copy of the whole AOS file, just in case.

It's just if I have to ask my hubby to get another letter from his employer, taxes, etc and have his mum do this again (it'd be her 3rd affidavit), I think he'd divorce me! ha ha!

Hi, We have our AOS interview next week and I'm a bit confused as to what's needed.

In the appointment letter it asks for medical exam and affidavits noting UNLESS ALREADY SUBMITED, so I asume they don't need either from me since we submitted both with the AOS application.

But browsing in the forums, there's some people who brought new affidavits, tax returns and employment letters to their interviews, at least that's what I understand. I have photocopies of our AOS file with the affidavits included, but doesn't the officer have the original file anyways? Or do they need a new one?

If anyone could clarify, it'd give me peace of mind. If we need to do one more Affidavit of support (and bug my mother in law about it again), i'm moving back to Europe, I swear.

Thanx for any help.

As Yu and Dan said above, your fiance will need to enter the US at JFK to get stamped with a work permit, and even then, think that he will have a period of time in between his K1 expiring, and receiving his EAD, when he will not be able to work. not to mention it'll take a few weeks to get a SSN after he's here (he can apply for a number at a local office a week or two after he lands, just bring his passport with the I-94 they'll give him at immigration when he lands), so unless you're looking at temp work, I'd imagine it'd be hard to find an employer who will hire him for a month, terminate cos he won't be a legal worker anymore, and then rehire him again a few months later.

I don't think it's unwise to start sending resumes around or looking at options. I personally decided not to start in earnest until I got my EAD, because I'd have felt a bit awkward if a company called me to set a job interview and I had to tell them: well, I can't start working for you for another 4-5 months (I landed in the US in mid March and got my work permit over a week ago), but that's up to each person. Just keep in mind after you get married and file for AOS and EAD, it'll take at least a couple of months (if not more) to get the work permit, so he can plan accordingly.

Hope this helps.

I've been putting "Moved to the US" as reason for leaving my last job. In the interview, I can explain the whole marriage as reason for moving, etc.

I think if someone has been willing to leave their life behind to move to a new country to be with their significant other, it shows he/she is a commited person.

So far, I haven't had negative reactions from prospective employers.

They told me they have a backlog getting cases online. My AED case number was never entered, but I did get the card in the mail the other day, so even though you can't check your cases online, it doesn't mean they're not working on them.

But I understand how frustrating it is to not be able to check.

Got my EAD card today! Hadn't received any letters or emails about it, I called USCIS yesterday and the automated service told me my EAD was aproved on Monday, and 2 days later, I got the card by mail. Didn't think I'd get it that fast!! But hey, who's complaining!

Finally!! As I was starting to despair from lack of news (my case # was never uploaded on the system, so I couldn't even check for touches!), and about to contact our local congressman for help, I called USCIS and the automated service told me my EAD was aproved on Monday.

And as I was still celebrating and starting my job search, the card came in today!! Only 2 days after being aproved!!

I'm so happy. Now I have to find a job. yipeee!

My case hasn't been touched since June 25th, my EAD case is not even online yet (after almost 80 days), and I didn't get any notices when they got my RFE back, but I know they resumed my case cos I got my interview letter.

I called USCIS about this and they said they have a HUGE back log on getting their online cases updated. You might want to call them just to double check, but you're not the only one not getting any updates after an RFE.

Congratulations! You didn't have to go to your local USCIS for an interview? I've never heard that before

Our interview appointment letter came today! No touches online, no info on the transfer, just the date of the interview: October 9th.

My EAD case number is still not online, I guess I'll have to wait til I get the letter or the card!

Below is my updated info.

USERNAME---------DATE FILED--RECEIVED----NOA1----BIOMETRICS--TRANSFER--INTERVIEW--STATUS/CARD REC'D--DAYS

Anna Sif----------06/15/07---06/19/07--06/25/07---07/21/07--- xx/xx/xx - 10/09/07