DFWJimbo

Thank you for your reply. It seems too simple or there is a step that’s not obvious? I appreciate your knowledge, is there someone who can confirm that before I begin the process? I wanted to make sure we are not wasting money and she doesn’t have to file again. BTW, I am a born US Citizen and my wife and daughter are not. 

My wife and step child have gone through the process from I-129 petition, to K1 visa, to adjustment of status to successful removal of conditions (10-year GC).

My wife wishes to apply for Citizenship via N-400.  We meet the eligibility requirements.  My question is not with her application, but with her biological child (my stepchild).  All along the process our daughter was added to the applications (fees additional of course).  All is in order with her and no problems.

My question is how to add our daughter to the process of applying for citizenship.  Is this done with the same N-400, or do we file a separate one for her?  On the USCIS website, the fee calculator asks for age of the N-400 applicant at the time of applying.  Since she is 12 years old, she doesn't qualify to apply separately.  So I'm unsure if we just put this all on the N-400 or how this is going to work with our daughter.  Can someone shed some light on this?

Here’s a new one, probably.

My wife finished her application for removal of conditions in the normal window (Nov 2020) and we got a received notice in January, and then late March we got an approval/welcome notice that they approved removal of conditions and a few days later she got her 10 year permanent resident card.

Now there is a biometrics appointment scheduled for the same case number to appear at the ASC in September.

My understanding is we will likely need to show up for that to make sure everything is done properly, we have no problems and no worry with any of that.

I’m wondering why it is out of sequence and they sent a biometrics notice after she is already got approved and received her 10 year permanent status? Is this just to complete the records? Just curious…

Thanks for the replies. There is absolutely no mal-intent in the questions. Just literally walking questions not knowing anything about the process or restrictions involved-which appear to be many.  I have worked with several people from other countries over the years who went to school here and then worked here, many from India, so I wasn’t sure what the process was for them, hence why I was asking the questions. I was hoping for helpful insight into how to advise her sister for her career.  She’s not looking for an easy way to come to the US, but a meaningful to practice her nursing career with the best education possible.

The original post was not knowing anything about the process and looking for insight. I have worked with several in the past who came from India and they attended schools and later worked here and said the process wasn’t hard for them. It seems to be the opposite. Everyone’s experiences or definition of “hard” may be different it seems.

She does not have any problem going to nursing school in the Philippines except we got some misinformation that a nursing degree (BSN) wouldn’t be recognized here. That seems to be incorrect as they appear to be recognized provided you can pass the licensing exam(s) if she chooses later to apply for work here. There is no 100% that it’s her decision to work here. Going to school in PH would have advantages anyway and it would be much cheaper.

I have a question on how the process works for my sister in law. My wife is a permanent resident now after having gone through the AoS process, and was interested in finding out more about the process on her sister to go to nursing school here.

Her sister in law is interested in attending nursing school (4 year degree) and work possibly in a hospital later here. We would sponsor her for living expenses. I know nursing is a high demand skilled field of work. 

Would we apply for a student visa, and later adjust her status after graduation to permanent resident, or transition to a work visa and apply for adjustment to Perm Resident then?

If she comes on a student visa, does she have to go home between each year of study (eg, summer break) or can she stay here through her entire degree program?

If apply for an employment authorization can she also work here if she chooses during her schooling?

All is well.  The USCIS changed systems apparently, not all information goes over to the website that everyone has already (uscis.gov), the new site is at Department of Homeland Security (dhs.gov): myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov which you can create a login and add the cases there.  The website above (hover the link to see it's website link to their forum) had lots of complaints about people getting the same error we did (user_defined_error or validation error, etc)  The new site apparently displays status better (or data was migrated over to it and explains why it's not found at uscis.gov anymore).  The DHS website for USCIS shows we are waiting for interview to be scheduled.  We'll be patient

I think would be helpful to notify VJ to update links (to whom do we send that info to?).  Google still shows the first search hit as the old website (egov.uscis.gov), but a few search hits down the list shows the proper website (myaccount.uscis.dhs.gov).  The new DHS website also has more security questions and requires two-factor authentication as well.  I'm happy about the new website for 2FA for sure.

No NOA2 yet.  No RFE or anything like that either.  Nothing.  We also registered for email and text notices and got nothing there either. We got her EAD notices though (everything we filed with them had the G-1145(?) form for text and email notices included).  Just biometrics was the last thing received and nothing else so far. I wasn’t expecting anything for at least a year since I followed others here at VJ from the Philippines and using my local office and they issued or got scheduled for interview approx 1 yr later.

Our case lookup on USCIS said “user defined” and “validation” error on the case status check website and then it’s not there anymore.  We called when we first noticed it a couple of months ago, and a field office officer called us back and said it’s still in their system and waiting to be scheduled & no additional info yet at that point.  I’m wondering if their website is just glitchy...I googled and found some recent (July 2018 posts) about others in the same boat and points to a glitchy website at USCIS?

https://www.***removed***/forum/showthread.php/214700-Case-Error-on-egov-uscis-gov-casestatus/page2

I wanted to ask if anyone has run into this before, or perhaps it’s normal?  My wife and I went through the K1 process, she and her daughter came here, got married, and applied properly for an AoS (form I-485). This AoS was filed in early July 2017. We also applied and received her EAD and she’s been working since December. She also has a drivers license (which in Texas, lawful presence via USCIS must be obtained). The license was renewed recently for a few more months while her EAD renewal is pending (just renewed).

We checked periodically at the website for an update anticipating our interview or issuance date. It seems everything is on track except for the USCIS website which shows the AoS case not found and appears deleted. This has been like this for a couple of months, with the couple of months prior showing the current status of the AoS case as “user-defined/unknown error” on their website from February thru April.

Has anyone else run into this, or is this normal? We have not received anything from USCIS after the NOA2 and biometrics appointment which we kept and successfully went through last year.  We called about a month and a half ago to the customer service number and the rep couldn’t find the case # but looking up her A# said they found the case in the system and it was still pending a schedule/reschedule.  I am just concerned there isn’t much info available on it being that many others from the Philippines process and received about this time (12 months) as reported in this site.

I wanted to ask if anyone has run into this before, or perhaps it’s normal?  My wife and I went through the K1 process, she and her daughter came here, got married, and applied properly for an AoS (form I-485). This AoS was filed in early July 2017. We also applied and received her EAD and she’s been working since December. She also has a drivers license (which in Texas, lawful presence via USCIS must be obtained). The license was renewed recently for a few more months while her EAD renewal is pending (just renewed).

We checked periodically at the website for an update anticipating our interview or issuance date. It seems everything is on track except for the USCIS website which shows the AoS case not found and appears deleted. This has been like this for a couple of months, with the couple of months prior showing the current status of the AoS case as “user-defined/unknown error” on their website from February thru April.

Has anyone else run into this, or is this normal? We have not received anything from USCIS after the NOA2 and biometrics appointment which we kept and successfully went through last year.  We called about a month and a half ago to the customer service number and the rep couldn’t find the case # but looking up her A# said they found the case in the system and it was still pending a schedule/reschedule.  I am just concerned there isn’t much info available on it being that many others from the Philippines process and received about this time (12 months) as reported in this site.

Thanks everyone for the information.  There are no plans to do an application now-since it doesn't look feasible.  We don't have resources to pay for her tuition and student loans will be out of the question since she has to go back home after school, so this won't be something we can do.  Just wanted to know about the process itself, but doesn't sound like it's going to work out.

Right now, we are focused on our life together here right now.  Went through a long process (still on going) and don't want to do anything to add to the complexity or mess it up since we plan to live out the rest of our lives here in the US together.

I'm an American citizen, my wife and step-daughter have K1 (and daughter K2) visas pending an AOS, interview appt is pending, although taking a while since I'm sure USCIS is extremely busy.

My wife would like to consider bringing her sister here to study at an American university on a student visa, but I'm unsure if we follow the usual steps for a student visa on Nolo or USCIS's website (and which student visa it is, F1 or M1, or whatever) and what the requirements will be (financial and otherwise).  We will be having her sister stay with us in our home.  Also will the student visa last the entire 4 years of her study time or if she has to go back home to the Philippines at the end of each semester or school year?

It seems most of what I am searching on is based on a person coming over fresh on a student visa and not associated with US-citizen in-laws and/or a family pending on a K1 AOS.  Insight from someone knowledgeable will be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

My wife's (and daughter's) EAD was approved October last year and expires beginning of October this year.  We are still waiting for an interview to be scheduled based on an I-485 AOS filed at the same time, originally under a K1 Visa (Daughter under K2 with the K1).  Her EAD class is (c)(9) (or on the NOA2 as C9).  We did not apply for an AP (I didn't know that's what most people do).  Parts of this process is confusing, sorry for asking what may be obvious for many of you.

Q1: I'm reading some threads here about EAD renewal however they are a few years old and I'm not sure the data is correct anymore.  Research I've done at USCIS' website for form instructions seem to indicate that I can file a renewal for her EAD sometime in the next couple of months (before 120 days of expiration), and that there is no fee because it was filed with the I485 AOS, and must be filed as a paper application because the NOA for I485 is required present.  Is this still true about there being no fee for the renewal?

Q2: Is the EAD now automatically renewed (link: https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/automatic-employment-authorization-document-ead-extension)?

Q3: I'm also thinking of filing the I-131 for AP just in case something happens with her family or an emergency (things happen in life I know).  In the instructions for I-131 I seem to think that the AP application can still be filed and there is no fee because the I-485 was filed and paid for.  Is this true?

Thanks in advance.

Hello, I apologize in advance if this isn’t the first time this is being asked. My wife came here to the US on a K1 along with her daughter. We were married in June and filed our adjustment (485 and 765) within the 90 days required. We got notices as expected, and went to biometrics. Both received their EAD and even SSN cards, and my wife is looking for work currently. My wife even has a learners permit here in Texas (after they verify lawful presence here).  All seems to be going well I think...Drivers license has a 1 year expiration instead of the usual 6 years, they tell us that is the time frame currently given by USCIS (October 2018) that she can be here.

Thats where things seem to be stalled. Looking up our case numbers at USCIS it says it is waiting to be scheduled for interview, but heard nothing more yet. This was confirmed also by phone call. How long does this next step take?

from the website:

As of August 16, 2017, we are ready to schedule your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status, Receipt Number (omitted), for an interview.

What would be a normal time to wait? Also, if we are delayed past the October time her EAD (and DL) is supposed to expire, do they automatically extend it? If not, what do we do?

What is AP?

Can both AOS be sent in same envelope?

Thanks, I have ready form 765 for my wife, and a biometric form ready for both, and also an 864 for my wife.  The EAD I can request for her daughter?  She's 7 so can't work, but I assume I can add the form 765 with her daughter also (separate form filed at the same time)?

It's time for my wife (freshly wedded) and I to apply for her adjustment of status for her and her daughter.  I'm a US Citizen.  My understanding is that I fill out an I-485 for her, and a separate one for her daughter, and a form I-765 for my wife.  I include the fees for both her and her daughter and the form 765 in the same packet to be mailed.  I purchased a book from Nolo on the process about 1-1.5 years ago.  Is all this correct?

Questions:

1) Am I forgetting anything, or anything extra that is not obvious to know about this?

2) The check for their fees, I attach separate fees to each form for simplicity sake?

Thanks in advance.

Jim & Florence

My fiancee thought she didn't get the records back, but she kept all papers together (including extra copies of birth certificates, etc).  They are in her papers (DS-3025), so I think we are good to go.  I will make extra copies/scans of them so we have them for school.  Much thanks for the clarification!

Greetings!  Thanks for good advice from everyone here at VJ, my fiancee and her daughter arrived with me at the POE in Dallas without any problems.  The line was long at Dallas, but the hour wait was worth it!  We are finally recovering from jet lag from the Philippines.

Immigation in Dallas just handed back my fiancee both of their passports and nothing else.  I expected them to hand her some of the sealed visa packet back to her that might have had the vaccination records.  However, all that that we think remains from the medical at St Luke's are the CDs which contain only the XRays.

For her daughter to start school and not to have to go though getting another panel of vaccinations that are not necessary, *HOW* do we obtain her vaccination records for her doctor here in the US and for the school system to begin school?

Meeting online is common. NEVER lie to the US Embassy!  My fiancé and I met on filipinocupid.com and took our relationship shortly after to other communications and removed our profiles off the site.

She was approved with a number of various detailed questions at her interview. The I129 was approved to go to the NVC without an RFE. Just be organized, honest and present enough evidence and you will be just fine.  To help my process, I asked questions like you did here, and I also got a book from nolo.com and took my time getting it all together. If it takes you some time then so much the better as in my experience. Just be mindful of the deadlines in the process. 

Good luck to you both!

 My fiancé and her daughter just recently received their visa from the US Embassy! The package inside says she needs to attend the CFO, and I was wondering if anybody has any tips for what happens there or how to prepare for it. I hear they ask questions like they do for the interview so if that's it I think it probably would be OK?

I understand she needs to attend but since her daughter is seven years old and might not understand some of the things that they talk about in the seminar, I've heard that her daughter does not need to actually attend. Is that true or should she take her daughter with her and sit through the seminar?

Lastly, any tips on documents they will require, so she can be prepared with the right items before going?

Thanks for the answers!! Happy Holidays!

Thanks

Question on Fees: After the application fee (2x $265), is there another fee to get the VISA issued? I thought it was, but I can't find it. I'm not talking about Medical, I know that is different.

My fiancee and her child (7 years old) are doing the DS-160 application. We are ready to schedule the interview, however I was under the impression that only 1 application fee was required. We entered her child as additional name on her DS-160. The application form online shows a receipt number needed for each, is that correct (2x $265 for the schedule)? I don't want to send her back out to get a 2nd fee if it is not needed since it is not refundable.

Please advise.

Thanks for the answers. I would be interested to hear what he has to say. Small world, I am in the DFW area as well.

Thanks Ben. What is CFO?

Also I forgot to ask. Onnher cooy of the I129F, they wrote "detailed interview recommended". Is that something to be worried about?