3rd

If you don't intend to work then you don't need to fill the form in. Although, I'd recommend filling it out and sending it off anyway. Much like AP, you might find that you need it down the line before receiving your green card and wishing you'd applied for it anyway! It's free to file, so you're not losing anything, plus it works as ID.

This kerfuffle is exactly why I've delayed bothering applying for my DL. Seems to me it'll be worth my time (and money) to wait until I have a GC in hand. In the meantime it's kinda nice to be chauffeured around!

To be honest, you don't even have to wear a wedding ring at all, although I know people get nervous about that. In the UK we wear ours on the left hand and I know it's pretty standard for the US as well. Most other European countries seem to wear theirs on the left too, but I can't vouch for all of them!

Do what feels right for the both of you.

I'd give USCIS a call, it's not USPS fault for delivering to an address that they were given. Not sure what's gone wrong, but you want to get onto USCIS quickly to sort out their mistake.

If it's only a few months until you can get on his insurance, then don't sweat it. I've been here over a year now and we only just got a joint plan and I had no use for medical care in that time. Any small thing I did need help with I used an over-the-phone service and even managed to get money off the medication I was prescribed. It's definitely a change from the NHS, but try not to fret about it. A couple of months will be fine unless you have an ongoing condition which you need medication/care for.

It's crazy that this state can't hurry up something as simple as evidentiary paperwork, but it's not the end of the world. Just get everything else in order, cross the t's and dot the i's in the meantime. You don't have to file the AOS before your I-94 expires, it just helps with not accruing any overstay. But once you've filed, overstay is waived anyway!

Good luck!

It's fine. It needs to be with a non-profit organization (501©(3)) and it must not be for the expectation or promise of eventually having a paid position with the organization-- aka an actual volunteer job not some sneaky work-around. He's exercising dogs at the local shelter-- he loves dogs, it gets him out of the house and he can practice his English in a non-threatening or intimidating environment. Win-win-win. I did a lot of research on this, and I specifically asked during our interview (with the Vice Counsel at the consulate who had mentioned for like the 3rd time that he can't work until we have EAD) and he said "yes of course" and then wrote down some places in our area to check out (he lived near where we do when he was posted to DC).

I wish I'd been able to find that in my own research. Although, nothing non-profit would have benefitted in the area I am in, especially because I can't get anywhere unless it's on a bus route. Awesome that you got proper confirmation from a higher up too!

Thanks for your reply, it's always good to hear multiple perspectives. In regards to him, he may possibly be able to work remotely through his current company, but I'm unsure about the legality of that. We are certainly saving a lot now, and we do think the three or more months would be a good time for him to interview for positions (if this is allowed??). We have an extremely good savings (built up by him mostly) but we are hoping not to blow through it during this period. We are considering living with my parents during this period of un-employment to save on costs. Also I can imagine that new immigrants have a very difficult time finding positions, but in our case I'm quite optimistic based on his past experience (working as a software developer in London, educated at Oxford University). Do you think that it's right for me to be optimistic in this regard?

He'll definitely be in good stead if he got a degree from Oxford University. It's like going to Harvard or Yale over here. I'm Oxford born, your husband chose very wisely!

honestly, immigration it is hard and tough. It is a sit back and wait, put your life on hold type thing. You also need to come up with the money to pay for the immigration papers and then it is a waiting game. I would suggest

1-see if he can work remotely

2-see if he can volunteer/internship in his field. many companies in the USA want to see US based work experience.

3-save up as much as you/he can now. if he is in the UK that should be good because they have a strong dollar.

4-he can start applying for jobs and interviewing once you submit the AOS, because many companies take MONTHS to hire you (if it is in a good/desireable field which i assume software is). and if he gets hired, he can always tell them "i am waiting on my work permit'.

5-try searching and seeing what jobs/companies come up in the field that he is applying for - you may be surprised on the job/pay is alot different than the UK or a certain skillset is needed.

You can not plan anything. Anything can go wrong with your AOS application and you could receive multiple RFEs. Welcome to immigration!!! everything is so difficult to plan and coordinate when you are dealing with this. if you are that worried about working and finances i would really hold off on any honeymoon. The most important thing IMO is getting him legal and finding a job/getting a career path in place so you can have a comfortable life. a honeymoon should be at the bottom of your list.

If you are paying rent - make sure you can cover the rent for 6+ months or so once he arrives. Also, men eat ALOT more!!! If you go to the work section you will see many people have very very hard time finding jobs in america coming from a different country.

I don't think you're allowed to intern. I was researching after we'd sent off our application so I could maybe get a foothold into something before I looked for a full-time job. Basically, anything that could lead to a job offer is off the cards so that rules out internships. As for volunteering, I can't be certain but I think that might be a very grey area.

But just get ready to have a lot to get used to. It's going to be hard to adjust for a while. Even though the UK and the US share the same language, there have been so many cultural differences I've had to get used to that I didn't think would be a problem. You'd be surprised how little growing up with American TV shows acquaints you with living here. Luckily I was already freelancing before I ever came to the US, so it was simple for me to keep doing that as I was working for clients back home. If there's any possibly way your husband can remotely work, then I'd highly suggest this just to keep his sanity. The wait is the most infuriating thing!

We had our legal wedding in Vegas, it had always been where I wanted to get married (being from the UK, it was a novelty whereas here it's not seen as such). But we both knew that we wanted a proper wedding ceremony with all our family in time. But because you have to get so much together for the AOS and not knowing when you'll get approved (or even if), it has never been worth the risk of planning something huge to be let down. Our plan was to have our family wedding on our anniversary, but it's not a cheap thing to organise, especially if you actually want your family to all be there. Plans change, just try not to spend money on something that might end up having to be cancelled or re-arranged. There's plenty of time, all that matters is being with your loved one.

Yes when i will get my passport we will get married and then we will send papers for GC. I hope we will be ok. Should i start some paper work right now?

I'd definitely start your paperwork now. It took us a while to get everything together, especially with my mum sending my birth certificate and tracking down all the joint sponsor tax paperwork. Good luck!

You can get your wife an ITIN which you can use to file your taxes.

It takes around 3 months from getting your NOA1 that you'll have a decision on your EAD/AP. It usually takes about a week for it to be delivered once it's been approved, but can take longer.

As for the I-485, that's the one that will result in a green card and turn you into a LPR, and this is the one that takes time. It's hard to say when this will be approved, it can take as little as a few months (some people have been approved before they even receive their EAD), or can take a year or more. It depends on where you're filing and how backed up they are. I've gone over 5 months since filing and have my interview scheduled for early next month, so will be about half a year from when I applied.

The timeline also depends on if you get any further RFE's and everything runs smoothly. Good luck, this process takes patience.

i though i can use that paper because it have water marks. But prob no...

I don't know that you could use something that they'd be unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, even a government issued passport can be turned down as a form of ID if the person doesn't want to accept it (seems crazy, but it's happened to me). Do you not have any other photo ID cards that you could use?

At this point it's sounding like your best bet would be to travel home and get a new passport from there. You're in a pretty tough situation with not being able to be issued a new passport for a good while. As much as I know that would suck to be separated it would not be the end of the world.

Just bear in mine that part of the requirements to file for AOS is a scan of your passport. I don't know if there might be a way for you to scan the documents given to you by your embassy and attach an explanation as to why it's not a true passport scan. You'd more than likely get an RFE, but hopefully by that point you'll have your replacement passport in hand and all that would be left to explain is the situation that your passport was stolen and attach the police record. At least this would get you into some form of cover as you'd be excused the overstay. It's also wise to note that the less overstay the better. If you accrue more than 180 days of overstay from your VWP exit date, then AP is all but useless.

My plans changed when I was only visiting. I was originally set to spend some time with my friend in NC (which I did), then come to California and travel a little down the west coast before heading on from there to New Zealand to visit family. The jist of it is that my husband's dog got into a bad accident and he was a bit shaken up by it all. In the end he decided that he didn't want me to go, ever, so we made a plan for me to stay. It's been tough not being able to travel, and I almost advise those that don't absolutely have to stay that it would be emotionally and mentally easier to either apply for a K-1 or get married, go home and go the CR-1 route. Adjusting from a VWP has by no means been easy, but the wait is nearly over now.

I wish you luck in what you end up doing. Just know that the option is there for you to go home still!

Hi,

The office was quite nice. Parking is expensive in the lot across the street. Street parking is there, but hard to fine. I would leave early. Bridge traffic is a pain. Security was nice. They ask the basic questions like where do you live, how you spent birthday, how you meet and ask those questions on the I-485. You have to submit all new evidence (pictures, bills, financials, insurance). I would suggest making a copy for them yourself.

By the way, they put a hole in her AP card. It is now invalid. Hope it does not interfere with your travel plans. I would suggest you renew your passport in England if it is expiring soon.

I figured that parking would be expensive, it is all over The City. Thanks for the basics, always interesting to see what kind of things you'll be asked. As far as I was aware, you don't technically have to submit anything unless they specifically ask for it, but I do know that it's good practise to take along copies of things for them regardless. We just got a health insurance plan and we've got a few more photos that we want to give them, along with anything else we can get together.

They put a hole in her AP card? Is that standard practise? I've never heard of that happening before. My passport isn't due to expire either, I only got a new one last year before my trip because the picture was old.

Got approved today from interview waiver - just checked the USCIS site. No text or email!

I even had an RFE mid-september.

Fingers crossed guys <3

Congratulations!

Congratulations on your Interview Date!

As for the traveling dilemma, don't worry about it. When we were approved on the spot, the officer took my husband's EAD card away and stamped the I-551 stamp in his UK passport. That stamp works EXACTLY like a green card, it will allow you to travel, and proves that you will now be an official permanent resident.

I'm definitely feeling more at ease about the stamp if we get approved on the spot, but if we don't it's what's causing me to worry. If it happens about 20 minutes after the interview it wouldn't be a big deal either, but days after and we'll already have left the country and that's where the issues are. Hopefully it won't come to that!

If you are approved at the spot...ask for a stamp and show your flight schedule...it will be stamped...don't be nervous...as long as your relationship is genuine...you will be fine.

I'm not nervous about the interview as much as I am the flight situation. My husband and I are rock solid! It's mainly just making sure I can get an I-551 stamp if I'm not approved on the spot.

Your situation still sounds better than our current living situation! My husband let his family move in due to them being made homeless and it has just been one nightmare after the next. It's hard to be a young, married couple and have to deal with your in-laws on a daily basis. If your parents being around truly is a problem, finding another property to rent would be your best course of action while he builds his credit.

I currently have no credit of my own, but can't start building it until we come back from our trip from the UK where I can find something full time. It's frustrating how credit scores can be brought over from other countries because mine was flawless. How is your husbands back where he is from?

Actually, on the Form I129F, there is a question where it asks where you'd like your interview to be held. You have a valid visa for the UAE so it's perfectly fine if you put UAE for that question since you are residing there legally.

This is what I meant, as it makes sense that she's already living there. Sorry for the confusion with my statement!

Forgive me if I'm mistaken, but I thought that you don't really get much choice in where the interview is held based on what you put as your address? I assume they always give you the closest office to where you are living.

If you think K-1 is lengthy, don't even think about CR-1! LOL! If you wait 8 weeks from now and then file, there's every chance you two will be living together before our file has even reached the NVC! Current timelines for the UK are showing K-1 taking around 4 months from sending the petition to receiving the visa in the mail.

four months from when JR sends the initial I-129F pack through to receiving the visa in the mail - is that all???

I'm new to this site and haven't looked at the timelines properly, but I was projecting a typical case scenario will take 6-8 months.

But something to remember is that the CR-1 has the AOS process 'baked in', as it were. So even though that route takes longer, you won't have to go through the hellish process of AOS which is what takes a great deal of time. Once you arrive on US soil and marry your fiancée, you'll need to start filling out all those other forms to get that ball rolling too. So I'd recommend filling out as much of them as you can before you even get that visa stamp in your passport as it can be a real pain. Took us about a month to get all our ducks in a row when it came to the forms as we had problems with our initial co-sponsor.

But I've got my fingers crossed that either you can file while you're dissolving your CP, or that the eight weeks fly by for you!

So we actually received a text and email that the case was updated today. That's two days after we received the notice by mail that we have an interview. So definitely don't take the case updates online to heart when there could very well be something in your postal future!

I'm starting to get very nervous about the fact we fly back to see my family the day after our scheduled interview (my sister is due to give birth and it's also my mum's 50th birthday, hence why the flights were booked). We've already had to pay $500 to move them around, because we were advised by a lawyer we consulted with that the process should be done and dusted in 3/4 months. Stupid for him to have given us that advice really, but it was his experience with the clients he'd finished packages for and sent of for them. We just consulted with him on our situation and did the paperwork ourselves.

Anyway, now I'm just worried because I've heard that as soon as you get approved for the I-485 that your Advance Parole becomes invalid and if you try to re-enter the country with it that you might not be let back in. This really makes me freak out, because I can't wait around for the Green Card to come in the mail as we'll actually be getting on a bus to head down to LA (where the flights to the UK are direct and cheaper) at 10pm on the interview day. I've heard that you can get a temporary I-551 stamp in your passport, but all the cases I've read are from people who already have the welcome letter and have shown it at an infopass appointment. );

My wife got approved this week in San Francisco. We got approved on the spot. It was painless. Look at all our evidence and a few questions and that was it. They did like the fact for any medical, dental, vision bills as evidence.

I'll be having my interview there next month. I'm more nervous than before as we had to re-schedule some flights (hasty, we know) and it now means we're flying out of LA to the UK the day after the interview. Worried we'll have to get an I-551 stamp in my passport using an Infopass appointment if we manage to get approved on the spot.

What kind of questions did they ask? What was that particular office like?

You can type it all up and print it out, but you'll need a 'wet' signature to prove it's an original. We types everything up so that we could save the form just in case anything happened in the future, we printed out two copies, kept one for ourselves and signed one that we sent off to USCIS.

As for N/A or leaving it blank, you need to consult the instructions for the form. They'll clearly state which to use if a question doesn't apply to you.

So happy to see you've got an interview date set! Congrats! Does your status still say fingerprint received or has it changed?

We're patiently waiting to see any other status update than this ?

Nothing has changed online since the fingerprint fee, so just keep an eye on your post box!

I had my interview in San Antonio today.All went well we got approved.Am so excited.Hope all goes well for the rest of August fillers waiting.The officer was so nice,was asked about my last entries and to desribe in detail out relationship,how,when and where we met.we had a short dating because I came in as visitor and met my hubby.Relax and prepare is all I can say

That's fantastic news, congratulations! Makes me feel a little less nervous because I was also a visitor when plans changed and we ended up getting married.

On that note, I had no updates online, email or over text but I received my interview notice in the mail today! ? We're scheduled for interview March 9th at 12:40pm, which puts a tiny spanner in our travel plans but at least it's only a few days into when we were due to fly back to the UK. So we're just going to change our flights and pay the fee to change, as this is super important obviously! But I'm a mix of nervous and excited all at once. It'll finally be nice not to have to worry about immigration stuff for a while. All those still waiting for an interview/acceptance email, I'm sure it'll be coming soon as I'm surprised ours came when it did.

We just got approved without interview! Went straight from 'Fingerprint Fee Received' to 'Approved'. Hopefully all fellow-August filers that are still waiting will follow soon! :-)

Congrats!

~ UPDATE ~

My husband's 10 Year Green Card came in the mail today!!

Thank you so much to each and every one of you for all the helpful information, support, and kind messages throughout this immigration journey! I wish you all good luck, and a very happy life once your immigration journey has come to it's end as well. I will pop in from time to time to catch up on all yall's updates, so please keep the updates coming!! I shall see you all soon my fellow August 2015 filers...

Nice that you won't have to go through ROC! At the rate my AOS is processing, I might even get a bloody 10 year GC...

Fianally case change to interview is scheduled, after over 4 months of " ready to schedule an interview"

Yay! When is your interview scheduled for?

I'm really starting to get worried. My husband and I send his AOS on Aug. 25, 2015, got NOA 1 Sept. 2, and had biometrics Sept. 23rd. It has been nothing but dead silence since then.

I've called multiple times to check the status of our case, and was told that the National Benefits Center is processing the case now. Our local office is Cincinnati, and I can't imagine that they're terribly busy. It was absolutely vacant when we went for Biometrics. Maybe 5 people came in during the 2 hours we were waiting, listening to the workers gossip about each other. Blech.

My husband is hoping to go home in April for his fathers birthday (he's going during my finals week at uni, the goof ;P ) and I just want the trip to go well for him without having to worry about his AOS!

Does anyone have any tips on how to figure out where your case is at as far as processing goes? Our I-129F was literally approved in 21 days from our NOA 1 date, so...we aren't used to having to wait very long.

Maybe our good fortune is running out

We received our NOA1 just about a week before you and are in the same boat with radio silence. I honestly don't even know where our petition is, but I'm adverse to chasing up on it as it's still within the timeline according to the website. We booked tickets to go back to the UK in March based on advice we got from a lawyer saying that SF were being processed in 3 months flat. Not entirely sure what's going on, but I'm getting increasingly worried that we'll be called for interview during our time with my family that I haven't seen in a year. ):

As far as knowing where in the line your case is, I'm sure we're all out of luck there. All we can do is wait, it really isn't that long in the grand scheme of things.

Hello I'm back from Baltimore and :

New Card Is Being Produced

On January 28, 2016, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number MSC*******, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.

Congrats!