rushter

I'd use your mom's address initially.

Every piece of evidence after you rent an apartment should reflect the new address. Be sure he has it as soon as you get it though and that both of you are on the same page.

I had the same issue (kind of) with mine. I filed the k1 from a friends house where I was living, moved to a new house two weeks before she got here. Everything from that point that she and I used had the new address.

Filed AOS from the same address and there were no problems.

I hope that eventually, this method (via tourist/vwp/student/job visa) of gaining permanent residence (via an all of a sudden marriage) will probably change, considering the extraordinary number of applicants for AOS doing it every year.

Additionally based on the cavalier advice given on forums such as this to just 'do it' and admit no intent of wrong doing, (because everybody else does it), it would seem that the process to squash this style of AOS would gain some momentum soon in the usg... But if nobody complains about it, then what's congress to do.

To those of us that have gone (or are going) the legal route, specifically stating immigrant intentions up front: this is an insane topic and spits in all of our faces.

It is really #### to promote, condone, or aid this sort of behaviour. You people that constantly advise others to do it cause you did, or your friends/others did... you are contributing to the sad state of immigration affairs in this country and (I can't really post what I think - I'd get banned for it).

The specifics of this particular case STINK.

They should do it the right way just like the rest of us did (thru visa hell) and apply for a K1 or K3. AOS on a tourist visa? NO WAY. I'm sick of freeloaders that are too lazy to do their homework and come here looking for mommy to tell'em it's ok, just do it anyway. Total BS.

Damn Right, this is a prejudicial issue and I have ISSUES towards those that lie, cheat, steal and BS their way into AOS via marriage from non-qualifying visas or entry methods.

Somebody show me where I'm wrong.

You've still not seen any change in your online status yet?

Lol.

I have the same question every time because I forget. Just go to the Aeroflot ticket counter and they'll tell you.

Actually there's two different ones but I forgot. Need to find my last trip notebook...

Your submitted photos probably stay with the file. Biometrics are official ones. And then when they look at you, biometrics photo, and submitted ones, I'm guessing that any rational govt goon should be able to figure out that it really is YOU.

Don't go nuts like I did for similar circumstances. Unless there was a problem, you may see a welcome notice email in the next day or so - (maybe even tonight - what happened in my situation, welcome notification after midnight).

Check your status online and check often.

Yeah, it is a lot of worry for nothing, getting things together to go to the dam interview - and pffft.. nothing approved, or denied... just fill in your own blanks and go home.

ps: just ask... good question. This is a very intimidating procedure and while you're there, the only thing you think of is that they don't ask for something you have or bring up red flags. Then you do what they tell you to do. After you walk out you realize you should've... but didn't. And now it's wait and see.

Novosibirsk. It's a habit for like 5 years now.

Oh yeah - I forgot! Even in NSK one of my friends had to hijack a phone line (from a business next door) in the evenings just to have phone/internet in her apartment.

Yodrak's right. Read the instructions.

I'd use the gross income from the 1040 and not even think about an ex-husband.

They like the numbers to match up and make sense.

The form (either I-864 or I-864EZ) asks me to fill out gross income from my 1040 forms... so how should I fill this out?

You already answered your own question

fill out gross income from my 1040 forms.

I'm moving to portland for my next AOS.

Congrats.

Translation:

I didn't use a lawyer and you shouldn't either = I'm willing to risk your future with my advice.

I couldn't agree more. I am so tired of hearing everyone bash bad lawyers they should just change the thread name to "Bash Immigration Lawyers". People have been laying blame at crappy lawyers forever.

But in my opinion, if you are smart enough to educate yourself and do the process correctly, then you're smart enough to find a good immigration lawyer that knows what they are talking about.

What I did? I did the entire package myself. I thought it looked good and it was ready to go.

I contacted a local immigration attorney, Alex Halow (google alex halow immigration) and he took the whole thing apart and did it entirely his way. The good thing was that I already knew what had to go in there. But because of some issues I had with income, proof, etc... he was able to 100% fix this thing so that the K1 package 'looked' impressive, ready for presentation at your local supreme court.

Needless to say I was impressed. He and I worked together on it in the end, including a backup co-sponsor package for my fiance to present at the Moscow interview (only if needed) to prevent an rfe. His office manager was also a notary. Everything in there was notarized. All the stuff that didn't need it... still notarized. Signed blue pages by my then fiance and by me that he was representing us ect. It was even accompanied by CD's that had scanned copies of every document page in the file (yes the cd's were sent to uscis and in the package for my wife - unless they lose the cd, there's no way they can misplace a document and then not be able to get it from the cd - eg less chance of an rfe).

You just don't hear people praising immigration attorney's in forums. All you see is the pissed off attitude because somebody got screwed by this or that lazy whatever and didn't do what they were supposed to do.. got sick, blah blah. I think those are some pretty lame attorney's. ####### happens.

The point is though, if you hire an attorney, YOU should already know what THEY are supposed to be doing for you. I don't think it's a good idea to hire one and then forget the entire process just because you've hired one. This is life surgery, and if you just trust someone to open you up and say they'll fix what's wrong and you don't even know what's going on then in some cases, I can see where you could deserve to have your hat handed to you.

pffft.

Regarding the 100% success rates, yes I do believe they are true. Someone in one of those threads talked about a very expensive west coast firm (which will remain nameless). I contacted `Mr Lawyer` myself back when I started this mess and explained my situation. Even if I did pay the $5000 retainer that they wanted at the time, he said there was no way he could guarantee success, and he didn't want to hurt his success rate, so he declined to take my case.

Heck I don't blame them. My case had some serious weak spots. But I wanted this package to show the departments to be that I was prepared to fight if need be, and that I had representation. And by the looks of the package, it looked like I had a freakin pit bull beside me.

My application zinged thru. At the embassy interview, they hardly even looked at the evidence or the app sent from nvc. Just said something like "I see you have a lawyer".. then struck up a conversation with our 7 year old son about how he felt about going to the USA. It was a breeze... (minus one minor screw up thing on our part that caused an rfe that was fixed very fast). My sorry butt got an approved case with all my lifes baggage.

My lawyer? I made installment payments via paypal, he was very easy going and this is all he does, immigration. Nothing else.

Value? Priceless.

You'll start over from zero again. K3 route next time.

But this sounds like a bad idea since you will in essence be abandoning your AOS application just because you wanna do the "what if" thing. Don't know if the DOS or USCIS will look very favorably on it.

Not sure. Others will know better.

IMO, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to establish permanent residence in the US. I'd get her a ticket to come home for the interview if she's not here now.

I dunno about that... 56K access in Tashara - a `Siberian village`... lol, was better connect speed than it is here!

Unless we're talking about ice huts and stuff... In which case they may be using wireless in those places by now... heh heh heh.

Anyways, so what's wrong with isolated Siberian villages?

It was fun, especially in the dead of winter.

Just get the 693 done.

I've never heard of an rfe for a tetanus shot.

Well I don't understand the nature of your question.

The letter is in plain english:

'reason for appointment Biometrics'

It sounds like she didn't have her biometrics done... photo or whatever it is they do for 3 year olds.

If they wanted medical anything they wouldn't send you to biometrics for it.

Deleted.

33,000 rubles! Wow.

My last trip I had 200 bucks in my pocket and my atm cards.

That's it. I would never use taxi's there, too risky and too much $$$. Buses and mini-buses always.

Btw, Wachovia also does Russian currency exchange.

Kind of makes you wonder just how serious this lady is about establishing her new life in the US. Sounds like she is coming over for a look see first. If she were fully committed don't you think she would bring her daughter with her no matter what? And what if the school and the environment are not what she imagined? Will she be moving back?

At first glance it would look that way. Esp if you've brought a new fiance and child over yourself.

However, imo all of this is relationship dependent. If you've only been together a short while - ie chat/phone/email -> go visit -> file for visa within say a year, then it's easy to understand her point of view. Most Russian women are more a lot logical as opposed to the thrilled usa emotional spouse. In a long term long distance relationship I'd bet that the attitude would change over time as more trust develops.

At our interview in Moscow there was a situation that required an rfe, and my wife (being from Novosibirsk with a 2-3 day train ride) almost went into meltdown. Visa eligibility time was very short at this point and it was possible that she would've been granted the visa but her son would have had to stay until we could get things straightened out.

She refused to come here without her son. No way was she going to leave him behind for a short while. Of course in our relationship we'd been `together` for more than three years, (and son was calling me papa by this time). Long story short, we got the rfe fixed and both visa's were issued.

I'd have to say that the situation that you're facing is an issue of trust and confidence. Time builds this and if your relationship is relatively new, it's totally understandable from an outside point of view. But if it were a more mature relationship with multiple visits etc, then this subject would've already come up and then it would be more understandable from your own - and you probably wouldn't have a reason to get a second opinion because you would already be sold on her thoughts, fears and concerns.

This is one big as s trip and move for them. She is assuming the burden of personal risk management based on exchanging a known safe place (her home), for an unknown place, life, and future - for marriage. It's a big gamble.

PS: I was actually going to agree with you at first, but if you sit down and think about it from her perspective, it really does make sense if it's a relatively new relationship. Besides, you'll get some fantastic time alone together that my wife and I didn't have for a long time after they got here. Me thinks you really should flip the coin over and support the heck out of her need to come first. She'll only love you more for it. Wives like that kind of thing.

AOS filed more than 1 year after the K1 expired.

No problems.

(Under current status I put 'K1 Out of Status').

You won't be able to leave the country and come back in unless you complete your AOS first though (once you become out of status).

Sorry for reviving this thread, but we've been using russiantvonline.com and are happy with the results. Set up one of my old 21" monitors on her system so she could watch it from the downstairs sofa.

Live news, movies, as well as archived movies you can watch anytime. 9 bux a month and it ain't hdtv or anything, but it is a heck of a lot better than the reception you'll get in Russia on a set of rabbit ears.

I had no tax docs available for my wife's interview. No bank statements.

1. Certified copies of 1.5 years paypal deposits (from computer printer) - 1/2" thick stack, every page notarized.

2. Copies of 1 years worth of check stubs prior to getting paid thru paypal.

3. Letter from employer.

Flew thru interview no problems.

The 'stuff', when it is all wrapped up and official looking, along with the blue lawyer pages seems to have an effect.

Now if I would've had my act together at the time I probably would not have used one. But I didn't, so I did.

Since a K3 can travel, then I'd like to think it wouldn't make any difference since your A# will stay the same. When you complete your AOS they'll just remove the last I94 from your passport. Seems normal to me.

Yes, kids have to have biometrics. You just don't pay the big fee for it.

WOW.

AND THANK YOU VJ'rs FOR REMINDING ME TO CHECK USCIS STATUS ONLINE!

Application Type: I485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status

Current Status:

On September 18, 2006, a welcome notice was mailed for this case. If 30 days have passed and you have not received this notice. Please call the National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283 during business hours.

You can choose to receive automatic case status updates, which will be sent via email.

HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Somebody has been smiling on us!

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

Mine was approved last week but they did not put stamp in my passport. Try to check your status online at the website of the uscis.

That was the only single comforting thing I figured out tonight from folks responding to this thread that worked for me - besides the fact that they (the wonderful Ms Data) didn't tell us anything disastrous.