lurdino

I filed my I-485 (AOS form) in June 2016... and I'm still waiting!

In the meantime I've had two EAD cards and gone in to give my biometrics twice. When I check my case on the USCIS website it just tells me that they accepted my fingerprint fee on June 24 2016 and to wait for further instructions. Is this normal? I've never had a problem with my EAD but it would be a load of my mind to have my actual Green Card at long last!

I originally filed for advanced parole in June 2016. I haven't left the US since I arrived in April 2016 and I (perhaps stupidly) let my advanced parole lapse when I had my EAD updated. 

In part 3 of form I-131 it asks, "have you ever before been issued a reentry permit or Refugee Travel Document". Does my previous Advance Parole mean I should tick yes here?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I have health insurance from my employer. Today I tried to register as a new patient at a local family practice and was told I would need to call my insurance provider, tell them this particular doctor would be my primary healthcare provider from now on, and ask whether this would go into affect in May or whether I would need to wait until June to see whether I need to pay a copay.

When I registered with a dental office I basically just rocked up to the office a half hour before my appointment to fill out the correct paperwork, so I was taken aback.

Is this information correct? Do I need to go through all this just to go to see the doctor? I have asthma and all I really want is to top up my inhalers.

Has anyone here gone on to do a master's level degree with a UK undergrad under their belt?

I've been in the States a year and I'm considering it. I got a 2:1 in politics from a Scottish university -- so I haven't done maths or science literally since I was a teenager. It seems like a lot of the programmes here want proof that you've done university level maths, science, etc. as part of their admissions procedure. 

Anyone have any experience with this? Are the prereqs as hard and fast as they seem? 

Hello folks - long time no see!

I'm dealing with my first ever taxes here in the US. What's the easiest way to find the interest you made from savings accounts back in the UK? I understand I need to report this as part of my 2016 income. (Basically my only 2016 income, since I spent most of that year waiting for my employment authorisation!)

Any help greatly appreciated. 

I just received my EAD and AP approvals! Which is crazy - I was only just beginning to 'lean in' to being unemployed, taking advantage of Meetup.com... oh well!

After my realisation today (thanks to this forum) that I duffed up my own AOS packet by sending in the wrong form for my vaccinations this was especially welcome news.

I hope everyone's journeys are going well

One thing that I've found helpful is not to think of yourself as unemployed. So I get up when my wife gets up for work, get showered and dressed, etc.

Find a couple of projects that you can do by yourself (like train for a half-marathon or learn a language or start a vegetable garden) and find a couple that you can get involved in with the community, like volunteer with Girl Scouts or an animal shelter or something. (I've been trying to write a book, doing some DIY around the house, and I've applied to volunteer at the local zoo.) I know you said you live in a tiny town, but you should check MeetUp.com and any community centres for stuff you could get involved in.

But also - don't beat yourself up if you lounge around a little. It can be hard to stay motivated and it's okay to veg out with Netflix for a while. Find things that keep your spirits and your self-esteem up. I started doing maths classes on Khan Academy just because it's difficult and absorbing and gives me a boost. Getting your drivers license might do the same.

Since my wife works full-time, I've (voluntarily) taken on responsibility for keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, even doing most of the meals. Usually this would be something we split 50-50 (we lived together for seven years before I moved to the States) but taking it on makes me feel like I'm pulling my weight without having to dip into the money we saved up. And as I know it's temporary it can be fun to do the 60s housewife thing.

Since your fiancee is new to the area too, there are also things you could do together. Does she have anyone at work that you could invite around for dinner? Or you could see if there's anything nearby that you could get a Groupon for?

My friends who have immigrated or even just moved to a new city have always said that it can take up to two years to really feel like you're settled in a new place, have new friends, etc. I find that kind of comforting.

That sounds more like a heads up than an RFE because it says you will be asked for it later.

Yes, I'm grateful that I have time to get it sorted in advance.

I'm surprised the surgeon didn't know the right form to fill out..

I think I was his first K1 case and he was a little flustered - it was a blind-leading-the-blind scenario, I feel.

The ds3025 completed by Knightsbridge is a different form than the i693. Probably not the official terms, but the Ds3025 is a Dept of state form and the i693 is a uscis form. Uscis recognizes the ds3025 for k1 adjusters, but a US civil surgeon should not complete the ds3025. If that's truly what the civil surgeon completed, you need to go back and have him complete the 1693. Follow the instructions on which parts of the form need to be completed.

Thank you for the clarification, that's useful.

I've now looked through the instructions on the I-693 and feel like a putz. I assumed because the I-693 asked for information about communicable diseases, etc, that it couldn't be the right form, and simply printed a blank copy of the vaccination sheet I already had. I didn't see that K1 visa holders only need to complete certain sections.

Oh well!

Thanks everyone yet again! Thank goodness I have this place to keep me right.

I believe that Civil Surgeon should have filled out an I-693 for you, not another DS-3025. Are you certain that's the form he used?

Yes, my understanding was that I only needed a Civil Surgeon to sign off on my updated vaccination records, not complete another full medical check. The I-693 asks for full medical check results, such as the chest X-ray and communicable diseases. Should I have asked him to partially fill out the I-693, only filling out the parts to do with vaccinations?

Hello all,

I've not been around much, but a quick search shows that many of us are having trouble with our I-693!

Background: when I attended my medical at Knightsbridge I opted not to get my vaccinations done there. Instead I went back to Glasgow where I was able to get them for free. When I reached the US I found a Civil Surgeon who was willing to verify that my vaccinations were complete without giving me a full medical. He filled out form DS-3025, the Vaccination Documentation Worksheet. I included a copy of this DS-3025 and the DS-3025 that I'd received from Knightsbridge in my AoS.

I've now received a letter from the USCIS that says:

"An initial review of evidence submitted with your Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjustment of Status determined that Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, has not been sumitted or has been submitted and is not sufficient for the following reason(s):

A completed and signed I-693 was not submitted.

You will be required to submit a valid, completed, and signed Form I-693 at a later date."

My question is... surely the I-693 is what was completed at Knightsbridge? I wouldn't have been given my K1 visa if they hadn't passed it along to embassy, surely? Should I contact someone at USCIS about this, or do I now need to go and get a second medical exam?

I entered the US on a K1 fiancee visa. My Adjustment of Status paperwork was received by the USCIS at the end of June and I have my biometrics appointment this week; if things go well I should have my Green Card by September.

Here's my question:

How advisable is it to begin the job search/job application process before receipt of the EAD? After all, I'm used to people applying to jobs with the understanding that they'll have to complete two months of notice with their current employer. Is it unreasonable to ask an employer to wait two months or so until I receive my Green Card? When my wife returned to the US after seven years overseas, it took two months after she received a job offer simply to get through her employer's background checks.

Any advice from those who have experience in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

It's three applications. The guide is weak in my opinion.

1-12 is your AOS in detail.

13 is another application and you will have to read the instructions of what to include because the guide doesn't provide a list.

14 is another application and you will have to read the instructions of what to include because the guide doesn't provide a list.

Separate the three applications with paper clips. One check. One G-1145. One cover letter if you want one. They ride together in the same envelope but process separately.

Damn. This is what I suspected - I got extra passport photos in the UK, but not enough to have 2 for each application. Very annoying, I know passport photos are a little more expensive over here.

But thanks for the replies! Does this mean that other documentation will need to be duplicated for the AP and EAD, e.g. copies of my passport, K1 visa, I-94 etc?

I'm now in the USA, preparing my Adjustment of Status packet. I notice that in the AOS guide here that two US-style passport photos are included as item 10.

I will be filing forms I-765 (application for EAD) and I-131 (application for AP) within the same packet. My question is this: will the two passport photos from item 10 be sufficient for all three forms, or should I include additional photos?

Just because your wife made income that was below the foreign income exclusion, was was therefore exempt from paying taxes, does not mean she was exempt from filing. Based upon your description it sounds as if your wife will need to file back taxes (even though she won't owe anything).

Sorry, I was unclear - she was filing taxes while in the UK. I was concerned that because she filed while under the foreign income exclusion, this would need further explanation. But from your answer it sounds like it doesn't make a difference, which is encouraging. Thank you!

Hello all,

I'm preparing my K1 AOS packet to send in. I'm a little concerned about the evidence that needs to go along with the I-864 Affidavit of Support. My wife lived with me in the UK for the past seven years, and at that time she was under the income threshold that would require to pay US income tax. (That's right, if you earn enough money the IRS requires US citizens to pay tax even if they don't live in the US!)

At the moment she has a permanent job that more than meets the minimum income, and we also have decent savings from the sale of my house in the UK.

Has anyone else been in this situation? What's the best way to handle it? Should we get proof from the IRS that she filed but didn't actually have to pay any tax? Should I add some kind of explanation of the situation or will the USCIS be familiar with this? Should I add extra evidence that we meet the income requirement?

Thanks in advance.

Its interesting the different search engines we use for flights - netflights which is new to me- I found to be good with some pricing and airlines- it has made me look at icelandair as they give you 2 cases at 23kg checked baggage so thats a plus in that it will save me with shipping costs possibly. My problem is i have to fly from Scotland to either chicago or detroit so it narrows down your searches( as much as i love flying when immigrating with child and lots of luggage maybe and POE to consider you want an easy route ).Im also unfortunate that in that I dont have air miles to use (which is a big plus certainly something to bear in mind going forward with flights home etc).

Thank you for you replys its given me some research to do keeps me busy will we wait .

x

I flew Glasgow to Chicago via Reykjavik with Icelandair. I think it was roughly £425 for a one-way trip, and like you say the two free checked bags is a massive advantage. They were also really comfortable, plenty of room, and had phone chargers at each seat (although I was charged for dinner). Like yourself I don't have any kind of airmiles or whatever but they were a pretty good option for me.

My POE was last week and we haven't gotten married yet, but I'm gathering stuff in readiness for AOS. My fiancée and I lived together in the UK for almost seven years before I moved to the US.

How useful for the AOS are documents from this period - e.g., leases for flats in the UK, joint UK bank accounts and bills, etc? Or do they simply want to see evidence of a legitimate marriage in the US?

These are all great suggestions, thank you everyone! I've been going through them systematically. Something that I forgot to mention is that my fiancée's is a CDMA phone, meaning that it doesn't come with a SIM card. This has narrowed things down a little but it looks like Ting or Credo are still doable, at least until she can buy a new one.

Thanks again!

My fiancée has been using Red Pocket on a $35 monthly plan since she returned to the US in September, but they're unreliable and have terrible customer service. We both have iPhones we own outright and are wary about being locked into a contract - back in the UK we were on GiffGaff or Lebara, if that gives anyone an idea of the sort of thing I mean.

Now that I've arrived in the US I'm shopping around to get us something reliable and good value, and wondered if any VJers had recommendations!

Hi everyone, random question: Does anyone know what the process is like for an American citizen married to an English citizen to gain citizenship in England? Obviously my fiancé and I are planning to live in the US, but we were talking about future plans and were wondering how that process compares to this one. Is it easier/ harder, longer/ shorter? Any info would be appreciated

My fiancee and I actually lived together in the UK for six and a half years (three of those as students) and made the choice to immigrate to the US because it's that much simpler in comparison, if that gives you an idea. The US has a lot more hoops to jump through of course, but the financial requirements for a non-EU family member to the stay in the UK are really high and now that non-EU working visa applicants are going to have to make £35,000 a year to remain in the country, it's quite possible that they'll get even higher.

If you're high earners though it should be a doddle! We're hoping that in the future things will get easier and we'll both be able to dual-citizen it up.

I flew Icelandair, who gave me two items of checked luggage (up to 23kg) as part of the ticket price, plus an item of carry on luggage AND a laptop bag. I bought another two bags at about £180. So £180 bought us at least 152kg of stuff - more than enough for my books, vinyl records, clothes, and a lot of impractical sentimental items (including a small lamp, a replica TARDIS, and several photoframes).

I had my POE on Friday, spent all day in IKEA and Wal-Mart yesterday, and today caught up with my future mother- and grandmother-in-law After six months' separation it's so nice to be reunited with my fiancée.

POE at Chicago O'Hare was fine, the queues were lengthy but everything went well. I really recommend Icelandair, at least for those flying from Scotland.

Now to deal with SSNs, AOS and, oh yeah, getting married!

I was wondering about everyone's experiences with health insurance and how you've all decided to approach it.

Thanks to this forum I now know that most short term inbound immigrant insurance isn't federally compliant. And I imagine that most people will be signing up to their future spouses' insurance (if they have it). But what about the interim? I'm not willing to be uninsured while in the US, not only because of the potential penalties, but because I have a pre-existing condition -- and because you never know when you'll break your leg or have an accident.

Have people gotten insurance through the marketplace? Can you even do that for a short amount of time? Is it possible to register onto your fiancée's insurance before entering the country? What's worked for people and what hasn't?

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