chris4336

Hey,

I don't have much advice but I was in the same situation as you this summer. My family (with whom I was very close) completely cut me off for a few months. The guilt really got to me. They have started to come around, very slowly, but the family dynamics are different now. I believe your parents will come around, but it will take some time, and you are in for some rough times until they do.

I would really try to work things out between you and him. I love my family to death, but like you said, I don't want the same life as they had. It is hard but sometimes you have to really do what is best for you. I really believe that one day they will come around.

You can PM me if you want, I wish the best of luck to both of you.

Christina

It is my understand that the responsiblity is on the employer NOT the employee. There was a big thread about this awhile back. The only way the employee can get in trouble is if they fail to pay taxes on the money earned.

IMHO I think its very unlikely that anyone will care that a legal tax-paying immigrant is working during the 4 week period between employment authorizations.

Best of Luck,

Christina

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5grbRs7...uGb1NT-yXGpiDdQ

Eid Mubarak, whenever it ends up being

Jennymc11,

Hey I had this same problem. It ended up taking like 6 weeks. At around the 4th week I did a search on VJ and found that I can call and have them faxed to me within 72 hours.

You have to call the number, and select the option where you actually get to talk to someone. Not just the order transcript option because that will get you to an automated server. Ask them to fax the transcripts. I didn't have a fax, but I just gave them the number of Office Max fax and told them it was my own fax machine. They were very strict about it not going to a public fax machine, and they have a good point but I was desparate cause I wanted to get my AOS out. If you get a really nice person they will fax it right away, but mine told me that was not allowed. I had all three years the next day.

Here is the phone number 1-800-829-1040

Christina

Hey I have a few answers since I contacted a my Representative as well (not for the AP but for an RFE we received). I believe you only have 3 you can contact, the 2 senators for your state and the representative for your district. I got a response from both my Respresentative and one Senator, and went with the Representative. I think all the offices have a specific person who deals with immigration cases. I called my Representative's office (got the number off their website) and asked to speak with the person who deals with the immigration issues. I left her a brief phone message and she got right back to me. She emailed me a release form that had to be filled out, and I also wrote a detailed letter about our situation (remember they have no background). I then faxed the release, the letter, our NOA1 and a copy of the RFE to her office. Our situation was resolved within 2 weeks.

Also, I'm not sure why you said Infopass is unavailable, but if it is booked up sometimes it helps to keep trying to make an appointment. I found that if I checked (obssessively) appointments would open up on random days as people cancelled.

Best of Luck

Christina

This was great to read, thanks a lot for sharing

Christina

CanUSACpl,

We went to an infopass appointment explaining we wanted to go visit a family member who was ill and were granted AP. They did not ask for any proof or medical evidence. I say go for it :-)

Also, just to note when we went they required 2 passport size photos, which go on the actual AP document (we had to run outside to get them done). Also bring a copy of your original AP application and NOA1 from your AP and AOS.

Good Luck

Christina

Hi, I just wanted to respond to Bora Bora's question from before - I made an infopass and tried to go on my husband's behalf and they basically laughed in my face and would not tell me anything. I brought a letter from him and that form about appointing a representative, but they told me that was only good if I was his lawyer. Just wanted to let you know so you don't waste a day like I did.

Good luck to all,

Christina

I know, it was a very pleasant surprise :-)

Best of Luck to you!

Hey, I was in the same situation as you. My last update was June 12th and it said my case was still at that National Benefits Center. Someone at my Congressman's office checked and they were told my case was "Interview Ready" and just waiting to be scheduled for an interview. In my area they are currently interviewing the cases filed in Dec 2006, so we have a little bit of a wait. So I think just because your case is still at the NBC doesn't mean that its not in the line for an interview. Probably the most you'll get out of an infopass is being told that your case is waiting for an interview, but if you have the time it doesn't hurt to ask.

Christina

P.S. Just wanted to add I did not contact my congressman to inquire about the status. I had been in contact with them since we got an RFE for the medical exam back in May. They followed up on their own, which was really helpful of them :-)

Mine has been there since April 2007, but we had an RFE that was settled on June 8. We have not heard anything since, not even a touch. However, the EAD was approved.

Is there any way to tell if you are undergoing security checks or waiting for an interview? I called the hotline and all they told me was that 6 months is normal processing time, so call back when 6 months have passed.

Christina

Hi, I just want to share our experience. We went through the same thing when my husband came - I dragged him to every store that had a help wanted sign up plus temp agencies and we heard NOTHING. He was taking English classes at the time (free and offered as part of our towns "Adult Education Programs") and made a friend there who worked at a company that was a hiring. We called, had an interview the next day, and my husband got the job! So I would really recommend signing up for some English classes (or any kind of classes). Not only does it help get your husband out and about, but it is a great source of connections. And because the others in the class were immigrants they knew of employers that were not very picky about hiring immigrants.

Best of luck to your husband. Remember the first job is the hardest :-)

Hi Becke,

I'm really sorry this happened to you. Try to remain calm and hopefully things will work out.

I am not exactly sure of your situation, but I would recommend reading the thread that is pinned at the top of this forum called 'Returning Petitions to the US via 221g" There are other people in your situation and they have successfully got their visas.

Sorry that is all the help I can offer. I wish you best of luck.

Christina

I had the same request for the medical. I went to infopass and was told that I could sent back the RFE with a letter informing them the medical is not required but they warned me that "No officer is going to approve a green card petition without a seeing a copy of the medical." Infopass did nothing for me so I contaced my congressman who called the USCIS. Within a week they found my husbands medical which was in his "other" folder.

The point is I woud be hesitent to just send back a letter stating the medical is not required, because if it really is lost your petition will not be approved. I'm not sure if they would have looked for my husbands medical if I had not involved my congressman and just sent back the RFE telling them to look for it.

Good Luck

Christina

I know a few people here are traveling to Algeria this summer - Is anyone else concerned? Maybe its just me being a nervous nelly, but I'm kind of anxious about our trip over there.

Just wanted to pass along the info for this event to all the NYC people. It looks like a fun time!

http://www.naaponline.org/ny/streetfair07.asp

The Network of Arab American Professionals (NAAP-NY)

presents...

The 5th Annual Arab-American and

9th Annual North-African

CULTURAL STREET FESTIVAL

SATURDAY JULY 7, 2007. 10AM-7PM.

Located on Great Jones St., between Broadway & Lafayette in the Village.

Subway: 6 to Bleecker. Rain or Shine!

Come out to celebrate our rich and diverse cultural heritage! Come out for a fun-filled day, and sample some of our delicious food! Vendors will line the street offering a variety of products, exhibiting original crafts, displaying Arabic literature, and playing regional music.

In between all the shopping and the food, take a time out at the Arguileh café, and enjoy truly unique dance performances, from belly dancing and Debka, to traditional drumming and the whirling dervish! - Interested in getting a booth and promoting your products/services? Click here

We went to the DMV with my husbands passport, valid I-94, marriage certificate, and SS card. He was able to get an ID card that did not expire for one year. We did have to throw a fit and talk with a supervisor, who I think looked it up on the computer and read that with the K-1 visa and marriage certificate he could get a photo ID card good for one year. I'm assuming the same would be true for a learners permit, etc, he just did not take the test. Maybe you can go back and ask to speak with a supervisor, or try another DMV. Unfortunetly there does not seem to be any hard and fast rules about this.

Christina

Hey, I just wanted to let you know that my husband got an ID card at a NYS DMV that says "Temporary Visitor" and expires 4-5-08 (1 year after the date we went there). The employees told us that without an I-94 or Green card that says he can stay for at least a year he can't get a card. However, we spoke with the supervisor and showed her our marriage license and she gave us the card for 1 year. We brought my husbands passport, SS card and birthcertificate. So maybe you can show them your marriage license.

Good Luck!

Christina

Hello, my husband is an Algerian citizen traveling with Advanced Parole. We are trying to book a flight to Algeria for the summer. I found a really great deal from NY to Madrid (on Aer Lingus) and then from Madrid to Algeria (on Air Algerie). I am just wondering if anyone knows if my husband can do the stopover in Spain. I was told by the Spanish Consulalte that people from Algeria do not need a transit visa, only proof that they can enter in their final destination. My husband is concerned because the flights are on two different airlines. Does anyone have any idea if we can use a transit visa even if we book our flight with 2 different airlines? We are not leaving the airport in Madrid.

Thanks

Christina

Hey I have some good news that I wanted to share so that hopefully others will benefit. I contacted my congressperson who contacted the National Benefits Center and they found my husband's medical. According to the congressman's office, there are two files, a temporary and a main file, and my husbands medical report was in the other one

We got an email today from the USCIS that our case is back in processing.

So if anyone else gets this RFE contact your congressperson. I would not even waste your time with infopass. Our case was back to processing literally 1 week after I called the office, and 1.5 weeks after the infopass. Plus we saved a lot of money on another medical

Thanks to those who helped!

Christina

Hi, I am using Inbound Immigrant for my husband. Its not the greatest coverage but its only $100 a month and meant specifically for people who are immigrating into the US. Plus he is young and relatively healthy. Here is the website

https://www.buyamericaninsurance.com/sevenc...nboundimmigrant

Good Luck

Christina

Hey, thanks for the advice, I think I will try to contact my senator or congressperson.

Just wanted to update for anyone else in this situation. I went to Infopass yesterday and spoke to a really nasty officer who told me that I could try writing a letter telling them its not required but if it got lost somewhere along the way "No officer is going to approve an AOS case without a copy of the medical". She said I would have to contact the NBC, which I don't even think is possible???

I don't want to risk it so I'm going to try to get a copy of the medical from Spain or pay another couple hundred for a new medical.

On a better note, after this visit I was really mad, and I went up to the 8th floor to try to get my AP expidited. My reasoning was that we had made travel plans for this summer, but now with this delay due to a USCIS error, everything is being held up. We had to wait forever, but we got our travel document. So maybe not all the USCIS workers are evil.

Hey, same thing happened to me today as well - RFE for a medical that is not required. We are going today or tomorrow to Infopass to see what they tell us. I'll let you know how it goes.

Good Luck

Christina

Thanks for the replies. We got an Infopass for Friday at my local office so we will try to sort this all out. If not, we will just redo the exam.

Thanks!

Christina