stan&tanya

What a relief this process is finally over. It's taken almost 1 year from mailing in our I-130 to getting my wife's Greencard. Thanks to all who have helped and shoot me an email if you have any questions...

Stan and Tanya

Hi all,

Reading through all your posts is encouraging and informative. One question I have is when I read through people's timeline I see "Touched" quite often. What is this and how can I find out if my case has been "Touched" as well? I've already registered with USCIS Case Status Online Service, but that doesn't show me a whole lot. Thanks.

Stan

Hi,

My wife's (K3) interview is scheduled for December and I'm reviewing the NOA. My wife does not speak fluent English since I speak fluent Thai. The NOA states a translator can be brought to the interview. Reviewing the list of AOS questions and reading other posts on this topic, I'm wondering what experience you all have had with this (if your wives can't speak fluent English)? Did you bring a translator? Thanks.

Stan

Thanks for the replies. I forgot that without a SS#, she can't be covered under my company's health insurance, nor can I count her as a dependent on my taxes! But, from what people are saying here, AOS shouldn't take more than a year. I guess the safest bet is to just apply for EAD during AOS, after all the expenses, $180 is chump-change! hahaha. Thanks again all!

Stan

Hi All,

I read the guide and just want to verify what my interpretation is of what I just read.

My wife is here on a K3. I'm applying for AOS. She is in no rush to work (we have a 5 mo. old son) and won't for quite some time (2 yrs).

Should I just wait for her Green Card for her to be eligible to work, AND save the $180 on an EAD application? Or should I hedge any possibility of delays with her Green Card (assuming it takes more than 2 yrs) and still apply for EAD?

Thanks,

Stan

How does this apply to a K3, if anyone knows? My wife and I were married in Thailand, and she wants to change both her first and last names. I can understand changing the last name not being a problem, but what about the first name?

The I-485/I-864EZ don't have a section, like the G-325/I-765, where we can indicate "All other names Used". I'm afraid something will get omitted which will ultimately delay the entire process.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Stan

Thanks for the replies.

I do have 2 Thai original marriage certificates (flowery pink papers in Thai language), and one Ministry of Foreign Affairs certified copy. I won't give the MFA certified copy, so I guess I have to get a translator to give me a certified translation copy. Would have been nice to know this during the process... oh well, live and learn.

Thanks again.

Stan

Hi all,

I'm in the process of submitting my wife's AOS packet. One requirement listed in the VJ AOS checklist is a certified copy of our marriage certificate - my wife has a K3 visa. For you all (K3) who went through what I had to in Thailand to get married, how did you handle this requirement? I have the original copy, certified by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but that's it. How should I go about getting a "certified copy" of this?

Another question: My wife wants to change her name, both first and last. Have any of you done this, or at least changed last names, before applying for AOS? I'm thinking getting a SS#, Green Card, and EAD with her passport name would be a pain in the a** to change later. I guess we can always wait until she becomes a US citizen to change her name. Any comments/suggestions?

Thanks,

Stan

Thanks for the input! I'm off to the doctor now to take care of this. My wife received some vaccinations during her physical, and had some check marks stating not age appropriate. Anyway, whatever it was/is, she passed her physical/vaccinations in Thailand, so I can't see her having problems here... I hope! Yhanks again all!

Stan

My wife had her medical examination in Thailand, and all I have is a copy of the Vaccination worksheet from that physical. I believe this is all the doctor needs to transfer to the Supplemental form?

Hi All,

I'm getting the I-693 Supplemental Form completed and wanted to know what price is reasonable? I've found a civil surgeon that is charging $60 just to do this, while others say my wife needs to get the bloodwork and vaccinations done for about $140. In view of the $140, the $60 quote seems reasonable, but I don't know. Any input? Thanks.

Stan

Hi All,

I'm getting the I-693 Supplemental Form completed and wanted to know what price is reasonable? I've found a civil surgeon that is charging $60 just to do this, while others say my wife needs to get the bloodwork and vaccinations done for about $140. In view of the $140, the $60 quote seems reasonable, but I don't know. Any input? Thanks.

Stan

Hi all,

This forum has been very helpful. I do have a question about Part II: Application Type. My wife has a K3 visa, so I was wondering what box should I check? None really apply to the K3. Should I select box H: Other basis of eligibility? Thanks again.

Stan

Thanks very much for that insight! I was wondering what the heck we're to do with it - it's so bulky.

From what I understand and experienced myself, the x-ray is a souvenir for you to keep. The written report about the xray is included with the medical inside the sealed envelope so they don't look at the xray itself. You can always give it to your wife's new doctor for his medical files, if you want. She shouldn't have to worry about carrying it on the plane but can put it in her checked luggage.

Hi everyone,

I'd like to thank this website and all its members for contributing to the knowledge base. It's an invaluable resource in a confusing time like this.

I have a couple questions. First, my wife has been issued her K-3 visa from the Bangkok consulate. She was given her passport (with visa), a sealed packet, and an instruction sheet on what needs to be completed once she arrives in the U.S.

Questions:

1) Is there a special line my wife needs to go to when she lines up at the immigration booths at the airport, namely Los Angeles Int'l? Or does she just proceed to the "Visitors" line?

2) What do we do with her chest x-rays? Is she supposed to hand it over, alone with her sealed packet, to the immigration officer at the airport? If so, then she must hand carry it onto the plane?

Thanks in advance.

Stan

Thanks a lot for all your input!

My wife will have her K-3 visa issued next week. We will then pursue an AOS when she arrives here. After everything is said and done, and she has her greencard and work permit, can she travel internationally? What restrictions, if any, are there? Thanks.

Stan

Hi again,

My situation:

I'm a K-3 petitioner. My wife has her interview date in a little over 2 weeks in Bangkok. When she arrives to the U.S., I plan to file an Adjustment of Status. The fees are $325 application/$70 biometrics.

In late April, I received a packet from NVC requesting I pay: Affidavit of Support Fee Bill ($70) and Immigrant Visa Fee Bill ($380). I paid these.

Last week, I received the I-130 Instruction Packet from NVC with the forms: Affidavit of Supoort (I-864), DS-230 Part 1, Authorization for Release of Federal Tax Data.

Questions:

1) Since I'll be pursuing the AOS, do I submit all the forms and RFE that the I-130 NVC packet requested to my USCIS? If yes, where to? Chicago lockbox or my CA Service Center?

2) I guess I have to pony up for an additional fee ($325/$70) for AOS even though I've paid the $380/$70 fees already?

3) With my wife's K-3 visa, can she leave the U.S. anytime/however many times? What are the travel restrictions with the K-3?

Thanks all, again, for your assistance!

Stan

I see. But then, doesn't it defeat the purpose of the K-3 if she were to go back to Bangkok to complete her I-130 application? I mean, she comes to the US using the K-3 (I-129F Non-Immigrant) visa, has to return to complete the I-130, and then re-enter. I understand what you're saying about the possibility of a long wait time for changing her status. I guess, I'd rather keep her here with my newborn and not have to deal with her leaving our son to complete the I-130.

So my course of action will be to notify NVC that I plan to change status once she's here next month and then submit the I-864 along with the documents noted earlier to the processing center and NOT to NVC?

Thanks in advance.

Stan

I've done everything up to the point where my wife has her interview scheduled for July 11.

Yesterday, I received an I-130 packet from the NVC requesting me to complete a I-864, DS-230, Authorization for Release of Federal Tax Data, and provide Tax Returns.

The first paragraph of the form "Important Information About Completing The I-864, Affidavit of Support" states: The NVC will review your I-864 thoroughly before sending it to the U.S. Embassy for processing... etc.

My question: What do I do now with this packet? The Consulate in Bangkok requires the I-134 instead of the I-864, AND I don't see any reason why the I-864 should be sent to the Consulate when my wife will already be here by the time it is processed by the NVC and sent to the Consulate.

Maybe I'm a bit confused about the I-129F and the I-130 requirements since they are two separate applications?

I called the NVC and the service agent said something about my intentions to "Change of Status"? Then on "Important Notice" sheet, it states: "If the applicant plans to adjust status, the I-864 must be submitted to INS within six months of filing the formal application for adjustment." I'm pretty lost now.

HELP!

Stan

Skype is definitely the cheapest. What I do is ring my wife there two times, two consecutive calls - this is my signal to her to call me with Skype. It's cheaper to call U.S. (2 cents/min) with Skype than to call Thailand (6c landline-12 cents mobile/min) with Skype.

Otherwise, I use Thaitel when she's not at the PC.

Hi all,

I've gone through all the steps for the K3 and have now received the Packet 3. How in the world do I return the Packet 3 to the US Consulate in order to get my wife's interview scheduled? Do we hand deliver or do we mail it in?

We are peitioning at the US Consulate in Bangkok. Any help is highly appreciated, as the US Consulate is not!

Stan