angie33

Thing is, I left because my dad is sick so I decided to leave... it wasn’t beyond my control. However, I probably can’t come back before September because of all the coronavirus pandemic and the borders are closed in France, not sure I could leave for the US. 
And I’d like to stay until my dad pass away, which is going to happen most likely before the end of this year 

Hi, I lived in the US for 3 years with my husband and came with the k1 visa initially. 
I had the 2 years green card and did the removal of conditions. However, my dad is sick and I left the us with our daughter on September 2019, the removal of condition was still pending. I received the new green card around February 2020 but I’m still outside the US. At first my husband was supposed to come to France with us, but it’s not gonna work out and I need to go back to him. I won’t be able to leave before the end of the year so it’ll be more than a year outside the US and even tho I would come back before the one year mark, I’ve been gone for more than 6 months and can’t go without being sure I will be approved to come back, I’ll have my 2 years old daughter and my dog with me... 

What would be the best options? Abandon the green card and petition for IR1?

Hi, I filed on January 22nd, they received it on 25th, and I today received my 18 months extension, seems pretty fast so far but I know it will be a really slow process from now on.

On 27/03/2017 at 7:35 PM, patt said:

My case status was updated in the morning. I have my green card interview on April 26

 Hey same date for me =D

1 hour ago, htfaust said:

I don't think they'd call it "cancelled" if it was because you missed the date.

Usually the term means they cancelled the appointment and will either a) reschedule or b) issue an interview waiver.

 

In either case, you should be fine. Try calling them just in case, make sure if you have a new interview date or not.

Also, depending on where you are, the snowstorms are causing some cancellations. In these cases, the affected persons will be rescheduled.

Thank you! I'm from Portland Oregon and there is no snowstorm anymore here  but I'm reassured! I called them but they didn't tell me anything except to do an inquiry which I did!

Hey everyone! I don't really follow the topic anymore but I saw that it happened to some people that the interview was cancelled! Do you know the reason? I got this notification yesterday but before that I've never received anything and no notification either on the website! I did an inquiry to tell them I've never received an interview date but is it cancelled because I didn't go? Will they jus send me another one or I will be denied and have to start all over again? I'm worried now!

Hi everyone! So to let everyone know, i got my EAD and AP today in the mail! I was approved on February 10th and they sent it on February 15th! 

12 minutes ago, msleja said:

Day 94 for me!!! Stay strong !

37 minutes ago, hjha said:

We have similar timelines, I filed on November 3rd, they received the package on the 7th and still no news as well.

I received the same response via email after submitting the service request and it doesn't seem moving. I hope we will hear something next week! 

Hey Good news actually! I didn't get an update but I just checked and now new card is being produced! It didn't change this morning so it probably just changed now! 

I am so so happy!!! 

Stay strong you two! And everyone! They are super slow but it's coming!

Hey everyone! Just to let you know I'm at day 96 and I did a service request on January 30th, had an answer on February 6th saying that my case in under review and I should get a notice shortly. Personnally I don't think it speeds the process, I still don't have any news and it starts to be long! I contacted the congresswoman in my city but no news either for now. 

Processing time on VJ says November 10th but they received mine November 7th, I really really hope hearing something this week! 

13 hours ago, yjays said:

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this website. I have sent AOS documents since 2nd of November and they have recieved them since 7th of November. My biometric was done on 16th of December. I have been waiting for EAD since then.. I'm really tired of waiting  Is the application "case tracker" able to check EAD as well? Are those documents (EAD,AOS,AP) same case number? Its almost 90 days since they recieved it but nothing has updated yet.

 Welcome! I have the same date and I'm still waiting too... I did an inquiry on USCIS website but it might take 15-30 days before having an answer but that's the only thing we can go now!

30 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

Let us know how it goes

I just got an update on my phone like they would have sent a RFE on December 2nd so I panicked and I called them... They told me my case is still pending and no RFE was sent. In checking the app again, it came back to fee received.. hm I just freaked out lol! How scary!

Anyway, I asked for the EAD also, and she told me they should do it within 90 days and I'm at 87 days so fingers crossed! She also told me service request on the phone is the same than inquiry online and I should hear something soon! 

1 hour ago, Wes&Charlotte said:

Once 75 days has passed since you filed, you can open a "service request" with USCIS.  Which they will respond to within 15-30 days.  In most cases, I would assume that it is approved in that time anyway.  The number is on your NOA1 1-800 375 5283.

Okay! It's the same than do an inquiry online then! Thank you 

1 hour ago, quentin955 said:

I found the letter the Social Security Office gave me, it says I have to contact them if I have had nothing after 4 weeks. So I will go there whenever I can I guess, but it's 40 miles away. (the closest one is always full of people, with a line of 15 people outside of the building 15 minutes before the door open)
But apparently we have a quite similar problem, so it's reassuring to see it went well for you!

So it sounds like, for now, I just have to wait for the next letter, which i will probably get soon. Thanks!!

Mine took more than 4 weeks also and just the weekend before I decide to go back on Monday I got the card in the mail! They might be slow. Maybe call them to know if they assigned you a SSN already. Sometimes they have the number, and the card comes later. 

Yes wait the biometrics letter =)

3 hours ago, quentin955 said:

Hm... It's been almost 5 weeks since i asked for my SSN.
The thing is.... they could not find me in the system, 2 weeks after I arrived. 
I guess I'll have to go back on Friday, this week. 
My middle name is actually two names put together, so it's the entire name on my visa, but on the I-94, they took only the first one. I guess it's one of the reasons. I guess if I knew it would have been a problem, I would have gone after I get the EAD. But i hope it's going to be good!

Also, i have a question about the biometrics. Did you all receive a second letter, after the NOA, telling you where and when you have to go? 

For the SSN it took a while for me too to receive it because of my middle name (I have two names and they took just one) they had to check something and then sent it to me. But it doesn't hurt to go back just in case. 

Yes you will receive a letter for the biometrics with the date, the hour and the location where you have to go! 

4 hours ago, Wes&Charlotte said:

Hey everyone!

 

Hope everything is going well for you all.  I ended up going to two of the three biometrics appointments they sent me.  The last one was far enough out for me to have time to call (the second one I got a days notice, must have been held up in the xmas mail!), they said it was within 30 days of last one so I didn't need to go.  

 

Anyway so I spoke to USCIS today to submit a service request for EAD.  I also asked about the AP and AOS.  Just in case anyone needs the info:  They said they are still processing April 28th 2016 for AOS and Oct 16th 2016 for AP.

 

Good luck everyone!

 

Charlotte

What number did you call? I did an inquiry online for the EAD but they said to expect an answer by february 27th... I hope it won't take that long! I'm starting to be closer to the 90 days and that's horrible to not being able to do something to make things moving! lol 

4 hours ago, Juliak said:

I'm still waiting for EAD! It's been 114 days. My application was on hold for 2.5 months because I had no idea that they sent my a RFIE. They got my answer january 26th though. Hopefully it'll take less than a month now. 

Oh wow that's my fear since I don't have news! I don't understand how that can happen, no updates or anything! I did an inquiry today, I hope they would tell me if they sent a RFE or not! 
Hope your case will be processed fast enough now! 

2 hours ago, fosu said:

Hi everyone!!

Glad to see everyone is okay and married  

 

Aparently is going to be pretty pain in the ### for the next step with the AOS...talking about it when do you think is the best moment to ask for the SSN?

 

About the appointment issue that you were talking about on the ambassy  website, did that happen already? looks pretty weird that they say "no appointment available" with everything happening in usa roght now.... maybe they got new  instructions

Hi, personnally I asked the SSN two weeks after my arrival in the US! I just showed my I94 and my passport and that was it! =)

85 days from receipt date 11/07 and no news for the AOS, still fingerprint fee received so I'm starting to become litterally crazy! =D 

8 hours ago, emphormagic said:

New EAD card is being produced! So happy, it seems that the RFIE for AOS did not delay us.

 

We filed on November 2nd and it was received by USCIS on November 7nth.

Oh nice! Mine was received on November 7th too so I hope it will be soon too =D

4 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

again, this information that Claudia got was incorrect.

Yes I just read this post first and I read the rest after! OOps =D 

But I know what is good now and I still feel a little confused, number letter and everything is not really my area lol! But I'll figure it out =)

Just a little question, is everyone had an update for the AOS like case ready for interview or anything? Because I saw several people that filled after me that had updates and mine doesn't move and I was wondering if they would have sent me sonething and not received it. Anyway =) 

Thank you for all the informations,I'm glad this thread exists! 

17 hours ago, clauandgio said:

 

 

 

To all of you worrying about the taxes...

 

So I was reading in the morning about the taxes for us in the IRS page...then I looked up some info in google and everything pointed out what it's said here: We have to sign a statement requesting to be treated as a US resident for tax purposes and add the income we made worldwide. 

 

Anyway, I went to Walmart and found the Jackson Hewitt tax service "booth". I talked to the manager about our case...she explained to me that it wasn't necessary for me to add my income because then the IRS would take taxes of what I made in my home country (which my gov already took everything and they don't return a cent). She explained and sounded reasonable. I explained my situation...that I arrived last year, got married in July, and now I am out of status adjusting my status and I do have a SSN. She told me that there was an option where I could file as a "US resident for tax purposes" (what I have read everywhere) but she said that it wasn't the best option (I would have to give taxes of what I made in my country)...so it seems like she knows what she is doing. She said that filing as married and jointly was enough. Sorry for my English haha she said a lot of things that made sense but I don't remember now.

 

Long story short, according to her, we don't have to do what all the internet says we should do. 

PS: She was extremely nice! 

Nice =D thank you

2 hours ago, Suss&Camm said:

Well, if you're not required to file, nothing will happen... but you are losing out on potentially a lot of money as a couple. First if you're not filing then your husband will have to file married filing separately (MFS). He has to file as married as he is in fact married. This means that you only get 1 spousal exemption on the taxes. For 2016 each exemption is $4,050... so that's a considerable amount. If filing MFJ you would get $8,100 in spousal exemptions... Also you are still just filing ONE return... so I don't see the point of doing it MFS... I got a quota from a tax preparer and she wanted around $30.. that's nothing in comparison..

 

Did you have foreign income during 2016?? This can reduce your joint tax liability further since the foreign earned income exclusion allows to exclude up to around $100,000 ... you will get non-refundable tax credits that reduce your joint tax liability dollar for dollar...

 

Add to this the extra USCIS evidence of co-mingling of finances, I see absolutely NO good reason not to file..

 

 

I don't know exactly my foreign income from 2016 but thank you for the informations and the document, I'll read more of it! 

1 hour ago, Suss&Camm said:

Since according to IRS publication 519

"Under U.S. immigration law, a lawful permanent resident who is required to file a tax return as a resident and fails to do so may be regarded as having abandoned status and may lose permanent resident status"

Anyone reading this should just be aware of that.. If you are in fact required to file, then there are more implications of not filing-- important when we all move on in this process...

You can read the whole document here

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

On 22/01/2017 at 0:02 PM, Suss&Camm said:

You can file MFJ (married filing jointly) meaning you and your husband will file one return together with your joint 2016 income. To do this you have to opt to treat you as a tax resident for 2016 which is done by sending a statement of this with your taxes. This means you cannot file by e-filing this year (if this will be your choice). It most likely will benefit you most since filing jointly mean you get 2x the spousal exemption on the taxes. Filing jointly is also considered good evidence for co-mingling of finances for the future aos interview and/or ROC etc. If you had foreign income during 2016 you can also get the foreign earned income exclusion FEIE. 

It's a bit of reading to do if you want to do this all by yourself and your husband isn't familiar with it either. I spent weeks and weeks on here (taxes forum) and the IRS website reading the publications. The option is to find a tax preparer to help you with it. It's not that expensive. The taxes need to be filed by end of April (don't remember the exact date on the top of my head). A tax preparer will help you file the most beneficial way applicable to your circumstances, but make sure they are familiar with married to non-resident tax laws.

Thank you, looks like a lot! What happens if I don't fill the tax? lol

I don't really know where and when we have to fill the tax.. I have a SSN but don't work. Do i need to fill it? And where?