DrEllaNJ

moisturize your hands! I always have problems with the fingerprints and forgot to use hand lotion also before my last entry which let to me having to go to secondary at the airport because they couldn't capture my fingerprints properly (it turned out fine).

So lots of lotion on your hands for a few days before your appointment!

1 minute ago, soccerguy845 said:

Nice to hear that others have faced similar issues. So you happened to already be in your home country? Unfortunately if she leaves the country we would be forfeiting the application. But I have been thinking the same that we should just let them make the decision based on evidence we provide them.

I wonder if you can apply for I-131 now? it'd still be $0 since based on pending AOS. Not sure if that would be granted or even be useful but maybe?

On 8/27/2019 at 11:01 AM, kris1915 said:

I’m a July 2018 filer. My status does not even show up on the case status tracker even though I had my biometric done in March. I want my card!! The last time estimate I got from Visa Journey said August 2020. I can’t even...

 

Hoping I’m next to get approved. 🙏

I wouldn't trust the Visajourney estimates too much. Right now, you'll see in the 'processing times' section on Visajourney that VSC is now reviewing petitions from February 2018. I think that's where they get their estimates from. However, we all filed in July 2018 and a number of us got approved already. It may just be that someone on Visajourney who filed in February 2018 just got approved - maybe they had RFEs, Stokes interview and who knows what. 

In any case, your extension letter should be valid for at least another 6 months. Hopefully you'll get approved way before that though!

Vermont filer here - I got my approval letter yesterday! I updated what I think this is the most recent version I found...

LEGEND/KEY:

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application.
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter.
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment.
Approved = The Date your case was approved.

If you're missing past tax returns, you should get an official transcript from the IRS. This shows exactly what was submitted and carries even more weight. Of course, this won't work for the return you still have to file, but for past returns it's a good option.

 https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

On 12/12/2018 at 7:02 AM, Cyberfx1024 said:

Nope, you can not waive that. Actual total cost right now is around $1225.

plus the fees for the medical exam - depending on the part of the country you live in, those can run around $300-400. And you have to pay for copies of certificates, and you better mail it using tracking etc. It certainly ain't cheap.

So perhaps it is better to wait a few more months until you save up enough $$ to file (plus gather additional evidence). Your spouse needs to make 125% of the poverty guidelines for your household size, or else you should get a co-sponsor.

@USC4SPOUSE how many pages was your dossier, like 400? For AOS? That's going WAY OVERBOARD. Which officer wants to wade through 40 pages of activity log just showing you and spouse locked and unlocked the door????????

Tommy John just got married to a person he met a few months ago. so of course he's not going to have a 400-page dossier to send - but it isn't necessary either.

@Tommy john You can either wait a few months (since I believe your status won't expire for a while - but you can't travel outside of the US until you get your AP), or you can send in what  you have now - and continue to collect evidence which will certainly be asked for at your interview. Also, at this stage, there is no 'let's send everything we have to avoid interview' - EVERY AOS petitioner is going to be interviewed, unless maybe you came here on a K1 visa.

Here's what I sent, a month after I got married in May 2016. My J1 visa was expiring so I had to be quick to send everything in. We had been dating for 2.5 years though before getting married. I was interviewed in October 2016, brought in our new joint lease and a personal doc from our wedding, and got approved for 2yr GC. I just sent in a 200-page dossier to remove conditions, with loads more credit card / bank statements /evidence of co-habitation etc. But this was the list for the I-130 petition:

1.      Payment in the form of personal check #    for $[verify fee], made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security

2.      Form I-130 – Petition for Alien Relative

3.      Copy of United States birth certificate for petitioner, Name USC

4.      Copy of marriage certificate

5.      Passport style photo of petitioner, Name USC, and beneficiary, Name S, with receipt showing date taken

6.      Form G-325A – Biographic Information: Filled out and signed by petitioner, Name*

7.      Form G-325A – Biographic Information: Filled out and signed by beneficiary, Name S *

8.      Copy of (Name foreign country) birth certificate for beneficiary, Name S

9.      Evidence of a bona-fide marriage:

a.      Bank statements** for Name Bank and Name Bank 2 showing joint account

b.      Credit Card statement showing joint Account

c.       Auto insurance with both petitioner and beneficiary listed

d.      Jewelry insurance with both petitioner and beneficiary listed

e.       Copy of Wedding Invitation

f.       Copy of Wedding Ceremony liturgy

g.      Selection of photographs exhibiting relationship

* note: form G325A is no longer required. Verify the current list of documents on the uscis.gov website

** when I say bank statementS, that means 1 statement for each account, since we added each other to our accounts after the wedding, and we had only been married for 3 weeks when we submitted the application. Same for Credit Card statement - that was 1 statement. It was a big purchase though - our bed  

Note that there is no lease or anything - because we moved a few months after the wedding so we never bothered to add my name to the lease at the old place. After we moved, we made sure to get a lease with both our names (and since we bought a house, with both our names on the deed) and I got electric/gas in my name while my spouse paid the cable/phone bills (since they didn't allow 2 names on the bills).

Just start gathering documents from now on - I put everything I thought may be relevant in a big box and sorted it out before submitting the ROC application. Take additional stuff to the interview - good proof, like bank statements showing purchases by both from a joint bank account etc.

Most importantly, work on your marriage and be happy. Congrats!

work visas are quite complicated to get - he needs a job, the job needs to get certification that it's impossible to hire a US citizen, etc.

As it is your plan to get married, a fiance or spousal visa is more appropriate - since that's also the goal of his coming here. Read up on the process here: https://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1faq.htm/

It's not fast nor cheap... And him being from Algeria is also a complicating factor.

I filed in July (VT) and received NOA1 plus biometrics letter. Did you send your package with a tracked service (like UPS/FedEx/USPS with tracking), and do you know if it was delivered? Has your check been cashed?

Here's the July 2018 filers thread. 2 people don't have a NOA date listed, but they could just not have updated the post: 

hi fellow Dutchie, I'd be happy to certify your translation for you if you think that's necessary. I guess it'd just be a matter of changing your name to mine in the document, which I can then print, sign and mail to you. PM me if you'd like that and I'll reveal my real name to you 

On 10/18/2018 at 12:01 PM, Kim&Clint said:

Why would an apology letter not make a difference if it got there late? Would buying a house and being on the move not be seen as a valid excuse?

thank you both for your reply!

Not sure what they consider a valid excuse - I mean, theoretically, you could have gotten the entire package together before that time. Not to harp on it, but I had a baby in April and had most of my documents together before he was born so I only needed to add a few when all my time was spent caring for baby.

But you don't need to apologize if your packet gets in before the deadline, even if it's cutting it close  Sounds like you're trying to make sure to do just that. And I'd rather send in what you have than wait for finding the additional bank statements - the acknowledgement letter gave me a way to send in additional evidence.

You may be able to get more bank statements online? So you don't have to go find the box the paper ones are in...

If you can't find them now though, I'd just send whatever you have access to now, and if that's the above list, that already looks quite good. You may just get an in-person interview whereas if you send everything right away you could avoid that.

No apology needed but I'd make sure it gets in next week - so don't skimp on postage charges and send it through UPS or FedEx.

UPDATED AS OF 08/31/2018 --- 12:55 A.M. (EST)

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California Service Center (21 applicants, 0 approved - 0%) 
  
VJName........................Date of I-751...NOA1 Date...Biometrics.....Approved .........Notes 
PHILDINFTLAUDY                 07/23/18        08/02/18         -/--/18             --/--/-- 
PINBAK                                   07/09/18        07/10/18         --/--/18            --/--/-- 
DASBESTE                              07/19/18        07/26/18        --/--/18            --/--/-- 
MARRIENNE                           07/13/18          --/--/18           --/--/18            --/--/--       DIVORCE/FEE WAIVER 
SPC                                          07/05/18      07/09/18          --/--/18             --/--/-- 
IMPLIFE                                   07/20/18      08/01/18           --/--/18            --/--/-- 
WYY                                          07/12/18      07/23/18          --/--/18            --/--/-- 
RNAB32                                   07/02/18      07/05/18          --/--/18            --/--/-- 
BACONBAIT                            07/12/18       07/24/18         --/--/18            --/--/-- 
TWIST899                               07/20/18       07/24/18          --/--/18            --/--/-- 
THOMAS&JING                      07/26/18          --/--/18           --/--/18            --/--/-- 
J&E H                                       07/11/18       07/16/18          --/--/18            --/--/-- 
ISMAR&BRANDY                    07/30/18       08/27/ 18            --/--/18            --/--/--- 
WHISKERS222                        07/26/18       08/07/18          --/--/18            --/--/-- 
YANGIE                                    07/16/18       07/25/18          --/--/18            --/--/-- 
MINNIE_MOUSE                     07/25/18       08/08/18          --/--/18            --/--/--  
YANIROSE                                07/12/18      07/20/18          --/--/18             --/--/-- 
JO AL                                        07/26/18      08/07/18          --/--/18             --/--/-- 

KANTE                                      07/26/18      08/07/18          --/--/18             --/--/--

NXN                                          07/21/18      08/01/18           --/--/--                --/--/--

PANTONIA                               07/26/18      08/07/18          --/--/--                --/--/--
  
Vermont Service Center (9 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.......................Date of I-751...NOA1 Date...Biometrics.....Approved..........Notes 
P-ANA                                07/09/18            07/12/18         08/13/18        --/--/-- 
SUN&MOON                     07/21/18             07/27/18             08/31/18         --/--/-- 
JOHN&MARIA                  07/23/18            07/26/18              --/--/18          --/--/--
ENDOFMAY                      07/12/18             07/16/18              --/--/18         --/--/-- 
IMPREZAOWNER27        07/23/18            08/01/18             --/--/18         --/--/-- 
MCSSAE7883                   07/14/18             07/17/18             08/20/18         --/--/-- 
NEM&GRH                        07/28/18             --/--/18                 --/--/18          --/--/-- 
DRELLANJ                        07/23/18            07/26/18            08/31/18         --/--/-- 
CRB                                    07/30/18            08/06/18              --/--/18         --/--/-- 

  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
LEGEND/KEY: 
Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application.
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter.
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment.
Approved = The Date your case was approved. 

On 8/4/2018 at 6:21 PM, newyork1234 said:

I Do not know where should I ask my question. sorry if not related:

 

I have my conditional CG and me and my wife got divorce recently  because she did adultery, and now my lawyer telling me we can choose more than one option as bellow:

1. my spouse is deceased

2. my marriage was entered in a good faith but the marriage was terminated through divorce or annulment. 

3. i entered the marriage in a good faith and during the marriage i was battered or subjected to external or was subject of extreme cruelty

4. my parents entered the marriage in a good faith .......

5. the termination of my status of removal from the united states would result s  an extreme hardship

 

he says we should choose option 2,3 and 5. don't you guys think the option 5 is just for asylum or irrelevant to adultery?

I don't know actually whether you can choose more than 1 option (read the instructions). But for 3, were you indeed battered or subject to extreme cruelty? I don't think your wife cheating on you counts as extreme cruelty or battering (although it sucks, I'm sorry). I think you'd have to provide police reports or a therapist's note or something.

17 hours ago, imprezaowner27 said:

I did that at my old address to make sure it wasn’t delivered there. It hasn’t yet. 

 

Im not sure how to sign up for multiple addresses on there but yeah, I’ve been keeping a close eye on the mail. 

 

do you have a tracking number / did you do signature upon delivery? That's what I did. Sent it via FedEx. If you sent it through USPS it may take an additional few days?

On 8/2/2018 at 9:44 AM, John&Maria said:

UPDATED AS OF 8/3/2018, 8:15PM (EST)

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

California Service Center (12 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName........................Date of I-751...NOA1 Date...Biometrics.....Approved .........Notes
PHILDINFTLAUDY                 07/23/18          --/--/18           --/--/18             --/--/--

PINBAK                                   07/09/18      07/10/18

DASBESTE                              07/19/18          --/--/18           --/--/18            --/--/--

MARRIENNE                           07/13/18          --/--/18           --/--/18            --/--/--       DIVORCE/FEE WAIVER

SPC                                          07/05/18      07/09/18          --/--/18             --/--/--

IMPLIFE                                   07/20/18          --/--/18           --/--/18            --/--/--

WYY                                          07/12/18      07/23/18          --/--/18            --/--/--

RNAB32                                   07/02/18      07/05/18          --/--/18            --/--/--

BACONBAIT                            07/12/18       07/24/18         --/--/18            --/--/--

TWIST899                               07/20/18       --/--/18               --/--/18            --/--/--

THOMAS&JING                      07/26/18       --/--/18               --/--/18            --/--/--

J&E H                                       07/11/18       07/16/18          --/--/18            --/--/--

Ismar&Brandy                         07/30/18        --/--18                --/--/18            --/--/--

WHISKERS222                        07/23/18

YANGIE                                    07/16/18       07/25/18           --/--/18            --/--/--

 

Vermont Service Center (6 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName.......................Date of I-751...NOA1 Date...Biometrics.....Approved..........Notes

JOHN&MARIA                  07/23/18            07/26/18             --/--/18            --/--/--
ENDOFMAY                      07/12/18            07/16/18           --/--/18            --/--/--

imprezaowner27              07/23/18            --/--/18            --/--/18            --/--/--

MCSSAE7883                   07/14/18          07/17/18           --/--/18            --/--/--

nem&grh                            07/28/18         --/--/--                  --/--/--           --/--/--

DrEllaNJ                            07/23/18         07/26/18

 

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On 7/25/2018 at 1:13 PM, DrEllaNJ said:

I guess if my check gets cashed but I don't receive a NOA within about a week, I'll give them a call to check on address. Crossing my fingers I won't have to though. I moved within town so I hope that saves me if they don't change it themselves...

well check got cashed and received NOA at my new address!

I guess if my check gets cashed but I don't receive a NOA within about a week, I'll give them a call to check on address. Crossing my fingers I won't have to though. I moved within town so I hope that saves me if they don't change it themselves...

It's off! 200 pages  (everything but the kitchen sink).

GC expires 10/17/2018

sent via Fedex 7/24/2018

scheduled to arrive 7/26/2018

2 hours ago, pantonia said:

hiii people! Sent our package on the 21st. Should arrive tomorrow. I'm worried about the whole address thing. I updated my address last time I moved (Dec 2017) and USCIS still sent the 120-days notice to my last address. I found out that that's just how USCIS does it for some reason, the 120-days Notice always gets sent to the address of the original Green Card. I am wondering if we should fear missing  our NOA1, biometric appointments or RFE? Or do you guys think we'll get everything sent to the right address from now on?

I'm in the same boat. I even included a printout of my AR-11 confirmation in the package. I would hope they adopt the new address from now on. I changed my address halfway through the i-485 process as well, and eventually did get stuff (EAD, interview notice, GC) at my new address. I filed a COA with the post office as well, so hopefully they will at least forward the NOA1, after which I could file another AR-11, this time with a pending petition.

Haven't been on a while, but this is excellent news, congrats! But ridiculous they made you wait that long.

use this guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

You can certainly start gathering paperwork now, even if you don't file until after your move. It took me a few weeks to get everything together - especially if you have to get her birth certificate mailed, you'll have to wait for the marriage certificate, etc.

6 minutes ago, wowcheesestick said:

Also if her visa waiver allows her to stay till 5/29 and this process takes a year, is she considered illegal once the visa expires? Thanks 

she won't be considered illegal once you submit your paperwork, she'll be in "authorized stay".

I agree with PP, wait with filing until you move. Since you are moving within weeks and still need to get married, it probably will take you about that time to get the petition together anyway so you won't lose too much time.

Congrats and good luck!

every time I see you updated, I think it'll finally be good news. Sorry for the long wait, hope it will be issued soon! And please keep us in the loop! 

20 hours ago, watuwa said:

before my wife went for work we were staying together but not officially married...does that mean i was single/ married because i got confused? remember when filling lottery paper and say married it could not proceed before u upload your spouse picture. And my wife was not around...i would have said married but it always demanded for a spouse picture for atleast taken six months back.. and my wife had been out of the country for ayr..at her place of work did not allow them smart phones and those who had smart phones were replaced with ordinary phones..so we kept on voice calls all the time for a full yr until she came back...let me hope am understood sir

OK from this I understand that the woman you called your wife, and with whom you had a child, was not actually your wife prior to submitting your DV application. She was your fiancee, the mother of your child, your girlfriend etc. Since you were not legally married, you were actually correct in filing the DV application as single.

if this is the case, and you weren't previously legally married, you filed the form correctly. Now that you are legally married,  you can add her to your application. Here are some resources:

http://usa-green-card.com/blog/2017/02/18/getting-married-during-your-dv-lottery-application-process-here-is-what-you-need-to-know/

http://britsimonsays.com/marital-status-getting-married-dv-lottery-process/