Mike V

Click through to the actual Maryland web site info.  "dmv.org" is just a 3rd-party company that provides info & sells stuff.
Maryland's actual web page states that an unexpired EAD will suffice:  http://license.mva.maryland.gov/checklist/checklist.aspx

Not correct.  The requirements vary significantly from state to state; some even allow undocumented immigrants to have license.
Here (MN) my stepson arrived 27 July and got his learner's permit as soon as he passed the written test.  His only ID was his Philippine passport with a K-2 visa in it.
His learner's permit was suspended 29 September, which was the nominal expiration date on his K-2 visa.
In November his EAD arrived and his learner's permit was re-instated.
He now has a driver's license and EAD.
We are still waiting for the Green Card interviews. 

No.
 
It reimburses you for costs in limited circumstances as specified by the policy.  A change necessitated by poor planning would not be covered.

Last time I checked, murder was still illegal in the Philippines.  Having someone executed, whether one person or thousands,  without due process is a crime in the Philippines and a crime against humanity internationally.  Period.
 
The argument that "it was actually a great crime deterrent" is irrelevant.  You cannot do good by doing evil.  Better known as "consequentialism", that is considered a moral fallacy by the Catholic Church (80% of the Philippines) and by most -- if not all -- other churches as well.
 
https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2013/06/19/the-most-popular-moral-heresy-in-the-world/

Political opponents and people critical of Duterte have been murdered and intimidated.  I have never heard a single person deny that until you.  It is what it is.  The death squads work for the politicians.  Life is not very valuable there.  During my visits to Davao, I found Manila to be much safer and more comfortable to be in.  I even stayed at the Marco Polo in Davao and there wasn't a single time on the street that I felt completely comfortable.  I know the stats.  Manila has higher crime but Davao has a more street gang feel to me.

We (wife, 2 kids) received our I-797C approval notices for their adjustments of status today.
 
Time since filing:  14 months & 11 days
 
Time since interview:  4 months @ 2 days
 
Thanks to all of you for your collective assistance.
 
I will upload a screen copy of the CURRENT myUSCIS statuses -- that site is worthless.
 
 
 

We (wife, 2 kids) received our I-797C approval notices for their adjustments of status today.
 
Time since filing:  14 months & 11 days
 
Time since interview:  4 months @ 2 days
 
Thanks to all of you for your collective assistance.
 
I will upload a screen copy of the CURRENT myUSCIS statuses -- that site is worthless.
 
 
 

Unfortunately this is the Internet, where there is no shortage of "experts" to tell us how stupid we are, etc.  They often run up high post counts with little or no experience in the actual subject.
 
The best approach is to focus on constructive replies, acknowledge the polite ones, and ignore the rest.
 
On another note we did get our 180 automatic EAD extensions.  They are wonderful examples of bureaucratese.  I'll parse it in more detail when I have time, but I can see why some authorities (e.g. driver licensing) are reluctant to accept them.
 

As promised this is the checklist I created of documents to bring to the interview, 98% of which they never asked for at the interview.  One thing you can likely count on:  If you don't bring something, they will probably ask for it.
 
I created it based on the the instructions in the interview notice.  If you use this checklist, I would also suggest that you first compare it with your own interview notice and make any necessary additions.  The file in the zipped file is in RTF format -- open with either Wordpad or Word.
InterviewChecklist.zip

Unfortunately, although the new site seemed promising at first, it is now almost as out of date and worthless as the old one.
 
For our I-485 interviews, it still shows status comments from 14 November 2017 that they are scheduling our interviews.  In fact, the interviews were scheduled over a month ago and took place this morning.   
 
When we got the appointment notices, I created a checklist based on everything mentioned in the appointment notice and collected it all together.  Most of it was unneeded, specifically she (the interviewer) did not care about:
My proof of citizenship & birth certificates Evidence that we were qualified to apply for permanent residence (all I could think of here was NOA1, NOA2, visas in passports, marriage certificate, to show that we had been through the process) Certified copies of their Philippine birth certificates & her 1st husbands death certificates (we had ordered 3 new sets just in case ) Their employment authorization cards Immunization papers from the embassy physical Subsequent immunization records Certified copy of my divorce order Current letter of employment & pay stubs I-94 forms For evidence of joint financial stuff, they received a copies of our wills, our 2017 Form 1040, and got to look at my health insurance card.
 
Copies of everything else (albeit uncertified copies) had been submitted with the I-485 filings.
 
She interviewed us separately and pursued several lines of questioning to see if our answers were the same:
How did we meet ("winks" on dating site, eventually I paid to upgrade so we could communicate.  I had also printed a screen snag of her first "wink"). What did we have for dinner last night (I went out to Arby's about 6, she was working 2-10 ) How many cars did we have (3, I had included the VW that need repairs; wife first answered 2) Questions about my house (# of bedrooms, # of baths, laundry room) Questions about when I visited, where we stayed, what we did.  Wife's memory was a bit fuzzy, since we did not go to her house until the 2nd day.  The interviewer got bored after the 4th of my 7 trips there. I had printed about 350-400 pictures from wife's FB page starting from our arrival at JFK on 26 July 2017.  I showed the interviewer the wedding & adoption pics w/ the judges, and she spent about 20 seconds thumbing through the rest.
 
We left with a form with a box checked that they would notify us in 4 weeks of their decision.
 
I will post my checklist here later.  One thing to consider is that if you don't bring something, they will surely ask for it.  To prep for the trip-you-up questions (at least the ones that we fielded):
Review how you met, see if you can still find any evidence of it (on the 2nd anniversary of her first "wink", I had posted a screen snag in FB) Review what you did the last 48 hours (where each of you were, what you did, what you ate). Review your car(s), who drives, when, etc. Review your trips to his/her home country, where you stayed, what you did, esp. the first trip.

As promised this is the checklist I created of documents to bring to the interview, 98% of which they never asked for at the interview.  One thing you can likely count on:  If you don't bring something, they will probably ask for it.
 
I created it based on the the instructions in the interview notice.  If you use this checklist, I would also suggest that you first compare it with your own interview notice and make any necessary additions.  The file in the zipped file is in RTF format -- open with either Wordpad or Word.
InterviewChecklist.zip

Our status did change, finally.  Now instead of a Nov. date and "We are scheduling your interview", it says:
 
       
March 16, 2018    
Case Is Ready To Be Scheduled For An Interview   As of March 16, 2018, we are ready to schedule your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, Receipt Number MSCxxxxxxxxxx, for an interview. We will schedule your interview and send you a notice. Please follow any instructions in the notice. If you move, go to   www.uscis.gov/addresschange   to give us your new mailing address.       Current as of today at   1:37 p.m.        
So their info has advanced about four months, seemingly oblivious to the fact that our interviews were held 3 weeks & 2 days ago. 

As promised this is the checklist I created of documents to bring to the interview, 98% of which they never asked for at the interview.  One thing you can likely count on:  If you don't bring something, they will probably ask for it.
 
I created it based on the the instructions in the interview notice.  If you use this checklist, I would also suggest that you first compare it with your own interview notice and make any necessary additions.  The file in the zipped file is in RTF format -- open with either Wordpad or Word.
InterviewChecklist.zip

Unfortunately, although the new site seemed promising at first, it is now almost as out of date and worthless as the old one.
 
For our I-485 interviews, it still shows status comments from 14 November 2017 that they are scheduling our interviews.  In fact, the interviews were scheduled over a month ago and took place this morning.   
 
When we got the appointment notices, I created a checklist based on everything mentioned in the appointment notice and collected it all together.  Most of it was unneeded, specifically she (the interviewer) did not care about:
My proof of citizenship & birth certificates Evidence that we were qualified to apply for permanent residence (all I could think of here was NOA1, NOA2, visas in passports, marriage certificate, to show that we had been through the process) Certified copies of their Philippine birth certificates & her 1st husbands death certificates (we had ordered 3 new sets just in case ) Their employment authorization cards Immunization papers from the embassy physical Subsequent immunization records Certified copy of my divorce order Current letter of employment & pay stubs I-94 forms For evidence of joint financial stuff, they received a copies of our wills, our 2017 Form 1040, and got to look at my health insurance card.
 
Copies of everything else (albeit uncertified copies) had been submitted with the I-485 filings.
 
She interviewed us separately and pursued several lines of questioning to see if our answers were the same:
How did we meet ("winks" on dating site, eventually I paid to upgrade so we could communicate.  I had also printed a screen snag of her first "wink"). What did we have for dinner last night (I went out to Arby's about 6, she was working 2-10 ) How many cars did we have (3, I had included the VW that need repairs; wife first answered 2) Questions about my house (# of bedrooms, # of baths, laundry room) Questions about when I visited, where we stayed, what we did.  Wife's memory was a bit fuzzy, since we did not go to her house until the 2nd day.  The interviewer got bored after the 4th of my 7 trips there. I had printed about 350-400 pictures from wife's FB page starting from our arrival at JFK on 26 July 2017.  I showed the interviewer the wedding & adoption pics w/ the judges, and she spent about 20 seconds thumbing through the rest.
 
We left with a form with a box checked that they would notify us in 4 weeks of their decision.
 
I will post my checklist here later.  One thing to consider is that if you don't bring something, they will surely ask for it.  To prep for the trip-you-up questions (at least the ones that we fielded):
Review how you met, see if you can still find any evidence of it (on the 2nd anniversary of her first "wink", I had posted a screen snag in FB) Review what you did the last 48 hours (where each of you were, what you did, what you ate). Review your car(s), who drives, when, etc. Review your trips to his/her home country, where you stayed, what you did, esp. the first trip.

Unfortunately, although the new site seemed promising at first, it is now almost as out of date and worthless as the old one.
 
For our I-485 interviews, it still shows status comments from 14 November 2017 that they are scheduling our interviews.  In fact, the interviews were scheduled over a month ago and took place this morning.   
 
When we got the appointment notices, I created a checklist based on everything mentioned in the appointment notice and collected it all together.  Most of it was unneeded, specifically she (the interviewer) did not care about:
My proof of citizenship & birth certificates Evidence that we were qualified to apply for permanent residence (all I could think of here was NOA1, NOA2, visas in passports, marriage certificate, to show that we had been through the process) Certified copies of their Philippine birth certificates & her 1st husbands death certificates (we had ordered 3 new sets just in case ) Their employment authorization cards Immunization papers from the embassy physical Subsequent immunization records Certified copy of my divorce order Current letter of employment & pay stubs I-94 forms For evidence of joint financial stuff, they received a copies of our wills, our 2017 Form 1040, and got to look at my health insurance card.
 
Copies of everything else (albeit uncertified copies) had been submitted with the I-485 filings.
 
She interviewed us separately and pursued several lines of questioning to see if our answers were the same:
How did we meet ("winks" on dating site, eventually I paid to upgrade so we could communicate.  I had also printed a screen snag of her first "wink"). What did we have for dinner last night (I went out to Arby's about 6, she was working 2-10 ) How many cars did we have (3, I had included the VW that need repairs; wife first answered 2) Questions about my house (# of bedrooms, # of baths, laundry room) Questions about when I visited, where we stayed, what we did.  Wife's memory was a bit fuzzy, since we did not go to her house until the 2nd day.  The interviewer got bored after the 4th of my 7 trips there. I had printed about 350-400 pictures from wife's FB page starting from our arrival at JFK on 26 July 2017.  I showed the interviewer the wedding & adoption pics w/ the judges, and she spent about 20 seconds thumbing through the rest.
 
We left with a form with a box checked that they would notify us in 4 weeks of their decision.
 
I will post my checklist here later.  One thing to consider is that if you don't bring something, they will surely ask for it.  To prep for the trip-you-up questions (at least the ones that we fielded):
Review how you met, see if you can still find any evidence of it (on the 2nd anniversary of her first "wink", I had posted a screen snag in FB) Review what you did the last 48 hours (where each of you were, what you did, what you ate). Review your car(s), who drives, when, etc. Review your trips to his/her home country, where you stayed, what you did, esp. the first trip.

Unfortunately, although the new site seemed promising at first, it is now almost as out of date and worthless as the old one.
 
For our I-485 interviews, it still shows status comments from 14 November 2017 that they are scheduling our interviews.  In fact, the interviews were scheduled over a month ago and took place this morning.   
 
When we got the appointment notices, I created a checklist based on everything mentioned in the appointment notice and collected it all together.  Most of it was unneeded, specifically she (the interviewer) did not care about:
My proof of citizenship & birth certificates Evidence that we were qualified to apply for permanent residence (all I could think of here was NOA1, NOA2, visas in passports, marriage certificate, to show that we had been through the process) Certified copies of their Philippine birth certificates & her 1st husbands death certificates (we had ordered 3 new sets just in case ) Their employment authorization cards Immunization papers from the embassy physical Subsequent immunization records Certified copy of my divorce order Current letter of employment & pay stubs I-94 forms For evidence of joint financial stuff, they received a copies of our wills, our 2017 Form 1040, and got to look at my health insurance card.
 
Copies of everything else (albeit uncertified copies) had been submitted with the I-485 filings.
 
She interviewed us separately and pursued several lines of questioning to see if our answers were the same:
How did we meet ("winks" on dating site, eventually I paid to upgrade so we could communicate.  I had also printed a screen snag of her first "wink"). What did we have for dinner last night (I went out to Arby's about 6, she was working 2-10 ) How many cars did we have (3, I had included the VW that need repairs; wife first answered 2) Questions about my house (# of bedrooms, # of baths, laundry room) Questions about when I visited, where we stayed, what we did.  Wife's memory was a bit fuzzy, since we did not go to her house until the 2nd day.  The interviewer got bored after the 4th of my 7 trips there. I had printed about 350-400 pictures from wife's FB page starting from our arrival at JFK on 26 July 2017.  I showed the interviewer the wedding & adoption pics w/ the judges, and she spent about 20 seconds thumbing through the rest.
 
We left with a form with a box checked that they would notify us in 4 weeks of their decision.
 
I will post my checklist here later.  One thing to consider is that if you don't bring something, they will surely ask for it.  To prep for the trip-you-up questions (at least the ones that we fielded):
Review how you met, see if you can still find any evidence of it (on the 2nd anniversary of her first "wink", I had posted a screen snag in FB) Review what you did the last 48 hours (where each of you were, what you did, what you ate). Review your car(s), who drives, when, etc. Review your trips to his/her home country, where you stayed, what you did, esp. the first trip.

I would take that with a grain of salt & wait & see.
 
Our field office (Minneapolis) was reporting similar numbers.   Our filing date was Sept 27 2017, so we were digging in for the long haul.
 
On Saturday we got letters indicating that the interviews were set for Aug. 1.

I would take that with a grain of salt & wait & see.
 
Our field office (Minneapolis) was reporting similar numbers.   Our filing date was Sept 27 2017, so we were digging in for the long haul.
 
On Saturday we got letters indicating that the interviews were set for Aug. 1.

Thank you, the new link works!
 
I have been Googling "USCIS case status" and that leads to the older busted site.

Click through to the actual Maryland web site info.  "dmv.org" is just a 3rd-party company that provides info & sells stuff.
Maryland's actual web page states that an unexpired EAD will suffice:  http://license.mva.maryland.gov/checklist/checklist.aspx

RIght now I'm getting $52/night for a couple random dates next month (Feb 6-8).  Once you know your dates, I would try those booking sites (& Priceline) daily.
Priceline often comes up with good rate busters, e.g. they cover the taxes.
Travelocity will often offer you a better deal if they notice you are leaving without reserving a room.  If that happens, stay on that screen and open up a different window or tab if you wish to continue researching their competition.
Booking.com has undercut their competitors' prices for me a couple times and once (Istanbul) came up with a good deal on an inexpensive boutique hotel that wasn't showing up on the other sites.
Insert other media

Anyone can generate a list of hotels.  There are two in your list that I will NEVER set foot in again.
 
What's more important are people's feedback regarding the hotels, both here and in the major travel sites, e.g. Travelocity, Priceline, Trip Advisor.
 
Our experiences:
Cherry Blossoms:  Bedbug City -- If you want to be on the menu, this is your hotel! Lotus Garden:  Dishonest minibar accounting; they held my fiance hostage for a minibar tab that I had already paid and for which she had the receipt.  Only time I have ever contested (and successfully! :D) an expense on my AMEX (which they were reluctant to take, wonder why?) For their final visit, I booked them at Best Western La Corona  @ $58 per night, feedback from my fiancee & kids was 100% positive.  You get what you pay for. 

RIght now I'm getting $52/night for a couple random dates next month (Feb 6-8).  Once you know your dates, I would try those booking sites (& Priceline) daily.
Priceline often comes up with good rate busters, e.g. they cover the taxes.
Travelocity will often offer you a better deal if they notice you are leaving without reserving a room.  If that happens, stay on that screen and open up a different window or tab if you wish to continue researching their competition.
Booking.com has undercut their competitors' prices for me a couple times and once (Istanbul) came up with a good deal on an inexpensive boutique hotel that wasn't showing up on the other sites.
Insert other media

Anyone can generate a list of hotels.  There are two in your list that I will NEVER set foot in again.
 
What's more important are people's feedback regarding the hotels, both here and in the major travel sites, e.g. Travelocity, Priceline, Trip Advisor.
 
Our experiences:
Cherry Blossoms:  Bedbug City -- If you want to be on the menu, this is your hotel! Lotus Garden:  Dishonest minibar accounting; they held my fiance hostage for a minibar tab that I had already paid and for which she had the receipt.  Only time I have ever contested (and successfully! :D) an expense on my AMEX (which they were reluctant to take, wonder why?) For their final visit, I booked them at Best Western La Corona  @ $58 per night, feedback from my fiancee & kids was 100% positive.  You get what you pay for.