slapointe

Green card received in the mail today. Thanks for everybody's support and help through this process. I updated my timeline and posted a short review of my interview at the Norfolk VA office.

Went in for the interview this morning (Norfolk office). Got there a little early, Went very well, took about 15 minutes. The officer (Golli? Galli?) went right to business, but not too scary either. Checked that we could spell our own names, ask our parents' names, address, mostly basic stuff. We brought lots of pictures, he only kept copies from the wedding (we also had our wedding album). We bought our first house in December, so we had proof of that as well.

We were a little worried because my wife has Type 1 diabetes, and we couldn't bring food or juice inside in case she goes low while waiting. But we weren't there long enough for that issue to occur.

Overall, very good experience there. The officer took my I-94 that was stapled to my passport and said we'd get the green card in the mail between 2 weeks to 6 months. Hopefully it comes within 2 weeks! Also, he told us I was getting a permanent GC since we've been married for more than 2 years. I like that he told us his decision right away, rather than being ambiguous as I've read about other people...

I'll post this and update my timeline. Thanks to everybody in this forum! Good luck to everybody else still waiting, your turn will come soon!

I've been living in the US for many years now, for school and for work. I lived in Baltimore for a couple years, then in Charleston WV, and now in Norfolk, VA. Everywhere people have always been nice and friendly. Most Americans are usually worried of what foreigners think of them.

Congrats! Sorry I missed your original post. Glad everything went smoothly! My situation is much simpler, so it gives me hope my interview will go well.

And I have a little question. I'm not sure what those of you who have had interview appointments have received, is it just something in the post or did you get an email along with it? Sorry if this has already been answered, I couldn't remember and as we're going back to NZ soon, I just want to make sure that if something comes I wont miss out on it (hopeful thinking maybe ). Thanks guys.

I only got the letter in the mail. No email, no update on USCIS website. There was almost two weeks between the date on the letter and the date I actually received it.

My wife and I applied for her SSN before we got married because she wanted a bank account and it was important to her that she have this.

Well it came in the mail and it says "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" written just above her SSN.

My questions:

Will she be able to open a bank account since it says that?

Will her number change when we go to change her name?

When we prove were married and do the name change will the DHS thing go away?

Thanks everyone for your help in advance.

1. I was able to open a bank account, apply for credit cards, buy life insurance, buy a house, etc. with a SSN card like that.

2. I don't think so. I don't have a definite answer for this one.

3. I believe you can get a 'regular' SSN card when you get the Green Card.

Anybody, please correct me if I'm wrong on 2 and 3. #1 I know from experience.

Question to everybody: Do I need to apply for a new SSN card once I get the GC? My SSN says 'valid with work authorization only' or something like that. I think I read somewhere that Social Security automatically gets updated by USCIS and sends a new card soon after GC.

they said u have to go back to SSA ofc to have that note removed since you already have your GC..

Thanks, I will do that then.

Everybody else, keep hope. Us September filers seems to be getting processed in a fairly timely manner. If your status doesn't get updated online, don't panic. You might get a notice in the mail soon!

Hey Guys,

I haven't heard anything on my case since it was transferred to csc but I thought I'd share some cool news,

got my married name SSN in the mail today, and I also applied for my DL - and I didnt have to take a test... they just transferred my canadian license... I studied all night and day thinking I'd have to take a written test and a road test... guess I'm lucky.

anyway,

good luck to all, I hope you guys get your EAD's soon!

Happy waiting.

Congrats on SSN and DL. I know for us Canadians it's easy to get DL. I still have my Quebec DL and plates, even though I've been living here since '05.. Oh well, I guess I'll have to get on that soon now.

Question to everybody: Do I need to apply for a new SSN card once I get the GC? My SSN says 'valid with work authorization only' or something like that. I think I read somewhere that Social Security automatically gets updated by USCIS and sends a new card soon after GC.

Slapointe is an O1.......which is what type of visa?

The O-1 classification is a type of employment visa under United States immigration law that applies to aliens who have extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business, or athletics which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international acclaim and who are coming temporarily to the U.S. to continue work in the area of extraordinary ability.

source :wiki

WOW------THAT'S COOLLLLLLLLLLL!!

There are a TON of different types of visas out there.

I am amazed.

I always feel weird when I read the description for that visa. They make it sound like I have super powers or something...

I'm sending good vibes to everybody who's waiting for an EAD or AP or interview date. I was feeling left out of the EAD crowd, not having filed for one. Now that I've gotten my interview date, I can work full time other people's process (with my super powers of course)

I cannot believe it. Just checked the mail. Had a bunch of junk mail, and a NOA for our interview date! February 17th at 11am!!! Looks like us mid September filers are finally getting things moving!

Don't lose hope if you're still waiting! My status online hasn't been updated, but the notice is dated December 12th. Your notice might well be on its way.

Happy Holidays to all!

hey girls, guess what? A string of good luck is coming to me. Without any touches or anything (still remain as 10/16 and 9/23 on my online cases for my I-485 and I-130 respectively), today I got a very suspicious looking letter in the mail:

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION TO APPEAR FOR INITIAL INTERVIEW!!!!!!

so the interview is for Feb 13th, yay!!!!

same day when the "Confessions of a Shopaholic" movie is out!!!!

I am a follower of that book series. I love being a Shopaholic!

This gives me hope my case will be processed quickly. No touches on 485 and 130 since 9-30.

Happy Holidays to all September filers! My wife and I are unpacking and moving in our first house!

Is there a way to look at the timelines and figure out if it generally takes longer to do an AOS from a work visa than a K visa? What is people experience? What about different work visas? (I'm on a O-1)

hey girls/guys...

while waiting for the whole AOS process without a single touch after biometrics I have more bad news... even worst than a RFE... I got laid off yesterday... I lost my H-1b status.... man it stinks...

Man! I'm so sorry

What are you going to do? Did you ask for an EAD?

luckily I did sent in a EAD application with my I-485, if not I will be in real trouble... my NOA's were dated 9/18, so i assume i can call them in a week to check on the status?

I don't know what I can do know... everyone is laying off in my field... not a good time to hunt for job....

I was told I couldn't apply for EAD from a work visa (I'm on a O-1). Is it different for H1B?

Congrats to all recent updated!

Everybody else, don't give up, it looks like we're being processed without too much delay!

Got an email and website also updated that my Advance Parole was sent on Dec. 1st. It gives me hope for an interview date. Only thing is I won't be going home over Christmas break, too much stuff going on. We bought a house and will be moving in a couple weeks. I hope that will be proof enough that we're married!

Just tested this problem, it seems to only happen with Internet Explorer. Firefox works fine.

No changes for me, website working the same as usual. Problem already fixed?

I just checked my e-mail today and - I got an e-mail at 11 pm yesterday saying

"Application Type: I765 , APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Current Status: Card production ordered."

I hope the AP comes soon as well!

It's finally getting done!

I'm sure everyone's cards will be coming soon.

That's great! I'm just hoping for a touch, then I'd know my file is still on someone's desk somewhere and not in the trash..

Congrats!

Ok, I'm getting really antsy about not getting an update... I'm really wishing for an interview date before Christmas... Anybody knows if it takes longer when adjusting from anything other than a K visa?

I've been checking the USCIS website way too many times every day...

Thank god, Now my wife won't be stuck in Guam since I'm rotting over here in Iraq. Hopefully she gets it in the next few weeks, The site says 30 days.

This forum has been very helpful in the whole process, Thanks to some good members.

congrats!

I think i have one of those cases that they dont update the website. My Wife is Canadian and its a very simple K1 case - but no touches since the biometrics on Oct 5. I would have assumed there would have at least been a touch in those 4 weeks but nothing.

Most others are ahead of me in terms of progress

Also - our case is still at the MSC/NBC

I am in the same boat as you ... my case hasn't been touched since my biometrics as well!

It's a pretty big boat, as I'm in it with you guys! My case is slightly different than most people here though, coming from 0-1 visa.

Good luck to you! Sending good fellow Canadian vibes your way!

I would just bring every form and document you sent in with your original submission. If you sent copies of birth certificates, bring the originals, as well as extra copies for the officer at the interview. I think you can bring extra pictures if you think they will help prove your marriage is real.

Before mailing our application, I made a couple of copies the whole package. I'm pretty much ready to go at any time...

I'm from Quebec, and I had to call the different places I got shots from (I had shots updated for student visa in my early twenties). For some reason, they didn't have all my records centralized.