SE18

thanks Chancy.

thanks Misscloud, very helpful answer! Also thanks, Mike

She's K2 and 24 years old now to answer some of your questions. Also, did not adopt my stepdaughter and her mother is still a green card holder who can apply for citizenship.

My stepdaughter would like to become a citizen. She and her mom (my wife) arrived 5 years ago. However, it took about 15 months for them to receive their green cards. The rule for Form N-400 states that you must be a permanent resident for 5 years for my daughter (3 for wife). Did my daughter become a permanent resident when she arrived in the US or ONLY after receiving her green card. That's important to know so her N-400 doesn't get rejected. I did a lot of google searches but couldn't find an answer. Thanks in advance.

forgot to say there's a backlog of 8 months waiting to renew Philippine passport as Adventine noted. Also misspelled month (should be mother)

My wife's month is 95 and in poor health. My wife, who has a Philippines passport that expires this september, wants to visit her. My wife has a permanent green card (10 yr variety). Two questions: first, if she stays there for 2 months, can she return to the US with no problem, given that she might only have 4 months on her passport. Second, will the Philippine government allow her to stay in country with less than 6 months on her passport? Thanks!

Our daughter aged out during the processing so not able to bring her with us 4 years ago. In 2018 applied for her to come as family member. Got letter USCIS about 2 months ago saying she was approved to come over but there is a yearly quota. Someone said it might be 10 more years before she's eligible to come over given the quota system. Seems like a long wait. Does that sound correct?

she filed for ROC a long time ago. So does the 3 years required for citizenship begin only when she gets the 10 year green card? Still trying to figure this out.

stepdaughter is now 22

My understanding is that it's 3 years (K1 visa Filipina) and 5 years for my stepdaughter (I'm the sponsor). However, it's unclear when the 3 years begins. Is it upon arrival in the U.S. or after AOS? Is it from when the permanent (10yr) green card was issued? Is it when the conditional green card was issued? (despite being over 3 years, she's still on her conditional green card). Thanks!

the supervisor said no fee, resubmit with I-485receipt

I called USCIS again and gave them my rejection receipt # and they said for a second time that USCIS made a mistake in trying to charge me a fee. They said my call would be elevated to a supervisor so I'm awaiting a callback. I'll let you know what transpires.

Hi, when I initially sent the i485 I didn't. A few months later, however, I did send the I-131

Hi, my wife (k-1) is awaiting her green card and has permission to travel abroad but my 19-yr old stepdaughter (K-2) was denied travel (I-131) because we didn't pay a fee. I called USCIS and they said since we filed I-485, no fee is required and USCIS made a mistake so I re-submitted I-131 and it was again rejected b/c no fee was attached even though I wrote a letter telling them I called USCIS and was told to resubmit my package. If anyone can advise me on this, much appreciate.

appreciate your assistance! (which was much much better than what I got by phone from USCIS). So despite the 90-day window, I guess we'll wait some more. Maybe they should update the employment form stating it can take 5 months?

thanks!

thanks; I'm having a hard time trying to figure how to delete

no, we went there about 2 months ago for biometrics. Fingerprints, and photos

Here's the employment thing

They took her photo, fingerprints and asked to show her passport. I took a photo of the form and should be able to post it soon

it said to report to USCIS at the alexandria branch, which we dutifully did.

well, maybe not an interview but we were still called to go to USCIS (Alexandria VA branch). And, this is after biometrics.

OK thanks, longer than 90 days. There actually is another interview my wife had to do at USCIS, not the biometrics but one of the employment authorization.

In late June 2017 I put in paperwork for green card for wife/daughter (K-1 process). At the time, I included the I-765 application for employment for the 19-year-old daughter but not the wife. Then a month ago, I decided to put in an I-765 for the wife out of financial concern. Incredibly, received wife's interview for employment at USCIS, but not the daughter's.

So I looked on USCIS's website and it said I-765 takes up to 90 days. Clearly, it's been over 90 days for daughter but for the wife, who applied later, it was approved.

So I called USCIS and had trouble explaining the problem and them understanding. Only response given was to wait.

But USCIS regulations state 90 days and it's been over 90 days. What to do?

Thanks

we just to someone else at DMV and they said they will issue the DL without green card.

When she takes her driver exam on 14 Aug (I'll be in London until then).

More info on virginia driver license:

Big problem. 

Well, a bit of good news. The 19-yr old passed written portion of exam and they will later give her a road test (fiancee failed again).

The bad news is even if she passes road test, they will issue DL for only 2 months b/c that's when her visa expires. I asked how to renew it and they said they need to see green card, which could take 9 months more!!!!!

in the meantime, I requested a work permit for the girl. Problem is, she will need to drive to work.

Also, how can I leave the wife and daughter home alone without a DL? I work for Defense Department and travel around the world and we live in an area where a car is required for groceries, etc etc. Very very difficult problem!

They get their biometric fingerprints on Monday so I will ask USCIS about this, but I'm not hopeful anymore. 

Change of topic. About the written VA DMV exam.

DMV has a website with practice exams. Both wife and daughter passed all their online practice exams, but when they went to the DMV, the exams are much much more difficult.

I will post next week regarding any word we get from USCIS regarding DL, but they will probably say that it's not their area of responsibility.

Yes, my wife was using her international DL (daughter has one as well), but it expires in 2 months. They got it a year ago when they thought they were coming over but we didn't realize that the K-1 process would take almost a year due to the TB exam needing a few months to monitor and slower than expected work by State and USCIS who don't seem to share their databases and ask for the same information like on the bios, but I digress.

In any case, it also helped that they brought their Philippine drivers licenses. The DMV was interested in seeing those as well.

Once you get bank statements for your wife, that's what DMV in virginia uses to prove residency. I drew up a rental agreement and had it notorized (renting my home to them, thinking it would prove residency as it's on the list of accepted documents), but they were jerks about it and refused despite it being on the list. That's why we resorted to the bank statements.

My understanding is that some DMVs are better than others so if you don't get the results you want, shop around.

We patched up last night and will trip over to DMV during lunch to try again.

Good luck!