RRR2016

Yes. You should file for an AOS shortly  after you are married. You can initiate and continue the process with out the help of a lawyer.

9 minutes ago, j-zealous said:

My Mom's IR5 visa interview will be on the 24th of next month, July. NVC received my financial documents on March 20, and case completed on May 31. On June 2 I received the interview date via my email. I am wishing you all the very best! Hold on your waiting will come to an end

Congratulations!!!! Best of luck during the rest of the process!!

4 hours ago, mallafri76 said:

 You do understand that there a millions of illegals in the US working and taking jobs from USCs and LPRs, and you think that's right?

Hi mallafri76,

I must disagree with you on your last statement, which can not be seen as black or white. I agree that there are millions of illegals in this country, but in many sectors like the one I work for (agriculture), they are not taking ANY jobs from USC or LPRs. Quite contrary, they are the only ones willing to work in those very intense and low paying jobs. And unfortunately the government does not offer them a way (visa, temporary work permit, etc.) to work legally. These are jobs that help provide the basic food that many USC or LPRs consume each day and also provide high quality goods/produce destined for exports to many countries that bring millions of dollars to the U.S. economy. 

I believe that those of us who had the fortune of immigrating legally into this country should not judge those who can't. Can you imagine living in a country where you are constantly persecuted, no safety, full of gang violence, receive death threats and having a government so corrupt that you are better of leaving and putting your life at risk while doing so? Many people from Central Americans come to this country for those reasons ... I think we should show some level of compassion and not judge. While it is wrong to break the law, unfortunately this topic is much more complicated and other factors should be considered.

1 hour ago, NYCGUY226 said:

Hi RRR2016,

 

Yes I have paid the AOS fee and have been emailing the NVC constantly pleading with them because of our family situation and I think god blessed us because they sent me an email notice two weeks ago that my parents' interview is set for July 6th.  I can't believe it...i'm so happy.  I still can't pay the IV fee but nor did I send in my AOS package because they instructed me to have my parents pay the IV fee in person at the consulate and also to bring in the AOS package with them to the interview.  Also, they already went to have their medical exams done...super expensive $600 a piece.

 

How is your case moving along?  Since you already paid all of the fees you must have already sent in the AOS and IV packages correct?  This means you are really close to getting an interview notice from NVC really soon.   This has been such a long process.  We are now anxious for the interview 

Hi NYCGUY,

Congratulations!!! I'm so happy for you. Your parents will be with you very soon!!.

Regarding the medical exam, unfortunately yes, it is expensive and also depends on the amount of vaccines the clinic Doctor considers necessary. I must have paid $325 USD for mine last year.

Indeed, we send our AOS and IV packages on June 16. The lawyer kept asking for more and more documents. Finally on the 16th he asked for my W-2's, because I only sent my husband's (the petitioner). He said because I also declared income in our 2014 and 2016 taxes we also had to send my W-2's. And from there he said everything was complete. So now we are waiting to hear back from NVC and hopefully they'll send our case to the Embassy in the near future.

Unfortunately our Embassy always has a very heavy work load and the wait times are lengthy. At the Embassy in Cd. Juarez they process thousands of visas per day and have been told it is the largest in the world. Our lawyer gave us an estimate of 2-4 months. So we are thinking some where between September and November. But we are very happy the process is moving along.

Good luck to your parents at the interview. Make sure they bring along all their documents and answer all the questions the officer asks them, without being nervous. They will be just fine and have their visas very soon.

Keep us posted on your progress!

47 minutes ago, Umka36 said:

But he does not have legal authorization to work in the US, and the employer should not have hired him.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/penalties

 

Employers always find ways to hire them, even if they are illegal/undocumented. Some use ITIN numbers or false SSN. This is a topic that does not make any sense for people who go through legal channels, but a reality for many people in this country.

1 minute ago, RJandHamid said:

They are doing the K1 visa, so there are no fees that need to be paid or documents to send to the NVC stage. That applies to CR/IR visas, but not K1.

Good to know. Thanks!

3 minutes ago, RJandHamid said:

That step isn't needed for the K1 visa.

Sorry, my bad. Not familiar with the K-1 visa.

I called NVC a month after my I-130 was approved and they provided my case number and receipt number. From there I was able to login to their website and pay the fees. With the help of my lawyer we were able to complete the forms and send the documents 10 days later.

Have you paid the fees and sent your documents? Just trying to figure out which step you are on.

On 6/7/2017 at 0:48 PM, Covetangel said:

We have our I-797c for my petition for my fiancé from Mexico.  Unfortunately, by the time we got his children's passports the cut-off expiration date of june 22, 2017 appointments were not available and were only offered July 17, 2017.  Will this cause us to get disapproved and because he is in Tijuana can we get the medical portion done there or does it have to be done in Ciudad Juarez.  I have tried calling, emailing for days and no one answers!! I need help

So his children's passports are going expire on June 22? Are the children also go to the interview? If so, why not just renew their passports? You need to make an appointment at SRE and they are ready in one day.

For the medical exam, he has to go to one of the two authorized clinics in Cd. Juarez: Servicios Medicos de la Frontera or Clinica Medica Internacional. If the children are also going to the interview and they below the age of 15, they would need to plan to be in Cd. Juarez earlier. The results for minors are not ready the same day, it takes up to 4 days for them to be ready. 

I hope this helps.

3 hours ago, Sofia Gonzalez said:

Thank you! We have a lot of documentation of our relationship, such as flight tickets when we both flew to my hometown, photos of trips, etc. I will keep documenting our relationship, thanks for the advice! My M-1 visa, just like all student visas such as the F-1, requires that I leave the U.S. every year to renew my I-20. If we get engaged next year in the spring, can I leave the country for a month or so in the summer (to get a new I-20), come back into the U.S. to start the fall semester at my school, marry in the fall and start the adjustment of status after our honeymoon as I continue my studies? 

Yes you should be able to follow this timeline. Just keep in mind that during the AOS process you won't be able to travel outside of the U.S. until your green card arrives. I believe the process is 3-6 months, but not sure. So you should plan to begin the process in between semesters when you are not planning on traveling. Good to hear you are documenting everything. It always helps. Checking other VJ member's timelines may give you a better idea of the AOS process time. Best of luck to you!

Hi Sofia,

You should be able to do an Adjustment of Status after you get married next year and under the M-1 student visa. My advice is to begin 'documenting' your relationship from this moment. For example: photos of any trips, family meetings, social gatherings. If you live together, any leases, add you or your fiancee to the utility bills, renters insurance, etc. Since you are planning to get married, open a joint bank account, add each other to your vehicle tittles, etc. etc. Or anything that applies to your living situation that can help you prove a legitimate relationship. Make sure to keep photos of your wedding, honeymoon, etc. And after the marriage begin filing taxes together. This will all be very helpful for when you have your interview or during the process. Also make sure your future husband makes 125% above the poverty level, so he can sponsor you. If not, you will have to find a co-sponsor.

Just curious, the M-1 visa does not have the 'two year home residency rule', like the J-1 visa? I know the F-1 does not, but don't know much about the M-1.

43 minutes ago, MrHanky said:

Good to know, I should we should be getting NOA2 in July

People who are close to Mexico City have a great advantage. It is always best to have the medical exam and fingerprint scan close to home. For us who are flying to Cd. Juarez from other states, it is easier to have all the steps completed in Cd. Juarez.

Best of luck on your case. Our NOA2 arrived 6.5 months after we filed the petition, but some cases are faster.

On 5/25/2017 at 6:27 PM, NYCGUY226 said:

Yes I paid the AOS fee and submitted the DS-261 Choice of Agent form and now waiting for the IV Fee.  What about you?

Hi NYCGUY,

Have you been able to move forward with your case?

We were able to pay the fees (AOS and IV Fee) on June 2nd and it still shows up as IN PROCESS.

On 5/27/2017 at 7:24 PM, APKartoos said:

Kindly reply at your earliest convenience.

One of family relative father is US citizen and he applied for his son immigration. Last year in Sept. 2016 he received letter to submit related papers and forms.

My relative appointed someone an agent in USA. My relative has provided his appointed agent (DS-260) and Affidavit of support (From me) for submitting. Now it has been 3 months, God knows why this appointed agent is not submitting those papers.

 

Now my relative has asked me, if appointed agent can be changed.  What is the procedure to change appointed agent? I would to become his agent. 

Please reply...... Thank you.

Were you able to contact NVC?

I noticed that after I login in it says the following:

- - -

Summary Information

Please contact the National Visa Center, if you want to change the Agent/Attorney Name or Address Information on your case.

- - -

I hope this helps

36 minutes ago, MrHanky said:

If you're in Mexico City or Estado de Mexico you can do the medical there.

To add to his comment, if you are in Mexico City, you should also be able to do the finger print scan at the CAS office.

First thing is where did you apply for your F-1 visa? Is it a University? If so, they should be able to provide an estimate of yearly costs (tuition fees, books, living expenses, etc.). When I came to the U.S. in 2007, I was given a scholarship from my home country to cover tuition, monthly stipend, medical insurance, etc. and because I brought my son, the expenses were considered higher. So the University requested I had proof of an additional 3000 USD from another source (in this case it was personal funds), because the scholarship did not provide enough money for me to study in the U.S. After I sent the proof the University sent me the I-20 and necessary documentation to proceed with the interview. So for your case, the education institution you are applying should be able to provide the amount of funds you will need to prove before the officer, even if your source is from personal funds or your parents help.  

The interview and the fingerprint scan do not have a cost. You just need to worry about the medical exam + any vaccines they give you and the cost of the trip: plane tickets, hotel stay, taxis, meals, etc. The trip of course is the most expensive part and depends on the number of people that will be traveling with you. There are several hotels very close (walking distance) to the Consulate, CAS and medical center, with different price ranges. Ibis and City Express are quite reasonable. But you also have other hotels like the Quality Inn, Holiday Inn. La Quinta, etc. that are nicer but have higher rates. Some include free breakfast like the Microtel Inn & Suites. Just take in mind that you may have to stay more than one day in Cd. Juarez, because the medical + fingerprint scan and interview are on separate days.

The  wait time is 6-8 months, even for a direct relative of a USC. So you are within the timeframe. Ours was approved in 6.5 months. Some take less or more time. It depends on their work load.

11 minutes ago, Noemi Garcia said:

yes they gave me all the information i need but when i log in it said that I  cannot make any action on my case 

I see. That means you are not able to pay the fees yet. There is no need to worry, I would continue to check the website every other day and eventually the options for the AOS fee, DS260, IV fee and DS 261 will come up. Those options will come up sooner than you expect.

Best of luck.

You should ask your University about the requirements for travelling outside the U.S. on an OPT.

I traveled on an OPT many times from 2012-2014 and the requirements to enter the U.S. were to show your F-1 visa, a valid passport, current I-20, I-94, EAD card and letter from my employer. My passport with the F-1 visa also expired and had to obtain a new passport. The Consulate from my country returned my old passport and placed a CANCELLATION stamp at the front page. From there I had to travel with both passports.

I'm sure your country will return your old passport, other wise you should request it and explain that it holds your F-1 visa that is still valid.

Hope this helps.

8 hours ago, Noemi Garcia said:

i tried but it won't let me that's why a call them and they told me that i have to wait 4 more weeks 

Did NVC provide you your case number and invoice ID? When I called, they provided both and I was later able to log in.

49 minutes ago, NYCGUY226 said:

Wow that is great news RRR...We are now so close to the end of the tunnel at last! it felt like forever at USCIS

Thank you. I'm happy to hear your process is also moving forward. I went through the same process last year and after the documents were sent to NVC it did not take too long to receive the interview letter. It's getting close.

On 5/27/2017 at 9:24 PM, APKartoos said:

Kindly reply at your earliest convenience.

One of family relative father is US citizen and he applied for his son immigration. Last year in Sept. 2016 he received letter to submit related papers and forms.

My relative appointed someone an agent in USA. My relative has provided his appointed agent (DS-260) and Affidavit of support (From me) for submitting. Now it has been 3 months, God knows why this appointed agent is not submitting those papers.

 

Now my relative has asked me, if appointed agent can be changed.  What is the procedure to change appointed agent? I would to become his agent. 

Please reply...... Thank you.

Hi. Sorry to hear about the delay in your process. But I honestly don't know. I would call NVC to check on the procedure or if there is a form you need to submit to change your agent. I'm sure NVC should be able to provide assistance.

On 5/26/2017 at 7:45 AM, NYCGUY226 said:

I just keep checking in the  NVC case portal --> https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx ever since I got the case number and invoice ID number from NVC ( I kept calling every other day until a rep finally said that a case number and invoice id number was created for my parents' cases) . Once you have those numbers you can log in and see your case status and you will see a section for Fees and Applications.  For the first few days the AOS Fee links were not clickable and then on the 17th I saw that the pay AOS link was active and when I clicked it let me go through the steps of paying with my banking information.   then it took a week for the status to go from "processing" to "PAID".  A day or so afterwards I was able to click on the DS-261 link where my husband became the agent for my parents' cases.  For you it would be your attorney.

 

So now I am just waiting for the IV pay fee link becomes active so far I am not able to click on it.  They say this part usually takes about a month.  I STRONGLY suggest that you call the NVC, choose option 2.  you will be on hold for about 20 minutes and when someone finally answers they will ask you for your case number.  Tell them that is why you are calling and then they will ask you for your I-130 receipt number.  They will then give you the Case number and make sure that they also give you the IIN number since you need both to log into the above link to do the electronic processing of paying fees and filling out the DS-261 choose agent online form and eventually where you will be able to pay the IV fee and then fill out the IV online application (DS-260).

 

My advise is not to rely on your attorney at this point.  They are not as anxious about your case processing as quickly as possible as you are :).   Let me know if you get stuck somewhere but definitely your next step is to call NVC to get your Case and IIN and then log in immediately into the https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx to start paying your fees and filling out the DS-261.  The clock to enable you to fill out the IV application does not start until you have filled out the DS-261 and paid your AOS fee.   Let me know how it goes ok

Thank you so much. I was able to speak to a Tier 2 officer on Friday and he gave me the case number and invoice ID. I logged in and apparently we are now able to pay the AOS and IV Fees. So I called our legal aid and emailed our lawyer. We will be paying the fees this week, but they asked us to not pay the fees on our own because the lawyer needs to be assigned as our agent. If he don't add him, he would not receive any notification. So we hope to move forward with our case this week.

Thank you again for all your help.

4 hours ago, NYCGUY226 said:

I just keep checking in the  NVC case portal --> https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx ever since I got the case number and invoice ID number from NVC ( I kept calling every other day until a rep finally said that a case number and invoice id number was created for my parents' cases) . Once you have those numbers you can log in and see your case status and you will see a section for Fees and Applications.  For the first few days the AOS Fee links were not clickable and then on the 17th I saw that the pay AOS link was active and when I clicked it let me go through the steps of paying with my banking information.   then it took a week for the status to go from "processing" to "PAID".  A day or so afterwards I was able to click on the DS-261 link where my husband became the agent for my parents' cases.  For you it would be your attorney.

 

So now I am just waiting for the IV pay fee link becomes active so far I am not able to click on it.  They say this part usually takes about a month.  I STRONGLY suggest that you call the NVC, choose option 2.  you will be on hold for about 20 minutes and when someone finally answers they will ask you for your case number.  Tell them that is why you are calling and then they will ask you for your I-130 receipt number.  They will then give you the Case number and make sure that they also give you the IIN number since you need both to log into the above link to do the electronic processing of paying fees and filling out the DS-261 choose agent online form and eventually where you will be able to pay the IV fee and then fill out the IV online application (DS-260).

 

My advise is not to rely on your attorney at this point.  They are not as anxious about your case processing as quickly as possible as you are :).   Let me know if you get stuck somewhere but definitely your next step is to call NVC to get your Case and IIN and then log in immediately into the https://ceac.state.gov/IV/Login.aspx to start paying your fees and filling out the DS-261.  The clock to enable you to fill out the IV application does not start until you have filled out the DS-261 and paid your AOS fee.   Let me know how it goes ok

Thank you so much. I will call NVC today to see if I can get our case number. Our lawyer told us we may receive a response in month and I have not heard anything. You are correct, he is in no hurry, but we are, hehe. 

I'll keep you updated on our progress.

God bless your heart for being so kind and providing the information.