poh

Bring pictures to interview if any.   Most important is with k-1 visa you get officially married in US before visa expires.  

On 2/5/2024 at 4:31 PM, Etherial said:

I came over on a K1 visa on Dec 1st, with a K1 and I will be out of status on Feb 28th

We called our local court on Dec 3rd, there are no available appointments until March!

So I will be out of status.

 

We asked the court to notify us of any cancellations, but no luck so far.

 

What alternatives do we have?

An officiant that costs $300 or if we get married after 90 days and file i-130 concurrently, that will cost $535 extra.

 

We used an available officent for $90.  It's fast and no need to go through the slow court system. 

Yeah.  You will need social security number to apply for driver license, open bank account and such so best to get it as your spouse enters Port of entry but it's not detrimental that wasn't done early. Get it as soon as you can and let things work out itself.  Since you didn't get it before marriage you saved yourself a trip to the Ssn office  to update the name on the card.  

Let it fall where it may.  

13 minutes ago, Boiler said:

It is really a question of how risk averse you are, most people will go the marriage route.

Ceremony is just a ceremony and unlike in other countries not an actually marriage.  Its more like a party where you meet each member of your relatives and accept gifts then later family and friends gather to introduce the engaged couple and eat, drink and accept gifts and take lots of pictures with each person that came to see you.  

In my opinion Marriage ceremony wouldn't count as a bona fida marriage.  A actually legal Vietnamese marriage certification  would count as bona fida.   I had my marriage ceremony in Vietnam with my wife's family and friends.  We didn't file any paperwork in Vietnam to register our marriage at the local government office.  Once the wife arrived in US after 90 days we files for marriage license and officially got married in the US.  Technically my wife isn't married in the eyes of the Vietnam government since paperwork wasn't filed there.  She could marry another Vietnamese guy I suppose. Lol. 

Don't overthink it. K-1 would be your option if not officially married in Vietnam.  

At the k-1 visa interview they may ask you if you got engaged or had a ceremony.  My wife answered that she was engaged and  had a ceremony only.   One requirement for k-1 visa is your Vietnamese wife submit a single status certificate saying she not married.  

On 1/20/2023 at 6:42 AM, Queen30 said:

Hey 

For my moms filing . I sent my naturalization certificate, passport page, birth certificate and marriage certificate (since I have a name change)

And my moms birth certificate and marriage certificate ( since she has a name change as well). This was actually one of the simplest supporting documents since K-1/AOS Lol. 

Just wondering your reason for sending your mom's birth certificate and her marriage certificate?  Correct me if I am wrong, I believe the the sponsor's birth certificate would list your parents names showing family relationship.

On 1/21/2023 at 4:42 AM, ivanalex1980 said:

Good morning everyone,

 

I am  trying to petition for my mother and this is what i plan to include with my I-130

 

1) my Birth Certificate

2) my naturalization certificate

3) my US passport

I am NOT submitting my marriage certificate because I have never changed my name - Anyone thinks I should still submit it?

Do i need to submit my mom's  1) pictures, 2) divorce certificate 3) her birth certificate?

 

Please let me know if all above is correct?

 

Thank you all so much

I would imagine your marriage certificate is of value if you changed your maiden name and USCIS needs to cross-reference it to your name on the US passport and naturalization certificate.  But as always its your decision call.

4 hours ago, stringpuller said:

Can someone reading this thread explain to me when the R2 asks for ex spouses immigration history what exactly what the VN officers are looking for? To see if they are a natural born US citizen? Or were they have traveled or lived?? Ialso have to provide this written statement. @rraypo
 

Sounds like they are questioning your past relationships/marriage.  Provide whatever they ask best to your knowledge and ability.  

On 8/9/2022 at 2:49 PM, babayega said:

Hello everyone. My case is extremely out side of process. I think I have a only option to sue them. But I need your recommendations about suing, or if you could provide any better option.

 

June 20, 2019 - I751 applied

October 4, 2020 - N400 applied

October 15, 2020 - I751 transferred another office

April 2, 2021 - N400 interview (completed successfully)

July 28, 2021 - I751 Interview completed

June 25, 2022 - First inquiry ( 3 days later from that day Uscis emailed me and they said "we regret that we are unable to provide you with a completion date at this time" )

June 26, 2022 - Contacted to Congressman (still waiting)

I wanted to contact to the ombudsman too but, they are not longer accepting any outside of process claim.

 

I would like to ask, 

- Is suing my only option now? If I sue them what could be happen? Any bad affect to my case? Do you guys have any recommendation?

 

Thank you for all

 

 

 

 

Have you tried to seek help from your senator.  Try writing to your senator for help 

37 minutes ago, Wiz_Fit said:

Yep, we saw this as well. In the letter it 100% says we're to take the 2020 test but when you goto the site, your able to take the 2008. Wife is just going to study both but will pick the 2008 test.

 

The form does tell me who can come with me, it doesn't mention a spouse so I am curious if people are going with their spouse?

Only the person addressed on the form is allowed in.  Unless you are bring your legal representative or interpreter.   You wouldn't want to bring an interpreter if you are trying to pass the English language test.   

1 hour ago, Nkrish83 said:

Online print is sufficient - you really dont need the physical letter from USCIS.

As long as it's the exact duplicate of the original letter.  It has the QR code and bar code on the letter and should be legible.  

On 6/15/2022 at 7:46 AM, P S said:

FO: Atlanta Office

Does anyone the waiting period for oath ceremony after interview got approved with name change request?

About a month 

On 6/3/2022 at 3:45 AM, lovinglive said:

Travel is within the US, of course.  She's using a B2 visa.

Should be No problems with air or land Travel within US with REAL ID compliant valid state ID or driver license.  As long as you don't go out of the country and try to reenter.   

5 hours ago, fab2021 said:

Good news!!!!

My journey is coming to an end! The USCIS sent me a letter on June 13th, 2022 with an interview date. I don’t have the date yet because I don’t remember the password to my online account. I should receive the physical letter on Friday (June 17) or Saturday (June 18). I will keep you posted with the actual date once I receive the letter. I am in NYC and I applied on November 18, 2021 based on 5 years rule. I submitted the application online. 

Only on the physical letter you will see the actual interview date and time.  No need to worry about logging on to find out the interview date.  It won't show this online anyway.  

On 5/15/2022 at 1:21 AM, LJVotolato said:

I'm getting frustrated waiting for my AOS approval and just want to assure that I am not realizing something that everyone else here is. Do people really NOT work for those 6-9 months it takes for your AOS to be approved? I applied for my EAD with my AOS in December 2021 and it says the case is pending.

 

So how do you spend your days? Legit question. I have tons of hobbies but not being able to work and not being able to go back home (since I don't have my advance parole)  is very frustrating. Seems like a silly question, I know I know. I've waited months to ask it for that very reason.

Yes, my wife was trapped at home.  She wanted to work so badly.    Going to school especially if you are learning English helps.  In your community there must be some sort of ESL program at local educational institution near you   She met new friends  from her country and other country and established business contacts.  In one case she met a father of a business owner where she landed a job. 

I think although you can't work you can meet well rooted folks in the community that may be of great resource when you are legally allowed to work.  My wife was tempted to start working as soon as she arrive US via K-1. In Vietnam, She knew a client that introduced her to a relative that owned a business in US.   But tempting as it was, I made sure she didn't break law by starting employment without a EAD.  The owner wasn't to happy about her now starting work at her business. I was upset with her knowing that she does not have EAD but was offered a job.   Basically she is tempting her with work but jeopardizing her legal status.  Watch out for people like these!!   She was not too happy about it and eventually gave up hiring my wife.  But eventually everything worked out and wife is working after receiving EAD.  

So what you are experiencing is not unique.  We all are going through it. Just bear with it best you can.   Good luck to you.  

1 hour ago, elmers said:

Congrats!! May I ask where was your local office located?

Honolulu Hawaii. Good luck to you.

On 4/30/2022 at 11:40 AM, Rachel & Khairy said:

I agree do not listen to anyone they are giving you bad advise. You said it was in high-school so I'm assuming you are under 18 at the time? 1. If you were a minor it's not going to be on any permanent record. 2. You are a US Citizen and the petitioner so it doesn't make a difference.

If its under 18, you were charged differently and not as an adult.  You were a juvenile when you were charged and won't effect your application.  No worries. Juvenile records are sealed and unavailable outside of juvenile courts.  US courts gives kids chances to correct themselves instead of ruining their lives.   I know someone who  at age 17 broke the law  and got arrested and did fine in their immigration journey.  

People like this making it difficult for other Vietnamese to immigrate to US.  That's why Vietnam is considered high fraud country and honest Vietnamese people don't have it easy.  

13 minutes ago, poh said:

Perhaps your required documents weren't uploaded properly .  Verify that you uploaded the required pdf documents 

Keep the file size within the limit. Scan as black & white and lower resolution to reduce the file size.  Within acrobat you can reduce the file size by compressing it. 

 

Try another pdf creating program.  This one is free.  

https://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

 

If you think it's browser related issue then close all instances of the browser.  Clear the browser's cache.  If it's Windows you can try different browsers such as Microsoft Edge , firefox , Chrome.  Make sure you use the latest version by upgrading to the current version of each browser.  

 

If you continue to have issues try on a different computer.  It could be your computer having issues.  If the problem follows then it's something you are doing wrong. 

 

Check your internet speed as well.    Make sure your speed is fast enough to upload files   https://www.speedtest.net/apps/windows

On 2/18/2022 at 5:12 PM, Bailey2020Green said:

Just tried that and it didn't work 😕 

 

Does anyone know if there's a tech support line? I don't know what this could be. This is how it shows up when I try to review the application (after it says:

Encountered an unexpected error retrieving draft evidence.

at the top. 

 

Perhaps your required documents weren't uploaded properly .  Verify that you uploaded the required pdf documents 

Keep the file size within the limit. Scan as black & white and lower resolution to reduce the file size.  Within acrobat you can reduce the file size by compressing it. 

Try another pdf creating program.  This one is free.  

https://sourceforge.net/projects/pdfcreator/

If you think it's browser related issue then close all instances of the browser.  Clear the browser's cache.  If it's Windows you can try different browsers such as Microsoft Edge , firefox , Chrome.  Make sure you use the latest version by upgrading to the current version of each browser.  

If you continue to have issues try on a different computer.  It could be your computer having issues.  If the problem follows then it's something you are doing wrong. 

On 2/18/2022 at 5:12 PM, Bailey2020Green said:

Just tried that and it didn't work 😕 

 

Does anyone know if there's a tech support line? I don't know what this could be. This is how it shows up when I try to review the application (after it says:

Encountered an unexpected error retrieving draft evidence.

at the top. 

 

Passed N400 interview.  Study the 100 question from the 2008 version. Write the questions and answers to practice the writing portion of the test.   Study and understand the N400 form questions specifically the "Have you ever.." questions.  Have someone preferably an English native speaker read and test you on the questions to practice listening portion of the test.  Prepare to show your current filed tax forms or tax filing extension if you didn't file your taxes, yet.  After all, paying your taxes is one requirement of becoming a US Citizen. All in all, it is not that hard.  Good luck to all!  😎

On 4/7/2022 at 6:09 AM, M@K12 said:

Great News. Thank you for sharing.

If you are from a high fraud country, you get Interviewed no matter what.  Some people are willing to do anything to get out of their country. 

On 4/7/2022 at 6:06 AM, CadeMcNown said:

Thank you for pointing this out. I made it clear in my affidavit that I went home between trips due to work obligations. It would seem that according to the law this was a bad ruling then:

 

(C) Involuntary separation. In the event that the applicant and spouse live apart because of circumstances beyond their control, such as military service in the Armed Forces of the United States or essential business or occupational demands, rather than because of voluntary legal or informal separation, the resulting separation, even if prolonged, will not preclude naturalization under this part.

Based on your timeline you didn't have the interview or approved for i751, yet.   Perhaps you should have waited until i751 being approved before applying for N400 because of your circumstances.  There was a forum held by USCIS that said applying for N400 while pending i751complicates your application process.   What was the rush to being naturalized?  Any questionable gap in continuous marital status can be sucrutinized.  Is living together as a married couple vs a trip to be with a married spouse the same in the context of continuous marriage requirements?

4 hours ago, useful89 said:

We got it and they’re asking for More proof that the marriage was entered in good faith. We followed instructions on this website to a T and never got an RFE before. Kinda freaking out now 

Perhaps your supporting evidence was weak for ROC therefore your N400 got stalled until more information was needed about marriage.   The rule is you must be approved for ROC before N400. It doesn't matter if you apply for N400. They still need to approve your ROC.  That's why the dual interview for folks applying for N400 but still pending ROC.  I think if you got the time and patience best to get ROC out of the way before filing N400.  You can reuse and update the same supporting evidence used for ROC for N400.