acyland

6 hours ago, Destiny2000 said:

I was told when I called the USCIS number that I was supposed to send everything in together? Now I don't know what to do

 

Sorry, I was unclear. I just meant when it comes time to fill out and compile all your paperwork for the I-864. You're correct that you will want to have everything all included in a nice large packet to send all together to the USCIS. 

EAD comes within 3-4 months usually, so depending on timeline you may have it before December even. I don't think it would be a huge deal to quit your job, especially if it meant staying with your spouse when they move in December. Only issue would be I-864, but if you get a new job before your interview, you'll be able to provide all that updated info anyways.

You might just have to wait and see for now. Until they review the updated evidence (I'm guessing was relate to the I-864 as well??) I can't imagine they'd review something extra you submit, I don't even know of a way to just submit extra info about your case after the fact...

I DO know that they ask you to bring your I-864 and any updated info (More  recent W-2,  paystubs, letter from employer, etc) to the interview. So that does seem like the chance to provide that updated job information if you're not able to do it prior.

I'll take a shot...so for the first question, yes, just put his Canadian address there. We also were living together in the US by that point but just put his mother's address in his home country and used our address in the US for all other parts.

I do think you should list that. I imagine when it comes time for your I-864 there will be a way for you to list your assets or provide an employment verification with the terms of your job, such as reduced rent. You'll prob want to get on that now and get either your employment contract or letter from your employer with that info.

As others have said, you'll only need to provide that 2016 W2/Tax Return, since 2017 year isn't over yet, it wouldn't be possible to provide that anyways.

Depending on your income you'll also want to provide either previous year's tax returns (2015, 2014 etc) and/or paystubs as recent as you can. When I filed I provided just my previous year's Tax Return, that same year's W-2, Current Paystubs for the last couple paychecks I'd received, as well as a complete Check History Report I was able to get from my employer with the entire year in summary. 

@spasiba I know this post is a bit old, but I have a very similar situation (my husband is from Turkey was here as a student then on OPT) and we are almost done with the process, just have our interview this month left. Please reach out to me if you've any more questions and I can hopefully help since we're in similar situations!

1 hour ago, bunkx said:

 

Wouldn't they then issue the GC under your maiden name and if you change your name after that would invalidate the GC and you'd have to apply for a new one, doing the whole process over again...

Yes, if I were the one applying for GC, I'm actually the sponsor. 

I had something similar in that on our marriage certificate I put my new name would be using my husband's last name. Since we knew we were going to be submitting AOS paperwork pretty quickly after we married though I decided to hold off on all the official name change stuff (updating Social Security card, Driver's License, Passport, etc.) since I knew that can take a good amount of time and we wanted to submit our AOS paperwork as fast as possible.

On all our AOS paperwork I used my maiden name and even included a note with our cover letter explaining to basically what I said above, that AOS was our priority now and to expedite the process as much as possible I elected to continue using my maiden name throughout the process, but would be changing it in the future. 

Yep, my husband was in a similar position and we submitted paperwork for the EAD, just think about it like, you're now receiving an updated EAD under your new status, which is adjusting as alien relative. It's safer this way, the process could go longer than 01.18, then you'd be stuck having to renew it anyways. It's also free to file it with the I-485 so there's really no point NOT to.

That's awesome you have so much! Obviously what they are looking for is the concrete co-mingling of your lives, like finances/insurance/housing/bills, etc, but I honestly think it can't hurt to bring as much of that other stuff you mentioned. 

Don't worry about looking silly, really I think the more the better. I've heard a ton of people say that the interviewer didn't even look at their photo albums, so yeah, be prepared for it to feel like you brought way too much. But on the other hand, what's the worst that could happen for bringing excess evidence? If anything, I would think it would help prove that you guys are serious about the interview and each other and doing your due diligence by the interviewer. 

So my advice I guess is, obviously number one priority are those hard assets that they specifically mention in all the paperwork as proof, as for other stuff (albums, scrapbooks, etc) they might not seem super important/helpful but they also can't hurt to bring.

My husband had a similar situation and what the above commentor said was correct. You'll want to provide the actual approved EAD, so your previous one. The point is, you submitted and have an approved EAD, so you don't have to provide all the additional info and docs like you're applying for an EAD fresh. The previously approved one shows that you and USCIS have already done your due diligence with that document/application and so it should be approved more quickly. 

Even though your previous EAD was filed under a different category it's still essentially the same thing form, so what they're asking is "have we already approved you for this in the past? Yes? Cool, that makes it much easier to verify and approve you again, even if it's under a different category."

So it's just the 1 passport style photo that goes along with YOUR G-325A (the US Citizen or Petitioner) and then a total of 5 for the Beneficiary (your spouse): 1 in the I-130 packet with the G-325A; 2 in the I-485 packet; 2 in the I-765.

So yes, 6 total. I actually separated each set out, put them in a small ziplock and labeled the ziplock and then attached it to the relevant doc with a paperclip. Maybe overkill but it helped me stay organized. 

For your second question, I believe it would be okay to just send copies and hold onto the originals just in case, but someone else with more experience might want to answer for sure. 

5 hours ago, permathought said:

Where did you find the USCIS tips?

I believe he's referring to moving the checks and the G-1145 up to the top. I can't remember where exactly, but I did read on the USCIS website that they prefer the checks to be on top, then that E-Notification form. 

This was one was confusing as well for me as my husband arrived as a student, then has been on OPT. You'll want to choose the first option: 

An immigrant petition giving me an immediately available immigrant visa number that has been approved. (Attach a copy of the approval notice, or a relative, special immigrant juvenile, or special immigrant military visa petition filed with this application that will give you an immediately available visa number, if approved.)

Since I'm assuming your spouse is concurrently filing an I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) So, basically, that application/petition is filed and approved first (even though you can send them together). Then, once that one is approved, your I-485 (Adjustment of Status) is looked at and approved. Since you did not originally enter the US to marry (on K-1 visa) you wouldn't choose that second option. (Which is what most people in this particular forum would choose.)

Oh, that's not what I was thinking. If it shows as delivered that's good. It can be another 2 weeks before you receive your NOAs. (Mine took 12 business days)

Not sure, but when I've seen "available for pickup" on tracking for online orders, etc I get (like from Amazon or something) that means that means that the label was created and it's just sitting at the original USPS office, hasn't actually gone anywhere yet...

You should go in ASAP.

Yeah, since it came in on the 24th you'll prob want to start counting from that Monday after Christmas, though they may have had that day off as well TBH. Mine arrived on the 20th and I got my text/email NOA on the 4th, so right around 11-12 business days. I would expect you to receive yours any day now, everything seems to have been a bit delayed bc of the holidays.

I mailed our packet on Dec 14th, didn't arrive until the 20th in Chicago and I only received the NOA via text and email (no mailed hard copy yet) on Jan 4th. I was also getting a little worried as it seemed to be slower than many people's timelines I'd seen, but it definitely seems things are slow bc of the holidays etc. I would expect you to get your electronic NOA sometime this week if your schedule is at all similar to mine. Take care!

I chose to send all of them, though I've definitely seen many people wait to just bring them to the interview. I just decided it was easier for me to include as much as I could now, then bring anything additional I put together to the interview.