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acyland

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  1. Like
    acyland got a reaction from spasiba in F1-OPT ending soon, going for marriage to stay in U.S.   
    @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!
  2. Like
    acyland reacted to amul in Stokes Interview   
    I found this blog post that might help -- I feel that it covers all bases pretty well. http://rjtimmigration.com/lawyer/2012/05/28/Permanent-Residence-or-Green-Cards/So-you’ve-been-scheduled-for-a-Stokes-interview--What-now_bl4235.htm
     
    This part especially: "
    The problem with the Stokes questions is not that they are difficult, but that they require us to remember details we may deem insignificant and easily forget.  For instance, why do I need to remember the color of the curtains or my spouse’s pajamas?  Well in the Stokes context these minute details make a difference.  Also, again when you’re nervous you tend to forget many things you may know perfectly well otherwise.
     
    My third piece of advice is to answer the question asked and think before you speak.  Now that may sound simple or obvious.  However, many people race to answer a question quickly and then say the wrong thing, when had they paused and thought about the question, they would have answered correctly.  Also, be concise with your answers, the officer does not want to know extraneous details about your life in the answer.  It may only cause the officer to delve deeper and create unnecessary confusion.
     
    Finally, it may be comforting to know that you do not need to get every single question correct in order to pass your Stokes interview.   As noted above, you will be given the opportunity to clarify discrepancies."
     
    I was rear ended and had to take legal action and in the legal proceedings, I had to practice answering only what the attorney would ask, which I realized was harder than expected for me! Everyone is different, but I tend to lalala when I am nervous and give details that are not pertinent, so I really had to reel myself in and stay calm, breath, think and respond and stay concise.
     
    Bottomline, the officer will not be asking you anything other than your daily life with your spouse. You are not going to be asked to explain the quantum field theory, so I do not see a reason to "study" anything.
     
    Staying calm is the key. Nerves get the best of us and we look nervous when we have no reason to be. I know, we both were so nervous on our interview -- on the surface you could see that we were, but all of our answers were dead on since we lived these facts.
     
    My motto is, expect any and all questions, breath, think and answer.  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  3. Like
    acyland reacted to BritGirl88 in Marriage based AOS Interview Experience - VWP   
    Hi All,
     
    I just wanted to share my AOS Interview experience. I hope this helps someone as I remember how nervous I was before my interview and reading experiences really helped.
     
    Background: I arrived through VWP from UK. Husband is a US born Citizen. Filed for AOS in Dec 2016. Received EAD & AP in March 2017. AOS Interview in May 2017. AOS approved on the same day.
     
    My appointment was at 8.30 and we arrived about 15 minutes early, checked in at reception and then waited in the waiting room to be called. We were called in exactly on time and led to our IO's office. 
     
    Documents we brought with us:
    - My EAD card
    - My SSN
    - Both our passports
    - Certified copies of both our birth certificates
    - Certified copy of marriage license 
    - Joint tax returns
    - Joint bank account statements (we brought 4 months worth but he only kept one)
    - Medical Insurance cards (I am beneficiary on Husband's policy)
    - Car insurance insurance policy (both our names on policy)
    - Joint apartment lease
    - Scans of our credit cards (I am an authorized user and so the numbers are the same)
    - Scans of our drivers licenses (showing same address)
    - Flight confirmation emails of trips we took together after marriage
    - Cards that were sent to us after marriage and wedding cards
    - Photos (dating life, wedding, after marriage including pics w/ friends and family)
     
    Once we entered the office, we were sworn in and then took our seats. Our IO asked for my husbands proof of citizenship (we provided his birth certificate and passport) and my passport and birth certificate also. He tapped away at his computer for a while and readjusted the papers on the table without saying much. He asked for my SSN and then explained how the interview would be conducted. The first part would be focused on the legitimacy of our marriage and then the second part would be to see if I was eligible (criminal history etc etc).
    He asked us our full names and addresses and then asked how we met, asked me if I have met my in-laws and what their names were and what my husbands DOB (date of birth) was. He then asked my husband what my DOB was and what our date of marriage was (he made a joke about how he always asks the husbands that question to see if they answer correctly and if they don't, he likes to see the look on the wife's face and the interaction between them after that lol).
    He then asked me what documents I had to prove the legitimacy of our marriage and I showed him what I had. He took copies of the lease, medical insurance cards, car insurance policy, 1 month bank statement, the scans of our licenses and credit cards and told me to pick out some photos for him to put in the file. Lastly, he asked about our engagement and who proposed marriage and if we can tell him how it happened. I told him and he then joked about how romantic it was and that  he might cry lol. That concluded that part of the interview.
     
    The second part was just  him just asking yes/no questions from the I-485 form and that was it.
    He explained the conditional GC to us (because we have been married less than 2 years) and how to remove the conditions after 2 years (less 90 days) and then said we make a beautiful couple and he wishes us all the best. He told me he had recommended me for approval and that I should receive my GC within 3 weeks. I checked the website at about noon that day and it had been updated to say my AOS had been approved and my GC was being produced.
     
    The whole thing was about 30 mins and most of that time was just him typing on the computer and adding things to the file.
     
    I read a lot about people being really nervous about questions on whether you intended to stay in the US at the time of entry on a VWP and how to prove you didn't have intent. None of those questions were asked at all. He was concerned about the legitimacy of our marriage and nothing else.
     
    Hope this was helpful.
     
    Questions welcome
  4. Like
    acyland reacted to Ben&Zian in My wife and me are no longer together   
    Honestly, being upfront here... Marriage while on a B2, then AOS'ing but already separated from your I assume still current wife(not officially divorced yet) and already willing to marry someone else? This is all information USCIS will get from you and see and it doesn't look good. Even if your current wife continued your process and then divorced immediately they could come back after you both later for fraud.
  5. Like
    acyland reacted to Georgia16 in 40 years older than Nigerian spouse.   
    Red flags:
     
    Age difference and you being the older woman.
    Says you'll have to hide (be quiet) with the relationship. This pretty sure mean he has a family there and as soon as he is able too he would divorce you and apply for them.
    Only met in October - Thats really not a long time with all these red flags
    You haven't met his family - Now you are thinking many haven't done that and that is correct but they also didn't have these issues you guys have. In his culture that is important. Pictures with his family will be important. 
     
    And a lot more. This will be very very very hard! ... And please really give it more time then just jump into this and share all your financial stuff with him. 
     
    Time be patient and go visit him and him visit you again. Even better go live with him for a longer time!! Since he has money it shouldn't be a problem for him supporting you while you are there! 
     
  6. Like
    acyland reacted to Roel in 40 years older than Nigerian spouse.   
    Also how I know he's aware of immigration issues. He knows that Uscis will ask how you two will have kids - so he told you about the vasectomy. He knows uscis looks for older women supporting younger guys financially - he tells you he has money and shows off his wealth. He knows that if he goes back to Niegeria you have slim chances to get fiance or marriage visas. I have a feeling he is trying to persuade you somehow to initiate the wedding in the US. So it doesn't look like he wanted it. It all might be super subtle but Nigerian men have this bad reputation for a reason. Be careful. 
  7. Like
    acyland reacted to Michael2017 in 40 years older than Nigerian spouse.   
    Abi, 
     
    most similar cases here ended very bad for the USC. We had women here who have been put in really bad situations after the foreigner got his GC and they only found out later that love is blind. They were made to believe that they press for the "process". Everyone could manipulate a partner to believe so. A 22 year old little boy, with a 62 year old women, just is not common. In fact, in places without immigration benefit, such relationships to end in marriage is 1 in a million. However, when immigration is involved from a 3. world country, such cases are VERY VERY COMMON. Thus, there is something else in play rather than love. Again - love makes blind. Take care of yourself and don't be tricked into believing something easily.  As for USCIS, of course you can file and try your luck, but they are well aware of such cases. In fact, all over the world, older well situated man mingle up with younger women and marry. This type of age difference and marriage is seen also without immigration benefit. However, a 22 year old boy to marry a 62 year old women, happens close to never anywhere in the world.
     
     
     
  8. Like
    acyland reacted to Pennycat in Shocked by EAD Processing Time   
    I would not listen to anything the misinformation line tells you. For all you know, he thought you were asking about the green card, or gave you the info for the person who had been waiting the longest (due to an RFE or something) or just made up a date to buy them some time. I have been here at VJ for almost 3 years now and I can tell you that that line has caused more problems than it has solved. They're probably working off of one of these charts, which if you'll notice haven't been updated since Nov 30. The VJ timelines show an average of 88 days, and I'd be inclined to believe them over USCIS. But I believe my 6 year old niece on this subject before I believe USCIS.
     
    Now, that said, the 90 day thing is still a "rule" they need to follow even if it's not realistic anymore. The fun thing about UCSIS rules is that they can break them with impunity and there's no one to enforce them especially not these days. But... you can still do a service request. I heard of people doing this at day 75 or 78 or something but I never bothered. I did contact them on day 91 and had the EAD by day 104. 
     
    https://egov.uscis.gov/e-request/displayONPTForm.do?sroPageType=onpt
     
    Now, fair warning, I think this made them angry because I then got an RFE for the green card application. For something 100% not my fault. A piece of paper they already had and that I did not have access to. It would have cost $500 to get it again (it was the medicals). Part of me still feels that this was my "punishment" for doing the service request for the EAD ("oops we can't fine this very critical and expensive to replace piece of paper"), part of me thinks that I just think that because I have a pretty low opinion of USCIS after all these years. The truth may be somewhere in between. For what it's worth, I had my congressman contact them about the missing medical (I told them exactly where it was-- in the sealed envelope submitted at the border). They magically found it and sent me a letter telling me to nevermind the RFE.
  9. Like
    acyland reacted to sparkles_ in Notice of intent to deny... what?!   
    If you take yourself out of the equation and see it from a non biased standpoint, you guys timeline is really sketchy. Then again, so was ours. However I advise you not to see it as ruining your life. You are getting a chance to reply to the NOID once it shows up. You have not been put into removal. You are together and you have legal work rights as of now. You can afford a lawyer, which many can not.
     
    There is a reason why this is happening to you, you just are unaware of it. Just like there was a reason my spouse got put into removal, it was our fault because of our poor choices in the beginning. If you start to break up the dates and estimate times like that you will drive yourself insane. Step by step. Don't think about all of it just think about the first thing you can do only, get it done, then onto the next.
  10. Like
    acyland reacted to sparkles_ in Notice of intent to deny... what?!   
    I actually don't know if you're able to take their photos. That could put their personal security at risk.....physical safety grounds. Most of the time home visits are not at prepare worthy times anyway. What they did to us, was ask us to call them at 9am that day to 'arrange' for them to come by or us come to the ICE office. I set an alarm for 8am that day to remember to call.....my own phone rings an anonymous number at 730....answer half asleep, it was the agent, I explained I was just about to cal him.
     
    He says no worries, I'm outside in your parking lot now. At a time when only real couples would be at home together. After he saw us fresh from rolling out of bed and one of us with the flu, and still even offering to let him in as long as he was quiet and didnt wake the kids, he didn't. and basically said look, I'm just doing my job, nothing personal, I'm not going to come in because I have two kids also. If I would have pointed a camera in his face I guarantee it would have set the tone a totally different way. 
  11. Like
    acyland reacted to David & Diana R in Notice of intent to deny... what?!   
    OMG!  Take pictures of Federal Officers in your home!!??  I am beginning to wonder who has the negative attitude here.  I can't imagine that you are not projecting this bad attitude everywhere you go.  I mean I feel sorry for what has and is happening to you but come on now...you really think they are going to lie and say they never went to your house???  You need to be NICE AND POLITE to these people...even if you do hate them!  Take a chill pill.
  12. Like
    acyland reacted to geowrian in Adjustment of Status from Student Visa   
    Congrats!
     
    There is no visa required. Visas are for entering the US. You just need to file for AOS after you get married. Follow the guides: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2
  13. Like
    acyland reacted to bunkx in One Final Check & Perhaps a Checklist for Others   
    Yes, it's just the order they want it in, which makes sense. 
     
    There's a whole bunch of tips here to assembling your packet, but the ones I'm referring to are at the very bottom. https://www.uscis.gov/forms-filing-tips
     
    iyi sanslar size de hocam
     
  14. Like
    acyland got a reaction from bunkx in One Final Check & Perhaps a Checklist for Others   
    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. 
  15. Like
    acyland got a reaction from Brit1 in Very Urgent I-485 help   
    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.)
  16. Like
    acyland got a reaction from Chardon Ne' in AOS and EAD   
    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.
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