californiabear

I'm a little hesitant to file N400 before 26.06 tbh. I reached out to the German embassy and they told me to hold off with starting my application until the date the law goes into effect. There was no particular reason given but I try to play it safe and wait with my application until June 26th.

What do you guys think? I know lots of people say it will not be an issue as long as you didn't attend the Oath Ceremony before the 26th. But hearing the embassy's opinion I'm not so sure anymore.

If you both wanna live in the US then you go for it and apply for the papers. Why not? Yes, it takes some money and time but its doable. Don't let anybody else go in your way of creating your dream life. As long as everything happens on a legal basis you have nothing to fear. Go for it and worst case, if it would not work out you can still decide to move to Mexico. But dont just try it because of somebody elses rumors and "sources". 

A heads up from my side. I received my GC today in the mail

Just at the SSA to get my restrictions for my SSN removed. 

Hi together,

I'm living here in the US since 2,5 years (F1 Student) and now got approved for a Green Card. 

Since I have a SSN now I would love to apply for a credit card asap to build my score. 

I decided to go with a secured credit card from CapitalOne and when I fill out the application they ask me for my income. Last year I didn't have any income and lived on my savings and I got some support through my parents. I soon start a job here and will be able to make money. 

Now what should I write into the field of my yearly income? Can I do simple math and tell them that I will do something around $20k this year? Or do they want to know what I made last year? Little confused about this question especially cause it can cause some trouble when filled out incorrect. 

Thanks!

1 hour ago, p-ana said:

If you have the green card, yes, the ead is no longer needed and you can go to the ssa office to get the restrictions removed.

Ah perfect, that makes sense. Also just got the message that the card is in the mail. So I will do that later this week. How long does it take to remove the restrictions? Do you know?

On 1/22/2017 at 3:16 AM, p-ana said:

1- your proof will be the ead/ Ap combo card. Have you applied for work authorization with the i765 form when you sent your aos?

there will be no stamp available.

The restriction on your ssn can only be taken off when you have a green card. You'll be able to work if you have the ead card plus ssn

 

2- you'll have to research your own country rules, procedures, etc. maybe try and go to your regional forum, there should be threads with people talking about things like that, google it, etc

As far as I remember I don't need an EAD card when I have the GreenCard (which is in the making) and I got approved for my I 485. 

But it yeah I will wait until I get the GC and walk to the SSA after that to show them and to get my restrictions removed. 

Quick question about the next steps before I get my GC in the mail which can take quite a while.

Question 1

I wonder if I can get a stamp (through infopass appointment) in my passport to prove my eliability to work in the US. Background: I already own a SSN with restrictions and wonder if I could swing by at the SSA (Social Security Administration) to file for a SSN without restrictions. This would save me some time to be ready to apply for jobs and start working.

What do you think?

Question 2

Is there any guide which I can follow to get a feeling of what I have to look for to settle here in the US? I live here now since 3 years (F1) but I wonder what I have to do regarding my home country and so forth. Please let me know if anybody has some infos about this. Thanks!

44 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

Oh my husband had the day off so we didn't do much

The walk was short cause the weather wasn't great but it was nice with some air regardless... 

We're going tomorrow again... he's trying for me... I'll go by myself in the week..now I know some trails he showed me..

Great walking can around can be very very beneficial. Glad to hear your husband showed you around! Keep me posted! 

On 1/19/2017 at 11:01 AM, Suss&Camm said:

@californiabear I'm starting lightly...(cause I know I'll just end up staying in bed if I plan too much.. :/ ) so my morning was just to get up make coffee and sandwich, watch the news and then do some small chores... RIght now I'm just reading VJ, but I will also pick one job to apply for

I spoke to my husband and we are going for a walk when he gets off work

I had a hard time going to sleep last night.. I think that's part of my problem...so I had some ZzzQuill after trying for 2 hrs and I passed right out

 

So good to hear. How is your day today so far? Any plans? How was the walk?

This morning I checked the online status at the USCIS website and for the first time I got an status update.

And....

my case got approved!

Im so happy...I still cant belive it

26 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

I will let you know what I decide to do... that might help lol ..I'll have to "report back"

Please do

3 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

zero routine.... I will try to start with something... I have been burned out previously when I was doing my PhD.. I recognize all this but there is no reason for me to be burned out right now.. I have zero obligations..

I will decide on something to do everyday in the morning... I know I also have to sleep on the times I'm supposed to sleep.. to get better, whereas now I'm just sleeping a little here and there

I think not having any obligations is just making me feel pointless/useless... 

 

Thank you for listening

Well burn-outs are not always comming up when you have a lot to do. They also can effect you when you have quiet time and nothing to do...and you are not useless...nobody is. Taking care of a pet also helps to establish a routine. Maybe you can get a dog or if this is too much of a commitment maybe some fish or something else. Animals are a great way to make us feel good.

And yes, start a routine and let us know here...I would like to know what you come up with

What kind if PhD did you do? Did you finish your degree?

1 minute ago, Suss&Camm said:

Thank you.. but I'm at the point where I'm having a hard time getting out of bed.. I'll have to start small..but everything feels like a huge undertaking..
I don't want to bring anyone down.. I have better days and worse days.. so far 2017 have been more of the latter.. and I do miss home, familiar places and familiar ppl..

I'm gonna stick it out.. have no plans of not doing that.. I just need to start somewhere which part of my head knows and the other part can't seem to execute!

That sounds like sympthoms of beeing burned out. In that case yes, little steps are necessary to change things. Do you have any routine? Like going out for a little walk and enjoying some nature every day? Making a good cup of tea/coffee and have a little piece of cake after you come home? Routines are helpful to establish some sort of normality and may help you to make small steps. If going out of the house is to much then maybe read a newspaper, listen to a podcast...just little things you enjoy and help to establish a routine.

If I feel down I love to walk through nature (even though its hard to find that in LA). That clears my mind and I can start thinking again. I dont wanna give you too much advice. Just trying to help a little

1 minute ago, Kestutis said:

hi California

 

 

Congrats!!!

How did you so quickly get interview apt?

Did CSC proceed your case? 

Thank you! Well I applied for AOS cause if my DV Lottery Win last year. I guess they are a little faster with this cases for some reason. I went to the FO here in LA

2 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

So much good advice... so little motivation... I feel I'm really stuck in a mental hole atm.. Hopefully, I'll be able to look forward soon, rn I'm just being pathetic. Worse than that, I'm 110% aware I'm being pathetic..

Trust me...we are all there. Some people can blend it out better then others. In the end it comes all down trying not to think about it to much and let life go its way. What helps me a lot is to play some computer games (sounds silly but works for me to make the waiting time a little better) and signing up for a gym and taking care of my body. Going to the gym really makes me so tired everytime that Im just to tired to worry about anything. Maybe that helps

If not...the time will pass and you will look back one day smiling about all the experiences you made so far. Everything will be good!

Just now, MiaTher said:

Congratulations! The worst part is over! ??

Thank you. I was so nervous this morning. Its just such a long journey.

Just now, JuditMo said:

Wow good for you!! Fingers crossed! Can you tell a bit more about the process of the interview? What questions they asked, etc?

Totally. I just wait until I can get a free spot at the local Starbucks. Everything is crowded and nobody seems to move so I have to type in my phone  

But basically she asked me questions about the I-485 and also about my studies. She first was a little "cold" when she asked me questions but later when she said good by she seemed to smile and wished me all the best for my future. 

I'll write more later. 

All right, I had my interview this morning and now need to wait for the final decision. She said she has to check some stuff and if everything looks good I can expect my GC in 4 weeks. 

For or some reason she didn't had my fringerprints on file (I was at my biometrics at the 27th of December) so she needed to look into this as well. 

I really don't know how to feel now. I'm happy that it's over but I'm also back to the waiting game.

Hope everything goes well. 

Yes all good over here. 8 days until my interview. It's so hard to wait. 

55 minutes ago, Boo&Mica said:

I hope so. i will get so drunk when i will be done with the whole immigration stufd pffffaaaa

I will definelty have a party then as well  Just sitting here and reading experiences from past interviews...but I dont want to think to much about it. Makes me feel happy but on the other side I also have to hold back my happiness before I get hopefully approved...so hard to have patience at the moment 

Well you should make sure that your photo meets ALL requirements. Otherwise your application might not be accepted.

The 2x2 is for the print picture. The digital version needs to have 600x600 px and needs to fullfill all other requirenments. Make sure you follow their online tool and you should be fine for the application. If you get choosen for further processing they will ask you again to send in new photos anyways.

Hope that helps!

2 minutes ago, sabellic said:

I just checked my mailbox and got the biometrics letter! For the 12th. I'm so happy! NO more worrying for now

Great News! Are you planning to do an early walk-in?

1 hour ago, jeessgb said:

Wow  your case was extremely fast. Did you requested an expedite? 

 

I wonder about the cases that are gonna get the interview waived. Is any of us gonna be one of the lucky ones?? 

No, no expedite at all. Maybe the fact that my case number (I won the GC Lottery) is very low helped me. Im so looking forward to that day. Now, lets start preparing documents again

Ok, did it. Hope it helps.

I put all the dates in my signature. Does that help?