Andrew&Elizabeth

Thanks @CubaAndChill and @AkesAngel for trying to get the March scans sorted!

Just curious - anyone else in our little group here working in the health care field or having professional licensing issues once they finally make it to the US? I'm an Australian Physiotherapist and the process for getting licensed in America is pretty intense!

Also, just for fun I was wondering if anyone could beat the distance between me and my fiancee. We're living 12 hour time difference and 11,136 miles apart. 

On 4/6/2017 at 7:41 AM, Mootak said:

Hi All, Joining the group late with the March filers.

 

I'm travelling all the way from NZ to visit fiance at Easter, because I'm travelling with a large crowd, I want to take advantage of the 'two bags per passenger' allowance and bring as much stuff as possible. Saves me on freight bring my stuff, when we finally get approved! I am worried customs will think I'm planning on staying with the amount of luggage we're bring for a short stay  should I be? 

 

Oh and to all those selling your belongings.... I read somewhere, one good way to help homesickness is to make sure you have some familiar things. Could be worth bearing in mind, that'll you want some of your own things in the new foreign country. Or unless, your thinking you'll breeze through the homesickness stage like a charm. I'd love to hear other peoples thoughts on how they're preparing to manage that. Because I know I'm going to miss NZ but want to make the best of new life with hubby! 

I got questioned when I arrived in the US at the end of November last year with two big bags, but I think that's more because I was staying 88 days on an ESTA so they wanted extra proof that I was actually going to leave. They didn't believe that I could take that much time off work.

I've been lucky though, I have spent more than 6 of the last 18 months in the US with my fiancee, so I at least know that homesickness won't be an issue for me! I'll miss my friends and family but I much prefer being in the US to Australia so the day to day side of things is easy for me.

I've started selling my belongings too - it gives me something to do that feels productive while I wait for this NOA2 to finally arrive. The annoying thing is going to be to try and sell my car quickly once the visa has been approved!

Just in case anyone was wondering - the January filers are started to be approved and receiving NOA2s. Hopefully this means they'll be starting on March filers in around 2 months (unless there was a significant increase of cases filed in that time).

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

 

Okay, we are both reading it wrong. That page indicates what is required in order to obtain an SSN. A K-1 holder can obtain one without an EAD. A K2/K3/K4 applicant must present an EAD in order to obtain an SSN.

Ahh that makes more sense. Well I'm glad that I can get an SSN fast at least - I want to get a bank account set up and need to apply for licensure there (Physical Therapist) before the EAD will come in so that I can start work ASAP once it does.

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I'm reading it too and it does sound a bit odd. There should be an asterisk next to K-1 (denoting an EAD is required). Regardless, you definitely need an EAD to work.

Oh well. That would have been too good to be true anyway... Thanks!

1 minute ago, geowrian said:

The card itself will say "Not valid for employment" (or whatever similar language they use nowadays). You still need a valid work permit in order to work in the US.

Thats what I thought. The bit on the page that said the following confused me a little.

That link you talked about makes it look as though if you get the Social Security card then those of us on K-1 visas are legally allowed to work (without EAD). That flies in the face of everything I've read so far, but it looks legit from the way its listed on that site.

Does that make sense to you?

Just now, KULtoATL said:

I don't think student loans can be constituted as an income. The loans are particularly for her to use for her education  

 

For future reference, please note that the I-864 during the AOS stage would require the sponsor(s) to meet a 125%. 

 

Now on a different and less stressful note, whereabouts in Australia are you from?

Perth. Unfortunately that means I've gotta fly across the country when it comes time for the interview since they only do them in Sydney. Sure makes for an expensive visa given all the other expenses.

1 minute ago, KULtoATL said:

I know where you are coming from. My fiance and I are both very independent people and we would feel like we are a burden if we had to ask someone to do something like that for us.

 

I do not mean to be rude but aside from the official I-134 paperwork, do you and your fiancee have your own savings to use during the whole process before the both of you finally have a full time income?

Yeah we will have enough savings. I'll have the money set aside to cover the visa process, and some more for living expenses. We'll be staying at her parents house until she gets licensed and starts working, so it won't be too expensive.

I've spent months over there already without any issues (I'm a working professional in Australia). The difficulty is that her student loans probably don't count as income in spite of being enough to exceed the poverty guidelines.

Great, thanks. Now just to bring up the idea of having him be legally responsible for our financial situation 

I'm starting to get a little stressed about the I-134 income issue. My fiancee who is the USC is in grad school (due to finish in May and sit licensing exam in July), so doesn't have an actual income - only grad school loans which add up to around $21k per year, but I'm sure this isn't counted as income for the purpose of the I-134. The idea of needing a co-sponsor is annoying - her parents are retired so may not meet the income requirements. Does the co-sponsor have to be in the same/similar location to where you'll be staying or could her out-of-state brother co-sponsor?

So we received our NOA1 on the 7th of March - 6 days after our packet arrived in Texas. We were assigned to the California Service Center!

Hi guys!

We've just filed on March 1st. Hoping to receive the NOA1 soon.

Feel free to join the thread!