RedSavant

7 hours ago, vocal said:

Thanks!

 

So you got no initial response? Or no response after sending the evidence itself?

Because usually if you request to expedite under severe financial loss they will "complete handling" the request by the same/next day, and then mail you to send evidence (fax). - you can call and ask and they will say the same thing so you could actually fax the evidence even before receiving the actual letter in the mail requesting you do so.

 

Anyway, I really hope it works out for you ASAP!

I think so, our case history says this; and when we called on 6/23 - the rep told us to wait for a contact from the expedite either via mail or e-mail and we got nothing. Maybe we should call and ask again? Our next steps still say the "if we accept your case ...."

•  
• 6/21/2017
  

  On June 21, 2017, your request to have your case expedited, referral number, was completed.

• 06/21/2017
  

  On June 21, 2017, we sent a response to your request to have your case expedited, referral number .

• 06/21/2017
  
   

21 hours ago, vocal said:

 

Also my job offer letter which I faxed them was expired (expired on May 15th, with job start date mentioned as June 15th which is also in the past...) but they didn't care..

Gratz!!!

Grrr we can't even get a response to our expedite yet.. no mail or email as of yet. Emailed our senator as well, and stated they would work work on it but nothing back as of yet since the 21st. Projected state date of July 10th and feeling nervous. Hopefully it works out.

Also online updated to "RFE was received on the 21st and still sitting on"We will review your response to our request and mail you our decision. " as next steps for the 485.

1 hour ago, vocal said:

I got the exact same thing today.

 

I called USCIS and the guy just told me that they need me to fax them the job offer letter and any supporting evidence of "Severe financial loss" etc...

So I did just that, I faxed them (to the fax number he gave me with "ATTN REF NUMBER XXXX....") the offer letter with a cover letter explaining my situation.

 

The USCIS guy said they can't confirm if they got the fax but it should take no more than a couple of days to process and approve/deny the request to expedite.

 

Hope this helps you.

Gotcha. You got no email before the call? If not, well call tomorrow?

1 hour ago, cc2867 said:

Poverty guideline appears right.  I wonder if the job offer letter is introducing some confusion on their end.  The way I understand it, the beneficiary's income can be used to demonstrate adequate support if that income will come from the same source.  If this is where the problem is, providing additional pay stubs with a letter assuring them that the same beneficiary income will be present before and after AOS.

 

Perhaps a call on Monday requesting clarification on what the actual problem is might clear things up and give you guidance on what you need to provide them.

 

Good luck Wiz!!!

Ok yea was thinking the job offer. I would be fine with them requesting it at the interview or saying make sure you bring it cause right now, I can still only send 1 pay stub to them. Ill let everyone else know what they say on Monday. Hoping to hear feedback.

6 hours ago, EMBELL_17 said:

UPDATE: So I called USCIS and my expedite for my EAD was approved! Yay! This only means my application has been bumped up to the front of the queue. So now an officer should review it within the next 1-3 weeks and either approve or deny it. Fingers crossed for this next step of the process!

Awesome !! Gratz!!!

6 hours ago, cc2867 said:

I called USCIS on the 12th to request expedite, I had contacted my local congressman's office a week ago requesting they do a status check.  My online status updated that same day informing that my expedite request had been transferred and evaluated and that same day received the results of my congressman's status check the same day.  I expect to have a letter in my hands by the end of the week as to whether my EAD will be expedited or not.  In my case I had a job offer 2 months ago when I submitted my marriage to USC AOS and EAD so there is a job offer letter already with my application.  I hope its enough!

So better to do the congress man route to expedite then call USCIS basically?

Awesome, thanks guys!

Was worried about land/businesses

Hello,

Just wondered when we file our ROM to report the marriage in the Philippines, will anything happen with land if its in my wife's name? We hadnt planned on doing the ROM since we just found out about it.... now worried about this. Also with the time line if we dont file the ROM without 12 months?

Got our Biometrics appointment! 

Anyone had any luck with the Dallas location and walk ins? Appointment is in 2 weeks, which thinking if we could do a walk in, we could go ahead and expedite request our EAD. Would they tell us if we called and asked about it?

2 minutes ago, cc2867 said:

Heads up to anyone planning to request expedited EAD processing, don't make the request in advance of biometrics. I did and got a letter back informing me to re-request expedited EAD processing after USCIS has received my biometrics. 

So thats confirmed -

Is it confirm you need an actual job offer letter to expedite or can just expedite for the ability to get a job after biometrics is done?

13 hours ago, EMBELL_17 said:

Update: I received an RFE to my email for why my I765 should be handled expeditiously. I faxed everything over (again) within the hour so hopefully will be hearing back soon (fingers crossed)!

Do you have a job offer as well, or just sending out bills due by your household? Hoping to expedite as well but would they let you expedite if you only have 1 sponsor for your affidavit of support and your saying financial hardship?

So we are off and on to our actual package put together!

However, this is making us more crazy due to so many different versions of cover letters/checklist and such as well as the G325 update....

1. We are using 2/27/17 version of the I-130, so we are doing the 130A form. Understanding we don't need a G-325A. However it looks like the 485 still needs ONLY a 325A for just the beneficiary? Am I understanding this correctly? or do we not need a 325A at all? Any issues just putting in in our 485 package?
2. Cover letters galore!! Have seen checklist with cover letters, then cover letter for the 864, 131. None of these. I dont see any of these extra cover letters in the VJ guide here(http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2) which is what I am thinking about just going with.  It seems the most complete with out so much bloat. I get over prepared but some things just seem crazy.
3. Which leads me to - is the visa journey(minus the G325A update for 130) the best? Or does someone else have another checklist or such to compare too?
4. My cover letter draft is below does someone mind reading and letting me know? Still some minor changes but this is the main chunk of it. (Using the 3rd floor over PO Box as we plan to overnight the package) Also my numbering is the order which we will put together the package so let me know if this seems off, we had planned to basically put the cover letter in 2(485/130) and using binder clips in the package(and paperclips to organize the subsections) - is this ok? Feel like I have a lot of Passport,I-94 that I might not need.

Quote

 

Name and address

 

 

15/05/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

USCIS

Attn: FBAS

131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60603-5517

 

 

RE:     I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

 

Petitioner (U.S. Citizen):       My name

 

Beneficiary (Alien Spouse):  Her name

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I am filing the enclosed Form I-130, on behalf of the beneficiary, Her name, a citizen of Philippines. I, My Name, am a U.S. citizen petitioner, and Her name is my spouse.

 

The following documents accompany and support this petition:

 

1.      A cashier’s check for the amount of $535.00 to cover the filing fee;

2.    Form G-1145 E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance;

3.      A Cover Letter (this document);

4.      Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative;

5.      Form I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary;

6.      Copy of Petitioner’s two previous divorce decrees;

7.      A copy of the Petitioner’s U.S. birth certificate and U.S. passport(all pages);

8.      A copy of the Marriage certificate of petitioner and beneficiary;

9.  A copy of Birth Certificate of beneficiary;

10.  A copy of the Philippines passport (biographical page and entry stamps) of beneficiary;

11.  Evidence of bona fide marriage.

a.       Copy of bank statement showing joint bank account along with email showing Authorized credit card addition;

b.       Photo pages with name of the people present, date and place it was taken as, Affidavit of bona fide marriage from wedding guest;

c. Other pictures showing our times together with family and friends

d. Boarding passes, hotels(Airbnb) showing time spent together,

e. Joint cell phone plan

f. Work related health benefits showing both of us

 

 

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at Name & email.  Thank you for your prompt consideration of this I-130 Petition.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

My name & signature

 

 

 

 

Her name & signature

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

return Name & address

 

 

15/05/2017

 

 

 

 

 

 

USCIS

Attn: FBAS

131 South Dearborn – 3rd Floor

Chicago, IL 60603-5517

 

 

RE:     I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

 

Petitioner (U.S. Citizen):       My name

 

Beneficiary (Alien Spouse): Her name

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I am filing the enclosed Form I-485 and supporting documents. Eligibility is based on concurrent filing of I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) from my spouse, My name, and Her name.

 

The following documents accompany and support this petition:

 

1.      A cashier’s check for the amount of $1,225 to cover the filing fee and biometric services fee;

2.      A Cover Letter (this document);

3.      Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status;

5.      Form G-325A for the beneficiary, with one passport-type photo attached;

6.      A copy of the Marriage certificate of petitioner and beneficiary;

7.      A copy of Birth Certificate of beneficiary;

8.      A copy of the Philippines passport (biographical page and entry stamps) of beneficiary;

9.      An electronic copy of I-94 of beneficiary;

10.  Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record;

11.  Form I-864 Affidavit of Support, filed by the petitioner;

a.       Electronic copy of Tax Return of 2016 (Petitioner);

b.       Electronic copy of Tax Return of 2015 (Petitioner);

c.       Electronic copy of Tax Return of 2014 (Petitioner);

d. Offer letter of most recent employer

12. I-765 Application for Employment Authorization

a.Copy of passport of beneficiary

b.Copy of Electronic I-94 Form

C. Two passport sized photos

13. I-131 Application for Travel Document

a.Copy of Passport of beneficiary

b. Two passport sized photos

C. Copy of Electronic I-94

13.  Evidence of bona fide marriage;

a.       Copy of bank statement showing joint bank account along with email showing Authorized credit card addition;

b.       Photo pages with name of the people present, date and place it was taken as, Affidavit of bona fide marriage from friend; evidence to our bona fide relationship and marriage

c. Other pictures showing our times together with family and friends

d. Boarding passes, hotels(Airbnb) showing time spent together,

e. Joint cell phone plan

f. Work related health benefits showing both of us

 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this adjustment of status application packet, please call us at phone number and email.  Thank you for your prompt consideration of this I-485 application.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

My name & signature

 

 

 

 

Her name & signature

 

 

 

First off, thanks so much for everyone's help and post on these forums! It convinced my wife not to believe the scare tactics by the lawyers who said 9+ months on the process and 5 months for an EAD. Explained to her it all depends on how well we do with initial filing and then a random as far as luck with processing but not seeing time lines that long at least if I am reading it right. Even if, not like he can help us with processing time, only help us with the initial filing then its seemed out of his hands. 

Planning to use a mix of this - http://www.mrspresson.com/immigration/adjustment-of-status-aos-k1-visa/prepare-aos-package-forms-requirements-checklist/ & http://www.visatutorial.com/lesson-nine/  this for our check list, unless theres something updated on VJ(with the I30 change?)

We have just a few questions on some of the forms;

g-1145

We just put 1 of these for the entire package on top of the cover page(or below?) and it tells us everything was received, we don't need 1 per form or 2(or for I-130 and another for 1-485 package?)

I-130

1- I have a suffix in my name, and generally I just put the suffix in the same box as last name.  Never caused a problem. Based on what I read on the forums here, I should just do the same? And then the same for where it ask for my father's information?

2- I've been married twice before, I'm assuming I need to file in the original wife in the box 9 since it only has two spaces for wife's in that section - do I need my divorce decree from the original wife or since I was allowed to get a marriage license will they know that?

3-  My father is deceased so for the current residence, should I put deceased or NA?

4- Will putting unknown for the"Has Anyone ever filed a petition for her in the past" cause a red flag? Her Grand Father we think started a process for her 15+ years ago, but never finished and she never interviewed. It was brought up during her Sister's tourist visa questioning but not hers so we don't know how far, or if anything happened with it and sadly no one knows.

5- Confirming if my parents are in the USA and it asked for current city of residence, I don't need to put state, only city?

6- Can we go ahead and send a check including the bio fee, or would you recommend sending just the $1140 and waiting on the other? Have seen cover letters saying both and but on the instructions says can do it separately.

1-I30A

1- She's self employed back home. Do we need to include any business documents showing this, if so which would you suggest? Should we also include magazine(internet articles) with her and talking about the business or will these just cause issues?

I-131

Date of intended Departure -

We have two trips, what if we don't know the date of the first trip yet and it may be earlier than the 2nd trip which we know dates? Which Should we put? Or leave blank and put in supplemental letter? 

I-693

For the 693, Should we do this at same time(Can we even do this?,) or wait? We plan to do the steps to expedite the EAD(Congressman steps) based on a job offer after 1-2 months(since the 90 day rule isn't there anymore) as she has a job offer in the works which will be a great position we think if we get it in time.

I-864 -

1- For Household size, I have 2 kids which I have 50/50 custody of. I only claim one on my taxes, ex claims the other. Should I have a household size of 3 or 4? Assuming 3 but making sure as I still pay child support for both

2- This form is only for my most recent employer correct? I don't even see a "since" date other than for retired, so I just put in my current employment?

3- As I was married last year, my tax returns will be married filing jointly. How would this affect my income? Should I still put total income(assuming yes since its tax records) since ex's wife was included? My income was the main income of the home and above the guidelines

4- Does it help to include the last 3 years return? They will also have the ex wife on them as well, so not sure if this helps/hurts?

I-765

For current immigration status - should we put Visitor or tourist? As she came in on a tourist visa?

General

1- If we have forms which have blanks, NA or none based on other guides, will these cause RFE's? or will they just ignore them since they aren't applicable? We've generally followed the instructions on the USCIS site, but if they didn't say blank, some sites have said to file in with NA or one so my wife has done that. Not talking about spaces you for sure need, more like interpreter fields, or spouse 2 for her type thing.

2- Anyone had issues use Chrome and then Dochub to edit documents and not saving correctly? Have confirmed in Google drive everything looks good, but just wanted to double check with all the 2d bar codes

3- Evidence we planned to submit was plan tickets from our trips, 3-4 photos from each trip(here and there), affidavits from 2 wedding guest along with pics from the wedding, few random pics here, Bank statements showing both names, Job benefits with both, Credit cards with her added as AU, cell phone plan, gym membership. Do we need anything else? Like old social media post to each other or tagged in or anything else?

Thanks everybody for all the help

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

If she's in the US already, then you can file for AOS. You will need to prove a bona fide marriage. The overlapping timelines will probably add scrutiny to your case. There are others cases on VJ of people who have met with...resistance...in similar cases. But many others who have done so without any issue. Either way, gather your evidence and make your case.

 

Normally AOS is a DIY process. In more complicated matters, having a good immigration lawyer is preferable. I personally wouldn't say your case is overly complicated...it just needs sufficient proof to show a bona fide marriage. I'm not sure how a lawyer would help with that aspect. Then again, there's something to be said for taking the advice of somebody who doesn't have to live with the consequences of that advice.

 

I'd suggest reading through the guides here, reading through the forms and instructions, asking questions, and then seeing how you feel about it. If the only concern is the short time from divorce to marriage, then consider DIY.

 

Good luck.

Haha true and valid points.  Was trying to search for those other similar cases but my google was failing me. Most lawyers I have seen add 2500-3500 to the cost which seems like alot when the guides here are so good as well.

We have plenty of pictures and chats, and even mutual friends/family who have meet her and myself in both areas to prove its more than just for her. Just hopefully the AP works cause she does need to go back 1-2 times for business stuff within the next 6 months to wrap up stuff there but, its easier her being gone a week each time versus being 3 months between visits. Not sure if that is going to help/hurt us either.

Was just looking for "if that makes it complicated" or anything. Thanks so much

No... She's been here 3 weeks with a return ticket booked for June and we decided we wanted to pursue her staying vs doing long distance anymore where were on opposite shifts basically, I wake up she goes to sleep. etc.

Hey guys,

Just starting this journey and need some help and opinions.....just gonna throw it all out there and see what everyone thinks.

My guy friends and I take a yearly guy trip as my ex wife did not have alot of vacation time nor willingness to travel. Was always 3-4 of us and traveling to different countries and this year was the Philippines. Second time we had been. I meet a girl who owned the bar my friends and I visited. It was strictly friendship and I imagine marketing for the bar to get us to spend more money.  I added her on Facebook as she owned the bar the friends and I were visiting and used her FaceBook to stay connected on what was the booking for that night while we were in town.

Fast forward to end of July, and my ex-wife and decided to get divorced however before doing so she messaged all the girls on my FB she didnt know and basically reconnected this girl and I as she wondered what was going on. We started talking and told her my friends and I were scheduled to come back in September and would see her then. My friends backed out and I already had my vacation time booked. Decided since my company has an office there, I would just move my trip up and go for my birthday as opposed to stay and sulk for events happening. I stayed there for two weeks, she ended up coming here in December for 2 weeks, and I went back for 2 weeks in January. She's just came back for another visit 2 weeks ago and while we were talking about work schedules and timing for the next trip to just stay and get married.....

My concern is, my divorce just finalized a month ago(drawn out due to fighting over money and custody schedule.) My fiancee has meet my kids, my kids love her, they skype so nothing "fake" there. Just wondering if during any filings this would look bad or look like it was not a bona fide marriage? I know its a rush and kind of overlapping time line as the divorce was happening but the only reason for that delay was due to fighting over assets and kids vs trying to work anything out.  We also debated on hiring a lawyer vs doing the paperwork based on the VJ guides cause it seems not to hard but didn't know if my situation would complicate things. A lawyer I had emailed mentioned it was like doing taxes, yea you can do it yourself but if its complicated hiring a professional helps.

And also as she came in on a B1 tourist, What would be our steps? Was following this guide(http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2) but not sure how we go about starting other things, such as drivers license or bank account or adding her to credit cards/auto loan to get her a car here or should we wait for her SSN(which I dont think we can get until her EAD comes in a few months?) or even just adding her to my cell phone plan to get her a US cell now as well or health insurance once we do marry in a few weeks.

Any suggestions?