moosy

Damn all these misinformations in the entire forum! I ended up booking a medical in half an hour, and I was a K1 with a prior medical, now preparing for my AOS interview.
So now I am hearing I don't need it after all?
 

Hey
 
I checked with a befriended immigration lawyer, and she says that she usually advises anyone who truly needs the greencard at that moment, to just get one done. She said it depends on the officer in front of you, whether or not he knows the exact rules, and even if he does, he can still ask for a new medical.
I am taking the risk: I checked in with the medical appointment and they mentioned a price around 500 dollars. It is not reimbursed by insurance. I cannot waste 500 dollars on the offchance that I might need it. So I am taking the risk. I do have a copy of my former medical (not just the vaccination record; the nurse gave me a copy of everything "because as a patient you have the right to know what the doctor wrote"; ok then lol). I do not have any of the class A medical things (cf TB etc), so I am hoping that the officer in question will not ask for one.
 
If they do, it just takes a bit longer to get the medical done.
If the interview is soon, you could get an appointment for a medical a few days after the interview, and if you don't need it, you can cancel up front. If you do need it, you will have the medical report very fast.
 
Anyway, I would normally pay for that bit of certainty, but once I heard the price, I realized I could not gamble away 500 dollars. 🎲
 
 
Edit: in your case where your medical and your interview are THAT close, I am sure you will not have a problem.
In my case, my medical is from June 2017, and I have my interview October 2018. I asked for AOS in September 2017, so that part was within the year. The interview is clearly not. Lucky you, that you got a K1 greencard interview that fast!

That really stinks. I’m just wondering why people can’t wait another day or two to make sure it does not get denied 

Having a child together is a pretty big commitment and yes, it means that one parent can't just take the child wherever they want without the other parent's consent. 
My husband has a child from his previous marriage. That is why it has always been very clear to us that I would be moving to the US because there was no way that he would leave the US, with or without his daughter. 
Having a child limits the freedom you have to move wherever, because it comes with the responsibility of being a parent and doing what's in the best interest of the child. 

You cannot "send her back" as she isn't a package or your property. You CAN divorce her & completely cut ties with her, though.

Finally!!! I got an update this week saying that my interview was scheduled on January 18. Waiting  for the interview letter. I need to hurry now to get my I-693 done. 

Been looking for 4 months in my field now (social research). Been very close a few times to the point where they decided between two people but the others person got it (so far, actually based on our research, they said). 
 
I tried looking for a job before I got a work authorization, but one of the first questions I kept getting online is "are you legally allowed to work at this moment", and then I had to answer "no", because I do not want to be dishonest. That obviously disqualifies you. For a domain that is very slow-moving like academia, this basically means I am adding months to my job search. Luckily I have savings.
 
I have to note that I have been looking for jobs suited to my field and only to jobs that got me excited to apply, so I think in total, I applied less than 30 times over the past 4 months.
If I hit the 6 month mark without getting close again, I might change tactics, but for now, I have time to look for a job I actually want to do.
 
I have been writing some more articles on data I still had, and learning a few new skills and programs that are sometimes asked.
 
For higher education jobs, the competition is quite tough. You're looking at thousands of competitors in larger cities, if not more.
 
So far, I do not get picked out by the recruiters, but by the company people themselves because "my resume is interesting" and "caught their eye" (I used illustrator to make it stand out a bit, but not too much).
I do wonder what recruiters look for instead (I looked online a lot, and do not see any discrepancies with what I am offering).
It makes me wonder if they assume it is just easier to pick a native speaker. So far, I've always been the only non-native speaker. But it is anyone's guess.
 
In addition, some told me they had never heard of my university, despite it being ranked very high in all the global university lists; so if you have a great degree from a great university, do think about this and perhaps add ranking numbers from a few good ranking lists.
 
One more comment if you are in a similar situation as I am, wherein you want a job that fits your degree and abilities:
if you are running into fellow expats who are not supportive, just cut them off.
Unfortunately, I learnt by experience that some expats are frustrated and angry that they were not able to do the same (taking the time to get a job like that), and had to start from scratch. 
I have been TOLD (almost demandingly) by some other expats that I "should just get a job" and that I need to "get off my high horse if I think I deserve a job that actually fits my degrees". "You must feel so much better than us".
I have even been mocked by an expat peer for having a certain degree, and was told I must think I am sooo much smarter than anyone else (despite not naming the degree in the expat group nor implying I am in any way smarter; I am not; I married someone without a degree, so I know how many faces intelligence has other than just academic skills haha).
If you are unsure if it is you, or them, go through the forum or website you are on, and look at how they react to others in a similar job search. That will tell you all you need to know.
If you are in a similar position, consider moving away from your expat community and only retain the expats that are supportive or have gone through a similar search path. The negative ones can really drag you down and make you wonder.
This is VERY common, by the way.
 
Good luck!

Wow. I am trying to imagine what I would do if my USC spouse decided not to marry me but to let me come over anyway. 
I left a great job, the move cost me 3000 dollars (movers, packers, transport), I bought a new secondhand car when coming into the country (6500 dollars) and had to sell my old car (2000 dollars back), I sold all my furniture and most of my possessions, I had to give up my rental apartment that was very hard to find for such a good price.
 
If I would have to go back within two weeks, I would still have to buy a new secondhand car again (and you never get back the amount you spent in the first place), I would have to look for another rental place that would very likely set me back more than it did, I would have to find a new job, I would have to move AGAIN (another 2000 dollars; I am assuming it would cost less for only transportation of already packaged goods by them), I would have to buy new furniture (even secondhand that will easily set you back 1000 US dollars if you are one of those people that actually needs a bed and a couch),  buy all the possessions again that I sold but needed (cooking utensils, cookware, desk, chairs, printer, pc, ...).
Then think of the initial food and stuff you need when you move into a new place (easily 250 dollars that first trip where you need laundry detergent and staples and cans and paper and pens etc, if not more).
 
Then in addition to that, you have the plane ticket.
 
I calculated everything in US dollars, so I am assuming you can do the math to Ukrain currency.
 
And on top of that financial mess, you have the excruciating heartbreak (letting her come in only gave her hope that you loved her after all), and don't forget the utter embarrassment.
 
I think assuming that you're wiping this out with two months of her wages, is absurd.
Note that an apartment person usually requests 2 to 3 months rent in an account as a deposit alone. So that alone might be almost two months of her wages.
 
I get that this is hard for you too, but eff it, dude. You had to tell her clearly that it was over. This is insane, the financial and emotional you are putting her through now due to "cold feet" whatever that means. If you had doubts, you should never had let her come. You know this, as you were already googling prenups before she even came over. You would have had PLENTY of time to stop her.
 
I would definitely need MUCH more money than just the ticket and two months wages (despite having had an excellent paying job and a low rent) to survive the first few months financially.
And then the utter heartbreak and shame.
 
This is insane.

I know this isn't known for certain or it might just be a feeling a lot of people get, but a few days after the EAD extension was received, it seems my field office (ATL) scheduled my interview (which took over a year). I have zero clue if this is even possible, but it does raise some questions about their procedure: is it an accident that within a week or two of asking an EAD extension, the field office suddenly springs into action? I wonder if they (who provide the EAD) need to call up your field office to ask when the interview is, to make sure it is not useless to provide an extension. For example, in my case, I only received my AP extension, but I NEVER received my EAD extension, despite asking for this 2 months before my interview was. You would think that if they did not have the interview info, they would send me the EAD extension, as my interview was mid to end October, and my EAD expired mid November. The AP extension came start of September in my mailbox. AP and EAD were received simultaneously on their part, so they made the active decision to never give me an EAD extension when they received it on their desk as a combo.
 
This sounds a little bit complicated, but IF there is ANY chance your extension application might trigger your interview date to be scheduled, I would DEFINITELY ask for the extension as soon as you are allowed. You never know!

Finally had our interview after waiting a year. Priority date Dec 11.2017 
 
the interview was last week, they did not give us any decision and our online status didn’t update.    Now what? 

We have good news. Our AOS petition was approved on 1.9.19 at the interview. 
 
Good luck to everyone still waiting. 

We had our GC interview on January 9th at 8.45am.  I got the approval message at 5pm that day and received my Green Card in the mail on January 15th.
 
My medical was March 6th 2017.  I applied for AOS in September 2017.  I was not asked for a new medical.

People will post news if there is any!! Asking the same question every day is little annoying !

Good news! Finally got approved after 90 days of waiting. Card is being produced!!! How long does it take to get the actual card in the mail?

They are still working, my brother card was mailed on 12/31. It will come for you eventually. God bless you.

I think AOS etc is self-funded, so they use all of our fees to continue paying their people, and that means they do not shut down. Not 100% certain.

we got that also, Interview was on 12/6/18, just got updated on the app that they are producing our new card. They said they had to wait for our original application to get there, i thought we were gonna have to wait the 120 days also, thats the paper we received at the interview. Hang in there and lets all hope its sooner for you. !!!!!!!!.

we were just notified that we were approved and they are producing our card. YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So many things about this thread concerns me.
 
- The most obvious one. You admitted to knowing for upwards of 6 months that this might not be the person you want to marry, and you were not honest with her about that before she upended her ENTIRE. LIFE. to come here and marry you. Yes, she chose to come here just as much as you chose to have her come here. But she did it under false pretenses, courtesy of your absence of disclosure, and I'm sure if she had been told point blank that you didn't think, or even knew for sure, that you wanted to marry her, she may have thought twice about it.
 
I deal with a lot of guilt over knowing what all my husband gave up to come here. I thank him all the time and make sure he knows none of that sacrifice goes unnoticed, even though he's been here several months now. I cannot IMAGINE allowing him to do all of that unless I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was my person. I just don't understand that.

- Something I haven't noticed to be mentioned very much, but stuck out to me a lot. You asked friends of yours to deal with her, as far as getting her a place to stay and a flight home. Really? That is the most selfish, lazy, way to get out of dealing with this yourself, which is exactly what it sounds like by reading that. DEAL WITH IT YOURSELF. HELP HER GET A FLIGHT HOME YOURSELF. MAKE SURE SHE IS TAKEN CARE OF UNTIL SHE LEAVES....YOURSELFFFFF. Your friends didn't bring her here under false intentions. Your friends didn't screw her over. YOU did. Handle it.

- Now you're saying she's still here and you're "playing house"? Why? What purpose is this serving? Who is this helping? How does this resolve anything? So she stays and maxes out her visa allowance and...what? If you don't marry her, you're putting her at risk of being here illegally, and leaving will become way more stressful than it would be if she just left now.

You are toying with this woman and her LIFE. Her FUTURE. Her FEELINGS. No, we may not know the whole story and we don't know her - or you. But by everything shared here in this thread, you are ridiculous. If you don't love her and want to marry, stop wasting her time. Help her get home. COMPENSATE HER. "How much is enough", you ask? AS MUCH AS IT TAKES. Jesus.

Wow. I am trying to imagine what I would do if my USC spouse decided not to marry me but to let me come over anyway. 
I left a great job, the move cost me 3000 dollars (movers, packers, transport), I bought a new secondhand car when coming into the country (6500 dollars) and had to sell my old car (2000 dollars back), I sold all my furniture and most of my possessions, I had to give up my rental apartment that was very hard to find for such a good price.
 
If I would have to go back within two weeks, I would still have to buy a new secondhand car again (and you never get back the amount you spent in the first place), I would have to look for another rental place that would very likely set me back more than it did, I would have to find a new job, I would have to move AGAIN (another 2000 dollars; I am assuming it would cost less for only transportation of already packaged goods by them), I would have to buy new furniture (even secondhand that will easily set you back 1000 US dollars if you are one of those people that actually needs a bed and a couch),  buy all the possessions again that I sold but needed (cooking utensils, cookware, desk, chairs, printer, pc, ...).
Then think of the initial food and stuff you need when you move into a new place (easily 250 dollars that first trip where you need laundry detergent and staples and cans and paper and pens etc, if not more).
 
Then in addition to that, you have the plane ticket.
 
I calculated everything in US dollars, so I am assuming you can do the math to Ukrain currency.
 
And on top of that financial mess, you have the excruciating heartbreak (letting her come in only gave her hope that you loved her after all), and don't forget the utter embarrassment.
 
I think assuming that you're wiping this out with two months of her wages, is absurd.
Note that an apartment person usually requests 2 to 3 months rent in an account as a deposit alone. So that alone might be almost two months of her wages.
 
I get that this is hard for you too, but eff it, dude. You had to tell her clearly that it was over. This is insane, the financial and emotional you are putting her through now due to "cold feet" whatever that means. If you had doubts, you should never had let her come. You know this, as you were already googling prenups before she even came over. You would have had PLENTY of time to stop her.
 
I would definitely need MUCH more money than just the ticket and two months wages (despite having had an excellent paying job and a low rent) to survive the first few months financially.
And then the utter heartbreak and shame.
 
This is insane.

My husband and I are currently living in a rental house that he also lived in with his wife about 8 years ago now. They did not ask anything about this (but it is not like she was still there while I lived here or dated him, as that would be a no no for me personally, although in reality, I am sure that happens plenty with separated couples where the ex-partner does not have an immediate other place to live).
 
We also do not have children of our own, nor will we ever. We did not have a big wedding party nor will we ever have one. That last part was mentioned when they asked how the wedding was (it was just us two in a court where there were maybe 50 other couples at the same time).
None of those things even made the officer look at us like "huh?"
 
We are very untraditional when it comes to US traditions, and I explained that I had not yet switched all the bank accounts to joint, as in the culture I am from, it is encouraged to have both a joint account and separate accounts as well. The officer just said "that's just good sense", so he was fine with that as well.
 
When we explained our marriage proposal was actually a mutual decision he did not bat an eye.
 
When I simply explained that the first time we met it was because I was "quite nearby anyway" as a visiting scholar about a two hour flight away and I felt like I owed it to myself to check it out to make sure we actually had chemistry in person, the officer did not look weirdly at all, either. Our coming together was all quite rational and slow.
 
None of what you said sounds like a red flag.
 
(We got approved on the spot; it still took over two weeks for our greencard to arrive)
 
I am actually assuming that they were doing a bigger interview because they just sometimes do this at random. Quality control like any other business. Perhaps they were wondering why you did not go through your parents' route instead as you mentioned they are both US citizens. I don't know.
But I would not worry too much about this. You will know more in a week or so, as either the old or new website will change. In my case, the old one changed first, then the new website changed on a Saturday night (it sent an email) a week later.
 
It does suck that you will likely not have your christmas together thing (no way are they working next monday) if it does not come through today and you are still able to get your stamp in person. But on the other hand, you knew this would be a possibility with the interview so close.
I also did not make plans to see my parents or family or friends. It has been over two years now that I have seen them, and the first trip will be end of April.
You can do this.
 
 

My husband and I are currently living in a rental house that he also lived in with his wife about 8 years ago now. They did not ask anything about this (but it is not like she was still there while I lived here or dated him, as that would be a no no for me personally, although in reality, I am sure that happens plenty with separated couples where the ex-partner does not have an immediate other place to live).
 
We also do not have children of our own, nor will we ever. We did not have a big wedding party nor will we ever have one. That last part was mentioned when they asked how the wedding was (it was just us two in a court where there were maybe 50 other couples at the same time).
None of those things even made the officer look at us like "huh?"
 
We are very untraditional when it comes to US traditions, and I explained that I had not yet switched all the bank accounts to joint, as in the culture I am from, it is encouraged to have both a joint account and separate accounts as well. The officer just said "that's just good sense", so he was fine with that as well.
 
When we explained our marriage proposal was actually a mutual decision he did not bat an eye.
 
When I simply explained that the first time we met it was because I was "quite nearby anyway" as a visiting scholar about a two hour flight away and I felt like I owed it to myself to check it out to make sure we actually had chemistry in person, the officer did not look weirdly at all, either. Our coming together was all quite rational and slow.
 
None of what you said sounds like a red flag.
 
(We got approved on the spot; it still took over two weeks for our greencard to arrive)
 
I am actually assuming that they were doing a bigger interview because they just sometimes do this at random. Quality control like any other business. Perhaps they were wondering why you did not go through your parents' route instead as you mentioned they are both US citizens. I don't know.
But I would not worry too much about this. You will know more in a week or so, as either the old or new website will change. In my case, the old one changed first, then the new website changed on a Saturday night (it sent an email) a week later.
 
It does suck that you will likely not have your christmas together thing (no way are they working next monday) if it does not come through today and you are still able to get your stamp in person. But on the other hand, you knew this would be a possibility with the interview so close.
I also did not make plans to see my parents or family or friends. It has been over two years now that I have seen them, and the first trip will be end of April.
You can do this.
 
 

Not really what is going on. The wife is funding adult children who have trouble with speeding tickets and paying their cable bill. All while driving the mothers car. He cannot even pay support to his own kids in Africa atm. 

For an adult child's? I can see providing for his wife and any minor children, but the point of raising a child to adulthood is so they become a functioning member of society.  That means being able to pay their own bills and maybe not speeding so they don't GET speeding tickets. 

I would have thought that not threatening your spouse would also be part of a family's obligation.