skimmilk
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Posts posted by skimmilk
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9 minutes ago, Cruise77 said:
USPS and lost mail? Not uncommon at all. I wouldn't send an important document through USPS unless there was no other choice. Just look at how many examples on this thread of people who had their mail delayed by USPS. The real question is why wouldn't you use FedEx next day or 2nd day air? The visa process itself costs thousands of dollars. So a few extra dollars to save more time, headaches and money is IMO more than worth it. I sent my K-1 packet next day air over the Easter weekend ~ $69. Who knows what would have happened to it going USPS over the holiday.
In any case start preparing the back up packet just in case. Best Wishes!
I'm really kicking myself for not going to FedEx, which is literally up the street while USPS is a 15 minute walk. I understand a one or two day delay but now it's been a week. The "in transit" updates are also a system update when the item hasn't been scanned by a worker or hasn't gone through an actual checkpoint in 18-24 hours. So basically the package left the distribution center (supposedly) and is now in the ether.
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22 minutes ago, JTTE said:
I sent mine AOS packet yesterday with UPS and it got to Chicago after just 12 hours (we live in California)... but I payed almost $90!!! Super expensive but we were in a rush and it was more than 3 pounds of documents... so I think it worth it.
I wish yours get there today so you can feel better for the weekend! 😉🙏🏻
I believe mine was just bad luck. Thank you for the good vibes! Been checking my bank acct; checks have not been cashed yet.
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2 minutes ago, Going through said:
Hopefully it will turn up. Give it until Wednesday and keep tracking it?
Yup that's the plan!
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1 minute ago, Estibaliz said:
It happened to us when my fiance mailed the K1 packet to Dallas. He used the 2 day priority mail, so it was supposed to be delivered on Saturday. It got stucked in the destination post office for 5 days and was finally delivered on Thursday.
Sent from Utah, so it doesn't matter where you are mailing from, you just get unlucky sometimes
Aw damn but I'm glad it got delivered! Mine was just 1-3 business day priority, not express or anything. Who knows what the hell happened?
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9 minutes ago, Going through said:
The other person had sent theirs overnight expedited---was held up about a week.
Yikes an overnight delivery turned into a week?! I'm so glad it resolved itself.
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Just now, Going through said:
OP, you're the second person I've heard about in the last two months that had the same issue sending it to Chicago...they were stuck same as you and then all of a sudden USPS claimed it was lost. After USPS claiming it was lost (and before the applicant resubmitted everything) it miraculously showed up in Chicago a few days later.
Hoping the same will happen for you...
After tremendous research, it seems the Chicago USPS distribution center is a bit of an abysmal black hole. Things get held up for no reason etc. Thanks, I'll be doing what I can to get it sorted out.
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Just now, Umka36 said:
Personally never had issues with using USPS for all my wife's immigration paperwork, and we've always used express mail. Maybe bad luck.
Same goes for overseas USPS, and the issue for us was the custom for the other country.
It's weird because I've never had a problem with them til now either! It most likely was just bad luck or a weird hiccup but it's still discouraging. I really hope it'll still be delivered.
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So after two months of stressing over the paperwork, my husband and I finally sent our package last Friday. We are in LA and the post office worker said the package would be delivered by this Monday. Well, this has NOT happened at all. The tracking has been stuck "in transit to destination" in Chicago for this entire week. Even though I've called USPS and made an inquiry email, I haven't received any real help or answers. I'm simultaneously angry and trying to be patient. Anyways, this is just a warning to everyone who's about to send their packages out. I suggest using FedEx or UPS because unfortunately USPS is too unreliable to trust with such important documents.
- luvflyfishing2 and MonicaP
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21 hours ago, tato2017 said:
sure you can include those. I think the more you include upfront it is better so they don`t issue you RFE. I think Skype screenshots and boarding passes good idea to include. Also attach a sheet of paper explain the skype screenshots and boarding passes (Just send the copy of the boarding pass - keep the original). Just make sure you organize them well it does not fall apart when they are handling.
Okay thanks a ton! For all the relevant photocopies (my old EAD, passport pages, etc), I scanned them into a program just to add some text at the top of each page (like my husband's or my name and "PHOTOCOPY: [document name]"). Is this considered kosher? I just thought it'd be easier for the office workers to keep track of and compare to the cover letter.
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6 hours ago, tato2017 said:
Yes. You should print good amount of photos and take it to interview with you in case you get asked for. Obviously you cannot print all of them but just select some (showing over the time progression) and print it out. Until the interview time you will more evidence showing bona fide marriage and photos are just part of it.
Alright one more question: what should I include in our application during the time period my husband and I were long distance? We Skyped a lot so I took some screenshots of our Skype chat window. He also sent me some gifts and I still have the packages with shipping labels. I also have my boarding passes from when I left and came back. Thoughts on including some or all of this in our AoS package?
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I don't believe you'll need to prove your OPT status and/or what you've been doing under OPT. UNLESS your spouse does not make enough money as stipulated by the guidelines in Form I-864, your financial information isn't necessary. Getting married puts you in sort of a limbo visa status. Other than providing your I-20 and current EAD card for Form I-765, your F1/OPT status doesn't have a bearing on the rest of the paperwork. That's my two cents and I'll let others weigh in here as well as I'm not a lawyer.
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4 minutes ago, tato2017 said:
Yes. You should print good amount of photos and take it to interview with you in case you get asked for. Obviously you cannot print all of them but just select some (showing over the time progression) and print it out. Until the interview time you will more evidence showing bona fide marriage and photos are just part of it.
Thanks for your quick reply! I really want to send this all in by the end of the week, so I'm preparing myself to be at the printer all day today.
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Thanks, @tato2017!! Follow-up question: 90% of our photos are on our computers. Except for the ones we're printing for this application (which basically show our relationship from the beginning to the present), the rest aren't in physical form. Should we print out all our personal photos and bring the album with us to the interview? I know they'll most likely ask for photos between our application receipt and the interview, but what if they want to see more photos from last year or something?
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Hello, all! Well, two months after my husband and I got married, we're finally almost ready to send our paperwork. I've copied and pasted our cover letter here and was hoping for any feedback. Since we haven't sent it out yet, we still have time to make changes and/or gather other paperwork if necessary.
Some background: I'm Canadian and my husband is the US citizen. I used to be here on F1 (2013 to 2016). Been with my husband since 2015; moved in together after five months. My OPT expired Oct 2016. We'd been hoping I'd find an employer who would sponsor me. But that didn't happen and we weren't ready to get married either. So I went back home to Canada. I came back to the US in March 2017 as a visitor to be with my husband for several months. He was going to visit Canada with me just before my visitor status would expire. But at the end of April, he proposed and I couldn't stand the thought of going back and forth between the US and Canada, so I accepted. We got married May 31, 2017. We did not hire a lawyer.
A COUPLE QUESTIONS!
1. What is the best way to package our personal photographs with the paperwork? I bought some 12"x12" binder sheets that can hold 4"x6" photographs. Should I just put the photographs in a smaller Ziploc bag? We plan on using 3"x4" bags for the passport photos.2. I crashed on my friend's couch for five months back in 2015. This was between finishing school and moving in with my husband. Should I include my friend's address as part of my residence history?
Anyway, sorry for making this a super long post. Here's our cover letter (names removed, obviously):
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Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120NATURE OF SUBMISSION: ORIGINAL Concurrent Filing of the Following Forms
1. I-130 [Petition for Alien Relative]
2. I-485 [Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Status]
3. I-864 [Affidavit of Support]
4. I-765 [Application for Employment Authorization]
5. I-131 [Application for Travel Document]PETITIONER: Husband's Name (US Citizen)
BENEFICIARY: My nameTo whom it may concern:
Please kindly find enclosed the forms listed above under “NATURE OF SUBMISSION” and their supporting documents. Copies of supporting documents are exact photocopies of unaltered original documents. We understand that we may be requested to submit and/or provide the original documents at a later date.
1. Check for $535 (I-130 filing fee)
2. Check for $1225 ($1140 I-485 filing fee + $85 Biometrics fee)
3. Form I-130 [Petition for Alien Relative] by Husband
- Supporting Documents:a. TWO passport style photos of Husband and TWO passport style photos of Wife (FOUR PHOTOS TOTAL)
b. Form I-130A (filled out by Wife)
c. Photocopy of Husband’s BIRTH CERTIFICATE
d. Photocopy of MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
e. Joint bank statement
f. Joint T-Mobile bill statement
g. Joint Zipcar account
h. Personal photographs (25 TOTAL)
i. Sworn affidavits from third parties attesting to the bona fide nature of our relationship and marriage (from our parents and a couple friends)
4. Form I-485 [Application to Register Permanent Residency or Adjust Status] (NOTE: We're using the new I-485)
- Supporting Documents:a. TWO passport style photos of Wife
b. Photocopy of Wife’s BIRTH CERTIFICATE
c. Photocopy of Wife’s PASSPORT ID PAGE and PASSPORT PAGE WITH NONIMMIGRANT VISA
d. Photocopy of MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE
e. Form I-693 [Report of Medical Examination & Vaccination Record] - SEALED
5. Form I-864 [Affidavit of Support] (NOTE: Husband is self-employed; this form is the one we are the most unsure about. If we need to attach any other documents, please let us know.)
- Supporting Documents:
a. Husband’s 2016 IRS TRANSCRIPT
b. Husband’s 2016 FORM W-2
c. Husband’s 2016 FORM 1099
d. Husband’s 2016 FORM 1040 SCHEDULE
6. Form I-765 [Application For Employment Authorization]
- Supporting Documents:a. TWO passport style photos of Wife
b. Print-out of most recent I-94
c. Photocopy of prior EAD (front & back)
7. Form I-131 [Application for Travel Document]
- Supporting Documents:a. TWO passport style photos of Wife
b. Photocopy of Wife’s PASSPORT ID PAGE and PASSPORT PAGE WITH NONIMMIGRANT VISA
c. Print-out of most recent I-94
----------------------------------------------Thank you all!!!
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40 minutes ago, tato2017 said:
just put the dates that you received (Granted under xxx category) and attach the copy of old one. I would also include an explanation as well on a separate sheet that your old EAD was under different category. Make sure you use the correct category for your new status for question 16.
Thanks a ton! Hadn't thought to include a letter of explanation, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt.
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24 minutes ago, tato2017 said:
i think your is not renewal since you change the status. It should be "Permission to accept employment" .
One quick follow-up question: In question #11, what would I put under "DATES"?? Dates my EAD was active, date of previous application, date of previous acceptance...????
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Thanks to both of you. I thought it was renewal at first, but I'm in a different visa class now so it makes sense for it to just be a whole new permission request. Much love!!
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I used to be on F-1 from 2013 to 2016. My OPT was from 2015 to 2016. I had an EAD during this time. But it expired. I'm back in the US on a B-2 and am married now. So would I choose "Permission to accept employment" or "Renewal"? Thanks!!
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Hello again VJ! My husband (!!) and I are finally getting into the paperwork. I had a few questions that are all over the place, so I figured I'd post them in my original thread rather than clogging up the forums with a whole new thread.
1. On the I-485, PART 1, what do I put under the item that says, "CURRENT USCIS STATUS"? I'm guessing VISITOR or B-2 (this is what's stamped in my passport).
2. I used to be here on F-1 & OPT from 2013 to 2016. I went home because it expired and I couldn't get another visa to stay. I came back in March on a regular tourist visa. Will I need to include a copy of my I-20 with the paperwork? I'm applying for EAD/AP as well and I have my old EAD that I'll be sending a photocopy of with the I-765.
3. How do I set up an online account on USCIS so I can check the status of our case as it progresses?
4. I'm not on our apartment lease because our manager and the property owner want to wait until I'm employed and making money to do so. However, the manager knows me and we're going to ask her to sign a letter stating that I've been living with my husband since we moved in. Should I also include a photocopy of my expired ID card that bears our current address or is this unnecessary if our manager's letter is present?
That's all (for now...I am positive I'll have more questions down the road). Thanks a ton, VJ! You guys have seriously helped a TON.
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On 5/18/2017 at 8:15 AM, ljroul said:
Friends, just an update for anyone who is curious. We had our interview this morning.
I asked my lawyer about her Trump comment, and it actually wasn't in relation to border crossings. She said that under Obama, there was more leniency for immigrants regarding minor drug offenses, and that under Trump, they take it much more seriously etc. (I don't have any evidence to cite this - this is just what she told me ). This is relevant because we live in Colorado where marijuana is decriminalized under state law and she wanted to warn us that they could ask about drug use. It's not an issue as we are not drug users, but just something for anyone who lives in a decriminalized marijuana state to be aware of I suppose.
We got into the room and the officer said she didn't need much from us and wouldn't take much time. All she asked for were our drivers licenses and my husband's completed medical. He was asked the yes/no questions from the I-485 and that was it. She said she didn't need any other evidence because our I-130 was already approved. She said she would probably be able to approve our case today. Our status was changed to "interview completed and my case must be reviewed" I am hoping we'll get the approval soon!
Thanks for all the opinions and advice regarding this, I agree with the people who said that my lawyer was being cautious and preparing us for the worst, in my opinion, she took it too far and ended up making us way more nervous than we needed to be. Not only did the officer not ask us about drug use, or the border crossing, she didn't even ask about our relationship! I was not actually asked any questions at all, the whole thing took about 5 minutes. Relieved that it's over!
OMG CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! It is SO nice to hear when cases go smoothly and honestly, I feel like most people don't have much to worry about if their relationship is real and has been ongoing for at least a year or two.
My fiance and I are in the same boat as you (except I'm the Canadian and he's the USC). We haven't even tied the knot yet (two weeks, eek!) and I've already like read every single post and thread here about similar experiences. I'm trying not to lose too much hair over this but I'll be SO relieved when it's all over. It actually really helps knowing that your case went super smoothly. Congratulations again!!!
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1 hour ago, caliliving said:
oh if he's a USC no it won't be asked...they only care about any violent acts towards women...obly if the USC has any previous spousal abuse ! So you should be good to go:)
Oh gotcha!
Actually I have a follow-up question. What do I need to know for the biometrics appointment? Specifically, what kind of ID will I need? I have an expired California ID card but all my valid cards are Canadian. I can't get any valid US cards until this whole process is done either. I was researching and found a few (old) threads where people were asking this same question but there wasn't really any answer given.
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On 5/4/2017 at 7:18 AM, Boiler said:
Nobody needs to lie and nobody is suggesting lying.
Yes, exactly.
Anyway, I know this thread is already a little old now but I did have one more question that just came up. My boyfriend has a DUI from several years ago (about 6 or 7). He completed his court-ordered community service hours just last year. I was just wondering if this affects our application in any way. I don't think any of the forms we have to file even ask the US citizen if they have a criminal record of some kind. The forms seem to only ask those questions to me, the non-US citizen. Will we have to disclose this in the interview perhaps and if so, what kind of documentation should we bring just in case it does? Thanks a ton, VJ.
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4 hours ago, zilchfox said:
CR1 would take a year to process, and then they'd be physically apart for pretty much that length in time, too, something I do not wish for any married couple.
Yes that's the thing. We'd rather not spend any more time apart.
PSA: DO NOT SEND YOUR PAPERS WITH USPS
in Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas
Posted
Holy damn, what happened?! I don't know where ROC packages go. Do they also get sent to the Chicago lockbox? There was mention on the first page of this thread of someone who overnighted their AOS package and it took a week. You're right that nothing's 100% guaranteed.