sweetadams

Standard procedure for MD:
 
Check to make sure that he's in the I94 database.
Wait for your EAD (you can get a license based off of an I94 but good luck getting the MVA to understand that and it doesn't matter because when the I94 has expired any license obtained will also expire).
Get your SSN (if you haven't done this already)
Bring some bills or something with his name and address on it - ideally a bank statement or official mail.
Bring any other required documents
Apply for license.
They will send you off to a 3hr drug/alcohol lecture - you'll need to make the appointment for it at whatever recommended locations and pay the fee.
Does he have a valid Australian license? If so you may bypass any steps involved for learners permits and provisional licenses, and all the hours of classes and practice driving and proceed straight to the road test.
Take the written test, followed by the road test (not usually on the same day). Road test is easy and since he already knows how to drive it'll be pretty simple.
Get license - keep in mind it's expiry date will coincide with the EAD - so about one year.
Return to the MVA with the green card and upgrade the license to a full one that you won't have to worry about for many years to come.
 
If you don't have an EAD + SSN don't bother. It's not worth the headache and arguing.
If the employee says they can't find you in the system, or they say he can't obtain one, or they don't seem to know how to handle a K1 - 1) ask for supervisor or 2) try a different MVA location. Read up on the documentation on the MVA website, bring a printout of how to proceed if they don't know their own rules.
 
Some foreign nationals can bypass some of these steps if there is an agreement between their country and MD - see website for the list. Yes it will unfortunately take a while to be able to legally drive. Technically you can potentially drive for a short period of time using the foreign license + I94, but the rules on this varies - and should you get pulled over you'll need to rely on the officer's understanding of the subject. It is legal for foreign visitors to drive in MD (one reason why my husband was well experienced driving here before he moved) but the rules regarding when you take up residency officially (which requires a license) are complicated.

Her Immigration status is F1, OPT and Post Completion OPT falls under the F1 Student status.

This questions comes up a lot actually. It is one of the disadvantages of the K1 visa process. Many people have gone through the K1 process only to find that they have to sit at home without being able to drive or work for a few months after they enter the US.
 
The reason why this is discussed so much is because obtaining a drivers license is state (and sometimes even precinct) specific. Meaning whether or not you are able to obtain a DL before a green card depends on where you live. It is true that even if you are issued a DL it may only be limited to expire when you I94 does. So you will only have it for a few months. 
 
You could start calling the DMVs in your area and inquire about the requirements. You may have to wait until you have the GC in hand. With the Int'l Lic, you should be OK for the short term but you should also be aware of any limitations it may have.
 
Feel free to use search to look for other threads regarding driver's license and you will see many other similar threads.

It sure can drive someone nuts, it is frustrating and not having a clear cut solution to the problem is even harder.
Maybe sending your job offer and date it was offered might constitute a reasonable financial loss. I am not sure.
 

Hey, 
yes I've spoken to a tier 2 officer twice about my EAD. THe first time I was told that I can not expedite because I don't have a joint sponsor. By signing the Affdavit of Support my husband vouched for me to be able to support me. I was told that I am not allowed to expedite with a pending job offer because I don't have any grounds to do so. There's been other people with the same problem as me with their partner as the main sponsor. Since I can not show financial hardship there is no way for me to expedite my work authorization.  So that was a bummer.
Today when I called about it again the lady didn't deny nor agree when I said I want to expedite based on financial loss since I can not expedite based on a job offer. She said that I will be contacted having to show proof of that. Don't know how I will do that but I feel like having to wait for 135 days gives me enough proof of financial loss. 
I see people from May getting their EADs so this is just driving me nuts. It's almost like something is wrong with my case or they lost it. 

With the current waiting time for the AOS I would suggest waiting for an RFE. You might run the risk of getting the shots transcribed only to be told at your interview that your medical is expired and you need to get a new one.

This thread is locked, for these reasons:
 
-- Derisive behavior by several participants (one of whom is subjected to administrative action);
-- Blithe, reckless postings of "you will be fine" that expose the OP to great danger from an immigration standpoint;
-- Over 10 pages of incessantly repeated constructive advice that seemingly fails to register with the OP;
-- The OP's asking participants not to participate, in violation of the site's Terms of Service.
 
This thread is not to be restarted or referred to elsewhere.
 
TBoneTX
for VJ Moderation
 

You need a joint checking.
Joint savings.
Joint credit card(s). All 3 items because you do not have much else.
Affidavit from her mom that you both live with her >>> Important, because you have no lease or mortgage.
If you both help out with the utilities then she can state that in the affidavit >>>> you have no utilities in your names.
She needs to change her phone bill from out of her dad's name into both of your name >>>> start with something on your own.
Make a will.
Make a living will.
Make a power of attorney
The last 3 can be done online (or at the social service department at a hospital for the living will only).
 

You have a valid point, if the family emergency has occurred, he can go over there and represent, I believe her family will understand the importance of her new family. I will also suggest you video chat from there if she can't make it, Internet might be crappy (no offend to the country) but at least the world is a global village now. 

You can start work with your EAD, most employers however ask for your SSN. It is better you apply to remove the DHS wording on your card and change the name at the same time. That way, you don't have to worry about it ever .
Good luck

I am NOT an immigration lawyer.
 
An arrest is not the same as a conviction. "Case dismissed" is a very good outcome. 
 
So, you have no history of convictions, though you do have a history of an arrest (which is not the same as guilt or a conviction).
 
I believe background checks are done by the FBI or Department of Homeland Security. I don't believe they are looking for arrests, esp for shoplifting. Rather, they are looking for nefarious affiliations, past visa fraud, etc.
 
Regarding including those documents with your application: that is a good question for an immigration lawyer and you might get it answered in a one hour consultation which could be a couple of hundred dollars.

Did she work abroad?  if so, she was still required to file taxes with the IRS, and may need to do a paper return.
If she did not work at all, then a couple of sentences explaining she did not work at all, had no income even abroad and thus was not required to file taxes will do.

If there is a family problem, can you not go and see if you can help her family? Instead of your wife travelling without her AP. She is already here and as soon as you file for AOS, you can request an emergency parole perhaps. Unfortunately there is a limo time between marrying on K1 visa and between filing for AOS. That is why always recommended filing for AOS as soon as possible.
I really hope you can solve this problem and your wife can stay in US with you.

If you can afford to wait at all on the trip, I agree with others who suggested getting in AOS in asap and do the emergency AP, contact congressman for help to speed up emergency AP if possible.  Sorry you are dealing with this problem.  Here is some information about emergency AP:
 
https://www.uscis.gov/green-card/green-card-processes-and-procedures/travel-documents/emergency-travel
 
Good luck and God bless you all

No, but she doesn't have to be here for you to file.
 
Once she hits 180 days that's a three year bar. She'd be denied at the interview for her CR-1 due to the overstay and would then need to try an I-601 waiver, which would add ~6-12 months to what will already be a ~1 year process.
 
If it can be avoided, she should remain in the US and you should file for AoS instead.

The only reason I can think of is if you supplied them with the short UK birth certificate. 

When I was gathering evidence, I discovered that I have both a short and long UK birth certificate: the short is probably A6 sized, whereas the long is A3 and contains much more information, including parent names, midwife present, and hospital location.

If this is the reason, I'm pretty sure you'd be able to request the long version from your wife's local parish perhaps (if they have official access to births/marriages/deaths) or the hospital where she was born. Someone will have a record of it somewhere. Her parents may even have it tucked away somewhere for safe-keeping.

I'm sure it's all plain sailing once you obtain this info and supply USCIS with it. Good luck to you both.

Thank you Damara, I posted a thread about the home visit. About patience.....when you wait for many years to even come together
and you are finally together then waiting together is not as bad as waiting being apart.
We can either make ourselves sick over it or be positive and move forward the best we can.
I will not let the system steal my joy. Life is too short.

USCIS raised prices effective December 23, 2016, which is why the price is different from what you paid earlier last year for your husband. Best of luck to your friends as they go through AOS!

Yes but they also need the $85 bio fee. So $1,225 in total.
 
Yes EAD/AP fee is waived when filing with AOS.

We also had a stokes interview and a home visit and are still waiting, we filed AOS in May 2015. If you have a legit marriage then there is nothing to worry about. Relax and live you life and stop worrying.  

You can work with your EAD and SSN. You can update your name with your EAD - what @Ben&Zian meant was that with the GC you can get an SSC that doesn't have the writing on it that it's only valid with DHS authorization.

An SSN is yours for life - you will use that number. If you want an updated name you just go and apply for a name change and you'll get a new card (same number) new name. 

You have to e-mail the consulate, then. They will change it back to AP. Tell them you are still waiting for your husband's visa and if they need something else from you or from him. 
 
It seems they have this that gets triggered automatically to make sure people are still interested in the visa. 
 
I'm sorry he has been on AP for so long.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Could you give more details about the visa and the timeline? I am a bit confused. Usually spousal visas take 12-14 months with only a small portion of the time at the consulate. So how could this case have been a year at the consulate under AP? Did you contact the consulate? Did he have the interview?
Thanks. I think this will help other people too to give you guidance. 

Congrats on your "surprised visit".. Can I sign out to have a script written for this new show called...."My Immigration Visit"..... lol