JMK_IT

Hi, my combo card will expire in 180 days, so I can start the renewal process. No form fees! You just have to pay for the postage and photo fees. Good luck!

Hey guys,
 
This isn't really a question, just some information I wanted to share based on my current AOS application.
We filed our I-485 on March 2nd, with an NOA1 date of March 10 this year. I had my medical exam on May 26th in 2017 so I sent a copy of my DS-3025 in the packet. It had all of the necessary rows filled out and included a tick in the summary to say 'US vaccination requirements COMPLETE'.
 
However, yesterday I received a letter stating that  'a completed and signed I-693 was not submitted' for my application. It turns out that the waiver for submitting the I-693 that comes from your examination being within the last year, only counts AT THE POINT THEY LOOK AT YOUR APPLICATION. For example, if they happen to look at your application on June 1st, and you had your medical on May 31st, it's technically more than a year old and they will ask that you submit the I-693.
 
So, a heads up to anyone about to send off their applications. If, like me, circumstances prevented you from filing immediately after getting married, or, if you think there's a chance your application wont be looked at before the year is up on your DS-3025, simply be prepared to get a letter down the line that asks you to have an I-693 ready for your interview, or if you're not being interviewed, ready to respond to an RFE at a later date.
It's frustrating. But at least it's not currently holding up my application (or at least the letter does not imply it is!).
 
I hope that helps anyone who might come into this problem down the line.

Hello everyone,
I have a question. My interview will be in a month. On the interview letter they ask me to submit the form I-693 (medical examination). I had my medical examination in January 2018 in Italy when I had the interview for my k1 visa and it didn't expired yet. Do I have to bring the form I-693 anyway or the one that I have already (DS 3025) is enough?
 
Thank you!

Our package was received on August 2nd, and I received the NOA1 via email on August 7th. 
The official notice should arrive in the mail within 7-10, so yes, I guess the total waiting time for the NOA1 is around 2/3 weeks  

happy for you guys i was hoping to send stuff by this week but hopefully the next still waiting for the i693

I appreciate you, thank you for this response and your detailed journey. I've sent it to her. 😀

The correct form for this stage of your process is I-134. Don't forget to enclose additional evidence! When I did my interview in Naples 4 months ago they kept the form, the Tax Return, the letter from my (now) husband's employer, two most recent pay stubs, and a statement from the bank. The instructions of Packet3 will tell you to make everything in double copy.
Also, they asked for a copy of my husband's passport and birth certificate.
More info for her here: https://it.usembassy.gov/it/visti/iv/k1/
Good luck!

Our package was received on August 2nd, and I received the NOA1 via email on August 7th. 
The official notice should arrive in the mail within 7-10, so yes, I guess the total waiting time for the NOA1 is around 2/3 weeks  

This made me tear-up... beautifully said.

Your response brought great joy on this end, too. 🙂
Coping skills are not always an instinct, especially in our situation. Given the fact that all the focus is initially dedicated to the immigration process, the wedding, and the practical aspects of moving, it is only normal for applicants to enter the settling down phase without a personal plan of realistic milestones. 
 
They are 100% supportive and I couldn't be more grateful. They understand what immigration entails, being immigrants themselves back in the days. Ça va sans dire, they miss me very much, and whenever they point it out (always) I force myself to suppress the guilt. One thing they don't approve is me feeling bad for moving far away, and they are right. It is wrong to punish yourself for making choices of growth and love. You never know where life will take you in weeks, months, years, and I choose to embrace the excitement of the unknown rather than letting it stress me. When I say that distance is only mental I firmly believe it. Plus, they will visit, I will visit, and the exchange will be precious.
I hope your are backed with the same type of encouragement. 
 
That is fattering. Thank you! I am not. I mean, I write a lot, but I respect writers too much to give myself the title. Besides, I am still working on my command of the English language. I wish to take it to the same level of my Italian and be able to convey thoughts with the same fluidity. I guess it doesn't hurt that I married a writer (a real one), haha. 
 
Yes! I like that! 
 
Same to you, dear. Some days you'll wake up in the middle of weakness, and some days strength will wake up in the middle of you. Hold on tight to those. And thank you for this exchange! Message me whenever you want!

Great news! Good luck to you! 

it's definetly the best option
 

@ababsurd what a racket! These CS have a lot of nerve! I'm glad you were able to figure it out without spending TOO much money. The last thing you need on top of the stress of this process is to break the bank doing so! Thank you SO much for this info and good luck with the rest of your process!

I was in your husband's same identical situation: I did my medical in March, the day before the K1 interview, but my DS-3025 was incomplete because I only had one MMR vaccination listed. 
 
I did the second vaccination at a Wallgreens for $99. My medical insurance fully covers all vaccinations, but the earliest appointment through an in-network provider would have been in September, and I wanted to file for AOS as soon as possible, so in the end I chose to pay out of my pocket. 
After I got the vaccination I got in touch with more than 30 civil surgeons (not exaggerating), and not a single one of them was willing to just follow the USCIS instructions, which clearly state that K-1 applicants who had their medical overseas DO NOT need to do the full medical examination again if they are filing I-485 within one year.
 
I only needed the CS to file part 4, 6 and 9 of Form I-693 to state that I completed all the vaccinations required and I was asked up to $400 to do the same exam that I did 4 months ago. Unreal. 
 
In the end I was able to find a medical facility where employees were a little more knowledgeable about the immigration processes and they did the transcript for $150. 
It is still a whole lot of money, plus the $99 for the vaccination, for a total of $250 which is a higher price than the full medical I did back in Italy. 
 
Keep calling CS until you find one who is fully updated about all USCIS requirements. Bring up what's stated in the instructions, and eventually you'll find one who's willing to comply with them. Hopefully you'll be luckier than I was, and you'll be able to obtain a transcript for a cheap price. I see many applicants who were lucky to find a CS who just asked $30/$50 for it. 
 
If you send your AOS packet after the expiration of your I-94, it won't really be a problem. Mine expired at the beginning of July and I filed on July 29. I received my NOA1 yesterday. It is always better to file asap to avoid being out of status, but if it's just a matter of a few weeks that you will use to complete the medical requirements it will not really be a huge deal.  
 

Of course, you're welcome!
You can get married without the SSN! And you can also apply for AOS. I had the same doubts but some research clarified that. 
The website of the marriage bureau where we married stated that a SSN was required for both spouses, but when we went to get the license we explained we were having problems with the SSA and the Clerk's assistant told us that foreign nationals can use their passport and are not required to have a SSN. It's supposed to be a rule that applies nation-wide. 
 
I think the driver's license requirements vary state by state, but I'm not really sure. I live in FL and I will not be able to apply for a FL driver's license until I receive the EAD. It will have a 1-year validity. I could have applied for one right away, but the validity would have been based on the I-94, and that would have been a real useless hassle as it takes months to the DMV to verify and issue. Plus, I have to wait the EAD anyways as I will be issued a SSN concurrently. 
Try to call your state's DMV to ask what their requirements are! 
 

I sent my AOS/EAD/AP package on Friday.. according to USPS it got there this morning.. the next waiting time begins.. 

Hello all, 
 
New month, new filers! 
My AOS Packet was received in Chicago today. 
 
Good luck to all of you! I look forward to keeping in touch and reporting any progress on our applications 

No this was two weeks after his arrival to the US. The mismatch that came up said that his status was a 'resident' even though when the information printed stated K-1 visa. That's the mismatch .
 

One more Aug 2018 filer here :) best of luck, guys! 

Yay good luck ! 
I filed mine in July and still waiting for biometrics appointment which I hope coming up soon ( real soon ) 
I just want get it done done. xD

Hello, I really can't thank you enough for sending such a beautiful and well thought out post. It truly means more to me than you will ever know!
 
I can 100% appreciate what you are saying about your transition. I think you are extremely brave to leave somewhere beautiful and choose a new life I just feel like maybe my coping strategies are not as strong as yours haha I can appreciate the advice I just need to get it into action. I guess i do not deal as well with transition as I had originally thought. Now looking back I definitely think it would've been smarter for us to move to Canada but I guess gold is tested by fire. So I can only hope I will become a stronger individual and us a stronger couple. Some days are obviously just tougher to get through as you know. 

This post helped me to not feel so alone.
 
How does your family deal with the transition? Are they 100% supportive? Did they give you any guilt or make you feel bad about your choices? I really love that you are from a tight knit family so you are able to understand how I feel better than most.
 
Also are you a writer? Because your writing is just so beautiful and well thought out!!!!!!!! It is a shame you can't work because you are clearly talented haha but yes you are correct all is within months reach.
 
I think I will write those three phrases down and practice them like a mantra.
 
1. Don't be too hard on yourself 2. Your family loves you 3. It will get better
That pretty much sums it all up and helps to ease some of the pain I am feeling.
 
Wishing you literally all the happiness in the world. Thank you for your kindness and positivity, it is going to go so far. So happy there are people like you in this world.
 
 
 

I really appreciate all the advice and the great ideas. I guess I am just feeling stuck because I have already made friends, I have signed up for a class, I go to the gym, I have a friend who lives an hour flight away that I go see, I have been spending my time volunteering and learning to cook. I keep extremely busy that is for sure. Maybe boredom is not my issue. Fitting in here is because no one is friendly to me and customer service people are all rude that I hate going to stores to deal with anyone.
 
I guess my main trouble is the guilt of leaving my family and my mom crying every day is hard to put into the background of all of these things. I'm trying to do what is best for the new family I'm trying to build but feel so much guilt for leaving behind my family and missing the day to day special moments.

The thing  about our lease is it is ending in 15 days so since I am looking for a new place can't find anything that we like that isn't crazy unaffordable I feel so displaced. I don't like where we are there are no good leasing options at the moment so maybe that is what is bringing about more home sickness not feeling like I have a home or place anywhere anymore. It was all taken away overnight. I just had a good quality life and I traded it in for jumping around from rental units and not having purpose it is just a tough trade in. I regret what I have done and now I am trying my best to make the best of it but some days are harder than most.
 
I am not trying to be negative and I apologize if it came across that way. I really thank you for all your suggestions and your kind words. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. It still amazes me how supportive people on this website are. I wish you and your husband all the happiness in the world and have the best day!

Hi, from South Florida too. My local office is West Palm Beach. NOA1 date is May 30th, biometrics was June 18th and on July 17th my AOS status changed to "Case is ready to be scheduled for interview". EAD and AP are still "Case was received". It seems as if we have to be veeeeeery patient 🙄 Keeping my fingers crossed for everybody here!!

I just saw someone post in the 2017 July filers saying that they just got their interview done and is waiting for their GC

I just don’t think you can make friends in the streets Hahahah. I didn’t know that Spanish is required to every job. OMG. My English is not that great yet , I am working in my English now .
Yeah, I agree, we have to break the ice. Hopefully when we work, it would be easy to make friends.. Who knows.