C90

Hey guys! If there's any Philadelphia AOS filers, I've started a topic for Philly 2017/2018 filers

Hey guys! September filer here. If there's any Philadelphia AOS filers, I've started a topic for Philly 2017/2018 filers

Hey guys! September filer here. If there's any Philadelphia AOS filers, I've started a topic for Philly 2017/2018 filers

42 minutes ago, redmoon24 said:

Greetings,

 

I'm filing the I-130 for my spouse and son. Can anyone be kind enough to tell me the basic step by step guide? 

 

Do I have to complete all the supporting documents to attach with the I-130 or can I file the I-130 now and the supporting docs to follow?

 

Thanks in advance! 

Check https://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1, it's a step by step guide. Educate yourself on this process via the guides on VJ and the instructions on the USCIC website to avoid RFE's / denials and to make the process a little smoother for yourself.

Since I couldn't find a Philadelphia field office specific topic, I figured I create one and give it a shot!

Filed AOS in September 2018, have been ready for interview since October 2018, so we still have a good wait in front of us!

Any Philly filers that filed in 2017/2018, please chime in so we can get an idea of the processing times (besides the processing times chart on VJ) and for some Philly support.

Happy Sunday everyone!

4 hours ago, Amber and Shawn said:

When are (blank) needed? , i-129f packet or before the interview? Trying to double confirm, thanks in advance!

1. evidence of ongoing relationship : Chat logs  (I've seen people including this for the i-129f packet is it absolutely necessary? So far we have, proof of meeting 2017 and 2019, social media posts dating from 2015-2019) Reason im asking this is because it's been such a hassle to get old chat logs skype's new update deleted some history and removed the "search from (date)" that it used to have i've been needing to scroll up manually and messenger keeps crashing when i scroll up too much so i was wondering if chatlogs are absolutely necessary for i-129f packet?

2. police clearance (beneficiary) 

3. Birth certificate with translation (beneficiary)

4. Passport all pages (beneficiary and petitioner) 

5. Tax returns (petitioner)

Also is it a requirement to include photo paper pictures or is it ok to print collage of pictures on normal paper? 

1: I-129F needs evidence of meeting in the last 2 years. That said, it can't hurt to put a little evidence of ongoing relationship in there, just don't go overboard with it. We sent 7 pics, plane tickets/hotel bookings and passport stamps from visiting each other/trips through Europe together, that's it. This was in 2017 and we got approved without RFE.

Make sure you take evidence of ongoing relationship to the interview (again, don't go overboard with it. No officer wants to go trough 10+ pics, chat logs etc, they just wanna see your relationship is genuine)

2 through 5: interview. You don't need to send all passport pages of the beneficiaries passport at any point and you only need all the pages of the USC's passport if you don't send a birth certificate. That said, we only sent my husbands (then fiancé) biometric page and pages with passport stamps and didn't get an RFE. 

Photo's on normal paper are fine. And please read the K1 - AOS - ROC guide to educate yourself more on this process and the processes that are to come after K1 is approved.

2 minutes ago, Ycats said:

Hello Everyone,

 

I had a couple of questions in relation to our travels to South Korea. My husband currently has the EAD/AP combo card and is waiting for AOS with I-485.

We are wondering, at what point in the trip will we be stopped and questioned about my husbands return to America. I know it may or may not happen. But we are just wondering when.

Another question is, we haven't received any notice about the interview regarding I-485 and no one can actually check the mail if we are in Korea, so we are wondering when we receive the letter, how long after receiving the letter is received does the interview usually happen? a week after? a month? Please tell us your stories.

We got the notice saying the case is ready to be scheduled for an interview Feb 12, 2019, which is 33 days ago but we also received that same notice back in December. It just got updated again in our Casetracker App in February.

We are planning to go to Korea within two weeks, in order to introduce myself and meeting my husband's family as a wife since he resigned his work last Friday.

We submitted the packages on July 31, 2018 and it got accepted August 2nd and my husband received the combo card on December 28, 2018.

Now we were waiting for the interview schedule, but we can't wait to go to Korea before he looks for a new job to start.

 

Thank you for your help!

If you mean when he will be questioned to get back into the States, that will be the moment he lands back on US soil. At CBP they'll usually take him into secondary so they can parole him into the country.

Usually when the interview letter gets sent the interview will be about a month later. That said, the fact that the status changed to 'case is ready for an interview' doesn't mean much. It just means his case is in the que at his local office. Depending on the processing times for his local office, the status could be like this for more than a year. So I would advice you to check the processing times of the local office (https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/)

15 hours ago, Roni and Carlos said:

You’re awesome!  Thank you!! There are so many videos with people sending photo album size packages.  It’s very confusing.

 

One or two more questions.  The passport size photos do they have to follow  passport regulations? Yes, American regulations (2"X2") And does my fiancé need to sign and mail it to me? Photo's don't have to be signed, she can mail it or send them digitally and you can print them at a Walgreens or something 

 

Last question have you been approved for your k-1? Yup, in 2018  Just got my EAD a month ago and waiting for my GC interview, which can take a while since my local office is Philadelphia and they're very, very busy.

 

Also, I saw other people said they only need proof of meeting in the last 2 years. That is true, but I would still send some evidence of ongoing relationship.

 

The embassy/consulate gets your file before you have your interview, and they'll go over it before they interview you.

 

We sent 7 photo's, all the plane tickets/hotel bookings and all the passport stamps from visiting each other and our travels through Europe (we visited each other about 3 times before filing but knew each other since 2013) just to avoid an RFE. Don't overload (5-7 pics are more than enough) but also don't send barely anything. They like to see you're serious and prepared, but don't like to go through 100 pics and text messages lol.

12 hours ago, CCCCCF said:

Hi all, based on my observation, most people receive their EAD card within 10 days after approval. And the status that most people first see on their EAD case status is 'card being produced' or something similar to this.

I saw my status for EAD changes to 'case was approved' on 6th Mar, but after that, nothing update or changed. I called to ask representative whether the card has been sent to production and the answer was no. And representative asked me to submit an inquiry online with ' card was not mailed.' but I doubt this should be the right thing to do?

 

I do see others here in VJ has similar situation as mine and some of them end up waiting for extra 1-3 months to get their EAD card after the 'case was approved' status.

And suggestion or idea??

And I am wondering how do I talk to a tier2 representative at USCIS?

'

I think your best bet is to actually listen to USCIS and submit an inquiry online with card was not mailed. 

To talk to a TIER2 you simply explain why you're calling and requesting to speak to a TIER2. It's up to the representative if they feel they need to transfer you or not, they are NOT obligated to do so (but most of them don't make a fuss and let you talk to a TIER2)

9 hours ago, immoo2001 said:

Dear All,

We have applied status of change from visit visa B2 to GC (family based) two years back for my Mom, we have filed following forms;

 

1 - I 485 (with fees)

2 - I 360 (with fees)

3 - I 755 (with out fees)

4 - I 131 (with out fees)

 

We received biomatric and we also received EAD last year, now this EAD is going to expire in June 2019 and we again apply for EAD (with out fees), any idea when we will get ??

 

Thanks

 

 

Currently EAD takes about 5-7 months to process, but I've heard from a lot of people that they've been waiting for way longer and just never got a renewal. She will get an extension letter for 180 days tho. I believe you can file for EAD renewal 3 or 4 months before it expires, but please check the EAD instructions for that

9 hours ago, soprano82 said:

I wanted to see if the community may be able to shed some light on how necessary it is to have a joint bank account established prior to having the AOS interview? I recognize that it seems like most people ensure that a joint bank account is in place before the interview, but after discovering that the W8 ben is necessary for someone to be added to/establish a bank account without permanent resident status, it seems pretty impractical to add my spouse to my account before she has become a permanent resident (when she no longer needs to have the W8 ben filed). From what I have been able to gather, the W8 ben would subject dividend returns on our bank accounts to additional taxation potentially (based on the US's agreement with my wife's home country, Japan) and will remain in effect until 3 years after the filing date (despite my wife likely receiving permanent residence status during that time) as she would be filing the W8 ben with an active SS number and not an ITIN.

 

As mentioned above, my financial institution informed me that she would not need to have the W8 ben filed if she were a permanent resident of the US, so it's tough for me to justify adding her to the account just to show she's on it with a 3 year penalty for doing so. I have been managing all of our finances/bills; and my wife has not started working since receiving her EAD, so adding her to my bank account is not something we've really thought much about until realizing that it'll likely be time to go through the AOS interview soon.

 

I also wanted to note that my wife is on the lease to our apartment and we have been collecting a substantial amount of additional evidence of our ongoing marriage and relationship in the form of photos, airline tickets from trips, etc. If anyone has an other advice for additional documents to have on-hand during the interview, that would be a huge help and very much appreciated.

 

Thanks again guys!

My husband added me as an authorized user to his cc right before I moved here and we recently opened a joint account at Capital One, from which we pay the mortgage and some groceries and sometimes some other bills. Never heard of W8. We had my husbands uncle file our taxes (he's an accountant) and he never mentioned anything about W8. But maybe that's your banks requirement, idk.

Anyway, as @missileman said, co mingling of finances is one of the strong proofs of having a legit marriage. So I would just open a joint account and/or add her as an authorized user to your cc. It won't effect your credit in any way, since you're not sharing the CC, she's only authorized to spend your money lol.

32 minutes ago, Roni and Carlos said:

So the text messages aren’t useful for showing continuous relationship?  

They can be (especially if your fiancé is from a high fraud country) but it's no proof that you met within the last 2 years.

You can def send the texts, but just pick a few, don't send like a year worth of texts. Pictures, plane tickets, passport stamps etc are proof that you met in person in the last 2 years (especially the tickets and stamps), but a few texts can proof continuous relationship.

8 hours ago, Insulder1 said:

Hi, I was married to foreign spouse before and ended in divorce went thought adjustment of status, instead of k1,,   and am wanting to Apply for k1 visa now for someone new I met  and traveled to visit.  The first spouse I was married for 3 years but just recently the divorce is final,  I am considering hiring a attorney I did the entire adjustment of status application with previous spouse my self with no issues,  but read there is more denials now,, is there any benefit in a attorney other can filing the correct documents accurately?  And if I only traveled to meet my new fiancé once is this enough or do I need multiple visits?   Thanks

Please fill out your timeline, since some answers depend on the country where your fiancé is from.

Yes, you can fill out a new K1 application. No attorney needed, it's pretty DYI if you have a straight forward case (previous filing is still pretty straightforward) An attorney will only fill out the forms for you and charge you a buttload of money.

Only met once depends completely on the country, how long ago it was, if there's an age difference etc. In general, the more face to face time you had the better.

If your fiancé is from, lets say, Nigeria then 1 time meeting is almost a guaranteed denial. Please let us know the situation so this question can be answered more accurate.

2 minutes ago, Roni and Carlos said:

We did not stay at a hotel...we stayed at his home.  So no receipts other than plane tickets.  Is that ok you think? 

You can't provide what you don't have 😉 So yeah, you're fine. Also send copies of the passport pages showing the stamps from entering the country to visit.

4 hours ago, ram1009 said:

Those of you who have filled out the interactive version of the I-129F know that, depending upon your answers, the form will only allow certain characters to be uses in certain areas of the form.  They do this by highlighting certain areas of the form that still need to be completed based upon your previous answers.  This is (I guess) suppose to save us the trouble of deciding which areas we can ignore.  That's all well & good but it conflicts with the written instructions for the form which state that many (maybe all) of the blanks need to have "NA" or NONE" inserted.  I'm wondering if this is really an issue because, obviously, it will need to be done manually.

Follow the instructions which state that every field need to be filled out. When you can't do it digital do it by hand.

We filled out our I-129F (2017) digital and I just filled out the parts that I couldn't do on the computer by hand.

2 minutes ago, Roni and Carlos said:

Most of my text messages with my fiancé are in Spanish .  Should I get them translated into English to submit as proof? 

Yup, but you can translate them yourself IF you're fluent in Spanish and English. You also have to write a statement that you're fluent in both.

Don't send too many texts, since they're not hard proof you met in the last 2 years. Pictures, plane tickets, hotel bookings etc are more important in this proces.

54 minutes ago, power808 said:

I'm not clear on filling out the Childrens section on I-751 with N/A

My wife and I have no children. I know USCIS mentions in the instructions to enter N/A in all fields which to not apply.

So for each child section must we enter N/A in every single field? And what about the YES and NO boxes? Can I leave these blank or must I check no to each one?

please see my screen print

thanks

 

N/A in the fields, don't tick the boxes, and if it asks anywhere on the application an amount (for example how many children) fill out none or 0.

On 3/16/2019 at 5:05 PM, DenisAlma said:

Thank you for your time and patience.

I am in deep now since I was dumb enough to make such a mistake.

I guess I will have to come to terms with the fact that I will have to wait 3 months for a new card.And the cherry on the top is the information that I got that Green card might be messed up as well, even tho I entered correct information, because they pull the name out of the system from I765 form which is messed up.

But, I guess, I can get it fixed on the interview, as, I heard, officer can over-ride the computer.

Don't worry about the green card. The officer goes over the full application and will fix any errors.

You can prob still work with a copy of the EAD and SSN, since the I-9 (the form you need to fill out for an employer stating your status) asks for your A number and that didn't change. The only tricky thing is that your SSN might be misspelled, but you can prob fix that at the office.

When I got my SSN they looked at my passport and my immigration status. USCIS should have you in the system under your right name. BUT this is just guessing what I'm doing, best to just call USCIS and SSN and find this out. I'm sure you'll be able to fix it rather quick!

2 hours ago, DenisAlma said:

Thank you so much, I hope that the things you wrote are true.

 

I just want to work, I wanted to make copies of EAD and SSN once I get it, to show to employers that Ive been approved, with a spelling mistake.

 

Are you sure that fee does not have to be paid , even tho its my mistake ? Never said I was sure in the first place. Theoretically with a pending I-485 you don't have to pay the EAD fee, but since they have to produce a new card because you made an error with the filing I don't know if it's fee free. When you call USCIS you should ask, and you can read the EAD instructions before you call (maybe it mentions something, I didn't look for it)

 

I guess I will have to suck up to the USCIS to have the case expedited since I am suffering financial losses. Prob not gonna be expedited since the error is on your side, but that's also something you can ask when you call

 

One more question, if I may, please.

 

Which is more important to the employers ? EAD or SSN ? You need both

 

I've read that SSN will not allow me to change the name until it matches the EAD name, and that wont happen for months since I am destroyed by the wait time to get the EAD renewed.I just got it and I cant bare with the fact that I have to wait double time because of a simple, honest, mistake.

1 hour ago, DenisAlma said:

Hello, guys !

 

I, really, need your help!

 

My EAD card was sent to me today, I received it in the mailbox and was so happy to open it.

Out of that happiness, I did not notice that my last name is misspelled on EAD card.

 

It came as a combo card.

 

After searching trough the papers, I have noticed that this mistake was on my end, as the EAD form was the only form that we sent with a misspelled last letter of my last name.

 

I filled the EAD form and Advance Parole form separately, with EAD form containing the misspelled name, while AP form contained the correct spelling.

 

I've seen that I entered the name wrong in the EAD filling form , that the wrong name was put on the NOA1, and 4 months later, NOA2 form, and I did not notice the mistake.

 

It is just one letter, the last letter of my last name.

 

Apparently, thats the legal name I put in the box of I765 form, with a mistake, but all other boxes on the same form, as well as other forms, had my name correctly spelled.

 

I have not received my SSN number and I am afraid that, since I opted to receive it along with I765 form, will have the misspelled name, as well.

 

Can anyone, please, advise me what to do ?!

 

I will be calling USCIS on Monday, to explain the situation, but from what I have read, I will have to send the card back, with a new application form, including the fee and with all of the other details supporting the fact that my name was misspelled.Apparently the process can take up to 90 days and I really do not have the nerves to wait another 3 months after I've waited for 5 months...

 

I have several question and I would very much appreciate if a person, who has knowledge in this, takes a look at this:

 

1.When opting to get SSN while filling out the I765 form, is the legal name put on the I765 form for EAD and SSN the same ? I am afraid that, in the situation I wrote up, I will get an SSN misspelled, as well? Usually it should be the same, just check once your SSN gets in. If it has your name misspelled, go to the SSN office right away and request a new card with the right spelling

 

2.Since, from what I've read, the EAD card has an alien number, which does not change, and, apparently, the SSN also has a number that does not change ( only under rare instances ), will I be able to work, using the numbers and copies of my EAD card and SSN card, while getting them renewed for a mistake ? From googling this question the answer seems yes, you're allowed to work since your A number is registered as allowed to work, but double check with USCIS when you call. You don't want to work illegally by accident.

 

3.Since the processing times are long, and EAD serves temporarily, until the Green card is received, should the misspelling of one letter make a big issue with employers ?

I wouldn't be worried about this if the Green card was coming shortly after EAD, but knowing processing times, it can take months for that, and it will take approx. 90 days to get the EAD card renewed, because the mistake was mine and I have low hopes of USCIS having mercy and helping out by filling out that it was their mistake or to expedite my case due to financial losses I've been suffering because of the long waits. You HAVE to correct your card, since the card does not have the correct spelling. Since it's your mistake it may take a little bit to get the new card.

 

Since you have your I-485 pending it should be free of charge to get your EAD renewed with the right spelling, but also double check this when you call USCIS

 

Anyone that can help, please ?

1 hour ago, Antonio Cavenaghi said:

We are filling out I130/I130A forms. The beneficiary is Italian, recently moved to Switzerland (current place of work), and still don't have a definitive address (using Airbnb for now). Can we use the beneficiary's work address for the process and change to the home address when finally move

I think the main question is: can we use the work address as physical address to file the forms or should we wait until have the home address?

Work address is fine, as long as it's not a PO box (double check, but I recall something about that a PO box is not accepted, but that might be for AOS lol)

His/her address gets important once the file gets sent over to the embassy, so if you change it before then you should be good

4 hours ago, Amber and Shawn said:

Ok thanks @C90 Do we put all our documents into a binder or paperclipping by bulletpoint and sending without a file, I've seen people debating about this from posts from 2016 so maybe theres a recent requirement? Also do we have to include chat history? How did you do that, i mean we talked back in 2015 every single day its a long scroll up (facebook)

The only 'rule' they have is that you sent something that they can take apart easily. 

We sent our file (2017) in a soft binder with insert covers. We put a little note on every insert cover to say what was in it, and we put little notes on the pics/boarding passes/hotel bookings to tell them the exact dates and the events. We didn't use staples cause it's a pain to get them out of there, just paperclipped stuff together

On 3/12/2019 at 4:50 PM, chinitayukii said:

I received a notice letter for the EAD renewal on 07/24/2018 and I used this to extend my employment in November. I have not heard any additional update after that. The HR department where I work is asking for proof no later than may 11th, but I don't know how I can prove it without any update from the USCIS.

You should call USCIS to file an inquiry, since you're outside normal processing time. If it's not going anywhere in time (although you still have 2 months, but def call first thing Monday morning) you should file another renewal for EAD so that you get another extension letter.

Weird enough I hear from a lot of people that renew EAD that they just never get a renewal, just the extension letter. Prob they're so busy with initial EAD's that they don't have time to process the renewals.

On 3/14/2019 at 9:45 PM, KV & TQ said:

Please keep us posted if you hear back from them. My AOS interview is coming up and I came in on a K-1 as well. You'd think it would be easier since the Consulate already did a lot of work on the case...

It's very common to not get a decision at the interview itself. It's actually more uncommon to get the decision right away.

The reason is pretty simple. Most IO's are not allowed to make the decision and have to hand it to a supervisor for the last check. In some cases they didn't finish the background check yet, so they'll have to wait for that.

Go into your interview with the expectation that you won't get a decision, it can take up to 3 months to get one (although it's usually somewhere from 1 day to 1 month)

5 hours ago, Karim3_22 said:

Just received an update. New card is being produced ! 

Congrats!

14 hours ago, nitad3 said:

Hi all, 

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I hope this is the right place to do so! 

 

I'm currently waiting for my K1 via approval, and I am hoping to make it out to US before September. When there, I'm hoping to attend a grad school in my state (Michigan). 

From what I understand and read on similar forums thus far, I am able to apply for Grad schools or perhaps community colleges whilst waiting for my AOS. Could anyone confirm that this is the case? 

Does anyone have any experience with applying to Grad schools and could give me some guidance on how their experience was whilst awaiting an AOS? I would love to hear any experiences anyone had with the process. 

Thank you so much in advance! 

Basically what others said already, depends on the school. Some schools won't even accept K1 holders that are in the AOS process (before EAD) since they have no proof of legal status (although this is pretty uncommon)

The community college I went to for info told me I can enroll, but have to pay international student fees as long as I don't have my green card. Not sure why some schools do that and other let you pay the in state tuition, but make sure you get all the info before enrolling in any school to avoid financial surprises.