cywrainide

Hey, I had my interview March 5th and was approved but on the online tracker it still states 'case is scheduled for interview on January 23rd' and haven't received my card. Should I be concerned?

Hello, just a small update. Went for the interview at Montgomery AL at 2:30pm on March 5th. My husband (My petitioner) was called in first, and according to him all the interviewer wanted to do was to make sure that his answers matched our answers on our Adjustment of Status form and he gave the interviewer our updated Affidavit of Support (he quit his old job when I first came, and have found a new job since). We don't have any joint bank accounts or decrees whatever because of my SSN problem (look through my post history and you'll figure it out) so according to my husband, the interviewer asked to talk to my father-in-law as part of our relationship proof and he also handed him updated pictures of us. About 15-20 minutes later, I was called in to have my interview together with my husband. All he really did was reaffirm my answers on the paper vs in real life. Towards the end he said we were approved, and we saw him physically stamp our papers with the 'Approved' chop. Wasn't issued any approval letter either, just confirmation that the conditional green card would be issued in a couple of weeks. No updates on EAD, would be useless at this point. Cheers

Alright, so here's the updated timeline with some of my thoughts: 

Filed: October 22nd 2019

Received: October 24th 2019

NOA 1: November 6th 2019

Biometric appt notice: November 15th 2019

Biometric appt: December 4th 2019

On the same day, both case numbers for AOS and EAD changed on the status tracker to reflect that my fingerprints have been taken

Interview date notice: January 23rd 2020

Interview date received: January 27th 2020

Interview date: March 5 2020

Now, I know that we have to bring a lot of biographic supplements and proof of marriage and et cetera, but something is really annoying me. We never had the opportunity to have a joint bank account because the SSN office that is located nearest to me really messed up. If you look through my post history, you'll see the nonsense. I have four names and the SSN office kept sending in verification requests because they allegedly couldn't find my name in the system and sent in verification requests to SAVE two times. Then we returned to the SSN office and had to go through another guy who said we should change the I-94 name (The I-94 had my first and last name instead of all names) and the CBP officer at the airport looked so confused. In his confusion he crammed all three of my names into the first name slot and my last name as-is, and we returned back to the SSN office to STILL not have any verification of my name. 

To counteract that I have Medicaid and also my husband's joint insurance with me, but I am wondering. My married name STILL has four names because I can only change my very last name and if I were to eliminate any names, I'd have to pay for a lawyer to do that. We don't got lawyer money hun. Would I still experience SSN issues even after I obtain an EAD card or my green card? I ticked 'yes' under the EAD form for them to open an SSN account for me, thinking that'll help....

(Also I don't know if the SSN office was being petty but I saw all of their SAVE verification requests being done and approved, YET they waited til THE DAY MY I-94 EXPIRED to mail me a notice saying that I wasn't eligible for an SSN. We came there and the SAVE verification requests were done about TWO months before that. I find this ridiculous.)

Hey guys, quick update. Got a letter in the mail for my Adjustment of Status interview for March 5th. Haven't had any mailed updates for my EAD, but I will check and also do a timeline when I have time.

I also received my Biometrics appt for Dec 4th. I'm quite shocked, I expected all of this to take longer lol 

Just an update! Received my NOA1 letters in the mail for the adjustment of status and EAD. I added my G-1145 form so I'm confused as to why I didn't get any mail or text updates.

Sent: 10/22/2019

Received: 10/24/2019

NOA1: 6/11/2019

Joining the squad.

Sent in through Fedex: October 22nd 2019

Arrived at USCIS Lockbox : October 24th 2019

And here comes the wait...

10 hours ago, Ayrton said:

You can email CBP and get the name fixed on the I-94, I sent the email at 10pm, the next morning my name was fixed. I still had to go through secondary verification because my name was too long and couldn't fit the SS system.

 

Your I-94 also need to match your document for the AOS. So definitely get it fixed before sending the package.

Hi there, which email address did you use to get to them?

Thank you

16 minutes ago, Villanelle said:

https://www.uscis.gov/save/casecheck

 

What does it show you here? 

 

If I am remembering correctly you need at least 2 weeks min left on your i94 for SS to even process you. (76 days out of the 90)  SSA goes through the "SAVE" checks. If theres not a automatic electronic match or mismatch issues they have to do manual verification which can take 4-6 weeks. If your i94 is not correct again you may have to seek out a CBP deffered inspection site to fix.

Gives me two columns, one that says 'case under review' and another that says 'case returned to agency'. What does both of those statuses being there at the same time mean?

2 hours ago, Villanelle said:

As a k visa holder you only have limited time to get a SSN. You most likely will have to wait for the EAD to get a SSN.

 

Make sure you submit the AOS packet with the married name you want. I'm assuming A B C "Husband last name"?

 

You also might be able to go to CBP inspection office and have them correct your 94 but I don't know if you will have time for that due to the limited window.

 

Does your k visa list ABCD as your name? And that matches passport with only i94 missing middle names?

Yes, my K visa does list ABCD and so does my passport. It's just the I-94 with the issue. My I-94 expires on December 3rd, is that too short of a timeframe?

Hello there!

My husband and I went to the local SSN office about a few days ago (last Friday) in hopes of issuing me an SSN and card. however. there was a name mismatch on the the I-94 versus my name on my passport. I have four names (let's say we will represent each name as A,B,C, and D) and the I-94 only displayed my first and last name, making it A and D. It left out my two middle names. As a result, the SS officer decided to put it a document verification request to verify my identity and I couldn't get my SSN or get a joint bank account with my husband. 

We're more than ready to begin filing for the AOS since we've already gotten married, but because we got married in another state and et cetera my current name can not be changed to my intended married name. So i'm wondering, is it alright for us to begin filing for AOS, send in the application. then wait for however long the DHS takes to verify my identity and then change my name and update USCIS with a changed name? (And then subsequently get a joint bank account as proof of relationship for the interview)?

Also another thing that the social security officer said was that if I changed my name I'd have to get a whole new K1 visa re-issued in my married name. I've never heard of that. Is that true? To my knowledge is the visa even valid since I'm already married? 

Thanks for your help.

Hi there! Just a small update:

If you need an extra review of the Embassy, you can find it in my timeline. Hopefully it is helpful.

Post-Interview information

1. I tracked my case through the CEAC tracker all throughout the days after my interview. On the date of the interview itself (the 24th), the status did not change. One day later on the 25th it was put into Administrative Processing, and on the 26th the status had changed to Issued

2. On the 27th (a Saturday) I did not receive any updates about it

3. On the 28th (a Sunday), I received a very strange alien looking text from 'ustraveldocs' on my phone. I'm guessing the system isn't truly configured to relay the message through text, so I thought about checking my email. Luckily enough I had an update email on my passport and visa issuance, with a tracking number from Aramex in the email

4. I then went on the Aramex website and through tracking information, it reached the Singapore delivery facility at 8:29pm on the 26th. Which is extremely efficient. Had the next days not been a weekend I think I would've been able to obtain the visa on the next day itself

5. On the morning of the 29th (Monday) I received an email that my passport was ready to be picked up at People's Park Center (I decided to choose pick-up as I've noticed that it generally takes faster to do so than to do home delivery? Moreover you don't have to worry about not being home/sleeping while the mailman arrives, which is more convenient for me). 

6. On the exact day at around 5pm I decided to collect my passport! The pick-up point is quite easy to access, take exit D of Chinatown MRT station towards People's Park Center and take the escalator down and turn left. I scared myself shitless looking at the Google Reviews of this place as many people have claimed that the customer service there is awful, but I found it fairly neutral. You just need to surrender your IC, have the attendant find your package, and then sign a piece of paper and write your IC number down. That's all.

And that's all for now! This visa process has been exhilarating and I can't wait to do my PoE with my fiance soon. Good luck to all of you having your interview soon

Personally I decided to call the NVC to obtain my case number and do the CEAC tracking. My NVC physical letter came to my address almost a month and a half late- I'd already received my packet 3 from the Embassy by the time the physical letter from the NVC arrived.

1. File the visa after you have met (if it is the first time you are going to meet.) as it is a requirement to have met at least once within two years of filing. And also be sure with each other that you would want to file for a K1

2. Your Fiance cannot file the K1 in the Philippines unless he is there on a permanent residency through direct consular filing, it makes the most legal sense for him to file it from the United States. If not done through direct consular filing (which cannot be done if he doesn't 'reside' in the PH), you need to mail the packet to an american address which would obviously cost more in mailing fees from the PH compared to mailing it domestically in the US 

3. Once filing the packet and if you have stated that your current residence is in Singapore, the case will be routed to the USEM in Singapore for you to continue the rest of your case

Good luck!

First thing I would take note of is whether your fiance is from/of a country of typically perceived 'high risk', and the tone of the Embassy there (whether they tend to be more traditionalist/open-minded) and et cetera. Are refusals pretty common there despite high evidence proof of meeting each other/knowing each other well? etc.

Personally I have a similar 'face time' timeframe and my Embassy is in Singapore (which is low risk and tend to be pretty objective in their approvals, as far as I can gather) which went through USCIS just fine. I've heard of cases over here where they've only met once for a few amount of days and somehow still got approved so it really is circumstantial.

If you feel that your face time is insufficient,  I would advice your fiance to bring along other proof(s) of relationship such as chat logs and even Skype screengrabs to further prove that your relationship is solidified.

First Man! (Also July 20th marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark Apollo 11 mission. Ahhh.)

Also he plans to be unemployed for a month then go into the second job which would average out to 60k annual

6 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

1. Not included in household UNLESS they are your co-sponsors.

 

2. Savings is secondary. $34000 is worth $11k and would not meet the guidelines for 2 ppl.

Current employment earnings are paramount. I would not change jobs at all during the AOS process if you already meet the poverty guidelines (which you have not stated you do). If he doesnt have a current job or one that hes worked at for at least 6 months, you will need a joint sponsor.

Please elaborate on your CURRENT employment situation. Cannot answer until you do.

Current employment situation is as such: He's been at the job for more than a year now, with yearly income expected at $50880 (actual total earnings average out to 42000). 

Hello!

I'm just collating more information to prepare for my intending AOS.  I have a few questions:

a) We intend to live in his parents' home for 6 months after I arrive, however he does not have any financial tie to his parents- they have their own income, he is not dependent on them and they are not dependent on him. Would we have to declare them under our household or not?

b) He intends to switch jobs right after I arrive to a more local job, and we have a budget of money that we are collating to keep. So here's the estimates: we'd have around 32000-34000 saved in the bank account around the time we file for the AOS, and we're planning on filing for the AOS almost right after we get married. However he wants to start his new job 2-3 weeks after our estimated date of sending the AOS in. Would it be rational to send the AOS in before he starts his new job and then inform USCIS about the job change, or wait til he enters the new job to boost the affidavit of support we'd send in with the package?

I'm sorry if these questions are redundant, but thank you for any incoming replies

Hi there, to any fellow Singaporean K1 Beneficiaries.

I know that there's another thread on Singapore K1 filers, but it's mostly targeted towards 2017-2018 filers. So for 2019 beneficiaries and onward, I think opening up a new thread would be the most convenient. I hope this intended thread is a valuable resource for Singapore-specific K1 filers

First of all, the stats:

NOA1: January 22nd, 2019

NOA2: April 10th, 2019

NVC left: May 14th, 2019

Embassy received: May 21st, 2019

Packet 3 received: June 12th, 2019

As of now (Jul 7, 2019) I think the Singapore Embassy is either going through a really high workload or just busy in general so the intervals between my received - Packet 3 dates and Packet 3 sent - Interview date issued dates are genuinely quite long compared to previous cases I think.

What did I was email the Embassy to enquire about both issues, and they seem to have sped up their process after informing them of how long it has been. So perhaps if you are waiting for a long time for your Packet 3 to arrive or for the Embassy to issue you an interview date I think doing as such would be of a tremendous ease to yourself if you worry a lot like I do.

Singapore-specific activities!

• Obtaining a Police Clearance Certificate

I decided to register for my police clearance certificate the day I received my Packet 3 (which was a day late because the Embassy actually uses speed delivery directly to your home to deliver the Packet 3, and I was sleeping while the ol chap of a mailman arrived. I had to go to Singpost to obtain my missed package lol.) and it's pretty straightforward. Go to https://eservices.police.gov.sg/content/policehubhome/homepage/certificate-of-clearance-hub.html and the instructions are all there. I'm Singaporean so all I needed to do was enter using my Singpass and et cetera. Also, there will be a specific letter requesting for the police certificate included in your packet 3 that has both your full name and case number on it. That will be your 'scanned documentary proof indicating that a COC is needed', not the checklist.

My approval for the COC was issued in about three days. I submitted my request on a Friday, (the wait presumably being due a weekend) and received the SMS notice to book an appointment on Monday at around 6pm. I then scheduled an appointment using the e-appointment portal afterwards. 

I headed over to the Police Cantonment Complex (which is pretty easy to access), traded my identity card for a visitor's pass, went up to the level at which the COC office was, and got a waiting number ticket. Then, as my ticket number was called, I proceeded to the fingerprinting room where a friendly police officer would be there to help you record your fingerprints. He was making conversation the whole time- yes, multitasking- while also doing my fingerprints. The process is not at all intimidating. (Also do not fret if you have dry fingers like me, they seem to handle the issue quite well). Afterwards, you wait outside for a while until your ticket number is called again and the person behind the counter issues you your police certificate. Be sure to closely check that the passport number and name printed on the certificate matches the one on your passport.

• Scheduling a medical exam

Oh, the dreaded medical exam. I've heard countless bad reviews of the main clinic used to conduct US visa medicals in Singapore (a clinic under Fullerton Healthcare) so I knew that was going to be a hassle. However with my packet 3, I had a letter attached for the medical exam that stated two clinics- one at Fullerton Healthcare, and another one under the name of Pivot Medical Clinic. I was relieved that there was an extra medical clinic for me to go to, instead of just the one that is just dreaded amongst everyone.

I decided to take a gambit and call up Fullerton Healthcare (Drs Horne and Chin if i'm not wrong) and boy oh boy was it a hilarious phonecall. Let me transcribe what happened. 

Me: *calls the exact number that was printed on the Embassy letter*

someone answers

Me: Hi, is this Drs Horne and Chin's clinic?

Person: Huh?

Me: Hi, is this Drs Horne and Chin's clinic at Fullerton Healthcare?

Person: Ah, I dunno 

line gets transferred to someone else

Me: Hi, is this Drs Horne and Chin's clinic at Fullerton Healthcare?

Person: AH? *gets surprised in Singaporean*

at this point i'm wondering if they just can't simply understand my accent, since I speak with a British one

Me: Can you hear me?

line gets transferred to someone else

Me: Is this Drs Horne and Chin's clinic at Fullerton Healthcare?

Person: Uhhhh....

line gets transferred to someone else

Me: Hello? Is this Drs Horne and Chin's clinic at Fullerton Healthcare?

Person: Wrong number.

Me, stares into my phone realising that I did type in the correct number.

So that's already an encounter of how unprofessional that particular clinic is. I would recommend anyone to avoid it at all costs.

I decide to email Pivot Medical Clinic to schedule a medical instead and to my surprise, they replied within 10 minutes. Very fast and super efficient. However I'm not sure if this is a thing specific to this clinic, but you can't schedule a medical until your interview date is set up. So please do not worry about scheduling the medical before your interview date is issued to you. I had to wait a few weeks until the date was issued and finally schedule an appointment. They set an appointment for me on the next day at 9:30am after I mailed them my completed form, Gmail copy of the interview email, and my scanned passport biometric page.

Pivot Medical Clinic is at the Shaw Centre, on the 17th floor. It is quite lush and actually quite a beautiful clinic with a nicely decorated waiting area. I gave them my passport and 4 Singapore-sized passport pictures, where the lady at the counter would require you to sign on the white space at the right-hand corner of the image. I was then told to sit and wait, and within 1-2 minutes they were ready to proceed with me.I was instructed to pee into a small container and then return, where a friendly nurse then asked me for my vaccination records, where she reviewed it and instructed another staff member to photocopy it, and then needed to draw blood from me.

If your veins are not easily seen like mine, you'll be required to squeeze a little rock toy in order for her to see your veins lol. It was a pretty quick process. After drawing blood, you will be sent to the next-door room for a quick eye test (colour-blindness and visual acuity) as well as a quick height and weight recording. It was genuinely fast. I was then escorted to another room, where the main doctor was to conduct the other segment of the test. He was quite astute and well-mannered as well. Blood pressure was taken, and a physical examination of the joints/cardiac system through stethoscope on two segments of your front chest and back as well/as well as visual inspection for hernia was done. Lastly it was the general health history questions I presume for the actual USCIS medical form, such as whether you have any underlying ailments or issues with your health. I then proceeded to the counter for payment.

Pivot Medical Clinic does not have its own X-ray room, so they give you a referral form to go an aesthetician clinic (?) on the 8th floor to do your x-ray. Once obtaining the referral form, I paid for all services (blood test, urine sample test and also the x ray) at Pivot itself then proceeded to the clinic (which is on the 8th floor of the same building.) So without the x-ray, the time taken for this took less than an hour actually. I then went to the second clinic where you'd have to register and generally wait for a while until your name is called, and then do standard procedures for an x-ray- remove your clothing and any other necklaces and bun up your hair. If you have textured hair like me and have your hair in a protective style, (on that day I had twists) be sure to bring along some hairties and extra barettes/hairpins. The doctor facilitating had to use a giant clip to really keep my hair out of my neck because my bun wasn't tight enough. You would then be instructed to take some deep breaths in and out, and you're done. All you have to do is to wait for your cd of the x ray to be generated and leave. Also please don't tamper with the cd, at this moment I believe it's for immigration officers? 

All in all, it took about 1hr 30 minutes or about 2 hours. It's not that long at all.

And finally, the interview! My interview is in 2 weeks and 3 days. I will be sure to keep you guys updated and provide a review of the Embassy afterwards. If you have any further questions, don't forget to ask!

The checklist is the piece of paper (double-sided) that lists all the things that you need to obtain  before mailing it back to the Embassy. 

I'd just provide the extra names just in case, but I too had to submit the 'names i have used' before for my police clearance and over here they printed the final certificate with my current name since I have retained the same identification number since birth. I'm hoping it would be the same for you

Have you received your NOA2 yet?

From personal experience, we decided to go against the grain and combine our 'how we met' story together with the 'proof of actual meeting' into one document, highlighting the necessary and labelling the pictures/boarding passes/receipts to connect the two. I think it's fine any way you do it, because we got approved just fine with no RFEs. As long as its legible and you essentially produce your proof of actual meeting