ST_RO

On 4/19/2024 at 7:36 AM, JohnGr said:

I got an almost instant message after submitting my N400 that my Biometrics will be reused. 
 

Same for me!

On 4/15/2024 at 3:28 PM, Letspaintcookies said:

From what I heard they often have voter registration tables at the oath ceremony. So no need for the SSN to be updated apparently. 

It does need to be updated, that's why they have the question in the N400 application about whether or not you want to submit your SSN and have USCIS send it over to SS admin or if you want to do it yourself. 

USCIS published an update to their policy manual in August 2023, they are promoting voter registration services for new citizens. That said, if local government or non-governmental organizations choose not to attend the naturalization ceremonies, you still need to take care of it yourself. I would find it cool if I could register to vote the same day!

On 4/13/2024 at 1:18 AM, justaman said:

 

Would we have enough time to register though?

The closer the date, the more nervous I'm getting. If the case is not complicated, we don't need a lawyer, right?

Depends on which state you are in. You can look up the voter registration deadline for your state online.

I'm in FL and mine is October 7, but since the SSN has to be updated after naturalization, with 7 months processing time currently, I have a feeling it's not happening for me.

IMO you don't need a lawyer, and even if things get complicated or you get an RFE, a little research and questions in the forums will be enough. 

On 4/12/2024 at 2:32 PM, Letspaintcookies said:

8 months is showing for my office. It would be great if it would be done by October tho cause I'd really like to vote this year.

Same, but I think even with 7 months processing time it will be really close. After naturalization, the SSN needs to still be updated with the fact that we are now citizens. 

October 7 is the deadline to register to vote in FL (deadlines vary by state), I have a feeling it's not going to happen for me.

On 4/3/2024 at 3:22 PM, Letspaintcookies said:

Glad to have somebody with me who wants it to go fast, but not before June 26th fast 🤣

🤣I know, right? Fingers crossed we don't have to wait too long! What's your estimated processing time in NJ? Mine says 7 months, at least that's faster than it took for my I-751 to process...

Filed yesterday as well, here we go!

Finally! I-751 was approved (without interview) on 2/15/24, waiting for the card. N400 here we come...

I hope everyone else will be approved soon!

On 7/18/2023 at 7:00 PM, RambaCat said:

Congratulations! Hoping that means mine will also happen any day now!

Same, I'm also processed via Potomac. Good to at least see some movement. 

On 7/18/2023 at 12:05 PM, MrSingle2020 said:

🥳 Finally, after more than 2 years 🎉

New card being produced. 
Potomac Center

Congratulations!!

Potomac Service Center, also received my 48-month-extension letter for my pending I-751 today.

On 5/4/2019 at 9:05 PM, americaninlove said:

Congrats! You always seem to be on the speedy track! And I’m surprised for Texas too...I would imagine that’s a slow immigration state?!

Thank you! Well, not this time, at least not before the interview was scheduled. I didn't get my SSN because my SS office screwed it up, my I-94 was screwed up, we got the RFE... I really did not think I would be getting anything anytime soon - for one because I was lucky with the K1 and  I also thought Texas (El Paso specifically) is slow. The Field Office processing time is between 6.5 and 17 months. I have no idea why it went through so fast. But who knows, I'm still waiting for the letter with the interview date (who knew that checking the mailbox could be such a thrill, right?).

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you and your husband hear something soon, especially regarding AP. I have two very sick family members - one of them my dad and besides the fact that I obviously don't want them to die, I don't even want to think about the consequences/decisions I would have to make in case it got to that situation.

5 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

They never admit anything. That's the thing.

 

By rereading your original post, I dont think it had much to do with the MC proving when you married and who you married but moreso proving you were approved for the I129F that made you eligible to apply for a K1 Visa, making you eligible to enter the US on that K1 Visa, making you eligible to marry your USC within 90 days thus making you eligible to apply for AOS.

Without the I129F approval you would not have been able able to do any of those things.

It seems like they lost the bottom piece of the Jenga tower in your case.

 

🎤"There's a hole in my bucket, Dear Liza, a hole" 🎤

 

Congrats on getting the interview my dear! I hope its smooth sailing for you the rest of the way!

You’re so right about the Jenga piece and the whole in the bucket, haha! 

Thank you so much! 

20 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

Did you end up submitting a copy of your I129F Noa2 approval notice to prove your were approved for the I129F petition that led you to being allowed to apply for a K1 visa?

Yes, forgot to list that one in my post, but I did. However everything I submitted in documents with my reply had already been part of my AOS package. 

What drove me mad was that they didn’t state in their RFE what it is they’re supposedly missing. Something like “please submit your marriage certificate, missing in file”. Just stating “you did not get married within 90 days” does not really help. Anyway, I’m glad it’s done. 

To give an update in case anybody receives an RFE for the same reason: in my reply to USCIS, I repeated the information they already had (duh, it’s in the application, guys)

- when I arrived

- when we got married 

- that we did get married within 90 days (just in case the adjudicator is really bad at adding 9 days to my POE date...math really sucks)

- that my husband is indeed the guy who filed for my K1

 To “prove” all that (they have all this already, but sure, let me send it all again...) I submitted

- all pages of passport (yep, here is my fancy entry stamp)

- I-94 printout

- certified copy of marriage certificate (detailing in my letter that this is REALLY a marriage certificate-see the raised seal, stamp and clerk’s signature guys???)

- proof of husband’s citizenship (yes, it’s really him) 

I kept the letter very formal, but between the lines I let it shine through that all this has been laid out in the application and the RFE made it impossible for me to figure out what exactly lead USCIS to believe that we did not get married within 90 days. 

It it took me a while to reply because I did a lot of research before sending it off, I really didn’t want to risk a seconds RFE. They received it around April 10 and the good news is that I got an update today, saying I’m scheduled for my interview. 😃 I’m hoping the letter will be here shortly, so I don’t have the date yet, but I might actually have my Greencard before EAD and AP approved. 

3 hours ago, Cryssiekins said:

Ugh, how terribly frustrating.  I’m sorry that they’ve made a mistake. 

  

Definitely respond to the RFE and restate all applicable dates.  You definitely married within 90 days, so as long as you point out the mistake, it will be rectified.  Just an annoying mistake to have to endure.  

Agreed 100%.  I know in my county the Clerk’s Office can actually certify the certificate (literally the definition of redundancy) but overkill is definitely advisable in this situation.

My best guess is that they did not accept our Marriage Certificate as such because in Texas (or at least here in El Paso County, not sure about the rest of Texas) the Marriage License becomes your Marriage Certificate. You take the license back to the Clerk's office and they then confirm on the License that the marriage was entered into the records. I will call them tomorrow to make sure there is nothing else I need to know about, but I specifically asked them about that when we got our certified copies because I knew I would need an official document for AOS. 

2 hours ago, mc962 said:

Maybe they were having an off day that day...we just got an RFIE for something equally as frustrating on March 14 as well (for something we definitely sent, but they said was not sent).

Sorry to hear that! I hope you get it resolved and keep your head up! You're right, this process is frustrating and USCIS is not making it easier.

1 hour ago, K1visaHopeful said:

Did you submit ALL of the required documents below with EACH of your I485, I765 and I131:

  

1) your passport bio page.

 2) your K1 Visa sticker and entry stamp which proves you entered on your K1.

3) your I94 admission record which serves as the official record of when your 90 days started (your marriage certificate only proves when you married, not when you arrived so you need that to prove when the 90 days started).

 4) a photocopy of your K1 Noa2 Approval Notice that proves you were approved for a K1 petition by USCIS.

  

On the I485:

5) Did you fill out Page 4, Part 2 Question 3 with your "Receipt number of underlying petition" with your K1 Noa1 receipt number?

6) Did you fill out Page 4, Part 2 Question 4 with your "Priority Date for underlying petition" with your K1 Noa1 receipt date?

 

If you did not do ALL of the above that is likely why....

2

Yes, submitted all the docs with each application and answered the questions accordingly.

On 3/16/2019 at 1:12 AM, ST_RO said:

Received a text message on 03/14 that they are sending us an RFE for the I-485. Uuuuuughhhh. 

I was looking forward to getting a biometrics appointment, but not this.😬 I hate having to wait to find out what for...

 

 

Received the RFE in the mail today, separate post on reasons here:

Hi everyone,

I suppose we need some help. USCIS is really tearing me down - or cracking me up.

I entered the US on a K1 on 12/06/2018. We got married on 12/15/2018 - which is 9 days after I entered.

I filed for AOS - NOA date is 03/05/2019. Received an RFIE on 03/14/2019, which arrived in the mail today and states the following:

The petitioner on form I-129F and the K-1 applicant did not marry within 90 days of the K-1's arrival into the United States; therefore, Form I-129F cannot be used as a basis for adjustment of status. You must submit evidence that a valid immigrant visa petition has been filed on your behalf. Any petition filed on your behalf after this I-485 application was received by USCIS will not make you eligible for adjustment of status with this Form I-485. If you do not have a valid petition filed on your behalf either before or at the time this Form I-485  was filed, you may withdraw this Form I-485 by sending a letter stating that you wish to withdraw this Form I-485.

We did include a certified copy of our marriage certificate and we did fill out page 7 of Form I-485 (information about your current marriage). The marriage certificate is also listed in my cover letter content list for the AOS package. 

I am a little confused about what to do now since the RFIE is not asking me to submit our marriage certificate. 

My best guess is to send back the following:

1. copy of all pages of the RFIE - do they need to be signed by me?
2. Another certified copy of our marriage certificate
3. Include a letter that states again when I entered, when we got married, how many days after entering the US this is, that I am including my marriage certificate again. 

If somebody else has received an RFIE like this or anything else that could help me in making sure I reply the right way, I would appreciate your help!

Thank you!

1 hour ago, UnitedStatesGuy said:

Can I DM you for this as well? I don't see anywhere on turbotax to report foreign income and our IRS appointment is tomorrow!

Sure! Happy to help if I can. 

13 hours ago, Romei said:

Your RFE will not affect your biometrics appointment because i received RFIE for i485 and biometrics appointment on the same day .. my RFIE is regarding the tax returns for 2018 and my joint sponsor.. 

Yeah, I got the biometrics appointment today. I’m assuming the RFE will be here Monday or Tuesday and my guess is that it will be for the same reason. 

13 hours ago, Gigi2017 said:

Did you send enough proof for the Bona Fide marriage? Photos, utility bills with both of your names, emails and phone talk activity?
I just got the NOA letters yesterday and I read way too many RFE-s here in the forum. Please update us when you'll receive the RFE letter.

There is no need to submit proof of a bona fide marriage at this stage, this is needed once you get to the interview.

I am pretty sure that the RFE is either for the affidavit of support or just a random box we forgot to check, a signature we forgot or some other stupid minor mistake. I will post an update once I have the letter. 

Received a text message on 03/14 that they are sending us an RFE for the I-485. Uuuuuughhhh. 

I was looking forward to getting a biometrics appointment, but not this.😬 I hate having to wait to find out what for...

On 3/11/2019 at 7:36 PM, JK1880 said:

Hello,

 

I am US Citizen and I recently got married last year in 2018 with foreign spouse. I want to file joint return. My spouse only worked 2 months in 2018 and earned around $200 in cash. My wife doesn't has SSN and IITIN number. I got her certified Foreign passport and statement to elect as resident alien so that we can file jointly. I am planning to include 1040, w7, certified copy of my spouse passport, and statement electing both as resident for entire tax year 2018. I am filing all together in Austin IRS office. Am i doing it correctly or I am missing something here?

 Also, once I elect my foreign wife as US resident , can I use form 2555 for my wife foreign income exclusion? Please suggest if I can use this form? or I shouldn't be using this form at all? please advice.

Thank You in advance.

It sounds like you have everything you need.

Yes, you use form 2555, but you might be able to use form 2555-EZ instead.

We also filed at the IRS office because I did not have a SSN or ITIN. They made a copy of my passport right there and stamped it, so you don't even need to bring a certified copy.

6 hours ago, tampa83 said:

I have been reading the IRS 519 publication for more than an hour trying to make sense of how to file our taxes jointly. My husband arrived here in July (less than 183 day rule for the healthcare exemption). He got his green card Feb of this year...I am trying to figure out the Resident Alien status or Non-Status. Correct me if I'm wrong, he would be Non-Resident Alien?

 

Also, his earned income in a foreign country, where can I include it? I cannot do a W-2 form because we don't have his  Employer Identification Number (EIN) - FreeTaxUSA isn't accepting the income without an EIN. 

 

I am trying to do this without going to a tax preparer. Any guidance would be helpful. 

We just did exactly the same thing and luckily we had the full Turbotax version for free. If you'd like, send me a direct message and I will send you the numbers of the form we used to report my foreign earned income and the letter we sent to elect me as a resident for tax purposes. We had an appointment with the IRS this week because I had to apply for an ITIN because the SSA screwed everything up and I didn't get a SSN until my I-94 expired. Long story short, they accepted all of our paperwork.