peanutismint

I think you'll have to queue up and present your Advance Parole documentation to the border officer. I traveled last year using an AP/ EAD combo card and when I arrived back at LAX and presented my documents, I was sent to secondary processing as according to the agent I was 'one of those funny ones who doesn't have status, but doesn't not have status'.
 
I waited for about 30 mins in secondary processing before being asked some basic questions about when I got married, where I live etc and then was allowed through.

In the meantime kick back and run up your sponsor’s credit card 

That’s annoying, hope it doesn’t take too long. This is why I was concerned, because I was already in a queue to get a work permit, now it just feels like I’ve joined another queue without really knowing how long either of them are. This  system is completely broken. Extra frustrating when I could’ve probably applied for an expedite way back in like April if I thought it was going to make the process any faster. People on this forum said it was maybe 1% effective, and maybe that went up to 20% if you file through your Congress like I did, but speaking to the Congress office they say it’s pretty much guaranteed to get approved if you submit with a letter of job offer, so now I really wish I had done this months ago. With the backlog the way it currently is, it could’ve been as long as November or even December from me submitting my form mid March, so here’s hoping it comes through earlier now... USCIS is kind of a farce!  🤷🏻‍♂️

That’s annoying, hope it doesn’t take too long. This is why I was concerned, because I was already in a queue to get a work permit, now it just feels like I’ve joined another queue without really knowing how long either of them are. This  system is completely broken. Extra frustrating when I could’ve probably applied for an expedite way back in like April if I thought it was going to make the process any faster. People on this forum said it was maybe 1% effective, and maybe that went up to 20% if you file through your Congress like I did, but speaking to the Congress office they say it’s pretty much guaranteed to get approved if you submit with a letter of job offer, so now I really wish I had done this months ago. With the backlog the way it currently is, it could’ve been as long as November or even December from me submitting my form mid March, so here’s hoping it comes through earlier now... USCIS is kind of a farce!  🤷🏻‍♂️

Thanks, that's super helpful, esp. info about getting the assistance of my local congress office. Will definitely look into that. I am a musician too, actually, but only as a hobby....! 😄 I'm a sound/lighting engineer for live events by trade so luckily have a few good local clients to start working with as soon as I get this EAD. I just called them and started the process stating "severe financial loss" but I'm hoping they take "I have work requests" as 'severe financial loss'..... It would be great to not have to wait another FIVE MONTHS to start supporting my family. 
 
Thanks again - will keep in touch. 

I called it in with a Tier 1 representative first and made sure to get a confirmation number. Then I waited to receive an email asking for evidence, but I never did, so I called up the immigration specialist at my local congressman's office (just called the number I found online). That person helped me by inquiring independently about my case, and then asked me to send along some evidence to support. I emailed him with 13 attachments (cover letter, a bunch of bills, job offer letters, anything I thought might help). I only had a few gigs lined up, but I explained the situation and the people hiring me made sure to say they looked forward to working with me again going into next season. Not sure what you do for a living, but as a performer we have a pretty small community with a lot of people from different countries, so people are friendly and helpful with this kind of stuff. Good luck! 

I don't know for sure, but if you showed several pending work orders I think that would be as good as a traditional job offer, in hand. Do you plan to register your contract business with the state and city? Because that would show further proof that you're serious about starting your own business, legitimately. There's nothing to lose to apply for an expedite as they cost nothing. Good luck.

Sit back, relax and watch the grass grow, or the paint dry......lol...

Thanks all; @Jorgedig was right; here in Tacoma there's some kind of leniency shown towards self-employed people (which my wife is) so all she had to do was email in. Nothing is confirmed but it looks like she'll be excused on that basis, and even if it's only for this time, hopefully by the time she gets selected again I'll be working. 

Not sure about Pierce Co, but in King Co, you can usually defer once for work/financial obligations.  I was a single mom with an employer letter, and for the second summons I had to show up.  Luckily, I was dismissed after the required two days without being picked for a jury.
 
Now I have paid jury duty leave through my employer, so I wouldn't mind another shot at it.

Got my K-1 approved the other day and leaving for the USA in a few weeks. Very excited for this new chapter in life and just wanted to come say thanks to everyone on this forum who helped answer all the dumb nervous questions I had on every little thing, even the ones who were jerks to me 😂 Let's be honest, there are quite a few know-it-alls on this forum but most people are really helpful and empathetic so thanks for all the advice/info.
 
Also, I have a YouTube channel as a hobby and I made a short video on the K-1 process to hopefully help other people thinking about this route. Feel free to check it out/share it with other K-1 applicants (and no doubt leave me tons of snarky comments about how I got all the facts wrong! 😀):
 
 
 
 

UPDATE: Went to the ASC at 8:10 and was out of there by 8:30. Explained my situation to the guard at the front and he said no problem, we'll take care of it. Awesome service.

I had a walk in at a different time AND at a different office in a different state!

They do ask you all of the yes and no questions under oath at the interview. 
I still think you are overreacting and can correct it there.

I mean, it wasn’t just a mistake like putting the wrong address, but rather like saying I hadn’t done something when I actually had, because I didn’t understand the question fully. So I’m just concerned it could be misconstrued as trying to hide something.... maybe I’ll call the customer service line and see what they say...

Yes, completely different day and time. Wanted to get it done early to hopefully speed things up. Only a week early, but every little bit helps.

I was successful with an early walk in. My best advice is to do it on a Wednesday. Monday and Fridays are bad, Tuesday is catch up from Monday, and Thursday is " Glad I only have one day left to Friday"  We went on a Wednesday after lunch and I thought the office was closed it was so empty in the lot. Walked in and had no problem as we were the only people in the Biometrics office, took longer to get thru the metal detector than the biometrics. This is the reason you will see people call it " Walk in Wednesday", because it is the best day. This is from my experience.

You can try to walk-in on an earlier date:
Sometimes they allow walk-ins.

You can usually do a walking before hand. Lots of ppl have done so.

Filing an I-864a in addition to the the i-864 as my wife doesn't make enough money to sponsor me by herself. We have her dad's most recent tax return documents which show that he earned way above the threshold required to joint-sponsor me, but we can't easily procure the returns for the previous 3 years' that the form also asks for.
 
Are the 'most recent three years' as important as the most recent year, or will they only be required if we get an RFE? I think to get the past 3 years' tax return info we'd need to go through all the usual bureaucracy associated with the IRS and take even more time and we're really trying to expedite what will undoubtedly already be a lengthy process waiting for an EAD etc.... 

The actual I-693 instructions state you do not need another medical if you had yours overseas within a year of filing for AOS. This gets asked about a lot here on VJ. You can do a search here to find more threads about the topic. Also, there is an AOS forum too: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/7-adjustment-of-status-green-card-from-family-based-visas/
You do not need a medical, and you may not need to see a civil surgeon at all. If you had all the required vaccinations at the time of your medical and they are all marked off on your DS-3025, then skip the civil surgeon and just send in a copy of your DS-3025. Here are details of how to know if your DS-3025 is ok to send alone or not : http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/335754-ds-3025-complete-or-not/page__p__4971318#entry4971318

Still $85.
 
Here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-485
 
Look under fees

Ok, I'll put my 2 cents in, even though you didn't ask.  The U.S. is a great place, don't get me wrong, but it's not perfect.  Generally the things that most sane people want to see are:
 
1.  Universal Healthcare.  I've traveled all over the world, and we are lacking.  
2.  Reformed immigration process.  It's a ridiculously long and tiresome process.  
3.  Restricted access to firearms that easily permit mass shootings.
4.  A tax system that prevents a handful of people from controlling the vast majority of wealth, while others struggle and starve.
5.  A voting system that allows each person to have an equal voice, not geographical regions.  
 
So, AM268 say whatever you feel like, but don't incite violence, or threaten people.   Get your green card, and become a citizen, then you will have the opportunity to vote and change laws and leaders like every other citizen. 
 
The good news is that these are hot topics right now and will likely have some change within the next decade.  

Plenty, but I have no desire to get into that with you, just for the sake of arguing. I've said what I wanted to say. I'll just vote.

I'm the USC petitioner, so I am home. I encourage all immigrants to become citizens so they can vote to change the things they do not like. We don't have to just accept things as they are in the USA.
 
You have a right so say almost anything you want. So do I. So does everyone else.