buffertortoise

Hi all,

We're planning on submitting our I-751 packet this week and want to make sure we have enough evidence! This is what we have so far:

• Joint apartment lease spanning Apr. 08 - Feb. 09.
  
• Joint apartment sublease agreement spanning Feb. 09 - Present.
  
• Joint tax returns for 2008 and 2009.
  
• Copies of joint credit cards, plus printouts of online account pages and monthly statements.
  
• Copies of joint health insurance cards and printout of online account page.
  
• Life insurance policies showing eachother as beneficiary.
  
• Copies of drivers licenses showing the same address.
  
• Various utility bills or printouts of online utility account pages showing joint accounts and/or same address.
  
• Joint car insurance policy.
  
• Joint renter's insurance policy.
  
• Copies of joint checking account cards and statements.
  
• Flight itineraries, boarding passes and hotel bills from trips taken together (Jun. 07, Dec. 08, Dec. 09).
  
• 4 affidavits from friends and family.
  
• Various photos from our wedding to present.
  
• Various birthday, anniversary, holiday cards addressed to us both.
  

Couple of questions:

• Is it better to submit evidence spanning the period since our AOS interview (Jul. 08) to present, or from our marriage (Oct. 07) to present?
  
• How many bills or statements should we submit? We were thinking 4 per year for each account?
  

Any and all feedback is appreciated!

Thanks,

Buffertortoise

Hi all--

My husband recently got his Permanent Resident card (Hooray!) and we're now in the process of getting him set up to drive in California. Here's the issue...

He passed the California Driver's Exam at Christmas and is now ready to be insured. However, our insurance is asking for a copy of his UK driving record (in order to prove he's had a clean record abroad for many years).

I went online to request this from the UK "DMV" and was told that since he did not own a car while in the UK, there would be no "record" for them to give us (since the records there are tied to vehicles, not licenses).

Does anyone know of another way to prove he's had a clean driving record in the UK? Thought maybe someone else from the UK had possibly encountered this... Thanks in advance for any help!!

Hi guys,

Thankfully I haven't had to post here in a while but I have a quick question. I will be removing conditions next year and am currently in possession of my 2 year Green Card.

Myself & my wife recently moved & I filled out the online AR-11 form about a month ago. After being very patient we still have not received our address change confirmation in the mail. Is there a certain time limit after which I should become concerned?

I've been thinking about making an infopass appointment but wondered if there was an easier way to chase this up? or perhaps some other advice or info anyone has?

Thanks so much,

buffertortoise

Thanks for the repies- I just called Amex about the global card transfer and was told that all they can do is establish a line of credit for me in the US but no balances can be transferred..which pretty much puts me in the same situation I am in now. Or should I be able to transfer my balance with the global card transfer? It seems to make little sense otherwise.

As for the check idea, I have already looked into that but the fees appear to be astronomical...arghhh...you would think there was a simple solution to this considering how many people move around the world.

Is there any other kind of bank account I can open where I would be able to pay dollars into my UK account without incurring currency conversion fees. I'm desperate!

Hey everyone,

I'm having a bit of a crisis right now. Since I have been in the US it has been a struggle to make the monthly payments on my UK credit card as I am not earning any money to put in to my UK account and my card cannot be paid from a US account. Making transfers to my UK account is too costly and only worthwhile if there is a very large sum of money to transfer.

Myself and my wife have been looking into transferring the balance from my UK Amex on to a US Amex or Citibank card (which we hold jointly) however calls to Amex and Citibank have yielded so many different responses that we don't know what to do (its almost like talking to USCIS!)

I just wondered if anyone had any experience doing this and had any hints or tips for us?

Thanks so much

Buffertortoise

Hey all,

I had an infopass appointment booked that I no longer need. I went to the website to cancel and entered the confirmation number and PIN but keep getting an "Authorization Failed" error. I have tried several times and know that I am entering the numbers correctly.

I tried calling the misinformation line but there was no option referring to infopass.

How can I cancel my appointment? Or does it not really matter?

Thanks,

Buffertortoise

Hi all,

I would also like to know the answer to this. I had my medical in June 2007 and have my interview in July 2008, therefore it has been just over a year since my last medical.

My medical reports were taken at the port of entry and I sent in the additional vaccination supplement certified by a civil surgeon with my AOS package.

I didn't think I needed another medical. Do I?

Thanks,

Buffertortoise

UPDATE:

This is what the VJ Faq says...guess I don't need a medical after all...

6.2.2)....Will I need to take another medical exam since the medical report is only good for one year??

A...In most cases, no. The results of your K1/K2 medical were in the "sealed envelope" that you brought with you from your home country. The I-485 instructions mention that no additional medical is required if filing for AOS within a year of the medical required to obtain the K1/K2. You should simply send in a copy of the I693A (sheet that lists your vaccinations) that your doctor should have provided overseas when you had your medical. And...according to a newsgroup posting...."Went up to the local USCIS (INS) office in Omaha today and they told me that the letter saying "Adjustment of Status / I130 Interview" is just a form letter they send out whether you've applied under a I485 OR a I130.... They also told me that, despite what the letter says, I do NOT need to get another medical done even though its been more than 12 months since my K1 medical at the London Embassy."

FAQ Note: The current I-485 instructions mention a "vaccination supplement". Again as a K1 / K2 Visa holder you should have a copy of this from your exam overseas. If not you will need to make an appointment with an USCIS (INS) approved physician in your area to obtain this paperwork and/or additional vaccinations.

Well I just called USCIS and of course they were about as unhelpful as they could be..the girl on the phone literally gave me about 4 seconds to speak before launching into a speech about how they cannot give out personal information etc.

Anyway I am thinking that the touches on my AOS, EAD and AP may have something to do with the ar11 i filled out online to change my address (would this result in a touch?) and maybe while they were updating my files they sent out an approval notice for my 1129F which was actually approved nearly a year ago...

Anyway I have an infopass appointment in 2 weeks so fingers crossed it will be cleared up then.

How I love this process.

Hey guys,

I just recieved an email from CRIS stating that an approval notice had been sent for my 129F Petition for Fiance(e) with a case number that I don't recognise (it could be the case number from when I applied for my visa but I'm not sure and dont have any documentation with me)

However the weird thing is that my I129F was approved months ago and right now I am going through adjustment of status. I checked online and my AOS is still "recieved and pending" at National Benefits Center, however the last updated date has been changed to yesterday and the last updated date on my EAD and AP (already approved) have been changed to 3 days ago...

I'm very confused..does this mean that my AOS has been approved without interview even though it is still at NBC? or is it some sort of error?

I'm at work right now so can't call USCIS for a couple of hours but any info would be very helpful if anyone has had a similar situation..thanks...

Buffertortoise

Could someone please reply and let me know if this is the right way to do this?

Thanks

Anyone? Please? I would really appreciate some advice.

Thanks

Hey everyone,

We filed for AOS in late November 2007, I have already received my EAD and AP but am still waiting on an interview date. Our case was last touched on January 2nd 2008 and is processing at National Benefits Center (NBC), I had my biometrics in late December 2007.

We are moving house at the end of the month and I have read through countless threads here about change of address (which have scared me no end!) but would still like to be certain that I have the information correct:

• I should fill out the AR-11 online up to 10 days after we move and include any pending case numbers for our files to be updated. Do i need to enter my EAD and AP file numbers even though I have received both? or just AOS? Also, does this negate me having to mail an AR-11 to NBC?
• My wife (USC) should fill out and mail an I-865 to CSC (since we live in California) Does it need to be sent anywhere else?
• Call the 1-800 number and report the address change..then call a few days later and check if it has been updated.
• Also we plan on changing our address and having mail forwarded by USPS (even though it seems hit and miss whether USCIS mail is forwarded) and will ask our old apartment manager if she could notify the new tenants to please forward any mail to us.

Is that pretty much all we can do? I'm so terrified after hearing so many horror stories that we will miss our interview date...but hopefully if we check our case online then we should know if something is amiss.

Also we are only moving 5 mins away from where we live now so hopefully that makes it somewhat easier.

Since NBC doesn't have any processing dates for AOS I'm assuming we go by the field office (Los Angeles) dates? They have September listed as the cases they are now processing..so should we assume to hear something within the next 2 months since we filed in November?

Sorry for so many questions, this whole process can drive you a bit crazy..any answers would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Buffertortoise

Hi Everyone!

Thanks so much for all of your help so far!

Luckily, my husband just received his work authorization, and he already has a job! However, we are unsure as how to fill out his W4 form for tax withholding. Does he need to list as a "non-resident alien" or does he just note it normally as one half of a married couple?

Any knowledge on this would be helpful. Thanks again

Hooray! Congratulations!! Such great news!

Hey everyone,

Myself and my wife are currently going through the AOS process (had biometrics in December) and were just wondering what to do when tax time comes around. Do I need to file anything? I hope not as I wouldn't have a clue where to start! Also, my wife should declare herself as married...correct? but is there anything particular she needs to put on her form to let them know she is married to someone who has adjustment pending?

Any replies would be very helpful.

Thank you,

Congratulations Slavrina! What fantastic news!!!

Hey guys,

Just a quick question, even though thinking about this is way off in the future! Is it possible to bring the parents of a permanent resident to live in the US? Or do you have to become a Citizen first? I am going through the AOS process now to become a permanent resident through marriage and would like at some point to bring my parents from England to live here.

Thank you in advance,

Hey guys,

I have been reading this thread intently and just want to say that I am amazed at how strong you have all been in coping with such a frustrating situation. The level of incompetence and bureaucracy that we have to deal with, simply to be able to live with our spouse, be able to work, travel and have simple rights just makes me so so angry! I hope that it makes you feel a bit better knowing that there are people who are really sympathetic to your predicament, I actually haven't been able to sleep because it has been bothering me so much knowing how aggravated you must be!

We filed for AOS, EAD and AP at the end of November and had Biometrics roughly a month later but have heard nothing else yet. I have a sneaking feeling that due to my general unluckiness we shall be one of the couples who wait for the FBI name check too. I hope if that happens I can be part of the club and we can compare tips on how to quell our rage?

If we are lucky and don't have the name check nightmare then I'll just go and give the FBI a good talking to for you all...

Deal?

Thats a massive relief, fingers crossed for all of us to go through without a hitch!

I also think the guide should say 6 photos, I made the same mistake and am hoping very much that I don't get the whole package sent back. Grrrrr.

Hey everyone,

We mailed off our AOS packet (with EAD and AP) the other day, but after reading some posts on here I am beginning to think we should have sent 4 or 6 passport photos. May I ask where people are getting this information? My wife and I sent 2 photos attached to the G325A as detailed on the visajourney AOS guide. Nothing that I have seen on the actual AOS, EAD or AP forms even mentions photos. I am going to be really frustrated if we get an RFE a we really tried our best to be totally thorough.

If someone could redirect me to where it asks for 4 or 6 photos that would be fantastic!

thanks,

Buffertortoise

Thank you so much for the replies! I guess I don't have to worry about the passport number at least. However the differences in vaccination dates between the 2 forms and the fact that the "Vaccine History complete for each vaccine, all requirements met" box was checked even though there are several vaccines that I have not had and my DS-3025 says "Applicant may be eligible for blanket waiver(s) as indicated above" does still worry me.

At least at this point I already have a I-693A, I wonder if I would be luckier trying to get a civil surgeon to fill a new one out for me with some details modified? Backed up by the data on my DS-3025 of course...

Please, anyone?

Hey guys,

I've posted this as a reply to another thread but really need some advice on what to do asap as I would really like to send my AOS application by the end of the week.

Basically I spent all morning calling around to try and get an appointment with a Civil Surgeon in L.A. who would be able to fill out the I-693A for me without a medical. After being told by virtually everyone that I would need $250 medicals I managed to find one place who would change $20 and do it while I waited! They said to come immediately...little did I know that the office is in an EXTREMELY bad area! Anyway myself and my wife decided to give it a shot.

The place we arrived at was pretty awful but was on the USCIS approved list so thats all that mattered! The doctor filled out the form once and did it incorrectly so I asked her to do it for me again which she was not best pleased about. She filled it out a second time and sealed it and gave me a copy to read over. Everything looked fine and I was so relieved to leave the scary place that we left. However I have now got home and found a few errors on the form and am just wondering whether I should send it in as is or go back for another fun day of waiting around?

Basically the errors on the I-693A are:

The doctor did not fill in my passport number, this has just been left blank

The doctor has added an additional date to my Td vaccinations, stating I have had 2 vaccinations when I have only had one

The doctor has checked the box marked "Vaccine History complete for each vaccine, all requirements met" even though there are several vaccines that I have not had as they are "not appropriate age" and on my form from my UK medical DS-3025 the doctor checked "Applicant may be eligible for blanket waiver(s) as indicated above." Should the civil surgeon have checked this box also?

Do these seem like severe problems or something that USCIS will not even care about? I am planning on sending both my I-693A and my DS-3025 with my application.

I would really rather not take another trip to the doctor if possible!

Any advice is helpful as I am starting to drive myself nuts with all the paperwork and would love to have this one done!

Thanks!

Buffertortoise

Hey guys,

So I continued calling around to try and get an appointment with a Civil Surgeon in L.A. who would be able to fill out the I-693A for me without a medical. After being told by virtually everyone that I would need $250 medicals I managed to find one place who would change $20 and do it while I waited! They said to come immediately...little did I know that the office is in an EXTREMELY bad area! Anyway myself and my wife decided to give it a shot.

The doctor filled out the form once and did it incorrectly so I asked her to do it for me again which she was not best pleased about. She filled it out a second time and sealed it and gave me a copy to read over. Everything looked fine and I was so relieved to leave the scary place that we left. However I have now got home and found a few errors on the form and am just wondering whether I should send it in as is or go back for another fun day of waiting around.

Basically the errors on the I-693A are:

The doctor did not fill in my passport number, this has just been left blank

The doctor has added an additional date to my Td vaccinations, stating I have had 2 vaccinations when I have only had one

The doctor has checked the box marked "Vaccine History complete for each vaccine, all requirements met" even though there are several vaccines that I have not had as they are "not appropriate age" and on my form from my UK medical DS-3025 the doctor checked "Applicant may be eligible for blanket waiver(s) as indicated above." Should the civil surgeon have checked this box also?

Do these seem like severe problems or something that USCIS will not even care about? I am planning on sending both my I-693A and my DS-3025 with my application.

I would really rather not take another trip to the doctor if possible!

Buffertortoise