Q2018

Well here goes our window opens in a few days first week of the New Year (January 4th, 2022!)  I'll be sending the packet off January 5th, gonna use UPS as FedEx has been messing up lately (I used FedEx both times before without a hitch). The packet is 99.7% finished just waiting on a final December bank statement and I'm done! Nothing like a fresh New Year to start things off. Seems like yesterday we were struggling with the K1 and then the AOS. I did manage to submit both prior packets without the assistance of a lawyer, and no RFE (knock on wood). Those of you that remember we even got a wavier for the AOS interview. I loaded this packet with everything but the kitchen sink, perhaps we can get lucky again like with the AOS and have no interview for ROC, stranger things have happened! If there is an interview won't be a big deal we'll deal with it as it comes. So Happy New Year and I'll start this thing off:
 
This by no means is the gospel, it is just the way I chose to do our packet and it works for us. Thought I would share for those of you who are not sure what format to use. Pick and choose it always works! here is the cover letter I went with:
 
 
                                                                                                                                                xxxxxxx X, xxxx
 
 
USCIS
Attn: I-751 (Box 21200)
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S
Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85034-4850
 
 
ORIGINAL SUBMISSION
RE: I-751 JOINT PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE
FOR xxxxxxxxxxxxx A# xxx xxx xxx
 
 
U.S. Citizen Spouse:
xxxxxxxx (DOB: xx/xx/xxxx; SSN:xxx-xx-xxxx)
Conditional Resident Spouse:
xxxxxxxx (DOB: xx/xx/xxxx; SSN:xxx-xx-xxxx)
 
 
Dear USCIS Examiner:
Enclosed please find attached Form I-751 and materials to support removal of conditions on residence for my wife, xxxxxxxx. USCIS granted her conditional permanent residence on xxxx xxxx xxxxx.
The materials, which show a merging of our personal and financial lives since marriage (xxxxxxx  xx, xxxx), are organized in tab dividers for your convenience. For ease of review, pertinent information is highlighted in yellow, followed with a sticky tab explanation if needed. All materials are one-sided copies, if the original was two-sided the copy has been broken down and copied on a separate one-sided sheet for your ease of review.
Thank you for your prompt processing of this petition and for what we hope is your favorable response at your earliest opportunity.
Sincerely,
xxxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxxxxx
 
The packet is fairly thick so thick I used two pieces of cardboard as a backing to the keep the packet or book some might call it rigid. I used ACCO fasteners, sticky tabs on the inside and dividers. I will attach pictures of the packet here:
 

 

 
The blue pieces paper represent bookmarks and will be removed, they were used by me to assist in adding more content ( I have been working on this thing since October 2021 and I am glad I started early as I got to take my time. I'll do a final check on the I - 751 form to see whats current, sign it, add the check then off to UPS on the 5th of January 2022.
 
 
To some this might be overkill, but I wanted to give myself every chance for success the first time! Good luck to all the  January 2022 filers. We all can do this, we got this folks. I just wanted to share with everyone who might be drawing blanks!

You can try contacting USCIS at 800-375-5283 and request an EAD expedite based on "severe financial lost to person" because you can't legally continue working after the 180-day auto-extension: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/expedite-criteria

Correct.   
 
Just to clarify,  your Green Card IS your DHS work authorization not can work as. 
 
The only real difference is what you show a prospective employer when documenting the I9 form.

Same lol
I got my approval letter today!
Did you get you GC yet? I think I saw someone earlier than us got the GC the next day they got the approval mail.

Congratulations!
I’m still waiting for mine. I’m one day later than your interview. 

Congratulations!
I’m still waiting for mine. I’m one day later than your interview. 

Had my interview yesterday. It was a very pleasant experience at the local office.
Was expecting to see new status update today, but nothing so far.
Also, I was a bit worried about my former CCP membership issue, but looks like my officer was very understanding for my situation.
 

Yes, but it was more of a friendly conversation, questions casually asked.
We even got this question: was there resistance from my family? As it turns out, the officer's wife is also from my country so he was curious about that lol

Good afternoon! Just came back from the interview. 
 Just like you said, it was like a friend meeting! Officer was super nice and we shared a bit about both our own relationship and his wife and stuff, which made the whole experience friendly and easy. We’re approved at the spot but it’s not official yet. 
Will be waiting for the official notice, hopefully in a week or so!

Hi , You have your interview tomorrow and I hope Good luck for you ! All will be ok !
My interview was very good the officer was a very nice and friendly guy my interview was like a Friend Meeting 🙏...I was approved...my approval notice arrived yesterday.... I hope that you see this message before tomorrow....I cant write before because I was on vacations and no had my Pc with me..
 
Good Luck tomorrow !!! the interviews no are by Tablet  are face to face with the officer with a big glass beetween and all time wear mask..
Please tell me how is your interview and again GOOD LUCK !
 
 

Not yet. Still waiting!

Congrats!!!! Goodluck with your interview🙏

Mine changed on 9/15.

Your list looks pretty thorough, we didn't have much in terms of joint names on things since I already had my house, utilities, and so forth established.  One thing you didn't mention (I think?) was photos of your and your spouse with others.  Our agent was MOST interested in all that, and we spent the most time on "who is this?  Who is that? Where was that photo taken?" wanting my K1 wife to know who were our friends and that we were "real".  We brought a bunch of real photos, she said that computer printed paper photos would be just fine (and preferred, since they're easier to handle and put in other paper files).  Good luck!
 

Just arrive Uscis notice letter, my appointment is on October 7th in Minneapolis ...Finally the day is comming 🙏
Let me know when yours arrive....Good Luck

No no yet got the letter with the date ...my status updated Sep 8 and still nothing....I' let you know when I get

Just now I got a status update saying interview was scheduled!

Unsmiley I hope you don't think I'm dogging you on this because it's not my intention at all. I just want to make sure you get good information so that your wife can make the right choice when filling out her visa application.
Here is what 212 (a) of the INA says about communist party affiliation/membership.
(D) Immigrant membership in totalitarian party.-
(i) In general.-Any immigrant who is or has been a member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party (or subdivision or affiliate thereof), domestic or foreign, is inadmissible.
(ii) Exception for involuntary membership.-Clause (i) shall not apply to an alien because of membership or affiliation if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer when applying for a visa (or to the satisfaction of the Attorney General when applying for admission) that the membership or affiliation is or was involuntary, or is or was solely when under 16 years of age, by operation of law, or for purposes of obtaining employment, food rations, or other essentials of living and whether necessary for such purposes.
(iii) Exception for past membership.-Clause (i) shall not apply to an alien because of membership or affiliation if the alien establishes to the satisfaction of the consular officer when applying for a visa (or to the satisfaction of the Attorney General when applying for admission) that-
(I) the membership or affiliation terminated at least-
(aa) 2 years before the date of such application, or
(bb) 5 years before the date of such application, in the case of an alien whose membership or affiliation was with the party controlling the government of a foreign state that is a totalitarian dictatorship as of such date, and
(II) the alien is not a threat to the security of the United States.
(iv) Exception for close family members.-The Attorney General may, in the Attorney General's discretion, waive the application of clause (i) in the case of an immigrant who is the parent, spouse, son, daughter, brother, or sister of a citizen of the United States or a spouse, son, or daughter of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence for humanitarian purposes, to assure family unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest if the immigrant is not a threat to the security of the United States.
You can find it here on the DOS website.
The wording on the DS-230 clearly says IS so it's not really in line with the INA so I feel it's a bit of mine field.
There are lots of posts on here about CCP membership and how the GUZ IV unit handles it. My personal opinion is that if an immigrant visa applicant joined and was a dues paying member of the CCP they will need to be prepared to explain their membership.
If the applicant choses to answer no on the DS-230 based on the wording "is" it shouldn't be a problem. The question will be asked in the interview and at that point they should be prepared with the correct documentation to explain membership and how they quit.
Whatever happens I wish you both good luck.

Hi all! We have my interview tomorrow morning at the Holtsville office on Long Island. I’m doing some last minute prep on my folder and wanted to see if anyone had any more recommendations on what we should bring,
so far this is what we have:
•interview notice 
•vaccination history, X-ray disk & a copy of my DS3025
•my husbands 1040 tax return document
•a letter from my husbands employer stating length of employment and current pay
•all (or most) documents received from USCIS throughout the process
•I-94 arrival departure record
•my birth certificate and a photocopy
•my husbands birth certificate and a photocopy
•both of our passports
•my UK driving license and his US driving license 
•SS cards for the both of us
•marriage certificate original and a certified copy
•joint assets together such as: our apartment lease, bank statements and our phone bill (we don’t have joint health insurance or car insurance etc yet)
•letter from USCIS with our change of address 
•police certificate original and copy (although I’m pretty sure I don’t need to bring it)
•pictures from our relationship ranging from 2014 to now. I’ve labeled every picture with the date they were taken and who is in the photo. I’ve also organized them by date. I’m sure this also doesn’t matter much though
•wedding cards that we received from family and friends
 
is there anything else anyone recommends that we take?
 
thank you!

What matters the most is financial commingling. Also an updated proof of income -such as tax return for 2018- is important. Whatever shows you share the same address is useful too. It seems you have all that covered. 
 
The rest of the documents are mostly just in case they misplaced/lost something, as they already have them. 
 
From what I've read so far and our own experience, they will ask you to decide on what to give them -we were literally asked: "What do you have for me?"-. They'll let you know if they want it or not. 

I'm taking a guess from your empty timeline that you were a K1?
 
If so, you are eligible for AOS because:
 
1. You were approved for an I129F petition so bring your I797c Notice of Approval for your I129F and a photocopy.
2. You were approved for a K1 Visa so bring your passport with the K1 Visa in it and a photocopy.
3. You entered the US legally on your K1 Visa so bring a copy of your K1 I94 that shows when you entered the US and that you indeed entered on your K1.
4. You married your USC petitioner within 90 days of entry on your K1 so bring your official Marriage Certificate that shows that you married your USC, when you married your USC and that you married your USC in the US and a photocopy.
 
All of those documents combined prove you are eligible to adjust status.

Yess! I forgot about those! I will take them with us! Thank you!!
 
He doesn’t have a military ID but his license says veteran... do you think we should take his DD214?

Hello everyone,
 
I would like to get your ideas on my AOS interview documents. I stupidly got worried cause it felt too easy....
I know I was prepared but I feel like I am missing something... 
 
*Interview Letter  & new passport 
*Husband (lol) 
 
*Copy of everything I have sent with the initial application
 - I-485
 - Birth certificates originals and translations
 - Old passport with K1 visa bio copy and original 
 - K1 visa copy
 - I-94
 - I-129f NOA2
 - DS- 3025 and Medical from K1 copy
 - EAD / AP card
 
* Updated I-864 for sponsor and joint- sponsor
  -Their birth certificate copies, and the original for my husband as the initial petitioner
  -Pay stubs
  -Tax transcript and W2 for the past 3 years including 2018
 - employment verification number for joint sponsor
 - My paystubs and work verification letter (I am a bit wondering if they'd just do it with mine and take my joint sponsor off the hook...)
 
* Support/ Evidence of marriage
 - Certified copy of Marriage certificate
- Leases (Former and new)
 - Renters insurance both of our name is in the policy
- Utility bills (2 for each apartment as they didn't let us put both names..)
- Phone bill shows both names with phone numbers
-Joint savings & checking bank account statements since marriage
 - Debit card copies 
 -Credit card statement when we were moving, showing we both use same card (me as authorized) and copy of the credit cards front to show we both have the same card number
- Drivers licenses (old and new) showing same address
 - Car title showing we both own it.
- Car insurance and cards
 - health insurance cards (we only have the new one though... I made my husband as my dependent on our insurance cause my insurance is better.. )
- Boarding passes for traveling to his dad, and moving to NJ
- Wedding invitation + some cards given or sent to us (to both names)
- wedding pictures and wedding picture book 
- cards addressed to us in our old address
- Pictures with family and friends etc. Not many though... we always forget taking group photos.
- Pictures from the day we had to let our cat go.. and the card addressed to us from the hospital... (I somehow want to include it... its stupid... but she came all the way from Japan...)
 
So it feels enough when I write it down like this... but I can't kick that stupid feeling... 
 
Any opinion, any idea, even telling me "go away you're drunk" works...

I'm the petitioner and had my interview yesterday. The officer went over the information on packet 485.
 
This is what we handed over to her:
My copy of my birth certificate
Copy of marriage certificate
My wife's translated birth certificate
Copy of my driver's license
Copy of my wife's passport/Visa in passport
I-94
Most recent W2 (almost didn't bring it)
Showed her a ton of pictures of us from the beginning to present day. She made a copy of 10 recent pictures.
I stupidly did not apply for an EAD/AP so my wife never got a social so I lacked a lot of joint evidence. I had a Power of Attorney given to my wife notarized and an affidavit from my father notarized saying we are in a bonafide marriage. I was already thinking they were going to deny me on the lack of joint evidence but she said it was enough and approved our greencard.
 
The information I needed to know was the dates on when I visited my wife and when we got married.
 
Good luck!

Not quite. Case status is still ready to schedule.
 
But I extended my EAD and got the new card today, which is good until August. 2021.