blspicer

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On July 14, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

Finally!

I don't know if it's different here in NC but they require to see Pete's alien registration card, which I think is his green card, in order for him to apply for his learner's permit to drive. All we have is the EAD and the travel document so I guess it's the GC that they're wanting. Does anyone know? It's definately going to be a neccessity for him to drive, and he never had a license in England so this is all new to him. Oh what to do

Add us please

NOA1 date= Dec. 12 2007, Biometrics date= Jan. 31 2008, Transfer Date= Dec. 26 2007, no EAD approval date yet

Thanks so much

blspicer

My husband had his biometrics yesterday in Charlotte, NC. We got there about 40 mins early so we just went in and waited. We were out 30 mins after his scheduled time but an hour and a half after we got there. That'll teach us to be early I suppose. Our case was transferred to CSC in december, so will we still have an appointment? I don't know what we're supposed to do now other than wait. Any ideas?

Received out biometrics letter in the mail today, it's set for January 31. And our case was sent to California on Dec. 26. I've heard that this may mean we won't have an interview. Does anyone know if this is true?

Okay I called and they said that, for one, the number above his name in the NOA for his I-485 was not his alien number. My mistake, I was thinking that the number above his name with an "A" starting it was the alien number. She said that his A# was not listed on his NOA anyway. Sooo, just in case anyone else makes the same mistake, now we know.

I'm not sure if I should be worried but Pete's A# on the NOA1 we received yesterday is different than the one on his visa. Granted, I did not know that he had an A# and did not put one on the I-485. But seems like they would have him in the system and know that he already has one. It's not just a little different, it's very different. Does anybody know what I should do? Thanks.

Brandi

Got the hard copies of the NOA's today. Received date 12/10 and Notice date 12/12. Not in the system yet. Big surprise there

Okay, I thought it would be better to use a money order but now the post office says we can't check the status of the money order for 30 days after it was sent. Did anyone else have this problem? I read so many comments from people saying to do a money order so you can track it, but I can't track it for a month. Do I just have to wait for the paper NOA, or do you all think we could call and get any resonse? Grrr.....

We shipped packet to Chicago yesterday. Did anyone that sent a money order get confused on what address to put on the money order. It's written to US Dept of Homeland Security but it's being sent to Chicago. I put the Chicago address because I didn't know. Does anyone have a clue?

Sorry November folks, I posted in the wrong forum. Good Luck to you all.

We shipped packet to Chicago yesterday. Did anyone that sent a money order get confused on what address to put on the money order. It's written to US Dept of Homeland Security but it's being sent to Chicago. I put the Chicago address because I didn't know. Does anyone have a clue?

Thanks, I'm almost ready to file...YAY!

I'm getting ready to file the AOS but I still need to do the "Explanation of Eligibility" on the I-131. Does anyone know what needs to go on it or have an example I can look at? I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Brandi

So my EAD arrived today! I am so excited to be able to finally start living a life over here. I can now get a SSN, a driving license, a JOB , a debit card for our joint checking account. It didn't take all that long from initially filling in the application form to receiving it so I only wish we had done this a lot, lot, sooner. Oh well. Hindsight is 20/20.

However, I am still po'ed that we are stuck in this AOS mess. I did receive a response from Michael Chertoff about a month ago and it was just a standard form letter, USCIS works hard to ensure delivery of services, blah, blah, blah... we must ensure those applying for immigration benefits are entitled to apply for them, blah, blah, blah... At least he had the decency to reply but Laura Bush, Robert Muller (Director of the FBI) and various other federal functionaries obviously could not be bothered. Oh well, I guess we only have to wait for 12 more months or so and we can write to El Presidente Hilary and ask for her help...

I don't understand why some people can come right over and get a social security number and yet some have to wait for the EAD after filing the I-485. My fiance was here a week after his K-1 was approved, we went to the SS office and applied, they sent his card in 3 weeks and they told us he could work. We were married on Nov. 11. I am still planning on filing for the EAD but now I'm wondering if he was actually able to work legally or not. He has a job but I'm not sure if we should mention that in the I-485. Does anybody know?

Does anyone happen to know the quickest anyone has received their I-693A back from Dr. Arnold? I should have done this a month ago, now I'm having to hurry. I need the quickest way, and the closest civil surgeon listed on USCIS website is and hour and 45 minutes away

Since Pete is officially a London Grad I made him write his experience out so I could post it on here so the upcoming interviewers can read and maybe learn something from.

"Fellow VJ’ers,

Okie dokie everyone, I’m gonna tell you all how my day went for my interview in London today. My interview time was 9:30am. Caught the train to London in Eastbourne and arrived in London at around 8:30am. I wanted to be in the line at the embassy for 9:00am to get a good start but I was unaware of the strike with the Underground workers today so that made my mission a lot more interesting. I walked from London Victoria and managed to hail a taxi to take me the rest of the way, and got to the embassy at about 9:15am.

I saw a very long queue outside with police officers carrying guns at their sides. I had to show my passport and appointment letter to one of the people in charge of the lines and there were 3 lines, each line corresponding to the time of your interview. I waited in the 9:30 line and was freezing my ####### off, saw that everyone else in my line wore suits and there was little me wearing jeans and an Appalachian State polo that Brandi had bought for me, lol. I found out that it’s fine to dress however, just be respectable.

Anyway, after about an hour and a half I finally got inside the embassy and walked up the reception desk, told the lady what I was there for and she gave me a ticket with a number on it and told me to just go upstairs and to the left. I did just that and there were a lot of people sitting the waiting room talking to each other; the perfect way to describe it is like the departure lounge at the airport.

I was called to the kiosk 15 after about 20 minutes and had my finger prints taken and passed my birth certificate and criminal record through the little window. The bloke who spoke to me was a very nice chap and I had to find something in my folder which took me about 5 minutes, which I apoligised for and he said to not worry it’s no problem. He came across as a very pleasant fellow indeed. He gave me my x-rays from my medical and told me to give them to the customs officer when I get to the States, he then told me to take a seat and an interviewer would call me out.

Fifteen minutes later I was called but I didn’t hear what kiosk to take so I walked around where I saw the first guy and there was an American lady waving her arms in a jokingly gesture of “here I am”, so that made me feel a little more at ease. We started off with her asking me questions about how we met and I gave her all the answers as well as I could, we had quite a laugh really. We were talking about the wedding and honeymoon and she asked about how I proposed to Brandi. I told her I had a picture of the proposal and showed her all the pictures I brought because they were in a photo album. She laughed at my very English hair style at that time, but she said we looked very happy.

We talked for another 5 minutes or so about the formalities of having to get married within 90 days of my arrival and the importance of the adjusting of status after the wedding. Then her exact words were, “Okay Mr. Bowles, I don’t see any reason to deny you your visa, you and your girlfriend look very happy and I wish you all the best of luck and congrats”. I kept saying Thank You, and then told her if there wasn’t a pane of glass in the way I’d kiss her, haha…her response was “that’s exactly why it’s there my dear”. So that was it, and I proceeded to go to the courier desk to arrange delivery of the visa (I paid the 25 quid to have it shipped quicker because I’m flying out on Monday) and collect my things from the desk downstairs.. I was very lucky in that I had a good experience, and everyone was just lovely to me. As long as you… don’t come across as a completely dodgy character, have all your paperwork and evidence, and be polite you should be fine. I hope this is helpful. All the best to everyone, and thank you for all your help. Good Luck."

Pete

Thanks guys, all went well and Pete will be here as of Monday. He had a very good experience so he's a very happy britty right now

APPROVED!!! Pete just got out of the interview and everything went fine. I'll post his full report when he gets home. Wow, now I just have to catch my breath, lol

Add another APPROVED to the list!!! Well he just got out and had no problems. They said he'd have his visa in hand by Friday because we had to get the quicker shipping due to his Monday plane ticket. I'll get the full recount when he gets home. Thanks to everyone for their encouragement. We couldn't have done this without the lovely people of visajourney

Boy, I'm glad that's over with, lol

Pete will be going in for his interview at 9:30am UK time...so at about 4:30am for me in NC

I'll post as soon as I know. Fingers crossed.

Marstorr, our interview is tomorrow as well. Pete will probably get there around 9am since the interview is at 9:30. We're hoping he'll get the visa in the mail this week because his flight is for next monday, but we can always reschedule if something comes up. Tonight we'll be busy going over our checklist, but I've heard that the last few interviews in London have been a breeze. Our process has been an easy one too so we're kinda worried. Hopefully it'll be quick and painless. Good luck to you both...fingers crossed

Well, I found this site quite late into our process (only about 2 weeks ago), but it has helped me calm down immeasurably in the run up to our interview this Tuesday, the 4th. We filed our I-130 on the 23rd of March, and I hope we'll be ok. Our interview is at 8:30am, so we're driving down to London on Monday and staying in a hotel for the night. Elmcitymaven, I wanted to thank you in particular for your detailed post about filing late tax returns at the London embassy, as I was in a similar predicament, causing me lots of stress. We filed the late tax returns last Wednesday (for our interview 6 days later, waiting until the last minute), and it was as easy as you described.

Besides the nasty tax shock, our process has been remarkably smooth (which makes me even more worried going into the interview, as I have heard some real horror stories and can't believe we'll be spared!). As long as we get approved, I should only be in the states for 2 weeks ahead of my UK spouse. Almost better than we could have ever hoped for. Thanks for all the help!

Pete is from a little town called Hailsham in England, it's about a 15 minutes drive from Eastbourne on the south coast. But in two months he'll be residing in northwestern NC with me!!!

Called DOS today and they said packet 4 was sent yesterday, interview date Sept.4 at 9:30am. We were hoping to catch August but oh well, i'm just happy it's been scheduled