q-panic

Although you do have the green card in hand, you still have outstanding applicatations with USCIS (albeit useless ones which they should have cancelled). Rather than leaving ends open, and not wanting to run the risk of sending them a letter and expecting them to read something, I'd personally just go ahead and send them what they are asking for, and let the process complete (they wont issue the documents I imagine, and will send a notice explaining why). At least then you know they'll have caught up with themselves and everything is back in order.

That sounds pretty good to me. Thanks for your thoughts.

I received my green card a couple of months ago. It was issued by the USCIS office in California. The case was transfered to them from the USCIS office in Lee's Summit, MO. Now I got a letter from the latter asking me to submit two passport style photos in regards to my I-765/I-131 application. I have no problem sending them some pictures, but I already have my green card so what's the point? Is this normal? Should I submit the photos or should I write them and tell them that I have a green card already? Thanks for your advice...

Thanks so much for the information. Sorry for the slow response. Busy times. Which is good. (:

Hey everyone!

I entered the USA on August 26th 2008 and applied for AOS at the end of September. And now I surprisingly received my permanent resident card in the mail after less than 6 months wait and no interview. I am really happy about this but also a little confused since I was expecting it to take much longer (and I had lots of troubles with my EAD which arrived just a month prior to my green card).

Well, I have some questions: does this permanent resident card "replace" my EAD. I mean, does the permanent resident card function as a work authorization document or do I need both. My EAD is only valid till the end of 2008. So do I have to file for a renewal?

Thanks so much for your help.

I went through the copies I made from my case and yes, I did fill out the form wrongly. I was shocked to find out. I thought I had triple-checked everything... luckily all other forms are filled out correctly. Of course it is my fault, but one would think they would check the information with what they have in their files? Why did I fill out the G-325 if it they never look at it? Why do I have to send a translated birth certificate if all they do is copying what I put in on one form. I gave my birthdate 5 times and 4 times it was right. Still, my fault, I know...

I already have an infopass appointment. We'll see what happens...

Thanks for your help.

September is the 9th month of the year. So it should be 09/09

Yes, but I was born on the 10th, not on the 9th. So it should be 09/10. If I was born on the 9th of September, this problem would have never occured, since it would be 09/09 either way... my dad is born on the 09/09 in fact... I envy him now a little...

I know my files were recently moved to a local USCIS office, but how can I find out what office? Can I go there directly?

Well, the existential threat was a little over dramatic... and misspelled... (;

Why is 09/10 and 10/09 both wrong? I don't get that. An international birth certificate? I didn't know that existed. I will ask my parents to get that for me. Thanks for the tip.

My EAD application process has been a mess from start to (un)finish. My case was pending for over 90s until it finally got approved and I was really, really happy when I got the card on December 24th - the best Christmas present ever.

However, there is an error on the card. I am from Germany and we do birthdates dd/mm/yy and in the USA they unfortunately do it mm/dd/yy. I am born on the 9th of September which doesn't help because no one notices an error if they numbers are switched. It should be 09/10/yy on the card but it is 10/09/yy.

On my K-1 visa they cleverly put 10SEP1976 by the way.

No biggie, I first thought. I called but it was Christmas so all lines were closed. I called today and the woman told me that I have to REFILE the I-765 and SEND BACK my EAD! That completely destroyed me. They cannot be serious. They also expect me to proof my birthday. However, they have my original certified birth certificate (in German with the German way of writing birthdates) and my notarized translated copy (in the US way of writing birthdays). What else can I do to proof my birthday?

I guess it is easier just to change my birthday. I am sure I can equally happily celebrate on October 9th every year.

Has anybody here had a problem like this? How long does re-filing take?

My case has been send to a local USICS office already, so can I just go there?! (A woman at Infopass told me) I am in California? How can I find out at what office?

Should I take an attorney? This is starting to become an existential thread. How are we supposed to survive without income for that long?

The whole thing has even more consequences. I was too stupid to apply for an SNN after my entry in the USA on August 26th because I thought one needs a work permit to to so (should have read the guides here earlier). So now I cannot apply since I still don't have a valid EAD... Also the DMV is not approving my driver's license because of that...

Well, merry Christmas... indeed...

Any idea? Any suggestion? I appreciate your help or just plain condolences...

Definitely go apply for you SSN now.

Unfortunately I can't right now. My I-94 has expired and I don't have my EAD yet...

I am a K3 so I need my EAD before I can apply for SSN. Not having a SSN is a pain- you need it for everything.

I am on a K-1 but I haven't applied for a SSN either yet, because without the EAD it is pretty much useless, right?

I'm wondering if I should just be patient a little longer or look into making an info pass myself.

You definitely should get an appointment...

you must get your EAD before 90 days. If it takes longer, you can generate an infopass or complain to USCIS. My EAD was ordered on day 66 but it got here in day..70 more or less (I even counted the days) it took me a month to get a job

good luck!

I have an appointment through infopass on Dec 21st because my EAD is pending for over 90 days.

I checked my case status online (something I should have done way sooner, but didn't know about), and it says that they their last notice was returned to them by postal service on October 24! I did change my address online on October 10th! I have a receipt for that, too. I wonder whether this was the appointment to capture the biometrics. This is really weird and definitely not my fault. Darn USPS...

So once I have my biometrics taken, what happens next? How orders the EAD?

Thanks for your help.

You might want to take a look here. Hope that helps.

18 days average. That wouldn't be too bad. Thanks.

I received my ASC appoinment notice today. It is scheduled for Dec 26th 2007. Unfortunately, we are visiting my mother-in-law for Christmas. The question is now, how seriously would a rescheduling of the appointment effect the processing time of my EAD? How long does it usually take for the EAD to be issued after the biometrics are captured? 1 week? 2 weeks? 4 weeks? Longer? Has anybody ever rescheduled the biometrics appointment? Do you think I could get another appointment reasonably soon (like first week of January?).

Thanks for your help and advice.

Thanks for the replies. So I guess I can still be hopeful... I will check my mailbox everyday and hope to find good news soon...

Hey there,

thanks to Visa Journey and all those nice folks here I was let into the United States on my K-1 Visa on August, 26th. We got married really quickly and since I had all the paperwork prepared and ready, we filed for AOS on September 14th (that's the day the I-485 was delivered). So far so good.

On October 24th, I received a request for Initial Evidence (tax stuff of my joint-sponsor, my mother-in-law). I sent the missing stuff right away and it arrived at the USCIS on October 31st.

But here's the problem: On the letter of Request for Initial Evidence it says the following:

"You are ineligible for interim employment authorization pursuant to Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 103.2 (B) (10) (ii) until ninety (90) days after the missing initial evidence is received".

I looked it up. Title 8 etc. says:

10) Effect of a request for initial or additional evidence for fingerprinting or interview rescheduling —(i) Effect on processing. The priority date of a properly filed petition shall not be affected by a request for missing initial evidence or request for other evidence. If an application or petition is missing required initial evidence, or an applicant, petitioner, sponsor, beneficiary, or other individual who requires fingerprinting requests that the fingerprinting appointment or interview be rescheduled, any time period imposed on USCIS processing will start over from the date of receipt of the required initial evidence or request for fingerprint or interview rescheduling. If USCIS requests that the applicant or petitioner submit additional evidence or respond to other than a request for initial evidence, any time limitation imposed on USCIS for processing will be suspended as of the date of request. It will resume at the same point where it stopped when USCIS receives the requested evidence or response, or a request for a decision based on the evidence.

(ii) Effect on interim benefits. Interim benefits will not be granted based on an application or petition held in suspense for the submission of requested initial evidence, except that the applicant or beneficiary will normally be allowed to remain while an application or petition to extend or obtain status while in the United States is pending. The USCIS may choose to pursue other actions to seek removal of a person notwithstanding the pending application. Employment authorization previously accorded based on the same status and employment as that requested in the current application or petition may continue uninterrupted as provided in 8 CFR 274a.12(B)(20) during the suspense period.

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So what does that mean for me? I am put on hold for 3 months? Is it possible to get a biometrics appointment before those three months are over? I really don't understand why it is necessary to block me for receiving my temporary work authorization for three whole months? I really need this work authorization. I am doing an unpaid internship right now but the company would hire me if I had my paperwork.

Can I do something? Might a nice and respectful letter to the USCIS help or is that counterproductive?

I am actually really angry because I also received a letter from the DMV here in L.A. saying that the Department of Homeland security was unable to verify my identity and therefore cannot process my application for a driver's license (I have already passed the written and the behind the wheel driving test and paid all fees and did all the paperwork). Now they cannot verify my identity? I paid 1010 dollars for the application of AOS and cannot even get a driver's license. And no work authorization either.

And the biggest irony of all: a friend of mine won his Green Card in the lottery and he has been here for two months now and has everything: driver's license, resident ship card - and a job. What makes the lottery winner so much more trustworthy than a guy who marries a US citizen. The whole process is really quite frustrating... life could be so easy...

Sorry about the rant, I needed to vent a little. However, does anybody have an idea how to speed up the application for the temporary work permit? Life is not that cheap here in California. I need to work...

Thanks so much for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

I have to buy my ticket soon to come to the USA. Usually they ask you for your return flight. Is this also true for K1-Visa holders? The K1-visa doesn't allow me to stay obviously, so do they demand that you actually have a return flight ticket although it is totally clear that once there one will marry and not return to one's home country?

I could get a one-way ticket with British Airways for half the price (around 450 Euros) than a regular two-way ticket. If I can safe a couple of hundred bucks I would more than gladly do so. I will need it.

Thanks for your help.

I received the VISA appointment letter on the 10th of July for the 17th of July! Considering that we send of the K1 petition on the 9th of March I would say that was really fast. However, I cannot attend the interview appointment because it collides with my final exam for my masters degree at my university. You cannot image how my heart sank when I saw the letter. So I requested a new appointment and now I have it at the 14th of August. So I lost a month, but it still went all smooth and quickly so far.

Thanks.

Question 11 does not apply to K-1 or K-3 visas, it applies to other types of non-immigrant visas, like visitor, business, student.

You don't need to check either box, and write on the lines below "N/A ( K1 visa process for permanent residence )"

The example form in the guides shows what to do.

SEE: http://www.visajourney.com/examples/I-134-exp-04-30-07.pdf

Hi everyone,

I have a question concerning the I-134 Affidavit of Support. My future mother in law just called me and asked me what she should write in question Nr. 11:

I [ ] intend [ ] do not intend to make specific contributions to the support of the person named in item 3.

How is this answer affecting the application? Is it better, if the co-sponsor actually gives me "specific contributions"? (which she would be totally willing to, but has not planned on so far since I actually have enough money saved up to keep me above water until the work permit arrives...)

Thanks for your help.

Carsten.

Hi everyone,

I have a question concerning the I-134 Affidavit of Support. My future mother in law just called me and asked me what she should write in question Nr. 11:

I [ ] intend [ ] do not intend to make specific contributions to the support of the person named in item 3.

How is this answer affecting the application? Is it better, if the co-sponsor actually gives me "specific contributions"? (which she would be totally willing to, but has not planned on so far since I actually have enough money saved up to keep me above water until the work permit arrives...)

Thanks for your help.

Carsten.

Last friday (03-09-2007) we sent off our I-129F package to the Nebraska Service Center. I am from Germany and my love is from Indiana, USA. We are planning to move to L.A. together in early September. I hope the whole K-1 process will not hinder our plans. Thanks everyone who helped us here on this site and the people behind it. Without the information gathered here, we would have had a hard time.

Carsten.

I have gathered almost everything needed for the I-129f package. Just lacking a proper copy of her birth certificate. Our documentation on how me met in person during the last two yeas should be fine. We have tons of pictures, a letter by a professor that we were in the same class, phone bills, e-mails, movies we made together. That should be fine.

The reason why I go on about this affidavit is 1) I am scared and 2) I don't like being depended. I am scared because we don't have jobs. That looks bad on paper. We will both have good degrees when I will arrive at the USA but still, she doesn't have a penny to support me. Her parents are cool. There won't be any problems from their side. However, I just thought that it might be considered positive if I can proof that I actually have enough savings to last me a year in the USA.

Well, the tips about the Affidavit of support say a lot but unfortunately don't state what the actual difference between a I-134 and a I-864 is. No wonder if people are confused. However, I don't want to sound ungreatful, because this side is a well of useful information. I don't know what I would do without it. So thanks to everybody who is helping here.

Well, the tips say that "the foreign fiance's assets CAN be used if they are readily convertible into cash". Ok, lets assume I can wire 25.000 dollars from a German account to an US account. What now?

My girlfriend fills out the I-134 but she has neither income nor assets. So her mom fills out an I-134 for co-sponsorship, right? If she has an income of more than 16.500 a year, we are fine anyway, right? If she has only 11.500 I could make up for the rest with my 25.000 (5 years x 5.000 dollars assets = 25.000). Is that correct?

Final question: how does one add those assets? What form do I have to use to do so. Is it true that a regular letter and the proof of my assets would work?

Again, thanks for the help. I really appreciate it.