Canuck78

Well after sending my petition back in September, I finally got my appointment letter for my biometrics today!!! WOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!

So yeah OKC here I come! Well, on 03/12 that is! LOL

I think I would have asked the officer why in the he** I had to pay $80 for biometrics if they are in their opinion, not needed!!! That is just ridiculous. I am in the same boat though. I have not made an InfoPass appt. but I sent my application in Sept. and it has been at CSC since Oct. and still no biometrics appt.

The only thing that makes me a bit reluctant to just showing up without an appt. letter is that the closest office for me is OKC which is a 4 hour drive. I am kinda worried of just being turned around and told to wait for the letter. On top of that, with all the pre-deployment stuff we are having to deal with, I really don't have the time or the gas to lose.

Well first off, I wasn't aware that you could go get your biometrics done without an appointement.

Second, I might not have been real proactive, but things have been pretty hectic around here with us having a baby in November and us finding out 2 days later that DH was getting deployed to IRAQ. There's been a lot of stuff going on and a lot to deal with so yeah I just got around to it last month. Not that it should matter anyway. I pay USCIS too much money as it is, I shouldn't have to do their job for them. JMHO

I know a lot of people have long processing times and that sucks, BUT most people have their biometrics done about a month or so after their NOA. We are almost 5 months after my NOA and still no biometrics and it might be another 2 months before I even get it done! What can possibly take that long?? it's just crazy!

I sent my I-751 to TSC back in Sept. 07, My NOA is dated 10-18-07...and I still have not even been scheduled for my biometrics yet! I called USCIS last month and apparently, my case was transfered to CSC. I received an answer to the service request that they sent to CSC saying my case will be processed and I should get an ASC appointment date within 60 days. At this rate, I'll be eligible for citizenship before my condition is ever removed! That is just ridiculous! I have a very straightforward case and this is the second time this kind of ####### happens to me. It took a year for my AOS and even the officer at my interview in OKC said she didn't understand why it had taken so long. I was supposed to go visit my family in April, but now I am worried that the appointement will end up being scheduled during that time. ARGH! I am just so frustrated!

All my electronics were destroyed. Thank God I sold my computer and TV before I moved! I had a VCR, stereo, etc. All of them were destroyed, not to mention dishes and a lot of stuff that was irreplaceable. I had a beer mug from the 1976 Montreal Olympics that my parents bought. It was older then I am! And it was broken in a ton of little pieces. It still make me want to cry when I think about it.

Despite, what warlord said, DON'T EVER say that hockey sucks!! Whether an individual likes the sport or not is pointless, it is still our national sport!

I used UPS and would ABSOLUTELY NEVER recommend using them. I had no furniture to ship so I figured UPS would be great plus it was cheap. When my boxes arrived, every single one of them that had "FRAGILE" written on it was SMASHED!! The boxes were so badly smashed actually that they ripped and had to be retaped. There is NO WAY that could have happened unless they actually threw them or kicked the ####### out of them. All my stuff was broken. I was SO mad I can't even express it into words. To top it all off, when I put in a claim with UPS to get some kind of monetary compensation, they told me I was entitled to NOTHING because I shipped "used goods" and they were shipped from Canada and "used goods" are not insurable in Canada.

I was livid!! I demanded they provide me with that policy in writting, but of course never received anything. I demanded an appology letter and NEVER got one either. I messed with them for months and never got anything.

So yeah, really really bad experience and I will NEVER use them again for my personal shipping.

Well, I have a lot to say about this, but I will try to make it brief. Before moving down here, I worked for one of the top Banks in Canada for 8 1/2 years and the US banking system was one of the most frustrating things I have had to deal with!

With my bank in Canada, I was able to do all my transaction online or on the phone through an automated system 24/7 and the transactions would appear to my account right away. No such thing here. And when you can make transaction online or on the phone here, there is usually s 24hr delay before it will post to the account. VERY frustrating! Also, I HATE not being able to make deposits at the ATM, it just drives me crazy!

In Canada, if you make a purchase at a POS, it appears in your account immediately. Here, it can take 2-3 days sometimes longer! So unless you write down every single transaction in a registry, you can never be sure exactly how much money you have!

And don't get me started on the whole check writting thing! LOL

And the list goes on and on and on. I really think that it is my MAJOR source of frustration in this country. I have kind of gotten used to it, but not totally.

That's just it!! I am the applicant. I will obviously list MY child, but do I need to list my stepchild as well? That is the question.

Thanx

I am in the reverse situation, Hubby and I have a son together, so I obviously list him, but Hubby also has a son from a previous relationship (my stepson), I don't need to include him as well do I? I took the instructions as saying to include all of MY children...but I want to cinfirm this. I am almost ready to file...just a couple more weeks.

I don't know if it matters, but it shouldn't. Some couples choose not to or can't have children. Good luck.

The point is not whether or not it matters, but you have to agree that when you have a child with someone, it is pretty strong evidence that the marriage was not a sham marriage with the sole purpose of circumventing immigration laws. That's all we are saying.

I think it does make things easier when you have a child together. My opinion is based both on common sense and on the fact that, at my AOS interview, the officer told us to "make sure we included the baby's BC with our application when we file the I-751" because it is "very powerful evidence"...her words not mine.

Hey everybody!

I am new to this thread, but by no means new to this site (despite the "newbie" title on the left). I forgot my previous login info so had to start over with a new one! LOL I was a VJ addict when I went through my K1 in '03-'04. We had our first VJ baby Dominic in April '05 and we are now expecting our second VJ baby in November. I am now 14 weeks pregnant and I hope everything will go well this time...DH and I have 3 angel babies:

#1 03/03 (11w5d)

#2 04/04 (16w4d)

#3 11/06 (18w2d)

We are VERY nervous right now and my next appointment is 5/28 so hopefully everything is still good then. I have had 2 u/s with this pregnancy so far and things seem to be going well. So I am keeping my fingers crossed. Anyways, great to meet you all.

Melissa

I became the step-mom of a 6 year old little boy. He is a great kid. It took a little while for us to kinda test and establish some boundaries, but everything is great now...as for his mother, well let's just say we won't get into THAT subject!

My experience was quite a while back (December '03) but this is how it went.

We had sent application for the K1 in Oct. and I went to visit David for the holidays. I was very nervous, but had a few things with me just in case. Officer asked me where I was going, why and for how long. Told him I was going to visit my fiance in Oklahoma for the holidays and that I would be coming back in 2 weeks. He asked to see my return ticket and asked if I had any other documents. I was ready to list every piece of evidence I had (letter from employer, copy of lease, bank statements, schedule from work for the week after my return), but he stopped me when I said I had a letter from my employer (on letterhead) and asked to see it. I gave it to him and he stamped my passport and that was it. As I was walking away, he said "you are going to end up marrying this guy aren't you?" And I said "Not this time!" We both laughed and that was it. I did not have to go to secondary inspection, but my suitcase was searched. That was it though.

***BTW that was at the Dorval airport.

Melissa

Reba, I SOOOO agree with you!!

And you know what? I am from the Province of Quebec where we are supposedly the ones paying the highest amount in taxes in North America. But I honestly miss it. My salary was higher for one thing, but not only that, I had garanteed paid vacation, sick leave, etc. Here, if I am sick I just have to suck it up because I can't afford to go to the Doctor's and I certainly can't afford to lose a whole day's pay. I am also pregnant at the moment...which is costing me a fortune since I don't have health insurance (and can't afford it quite frankly!) and I am not eligible for Medicaid even though I pay for it on my paycheck! And when I do have this baby, I won't even have ANY paid leave! It really makes me miss home!

What baffles me is that some people will say that legislation on this subject is not fair to the business world and some companies can't afford it, etc. etc. etc. But it works very well in A LOT of countries!! When you want something to work, you will find a way to make it work. JMO

Thank you for your answers. I figured it should be enough but just wanted to double check with you guys.

Thanks again

Alright, I still have about a month left before I can file, but I am getting things ready. Tell me if you think my evidence is sufficient or if I am lacking in certain areas:

- Copy of our son's birth certificate

- Last 3 years tax return (married filling jointly)

- Copies of last 2 leases in both our names

- Copy of joint car insurance

- Copy of DH's life insurance policy showing me as the beneficiary

- Copy of my life insurance policy showing DH as beneficiary

- Copy of my military dependant ID

- Copy of Power of Attorney I have over DH's affairs

- Copy of cable bill in my name, copy of power bill in DH's name, both showing same address.

We don't have a joint account because when DH moved back to OK from NC, he close his account with Bank of America, but they still let charges go through from AOL(which had also been cancelled) for 2 months, as a result, he owes the bank money and they refuse to admit it was their mistake. So anyways until that is cleared up, he can't have his name on another bank account. Do you think everything else is sufficient even without bank statements?

Thanks for your help.

Actually crazieladybug, it is NOT LEGAL for an employer to specifically ask to see a green card.

I think that is why meauxna suggested reading the I-9.

As long as you can establish that you are eligible to work in the US and you can confirm your identity, an employer is not allowed to ask for anything more. A DL license, military ID, Passport, etc will confirm identity and an UNRESTRICTED SS card establishes eligibility to work. If you can present those documents, an employer is not allowed to ask to see your green card.

HTH

Melissa

That doesn't make any sense! The conditional green card expire 2 years after its issue date. For example, I came to the US under a K1 as well, in June 2004. I only got my conditionnal green card in Sept. 2005, so my card expires in Sept. 2007. If your wife got her card in Oct. '06, then her green card doesn't expire until Oct. '08. You seriously need to double check her actual green card.

Well, here is my experience with this.

When I was pregnant with our son 2 years ago, I applied for SoonerCare (Oklahoma) and they told me I didn't qualify because I had not been a LPR for 5 years...actually, I didn't even have a green card yet, BUT they told me I would qualify for Emergency Medicaid for the month of my delivery. We used it because at that time, my hubby had just changed jobs and his insurance hadn't kicked in yet. So far, nobody has asked us to pay back anything and it was never even mentionned. So I don't know. I hadn't even thought about all that. We were in a rough situation and we needed to do something.

I also got WIC and BC pills for free through the Health Dept.

No hubby is only in the Army Reserve for now. The company he would go with is contracted by the US Army to ensure security on the bases in Kuwait. That's why I was asking...it would be so much easier irf it was a military deployment! LOL But I guess he could always give me a copy of his contract with CSA and that might be sufficient.

Melissa

Well, I am back again after quite a while...so long in fact that I forgot my login info and had to create a new user account! LOL

I am a few months away from filing to lift the condition on my permanent residency, so I am starting to prepare. Here is the evidence I got:

- Military Dependent card

- Son's birth certificate

- Joint leases (previous one and current one)

- Joint bank account

- Joint car insurance

- Statement showing me as beneficiary of his life insurance

- Power of attorney (so I can handle finances if he goes overseas)

- Joint tax returns for the past 3 years

* I can add affidavits of friends as well if necessary as well as some pictures. We don't have any joint utility bills, but some of them are in my name and some of them in his name, all with the same address so I can add that too if necessary.

Think it's enough?

Now my main question is this:

Hubby might go to work for CSA (Combat Support Associates) as a Force Protection Officer in Kuwait. I would not be able to go right away because of my immigration status, so I would stay here and go for visits. We are getting everything ready now so I will have all the paperwork ready to send in June when I become eligible to file the I-751. Now what happens if we file and get asked for an interview and he is in Kuwait? Anyone have any experience with that??

Thanks in advance

Melissa