my&aaron

I think it was me? I called 1-800-375-5283, then 1, 1, 1, then enter case number (starts with 672 probably) after you listen to information about the case, press 3. (There is no voice prompt to press 3, it is hidden option)

I applied to positions while my EAD was pending - I started about 1-2 months before I expected receipt back in 2016. I was very selective in my applications though - I only applied to positions that I actually wanted to take. I am in a very specialized field and application processes do drag on with multiple rounds for up to 3 months or more. By the time I had finally agreed to one of my job offers, cleared background checks and begun working, I had my EAD in hand for about 2 months. So I would say go for it - stuff takes longer than you expect, especially at bigger companies & during holiday season.

Having applied to many different industries, higher education is the most understanding when it comes to working with foreigners, in my opinion. I worked as the Assistant Director of Admissions at a liberal arts college so here's my thoughts for you if you want to enter the higher education field: apply now! You are right about the process, we move very slow in this realm. Answer "Yes" to the authorization, and answer "No" to the sponsorship.
 
You are not lying about your status, the fact is that you will get an EAD with authorization to work soon. The whole interview process is for the employer and you to figure out whether you are a good fit, and that they fit you. Throughout the interviews, you can always ask them about the timeline - if they said they were looking for someone ASAP,  you can disclose your situation, and give them the chance to think about it.
 
Once you get the offer, HR can work with you to either expedite the EAD card process or by then, you already have your EAD with you and they just have to process it. Institutions of higher education are very familiar with working with foreigners, especially with visa sponsorships. So the fact that you are petitioning for your green card is not really a concern for them. If your employer/future boss likes you and wants you, HR will work with you.
 
When I was a F1 student, I applied for jobs in higher ed since August and my graduation was in December. My OPT didn't even come until February but I didn't get an offer until March (and that was for H1b sponsorship so that's a more challenging process). Don't wait until your EAD card comes to apply. Start now. 
 
 

Just got eight texts from USCIS confirming my case was received! 

That reads as though you think you’re entitled to something.  I know you’re venting, but I would be more aware of how things can be interpreted.  The system is what it is.  Some folks wait even longer, just to be reunited.  

Hi guys, I randomly went to the library today out of boredom and stumbled across a book about fiancé and marriage visas! I read a passage about what we could bring to the AOS green card interview to prove the marriage is real and I found it helpful, so hopefully it can be to some of you. Some of us have already got scheduled interviews so this is the time to collect everything!  I know most of this is obvious but if it helps one person out there that would be great. 
 
Proof that your marriage is real;
 
The interview is often the first opportunity that the USCIS officer has to decide whether your marriage is 'for real'. The documents that you show are important factors in the decision. They should show that you and your spouse's lives are intertwined and that you trust each other with your financial and personal matters.
 
Below is a list of documents most immigrants present. However, this isn't engraved in stone. Use your imagination and be ready to do some organized 'show and tell'. No need to flood the officer with paper -- copies of 6 items from this list would be a reasonable amount.
 
rental agreements, leases, or mortgages showing that you live together and/or have leased or brought property in both spouses' names your mutual child's birth certificate or a doctor's report saying that one of you is pregnant utility bills in both your names joint bank statements joint credit card statements evidence that one spouse has made the other a beneficiary on his/her life or health insurance or retirement account auto registrations showing joint ownership and/or address joint club memberships receipts from gifts that you purchased for one another ( these should be typical gift purchases, such as jewelry, flowers, or candy) letters from friends and family to each or both of you mailed to your joint address photos of you and your spouse taken before and during your marriage, including photos from your wedding. (USCIS knows wedding pictures can be faked, but many officers enjoy seeing them anyway). The photos should, if possible, include parents and other relatives from both families. Write the date taken and a brief description of what the photo shows on the back (or underneath, if you're photocopying them). Don't bother with videos of the wedding or other events -- there won't be time or a space to view them

It meant they mailed you the I-797 notice confirming they received your application. You should be receiving the mails within next week. 

Hi there,
Just submitted mine. I'm also F1. Here's my list:
 
Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Package
Completed and signed Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
Copies of the petitioner's
birth certificate
passport (biographical page)
Federal income tax return:
Year 2018: copy of the petitioner's W-2 and Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (husband just filed his 2018 tax return so the IRS doesn't have his tax return transcript yet.)
Year 2016 and 2017: copy of the petitioner's W-2s, Form 1040s, and IRS tax return transcripts
Evidence of Reported Income:
Copy of the petitioner's employment verification letter, confirming the petitioner’s 2019 salary
Copy of the petitioner's latest six pay stubs
Copy of the petitioner's bank statements of January, February, and March of 2019
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization Package
Filing fee waived as filing together with Form I-485 and Form I-131
Completed and signed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
Two (2) passport photos of the beneficiary
A certified copy of marriage certificate of the petitioner and beneficiary
Copies of the beneficiary’s
passport (biographical page & entry stamp pages)
all I-20s
I-94
previous EAD card
I-131, Application for Travel Document Package
Filing fee waived as filing together with Form I-485 and Form I-765
Completed and signed Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
Two (2) passport photos of the beneficiary
Copies of the beneficiary’s
passport (biographical page & entry stamp pages)
all I-20s
I-94
previous EAD card

Our checks were cashed out on the 10th and mails were delivered on the 13th.

Finally got the NOA mails today!

I JUST WANT MY EAD!! Ok I’m done have a good day 😂😂

Oh damn, I did not submit his 2018 tax transcript... was that what got you? He just filed so they didn't have one yet. I submitted his W-2 and 1044 among whatever form TurboTax gave us. 

Just got eight texts from USCIS confirming my case was received! 

@runninggirl @Romei hellow from a fellow Charlotte filer!!! I sent mine on 04/04 and just got texts from USCIS today, 04/09. Hopefully i get my NOA mails soon so I can try renewing my driver license with it. 

Also useful stuff while it's still on the first page
 
To find your field office, go here: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices and enter your zip code. This is where you'll have your interview.
 
To find your application support center, go here: https://egov.uscis.gov/office-locator/#/asc and enter your zip code. This is where you'll have your biometrics (fingerprints & such).

Hi everyone,
 
I'd like to give you information about my expedite process so you can have an idea of how long everything is taking/what you get notifications for etc. 

03/21/2019: Requested to have AP and EAD expedited on the phone to USCIS (separate processes). AP of the grounds of "humanitarian reasons" due to my university graduation ceremony and a culturally significant role that my mother was taking part in during the ceremony. EAD due to a job offer and "severe financial hardship" due to obligatory student loan repayments in my home country.

03/21/2019: Received email: "Upon receipt of your request for expeditious processing, your case was reviewed and a determination was made that we need additional information to make a decision regarding your request. Please fax supporting documentation to 816-251-2290. Please include this notice with your fax." This only mentioned the EAD request, so I was unsure if AP was also being considered at the same time. Faxed documents that afternoon. I included a cover letter outlining everything that was included in the fax (I combined documents for both AP and EAD). DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION THAT FAXED DOCUMENTS WERE RECEIVED. I called USCIS a few days later to ask whether I would, they said I wouldn't heard anything unless the expedite was approved or denied. 
 
03/27/2019: Received "New card ordered" notification via email (and assumed approval). Did not receive official letters on this until a few days later and therefore not totally sure that both AP and EAD were approved. 
 
04/01/2019: Received "We mailed your new card" notification via email. 
 
04/02/2019: Received "Your card was picked up by the post office" notification via email complete with USPS tracking number.
 
04/03/2019: Card was delivered to my lawyer's office. Picked up the combination AP/EAD card in person on 04/05/2019. 
 
Hope that helps you guys with an expected timeframe, etc. My process seems to have been quite fast and straightforward. Although we have been using an immigration lawyer with all our forms, I submitted the expedite process myself on the phone. Let me know if you have any questions. 

I have just finished the whole Adam Walsh Act attempted immigration thing.   I started the process in 2015 and just received the Denial Notice a couple of weeks ago.   Forgive the long story, but if it helps someone else, good.   Please note: I left my husband voluntarily and moved home from the USA in 2017 so it's a bit of a different situation. 
I was in the USA visiting my husband in 2015 and whilst there, I applied for an AOS.  We had been married for a while. 
We knew about the Adam Walsh provisions, but due to his circumstances, we thought we had a good chance to be granted a waiver.  I have a minor son who applied with me (14 at the time). 
So that was in October 2015 we submitted our full application to USCIS for the I130.  I was granted the I485 3 months later and worked pretty much straight away.  My son went to school and we just went on with life.  We got our biometrics done, and then the Adam Walsh notification and biometric letter arrived around February 2016.  My husband did his biometrics and then we heard nothing until about June 2016 when we received our notice of intent to deny, based on the Adam Walsh provisions.   
So at that time we gathered the police records, as much as we could (some were denied to us, and USCIS had to get them themselves).  We submitted affidavits from me, my son, my husband's family members, professional people in the community, and we saw a psychiatrist for a report.  My husband didn't do any of the usual sex offender testing, though.  We had an immigration attorney throughout all this.   My husband's offence occurred when he was 19, 4 years before the AWA was enacted, and he entered an Alford plea and was granted probation. It was one count of sexual battery, alleged to have occurred during a backyard game. The complainant was a minor so it did result in him being placed on the SOR.  That was his only offence before or after - of that nature (that I knew about).  
So, June 2016 -  the immigration attorney also submitted a very large legal submission on my husband's case, my situation, the law in relation to, etc etc.. It was very well written. I have a legal background as well so my affidavit was long and thorough, as was my son's.  
And then nothing.   
In October 2017 I voluntarily left my husband and brought my son back to Australia.  A long sad story that I will not bore you with.  
Anyway - via my attorney, I withdrew my petition for a visa,  and did so on behalf of my son as well. My ex husband never got around to withdrawing his i130. And I couldn't do it for him. 
Ironically, I now work for an American company and have to visit for work - which is awkward due to the whole ESTA/ AOS thing.  I recently applied for and was granted a B1 visa - after a VERY difficult and unpleasant interview at the Consulate - but fair enough - everything he said to me was right.  No problems with that here.  
Two weeks ago I finally received the Notice of Denial from my immigration attorney from USCIS.  So that means from submission to denial took nearly 4 years.  A timeline for you. 
They denied the application for the following reasons: 
1.  The other offences that had happened after my husband's conviction (including one of violence to a family member - he had a DV conviction I wasn't aware of)
2.  The lack of sex offender testing by the psychiatrist.   (bear in mind, this kind of testing and psyche evaluation runs into over $1000 and I'm kinda glad now I didn't spend it!) 
3.  The presence of my son - any time a minor is involved there is absolutely risk determined to be present and it's almost impossible to remove it.  I think this alone may have even caused a denial even without the other things -  the wording of the notice is pretty strong about having a minor child in the house. 
4.  They noted that I had changed my address (obviously didn't connect the withdrawal notices) and pondered that the marriage wasn't valid anymore - it wasn't, hence why I moved back to Australia on my own.   
5.  My husband has had more convictions since I left -  not AWA ones, but still.  They didn't like this at all.  
 
So all in all, to succeed at an AWA waiver, I would suggest :  one offence only, significant evidence of rehabilitation, the psyche evaluation including the standardized sex offender testing and reporting, no other offences since the AWA matter, no minor children in the household and outstanding record keeping.  
 
I wish you luck - and I hope it helps someone else.   All the best.