privic

3 hours ago, Elena & Craig said:

Parabéns!!! What’s your local field office and have you already applied for citizenship?

Los Angeles CA.
I become eligible for naturalization in a couple of days. 

Hi all,

We just sent our 400+ pages package today. We have access to attorney services through our insurance, so someone reviewed our package before we sent it.

Considering that I had several ideas about what to include reading the discussions here, I thought that might help someone if I shared a summary of our table of contents. We decided to focus on the period after the AOS interview. Here you go:

- IDs: front and back of PRC and receipt letter with barcode; USC passport; my foreign passport; driver licenses; marriage certificate.

- Joint finances: joint tax returns 2019 and 2020; car titles; monthly bank and credit card statements.

- Insurances: joint car, renters, and health insurances; life insurances and work contracts showing one as the beneficiary of the other.

- Cohabitation: driver licenses showing same address; lease agreements; rental online platform listing us as residents on the same unit; some utilities bills for last year (we only had that for a few months); public library account pages showing the same address; a couple of mail addressed to both of us.

- Trips together: flight itineraries and Airbnb/hotel reservations for trips we took together. (I also included my Airbnb page with received reviews because a couple of hosts wrote the review listing both our names haha)

- Other: joint memberships (Amazon, Costco, National Parks Annual Passes signed by both of us, wine club, airline companion program); two affidavits letter (from a couple of friends and the USC's parents); some pictures of us and with friends, family (~25).

 Now we wait  

My J1 waiver journey is over! Thank you all for sharing timelines and knowledge.

It took 3 months (13 weeks) to get the favorable recommendation from DOS and other 3 weeks for the USCIS approval notice. 

07/19/2019. Application packet sent to DOS by USPS

07/22/2019. Packet received in St Louis, MO (USPS tracking)

07/22/2019. Embassy sent No Objection Statement

07/25/2019. Application fee check cashed

08/10/2019. DOS updated status – Documents received

10/22/2019. Favorable recommendation sent updated status

10/30/2019. USCIS Received date

10/31/2019. USCIS Notice date

11/13/2019. USCIS Approval notice

15 minutes ago, rlagkssk830 said:

Did you try to get an advisory opinion? You should try because it might've been a mistake on their part and might have marked you as subject to the 2 year. 

I didn't. I thought it could be a waste of time in my case. There was a chance they would say I was indeed subject, because in my first DS-2019 the university marked that I had government funding (but I didn't). Then the university issued a second DS-2019 to correct this info, but it was too late, because my visa had been already issued with the 2-year information. 

What I am trying to say is that there is some misleading information in my paperwork that indicates I should be subject to the requirement - DS-2019 and visa saying I am subject. I was afraid an advisory opinion would just state that I am subject because of this (non accurate) evidence. I figured I would need a waiver anyway, so I didn't even waste my time waiting on an advisory opinion. 

Now that the DOS issued the favorable recommendation, that should be enough for the AOS. I hope I receive the hard copy soon!

6 minutes ago, rlagkssk830 said:

My husband got his AOS Green card without the recommendation letter. We were in a odd situation because on his VISA it states he was not objected to the 2 year requirement. We did 2 advisory opinions and they stated he WAS required to fulfill the 2 year requirement. I think the officer just went with what was stated on his visa and didn't ask any questions about the J-1 waiver.

 

I think it was good that you applied for the AOS. It takes 5+ months to even get an interview! You will probably have the favorable recommendation while your AOS is in processing. I read somewhere that you do not even need the official waiver letter from the USCIS at your interview. You only need to show them you got a favorable recommendation from the DOS. I would say like 99% of the time when DOS gives a favorable recommendation, USCIS will give you an approval letter. Good luck! 

Hi, thank you so much for replying! It's very good to know everything went well for you and your husband.

My J-1 visa states I am subject to the 2 year rule, although I don't think I was supposed to be - no skills list, no gov funding. I included the NOS in my AOS application. It might not be enough, but it was all I had by the time.

I don't expect to get an AOS interview before May 2020, according to the current processing times. So I have plenty of time to receive the hard copy of the letter from DOS and even the final decision on the waiver! lol

8 minutes ago, Abayomi said:

Hey,

I noticed you contacted a congressman even when it is still within 12 to 16 weeks time online. How did you go about that.

Mine is going to be exactly 2 months since all documents were updated (August 28) and my timeline is still showing pending.

It's really making me anxious.

I did contact a congressman,  because my I-94 was about to expire and I wanted to apply for an Adjustment of Status based on marriage to US citizen. So, even though it hadn't been 12 weeks, I needed the favorable recommendation letter for the AOS. That was my reason for asking for help.

DOS totally ignored the congressman inquiry for almost 8 weeks, so I am not sure how much it was really effective.

I ended up applying for the AOS without the recommendation letter, because I didn't want to stay out of status. I wonder now if I should send the DOS letter to USCIS regarding my AOS pending case, or just wait to see if I get a request for evidence (any thoughts will be appreciated, although I might open a new topic to ask about this).

3 hours ago, Dhiego said:

Just got my Favorable Recommendation from DoS. Here is my timeline. Waiting for USCIS now... 

We have so similar timelines. I got an update today as well. Let's hope USCIS will be faster!

Application packet sent to DOS by USPS:                 July 19th 2019

Packet received in St Louis, MO (USPS tracking):   July 22nd 2019

Embassy sent No Objection Statement:                   July 22nd 2019

Application fee check cashed:                                   July 25th 2019

DOS updated status – Documents received:           August 10th 2019

Congressman opened inquiry with DOS:                  August 27th 2019

Congressman followed up with DOS:                       September 25th 2019

DOS replied Congressman ("update in a week"):    October 18th 2019

Favorable recommendation sent status:                  October 22nd 2019

Hi,

Just putting my input out here in case it's useful to anyone else.

I went to the DMV last week with the intention to get an AB 60 DL. I already have an expired CA DL, so I didn't expect they would make me take the written and behind-the-wheel tests again.

I showed my passport and AOS notice of action. The officer gave me a temporary license valid for 90 days - which is just a piece of paper. She said if in 90 days I still don't have my immigration ID, I can get another 90-day temporary license. I didn't have to pay any fee and will not have to pay for a second temporary one if needed.

Still unsure if an AB 60 would be more useful than my temporary piece of paper... But I accepted the temporary one because was easy and free.

29 minutes ago, waiver_req said:

 

Be aware this may backfire. I would suggest check with an attorney first

It could be, who knows...

I did check with my attorney before doing it, she thought it could be helpful. 

8 hours ago, Giselle Jones said:

How do I do it?

Check who your representative is at https://www.house.gov/ and look for "help with a federal agency" at their website. 

On 9/26/2019 at 9:15 PM, Giselle Jones said:

Hello guys, here is my problem...

 

It's being now 20 weeks since all my documents and NOS updated and no recommendation yet from NVC =(

 

I sent e-mails to 212ewaiver@state.gov and they only reply saying the timeline is around 17 weeks or more so my case will be processed soon.

 

I had already my interview for K1 Visa, they are holding my passport waiting for the final approve and I fear my time will expire without having this Waiver. There's anything else I could do? A number I could call or another e-mail? 20 weeks and no decision is just ridiculous, my personal life is all stopped and I am literaly getting sick of it

Have you tried getting some help from a congressman or senator?

13 minutes ago, Abayomi said:

And have you been granted a waiver.

Not yet. Going crazy here. 

My timeline:

Application packet was sent to DOS by USPS:         July 19th 2019

Packet received in St Louis, MO (USPS tracking) :  July 22nd 2019

Embassy sent No Objection Statement:                   July 22nd 2019

Application fee checked:                                             July 25th 2019

DOS updated status – Documents received:           August 10th 2019

3 hours ago, nelsonspbr said:

- Sep 13, 2019 (morning): Received response from Brazilian embassy acknowledging my e-mail

 

FYI: The Brazilian embassy sends the NOS electronically. It took only one business day for them to sen mine, so the Waiver Division actually got the NOS before my package was there. I was afraid that could be a problem, but a couple of weeks later everything showed up in the system at the same day.

4 hours ago, nelsonspbr said:

Thanks @Tulip987. Another quick question, do you know if we can use personal checks to pay the fee? The instructions here do not require a cashier's check, and I luckily I have brought my checkbook with me.

I've used a personal check and they had no problem cashing it in no time!

31 minutes ago, fetom said:

hey people,

 

is the status working for you guys today? when I try to check my status, it shows that there's no information regarding the status of my case.

Same here 

Hello,

Constantly checking this thread has helped me a lot, both providing valuable information and reducing my anxiety. That's why I now share my timeline so far. 
DOS updated the status online ~18 days after they have received my package and the NOS.
 

Application packet was sent to DOS by USPS:         July 19th 2019

Packet received in St Louis, MO (USPS tracking) :  July 22nd 2019

Embassy sent No Objection Statement:                   July 22nd 2019

Application fee checked:                                             July 25th 2019

DOS updated status – Documents received:           August 10th 2019