AjT1

Hello!

My interview to adjust my status is coming up. The interview date is on 15th December. The issue is that I have a bit of a lead foot and back in August I got stopped by a state trooper for doing 90 in a 70 zone. Because I was going more than 15mph over the posted speed limit I've been charged with reckless driving which is a misdemeanour offence. My original court date was set for 7th December but as the courts are facing closures due to Covid my court date has been moved to May 2021. 

So, I'm wondering if this pending court date is going to be an issue and how big of an issue if it is. Does anyone have any ideas/experience with something like this?

Thanks!

19 hours ago, Letspaintcookies said:

You already should have applied for the AP and the EAD when you applied for AOS. Go for it now and attach the NOA1 from AOS with your application so it's free. 

IT'S FREE? I knew the EAD was free with the AOS, I applied for them together, but I thought that the travel document was something I had to pay for regardless. I feel a bit daft for missing that key piece of information. I'm going to apply for it today in that case. 

19 hours ago, Lucky Cat said:

***Moved to Working and Traveling During US Immigration discussion area*****

 

Note to all Adjustment of Status applicants:  Submit an I-765 (EAD) and an I-131 (Advance Parole) as part of the Adjustment of Status package.  There is no fee when submitting them concurrently or after submission of the I-485.  There is no reason NOT to submit them.  You might need one or both of them in the future before your Green card arrives.

I didn't know that the AP document was also free with the AOS package... I feel a little stupid for not realising... As I don't plan on travelling until December at the earliest I may be alright with the expected processing times for the travel document if I apply over the next few days.

Thanks for alerting me to the fact that it is free! 

Hello!

Just a quick question and I apologise if I have posted it in the wrong place. I'm currently waiting for my green card after applying for AOS in mid January. My case is being dealt with in Charlotte, NC, and their office is showing processing times from 8.5 months to 26.5 months. Now with covid I'm expecting that these times will be much longer and because I would like to see my family back in the UK I'm now thinking that it might be a good idea to apply for a travel document. It has been four and a half months since I applied for AOS, so looking at the shortest processing time I may have four months left, although it is likely to be closer to the longest processing time of 3 years. The current processing time for the travel document is 3-5 months, but this also could be affected by covid. 

Do you think it would be worth it to apply for the travel document in the hope that I may be able to travel in the next six months? Or should I just continue to wait for the green card as I have already been waiting for four and a half months? 

Thanks you and I'm sorry again if this is posted in the wrong place. 

On 4/8/2020 at 8:55 AM, TheKingmaker said:

The more important question is do you have a EAD card and a job?  A Green Card is a nice to have, but in this situation not absolutely necessary.

I sent off for my EAD at the same time that I filed for my AOS. Back in February I had my finger prints taken for both the EAD and my AOS. When I check my case status for my EAD it says that the case has been updated to show that finger prints have been taken, which it still says today, so I'm still waiting for my EAD. I think I'm going to be waiting for that for most of the year...

Thanks for all your help and the information K1VisaHopeful! I'll check the processing times now. Thanks again!

Hello,

Just wondering if anyone else in in a similar situation as myself, imagine there are many who are and many more who are in worse situation than me due to everything going on with covid-19. 

I came over to the US in November on a K1 visa, got married in December and then sent off the I-485 form to adjust my status in February. In March I checked my case status online line and it said "Case is Ready to Be Scheduled for An Interview." Today it still says the same thing. 

Now I know that all face to face interviews have been delayed due to the effect of Covid-19 but I have not received any communication in the mail, or online, from USCIS since the case status changed. 

If you are in a similar situation to myself, have you received anything from USCIS? Does anyone know if they are planing on skipping the interview stage, as I expect there is going to be a considerable backlog, and just issue green cards?

I know something such as this hasn't happened in modern history so answers will be purely guess work but I thought I might as well ask...  

6 hours ago, Ayrton said:

Weren't you able to download as a PDF? That's what my husband did.

No. My wife needed a code to login to her IRS account and they have sent that in the post. And that could take up to two weeks to arrive... You're right though as it is better to wait than risk a RFE.

8 hours ago, K1visaHopeful said:

Actual tax return copies are not complete copies unless you have submitted all pages and schedules AND the earnings statements (W2s in your case). 

The work around is submitting the Return Transcript as if you submit those you only need to submit the earnings statements if those tax returns were filed as Married Filing Jointly (which would not have been her filing status if she was single then).

Order the most recent return Transcript (2018) and only submit that. Three years is OPTIONAL.

Further suggestion would be to read the I864 instructions so you understand the requirements and what documents are optional.

 

We've ordered the tax transcripts from the IRS website. They said they should be with us in up to ten calendar days. I was thinking that we might need them but I also want to get the process started... Saying that I know it's better to wait to have everything so as to avoid any RFE's. Thanks for your help!

Hello.

I've got a question regarding the evidence needed for the I-864 form which will be sent with the I-485 form when adjusting my status from a K1 visa holder to a green card holder.

My wife has her tax returns for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018 although she doesn't have any W2's as she was working and living in Japan during those years. She started her current job, in the US, one year ago and she is yet to file taxes for 2019 and she is yet to receive her W2 from her current employer, she will get this at the end of January. Although we think this is too late as we have almost everything we need to send the AOS which we want to do before the end of this week. 

So the evidence we are going to include with the I-864 is;

1. Employment letter confirming her employment, wage, length of service and salary, which is over the poverty guidelines.
2. Her most recent six months of paystubs.
3. Her 1040's from the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. Although she was living in Japan during these years so the amount of US tax paid isn't very much...
4. A letter explaining her foreign employment and subsequent lack of W2's. 

Is this enough? Do we need to include bank statements? We have tried getting her tax transcripts but we have to wait 15 working days for the verification code to be mailed to her so that she can use the online service. Again we feel this is too long to wait as we want to get the AOS sent ASAP but do you think it would be better to wait? 

Thanks in advance for any replies and assistance! 

Hello,

We are gathering the required evidence to submit my i485 to adjust my status from a K1 visa holder to a green card and we have a question regarding the tax forms for the i864.

My wife is the one completing the i864 and she doesn't have any tax forms 1099's or W2's. She has three years worth of 1040's, although during those years she was working in Japan and not the US. She has been working in her current job in the US for one year now so we can submit six months of pay stubs, an employment letter and the tax documents that she does have but will we be likely to get a RFE due to not providing 1099's or W2's? 

Thanks in advance for any help!

6 minutes ago, Boiler said:

As far as I know in UK and US to change parent you need to be adopted, maybe different in other countries so probably best to stop there.

So you suggest getting trying to change the name of my parent on the marriage certificate from John Smith to Charlie Brown? That way the name matches the name of my father that is on my birth certificate?

11 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Well changing your name has no connection with who your parent is, so I am confused.

The parent name which we have put on the marriage certificate is the name of the man who I, and everyone else consider to be my parent. Let's say his name is John Smith. Although John Smith has taken care of me since I was a baby, and I have legally changed my surname to Smith, John Smith isn't the named father that's on my birth certificate. On my birth certificate it says that my father is Charlie Brown. 

There is a difference here between the name of my father on my birth certificate and the name of my father on my marriage certificate. So I think you're saying that I will have to get the name of my father changed on my marriage certificate, is this correct? Or do you think an affidavit would be enough?  

2 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You were presumably adopted so that would be the legal parent.

Not adopted... Just changed my surname legally. 

Hello!

Me and my new wife are in the process of getting our paperwork sorted so we can send off the I-485 and adjust my status. 

We received the marriage certificate from Mecklenburg county in North Carolina today and without thinking we put my dads name in the parent box. The issue with this is that my dad isn't the father named on my birth certificate. 

Does anyone know if this would be an issue? Would we have to get a new marriage certificate? Would an affidavit explaining the named parent on the marriage certificate has taken care of me my whole life, I also have his surname, be sufficient? 

If anyone has experienced something similar or has any advice I'll be very appreciative.

Thanks!

Thank you for your reply and I'll get on with getting the required documentation.

Hello! Just a quick post to confirm what I need to take to the DMV to get a NC state licence. I know that I have got 60 days after the day of my arrival to still use my UK licence and that any NC state licence I get will only be valid until my K1 visa expires. After which I'll have to wait until I get my EAD to get a licence that doesn't expire so soon. I just want to know, from those who have had to get a NC state licence in the past, if my list of required documentation is enough. I've looked on the official site of the DMV in NC and posts on this forum, but it can't hurt to ask. Just to make sure.

The documents that I'm going to take to the DMV are as follows;

• Passport

• K1 visa

• Form I-94

• I-797 approval document

• Housing lease - with my name and my wife's name on it.

• Health insurance letters – or – bank statement - Anything with my name and address on.

• Social Security card

• Liability insurance from a NC insurer 

• UK license

• IDP

• Passport style photographs

Is this enough? Or should I take more/less?

Thank you!

2 minutes ago, payxibka said:

I doubt you will find cheaper than $285 per year.  

Did I type per year? HAHA 

It's $285 per month! Not per year! My bad!

26 minutes ago, AjT1 said:

Hello,

 

I have just arrived in the US and me and my fiancee are looking at options for my health insurance while I'm on a K1 visa and waiting for my AOS. 

 

She has health insurance through her work which is $50 per month for just her. We have looked at adding me to her insurance after we are married and the premium rockets in price to almost $700 per month. 

 

We are based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as such we have been looking at policies provided by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina. The lowest quote we have, which starts on the first of January, is $285 per year. 

 

Does anyone on here have any experience in getting health insurance while on a K1 visa? And if so is it possible to find cheaper cover or is that what we are going to have to pay?

 

Thanks!

Edit: the quote is $285 per MONTH not per year!

Hello,

I have just arrived in the US and me and my fiancee are looking at options for my health insurance while I'm on a K1 visa and waiting for my AOS. 

She has health insurance through her work which is $50 per month for just her. We have looked at adding me to her insurance after we are married and the premium rockets in price to almost $700 per month. 

We are based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as such we have been looking at policies provided by BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina. The lowest quote we have, which starts on the first of January, is $285 per year. 

Does anyone on here have any experience in getting health insurance while on a K1 visa? And if so is it possible to find cheaper cover or is that what we are going to have to pay?

Thanks!

Hello,

I have now arrived in the US, I got in on Saturday, and now I'm looking into getting my NC State licence and my SSN number. I think I understand what I need to do to get a state licence but I'm not sure if I need to have a SSN before I do. Can anyone on this wonderful forum provide any advice on this, please?

Also, me and my fiancee are getting married on the 6th of December. Should I wait until we are married to apply for my SSN? Or should I do it as soon as possible?

Thanks!

1 hour ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

It’ll probably be issued today, maybe tomorrow. We’re very lucky that AP for UK nationals is normally quick.

Yeah, it's just been issued! I guess I'll have my passport back by the end of the week. 

1 hour ago, Kris & Crystal said:

The date on the status tracker is updated by you checking it. Given that it was Friday you interview, I'd see how things go today, or possibly tomorrow.

 

Mine went:

 

2019-10-15 - Interview.
2019-10-16 at 08:04 - Status changed to 'Administrative Processing'.
2019-10-16 at 14:00 - Status changed to 'Issued'.
2019-10-17 at 14:35 - Received email with a tracking number and saying the passport with the visa was dispatched.
2019-10-18 - Called DX Couriers as I was in a rural area and the status of the tracking number said: "Your item has been sent via 3rd party. Please contact your service provider." - They told me they sent it via Royal Mail Special Delivery that morning. It took a while to register but at 15:40 it was in the South Midlands Mail Centre.
2019-10-19 at 10:04 - Received the delivery.

Thanks for the information! It's changed to administrative processing now. So I'm happy that they haven't forgotten about it! Haha 

Just wondering if this is normal... 

I had my interview on Friday, October 18th, and I was approved. I've checked the CEAC website today and my case has been updated today, October 21st, but it still says that it's ready for interview. Is this normal? I though the next update would say something about administrative processing or something? 

So my interview was yesterday, and after waiting and worrying about it since we sent our petition back in February. The interview was a breeze. I plan to leave a review of the embassy when I'm back on my computer later. 

As I was told it was mainly waiting. Out of all the stuff I brought I was only asked for; my passport, i134 with employment verification letter and bank deposit statements, birth certificate, change of name deed, police certificates from the UK and Japan, one passport photo, and reaffirmation letter from my fiancée. 

So there was a lot of waiting and then I was called for my interview. After raising my right hand and swearing to tell the truth the interviewer asked three questions.

Where did I meet my fiancée?

When was the last time we met? 

When is the wedding? 

I was also asked about my past drug use, as I told the truth during the medical, and I just confirmed what I had already told the GP at the medical. 

Then she said that the visa was approved and I was free to go. That was it. 

So I left the embassy and called my fiancée to tell her the good news. 

Now, I've got to wait about 10 days for my passport and the envelope that I've not got to open, which I guess is sent with the passport? The only thing they gave me is a CD with my chest x-ray. 

So yeah, the visa has been approved and I can't stop smiling!

10 hours ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

And now it is done and you can breathe again 🙃...

 

Hope everything went ok 👍🏻 

It did. It was so much easier than I thought it was going to be. I was only asked three questions and my interview only lasted around 5 minutes! But yeah, approved! Just got to wait to get my passport back. 

32 minutes ago, Zoeeeeeee said:

It’s passing in a blur!

 

Good luck for tomorrow and try not to stress over it - it really is a casual chat - you’ll leave feeling relieved, I’m sure!

Cheers. The closer it is the calmer I'm feeling. People such as yourself have helped a lot. I just want it to be done now!