centric23

Created this thread for my fellow January 2023 AOS filers. Mailed (Chicago Lockbox): January 10 Delivered: January 13 NOA texts: January 17 acknowledging petition was received January 13 Physical letters: Pending

Hello January 2023 AOS filers another month another round of AOS submissions, Please be aware that this checklist is NOT all inclusive and you must consult the USCIS website to crosscheck this checklist against/with. The AOS process has been confusing since the pandemic hit, not to mention the added politics. So please I want to stress that you only use this check sheet as a starting point and guide if you will. The USCIS site will be the final guide. Please ensure that you check your forms for the correct versions and editions because if you use the wrong forms USCIS will reject your application and send it back to you. This is easily checked on the USCIS website prior to downloading your forms. You should also ONLY download your forms from the USCIS website. The current and correct fees can also be ascertained from the USCIS website . Just a side note before we get started USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 and Form I-131 if filed jointly with Form I-485. Here is the quoted text taken directly from the USCIS website. "To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, when possible, we will adjudicate an applicant's Form I-765 first. If we approve it, we will issue an Employment Authorization Document without any notation about advanced parole. We will adjudicate the Form I-131 separately and if we approve it, we will issue an advance parole document". I know this is old news, but I thought it would be good to include it here for your knowledge. What this means is some people elect to include three (3) copies of their marriage license / certificates one attached to each form (I-485, I-765 and I-131 respectively). I do not know of anyone receiving an RFE for a marriage license/certificate missing on the I-765 or the I-131 since USCIS has started doing this new way of adjudicating the AOS (the marriage license / certificate with form I-485 is required though). This is an age old concern that has been in play before this new way USCIS started adjudicating these forms. Some filers including me when I filed the AOS back in 2019 sent in three (3) copies of their marriage licenses / certificates. I did it then because of peace of mind and there were some RFEs given out for missing licenses / certificates (back then). USCIS also used to issue Combo Cards, Employment Authorization Document and Advance Parole (EAD and AP combined in the same card). I've seen now where they have issued an EAD without the AP. Whether you include three (3) copies of your marriage license / certificate is going to be your individual call when you file your AOS. Having said that let's get into the checklist: AOS Checklist Cover Letter listing Table of Contents Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $1,225.00 (this includes the Bio-metrics fee) Form I-485 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary) Form G-1145 Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp Copy of NOA2 Approval letter (from K1 process) I-94 Copy of beneficiary's Birth Certificate translation of birth certificate (if needed) Certified copy of Marriage License or Certificate Passport Photos (2) name written on the back Copy of DS-3025 Form I-864 (completed and signed by USC) (goes with form I-485) Proof of USC's citizenship (copy of birth certificate, copy of passport bio page, or other) Current tax year 2021 and (optional 2020 , 2019) Tax Return (with W-2) or Transcripts (transcripts are better if you can get them) Employment Verification letter (updated one - not the one used during K1 process) Pay stubs (last 3 months) Form I-765 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary) Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp I-94 Passport Photos (2) name written on the back Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process) Be sure to use the correct filing code of (c)(9) if this code applies to you. The I-765 instructions explains all the codes in detail. If you are filing under a different code (other than (c)(9) the fee for your AOS will not be correct and USCIS will reject your entire packet. Form I-131 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary) Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp I-94 Passport Photos (2) name written on the back Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process Be sure to double check for the current fees as fees do sometimes increase and they can change on a dime so please check. Additionally, check the forms as listed above i.e., current version and or edition date, there have been many changes to various forms. Consider sending tax transcripts instead of the 1040, and W2's. Also consider preparing a cover letter for each form in addition to the main cover letter. Make sure you send long form birth certificates and not the short form. Hope this helps in your preparation of your AOS. When in doubt ask questions. Please consider filing the I-131 and the I-765 even if you don't think you'll need them right now. You never know what changes your life will have on down the road, so I recommend you file these two forms from the start. There is no extra charge to file them with your AOS and it's better to submit them all at once. There has been much confusion coming out of USCIS, partly due to Covid-19 and partly self-inflicted. This confusion filters on down to the people filing for AOS. The above listing is subject to change at a moment’s notice so please check, recheck and check again BEFORE you send off your packet for any last-minute changes. Congratulations on a successful submission of your AOS packet!

He said he came on a B1/B2 visa as a single person, then married a USC one year later.

It seems to be a mac problem, so I used a windows computer and printed to pdf.

Email: NVCResearch@state.gov (few days to get a response) Submit public inquiry: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/ask-nvc.html (takes a few months to get a response)

Yes. The document we received from embassy to prepare for our interview said validity for 24 hours.

Police reports are valid for 2 years.

Email NVCResearch@state.gov with your case number.

I don't know anybody who's used the new one without fingerprints. We've all been told to get fingerprint version, and when my fiance went, the officer told him she's been hearing people getting turned away for old certificate.

My fiance did his police report. It was the old process and came with fingerprints. To be on the safe side, request the fingerprints as well.

Go back and get fingerprints. Some COs have rejected people's clearance without it.

Thank you both!

As a former DV lottery winner, go for it!

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-134.pdf

I'm trying to fill out my AOS (I-134), but every time I close out of it, I have to enter a password to reopen. Is anyone else having this issue?

Nigeria police report is valid for 2 years.

Go by the USCIS website. Case tracker is third party and more prone to errors.

Average time is 14-15 months to get NOA2. You'll hopefully hear back next month.

Email nvcresearch@state.gov

There's really no explaining how USCIS ships its cases. One of my friends was approved in April and they just sent her case to NVC.

You'll receive a notice that your case was transferred.

Which other instructions were you waiting for? Nothing else will come from the embassy.

You're almost done! Based on my experience, you should receive your case number in time for next week's batch, then go in transit 2 weeks later. It only took like 2 days to go from In Transit to Ready. How easy is it to schedule interviews in Ecuador?

For us, to book medical, you need an interview date.

Hey everyone! My timeline from NVC to interview below: NOA1: April 19 NOA2: June 28 At NVC: Mid august (exact date unsure) NVC number received: August 30 In transit: Sept. 13 Case ready: Sept. 15 Medical: Sept. 29 Interview: Nov. 10