Angela & Brendon

Every couple has to decide their priorities; ours was to be together. We had enough money saved that I could afford to wait 6+ months without work. Obviously everyone's situation is different.
 
I was, however, able to get a job offer once I had my biometrics and got my EAD very quickly after that. You may have similar success. 
 
If you don't want to wait to work, go with the consular processing, but know that this will add at possibly 2+ years to the wait time for you guys to be together. If you're prepared to this, this could be the best option. 

In that case I would just move to the US and wait it out for the EAD. You don't know how much longer process times will become. 

Every couple has to decide their priorities; ours was to be together. We had enough money saved that I could afford to wait 6+ months without work. Obviously everyone's situation is different.
 
I was, however, able to get a job offer once I had my biometrics and got my EAD very quickly after that. You may have similar success. 
 
If you don't want to wait to work, go with the consular processing, but know that this will add at possibly 2+ years to the wait time for you guys to be together. If you're prepared to this, this could be the best option. 

She can visit but under no circumstances should she give up her apartment. She needs ties to her home country. She would be visiting not living with you.
 

NEVER MIND - we just got an update that the new card is being produced!

I'm chuckling...what comes to mind are the IKEA commercials where the lady starts running and shouting "START THE CAR!" because she can't believe her savings  
 
Congrats!  

I just made my first trip back to the UK for a week traveling on Advance Parole flying with United between LAX <-> LHR with no issues. I received my combo card about a month ago, and am still waiting for my AOS interview in LA County. There are two challenges when traveling on Advance Parole:
Keeping your combo card safe. Don't lose it, otherwise the airline won't board you, and the US embassy usually can't help you since you are not a legal permanent resident yet. Convincing the airline to board you, since they sometimes don't recognise the combo card.  
Being super paranoid after hearing the horror stories of people losing their combo cards abroad, I kept my card zipped up in a wallet in a safe location for the whole trip. I didn't carry it with me at all apart from to/from the airport. Had an amazing week catching up with family and friends in London, and put thoughts of immigration out of my mind for once 
 
After the week had flown by in what felt like a day, I was ready to take on the airline check-in desk. Approaching the United check-in at Heathrow, they had a lady conducting pre-screening and placing stickers on the backs of passports. I handed her my passport and combo card, and she swiped both of them through a tablet computer. The combo card clearly didn't scan, as she tried it several times before giving it a quizzical look. She then asked me about my purpose for visiting the US and what I do for a job. I explained that I live in the US and am returning, to which she asked me if I have any family who live out there (yes, my husband!). Following this, she thumbed through my passport and exclaimed 'Aha, you are traveling on a K1 visa!', and not wanting to rock the boat by correcting her I remained silent whilst she mashed some buttons... and then that was it - I was through!
 
Had a comfortable flight back to LA with a lovely Thai Green Curry for dinner, and a friendly lady seated next to me who talked just the right amount. To top it off, the middle seat was empty, so hooray - extra leg room! One small detail is that LAX now uses Automated Passport Kiosks and the airline no longer hand out boarding cards on the flight. These kiosks do not work for being admitted with Advance Parole, so you do need to complete a boarding card. The flight attendant took some convincing before she was willing to issue me one as she thought I could just use the kiosks, so I had to ask a few times.
 
Arriving at Customs and Border Protection, I skipped the kiosks and joined the non-resident line, looking longingly at Global Entry which I used to use to sail through immigration when I was entering on the Visa Waiver Program. Fortunately, I had a wait of only about 15 minutes as the immigration hall was quiet and they were getting through people quickly. I handed the CBP officer my passport, landing card and combo card and said "I'd like to enter on Advance Parole". He didn't ask me any questions, and spent about 5 minutes swiping documents through his computer and reviewing information. He then got up from his desk and said "Come with me as we need to confirm that your document is valid, this is normal". I was led to an empty secondary inspection room, where he left my documents on an empty desk at the front. I sat there for maybe 20 minutes before another CBP officer spotted me through the window and asked if I needed help. He then took and processed my documents which took about 15 minutes.
 
After being called over, he asked me if it was my first time using Advance Parole, to which I said yes. He was very friendly, and explained that he had put a stamp in my passport paroling me until my document expires which would show on my I-94, but does not constitute a "new admission". He said that people sometimes spend years traveling on Advance Parole whilst waiting the outcome of AOS and that I shouldn't be nervous traveling with it. I asked whether the date on the stamp had any significance, and he said that it doesn't really, since I can remain in the US providing I am still in process. He warned me never to travel on an expiring card, as he has seen many instances of people being stuck abroad with an expired card and having to re-start the process from scratch!
 
Something else useful I found out is that:
Airlines have a hotline they can call for CBP if they're ever unsure that a document is valid for boarding, as some airlines are not familiar with Advance Parole. Airlines have a "Carrier Information Guide" available here which lists the documents valid for boarding.   
In summary, don't be afraid to travel on Advance Parole. Just make sure you don't lose your card, let it expire, and arrive at the airport with enough time to allow the airline to figure things out if they don't understand the process. I'm traveling to Mexico in a week for a much-delayed honeymoon and this experience has given me confidence that travel on Advance Parole is much easier than I expected 

Looking at the current travel restrictions and guidelines, my reading of it is that because she's a Permanent Resident now, she will not be required to be vaccinated to return to the US. I'm not sure what restrictions in Austria are like so it may be worth checking there. 

I got the following email just when I was about to leave. Did your caseworker have to contact you after you filled the privacy form or is this a signal that they will call USCIS on my behalf?
 
“We have received and processed your paperwork. You should be hearing from your caseworker regarding your issue soon. Have a great day, Office of Senator Jacky Rosen, Northern Nevada”

Looking at the current travel restrictions and guidelines, my reading of it is that because she's a Permanent Resident now, she will not be required to be vaccinated to return to the US. I'm not sure what restrictions in Austria are like so it may be worth checking there. 

I had the medical on an earlier date from my interview, so mine may be a little different. But my interview was like this:
 
Arrived at the Embassy, entered and went through a security check. Was then given a ticket number and asked to go to a first officer once my number was called, who checked I had all the necessary paperwork (forms, medical, financial support documents). I was then told to sit down, and was called up to speak to a second officer who asked the following: 
 
How we met?
What I did for work? 
What my fiancé did for work? 
Had my fiancé travelled to the UK to see me at all? 
What our wedding plans were?
 
After answering all of these, the officer told me everything looked good and I would be issued the visa. I gave them my passport, which I received with the visa 9 days after my interview. 
 
Hope this helps!  

house.gov to find your local rep. I then called the office and asked to speak with the immigration liaison officer, the individual that helped me. You could try the Senators, but I also live in a pretty red state (Tennessee), and I think regardless of immigration status your congressperson should want to add another job to the local economy. 

I'd say there's a reasonable chance you get one or the other by Christmas. Still have three months, a lot can happen!

I'd say there's a reasonable chance you get one or the other by Christmas. Still have three months, a lot can happen!

Thank you! I don't smoke pot anyway so XD

Seems it could go either way

@Boiler is right. We have seen both here. I received a combo card after the expedite, others only got the EAD.

It's never easy but not that I'm back with my now wife, it's the happiest I've ever been. Just work with the knowledge if you can get through this, you can get through anything. 

It's never easy but not that I'm back with my now wife, it's the happiest I've ever been. Just work with the knowledge if you can get through this, you can get through anything. 

It's never easy but not that I'm back with my now wife, it's the happiest I've ever been. Just work with the knowledge if you can get through this, you can get through anything. 

It's never easy but not that I'm back with my now wife, it's the happiest I've ever been. Just work with the knowledge if you can get through this, you can get through anything. 

Congrats to everyone!!  Tons of IR-1 AND K-1 VJ member approvals last month! 
 
Just a few of the 171 VJ member approvals from 55 countries, shown below!
 

 
K1 processing timelines seem to be flattening out (great news)!
 

 
The same seems to be true for IR-1 visas:
 

 
Here is the entire list March approval list:
 
https://www.visajourney.com/content/visa-approvals-last-month/
 

Awesome news!!! burn burn baby. I-944 you won't be missed. 

Just wanted to send an update to the group that we finally got our application approved today. One year after filing (took 4 months extra for RFE) but we did it. Now onto next steps! Thanks all for your help and support on this forum. 

Nope
Detained is a little more serious
 
If the person has been detained pending an investigation or questioning, he or she may remain in a local or county jail until read his or her Miranda Rights so he or she may acquire a lawyer. Being detained by police is often the first step before an investigation into a possible crime occurs.