BabyBlueSusie

I just so happened to log in after not being around for a very long time. The short answer is yes, you need all of the documents. We went to the interview without having obtained everything, and had to go get the remaining documents and return for a second interview. You can check out my review of the interview in Tirana here. I go into great detail about the interview, and explain where to obtain the necessary documents. Hopefully that helps!

Yeah, it is one big money game. If you think about all the money we have spent on immigration fees it is ridiculous! AOS was the worst! Wasn't it like over $1,000?? Such criminals....

I keep telling myself not to complain because at least our significant others are not oceans away anymore, like when we were waiting for K1 approvals (for those of us who did K1 visas). Now THAT was something to complain about haha. The approval will come in time, at least you have your SO with you. Just trying to keep the positive thoughts flowing!

Hang in there guys, it is bound to happen shortly!!

Thanks everyone! We are glad it's over. Best of luck to everyone.

Hello Fellow VJers:

For the future reference of people in similar situations, I wanted to create a post about the situation of my husband and I. We got married in June 2008 and almost immediately afterwards I started a PhD program in the midwest, which caused us to uproot ourselves from NYC. Shortly after arriving we realized that it was going to be very difficult for my husband to find a job in this small city, considering his limited English skills at the time, and, of course, the terrible economy. He was not happy here, since he had no friends, no job, and couldn't even get around because the license test is only given in English here (and of course there is next to no public transport). As much as I wanted to believe that I alone could make his experience here tolerable, that simply was not realistic. To make a long story short, a few months later, shortly after filing AOS, we decided that it would be best for him to go back to NY where he had friends, people who spoke his language, and most importantly, a stable, well paying job. My family is there too, so they also offer him some support. We have been living with this arrangement for the past couple of years. I go to NY during all school breaks and he comes here in the winter when he doesn't have much work. It is not ideal, but we have made it work. I plan on moving back to NY when I finish my PhD program next year.

Anyhow, the reason I am posting is because we applied for ROC, openly stated that we are mostly living separately, and were approved without so much as an interview or RFE. I want our story to give hope to others out there who might be in similar situations. Just keep records of everything and you will be fine. I have included a list of evidences we sent, for any interested parties. I hope this helps! Good luck, and just remember to be thorough and honest with USCIS.

Our evidences: joint bank account information, joint tax transcripts, joint car insurance documents, joint leases from both of our apartments, joint ownership of two cars, police report of a car accident that we got in together, joint credit cards, numerous utility bills in both of our names, LOTS of plane tickets from our travel back and forth to visit one another, copies of my school ID and his student spouse ID showing the same school, some photos of us with family, two affidavits from friends.

Just received an email update from USCIS. Card production was ordered today!! Wahoo!!!

Unless things have changed since the AOS days, RFE letters come on a plain old boring piece of paper and include language like "Include this letter with your response", and of course the heading "Request for initial evidence" or "Request for additional evidence". On the other hand, an approval notice is headed (top-right) with "I-797, Notice of Action" and is one of those fancy green documents on heavy watermarked paper with "The United States of America" written within a fancy border across the top. Receipts, appointment or case transfer notices are similar but come on an I-797C... Hopefully that helps work out what it is?

Very helpful! I think it is an approval because he said it is the fancy green paper, but no appointment.

I was just looking at other posts and it seems like the update on the website (not sure if the physical letter is any different) typically says 30 days not 60. Oh god, I hope we didn't get an RFE....I will have him try to read the letter to me later tonight. Wish me luck!!

I think my husband's green card has been ordered. He doesn't read English very well, but told he that we got a letter from USCIS and there is no appointment on it. He said it reads something about 60 days. Is this something they normally write in the acceptance letter? I won't be home for another week, so I won't see the letter until then. No update on the website.

$595 plus $85 biometric fee. How many times do they have to take ur finger prints?? Does a person finger prints change over time or something?

haha I was wondering the same thing. Why did my husband have to get fingerprinted at AOS and again for ROC only two years later?

I'm planning on submitting the "old time" photo from adventureland that has us dressed up as "Formal Western". Great pic. I fully intended to do our animal stuff as well but I think I'm the only one listed at the Vet's.. I should check that. I also think random photos that other people have taken with you in the background 'cause it's not "staged".

I could in theory submit the hateful letter from my MIL that addresses both of us.. proves we're together right?

Seriously though I'm not even slightly concerned There's random things I could include (not really funny but random) like at work on the "contact sheet" where it lists the staff and their contact details and in brackets next to the name is the spouses name. I had to do a POA (power of attorney) for him to sign for my on the house purchase 'cause I had to go back to Aus for a while. I plan on redoing my Wills and POA's soon (Tony thinks it's morbid). I could submit chat's with my mum from MSN talking about Tony/us. I could get proof from the dentist that I'm the one that called in to book our appointments (you know point of contact stuff). We have the joint bank accounts, and health insurance, and car insurance and same drivers licence address... I could print FB wall posts of us being at the movies together (you know those "check-ins"). Or people posting stuff about us online.

Still.. I like the idea of sending in something funny (like the funny old time photo) and putting it at the very top. Just so it's the first thing they see. I'd love to see their face when they opened the packet

Actually I think that is a fine idea. We all get bored with our jobs, and it can never hurt to have a little humor with what is otherwise a very serious process. And, it is never a bad thing to make a IO giggle or smile, even if it is only on the inside.

An evidence we would be including is the copy of Urgent Care Clinic discharge papers which show him and me being treated for Strep Throat at the same period of time. If that's not an acceptable evidence of being together, I don't know what is.

I love hearing all these creative ideas!

Just thought I would add our pretty ridiculous piece of evidence. We included a police report of a car accident that we got into last year. The report lists my husband as the driver and I as the passenger (our cat, who was in the back seat, was unfortunately not listed on the document haha).

Also, I always tell my husband that if we were to get called for an interview, the officer need only hear us argue to be sure that we are a real married couple...........

Whatever you put as the mailing address is where they will schedule your interview/biometrics. My husband and I had an issue with this since we have apartments in two different states. You can put two addresses on the application but make sure the mailing address is where you want to have your interview. I think this is considered your 'official address' to them.

Thanks! Yeah I am 100% Albanian. Tell your burri Te fala t'ben Daku Tironsi

haha I will tell him. Congratulations on the green card!

The last processing action has taken on my case. On August 13, 2011, we ordered production of your new card. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

here is my missed timeline

NOA1 Date 02/18

Biometrics 04/25

Thanks VSC and good luck to everybody out there

Congratulations! I had no idea there was another Albanian here! =D

I am not Albanian, but burri im is.

Also - Does anyone know if any Feb filers had an interview???

Yeah, no sense in worrying. I totally understand though, as we all have those worrisome moments during the immigration process.

If you followed the instructions for rescheduling, then you will be fine. We also did not have a new appointment when the first date passed, and it was no problem. Just follow their protocol. If you want to go there tomorrow you can, but I don't see the need to if you notified them by mail.

As long as you follow the instructions on the appointment letter they sent you, you will be fine. We sent our letter to reschedule (one to the local office and a copy to VSC) via regular mail and they simply rescheduled us. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Good idea. Thanks. I was also thinking about checking with the airline if they have help in Atlanta for people with disabilities to find their connecting gate.

Yeah, I am sure they do. I also see people coming on the plane for elderly people who need wheelchairs and such. You should be able to arrange for someone to help him out. Good luck!

An update on my wife's uncle and his interview. I was pretty sure he would not get the visa as he really doesn't have much to keep him there, but we just talked to him and he did get the visa. In fact he said it was pretty easy. It seems like the key items that helped were a few pictures he showed of my wife and I, and my bank statements that I sent to him to show that we had the assets to support him. Both were the only things that were looked at, followed by a quick approval. It's a happy day at our house.

This poor man is pretty much deaf and has very little and has only traveled to visit a few relatives in Russia. Trying now to put together travel arrangements and have major concerns with him making connections in Atlanta. He does not speak English. This will be some adventure!

On one of my flights from Italy to the US I encountered an older gentleman who handed me a letter written in English. The letter was written by his son, stating that the man didn't speak any English (nor Italian - it was a coincidence that he was Albanian) and asking if I could please fill out his custom form for him. You might consider doing something like this for your wife's uncle. You could write a letter with all of his information for the form (you can look up what is needed online somewhere I am sure), and then another letter asking for help to his connection gate, in case he needs this too.

The short answer to this question is "No." My husband and I have two apartments because I go to graduate school in Indiana and he works in NY. When I don't have school I go there and during the winter, when he has little work, he comes here. USCIS sent us a biometrics appt in Indiana after my husband had already returned to NY for the season, so we wrote back and requested an appt in NY. They said the address listed as the mailing address (in our case, the Indiana address) would be used to determine the location of the biometrics appt. We had to submit a change of address form, and switch the mailing address to our NY address in order to get a new appt in NY. So, I doubt if you will be able to switch the appt to a location closer to your work. USCIS rarely cares about what is most convenient for us haha. Hope that helps!

We did the exact steps that you mentioned above and are now scheduled for the second biometrics appt. We had some other change of address issues though, so ours took a bit longer than one would expect for a rescheduling (4 months). As you said though, we must remember that it is much easier this time around. We knew we would lose time by rescheduling, so we are just glad that everything worked out. I believe they try to give you 3 weeks notice for the appt, so I am fairly sure that yours will be after Aug 15. If anything I would imagine that you might end up complaining about how LONG it takes, not how quickly it comes haha. You know USCIS........

Good luck!

I have not been to Kosovo, but I have been to Albania, which is very similar and right next door. Your son will be fine, as the country has become very stable in recent years. The great news is that Albanians love Americans for our help with the war, so I would not be worried. Like I said, I have not been there, but perhaps these links will be of some help - My link My link

I have heard that Kosovo is generally more beautiful than Albania, since it was part of Yugoslavia, and Albania was not. I hope your son enjoys his time there! I will let you know if my husband tells me any place in particular he thinks would be of interest.

-Susan