ben2

Hey everyone,

Still waiting for my interview letter, any may filers who haven't received one yet? I called in beginning of December, and was told in NY the're still working on october 2007 filers Is somethign liek this possible? On VJ i see average wait time under 8 months, and that's including interview. Any way to speed this up?

Thanks,

Ben

Thanks, what about getting the docs notarized or not, as well as sending them in together with the application vs. bringing them to the interview?

If US Consulates in Russia are anything like Kyiv then all is presented at the interview.

As for notarization, what do you want or what do you think the notarization will accomplish?

prove that the copies she's mailing were made from original document and not some photoshop fakes. If documents are presented at the interview, then you're right, in that it doesn't make any sense to notarize them, since she'll bring originals.

You don't need to notarize anything or to translate anything. Let her send copies of all the documents ptoviding ties to Russia together with the application.

Thanks, guess this is what we'll do then, send copies together with the application and bring the originals to the interview just in case.

Hi everyone.

I have a couple of questions about inviting my wife's mother to come to visit us in the US. I've written up an invitation letter, but, as it does not carry much weight, am concentrating now on providing documents that she has ties back to Russia. Here are a couple of questions:

1) My wife's mother owns some property in Russia. Do documents proving this have to be translated into English/notarized? Does she mail them with the DS-156 application with Pony Express, or does she bring supporting documents to the interview instead?

2) She can get document from "Nalogavaya" proving income, does it need to be translated/notarized?

3) Any other documents she can bring proving "ties" back to russia. She does have a daughter, other than my wife, back in russia, along with her mother. She can bring a copy of their passports/propiska with her. Do those copies need to be translated/notarized?

Thanks in advance,

Ben

English translations are required when dealing with the USCIS. When dealing only with the consulate, they understand both English and Russian

Thanks, what about getting the docs notarized or not, as well as sending them in together with the application vs. bringing them to the interview?

Hi everyone.

I have a couple of questions about inviting my wife's mother to come to visit us in the US. I've written up an invitation letter, but, as it does not carry much weight, am concentrating now on providing documents that she has ties back to Russia. Here are a couple of questions:

1) My wife's mother owns some property in Russia. Do documents proving this have to be translated into English/notarized? Does she mail them with the DS-156 application with Pony Express, or does she bring supporting documents to the interview instead?

2) She can get document from "Nalogavaya" proving income, does it need to be translated/notarized?

3) Any other documents she can bring proving "ties" back to russia. She does have a daughter, other than my wife, back in russia, along with her mother. She can bring a copy of their passports/propiska with her. Do those copies need to be translated/notarized?

Thanks in advance,

Ben

Hi everyone.

Are there many May filers who have NOT being transferred to CA and who DON'T have an interview date yet?

Just wondering what's up with my file, received EAD & AP on time, but no updates since then, no RFE's, no interview...

Hope I'm not alone in that, as I've seen lots of May filers already receiving their green card and many others at least having their interview scheduled...

Ben

I'm in the same situation, nothing since my biometrics. My case is in the National Benefits Center.

Thanks for letting me know we're not alone in this, hopefully it'll speed up after the elections, or even before then. On a side note, is there a website we can check if an interview has been scheduled? Is the case "touched" when an interview has been scheduled?

Hi everyone.

Are there many May filers who have NOT being transferred to CA and who DON'T have an interview date yet?

Just wondering what's up with my file, received EAD & AP on time, but no updates since then, no RFE's, no interview...

Hope I'm not alone in that, as I've seen lots of May filers already receiving their green card and many others at least having their interview scheduled...

Ben

A late update.

We came about 1/2 hour after opening and went through no problem. While we were inside filling out the form, they called in everybody who had 9am appointment first, then a few min later people who had 10am appointment, a min after 11am, etc. By the time we filled out the forms we were able to go.

We stood in a short line, at the end of which they checked the forms, appointment letter, ID and hands. The lady then gave us a number and told to sit till the number gets called. Only my wife was allowed to actually go in once the number was called, i had to wait in the waiting area. While we were waiting (about 30 min) didn't hear any more 9am first, 10am after calls, so i am assuming they only do that at opening.

Hi

Just wanted to know if the appointments at the Brooklyn, NY Livingston St. location are time specific, or you can come at opening?

One of the people I know had appointment for 1pm, they came on time and the line was so huge, they waited till 4pm which is the closing time and didn't make it, and had to be rescheduled for the next day.

Did anyone have any experience coming early (on the same date)? Were you successful or were told to wait till the appointment time? We have an appointment for 12pm and want to come for the opening at 8am so that won't have to take too much time off work.

Thank you for your time.

We mailed our I-485, I-131, and I-765 with all other documents in the envelope to USCIS, P.O. Box 805887, Chicago, IL. 60680-4120. We sent them with US Postal Service (USPS). We mailed the package with Certified Mail and Return Receipt on May 12 2008. We look up the label# of our package from USPS web site and found out that the package arrived at postal unit on May 14, 2008, CHICAGO, IL 60699. It's now May 20 and the package is still at the postal unit. Why is it still at the postal unit? Why won't they send our package to the USCIS address?

Is this normal that package is still at the post office for so long? What should we do? How long do people wait for their package touch by USCIS?

Also we made the check out to USCIS. I read somewhere that it should make out to U.S Department of Homeland Security. Will they send us the package back and allow us to send them correct check?

Thanks!!

Not sure exactly what this means, but I have found Return Receipt USPS service to be totally useless. Sent my package May 5th certified/return receipt as well, on May 7th the online USPS status changed to delivered, was waiting for the USPS receipt to arrive by mail, and nothing came. Then received NOA1, still no USPS receipt. Finally, received biometrics appointment leter today, and guess what, the USPS return receipt was in the mail together with it, 15 days after the application was mailed.

Hi everyone.

I'm ready to apply for AOS for my wife and want to apply for EAD/AP together since they are included in the price. In the instructions for each of the forms it says I need to attach 2 photos, so does that mean I need to send in 6 photos total?

I also have a question about AP form I-131. On the form in Part 3 after question #3 it says: "If you are applying for an Advance Parole Document, skip to Part 7." In the example form on VisaJourney though, questions 4 and 5 of Part 3 are answered with a checkbox. This seems to contradict the instructions on the form, so do I need to answer those questions or do I skip them?

Thanks for your time,

Ben

anyone?

Varies by state, and locality.

In NY, we visited town hall and applied for marriage license, and then scheduled time for the town judge to conduct the ceremony a week later.

In virtually all locations you will need at least 2 witnesses to be with you for the ceremony, we used my sister, and brother in-law.

In NY 1 witness is enough, when we got married i just brought my cousin along. The witness has to be over 18 though.

Hi everyone.

I'm ready to apply for AOS for my wife and want to apply for EAD/AP together since they are included in the price. In the instructions for each of the forms it says I need to attach 2 photos, so does that mean I need to send in 6 photos total?

I also have a question about AP form I-131. On the form in Part 3 after question #3 it says: "If you are applying for an Advance Parole Document, skip to Part 7." In the example form on VisaJourney though, questions 4 and 5 of Part 3 are answered with a checkbox. This seems to contradict the instructions on the form, so do I need to answer those questions or do I skip them?

Thanks for your time,

Ben

Congrats ben2! Sorry to hear about the near-heart-attack-inducing situation, but glad it all ended well.

@shikarnov: At any POE, all you have to do is go up to an officer and ask which line you can both stand together in. I've only seen a single post where the couple wasn't allowed to stand together. I don't remember the circumstances.

Thanks Now it's on to getting social security #, getting married and applying for AOS...

Dan&YU,

Concering the I-94,

You said the departure part of I-94, gets stapled to the passport next to the VISA,

Is there an "arrival" part of the I-94 that gets put into the "sealed envelope" ?

Does anything go into the "sealed envelope" ?

VJ had me confused,

Tx

I-94 card is handed out on the flight over to fill out and give to the POE officer, the officer will staple the departure part of the I-94 card to the foreign citizen's passport next to the visa.

You are given both the arrival and departure parts on the plane to fill out , the officer then takes away the arrival record and staples the departure record to the passport next to the visa.

I know this question has been asked before, and I know the prevailing answer for my situation is "you don't need a bank statement if your income exceeds 125% of the poverty guidelines." However, I have not yet seen an answer that satisfies me completely, due to the wording of the I-134 instructions. I've pasted the relevant portion of the instructions below:

II. Supporting Evidence

As the sponsor, you must show you have sufficient income and/or financial resources to assure that the alien you are sponsoring will not become a public charge while in the United States.

Evidence should consist of copies of any or all of the following documentation listed below that are applicable to your situation.

Failure to provide evidence of sufficient income and/or financial resources may result in the denial of the alien's application for a visa or his or her removal from the United States.

The sponsor must submit in duplicate evidence of income and resources, as appropriate:

A.

Statement from an officer of the bank or other financial institutions where you have deposits, identifying the following details regarding your account:

1. Date account opened;

2. Total amount deposited for the past year;

3. Present balance.

B.

Statement of your employer on business stationery, revealing:

1. Date and nature of employment;

2. Salary paid;

3. Whether the position is temporary or permanent.

...

I've underlined 2 relevant portions of my concern. The first underline seems to be straightforward. Basically look at the list below and pick the evidence that meets your situation. Based on that, it seems as if I can get away with an employer letter (and pay stubs, although that is curiously not in the instructions).

It's the second underline I'm having a problem understanding. What does it mean that I need to submit "in duplicate?" Does that mean 2 copies of the employer letter, or that I need to supply 2 different methods of verifying my income? Since item C (not quoted above) is for self-employed people and doesn't apply to me, and item D (also not quoted) doesn't apply either, then if they're saying I need to provide 2 different methods of verifying my income, I really only have the Bank Officer letter as a second option.

Anyone care to shed some light on this? I do appreciate responses like "I didn't send a bank statement and we were approved," but I guess what I'm really looking for is some justification.

And the reason I'm asking is because I went to my bank the other day to get a letter, and even though I had a sample letter with me, they all looked at me like a deer in the headlights and finally decided the guy who had the authority to do that was out for the day. I'd like to avoid that again if I can justify in my own mind that it's not necessary.

Not sure of the correct way, can only speak from experience. I did the K1 through the lawyer, and she told me to just print out the balance from the bank's website, which is what i did. That worked out fine. My income is way above the poverty line though, so that might make a difference as well.

That guy sounds like a real jerk. How can you work at Passport Control and make a mistake like that? What a moron...

But, I do have a couple questions, if I may...

1: What paperwork did passport control want/need? Shouldn't it be as simple as showing the passport with the visa affixed?

2: You were able to go through the line with your fiancee? Every time I've flown into JFK, there have been separate lines/stations for USCs/Residents and Alien visitors at Customs... How'd this work for you?

Thanks ... And Congratulations

Z

Thanks, yeah, either he was either ignorant or trying to confuse us to check if we were genuine. Prob the first.

To answer your questions:

1. They need the passport + the sealed brown envelope from the embassy, which is mailed together with the visa and the passport after the interview.

2. Yes, i went with her in the visitors like no prob, I was processed first, the officer just stamped admitted stamp into my passport. Looking back, I could have prob walked with her in the citizens line no prob as well, would have taken much less time. The only reason i went to visitors is cause of delta representative who directed us there. That guy was kinda clueless as well, told us people with the packet don't need I94. I knew better though, as the instructions say only permanent residents (people with green card) don't need it and filled it out on the plane before. That's actually the paper they stamped the EAD on.

Update - POE review

We left Moscow Sunday afternoon. The airport there, the only 1 i was ever at, where after x-raying your suitcases/carry on luggage they make you open them and check all your stuff by hand.

After arriving to JFK, the first thing is the passport control. We were directed to the visitor's lane by the Delta crew. The line there moves really slow. We went in the leftmost lane, which was a big mistake. All the people on the wheelchairs / old people who have trouble walking, they direct them to the leftmost lane to the front, so besides the reg people in the line you have to wait till they pass as well. So after being among the first people in the general line till we arrived at the window we were among the last.

At the window the officer looked at her passport, took the packet from the embassy, unsealed it, started looking through the stuff, and then his facial expression changed. The whole time before he was very friendly, smiled, but when he started looking through the packet, he took out one paper from there, i couldn't really see what it was at first, pointed to a line on it and the dialogue was approximately as follows:

Him: It says it was issued in 2006, when did you meet?

Me: 2007, we first spoke on the phone in Feb and then met in person in April.

Him, in a very accusing tone: How can that be? It says it was issued in 2006

I, kinda nervous at that point: Dunno, but we met in 2007

Him: How did you meet?

Without waiting for me to answer called in another lady officer, who was probably his supervisor, showed him the paper

She: That's a copy where is the original?

He, looking through all papers from sealed envelope: There is no original here, turning towards me: Where is the original?

I'm: Huh? What original?

The supervisor lady to him:, OK, it's fine, that's a K1, waive them through, put a 90 day stamp.

He: I don't do that, they have to go to the secondary.

At that point I manage to take a look at the paper he was looking at which had 2006 on it, and noticed that it says that my fiancee's passport was issued in 2006 and valid till 2011

I point it out to the officer; he's like, ok, it's fine.

He then takes the passport and all the documents from the envelope and tells us to go with him into the secondary, where he gives the passport with the documents to the officer in the room, tells us to take a sit and leaves. We wait for about half an hours till they get to our case, didn't ask us any more questions, took the embassy documents, stamped the EAD into my fiancee's passport, and that was it.

My husband finally received his green card yesterday in the mail.

It says that permanent residents must carry their green cards around at all times.

Seeing as how importatnt this card is, we were wondering if he could just make a copy and carry that paper around.

I'm wondering why this needs to be done. I mean, why does it need to be carried around? How would people know whether a person is a US Citizen or a permanent resident?

They don't ask citizens to carry around pieces of paper because I sure as hell don't.

Wouldn't it be possible for the permanent resident to say that they're a citizen?

What purposes does the green card hold when carried around? I think he has enough identification with his driver's license.

My wife's green card was mailed to USCIS for correction, so she can't carry it. Based on that, one would logically conclude there's no actual requirement. Our daughter's card is locked in the safe with the passports.

We have no immigration police stopping foreign looking people and throwing them in jail for not showing papers, but if an LPR knows they work with or otherwise hang out with a lot of illegals, they may want that green card close by.

I was driving once with a friend somewhere in Texas not far from Mexican border. I am a US citizen, he's not. There was a checkpoint somewhere on the way. The officer came over and asked if we were citizens. We answered honestly, that I am and he's not. He then asked to see my friend's passport, he had none with him, only his driver's license. The officer then commented that it's a law for all foreing citizens to carry their passport with them - we were pulled over for about 15 minutes while the officer checked my friend's driver's license on the computer. In the end everything turned out well, no fine or anything, just a warning for him to carry his passport with him the whole time.

Congratulations! Time to update that timeline, Ben.

Thanks, done

It actually took like 5 min to remember how to do that, last update was 3 month ago...

Hey thanks for the interview info! Glad it went faster than Sasha's!

So when is she coming over?

Thanks.

She's arriving on March 2nd, I'm actually going to Russia tomorrow to help her pack, etc. so will be flying in together with her, will post POE review when get back.

Alright, so my fiancee had her interview 2 weeks ago. Was only asked 3 questions:

How/where did you meet?

What's his occupation?

What restaurant is the wedding gonna be in?

The 3rd one was really weird, hadn't read on VisaJourney anybody asked this before. She just replied we don't know yet about the restaurant, and the interviewer said OK, will get your visa in a week.

The whole interview was in Russian as she doesn't speak much english, so for people still thinking which language to interview in, i would say go for the one you're most comfortable speaking in.

Wasn't asked to show any pictures/e-mails/phone records, but then we did send a bunch of engagement celebration pictures with the initial packet.

She was also interviewed by the male consul, and our case was really easy, no prior marriages, about the same age, so that might explain the quick interview.

The visa was sent 2 days later by DHL with pickup at Moscow Office, initially when my fiancee called DHL they didn't know about office pickup, but when she went to the office to get the waybill the person she spoke with was more knowledgeable and told her to put the office address on the waybill for in office pickup.

That's all I can think of currently, feel free to ask any questions you might have about the process.

CONGRATS!!!

Greetings All,

As I prepare to send Ira her docs for the the coming interview next month, I noticed something...

On her G-325A, she listed the address at which she'd been registered in her hometown of Kinishma, Ivanovo. However, her most recent job was in Ivanovo, Ivanovo. At the time we were filling out the docs, our attorney advised us only to list residences where she was registered (he was worried about problems with the Russian authorities)...

So, now I'm freaking out a bit. I can imagine the interviewer asking: "So you worked in Ivanovo, but lived in Kinishma. Commuting to work each day doesn't seem to be a staple of Russian life -- so how do you explain this?"

Do y'all think they're even likely to mention this? Any advice on how to explain it (without getting a big fat "denied" stamped on her application)? I don't want her to lie to the interviewer, but I also don't want to have them delay her entry over what amounts to a clerical mistake.

Any ideas at all?

Z

Don't worry about it, my fiancee had listed Ivanovo as the city she lived at till 2004 and listed Fryazino as the city she worked at since 2001 (She copied the info from her internal passport as well). At the interview they didn't ask anything about this and gave her the visa no prob. In the unlikely event they do ask about it, I would say the truth as to why it was written that way.

(I will update my timeline as well as write an interview review in a few days, have been really busy preparing for her arrival:)

From the state department site: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...tml#Vaccination

As a fiancé(e), you are not required to fulfill this requirement at the time of your medical examination for a fiancé(e) visa. However, you may want to do so. These vaccinations are required when you adjust status following your marriage.