champ1979

I'm an Indian citizen with US green card, living in the US. I plan to travel to Inida with a stopover in Singapore. Would anybody know if they would grant me a visa on arrival at the Singapore airport? I called the embassy and they said that they do normally give a 96 hour visa on arrival for green card holders but it is not guaranteed. So, I was wondering if anybody else would have more info on this. Since I'm travelling next week, I need to make a decision soon whether or not to apply for a visa locally herein San Francisco.

Do both the foreign spouse and the US citizen go for the biometrics appt? Or is it just the foreign spouse?

Thanks!

Isn't there already a thread for July filers?

May be. But we are trying to collect specific data and for a reason. Thanks.

What reason is that? There is already a July thread & there is an August trhead already!!!

I think the point is to keep track of those people who managed to squeeze in just before the fee increase but fit in either the July or August topics... Since the July topic's cut-off date was July 25, some people (like me) were kindly sent to the August topic instead (meaning we're kinda split between two topics), but this here topic may help gather people who may have a difference "experience" of the whole process due to the hypothetical but likely surge in applications that USCIS may have received toward the end of July.

But hey, I don't really care. The mods can decide what to do.

Regardless, I'll add myself to this topic:

Name-------------------Date mailed--------Fee Method Used-------------NOA1 Received?

ae4ever------------------07/23/07---------Personal check--------------------No

PatientlyWaiting---------07/23/07---------Personal check--------------------No

honeysweet---------------07/28/07---------Personal check--------------------No

Shub---------------------07/28/07---------Personal check--------------------No

champ1979-------------07/28/07---------Personal Check-------------------No

I had a question...what kind of receipt do we get after filing? Is this something that we can check online? Or do we get it by mail? Also, what is the usual time before getting a receipt....I know this time may be different because of the overload of July filers, but just wanted to get an idea...

Thanks for your answers!

They are sent!

Since today is the deadline, I was wondering it it's OK to send by Fedex...not sure when the last pick up time for USPS is....

Thanks!

What about fee for Form I-130?

If I send it in the evening, can I send it by Fedex to ensure that it is postmarked today? What's the deadline time if I need to send it by USPS?

Also, another question on Form I-864...

I'm the intending immigrant who is the one who earns. My wife and I filed joint last year and I plan to include the 2006 tax return . It is well above the poverty line. My wife did file the previous 2 years as well, but didn't earn much. I did though, but do I need to send in my tax returns? Or is just the one from 2006 joint return fine?

Thanks!

Thanks for all your answers!

So, you can put all the checks together in an envelope and attach that envelope to the first tab?

I had a few last minute questions:

1. For supporting evidence, such as an apartment lease, do they expect us to send a copy of all the pages of the lease or just the first page which have the names?

2. I understand that the USCIS recommends that we do not staple our documents. But can we staple the pages of a particular form together? For example, the I-485 has more than 1 page....do we staple that together? Right now I have them clipped with paper clips, and it's becoming messy.

3. I have seen a lot of advice been given about making sure to attach the passport photos and checks to the document in question. But how do you attach them? With staples? With paper clips?

4. Please give me some advise on the use of tabs. I've never used these before, but I have read that the USCIS would like us to organize our documents with tabs on the bottom. What kind of tabs do I get and do I attach the tab to a separate paper or on the application itself?

5. What kind of plastic bag do you use to place the photos? Can I get these bags at Office Max?

Thanks in advance!

Thanks!

My wife's smiling on her passport photo...later, I read that USCIS website, which said that they require a "natural" pose and do not accept smiling faces. How strict are they on this? Should I have her take another photo?

Thanks.

Depends on the embassy. The instructions say no smiling and ears showing. My fiance was smiling in hers and they had to retake them. Just like everything else, some embassies won't say a word and others will refuse it. Just go have more taken and not smile. Why is she smiling anyway? She's married!!! You must be a good husband. :-0

My wife's smiling on her passport photo...later, I read that USCIS website, which said that they require a "natural" pose and do not accept smiling faces. How strict are they on this? Should I have her take another photo?

Thanks.

In Form I-130, item number 22 asks which USCIS office the relative will be filing for Adjustment of Status. There is a space for City and State. Since, I'm sending everything to the Chicago Lockbox facility, do I put in Chicago, Illinois?

Also, another question: Can I pen down any fields that are not completely visible when typed? For example, in one of the time fields, I wanted to put "Present Time", but the entire 2 words don't fit in when I type. So, I just typed in "Present" and I'm wondering if I can write down "Time" with a pen. This is just an example, there are other such instances.

Thanks!

Swami.

Thanks for that useful info!

1. As a student I applied for OPT and received an A-Number. Can I use this number on all my green card forms?

2. My birth certificate didn't have my name on it AND my mother's name is misspelt. So I am having a new one being done in India, but it looks like that may take some time. My plan is to still apply before the month end to avoid the higher fees. I would probably get a RFI. My question is, should I even include the original birth certificate which has no name, and mother's name spelt wrong? Or should I just send in my application without the birth certificate. Also, when I do get an RFI, do I need to pay anything additional when sending the requested information then?

Thanks!

1. As a student I applied for OPT and received an A-Number. Can I use this number on all my green card forms?

2. My birth certificate didn't have my name on it AND my mother's name is misspelt. So I am having a new one being done in India, but it looks like that may take some time. My plan is to still apply before the month end to avoid the higher fees. I would probably get a RFI. My question is, should I even include the original birth certificate which has no name, and mother's name spelt wrong? Or should I just send in my application without the birth certificate. Also, when I do get an RFI, do I need to pay anything additional when sending the requested information then?

Thanks!

Thanks so much...so you didn't use any tabbed folder or anything? I saw something about tabs mentioned in the USCIS website...

If you can't find Acco, use simple clips. Just avoid staples and make the all file easy to dissemble. The USCIS arranges things its own way.

We put everything in the same envelop but clipped each form separately with its own supporting documents.

As long as you send everything at the same time there is no problem.

Thanks for your answers.

I'm applying now to avoid the higher fees, and am assuming it will be after November that the green card will be approved.

You have now put me in a dilemma...about the I-765. I was actually thinking about this one, as, like you mentioned, I do have an H-1B which is valid till may next year. And if I don't apply for EAD, I can also get away without the advance parole which will save me a considerable amount of money. I'm not planning on changing jobs, but what happens if I lose my job (and I don't have my EAD?) Can I still stay in the country? Will I be able to look for another job then? Also, I was thinking of starting a business soon...so do you think having the EAD in hand would make life easier given these scenarios? Please share your thoughts.

Thanks!

I'm actually applying for change of status (Green card). I'm currently on H-1B and married a US citizen in November 2005.

I also filed from H-1B. Are you in a rush to file because your H-1B is running out or because of the fee increases? If not then I would suggest applying for AOS a little later in the year so you can get a 10 year Green Card instead of a 2 year conditional one (If your AOS gets approved after 2 years of marriage, you get a 10 year card.)

So, if I am not including the instruction pages, say for example on the I-765, the only page I send in is the last page (Page 9)? All the previous pages seem to be instructions.

Correct, the I-765 is a one page form. Note if your H-1B is valid you don't need an EAD, unless you want to move jobs.

Thanks for your replies. Sure, I'll add my signature soon...

I'm actually applying for change of status (Green card). I'm currently on H-1B and married a US citizen in November 2005.

So, if I am not including the instruction pages, say for example on the I-765, the only page I send in is the last page (Page 9)? All the previous pages seem to be instructions.

Is there a description on how to assemble the documents (other than the general one that's posted on the USCIS website)? I'm planning to get the ACCO clips (whatever that is) and clip each form along with its supporting documents, and then put all the clipped forms in one envelope. Is that ok, or should I put each form in its own envelope and then put all the envelopes in a master envelope?

Do I need to include the instruction pages when I send in my forms? Or do they expect me to send in only the relevant pages with the form fields?

Thanks.