stag

2 minutes ago, iwannaplay54 said:

Joint bills are rarely possible.  Joint assets are gold.

But what can I do if I acquired asset before marriage? 

Just now, iwannaplay54 said:

It will help but they have a lot of interest in co-mingled finances

Currently we have : joint bank account, joint credit card together, I can set my wife as beneficiary for my insurances if that helps, my wife is dependent in my health insurance, our taxes will be joint of course, but certain things that I acquired before marriage like the house mortgage or electricty bill is in my name. We do have driver licenses at same address of course, but since my wife doesn't drive, car insurance is just in my name. Just thinking what else will be needed to be co-mingled. 

46 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

You are wise to plan ahead for ROC.  I wouldn't assume anything is obvious to USCIS.  Even after filing the I-751, you will need to continue to compile evidence of marital union from the filing date to the date of the interview.  That is what our officer wanted to see during our I-751 interview.  Good luck.   This is what we initially sent:

 

For ROC

Apartment lease with both our names & signatures
Joint bank checking acct statements since wife's arrival in June 2017.
Deed for new home with both our names
Mortgage Lender Letter with both our names.
Credit Cards showing both on joint account with same card number.
Amazon delivery label showing both names and our current address.
Wife's Military Dependent ID card showing me as the sponsor.
Tricare Eligibility Letter showing both of us together.
Military pay statement showing wife as my benefic.
Texas Health Care Directives appointing each other as sole health care proxy(Advanced Directives)
Our Texas driver's licenses with same address for both of us
2018 Joint Tax ReturnTax Returns 
Pictures of us on special occasions here in the US.
Car Insurance Cards showing both of us as insured drivers for our car
Boarding Passes for Las Vegas Valentine Day Trip 2019
Utility application showing both our names for our current address    

Some of those I have jointly, but some things like house deed is not joint since I bought before marriage or my wife doesn't drive so car insurance is only in my name. Honeymoon trip after wedding evidence is plenty though. The building can give a letter that my wife lives at the address (she had to apply to HOA to live). Electricity and Mortgage is in my name as it was set up before marriage.  Will that be an issue? 

27 minutes ago, iwannaplay54 said:

I like this list

@stag

Add if you have it:

Joint Health insurance cards

Matching drivers licenses

Life insurance beneficiary statements

401k beneficiary statements

 

 

Thanks, yeah don't have everything joint, but things like health insurance, driver licenses, future joint tax return, a couple trips together, credit card account together, will be possible to show. I own the home (before marriage), so it's only my name on the house deed, but my wife is registered with building to live at our place, so can get that. Given all has been smooth till now, hoping it will be the same. I'm assuming common child together should be first evidence though? I mean that should supersede any piece of evidence for bone fide marriage in my opinion. 

We are still a bit out from filing for I-751, but I want to start thinking about what evidence will be sent. We do have joint banking account, took a couple trips together, obviously live together though most bills like electricity are in my name since I bought the house before we married. I'm assuming though the biggest evidence will be our child together born during our marriage? So sending the baby's birth certificate as evidence. How much does having a child together increase chance that interview will be waived and/or process will be smooth? Our processes before that for getting the first green card was very easy and no complications. Just was curious the experience of people in terms of the evidence for this next step, thanks. 

Why is there such a huge difference in waiting times between field offices? Down in Florida literally took a couple months end to end, yet I hear about other places taking a year or even more. 

Here's our AOS dates. Wife came with K1 in Jan. We married in Feb. 

March 9 - Sent I-485 Packet and I-765 Packet.

March 11 - I-485 and I-765 Received (Receipt Notice date)

March 18 - Biometrics appointment scheduled for April 12

April 12 - Biometrics done ; I-765 status changes to actively reviewing case to producing card in the same day; I-485 status changes to actively reviewing then interview scheduled ( May 16 ) in the same day.

April 15 - EAD Card Produce

April 18 - EAD Card delivered and in hand

May 16 - Interview done ; no verbal confirmation of being approved or not. 

May 17 - I-485 Case Approved

May 19 - Green Card Produced and picked up by USPS

May 23 - According to USPS tracking, Green Card will be delivered on May 23. 

Checked again this afternoon and the case was Approved!!!

6 minutes ago, Bob in Boston said:

check your online account, look for new documents

yeah I logged into my online account, checked case history, documents, still on the same status "interview scheduled". 

Thanks everyone for the feedback, calibrated my expectation accordingly. Just this morning got a notification from USCIS that action has been taken on our case, but strangely didn't see a change yet, so maybe something is coming

Just now, Raychelle said:

We just had our interview last May 6. It was pretty much straightforward and very much like what you have described. I did not get a passport stamp as well. The officer did not outright say that we are approved. I have also read a lot of recent reviews that said the same thing. So I would say what you have experienced is pretty standard at this point. Don't worry, your status will change in a day or two.  You're done with all the stressful stuff so you can relax and breathe a bit. 

Thanks, I thought we did or said something wrong. So I was stressed we didn't get the approval on spot. 

Just now, Bajinga said:

immediate passport stamps is not a standard practice and they stopped doing that years ago. your experience seems pretty normal to me. FYI, most people have non complicated cases just like yours and it can take a few days to weeks after the interview for the IO to approve. don't overthink, unless they find a document missing you will receive the update you expect in a few weeks.

Thanks. If a document is missing wouldn't they say it during interview? I just gave the officer what they asked, even though I had a bunch of papers with me. 

2 minutes ago, AW1704 said:

Others can probably chime in with a recent experience, but I haven't been reading anything about immediate stamps in passports. Your experience sounds very normal based on the reading I have done to set my own expectations for my own upcoming interview. 

We had a pretty big wedding and had all evidence to prove that. First marriage for both, same background etc. In all the process has gone very smooth for us. I thought they give decision on the spot hence when the officer said that if approved, will get the approval letter in mail or if anything additional needed will be notified, was a bit distraught from that. Possibly needs to review medical form?

We just had our AOS interview (K1 visa, then marriage). I'd say our case is pretty straightforward and the k1 interview last year had gone very smoothly. We gave all documents needed to the officer and the officer asked some questions about our relationship and marriage. I'd say our answers were fine and nothing out of ordinary. However, the officer didn't say approved at the end of the interview, rather said that we will be notified of the approval and if any additional documents needed, we will be notified. I'm reading that generally if approved they approve on the spot and put a stamp in the passport. How does this scenario bode for us?? Thank you. 

9 hours ago, K1visaHopeful said:

You should wait 2 full weeks from when the EAD arrived in the mail for I765 SSN applications to process.

 

You may be causing a big problem for yourself if on the same day your local SSA office processes an SSN for you simultaneously as SSA Headquarters does.

 

Almost 2 weeks is not enough.Just wait 2 weeks and then CALL SSA HEADQUARTERS in MD before proceeding.

 

 

Thanks for the advice. Will wait then a few more days, then call SSA HQ. 

We have an interview coming up for AOS in two weeks. My wife already received her EAD card, but hasn't received a SSN, which we had applied for with the EAD card application. It's been almost two weeks since she got the EAD card. Hence, we want to go to SSA office this week so she can get the SSN quicker. This is especially needed for joint account together, which is an important evidence for interview. I can't join her onto my bank account without SSN. 

What document should we bring to SSA office? EAD, foreign passport, AOS interview appointment letter? Is that enough? Wife came with K1 visa. Thanks in advance. 

Same boat. Wife got her EAD (we applied for SSN on the EAD application) but no SSN yet. More than a week has passed since she got EAD. Will wait one more week before probably going to SSN office in person. We need SSN for joint account and interview is coming up!!

11 minutes ago, arken said:

There is also a chance the SS card may not show up at all. If she doesn't get in two weeks, she can walk in for in person application.

Where? The SSN offices are all still closed because of covid. 

13 minutes ago, haley45 said:

This is not to answer your question, but I actually have another question. When did you guys apply for AOS? Seems like the process moved kind of quick for you.

We applied for AOS (from K1) in the beginning week of March of this year. Yeah it moved super fast for us for some reason. Right after biometric appointment the EAD card was approved/sent and the interview scheduled. 

Wife received her EAD card like 6 days ago. Was wondering when does one receive the social security number after getting the EAD card? We did mark in the work authorization application (i-765) to receive a social security number. We have interview coming up in few weeks and in order to get a joint account at my bank, she needs a social security number. Thanks in advance. 

21 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Did you schedule it with a USCIS designated civil surgeon? 

Yes, it's a doctor from this list: https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor and they specifically mention that they do uscis exams. 

5 hours ago, K1visaHopeful said:

You have not indicated whether or not the vaccinations were:

1. Actually completed at the overseas medical.

2. Actually filled out the vaccines CORRECTLY on the DS3025 and ONLY the bottom completion box was filled out incorrectly. 

They were not completed overseas. Hence, scheduled appointment with doctor to complete the vaccinations and hopefully have everything done before interview. 

So we have a AOS green card interview coming up in a few weeks. My wife received the K1 medical examination abroad within a year of the interview happening. I read "You are not required to have another medical examination as long as you file your Form I-485 within one year of an overseas medical examination" , it was indeed filed within one year of the medical examination.

Also instructions say "Even if a new medical examination is not required, you must still show proof that you complied with the vaccination requirements. If the vaccination record (DS 3025) was not properly completed and included as part of the original overseas medical examination report, you will need to have the Part 10. Vaccination Record completed by a designated civil surgeon."

During the medical examination abroad the physician filled out the vaccination documentation worksheet (DS-3025) but in the 2nd section it was marked "K visa applicant not to be vaccinated at this examination". Is there anything we need to do regarding the medical portion till the interview? Thanks!

4 hours ago, aaron2020 said:

You need to wait for the certified copy from the state.

Anyone can fill out a marriage license and not file it.  That marriage would not be legal.

 

You have to file it in order for it to be legal.  That's why you have to wait for the certified copy.

Is the certified copy what they send you? Or is there an extra step to get certified? Thanks

Of course one of the requirements for sending the packet for the adjustment for K1 visa is marriage certificate, but I was wondering if it's possible to do so with the completed marriage license? Or we need to wait till the state sends the official marriage certificate? (may take several weeks according to the state's site). Just wanted to confirm, thanks!