Frank+Jocelyn

The USCIS does now require you to prove the dating site where you met is not a marriage broker. It is not hard to do but is required. Generally you show them the Terms & Conditions. Just an ad for the site will not do.

While you can ask for any consulate location you like, the State Department will ultimately decide where you will go. So you can request Naha and you might get Naha...or you might get Tokyo.

You can certainly do the K1 yourself and many people do (including me). However, understand that any help you get on a do-it-yourself forum like this one will usually come from people who have done this exactly one time, and perhaps years ago. Get your advice and then verify on a government website like USCIS.gov or state.gov.

I work at RapidVisa so I will not speak to their reputation since my opinion would be biased. I will just say that they have done over 19,000 family visas. While every case is slightly different, nobody on this forum or anywhere else has more experience...not even close.

Good luck.

If you have ever been arrested, even if no charges were filed, you will need to get a statement from the arresting agency. Otherwise if you have never had charges filed against you or had a conviction, or had some alternative sentencing like drug treatment, you don't need to attach anything.

Traffic tickets don't count unless it was alcohol or drug related.

Check out the I-485 instructions. It tells you what supporting documents you need to send.

I don't know why my first message posted twice but...

I missed the second part of your message. If he is K3, you do have two years to do the AOS. He will still need to do the I-765 for work authorization until you adjust his status and he has his greencard.

You don't need a lawyer. Just download the form (I-485) and read the instructions carefully, plus look for help on this site. The AOS fee is $1010. That includes the $80 for biometrics.

You need to do it as soon as you can. For K-1 visa beneficiaries, your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) is based on your pending AOS, so if he is going to work you will need to get the AOS filed. If you request the EAD with the AOS, you don't need to pay the usual $340 fee for the EAD.

Without his greencard, he will be in a limbo status, having entered legally but not having permanent residence status.

You don't need a lawyer. Just download the form (I-485) and read the instructions carefully, plus look for help on this site. The AOS fee is $1010. That includes the $80 for biometrics.

You need to do it as soon as you can. For K-1 visa beneficiaries, your EAD (Employment Authorization Document) is based on your pending AOS, so if he is going to work you will need to get the AOS filed. If you request the EAD with the AOS, you don't need to pay the usual $340 fee for the EAD.

Without his greencard, he will be in a limbo status, having entered legally but not having permanent residence status.

The packet is inside a clear plastic bag. You can open the plastic bag. Just don't open the brown paper packet. Just have her make a slit in the plastic bag and pull out the passport.

Interesting. I don't know if this is the right answer, but we do need to keep shady companies from getting government work. The problem is that when you get away from strict written policies and let people start using their own judgment to select contractors, you open the door for abuse.

It is always best to be honest. Perhaps attach a supplemental page explaining your situation. If she is just on a visitor visa, you probably don't want to say she is living here with you because that might raise red flags. The term visitor would indicate this is not her home.

You will need to submit your marriage certificate with the AOS petition so no, you can't apply before you are married.

Your passport is proof of your U.S. citizenship. Your birth certificate will not be necessary.

Did they tell you why they wanted a second interview? Did they call it a fraud interview?

She can attend the CFO briefing at anytime, before or after. As for the passport, you will want to change it anyway, so it may be easier to do it in the Philippines. I have dealt with both the San Francisco and Washington Philippine embassies and they are everything but efficient.

You can usually pick up where you left off. Just go down to your community health clinic and ask them. They do more immunizations than anybody else, and have a fact sheet for every immunization from the CDC.

You don't really have to get the shots now that you are here. Of course it is a good idea, but not legally required. Most Americans rarely get immunizations after they reach adult age unless they are in the military, a health care profession or going overseas. Some people do get an annual flu shot, but thats about it for most of us.

I don't even get the flu shot.

My wife is not driving yet but we are really not in a hurry. You can't get a driver's license here in SC until you have a green card anyway. Now that she is pregnant we will wait until after the baby comes. For now it is nice not having the expense of a second car.

Aww well I'm happy for you. My wife has been here since March and we are still on our honeymoon! Remember to write down all the funny observations she makes in the first few weeks.

Our AOS was transferred to the California Service Center on August 29.

Where is my doughnut?

As I said I just don't think this is a very iconic time for that sort of thing and it seems to happen in pretty much every election. Americans are always "at a crossroads", "on the edge of a knife", "crying out for hope and change". Wake me up when these guys say somethign worth hearing.

Exactly. All politicians want to say now is "the sky is falling!". Society has continually improved in every measurable way I can think of. We do have challenges and always will, but if you listened only to the politicians you would think the world is about to end.

The conventions have turned into media events because most Americans have no stomach for the tedious realities that are politics. How many people actually watch C-SPAN? They are just giving us what we want. If they got up there and read their proposed policies nobody would watch.

How many of you who complain about the rhetoric have actually gone to the candidates web sites and read through the details of their plans? The same lack of interest that keeps most people from consuming the gritty details behind the candidates plans would certainly keep them from watching the candidate on TV discussing his plans in detail.

The conventions are carefully crafted to appeal to as many people as possible. We, in aggregate, are responsible for the lack of content in these events.

We mailed our AOS package in May, including the I-485, I-765 and I-131. We included a check for $1,010. A few weeks later we received the attached rejection letter stating that the check amount was incorrect. I called the USCIS and they confirmed that the $1010 was the correct amount ($930 application fee plus $80 biometric fee). They told me to resend the package and check exactly as it was and include a cover letter explaining that the rejection was in error. I did this and also included a copy of the USCIS Fee Schedule taken directly from their web site. I sited the attached fee schedule in the cover letter and circled the fee amount.

A few weeks later we got the package back, again rejected with the exact same rejection letter and no additional explanation. I called the USCIS again and once again they told me the fee I included was exactly correct and I should just send it back. Not happy with this reply, I asked to speak to a supervisor. The supervisor told me that we should send it back with only the $930 fee. He said the biometric fee was not necessary since we already had biometrics done during the interview process in Manila.

I am skeptical. Everything I read here in VJ and on the USCIS site says I need to send $1010 for the fee and biometrics. I am afraid that if I send the package back with a $930 check, it will just be rejected again.

I have attached a copy of the rejection notice and the check we sent. Here is a link to the USCIS Fee Schedule directly from their site: http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments...edule052907.pdf

I hope somebody out there in VJ land can advise us.

What kind of shots did she get from SLEC if I may ask? Coz I only got MMR shot and they told me not to get pregnant for like 3 months, or maybe I heard them wrong? Anyway, thanks for the response... congratulations again!!!

There always seem to be different opinions on anything health related. The official U.S. government answer is to wait 4 weeks. Source: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/Pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mmr.pdf

Just a question though, didn't Jocelyn receive shots from her medical? coz the doctor/nurse told me that I shouldn't be pregnant for couple of month...

She had her medical on March 4th and they told her to wait 30 days before getting pregnant. We didn't have unprotected sex until we were married, on April 21, so we should be good. She is actually only about two weeks pregnant. We could not have known this early with a home pregnancy test, but I scheduled her for a routine physical and they detected it there at the doctors office.

...The practice does it every time

Yes, and I found that practicing together works much better than alone

Shoulda kept it in your pants until you got married - or at least wrapped that willy! Being knocked up is not going to provide any kind of 'edge' as far as the immigration process goes.

Recommend stay in Canada - use the public benefits - or, get an abortion now and then get knocked up again once she is in the US and you are married - after you've added her to health insurance.

Seems a little harsh.

We found out yesterday that Jocelyn is pregnant...

Looks like all that practice paid off!