meemette

We had our interview in NY on Feb. 28 and it went very well, except that at the end the officer said that my I-485 was still pending and noted it in my passport: "I-485 pending DAO sec. 245", does anyone know what this means?

Then, a couple of days ago, I received a CRIS email saying that our I-130 had been approved. Does that mean that the I-485 will be approved soon? Are the two approvals related?

This is so confusing and frustrating...

Yes, I filed everything at the same time, which is why I was suprised when my I-130 was approved separately from my I-485...

We had our interview in NY on Feb. 28 and it went very well, except that at the end the officer said that my I-485 was still pending and noted it in my passport: "I-485 pending DAO sec. 245", does anyone know what this means?

Then, a couple of days ago, I received a CRIS email saying that our I-130 had been approved. Does that mean that the I-485 will be approved soon? Are the two approvals related?

This is so confusing and frustrating...

my interview is at federal plaza rather than garden city, does anyone know why? it looks like most interview experiences posted in the reviews are in garden city. any experiences for federal plaza?

We got married in the courthouse in NYC. We got our marriage license right then and there, and you can get certified copies of the license for things like immigration for $15/copy at city hall. I went and got some copies for our AOS and it took about 15 minutes. All you have to do is fill out a form, they go into their records and find you, and then they print them out right there.

I also got married at city hall in nyc, and i used a copy of the marriage certificate that they gave me right away, no problem so far.

It also just happened to me (I got my first email on Monday, and my second email late last night)...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that only K-1s and K-3s get AOS approved without interview. If you're adjusting status from an H-1B (or other work visa), or tourist visa, or student visa, it looks like you always get an interview.

Hello Ebody...

I have my interview next week but i have to get my complete medical done before that.

I wanted to know whether the panel doctors are able to provide the I 693 the same day I visit the doctor.

Its late evening over here, i know i can get the information from the doctors place when i call them tomorrow..

But just been curious to know about it.

Thanks in advance..

If you need a TB skin test (which you do, unless you filed for AOS under a K visa and only need to submit the vaccination supplement), there is a 2-3 days delay for the form because that's how long it takes before they can read the test results on your arm. Otherwise, it depends on how long it takes them to check your immunizations, get you a chest x-ray if your skin test is positive, etc.

hey,

i was wondering what the biometrics appointment consisits of? mine is tomorrow in jackson, MS? I know it is fingerprints but what else?

thanks..........................mary lou

That's about it: fingerprints, pictures, signature and you're out (after a 2 hour wait in my case, but for most people it's very quick)

You need to bring ID/passport, appointment notice, marriage certificate if you've changed names, NOA1s.

If you used a K-Visa to enter the country, this number should be on I-129F approval notice above beneficiary's name.

It is sometimes written on the back side of I-94 card by POE officer.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=42195

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure that F-1s don't have an A# number -- I was an F-1 years ago, then an H-1B and I could never find one anywhere on my paperwork. Juste leave it blank.

If you used a K-Visa to enter the country, this number should be on I-129F approval notice above beneficiary's name.

It is sometimes written on the back side of I-94 card by POE officer.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=42195

I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure that F-1s don't have an A# number -- I was an F-1 years ago, then an H-1B and I could never find one anywhere on my paperwork. Juste leave it blank.

Sorry, I also meant to say that I did apparently get assigned an A# (on my NOA1s) after I filed for AOS.

While marrying in the US after entering the country with a tourist visa and the intent to get married is fraudulent, please not that everybody's situation is different and that the situation of people with a work visa is unique.

No fraud in the situation you describe above....

Oh yes there is fraud and the USCIS law and policy is quite clear on this, sound familar FWAGUY!

We are still waiting for chapter and verse that getting married on a tourist visa is fraudulent....

Many USC's travel to France or Italy to get married... Do you think the USA doesn't have destinations where foreigners desire to have the same? Like maybe Hawaii for example?

fwaguy i apologize, you are perfectly correct that entering the US with a tourist visa to get married is not fraudulent per se -- in fact, europeans do it all the time when they go to vegas!

UNREAL, a diocese(probably the Catholic Church) told you to do this! As stated above this is blatant visa fraud, because you "intend" to get married on a tourist visa which your finance will take an oath and be asked a question by USA officials if she intends to come to the USA and immigrate or not on this tourist visa, which if she says no and then does so later on, guess what visa fraud. I am totally shocked at the number of people on this website that abuse the USA immigration law and flagrantly and arrogantly try this or give you such advice. What needs to happen to shut down this supposedly legal loophole is for anyone filing for a GreenCard after marrying on a tourist visa or work visa, that did not apply for a K1 or K3 needs to pay $10,000 to apply for AOS green card since they cannot follow the law, maybe the USCIS knew what they were doing when they raised these fees in July 30, I am getting my eyes opened more and more and more to the outright dishonesty and abuse this great country experiences with it's immigration rules even for those of us that can do it legally and choose not to or get advice from others not to, and from a diocese, just unbelievable. That diocese needs it's tax exempt status yanked, then I bet they would not be giving out that advice or trying to shelter so many would be immigrants or helping them game or ripoff the US laws. I am disgusted at this. Get a k1 or k3 that is what they are for, marriage visa.

Take a zanax and CALM DOWN. You're spazzing again.

I think you will need one on your interview since you cannot follow USCIS interview instructions for proper documentation of tax returns, hope you calm down and stop spazzing.

While marrying in the US after entering the country with a tourist visa and the intent to get married is fraudulent, please not that everybody's situation is different and that the situation of people with a work visa is unique.

No fraud in the situation you describe above....

Oh yes there is fraud and the USCIS law and policy is quite clear on this, sound familar FWAGUY!

zqt3344, you really need to stop this now. most of your posts are judgmental and insulting (and often factually inaccurate with no qualifications whatsoever), this is not what people are looking for here!! maybe you should wonder before you post whether what you're going to say is (1) helpful and (2) true. i think this post is both helpful and true because it reflects what numerous people on this forum think of you!

faal4anisa, I don't think that you should re-send a new check to USCIS -- they receive so much mail everyday, who knows whether and when they'll be able to match it with your file, it will probably create more of a mess than anything else. But maybe some people disagree. If they can't deposit the check, they will not send you a NOA1, but they will send you back your full package and you can include the correct check and re-file. You also included the $355 check for the I-130, right?

I don't think the USPS signed receipt has anything to do with this, since they sign the receipt when the package arrives, regardless of what it is your application.

Well, it is fraudulent if you intend to adjust status and live in the US, right?

I don't agree with zgt3344's statement that "What needs to happen to shut down this supposedly legal loophole is for anyone filing for a GreenCard after marrying on a tourist visa or work visa, that did not apply for a K1 or K3 needs to pay $10,000 to apply for AOS green card since they cannot follow the law..."

While marrying in the US after entering the country with a tourist visa and the intent to get married is fraudulent, please not that everybody's situation is different and that the situation of people with a work visa is unique. I entered the US years ago as a student with an F-1, stayed and worked under an H-1B -- this all happened long before I even met my fiance, let alone decide to marry him. Therefore, I filed for AOS after marrying my fiance on a work visa, but I follow immigration laws and never intended to find any loophole. I just don't see why I should leave my current job in the US and apply for another visa in my home country simply because you think that would be more fair!

Good luck tomorrow, I wish you an easy and smooth process! Keep us posted on how everything went.

Yes, if he hasn't had a USCIS medical examination in the past year (which he only had, in his home country, if he came as a K-1 or K-3), he needs the full examination. It cost me $200 in NYC, including all blood tests and chest X-ray.

My understanding is that once you file for AOS, you cannot be out of status. So your wife only needs an EAD if she plans on changing jobs, i.e. working somewhere that's not her current H-1B job. But if she quits her job now and for some reason her AOS is denied, she will be immediately out of status. Another effect of quitting her job is that she won't be able to travel abroad on her H-1B while her AOS is pending, so she would need to apply for AP.

I have been in H-1B status for over a year, previously an F-1 student. So it doesn't really matter what I said on my form as long as I listed our address in NYC?

Thanks a lot for the help

Hi, I sent my AOS application with all required forms, fees, etc. earlier this week and just noticed that on Part 22 of my I-130 (signed by my husband) I wrote Chicago, IL for the USCIS office to which I am applying for AOS. I just got confused because I knew I was supposed to send everything to the Chicago Lockbox, but we actually live in New York. What will the consequences be?

Thanks to everyone for their help