JKD_88

Does anyone here live in Miami. We live in kendall here in Miami and we hate it, unfortunately there's nothing we can do to leave right now but we are saving money. Anyway, it just seems like it's on dissappointment after another, we went to register my wife for ESL classes, specifically for Listening and Speaking, and today was her first day of class, she was so dissappointed, the teacher wasn't a native speaker, she spoke with an accent, which is what we don't want. I'm sorry I just needed a place to vent, hopefully I'll find someone here who lives in Miami, maybe you can help me out.

My wife's EAD arrived last thursday and saturday we received a letter from the USCIS scheduling her interview for June 23. My lawyer had told me that we would not need an interview, that our case would be approved electronically in California.... Now I have to call him AGAIN. Anyway, I was looking at the check list and we seem to have almost everything in order except the I-693 which I was not aware I had to have been handling....again lawyer did not tell me. Now I have 1 month and 20 days to handle this, is this possible? It's just one doctor visit right? I know it has to be a civil surgeon but it is only one doctor visit right? They do the tests and fill out the paper and that's it right? Also one more question, is this expensive? Money is tight right now, how much does this usually cost?

We just got her EAD, monday we're going to get her state ID and after that we're going to get her SS# which I know takes a few weeks, how long in general? Because I want to open up a joint bank account before the interview. Ahhh I just can't wait until this is over.

The interview letter lists things you need if they have not yet been sent in. So if you sent the affidavit of support, you should bring a copy (you should bring a copy of everything) but you don't need a new one.

Others will advise your better about the medical. If she had one in her country, you probably don't need a new one, but you may need the vaccination supplement.

If you need the physical, it is not just one visit. The TB test has to be read two days after it is given. We had to go three times, once for the main physical, once for the TB test and once to get the papers. You can do this easily in a month and 20 days, although you may have to call several civil surgeons to get an appointment. Ours was about $350 with the tests.

Oh ok, I'll just bring a copy of everything. Yes she did have a medical work up in her country. How can I find out if she needs one here?

$350 ouch, it hurts but it's doable. Thank you JERIII

Oh and what about the affidavit of support they're asking for, it says that it is neccessary unless already filed, well I filed the affidavit of support when we sent in her AOS papers, do I have to do it again? Is that what they meant?

My wife's EAD arrived last thursday and saturday we received a letter from the USCIS scheduling her interview for June 23. My lawyer had told me that we would not need an interview, that our case would be approved electronically in California.... Now I have to call him AGAIN. Anyway, I was looking at the check list and we seem to have almost everything in order except the I-693 which I was not aware I had to have been handling....again lawyer did not tell me. Now I have 1 month and 20 days to handle this, is this possible? It's just one doctor visit right? I know it has to be a civil surgeon but it is only one doctor visit right? They do the tests and fill out the paper and that's it right? Also one more question, is this expensive? Money is tight right now, how much does this usually cost?

We just got her EAD, monday we're going to get her state ID and after that we're going to get her SS# which I know takes a few weeks, how long in general? Because I want to open up a joint bank account before the interview. Ahhh I just can't wait until this is over.

oh ok wonderful! thank you, I don't know what I would do without this place.

I got some good news from my lawyer today, we will be approved without an interview he told me that that speeds up the proccess a bit.

Ok I just found out NOW that my wife could've gotten her SSN when she arrived I didn't know that, my lawyer never told me and I never noticed it on here It's not too late right? Her I-94 is expired but we're filing for AOS as you can see by her timeline, what do we do now?

Oh I really hope her green card arrives before she goes, I'm very nervous about this, but she insists on going, I just don't want to risk it you know.

even though its under 6 months i still wouldn't chance it. all she needs is to encounter a cbp agent with the wrong attitude and she is not re-entering, AP or not!

oh no

what should we do? should we call the biometrics office or something?

Oh I really hope her green card arrives before she goes, I'm very nervous about this, but she insists on going, I just don't want to risk it you know.

I hope so, my wife is really insisting on going. We were thinking of her going in October, do you think her Green Card should arrive by then?

The AP doc issued when I-131 is approved is for re-entry, HOWEVER there is no guarantee that it will allow re-entry (EX: a person who overstayed a visitors or K-1 visa before filing for AOS (Overstayed 180 days or longer) MAY be blocked from re-entry even with AP).

Just more waiting for things like EAD, AP, and Green-card. Hopefully no RFE.

Her I-94 expired on Sept. 18, 2008, you can see by my timeline when we were married and when we filed for AOS, do you think this would be a problem?

Ok so I don't trust my lawyer anymore, he said it would be easy to get my wife a state ID and it wasn't, she wasn't able to get one without her EAD like he said. He's messed up before as well so I just want to ask you guys this. My wife really wants to go visit her family in Brazil but she doesn't have her Green Card yet, the I-131 should arrive soon, is it safe? Is it guaranteed she'll be able to get back into the country? Please help.

Also, we've received the receipt papers for the EAD and I-131 and I was just wondering, after we get those, what's next, just more waiting or do we have to file something again for her green card?

oh no

yes we did take her appointment letter but they didn't give us anything back

I just got back home with my wife from doing her biometrics, it was REALLY quick, people were nice, which is rare here in Miami but I just found it weird they didn't give us any paper afterwards or anything like a receipt or proof that it was done, I found that strange. Was this how it was with anyone else? My wife had to go in alone and her english isn't that great yet so she doesn't know if she was supposed to get a paper or anything, I asked the guy at the checkout if that was it and he said that that was it....I just found it strange, was it like this with anyone else?

Hey everyone!

What does your wife do over here? Does she work or study?

I moved to the States in may 2008, first time I was pretty much locked in the house, I had no friend or job, I felt sick and awfull all the time, was telling my husband that I want to go back home to see everyone.

Now I work part time and go to school, I got some friends, and I feel like I belong here)Of cause, I feel homesick sometimes, but its normal))

Im sure your wife will get over it))

Mariya

Unfortunately my wife is pretty much in the situation you were in when you arrived, stuck in the house. In 2 weeks she should start her english classes, she'll be getting around a bit on her own, hopefully meet some brazilians. I really don't know what to do, hopefully her getting out a bit will make her feel better. She says that her biggest problem is that she doesn't speak english, she feels alone, she can't work because of it and I understand I just wish I could make her feel better.

Yeah, its understandable that she will feel that way.However, you have to make her fully understand that this is her new life now. And she has to go out on her crib and start acting like an adult. She choose to marry you and now she has the responsibly to be your wife.

Sit down and talk and give her options. Adjustment to a new place is not a piece of cake. let her engage to some activities that can divert her attention from missing her family.

This really makes a lot of sense but I just am not strong enough to sit her down and tell her that because I see her suffering so much, I just wish I cold help.

How did you deal with the culture shock?

I think that 7 months isn't enough time. Everyone I've talked to goes through a really rough patch when they come here. I would ask her to take more time. Then I would make sure that she can talk to her family as much as possible, long distance. Help her make some social connections here. Disclaimer - I only know this second hand. since my fiancee is not yet here (but will be soon).

I mean this in the kindest way - but you need to accept the fact that life does not go as planned...

Good luck to you and yours, I hope things work out.

Bob

Thank you, I will definately try to wait it out with her, hopefully things will get better.

I really appreciate all this advice, apparently it's still early, I'll just giver her time.

I was born here but my family is all brazilian, we all speak portuguese fluently, this should make it easier for her but she cries all the time about how she misses her family. I understand, I just wish I could make it easier on her. She's making progress in learning english but not as quickly as she would like, she feels trapped, I don't know what to do for her. Right now, I show her all the support that I can, and am just waiting, hopefully things will get better.

I need some advice, my wife has only been in the country for 7 months and she says she doesn’t like it here, that she wants to go back but will wait until she gets all her documentation and until we have the financial means to move back. All of this will take about 4/5 years, until then I promised her I would send her back every year. This is really freaking me out, we had all these plans and now she’s changed everything, I don’t know what to do, I’m hoping in the years to come that she will change her mind because I really don’t want to go. She misses her family a lot which I COMPLETELY understand she says that she will never be able to have a life with her family again because she’s here. I don’t know what to do; everything she says is valid but… I just don’t know, do you think time will heal her? Has this happened to anyone else here?

I haven't sent the papers in yet but I am planning to send my wife to spend christmas with her family in brazil next year, do you think by then she'll be able to leave the country if I send the papers in next month?

What about the time she is allowed to stay there? She got here on a K-1 visa, we are married, does that mean anything? What about the fact that I can't go with her, will that look bad?

Please help me My wife's mother is sick, and she's very worried about her. Is there some way my wife could return to Brazil without her GC and without the I-131 and still be guaranteed that she'll be able to enter the country again? Is there a time limit that she has to stay in Brazil before coming back? Please I need answers... I have to work so I won't be able to go with her, would this look bad to the governement or whatever is judging our marriage?

Yes, absolutely she can prep to take the GED b/f her GC comes in...

May be helpful to have a ssn when she takes the test for ID purposes, but i don't believe it is mandatory.

That is a great idea, btw.

Good luck!

Wonderful!!!!! How do I go about this? Just start calling GED testing sites in my area? What number can we use for her seeing as though she doesn't have a green card, she has an Alien Registration Number but that's it. Could we use that?

We really hate this waiting, as I know all of you do as well. I am going to send in her paperwork to our lawyer for her SS# to come in. Anyway, is there anyway she can try to get her GED before her Green Card comes in. She feels useless, stuck at home, not able to work yet, not mastering the language, I just want her to feel like she's doing something, when she gets her SS# I'm going to put her in a free english course in a community college but until then I don't know what to do. Is there anything to do or just wait?

So we're ok? We can still file and it won't be a problem? I hope that's what you meant.

Will the out of status days actually count against the beneficiary if the AOS is not completed? -- Yes

What do you mean by this? I don't understand, what do you mean "count against"? We will definately file so does it apply for us?

We have been married for a month already, we had until September 18, 2008 to get married, we got married before but we waited too long to file for AOS. I checked her Visa and it only expires on Dec. 4, 2008. So are we in trouble or are we ok as long as we file before her visa expires? I'm really worried, my lawyer sucks, he didn't advise me at all and I wasted a lot of money. Please help me guys.