2hon

Yeah that is what I think. We are applying for AOS (I-485) coming from the K1 visa, and for the K1 applicants it didn't say anywhere that additional evidence besides the marriage certificate was needed. But surely it would help, I assume.

We ended up sending through unsolicited evidence for our relationship (wedding photos, joint bank account proof, insurances and leases with both names, etc.).

Hopefully this might help us.

I've been trying hard lately not to come into this channel and check updates - but can't help myself at this point.

We have been waiting for quite a while now while all other applicants from Visa Journey in the Seattle field office (even people who applied in February) are all getting approved. I've tried calling / messaging Emma, and even tried getting help from a representative. We are completely stuck.

Would uploading unsolicited evidence help? We are adjusting from K1 visa, didn't submit anything besides the wedding certificate (as that is all that was needed). My worry is that we couldn't submit the I797 Approval letter copy because it never came to us, and USCIS isn't willing to give a new copy (we asked and it will take 8+ months).

Our timeline is as follows (total 131 days):

• Nov 17th: Full submission
• Dec 16th: RFE
• Jan 2: Biometrics appointment
• Jan 3: RFE response submitted
• Jan 26: Work permit approved
• Present Mar 28: No I485 approval

1 hour ago, skk12345 said:

Hi all!

Update- got my EAD/AP combo card in the mail on 1/25.

On 1/26 morning- USCIS status updated to i-485 being approved! 

 

Quick question: If I wanted to travel while awaiting green card delivery (I expect this won't be for a week or two), would I be allowed to re-enter the country with AP/EAD card despite i485 being approved (but no card in hand)?

 

Thanks for all the support and wishing everyone a speedy approval!

What was your local field office?

That was super quick, jealous. Didn't get AP and really want to leave the country for wedding celebrations with family.

We final got our EAD work approval. Pretty bummed though because it was a standalone and I was really hoping for the AP + EAD combo approval. 

@arbk are you originally k1 filing for AOS or another visa?

25 minutes ago, Rocketman50 said:

New update:

 

11/14/2023 - Sent to USCIS (I-485 + I-765 and  I-131 concurrent filing)

11/15/2023 - NOA1

11/25/2023 - Biometrics notice went out

12/11/2023 - Biometrics appointment

12/11/2023 - AOS and EAD cases changed to "actively reviewed"

01/05/2024 - RFE I-485 (Public Charge inadmissibility questions)

01/06/2024 - Response To USCIS Request For Evidence Was Received

01/09/2024 - EAD-AP combo card approval

Congrats! getting closer to your GC but now you're virtually free haha.

1 hour ago, arbk said:

 

Update on my last one.. We got the combo card approved today! The MyProgress and Case History tabs still show in progress but there was a new file listed under the Documents tab showing it was approved today. Early birthday gift for my wife 😄

Ah you are so lucky!

Also fun to see a fellow Japan filer.

Comparing timelines it looks like you submitted 4 days before us but our biometrics appointment was on January 2nd instead of December 13th (our NOA1 was December 12th). So it seems I'll have to keep waiting but hopefully have a combo card in the next few weeks? Always such a gamble.

Does anyone know perhaps the reasons between being approved for just EAD vs the combo card? Combo card is ideal for us as we want to get permission to leave the country asap so we can plan celebrations in Japan.

Oh wow your got your combo card so quickly? I heard AP wasn't given out at all any more really until GC comes so it's not needed.

That gives me hope we might get our AP really quickly!

Update here: I asked Emma (a live rep) and they said my case is still with NBC, not transferred to a local field office. They also let me know after asking that our case had the interview waived and we won't need that (we are filing from K1 visa).

Also, does anyone know if there is somewhere we can see when our case has left NBC and made it to our local field office?

I'm going to ask here as it seems this thread is more active and have more people who know...

Question 1: do K1 -> AOS filers usually not need an interview?

Question 2: after doing biometrics on January 2nd, our case was updated as biometrics completed. The time at that point for estimated decision was 5 months but yesterday it updated to 2 months. How realistic does anything think this is?

On another note... after doing biometrics on January 2nd, our case was updated as biometrics completed.

The time at that point for estimated decision was 5 months but yesterday it updated to 2 months.

How realistic does anything think this is?

Lucky that you got your biometrics so soon! @skk12345 I'm sure you'll get approved pretty fast, it seems like they took a huge break during the holidays and almost got nothing done.

My biometrics were on January 2nd and everything except my advance parole updated online. So it seems like it isn't getting updated for you...

Updating my timeline for clarity and to help others because the holidays really threw everything off course it seems:

11/17/2023: I-485, I-765, and I-131 received by USCIS

12/12/2023: RFE sent by USCIS for I-864

12/18/2023: Received RFE and all NOAs in the mail

1/2/2024: Biometrics appointment

1/3/2024: Status changed to actively reviewing I-485 and I-765

1/3/2023: RFIE response received by USCIS

18 hours ago, Bri and Carlos said:

Did this eventually go through? If so, I’m curious as to when? I’m having the same issue, having submitted everything and being received 12/18. No check has been deposited and no NOA. It seems everyone else’s application is being processed more quickly.

Yes it did go through!

It took them a month to process it through, our NOAs were dated at 12/12 and delivered 12/18 (our package was received on 11/17).

I had an RFE for I-864 unfortunately and just submitted that as well as did our biometrics just yesterday.

Now it's just a waiting game, I wish I knew how long it would take. Our main goal is to be able to leave the country asap because we want to have a celebration in Japan during their string of holidays in late April... but not sure if we will have advance parole or the green card in hand by then.

I definitely can prove my income continuation in the US (3 months worth of paystubs here, contract here, etc.). 

That being said, it seems USCIS could/would get confused by this and the route using my father is more sure. A pain, but better than risking it. 

Would a cover letter hurt anything? 

I'd still like to add a cover letter explaining the situation and the previous paper work (which would be on file), and then say that if that is really the issue then my father's attached documents and I-864 should be sufficient. 

Hi everyone - I received the very generic RFE for i-864 after sending through our AOS application. 

It says "Based on the documents submitted, we could not determine that the petitioning sponsor on Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, is qualified. In order to be a qualified sponsor, the petitioning sponsor's Form I-864 must be properly completed and signed, and the supporting documents must establish that the petitioning sponsor's income meets 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline for the sponsor’s household size. See Form I-864P for information on the Federal Poverty Guidelines. If the petitioning sponsor's income does not meet 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline for their household size, you must obtain a qualifying joint sponsor who demonstrates the ability to support you or submit evidence of assets. See Form I-864 Instructions for more information."

 I am confused as to why I got an RFE but have a few ideas. For clarity sake here, I make $186,000 a year so very confused as to why they are giving me an RFE. 

What I gave: 

1. My tax returns for 2022. Note: my income was foreign, so technically on my tax returns show that but redact it from my total income. So my total income on this is $4,000. 

2. My pay stubs for the last 6 months where I get paid $12,000 a month (3 of which are in the US, 3 are from Japan when I was working there)

3. My US employment contract, showing my agreed salary and bonus. 

Do you think 1 above was the issue? Perhaps despite 2 and 3 being provided, the income from my previous year was redacted as it was foreign income? 

OR the I-864 was filled out improperly. I didn't use Adobe Acrobat and instead just used Chrome to fill out the pdf. Maybe that was the issue? 

Either way, they were not specific at all. Perhaps it's safest to have my father (income of $140,000, household size of 3) to be my joint sponsor instead. 

Maybe I should make a cover letter, saying that I should qualify with previous documents, but in the case that is not true for whatever reason, to use a new I-864 based on my father's information? 

2 hours ago, S I A N said:

Did you submit the G-1145 for e-notification?

Oh no I had no idea that existed. Failure on my part. 

Is there another way to know that my payment was declined / they won't be taking my packet?

Our AOS (for K1) was filed and delivered via USPS to the PO BOX in Chicago on the 18th of Nov at 3pm.

We still haven't received any messages, mails, and my credit card has not been charged yet (no attempt either?).

I know Thanksgiving happened between this time so maybe that is the reason, but a bit worried as I chose to use my credit card which may not have been able to be used...

19 minutes ago, Noname93 said:

I'm pretty sure you need the approval letter. Anyone can send in the paperwork with the right amount of money and get a NOA1. That just means they've accepted your papers and cashed your check. It doesn't prove you actually have an approved K1 petition from which to adjust.

I thought the same thing but I can look up the receipt number / case number online and find the record I was approved. 

I can provide the letter that the embassy said they received my approval letter, provide the visa in my partners passport that got him in the country after passing his interview, etc. 

So I belive that should be enough...

6 hours ago, Timona said:

You only need the receipt 

Really? Everywhere I'm seeing it says thr approval is also needed.

Hi! I am a K1 visa petitioner.

I never received the I-797 Approval (NOA2). I did receive the I-797 Receipt (NOA1). 

It seems the I-485 needs both. I filed an eRequest with USCIS but we are already close to the 90 day mark here I'm the states and apparently that will take 30 days to be responded to With no assurance I will get the copy for I-797 NOA2 Approval. 

Has anyone filed without it, instead using a copy of NOA1, a pdf of the online site showing the status is approved, or even a letter from the embassy saying they received the approval?

I am getting worried and am shocked to see the copy of this paper is a requirement even though we never got it.

Hey @Itxbuilder, did you ever find out if you were okay / did you run into any issues? 

I'm also gay and have lived in Japan for 9 years, and my fiance and are want to do a local wedding party and ceremony in Japan a few days before the official move to the US. 

We thought this wouldn't be an issue because same sex marriage is not legal in Japan. But I am seeing that some people have been denied because they were "too married".