Bahrainexpat

Good news, we applied for our SSN on 19-Sept, and they were able to verify us in SAVE-ASVI. We received the SSN in the mail a week later. Also, we married on 30-Sept and applied to change her name on her SSN on 11-October, the SS office was great, they just reverify all original docs again(passport, I-94 and certified marriage certificate). Super smooth. 

Go back to the SSA with your green card and ask them for an unrestricted SSN card.

Update, card produced on 3-Feb! Starting to think this is legit!

I submitted the family based AOS package(I-485, I-864, I-765, I-131) for my wife in November 2022, USCIS received on 14.Nov.2022. She entered the US in September 2022 via K-1(we both lived/worked in Bahrain) and we married the same month. I didn't expect to hear anything soon except maybe approval of the I-765 sometime this spring. To our utter shock, we received an email yesterday that USCIS had taken action on our case. We logged in the morning shortly after that email and didn't see anything. Our case still had the 'we are actively reviewing your case....' status for the I-485 and I-765.  I logged in again last night and entered the receipt number for our I-485 and it indicated our case was approved on 31.Jan.2023. Sure enough, in the documents section was our I-485 approval. We did not submit an expedite request. 
 
Bear in mind, we just submitted our case in November 2022. We did biometrics on 6.December.202, but had no interview. Does this ever happen? I am highly suspect there is an error or glitch here. Until I see the ‘card is being produced’ it’s just really hard for us to mentally process.
 
My other question is, after I-485 approval what is the typical timeline to receive the green card in the mail? Our notice indicates we can’t submit an inquiry to follow up until 90 days after the approval notice.

All info about that is right here: Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements for Naturalization | USCIS
 
Just to be clear, physical presence and continuous residence requirements are more than just about how much time you've been in the US and how much time you've been out. The main thing about this point is that you must be residing in the same district in which you file N400 for at least three months before filing. For example, if you live in New York City but then move to Los Angeles and file N400 in Los Angeles after only 1 month, your application will be denied.
 
Also keep in mind that while you are a permanent resident, absences of about a year or more can cause issues with CBP when you attempt to return. Only an immigration judge can revoke your permanent resident status, but obviously you don't want it to come to that nor do you want any reason for CBP to single you out or be hardcore towards you. Technically yes, N400 requires you to be present in the USA half the time but do not take that to mean you can stay in the USA for 18 months and then leave for 18 months, come back and file N400 under the 3-year rule without issues. This pathway will cause issues for you and would undoubtedly lead to denial. There are some people who are exempt from physical presence and continuous residence (see the above link) but they're pretty specific exceptions (things like military, certain industries that require international work/travel, etc).
 
Sorry to throw all this info at you but obviously this is important and knowledge is power. An immigration judge, CBP and any other US government official will not take, "I didn't know" as an excuse.
 

Print and take a copy of this letter. I have schooled personally more airlines than I can count, and won many a legal action against them when they didn't board my spouse when legally required to. I won so much money in one case it has covered every dollar and then some for what I have ever paid in immigration costs over the years. Just arrive early to the airport, and have a good attorney on retainer.
https://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/assets/documents/2021-Dec/Reminder- LPR Boarding 20210305.pdf
 
Knowledge is power... wield it appropriately as required.

Lurker here finally saying hello   Just want to mention this forum has been super informative through my AOS process! 
 
Concurrent filing for I-465, I-130, I-765, I-131 - sent to Chicago lockbox (where my lawyer is located)
Filed on Nov 3
NOA on Nov 4
Biometrics scheduled for Dec 5
Status for I-465 & I-765 changed to Case is being actively reviewed after my bio appt
Status for I-765 changed to Card is being produced on Dec 6
 
So far it's moving along pretty smoothly. Hopefully it'll stay that way 🙏

Hey this thread is specifically for those adjusting from k1 visas. You might want to check out the family based threads. 

Good news, we applied for our SSN on 19-Sept, and they were able to verify us in SAVE-ASVI. We received the SSN in the mail a week later. Also, we married on 30-Sept and applied to change her name on her SSN on 11-October, the SS office was great, they just reverify all original docs again(passport, I-94 and certified marriage certificate). Super smooth. 

There are references here in VJ that they do. 

Don’t trust Facebook…
I have never heard of hospitals stamping passports

I’ve never heard of a hospital stamping a passport.   Why in the world would they?
 
Hospitals do not issue visas.

NEVER send original documents.... Either resend a new package with copies....or wait until the rejected package is returned.... then resend copies. 

Lucky you get to fix another mistake: do NOT send any originals! Submit only copies at this stage and you will send originals to your Fiancée to carry to the Consular Interview. 
 
No worries, it should be rejected and back to you in 2 weeks or less

Same if you do other lucrative illegal activities .  Paying taxes is often part of the money laundering process.  

After what OP posted above, I’m inclined to agree with you. 
 
IRS simply says that if you earn income you pay tax, nowhere do they state that they allow or condone illegal work.

Furthermore, it’s not in the scope of IRS’ work to be checking and enforcing people’s authorization to work. There are other agencies for that.
 

No such official thing.
IRS simply says if you have an income you pay tax. It does not say nowhere you can work illegally.
 

~~ Topic moved from AOS K1 to Working & Traveling during US immigration where EAD matters are discussed ~~
 
Fist step: Your friend should report the attorney to the state bar for blatantly ignoring and encouraging  clients to break the law. Second step: they should get another competent attorney asap
 
To answer you questions, no she cannot work without an EAD. That is illegal 

All things being equal, meaning all of your information is in order and correct, the processing time between NOA1 and NOA2 has nothing to do with what country the beneficiary is from.

It is no longer "fastest" overall, and the AOS process for K-1s is a big negative.
 
Most of us who did a K-1 even when the petition process was only 6 months (vs current 13 months) would have chosen a CR-1 in retrospect.
 
"Fast" is not a reasonable criterion for choosing a visa in 2022.
 
 

ok, thank you very much @Bahrainexpat.

Finally have a NVC case id number, and even better, got an approved expedite from NVC to embassy as of 28-June-2022!
 
I submitted an inquiry both to my local embassy in Bahrain and NVC on 21-June-2022 to obtain case id number in order to request an expediate from NVC to my local embassy based on a pending job offer in US that needs me to start as soon as I can. On 27-June-2022 NVC responded from 'NVC expedite' email on info they needed to make an expedite request(found out here they didn't need NVC case id number to make the request). I made the expedite request from NVC to embassy on 27-June-2022 per their instructions. I heard back from NVC on 28-June-2022 and they provided NVC case id number and a notice that they were reaching out to my local embassy on whether the embassy would approve the expedite. Minutes later also on 28-June-2022, I received an email from my local embassy that they had received an email from NVC for expedite request. My embassy said they would accept the expedite request and informed me to wait until they get the physical file from NVC for further instructions.
 
As of right now case is 'At NVC' but hope to see 'IN TRANSIT' based upon the expedite request and approval soon!

A signed letter from my employer on company letterhead indicating my salary, status of my job(temp or permanent), and hire date. I also included IRS tax return transcripts for previous 3 years, pay stubs for previous 6 months and any bank/investment statements to substantiate my assets if I listed them. This is what my attorney requested. Whether that is overkill or inadequate, not sure yet as we haven't gotten to interview stage yet. 

My comment was really more based on the fact that as he doesn't plan to do the petition until later this year, he has around two years before he needs to worry about paying DS-160 fees.

K1 submit do not submit documents at the NVC stage. NVC is merely a way station .. the apprived petition is stmt to NVC who do minimal administrative work , then it is sent to the Consulate. Thats when the fees are paid , DS160 completed online, in134 completed and all docs taken to the interview