SydneytoWaco

Were you ever told what a wonderful family you have with the USCIS? We are here to help you to keep your family together! Let us help you fill out our forms. Instead, treated like a criminal. Las Vegas? Use to be way much better when ran by gangsters, corporations are far worse, don't even care to go there anymore.

Gangsters are better than corporations? Tell that to the thousands of Mexicans murdered by the Cartels. Go back to Colombia if life in the U.S. is such a burden.

I had the same question as the OP, and I was linked to this thread.

I actually didn't have my GC (conditional at the time) on me once when I went to visit Big Bend National Park (on the Mexican border). I was going hiking in the mountains and knew it might get damaged (I got soaked by a torrential downpour mid walk). But being near the border I should have probably taken it.

On the way back I went through a customs/border protection checkpoint. I didn't have it on me and explained why, I also showed them my DL. They held me for all of about 20 minutes whilst they did their checks and then let me go about my way. So for all the fear mongers in this thread, I didn't have a bad experience at all. Worst case my wife would have had to come down (a 9 hour drive!) to pick me up with my GC in her hand. But arrest/jail wasn't even on their minds.

Thanks for the responses and the link. At $450 to replace, I will just have to behave myself.

Do I need to physically carry it with me everywhere I go?

I'd rather not lose it.

Calling USCIS is no use. I called on three different occasions and all three people told me they had no access to address information. The only way to do it is through infopass.

In both cases, you should use I751, there is no CRI89 in the list.

I called USCIS and, as you said, they do not have address information available to them via the phone. However they told me that I751 and CRI89 are one and the same. So if you have an address confirmation for case type I751 you are fine.

If you used your receipt # from the I-751 receipt notice (instead of the application # on the ASC appointment notice) then the online system does not recognize the receipt # and does not allow you to complete the change of address (that happened to me when I tried).

I don't understand how it let you change it without the application #.

Received my green "green" card on 07/21... Thank you ppl

Congratulations from a March filer, great to see VSC getting out those green cards!

We recently moved while my wife's I751 was still pending, so we needed to change the address. As many of you know, there are actually two numbers associated with I751, one is the number you see on the receipt (receipt number), and the other is the one you see on FP appointment (CRI89 application number).

Initially, we changed the address using the receipt number, that went fine. However, if you put in I751 and your CRI89 application number, the system will give you an error, which requires you to confirm. After all, CRI89 is not I751, so this is understandable. CRI89 is not in the list of forms, my guess is because CRI89 is an internal form rather than a public form.

A few days later, we got an confirmation mail from USCIS. Reading the confirmation, I felt it was better to do an infopass to confirm that CRI89 also got the correct address.

So we did infopass, and learned (suprise!) while I751 address was changed, CRI89 was not. So we went home and filed anther change of address, this time use CRI89 application number and override the error. A few days later, we received the second confirmation with CRI89 application number.

So to summarize, when you change your address on I751 application, make sure you do that using both receipt and application number.

I changed my address and had to update it online, as you did, and I am a little confused as to how I can check if my address is correct.

For the change of address form, my confirmation letter (acknowledging the change of address was successful) states that the case type is 'I751' and the receipt # is the same as that on the FP appointment. Am I ok?

To book an infopass session I'd have to drive 5+ hours (we live far from any big city) so I will call USCIS on Monday to try and confirm my address has been properly updated on all forms.

What I'm asking is, on your second confirmation was the case type I751 or CRI89?

CONGRATS !.....

I am sorry to say that you will get your GC late due to restructuring

within GC Handling & Production Department of USCIS. If you have received I-551 Stamp on your passport, then no problem. That stamp is same as GC anyway. When you receive your plastic GC, please let me know, I will update it on our spreadsheet. GOOD LUCK !........

FEBRUARY 2009 AOS / VJ FULERS PROGRESSIVE REPORT

Thank you!

They stamped my passport at the time of the interview so the card is just a formality. I will definitely let you know when I receive the physical green card.

This morning we attended our AOS interview and were successful. Nothing to it, just bring the required paperwork *anything and everything to do with the process* and answer their questions. In and out in about 15-20 minutes. Good luck everyone.

Just received my NOA for the interview today! Date of interview will be 28/05/2009 in San Antonio.

Waiting for my NOA's and check to be cash..sigh

Hi there Feb AOS Filers...

My fiance is from Indonesia and was granted her K-1 in January 2009. Early this month she arrived in the US and we were married on the 26th of February. I have read through the Forum on preparing the AOS paperwork, and have downloaded the forms from the USCIS website. However, after filling out the I-485 I still have a few questions:

Q1: On form I-485, do I put my fiance's new married name in Part 1; specifically, if my last name is Smith, Do I put her "Family Name" as Smith, and "Given Name" as her first Name (Keke)?

Q2: After getting married, we applied for a social security number with the local Social Security office. Do I need to wait until we receive this number before we submit the I-485 and other AOS paperwork?

-Thanks

Q1: As long as she officially changed her name to Smith then yes you should use that (what's on the marriage certificate?).

Q2: I also applied for SSN but did not receive it before submitting the AOS paper work (including EAD and AP) so I did not include any SSN on the AOS paper work. No problem with that, I already have the NOA's for all three and my biometrics appointment.

Received my biometrics appointment for March 7 yesterday! Was a bit worried because I received the NOA's a week ago but relieved now. Good luck everyone.

Thanks for the responses. Liam and Sam if it makes any difference I have the AOS/AP/EAD but no biometrics appointment so it could always be worse!

Is anybody having luck viewing their case status on the USCIS website? I used the receipt number from the NOA1 AOS and it doesn't work. It says "Your case can not be found at this time in Case Status Online. Please check your receipt number and try again. If you need further assistance please call the National Customer Service Center at 1.800.375.5283."

February filer also! Good luck everyone.

Hello all! About to file my AOS and have all the paper work together except for one thing... the I-693.

I did the full medical within the last year 09/30/2008 and I have a copy of the vaccination worksheet (DS-3025) which is complete and will be included with the AOS. It seems like a waste of money to have someone transcribe what is already written and completed. When I entered at the POE, LAX, I saw that the immigration official already had my DS-3025 in the yellow envelope I provided him so I know that USCIS will have it.

So the question is: how many of you included just the DS-3025 and how many of you had it transcribed to the I-693?

thanks

If you don't know the exact date, just put an approximation...ie, June for summer vacation or something like that. They don't care about it, trust me

Thanks, that's just what I wanted to hear!

look here

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/INS-Form-I-131.pdf

many people have used this example

I have looked at that and I now understand that the re-entry permit is for people who are already permanent residents, so I should definitely apply for the advance parole. So if you don't know the exact date (because you have no plans but want the I-131 'just in case') you should just make up a date?

Thanks!

Hello all! I have tried to search for the answer to my question re the application for the I-131 as part of the AOS process but have been unsuccessful.

I want to apply for the I-131 just in case I need to fly home (to Australia) for family reasons but I have no fixed or firm dates. I may not return at all until I am a permanent resident of the U.S.A.

Do I need a reason to apply for the I-131? i.e. with a fixed date for the trip

Have any of you applied for the I-131 successfully without a particular fixed date?

or should I just wait for permanent residency and hope no emergency arises?

Does anyone have a good, reasonable priced company they used when they moved?

Thanks for any help in advance!

- Mara

Anybody?

Hello,

I think you should wait until you get the greencard. However, the wait will not be as bad. With my case, I arrived here under K-2 on June this year, mailed the AOS application June 18th, had the interview today, Dec 8th 2008. We were approved and I will send out my grad school application school before the deadline of April 1st 2009. During the wait time, I was able to do GRE and TOEFL (while my GMAT is coming up on January 30th).

Plus, it's important to check with the uni you're interested in attending so that you can arrange everything in the sound order of time; for ex. if you need to do some prerequisite courses and take GRE.

I hv my finger crossed, good luck!

I think you're both right. Less worrying and more enjoying! It's just that I am looking at a lot of study if I proceed to a PhD (which I am considering) but chances are I would need to take some courses as prerequisites anyway. I have already sat the GRE and the TOEFL isn't an issue for me thankfully. Congratulations on your AOS success!! I am just looking forward to my fiance visiting me here over Christmas before I fly over in January!

Thanks again.

I just received this from the consulate:

"Thank you for your patience in awaiting a response to your inquiry.

According to the USCIS office in Bangkok, Thailand, you would be in violation of your K-1 status if you entered a study program prior to having your K1 status adjusted to lawful permanent residency.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Visa Assistant

U.S. Consulate General

Immigrant Visa Unit

Level 59 MLC Centre

19-29 Martin Place

Sydney NSW 2000"

Is there an intermediate study visa I can apply for? I am now very worried

Yes, however you will be treated as a NON-Resident and will pay NON-Resident rates, and also will not qualify for financial aid. Green-card holders are treated as resident, and qualify for financial aid.

Check with the college you wish to study at.

Thanks, I checked the FAQ and didn't find anything so I posted before searching. As a graduate student being a non-resident shouldn't be an issue as long as I can get a graduate assistant role, fingers crossed! Thanks again.

I have been approved for the K1 visa! Once I get into the U.S., get married and put in the AOS paperwork... can I study at a tertiary institution? I already have a bachelor of science and I was looking at studying a masters or possibly even eventually a doctoral degree. Am I allowed to do this? do I need a student visa? special permission?

I emailed the consulate here and they replied with this 10 days ago...

"Thank you for your inquiry.

As your inquiry is more detailed than the bulk of inquiries we receive, further research is required to give you the most accurate response possible. As a result, it may take us additional time to reply. We thank you for your patience and assure you we will do our best to give you a full response as soon as possible. Please do not re-send your inquiry."

Anybody?

This seems like the thread to ask this: once I arrive in the U.S. on my K1 visa, marry my fiance and apply for AOS... can I study full time at a university? or do I need to apply for an extra or special visa?