alliejourney

Ah, I see. I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with how the Casablanca embassy operates specifically.

They are probably still producing the visa. CEAC will change to Issued once it's mailed out to you!

Saw on myUSCIS that a biometrics appointment was scheduled for October 3rd! Hopefully by now other August filing folks are starting to get information, and things move a little more quickly from here 🤞

Got the text receipt notification today after filing on 8/2! Hoping to see the NOA1 in the mail within the next week or so. 👍

I sent mine on the 2nd and still no receipts and check hasn't been cashed. I read on one of the other threads it's been taking 4-6 weeks so I wouldn't worry just yet!

Yep, what lilbear said. We arrived late at night. When I woke up the next morning, I checked the I-94 website to see if it had been updated. It had been, so I printed a copy and we headed to the SSA office as soon as he was awake that day! Now that everything is done digitally, it’s incredibly fast and painless

Any August 2024 filers yet? We were married on August 1st and got our packet mailed out August 2nd. I know it's early for anyone to hear anything just yet, but thought I'd get the monthly community started. Also, made some edits to the most recent welcome message I've seen floating around. Please correct me if I got something wrong!

(Welcome Message copied from October 2023 group **with edits in red**) Hello August 2024 AOS filers another month another round of AOS submissions! Please be aware that this checklist is NOT all-inclusive and you must consult the USCIS website to crosscheck this checklist against/with. The AOS process has been confusing since the pandemic hit, not to mention the added politics. So please I want to stress that you only use this check sheet as a starting point and guide if you will. The USCIS site will be the final guide. Please ensure that you check your forms for the correct versions and editions because if you use the wrong forms USCIS will reject your application and send it back to you. This is easily checked on the USCIS website prior to downloading your forms. You should also ONLY download your forms from the USCIS website. The current and correct fees can also be ascertained from the USCIS website. Just a side note before we get started USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 and Form I-131 if filed jointly with Form I-485. Here is the quoted text taken directly from the USCIS website. "To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Form I-765 from Form I-131 filed at the same time. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, when possible, we will adjudicate an applicant's Form I-765 first. If we approve it, we will issue an Employment Authorization Document without any notation about advanced parole. We will adjudicate Form I-131 separately and if we approve it, we will issue an advance parole document". I know this is old news, but I thought it would be good to include it here for your knowledge. What this means is some people elect to include three (3) copies of their marriage license/certificates one attached to each form (I-485, I-765 and I-131 respectively). I do not know of anyone receiving an RFE for a marriage license/certificate missing on the I-765 or the I-131 since USCIS has started doing this new way of adjudicating the AOS (the marriage license/certificate with form I-485 is required though). This is an age-old concern that has been in play before this new way USCIS started adjudicating these forms. Some filers including me when I filed the AOS back in 2019 sent in three (3) copies of their marriage licenses/certificates. I did it then because of peace of mind and there were some RFEs given out for missing licenses/certificates (back then). USCIS also used to issue Combo Cards, Employment Authorization Document, and Advance Parole (EAD and AP combined in the same card). I've seen now where they have issued an EAD without the AP. Whether you include three (3) copies of your marriage license/certificate is going to be your individual call when you file your AOS. Having said that let's get into the checklist: AOS Checklist Cover Letter listing Table of Contents Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $1,225.00 (this includes the Bio-metrics fee, also be aware that fees are supposed to increase in the near future so please double-check before you send your packet off!) As of April 2024, fees have increased for each form. Because forms are being processed separately, you must include a separate check/money order for each individual form's fee. In addition, check this site to make sure you are writing your checks correctly. And always check the fee schedule site to make sure everything is up to date. Form I-485 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary) Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $1440 Form G-1145 Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp Copy of NOA2 Approval letter (from K1 process) I-94 Copy of beneficiary's Birth Certificate translation of birth certificate (if needed) Certified copy of Marriage License or Certificate Passport Photos (2) name written on the back Copy of DS-3025 Form I-864 (completed and signed by USC) (goes with form I-485) Proof of USC's citizenship (copy of birth certificate, copy of passport bio page, or other) Current tax year 2022 and (optional 2021, 2020) Tax Return (with W-2) or Transcripts (transcripts are better if you can get them) Employment Verification Letter (updated one - not the one used during the K1 process) Pay stubs (last 3 months) Form I-765 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary) Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $520 Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp I-94 Passport Photos (2) name written on the back Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process) Be sure to use the correct filing code of (c)(9) if this code applies to you. The I-765 instructions explain all the codes in detail. If you are filing under a different code (other than (c)(9) the fee for your AOS will not be correct and USCIS will reject your entire packet. Form I-131 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary) Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp I-94 Passport Photos (2) name written on the back Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process Be sure to double-check for the current fees as fees do sometimes increase and they can change on a dime so please check. Additionally, check the forms as listed above i.e., current version and or edition date, there have been many changes to various forms. Consider sending tax transcripts instead of the 1040, and W2s. Also, consider preparing a cover letter for each form in addition to the main cover letter. Make sure you send long-form birth certificates and not the short form. Hope this helps in your preparation of your AOS. When in doubt ask questions. Please consider filing the I-131 and the I-765 even if you don't think you'll need them right now. You never know what changes your life will have down the road, so I recommend you file these two forms from the start. There is no extra charge to file them with your AOS and it's better to submit them all at once. There has been much confusion coming out of USCIS, partly due to Covid-19 and partly self-inflicted. This confusion filters on down to the people filing for AOS. The above listing is subject to change at a moment’s notice so please check, recheck, and check again BEFORE you send off your packet for any last-minute changes. Congratulations on the successful submission of your AOS packet!

Hi! I can confirm that this was correct. We got his SSN with absolutely no problems the day after we entered the US on his K1. We brought along his foreign birth certificate, the I-94 with his most recent entry on the K1, and his passport with his K1 stamp. They actually didn't even ask to see his birth certificate, just the I-94 and passport. (I'd still bring the birth certificate though, just to be safe.) All in all it took about a half hour at the office, and we received his SSN in the mail just over 2 weeks later.

Hi! I'm sorry I'm responding a little late, currently visiting my partner and helping him pack up for the move! Yes, this was exactly what my RFE looked like, and all you need to do is check no and send it back. As I said, since your answer is no, there's no need to provide further evidence to prove the negative! Congratulations, things will move quickly from here.

They seem to release interview dates about a month in advance, so they might not even have the dates available that you want yet. But if that's the case, just keep checking back and you can schedule whenever your desired timeframe has been released! (London does not schedule for you, so no worries there.)

I suppose you could, although if they aren't questioning your "met online" status then it wouldn't be necessary. My partner and I also met online - we met on a Jcink forum for writing - and I explained that in my initial package, and USCIS didn't question it or flag it as a possible IMB. Since I see here you said you didn't elaborate in your initial package, they may ask you for evidence. But if they don't, I truly don't think you'd need to try to "prove a negative", so to speak! I would just follow the exact instructions that are sent. You could always print out the Discord TOS for the interview stage in case the officer there asks about it. If you get the same RFE as me, I didn't have to do anything other than check "no" and sign the exact same letter that they sent me, and then send it straight back. I didn't need to re-print that page or the petition, or any other part of the packet. Your instructions may be different but that's how it worked out for me!

It's extremely possible that the RFE will just ask you to answer that question, not offer up any elaboration. I got an RFE for missing a checkbox about whether I have any criminal convictions, and the entire RFE was just for me to check "no" on the letter and send it back. Since Discord isn't an IMB, your RFE could be as simple as that! And, for what it's worth, it only held up the process about 3 weeks for us.

Purely speculation but I'd reckon they're requesting this evidence because they already suspect fishiness. Unfortunately you did something illegal by working while on a tourist visa and now it's come back to bite you. Nobody here would advise you to do what you suggested, as it is illegal and it is against the TOS of this site to advocate for/condone any illegal activity.

My partner had his interview mid May of this year in London. Everything we handed over that required my signature was scanned. Obviously all of his were wet since he printed off and signed himself. But it was not an issue!

It sounds like CR1 is a better choice for you. When you enter the US on a K1, you are not allowed to work at all until you receive your work authorization, which could be several months. If your partner does not have enough income to support both of you, it will be a very difficult transition to the US, since you'll need funds to live and also the funds for adjustment of status after you're here, which is upwards of $2000. On a CR1, you'll arrive in the US with the ability to work instantly and you don't have to go through the AOS process. Here's an informational page about the differences between different visas: @Crazy Cat has a great comparison chart too which I can't seem to find now. Whichever path you take, I'd really recommend taking a long study of the guides provided here on VJ: https://www.visajourney.com/guides/ They are extremely helpful and will answer a lot of these preliminary questions!

Congratulations! You can check your case status on the USCIS website using your receipt number here: https://egov.uscis.gov/ Otherwise, nothing to do but wait for NOA2.

If you are in a western country (I agree with someone in your posting history who mentioned it sounds like you are in the UK, so that's my assumption) then there are absolutely resources for you. Homeless shelters, food banks, domestic violence shelters, government assistance programs for food and shelter and income assistance - there are programs you could definitely qualify for. Is your partner not able to help you financially, at least enough to get away and support yourself for a bit? Listen, your situation is extremely sympathetic. It sounds incredibly difficult. Many, many people immigrate to the United States because they are facing hardships at home. If the US government allowed everyone who attempted to immigrate illegally slide because they had a sad story (and to be clear, coming to the US on an ESTA with the intent to adjust status is illegal immigration) then everyone would do that. I'm not trying to be harsh, but I'm trying to make you understand that escaping your situation via illegal immigration isn't an option, no matter what kind of story you can tell them if you get caught. The best thing you can do for yourself right now is try to make your life bearable in the meantime.

I really feel for your situation. Unfortunately, nobody here would condone that path, as it is expressly against the law (as you have acknowledged yourself) and it goes against VJ TOS to give any advice that would not be a legal option. Also, for what it's worth, there's a lot that could go wrong with that plan that would just land you back at home, and even potentially with a ban from entering the US at all, or at the very least with your current K1 now under more intense scrutiny. Rather than focusing on marriage as a way out of your situation, I would really encourage you to look into whatever community resources are available to you in your area of the world. Domestic violence shelters, etc, to get you away from your parents and on your feet independently, first. There is no quick way out of your situation that is legal and involves immigration to the United States. If you fill out your timeline, or at least tell us what embassy, others may be able to tell you how much longer you have to wait in the K1 process, or even point you toward resources available in your country. I'm very sorry for everything you're going through. It sounds extremely hard.

Great to hear, congratulations!

The Hep B vaccine is a 3 dose series, but if you get the first dose, the medical center will be able to waive the requirement for the remaining two due to the time constraint. My partner got his first dose of the Hep B vaccine with his GP because we saw another review that mentioned that vaccine isn't always available at the clinic and we didn't want any hold ups. Same with the Covid booster.

Understandable - I'd definitely still take the evidence just in case your officer is more concerned with your situation, but I wouldn't stress too much about it!

Personally, with London I think you should be okay. YMMV because I (the USC) have income above the poverty guidelines so I did not need to joint sponsor. However, at my fiance's interview on Tuesday, they asked for just the I-134 form, but he didn't give them any of the evidence. They never asked for it, and his visa has now been issued, so apparently it wasn't a problem. I don't think London weights it very heavily. As Boiler said, just make sure you have it all worked out when it comes time for I-864 at the AOS stage. Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Yeah, this actually makes a lot of sense in hindsight because when I was looking for info on Cleveland as a POE, it wasn't listed on this site nor anywhere else. However, I believe Dublin and Toronto are currently its only international connections, so it makes sense why Cleveland isn't listed when technically Dublin (and Toronto, which also has US preclearance) is the POE. This conversation has definitely cleared a lot up for us and hopefully this thread can be useful to people in the future!

After seeing your comment we started looking into the pre-clearance at Dublin (we had no idea this was a thing when we booked!) and it does seem like since we booked both Manchester -> Dublin and Dublin -> Cleveland on the same itinerary, our bags should be checked all the way through. Thanks a lot for bringing this up, we had no idea so now we're much better prepared, lol. Thank you for this!