hplusj

2 hours ago, Anjaek99 said:

I figured. I'm just anxious about it, because on the USCIS website now it says that they might reject the I-485 if you don't submit a I-693. 

Please read up about I-693s on the website.  They are not required in all circumstances.

8 minutes ago, Anjaek99 said:

Hi. I just have a few questions regarding my AOS and DS-3025. I recently came to the US with a K1 visa and got married in november. A couple of days ago I mailed my I-485 and I-765. However, I did not put a copy of my DS-3025 nor a I-693 as I thought I didn't have to. The reason I thought I didn't have to, is because I did a medical exam abroad in august and the CBP took my package at entry and I assumed all the medical paperwork would be in there. But yesterday I read online that they require a I-693 either way, and I'm worried that the DS-3025 is not in the package that the CBP took from me at entry. 

 

Is my I-485 gonna be denied because of this? or are they gonna send me RFE for I-693 plus my DS-3025? Any tips?

At this point you’ll probably have to wait for the RFE.  My understanding is that the DS-3025 with the application serves as receipt for the details of the medical packet, which I am unsure is part of the initial review.  It is made available for the interview, I know that much.

if you have the vaccination worksheet, make copies and keep them handy in the event of an RFE.  Good luck!

On 10/25/2024 at 8:21 PM, ProbeGT said:

Detailed post on ACA insurance and subsidies.  It IS possible for a new immigrant to get subsidies.

 

 

I wish we had found this post sooner.  My husband and I are so confused.  When I (USC) moved to Iowa earlier in the year I applied for ACA and was given access to the marketplace probably within a week.  Unfortunately I let the plan lapse with wedding costs and have tried special enrollment and now open enrollment trying to get access again for us.  We got into the Medicaid cogs somehow and received a denial letter that said we would be passed to the federal marketplace for review now.  Exhausting.  I might have to pitch a promotion at work to become salaried and get us employer provided healthcare because as wage based I don’t qualify for it until my annual in March.

Looking at your timeline I’m not sure what the process is for a Q1.  Is that family based?

Our NOA was received via mail on Nov 9th, postmarked Nov 6th!  Everything's ready to go for biometrics on the 20th (and Jon's behind the wheel on the 22nd, since he needs that as proof of pending residency in Iowa).

On 11/6/2024 at 11:23 AM, ETM8986 said:

@hplusj We had a joint sponsor who stepped in at the last minute after the first one dropped the ball unexpectedly (that was not fun at all 😭) so we mailed the packet off on 10/31.
USPS tracking says it was delivered on Saturday 2/11 but we haven't got ANY notice that USCIS has received it so I'm getting worried.

Ours was received on the 1st but the NOA was postmarked Nov 6 so expect a slight delay.

Seems they got a little busy on Monday and Tuesday.  I wonder why... 🤣

I don't know if you set up a G-1145 for notifications but if not, you can always give your information to Emma and see if there are docs submitted for your case.  Provide all information you have now: A-number, USCIS receipt, NVC case and ask to speak with an agent to get the access code printed on the NOA.  

If you did set up the notifications and you've heard nothing, I guess the waiting game is still on.

On 11/5/2024 at 5:03 AM, Senufo said:

I know it's it's just not fair and I can't do anything

I understand that it's frustrating when this part of the process is very opaque but approaching it with a lens of unfairness is not going to make it easier for you.

Focus on your relationship and your future plans together.  Make sure this is all for naught.  Exercise patience, and gratitude.  Four years ago, your frustration over your wait would be laughable.  Even a year ago, we were seeing petition approvals twice as long as yours.  Our case was at NVC for four months.  

Breathe, find grace and foster the love for your future spouse.  Not much is fair in this world, and the immigration process is certainly among the count.

36 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

@hplusj We are sending out Jaycel's I-485/I-765 on Thursday 11/14! So happy your biometrics has been scheduled! I have a question for you, don't you get your online access code on the NOA1? If that's true, how are you seeing the the docs online? Are you just checking with the receipt number that they texted/emailed to you?

I poked Emma (online assistant) and providing what I knew about the case, was able to get an agent who provided the access code that's on the paper. 

Still waiting on the NOA1 to arrive!  We'll need it to get Jon a driver's license, once he aces that behind the wheel lol!  Also, the bio appointment is scheduled for the 20th (again saw it on our USCIS account) but nothing physical has arrived.  Was issued one week ago.

Hey all!  Been on the forums here since around the time of our first K1 NOA2 (yes, we had two) back in March of this year.  I'd say we're long overdue for a little introduction:

I'm Heather, the main arbiter of the hplusj account and the USC.  My now-husband, Jon, is from South Africa.  He arrived here on Friday the 13th of September because September 11th is clearly cursed and his flights kept cancelling.  We live in Iowa, though right around the time of our NOA2 (literally my first piece of mail) I moved from Minneapolis down to the Des Moines metro.  I work in the hospitality industry and, once that EAD shows up for Jon, he'll probably jump right back into software development.

We did things the hard way with a K1, and it is what it is.  Things like delaying our wedding would've been smart but we're suckers for sentimentality and wooo, is that a costly endeavor.  When I mean costly, I don't necessarily meant the cost of the K1 (although that's certainly not cheap either).  What it also cost us was understanding from our loved ones, and a sense of normalcy.  Jon and I had a lovely micro-wedding in Vegas in an olive grove (pics below) but our family and friends really struggled to wrap their heads around a wedding invitation which had several time zones printed on it.  Imagine the feedback we got: letters that read, We're so happy for you but we just can't make the journey when we had paid over $500 for a production team to livestream, in an attempt to include them!  

Anyway, the wedding was quite the adventure (so much to say on that, but let's not bog down an intro), and we're glad to be on the other side.  At the time of this post, we just got the text from USCIS notifying us that Jon's NOA1 for the AOS/EAD are in the mail.  It's on to the next steps, getting just a bit closer to citizenship!  

We are so glad to be here, to contribute our journey and hopefully help others along the way.  Thank you for this site, it's been a godsend!!

Sorry this has been your experience, OP.

I will say though, that "don't judge a book by its cover" goes both ways.

I'll save further, potentially incendiary commentary for the political forum

On 10/28/2024 at 12:53 PM, ETM8986 said:

Thanks @hplusj! 
I don't know if we'll make it for the October filing though. Hopefully - I'd be relieved to send the packet off! I'm certainly not relishing the idea of being "out of status." It sounds dreadful and the lack of a so-called "bridging visa" is unusual to me. We're waiting on a joint sponsor to get his I-864 forms ready. My husband is a full-time student so we have no income, and I don't know if that makes our case more complicated or not 😩

Whose income did you use as proof for the K1?

Feel free to keep an eye on the October thread, might be some foreshadowing for ya.

On 10/31/2024 at 6:18 AM, apnzz said:

...95% of our evidence was of the physical in person meets and stuff we did together physically, then the other 5% would've been like the brief summary of how we met...

This is exactly why we didn't deduct all evidence from online.  The question of "how did you meet" is relatively common.  I expect USCIS would want an answer to it readily available, even if it isn't in-depth.

22 hours ago, judgementKazzy said:

Honestly, I was fully expecting most people to be "weirded out" by my question, I get how it can be a weird thing to consider when you arent part of the community!

But it's really nice to see there's so many other people who also have games as their main link together, especially couples who have already been successful in their visa journey ❤️ 

Thank you and all the warriors of light who replied, it means a lot!

I'm sure there are people on here who are, but fact of the matter is more and more people are meeting online, and not just through dating apps:  doing what they love, and connecting with others in doing so.

I just shake my head when I see confused reactions to what is a rather clear question.  Judgey passive aggressive nonsense.  This is the 21st century, and your question is most certainly relevant.

I wish you all the best on your journey!

Progress!  Our case was received on October 28th and the I-797c is dated November 1 (saw the digital copy on USCIS.gov, will probably get the physical one in a few days). 

Same, my now-husband and I met on Second Life.  Our evidence connecting us through that was very minimal since for the better part of the first two years we knew each other, we called each other by our handles, not even our real names.

Online connections just don't translate well.  Focus on the real, you'll be fine.

(also F the haters, we had an in-world wedding as well.  I get the importance of it, even if USCIS and people who aren't part of these communities don't)

A lot of people have already said that, but you have several stages to advance through K1, you're not going to finish in the time period you're concerned about.

And yes, ditch the visa preparation service.  You do not have a complicated case.  If you did, an immigration lawyer is going to be far more useful.  Handing it over to a "service" is imo a terrible idea since it is additional costs in an already costly pursuit, and learning how to navigate this on your own leaves the people with all the interests in seeing it succeed --namely, you and your fiancee-- handling 100% of it.

On 10/28/2024 at 6:39 AM, Happy1233 said:

Hi I am also an October 2024 filer. Sent on 17th October. Waiting for NOA1 for AOS. I only applied for GC AND AP. 

Your timeline says you got your NOA the day later.  Is that accurate?  Did you have your biometrics yesterday?

On 10/22/2024 at 10:38 PM, ETM8986 said:

I don't actually see a thread created yet though, unless I'm looking at the wrong places.
 

For October?  I got you here: 

15 hours ago, appleblossom said:

You’re a LPR the moment you arrive, once your visa is endorsed that acts as a temporary green card for a year until your plastic one turns up. 

..which visa?

Welcome to all AOS filers for October 2024!  Following the example of other users, I'm taking on the task of starting the thread for us, in order to track our progress.

We all come from a variety of situations, so please reference the Immigration Guides for your AOS filing directions.  Feel free to share your procedure/progress in the comments below!

My husband arrived on a K1 visa on September 13 and we were married on October 10.  We filed today with the following packet composed (this is a copy of our Table of Contents):

---

SECTION A : I-485, APPLICATION FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE

• I-485 Payment (two money orders, total $1440USD)
  • Money order payable to “US Department of Homeland Security”, total $1000USD
  • Money order payable to “US Department of Homeland Security”, total $440USD

• Forms
  • Form G-1145, e-Notification of Petition/Application Acceptance
  • Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence

• Identification
  • Copy of applicant’s passport bio page
  • Copy of applicant’s K1 visa page
  • Copy of applicant’s birth certificate
  • Copy of applicant’s police clearance record -2 pages
  • Bag containing 2(two) passport size photos of applicant

• Confirmations
  • Copy of form I-797c
  • Copy of both received I-797s
  • Copy of valid I-94 travel record
  • Copy of applicant and spouse’s marriage certificate
  • Copy of form DS-3025, vaccination documentation worksheet - 2 pages

• Supplemental Evidence
  • Supplemental photo evidence - 5 pages, numbered
  • Supplemental document evidence - 1 page each
    • Community Choice credit union account
    • Iowa state instruction permit (Real ID)
    • Social Security conditional card

SECTION B : I-864, AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT FROM US CITIZEN

• Sponsor’s Affidavit
  • Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
  • Copy of sponsor’s US passport (maiden/birth name)
  • Copy of sponsor’s birth certificate
  • Copy of sponsor and spouse’s marriage certificate
  • Sponsor’s employment verification letter
  • Sponsor’s paystubs, from April 2024 to present
  • Sponsor’s 2023 IRS tax transcript

SECTION C : I-765, APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

• I-765 Payment
  • Money order payable to “US Department of Homeland Security”, total $260USD

• Forms
  • Form G-1145, e-Notification of Petition/Application Acceptance
  • Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

• Identification
  • Copy of applicant’s passport bio page
  • Copy of applicant’s K1 visa page
  • Copy of applicant’s birth certificate
  • Copy of applicant’s police clearance record - 2 pages
  • Bag containing 2(two) passport size photos of applicant

• Confirmations
  • Copy of forms I-797c
  • Copy of both received I-797s
  • Copy of valid I-94 travel record
  • Copy of applicant and spouse’s marriage certificate
  • Copy of form DS-3025, vaccination documentation worksheet - 2 pages

• Supplemental Evidence
  • Supplemental photo evidence - 5 pages, numbered
  • Supplemental document evidence - 1 page each
    • Community Choice credit union account
    • Iowa state instruction permit (Real ID)
    • Social Security conditional card

---

We're looking forward to following others' journeys!  Best of luck to everyone.

14 hours ago, Cranberry_anon said:

...when I announced the engagement a lot of people told me that a long distance relationship of 18 months is not a real relationship...

People are a-holes and every relationship is different.

I highly recommend getting used to hearing contrary opinions on your upcoming life together and reminding yourself of the above statement. <3

Hi there, congratulations on reaching the NVC stage!  I found this part of the process super nebulous and opaque, but you're in the right place.

You can use the NVC public inquiry form to request your case number.  If it's been a month now, you should get a reply in due time, and be able to track your CEAC status.  

As far as the timing for packet 3/DS-160, you can always check in regional forums (a little further down the discussion list on the main forum page) to look into the order of things for Vietnam.  Again, best to you two!

4 hours ago, St3phsm07 said:

Haven’t The price fees gone up for all forms. Uscis website states $520 

Your answer is in the screenshot you shared.

When filing at the same time as the AOS (I-485) or while it's still pending, it's $260.

On 9/11/2024 at 8:51 PM, Augustjourney2024 said:

Hey thank you for that! it really makes me feel at ease somehow, our third party is a visa agency who cater a lot of visas here in the Philippines
and they have been in the service for a decade. Yeah my fiancee is really on the point of wanting to drop their service and request for a refund 
but theres no way we could do that. We are just being optimistic about the mistake, because we're sure a typo error is not a big deal for them hopefully! 

Keep us posted on your progress!  I'm curious about how helpful this agency is personally, since they not only sent you the form to do yourself, but gave you an outdated one as well. I hope all goes well.  Please know you have a community here to assist if needed.

(P.S. I believe you can "halt" the packet in a sense, if the check hasn't been cashed yet with USCIS.  If you cancel the check with your bank it would simply be Rejected and you could start over on your own.)