Purple_Paladin

Just a quick update: We had our interview. We did spring for the certified translator. I think my step daughter used her once. My husband used her once. We could have done without and been fine. C'est la vie. Our interview was lovely. Very positive experience. I did have everything we had recieved from the beginning printed out and in giant binders for each of them along with original copies of birth certificates and ID's. He asked for the IDs (my husband's license, both passports, step-daughters French ID card, my husband's SS card), our marraige license, the letters of employment from our sponsor and co-sponsor, the last 3 paychecks from them, photos that were not previously sent (we gave photos from how we met since our original file for the I-485 only included photos from his time here in US since he came on the K1). I also provided proof thay they are on my health insurance, bank statements for them, proof of our divorces and custody settlement with the bank statement proving child support. He asked for school records from my step-daughter, which we didn't have because we were never asked this before. It wasn't an issue. He was able to verify on his own after. I don't remember that he asked anything else. They already had it all to be fair. He thanked us for coming prepared and having the neccessary documents. He asked us back and forth questions about our relationship, our previous marriages, number of children, and why we had divorced from previous relationships. He asked the legal questions about eligiblity from the form. He asked step-daughter the name of her fathers parents, when she last spoke with her mother, what she did in France for her studies. Mostly he seemed to be confirming the data he already had from our file. As I said, it was a positive experience. He was polite and thorough. He gave us time to answer. He repeated as neccessary. So now, It looks like the green card is good for two years. I know others have said to start the next step early, but the card is valid until April 2028 and the website says that Removal of conditions (that is the next step, correct?) can not be applied for before 90 days before this one expires so I don't see that it can be done earlier than that, please correct me if I'm wrong. At that point, it's 01/24/2028, and I think it's form I-751 and $700/each? When and where do we do the FD-258 fingerprint cards? Does my step-daughter file separately or with him? Any tips or links to how-tos are always appreciated. I've looked at the USCIS site just a bit. They will both focus on getting jobs now. We never received Employment Authorization, but we have the green cards now, so I guess that's a moot point. My step-daughter also received her SS# with the mailed I-485 approval notice. I just want to be prepared so that we know when we need to move. I hate surprises. FWIW: From what I've read on here, I think our personal experience of having everything go relatively quickly once we got our financials in order had a lot to do with our extensive history of having been together for 10 years and the ease with which would could provide proof of that (shared trips, meeting families, photos of these and other milestones...) My guess would be that the less time a couple is together before the marriage, the more they want you to prove it's realy because there isn't significant evidence established. I could be wrong and maybe we just got lucky, but the interviewer seemed confident in our file. Thank you all for the support, info and encouragement! Purple & Paladin 💜

Sorry to hijack but can someone please post a link to these questions? I searched for it on USCIS website and here and nothing came up. Is it the ones from the I485 application instructions?

I had a follow-up question regarding the interview process. My husband is here on the K1 and his daughter on the K2. I read on the instructions that if they don't speak fluent English, they should bring an interpreter. I feel that he speaks English fluently and she speaks it well enough to communicate understandably. That is, she usually understands very well but is a bit shy/hesitant to speak. That being said, when they are stressed, they both can freeze up a bit, her more than him. Also sometimes they might understand something a bit differently. It's not significant in day to day but in a stressful situation, it might fluster them. I'm well able to clarify these little things for him and he's able to translate well for her. Will this suffice? Meaning, can I act as the interpreter for them both? Will we be separated during the interview process or will we all be together? If we'll all stay together, I'm very confident in my ability to clarify for them. They realy don't need to be told things in French, more they sometimes need to have things explained differently, if that makes sense. They might be unfamiliar with a phrase or use of a particular word choice for something. Again, he understands more than her and is able to translate to her anything she doesn't quite get that they want. Has anyone here done the K1 with the K2 interview before that can shed some light here? I should mention that my step-daughter is 19 (20 by the time of interview). TIA!

I updated my signature. Timeline is there.

We have our interview coming up end of April. My brother and sister-in-law are the co-sponsors for my husband and step-daughter. Should they come with us? The instructions say to bring all of the documentation "unless already submitted." We already gave them everything. Should we print it all out and bring it again or will they even look at it? I know I must bring our marriage certificate, his, my and step-daughters birth certificates v and translations for theirs. I'm assuming my and his divorce decrees and translation for his. I've already submitted all this but the form does not say "unnless already submitted" here, so I'll bring it again. I was thinking of uploading photos of us together at random events taken since the packet was sent. Should I bring hard copies as well? What's suggested. Should I really bring a second copy of everything they already have? Do I need to bring my brother and sister-in-laws birth certificates as well, even though copies were sent? It mentions letters from their employers proving employment and pay rate, is this a requirement or just one of the options for proving income. We did already send in their tax transcripts for past 3 years. I was thinking of bringing their income tax transcript for 2025 (I had sent '24, '23, and '22) So would that suffice or will they have to get letters from their employers as well? And again, should they come with us? TIA! Edited to add: We applied for work auth for both of them at the time we sent the original packet. We haven't heard anything and the site shows only "current." Does anyone know if they are even doing work auths? How long after the interview do people usually get the green card. If I'm not mistaken, that serves as work auth as well, correct?

Is the joint sponsor married and, if so, would you then have to also send in the Wage and Income Transcript for both I 864 and I 864A to show individual incomes? I'm wondering about this myself because I just posted a similar question since we're also sending in a joint-sponsor I 864 and an I 864A in response to an RFE. Good luck!

Update: My brother got everything together and we're finalizing paperwork to hand in asap. Regarding the income information: My brother and his wife file taxes jointly. We have the I-864 form for him as the only joint sponsor and the I864 A form for my sister in law as the Household member of the joint sponsor. For page 5, Part 6, Item 7 of the I 864 and page 3, Part 4, Item 2 (3 last tax years) we're supposed to input "adjusted gross income." Since they file jointly, this information on their tax transcript is the joint total adjusted gross. As I understand it, these forms are asking their individual earning values in these spots. I have the Wage and Income Transcript for both of them as well. Do I fill in their individual "Wage, Tips and Other Compensations" for these values (there is no adjusted gross on these forms)? And then their joint would be listed on the I 864 form under page 6, Part 6, Item 12, correct? TIA!

I'm doing this, thank you. I think I'll also add a note with the old number in the last page where you can put additional info. Also, we're uploading electronically to the case file, so all should be able to be referenced.

One more question: Since my brother is filing as a joint sponsor, under Part 1: Basis for Filing, will he choose "1.d: I am the only joint sponsor", or 1.e "second of two joint sponsors" (as I'm the spouse and filed first and this is a response to an RFE) I believe it's the "only joint sponsor" option and then his wife would be named in his household and then also sign the I864a form. If I understand correctly the "more than one joint sponsor" option is about splitting the immigrants on the applications, which we're not doing since his daughter is here as a K2 petitioner under his K1.

My brother and his wife have agreed to sign for my husband and step-daughter as joint sponsor and household member of joint sponsor. 😅 We are currently filling out the required I864 and I864a for the RFE. My husband received his NOA for the I-485 AOS and his NOA for the I765 EAD in one page each, with his original A# that was issued to him from the beginning in France, and a USCIS Online Account Number. This same A# is listed on his biometrics document. In contrast, my step daughter received the same, but she received 2 pages for the NOA I485. One of them has instructions for the online account set up and the other is more of a receipt of funds paid. Both of the pages for the I485 NOA have the same IOE number, but the receipt form and the EAD have the original A# she received in France. The instruction page for account access has a different A#, and this second new A# is on her biometrics document as well! I'm not sure why she has two different A#'s on documents received at the same time, especially when two pages are of the same NOA with two different A#s on them. Can anyone tell me: Which A # do I use for her when filling out the joint sponsor forms for the RFE? Do I use the original one that we filed with that's on one of the two I485 forms (the recepit page NOA form I797C) and the EAD form? Or do I use the new A# that is on the second I485 form (with the online instructions I797C) and on the biometrics form as well. The RFE she received has the new A#. I would think to use the new A#, since it's on the RFE. We are planning to upload the documents for the RFE electronically once we have everything ready to go. I'm just confused as to why 1. there is a new A number and 2. Why isn't the new number on the EAD as well? Has anyone else experienced this with K2 Visa holders at this point in the process? For reference: we sent in both the I484, I 864, and I765 for both of them in the same package all together (with tabs to keep the two applicants separate.) Also, there's no A number listed on her USCIS online account home page, but the RFE document linked has the new number. Also, concerning EAD timelines, does anyone know if the ETA for decision will shorten once the joint sponsor docs are accepted into the file? It's currently listed as 7 months. Lastly, I did this back in the middle of Nursing school crunch time and everything feels a bit overwhelming atm. So forgive me, but I'm just asking for a refreshing reminder... If memory serves correctly, Do I fill these forms out once for my husband and then just make a copy for my step-daughters file? I can't remember but I think that's what I did because I she is listed under him on the I864. TIA!

I did not understand this. I thought if he lived in the same house, that was a "Household Member." Thank you for this information. Technically, we qualify without his income. He was a "safety net." So long as they accept my proof with child support payments, it's unnecessary. Maybe it's easier/better to file without him?

There's literally a box for it on the form? As Household member.

It's a different question with a potentially different outcome. If I've violated some posting etiquette, apologies. I've read a lot of info over the past week and as I'm finishing up, I wanted to make sure it was as good as can be. I'm incredibly grateful to all in this community who've taken time out of their busy lives and give advice/respond with helpful information.

I think I answered my own question on this one. #8 would be my son's income and for child support I would simply include it in Part 6 #7 where I insert my annual income total. Then I'll give the bank deposit receipts of my monthly child support as proof.

Good catch! I'm tired. It's the I-864 I'm speaking of. Also, in part 6 of this form, do I list my income twice in addition to my adult sons? The first part asks my individual income. Then on 8-11 it says to list Sponsor's Income. The directions say to list any sponsors that will file the I-864a So for example: Part 6 # 8 Sponsor's Employment and income: 8. Myself and my total income and 9. My sons? This would also allow my to write my income including the child support, as I don't see anywhere else to do this. I'm including child support payments received as part of my income because the apply to how I support my dependents. I don't see where to include the monthly/yearly payments for that. I do not claim this on my tax forms because it's not required to claim child support as income. TIA!