jezebelseven

Adman's GC arrived today! No idea when it was ordered, because they still have yet to send any email updates or texts. Wasn't expecting to get it so quickly!

California Service Center (29 applicants, 25 approved - 86%)

Adman got his approval letter in the mail today! Date of Decision 6/6.

We took our sweet time, but mailed our RFE response yesterday.

We were waiting in hopes some other pieces of evidence would come in the mail, but decided to go ahead and take a chance with what we had, because we wanted to mail it before we leave for England this weekend.

The RFE I received last month gave me 85 days to respond from the "notice date" that was on the RFE.

So, depending when in January it was issued, you might have a few days still to reply, but only if they sent it near the end of January...

Fingers crossed they sort this out for you!

Still waiting on a response to our RFE Adman ... any response to yours (assuming you've sent it )? Anyone else who received a RFE gotten anything back, or did it show up in your case status on the USCIS site? Ours still says initial review.

Haven't sent ours yet! Might be a few weeks. Trying to be as meticulous as possible in what we're sending because we really have no idea what they want, and trying to think of something else that we might be able to include. Ever since you mentioned they only asked you for those 2 categories of things (and we got asked for 3), we're really stumped as to what the problem is, or what they didn't think was enough proof, so we're trying to cover every base. I figure if anything, that's what we sent the most of in the first place, so I just can't understand why they're asking for more.

I've started with a letter explaining what all is being sent-- going item by item on their list, and responding line by line with "we already sent this, but they are included again in case they were lost" or "we already sent 3 years, here's 1 more" and so forth. I hope they don't think I'm being a smartass about it, but I mean, they asked us for nearly everything we already sent, so...

As of now, the only new stuff we've got is:

-The new apartment rental agreement

-Renters Insurance evidence of insurance that is addressed to us both (paperless, though, so it's just a printout of a fax)

-Print-out of our account info for internet/cable that shows me as an account "partner" and shows Adman logged in. We always just used the same login before... *shrug*

-print-out of account info for cell phone showing account managers (this includes me (bill in my name), Adman, and also my mother (family plan), so I'm hoping it doesn't confuse them)

-2012 tax transcript - Not sure if I need to include w2s-- they had it listed on the RFE but I thought transcripts meant you didn't have to send w2s?

-Utility Bills in his name + cell phone bill in my name-- both show same address, but neither have both of us on the mailing address

-Itinerary of a flight we have booked together in May to visit his family back in the UK. Gonna highlight the price of the tickets coming out of our joint bank account in hopes that means something to them...

The old/updated stuff we're resending/updating is:

-ALL our bank statements from back to 2007 when we got married (only sent quarterly before)-- We plan on putting sticky note flags on anything that was a bill paid on the shared account-- again, no idea if this is overkill, but...

-print-out of new car insurance with just Adman and I as "Drivers" at the new address (previously sent one in my mother's name as we were on her policy at her house, now in my name since we moved, I am listed as the primary insured, Adman listed as "Driver - spouse")

-2009-2011 tax transcripts-- sent 2008-2011 last time. For some reason when we called for transcripts it wouldn't let us access 2008 this time, so I'm hoping that isn't an issue. We didn't file in 2007 because neither of us worked, if memory serves...

-Re-print of health/dental/rx/vision insurance card showing both of us + a recent invoice showing him and I as patient/responsible party + a letter from his workplace confirming shared insurance + life insurance with each other as beneficiary (they had all this before minus the invoice...).

-And I'm considering sending copies of the USPS confirmations of change of address for us both, just in case they're still not sold on the "we still live together" thing.

It just feels like it's all "meh" proof. If they want more confirmation from when we first got married, I don't know what to tell them-- we sent all we had, so I guess they'll have to call us for an interview if that's the case (I presume they go to interview stage, and not just rejecting us?!). If they want more recent stuff, well, hopefully this is enough, because it's all we've got as far as I can tell. I wish they'd just come out and say what they want in the RFE. Argh.

Out of curiosity, Beth and John, did it only ask for more "good faith marriage" and "evidence of communal residence", or was there also a subheading for (and I forget the exact wording, the paper is downstairs) intermingled finances? Ours had all 3 of those things as sub-headers, if memory serves, so I am curious if it was really just a boilerplate letter or if yours had less requests than ours did and they really do want that much more from us.

To clarify myself now that I have the paper in front of me, ours said:

Evidence of good faith marriage:

Then has 3 subheaders of:

• Birth Certificate (of any children)
  
• Financial Records (evidence of joint ownership of assets and joint responsibility for liabilities etc)
  
• Residence (evidence of communal residence)
  

And then, of course, examples under all of those.

and, as karma would have it, we receive a RFE today! Good thing I already have stuff ready to go out the door. The RFE asked for additional information proving our good faith marriage, including birth certificate(s) of any children born of our union and evidence of a communal residence.

Out of curiosity, Beth and John, did it only ask for more "good faith marriage" and "evidence of communal residence", or was there also a subheading for (and I forget the exact wording, the paper is downstairs) intermingled finances? Ours had all 3 of those things as sub-headers, if memory serves, so I am curious if it was really just a boilerplate letter or if yours had less requests than ours did and they really do want that much more from us.

I think that the move/change of address form(s) might have just put a flag on the file (it is all hypothetical and from some other things I read before somewhere that I can't remember right now). We filed in August '12, bought a new house in October'12, filed the change of address forms shortly there after some time in November. I think that they just want additional proofs that we still live in the same house, at the same address. It's all good, honestly. Can easily prove and send what they request.

Chalk it up to a gut feeling/instinct. I frequently get them, either feelings or in the form of dreams and they become reality. Nothing scary thank goodness, but like I said, I just KNEW that we were going to get one. It was our turn HAHA! Yep, confident that we have all the info plus more that they are looking for. John and I are just sitting going through all the pics we could print that they would not even look at. I'm gonna throw in a few for good measure just for fun

You know, I was considering this the other day as well. It's really the only reason I can see that they RFE-ed us, too-- we moved in October/November. And it's a dumb reason, since we both filed change of address with them, so it's not like we're suddenly at different addresses! And even if we were, what if we were divorcing (perish the thought!) and DID move to different addresses, wouldn't he still be eligible to file ROC? It's just a really curious thought to me.

We're still getting our stuff together, working on a lease and whatnot with my brother-landlord, and that kind of thing.

But, like you said, at least it means they're looking at our forms. I just wish in the RFE they would say "hey, we need more recent proof since you moved" or "hey, ______ is the problem" instead of "please send us all the things you already sent and then maybe some other things that don't exist like birth certificates for your imaginary kids", haha.

Total bummer

I was thinking the other day, just hypothetically, what additional information would we send if we got an RFE. Well, since August, we've had some holidays where we could send additional family pictures, copy of 2012 tax return (can't get tax transcript yet because we JUST filed it), copies of more bank statements. We purchased a house in October, so we could send copy of the deed in both names, and new car insurance cards, as they renewed in January. What are you guys going to send?

We really aren't sure what to send at this point, we've been wracking our brains to think of something that might help. Everything we've thought of is really weak compared to what we already sent.

- We have to contact our rental insurance to see if they can send anything with both of our names on it.

- We started renting an apartment in Nov 2012 (we were living with my mom for the rest of the time, which we know is untraditional, but it was our best option financially as I was out of work for awhile and Ad couldn't work until we filed his AOS), but the problem with that is that we never signed a lease for the new place-- the property owner is my brother and he didn't feel like a lease was right since we are family, so we're renting on a month to month basis with no lease. We're going to ask him to write a letter explaining as much, or possibly work up a lease agreement for us since we moved in back in November, if that's possible, but I don't think it's going to hold much weight because my mother did the same thing (a letter saying we've lived with her all this time due to financial difficulties and that we were moving out in a few months-- which we did) and clearly that wasn't enough.

- New car insurance cards (though they're about to expire)

- Flight Itinerary for a flight we have scheduled in May to the UK to visit his family

- I had to get a new drivers license since we moved, but Ad hasn't, so now our licenses say different addresses! We sent a copy when they were the same. All I can think is sending a new copy of mine and showing that the new address matches his address on the electric/gas/internet bills-- which are all in his name because all the companies said they could not put 2 names on the bill! Argh.

- Sam's Club memberships (presuming they have the same membership number, I haven't checked yet)

- 2012 taxes (like you mentioned, don't know if a transcript will be available yet!)-- we already sent 2008-2011!

- copies of more bank statements (because 6 years wasn't enough I guess!)

- if we can find it, USPS address change confirmation papers showing we moved to the same address

Basically a bunch of fluff, as far as I'm concerned, at least compared to everything we sent before, which you can see here!

Sigh. Adman & I got a rather unexpected RFE today. Opened the mailbox, saw USCIS's return address, got excited for 2 seconds and started running towards the house, then thought "No, wait, we would've gotten email notification if he was approved... oh, #######. There's no way...". But, alas. Yes way. RFE.

It's pretty useless in what they're asking for, looks like a boilerplate letter for "evidence of good faith marriage". Asks for a bunch of things we already sent, and we sent basically everything we had, and several people here on VJ said they'd been approved with less. Urgh.

So. Incredibly. Frustrating.

updating Adman's bio date (got it in the mail today!)

California Service Center (17 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved....

CENTURYMAN..........08/01/12........08/02/12.......09/07/12.......--/--/--....(early bio 8/20)

MRSOO...............08/02/12........08/03/12.......08/30/12.......--/--/--....

NICA_IN_LOVE........08/04/12........08/06/12.......08/28/12.......--/--/--....

NISHI...............08/07/12........08/09/12.......09/10/12.......--/--/--....

BETH AND JOHN ......08/07/12........08/10/12.......09/13/12.......--/--/--....

ROGUE320............08/07/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

BRUIN85.............08/10/12........08/14/12.......09/11/12.......--/--/--....

LOSTINLOVE03........08/10/12........08/14/12.......09/10/12.......--/--/--....

BRACHICAGO..........08/14/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

KATIN...............08/15/12........08/16/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

PII SAM.............08/15/12........08/22/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

ADMAN...............08/18/12........08/20/12.......09/21/12.......--/--/--....

DUKEOFYORK..........08/20/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

FROSTYMIST..........08/21/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

NINA80..............08/21/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

ASHBEY..............08/22/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

PROCEEDWITH.........08/23/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (10 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved....

HOPPLA..............08/04/12........08/07/12.......09/07/12.......--/--/--....

AMIT-N-MELODY.......08/09/12........08/13/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

TOM&TANYA...........08/10/12........08/14/12.......09/05/12.......--/--/--....(early bio 8/27)

KAREN_AND_JAY.......08/10/12........08/14/12.......09/19/12.......--/--/--....

CAN2US..............08/11/12........08/13/12.......09/05/12.......--/--/--....

KATIE & SIFA........08/13/12........08/16/12.......09/13/12.......--/--/--....

BOKGAO..............08/16/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

ANGELBLU............08/18/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

CANADIANDGGAL.......08/20/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

SOMEWHEREINNA.......08/20/12........--/--/12.......--/--/12.......--/--/--....

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You might have to provide an I-130 with your AOS as technically you can only Adjust from K-1 to Conditional (2yr) Green Card but if you've been married more than 2 yrs USCIS is supposed to issue you an Unconditional (10yr) Green Card.

I strongly suggest filing the I-130. My husband and I were married for 3 years before we filed but did not file an I-130, and thus only received a 2 year conditional green card.

You'll also need a full medical as it will have expired as well.

One recent topic that touched on it is here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/274414-two-years-passed-since-marriage-do-i-need-to-take-a-full-medical

Not only not mess with them, but ROC costs $545 or something like that. The I-130 costs $355. Don't know about you, but a $200 saving sounds good to me... not to mention the reasons you stated

Good point! Not to mention we know how USCIS likes to raise fees, with my luck ROC will be another $1000 in two years.

When you adjust status based on a K1 visa then USCIS is required to issue a conditional green card. On the other hand, if you've been married more than two years at the time you adjust status then USCIS is required to issue an unconditional green card.

Just an update in reference to this, as we waited over 2 years to file AOS, yet did not file the I-130.

We received the green card today, and it is indeed a 2 year conditional card. So we have to do ROC come 2012.

So again, I highly suggest filing an I-130, for all the reasons mentioned before, plus it should grant you the 10 year card, so time you don't have to mess about with USCIS for awhile longer.

My wife went to her biometrics appointment here in Georgia and Sept 17. Today we received a letter dated Sept 16, and our case was transferred to CSC. Does anybody know why? and what is the wait time? I've heard/read things about CSC and some people think they are slow... How bad are they?

There is a topic about the wait time which may give you some idea of what you're looking at on average:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/272370-average-csc-decision-dates/

My husband's case flew through CSC very quickly, timeline's in my signature.

Some women are just house wifes.. stay home clean and look after the house. While the man works and does everything else. Its not as old fashioned as people think, it still exists.

It was the exact opposite for us, actually Kinda ironic because I'm more than happy to fit the classic housewife stereotype, I love to cook and clean and hope I'll be able to stay home often when we have kids, he is not the cooking or cleaning type but he did what he had to do!

It was financially hard, but we also didn't have the money to pay for AOS at the time due to a LOT of other things going on, so we just had to deal with it. Other things came up when we were ready to file about a year and a half ago, too, that caused us to put it on the backburner. I'd never suggest someone put it off if they can avoid it, because it's been a major stress bringer the last few years, but it's what we had to do.

The hubby did not drive for all this time, nor did he work, but we made ends meet. It's nice to finally be able to be in the passenger seat now, though, I must admit, and it'll be nice to start being able to save up a little more money in the future.

We filed 3 years after marriage, and did not include an I-130 (as we weren't aware that was needed after 2 years, we were informed after filling by some of the posters above). We were approved today via CSC with no interview, though, thankfully.

That being said, if I could go back in time, I would have included an I-130 in a heartbeat, for all the heartache we went through worrying about a possible denial.

I have to say I'm not even sure which green card we will get-- unconditional or conditional, like Jim mentioned. If we'd included the 130, we'd know without a doubt... but hey, even if it's conditional, I'll take it. But yeah, better safe than sorry!

Just received text that Adam's GC is now in card production. Surprised there was no approval email first, just straight to card production... Either way, woohoo!!

I too, just got approved from CSC. Filed at the end of June, Transferred August. Then bam, just a few minutes ago, a text and email for card production! So we got through CSC pretty darn quick, especially considering we were fully expecting an interview since we didn't file an I-130 like we should have.

wow, you got your EAD approval within 10 days of biometrics...thats amazingly fast, any idea why?

There were at least two recent cases who were approved for their EAD the SAME DAY the people got their biometrics. They've been pretty on the ball with it lately it seems.

We Filed the I-485, the local office is in Jacksonville, FL. The case was transferred to CSC (California) and was then transferred back to the local USCIS office for processing on 08/04/10. We received no interview notice after that, and the online case status remained as "transferred to the local USCIS office".

This morning, I made an infopass appointment for 09/14/10. BUT then this afternoon, our case status changed, with the following message:

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS was transferred and is now being processed at a USCIS office. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you....

What does this mean? Was it really TRANSFERRED or are they just pulling the file to prepare for the infopass appointment?

thanks in advance for any help

That notice normally means that they received your file at CSC and have resumed processing. First they give you a notice letting you know you're *being* transferred to CSC, then in about a week you get the message that it *was* transferred and they've safely received it at CSC.

A lot of people seem to misunderstand the info they're given after the transfer (As was I when I was transferred), they *really* need to reword the generic 'at a uscis office' thing. This question gets asked practically daily.

That is what I said:

You need an approved Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before you can work...your SS card would also have to be amended to say "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" and you can only do that after you have your EAD in hand. A lot of companies now use E-Verify, to check if you are authorized to work for any company in the US or if you are restricted to work for only one company.

The OP is a K1 visa holder who (I am deducing), obtained an SSN without getting an EAD first.

What you said, to me, reads like you were saying they would have to get the card amended to say that, after his EAD came through. That's not the case. That happens BEFORE you get your EAD, not AFTER... Or at least, it did in my husband's case.

I'm not arguing you need EAD to work, as we know that is the case. I'm just correcting the bolded part you said above.

your SS card would also have to be amended to say "Valid for work only with DHS authorization" and you can only do that after you have your EAD in hand.

I don't think that is correct, as my husband's card issued 3 years before his EAD says 'Valid for work only with DHS authorization', which meant he had to get EAD to work. Not the other way around.

Got notice our EAD was mailed today... still no more touches on our GC yet.

I want to say mine took almost 3 weeks after my check was cashed to show up on the USCIS site. It's a bit infamous in it's unpredictability.