Irish Lass

So when you say "the window open to apply begins 90 days prior to the card's expiration" means that you can submit everything within that window period & not necessarily on the first day? Am i making sense? My card expires Jan 31,2009 so my window period starts Nov 2,2008, do i need to submit everything for removal of conditions exactly Nov 2? or i can submit anytime starting Nov 2 & before my card expires? Im confused,pls help. Thanks

You submit the I-795 anytime between Nov 2, and when your card expires (Jan 31). It is best to get it in sooner rather than later to avoid any unforeseen delays, but you do have 90 days to get the packet to the USCIS. Good luck!!

Looks like you have some great evidence there

Does the joint lease show that you have lived together for the past two years? If you have lived elsewhere during the past two years you should also include copies of that lease too.

Make sure that the bank statement copies are complete statements and not just the front pages.

It also helps to include copies of utility bills with both of your names on them covering the same time span.

Just make sure everything is neat and organized for them and make copies for your own records of anything important, such as when you mailed the package etc.

We sent a personal check, it is easier to track when they cash a check.

Good luck!!!!!

What do you think of this list of documents? Is it OK?

I have everything, but the 2 affidavits that I will have this week. Will probably send my I 751 at the end of the week.

Of course we will add the 545 check ( is a money order better??? )

Did I forget something?????

Form I-751 completed

Copy of Marie Feldman’s permanent resident card

Copy of the joint lease of our current communal residence

Copy of federal tax returns for 2006 and 2007

Copy of California state tax return 2006 and 2007

Copy of most recent joint account statement (Wachovia)

Copy of personal bank statement account (Wachovia)

Copy of spouse most recent bank statement (Wachovia)

Copy of Merchant’s Direct credit card statement + copy of additional credit card in spouse’s name

Copy of life insurance beneficiary change form (spouse is primary beneficiary)

Copy of Health insurance enrollment application and copy of status of deductible plan showing both beneficiaries

Copy of both drivers license with same residence address

Copy of car insurance coverage form

Copy of one homeowners insurance statement

Copy of spouse’s passport showing married name.

Different photos taken during the course of the past two years during vacations and family celebrations.

Copies of letters addressed to our couple.

Copies of boarding passes for a trip between san Francisco and Puerto Vallarta and for a trip between Sacramento and New York-JFK.

Two affidavits sworn by US citizen friends, attesting to our relationship and marriage.

Thanks all for your help... I cannot believe how fast those two years passed... sigh.

Marie

You do not need an appointment to apply for your marriage license, which has to be obtained before you can legally marry. You will need valid ID and proof of any divorces if either of you were previously married.

You do need to set a date (appointment) to be married. They will give you options on which dates are available for the marriage and you choose which one you both want.

Congrats!!!

Oh my... it's always hard to believe that you could forget something so simple as to sign that complicated form.. but it happens!!! I never sign anything until I'm ready to put it in an envelope to send, and often I get stuff prepard in advance.. so I can see how it happens At least you have it sent back to them and hoping that they send you a speedy positive decision very soon... Best of luck to ya

I know it's so hard at times and the homesickness will never really go away completly But that does not mean that you will feel like this always, just try to see the good in your life right now. Think of all the positive things, you are with your husband and I'm sure many other good things. Call home as often as you can and talk with friends, try not to keep it all inside, even talk with your husband and share your feelings with him... it's helpful to let it all out sometimes (((HUGS)))

I just finished off a big plate of Curry Chips.. OMG were they ever good and I had 10 potato croquettes for lunch. Rashers for b'fast tomorrow. I'll probably gain a few pounds this week, not exactly healthy eating but tastes so good. Why is it that all the not healthy food tastes so good???

Nice haul Although I can't pronounce half of what you got lol. I did notice Liga in there (yummmm) and 'Ham and Cheese Chips" never had them before but they sound really really good

About every 6 - 8 months, we order a package of goodies online to be shipped over. I love seeing my hubby's face when he gets the boxes. Our latest package came just about a week and a half ago.

2 x Calve Peanut butter

2 x Zaanse Mayonnaise

1 x Calve Sauce Curry

1 x Donald Duck

1 x Conimex Ketjap Manis

1 x Conimex Mix Peanut Sataysauce

1 x Go-Tan Chilli Sauce Sweet

1 x Silvo Spicebox Shoarma

2 x Chocomel 6-pak

1 x AH Bitterkoekjes

1 x AH Mini Syrupwaffles

2 x Smiths Wokkels Paprika

1 x Smiths Wokkels

1 x Smiths Ham-Cheese Chips

4 x Raspberries & Blackberries

1 x Peijnenburg Breakfast Cake

1 x AH Shoarmabroodjes

10 x Koopmans Dutch Mini Pancakes Mix

3 x Koopmans Pancake Special

1 x Koopmans Quiche

1 x Liga Calcium Cookies

1 x Dutch Mini Pancakes Pan Iron

Awesome, thank you very much. I'm mailing it today and will be prepared to wait it out again.

Enjoy your vacation!!!

Oh digestives sound sooo good, I'll have to get them next time round. And Liga, my all time favourite

Yes, foodireland.com is where I ordered from

I am bringing in my lugage when we fly over:

- Lyons Tea and Lady Grey.

- McVitie's Dark chocolate covered Digestives.

- Bisto gravy granules.

Already arranged a swap with an Irish friend whereby he'll send me supplies of the above and I'll send back peanutbutter chocolate stuff

- Green&Black's Coco powder.

- SMA follow-on milk and Liga rusk for the twins.

- Herbamare herbal salt

- Assorted Swiss chocolates (dark and coffee)

- Ricola herbal sweets.

I am assuming you know http://www.foodireland.com/

Every so often I just have to place an expensive online order to get some brand name foods from the homeland. I'm expecting a delivery tomorrow and am as excited as a kid at Christmas waiting for the package of tasty goodness.

I'm getting:

Boiling Bacon for bacon and cabbage.

Parsley Sauce for bacon and cabbage dinner.

Knorr Curry Sauce for curry chips.

Bisto Chip Shop Curry for more curry chips.

Mushy Peas... just to eat on their own right from the can!!

Bachelors Baked Beans for beans on toast.

Real Rashers.... need I say more?

Birds Strawberry Trifle Mix... it's been so long since I've had good custard.

Potato Croquettes.. they just don't have anything close to them here.

Taytos Multi Pack.. munch munch

And sadly that was all I could afford this time, the shipping is insane

I'm saving the bacon and cabbage dinner for Sunday as it's for my husbands birthday dinner treat, he fell in love with that meal when in Ireland

So what are everyones guilty pleasures??????

I am currently filling out Form I-90 to finally change from my maiden name to my husbands name. I have a question about how to fill out the first part of the form where it asks for "Family Name"... do I fill in my maiden name or use my new family name?? I have updated my name change with social security and drivers license already. Just not sure what to fill in for the USCIS.

Any help will be greatly appreciated

TYIA

I believe it's the I-90 you have to fill out and submit. There should be no fee to file as this was a USCIS error.

Michigan here, all the way up in 'da UP.... eh!!

Congratulations !!!!!

Wishing you the best of luck in your next step towards citizenship

I was just curious about when i had to apply to lift conditions?

I had my AOS approved in june of 2008. I just wanted to know when i have to deal with USCIS/DHS and all that bureaucratic red tape again. Its nice not having to live by their working speeds

Congrats on your approval!!!

Your card should be valid until June 2010, so you will need to file to have conditions lifted with in 90 days of it expiring. You can not file before the 90 day window.

I read "somewhere" you shouldn't hilight things on evidence of bonafide marriage. Can't see why as you would think it would make it easier reviewing such. Maybe copying?

I used a highlighter on every copy I made and sent to USCIS. I highlighted any relevant information that I wanted them to notice, it was much easier to see the info when highlighted IMO. We had no problems with highlighting as we were approved eventually..

I feel your pain. We too got a RFE. I had originally only sent in the first page copy of bank statements and Tax returns. The RFE asked for entire copies of tax returns including copies of our W2 forms also. They wanted detailed evidence and that is what I sent them the second time. They also requested copies of our drivers licenses. They also requested entire copies of lease agreements with both of our signatures on them.

We included copies of photos with descriptions. We also got 4 sworn affidavits from family. I also had to write a statement describing how we met, and details of important events in our marriage.

We two hole punched everything and organized it very well. In less that a week of them receiving the RFE we were approved and the 10 year card was sent out very quickly.

So try not to get too worried about it, just copy everything and highlight any relevant information. Read the RFE carefully and cover everything they ask for. If you can not produce any evidence they requested write an explanation as to why you can not, that way they won't think you are ignoring anything.

Good luck!!

I too am also getting ready to change my name. I wanted to wait until everything had gone through successfully with the I-751 before changing my name so as not to cause any possible confusion with USCIS. The first step for me is to change with Social Security, then drivers license, passport and USCIS. My passport expires next year so this is a good time in regards to that.

Good luck with your name change, I hope everything goes smoothly for you

Congrats on your approval I also received 2 emails, both were the exact same, but one 1 card arrived. Two cards would be nice, like mentioned above as a spare just incase, but I'm very grateful for the one I just got

Congratulations!!! And kudos for your patience Wishing you the very best of luck on your next journey, hoping it will be a much faster timeline

Woo Hoo CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!

I also forgot to update them of our new address when we last moved. Once I started getting ready to gather stuff for the I-751 I remembered. I filled out the form online and never heard a bad word from USCIS about it, it was over a year late too. So just update your address when you can and hope for the best

Wonderful news!!!! Congratulations

Like said above it's not an issue. I am still legally using my maiden name and we just got approved for the 10 yr card. I will change my name to my husbands family name in the next few months though, I was actually afraid to change it before now incase it confused anyone at USCIS... but I'm really paranoid about stuff like that

We mailed ours express mail, with USPS. They were able to give me a guaranteed delivery date, so that kept me happy.

I think it's good to have some form of delivery proof for peace of mind