GauraD

Thanks!! :D

Since moving here, getting married, and getting my conditional residency I have managed to lose my passport. Now, Im not really planning on any overseas vacations for a year or two so am not in a big rush to get a new British passport and spend $$$$ doing so- but is it necessary to have it when removing conditions? Or do they just give you a new greencard? Ive been reading about the stamp they put in your passport- is this always the case?

Thanks guys

I just got a letter from USCIS (after 2 months of waiting for ANY mail) saying they need more information as to whether my joint sponsor is a US citizen or US national. I filed a fiance visa - I-129F which according to the instruction forms on the AOS means I DONT need to give them proof of my joint sponsor's citizenship again (sent copy of his passport last time, with the initial I-129F)

This is straight from the I-864 instructions -

'Proof of U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident status is required for joint and substitute sponsors and for relatives of employment-based immigrants who file this form. Petitioning relatives who have already filed proof of their citizenship orimmigration status with Forms I-130, Form I-129F, I-600 andI-600A do not need to submit proof of their status with this form'

So whats the deal? Should I call USCIS tomorrow and argue with them on the phone? Did some dimwit make a mistake? Or is there something I missed on the form??? HELP!

(ps - wow this process is EXPENSIVE- this will be my 3rd month without being able to drive or work cos of no EAD, so my hubby is going to have to pay for everything for me instead of me being able to pay my way

My gut instinct is no (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)

There will be a security guard on the door who I would guess is trained "no appointment letter, no entry". They can be quite strict about who goes in - my wife had to wait in the car.

Main reason that I suspect you'll be unlucky though, is that your I-797C biometrics appointment notice is covered in bar codes, which they scan to pull up your record. Some of them are just your receipt numbers (AOS and EAD on mine) but there is another one at the top of the notice that they scanned when I went up for fingerprinting. It's a complex 2-dimensional barcode and I have no idea what it stores but my guess is that it wouldn't be there if they didn't need it to process biometrics.

On the other hand, the appointment notice has warnings about case abandonment if you don't show so maybe it would be better to go, even if they ultimately turn you away so that you can say that you did go, they just wouldn't let you in...

If it was me, though, I'd call USCIS back first thing tomorrow morning and ask to be rescheduled. You might need to speak to a higher up. If you ask a couple of times, I believe the script reader you speak to initially is obliged to put you though. It might involve a delay of a few weeks but at least you know you'll get in and get it done. Also, (again, correct me if I'm wrong, please!) I don't believe that rescheduling the appointment will put your EAD/AOS cases on hold. Judging by the dates you've given in this thread, I shouldn't think your EAD will be processed before you get a new appointment through.

Sorry I couldn't say anything more positive

Thanks for all that info Jeremy!! We decided not to go as its 4 hours of driving and time off work for my hubby without knowing if we could even get into the building! And as you said- we will probably be able to reschedule it before my EAD/AOS stuff comes up!

I did call the USCIS this morning and talked to the 'higher ups' who were unhelpful in that they didnt do anything and said they couldnt do anything with regards to rescheduling my appointment! Oh well, I will just take a screenshot of my case status online and the fact that it says my mail was undelievered, just so I have it on file that it wasn't our fault- we weren't lazy- USCIS screwed up!

Important note for all of you who bother to do cover letters- THEY DONT read them!! I did a cover letter for my fiance visa when sending my second batch of paperwork to the Embassy, and on it I stated, once again in EXTRA LARGE RED TYPE that could they please only schedule me an interview after a certain date as I was out of the country until then- I got back early from my trip - opened my mail- and discovered they had set me an appointment for the dates I had asked NOT to be scheduled!

And then for my AOS- I did a nice cover letter that obviously wasnt read!

Cover letters ARE helpful as a checklist however- it helps when you have a list to make sure everything is in the packet.

Anyway, now I just have to pray for a speedy delivery of my receipt notice and biometrics letter - they say 30-45 days when you phone, but everything else we have received much more quickly, usually a week or two *fingers crossed* I swear I have the most annoying luck- trust me, Im never the person who says 'oh my, there was a blip in the system so they were even QUICKER with my case and it only took a month from start to finish etc* that's never me!! Im definitely not buying lottery tickets any time soon lol!!

Well- NONE of the customer service reps faxed my info to me!!!

So my question is- has anyone had success in just going in to the USCIS office WITHOUT the appointment letter?? I have my passport, marriage cert, the online thing saying the letter was sent back, and my receipt number- would that be enough to wing it? I need to know 100% because its a 2 hour trip and i have to get up at 5am if Im going to go.

Thanks!

Hi Jeremy Yes- I have made sure that they have changed my address by talking to several types of customer service reps and doing it myself online.

I know I can cancel the biometrics appointment- I'm not too worried about that- what worries me is that they said it can take up to 30 days for me to get the documents and letters they were supposed to send me - thats why Im really hoping that the fax thing will work! I am worried that even if they DO fax it- the USCIS office may only accept the originals of the documents! That will set me back from getting my EAD by a month or so!!!

Update-

Well, today I called USCIS after waiting the 30 days you have to wait to make a complaint (thats what the lady told my husband when he called last time asking where our reciept was) and guess what- they DID send my receipt number AND my biometrics letter to the wrong address (even though I sent a cover letter with my application stating in CAPITAL LETTERS- PLEASE CORRESPOND WITH THE PO BOX ADDRESS PROVIDED-retards!) and even better- my biometrics appointment is tomorrow morning at 8am and I have NONE of the letters or anything!!

So then I had an afternoon long ordeal of calling USCIS and talking to three higher up customer service reps- one lady I called said she could send me the info via fax (not email) and I had to call back as I had to phone my husband for a fax number - I asked her if I'd be able to call her back directly- she said no, but that I could just re-explain what had happened and that whoever I got hold of would fax it for me. Not the case!! The next time I called I got hold of a very unhelpful verging on rude lady, who said there was no way they could do that, impossible, she didnt have any of that info etc etc.....I hung up, and called AGAIN hoping to get through to someone else- and I did- this lady had to talk to her supervisor to make sure she could fax me the info, and she almost didnt want to when I said to attn it to my friends name (as I had HIS fax number at his office- I dont have a fax at home!!) as she was like 'this is Federal information, it can only be seen by you blah blah blah' and then I kept talking to her asking 'do you think this receipt number you have given me will be enough for me to take to my appointment tomorrow morning??' And I think she took pity on me as she was like 'is that YOUR fax number' and I lied and said 'Yes' and she said she'd send me the info.

Anyways, Im still waiting on my friend to get back from work and see if she has the fax- if not- do you think I could go for my appointment with just the receipt number and my passport and marriage cert?? Does anyone know if that appointment is still in the works as when I checked my case status online today for the first time ever (with my receipt number I got over the phone) it says '22nd Jan - post office returned papers etc please contact USCIS'

*I mean Chicago Lockbox phone number

Hi,

Its been 3 weeks since we submitted our AOS/EAD application, and Im kind of worried that some dimwit may have mixed up our PO Box and Home address (as mail is undeliverable to our house) - our address registered with the USCIS is the PO Box one- so if it is returned to sender hopefully the would figure it out....Then again- perhaps we have made a mistake on our forms or something- how do we check? Is that 1800 number everyone talks about the one and what do I dial? Or is there a Chicago Lockbox address?? The package was delivered but we paid by PO so cant check if a check was cashed (wish we HAD payed by check!!)

Is 3 weeks something to worry about?? I swear, everyone else seems to have their biometrics appointments already!!

Thanks for your help!!

We applied just before Xmas and still havent even gotten our receipt in the mail yet

The package was delievered, we know that, but we paid by postal order so cant see if thats been cashed yet. It worries me that everyone else seems to have got theirs so quickly- and makes me wonder if we somehow made a mistake!

Well, great news- today we went in again, armed to the teeth with print offs from their website, and all sorts of things- and we saw a different lady at the same office- and as we sat down at her desk, prepared to argue, we said' Last time we came here we were told that on a K1 you can get a SSN' and she said 'Yes you can!' - I have to say we felt SO much relief just hearing those words!!!! She was a more learned officer who used to work at a military base and so was familiar with K1 visas - and she asked who had 'helped' us last time, told us how ignorant they were and apologized, and said that we were going to be 'part of a huge learning curve around here'. She said she would get the ignorant SS officers trained (and apologized again, saying they were more familiar with dealing with 'student visas') and would speak to them (my man and I couldnt help but smile at that, picturing the rude lady and man who'd been all loud and adamant with us being put in their place and told that they was SO wrong!!!) She even took that RM00205 form thing from us to show to them later (we gladly let her have it! Glad to save future couples going through the same thing!)

She took my details from my passport (without asking for my parents names and all of that like the other officers had wrongly been doing- Im foreign, they dont need that info!!), and ordered the card for me in my married name That took about all of 5 minutes!!! SOOOO easy and hassle free!!!!

The tips I now have to share- definitely go in armed with evidence paperwork (just in case!!), and DONT go to the SS office early in the morning as we did, as the less senior staff are probably on that shift- go later in they day when the better paid and more educated people are around!!

PS- you ARE allowed to work until your 90 day K1 expires even if you dont have any sort of specific authorization! But I guess that once that runs out and if you dont have your AOS EAD yet you should probably give up working as it would be illegal in that period of time.

Thanks for all your help guys and reaffirming my conviction that we WERE in the right!!!

Thanks for your answers everyone Hi Kim!

Well, we DID get supervisors over - two in fact! And they were both emphatic that it was NOT possible and printed of the RM 00203.500 as proof of the fact that it was not possible! I saw that K1 is listed in the section of people who do not need direct DHS authorization- but they seem to have read that and still insisted that K1 is not eligible! I dont really have any hope of convincing the morons in that office otherwise, we spent at least 20 minutes arguing with them...so I'm considering mailing all my original documents to a bigger social security office with previous approvals (any in Florida that anyone knows? Or I could even mail one outta state!!) Any up to speed offices? (my office didnt even know what the USCIS was!)

Please let us know which office you find that cooperates with you. I believe I read that you're in the Orlando area... so are we (or WE will be as soon as he gets here!!).

So it's sounding like to avoid all issues, make sure we apply for his SSN *before* the marriage.

I will let you know how I go- we are going to try again in a week or two we are just concentrating on getting my AOS forms etc done at the moment.

I think it might be a tad easier if u do try to do it before marriage as one of the many 'issues' the supervisors brought up is that 'your name has to change in the immigration database because we cant enter you as a different name unless they both match so you have to wait until you adjust your status'

...and the other big ' issue ' was 'you cant get a SSN on a K1' 'but I know lots of people who get them on K1' 'Well Im a supervisor who deals with lots of cases and let me just tell you that the only way is if they adjust from another visa like a B1 etc to K1, if you come into this country straight on a K1 visa you cant work and you cant get a SSN number' - yeah- thats the kinda bull they can spring on you!! Im going in armed with lotsa ammo next time (I didnt even think I needed to Including print offs from their OWN website! (as they didnt even KNOW what the USCIS website WAS.....seriously - they didnt know USCIS!!;

This is from the social security website: http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/ssa.cf...php?p_faqid=576

My immigration document shows K-1. How do I get a work Social Security number?

Question

The K-1 symbol indicates you are the fiancé of a U.S. citizen. As such, you are eligible for a Social Security number and for employment.

To apply for a Social Security number:

* Complete an Application For A Social Security Card (Form SS-5); and

* Show us documents proving:

*

o Immigration status;

o Work eligibility;

o Age; and

o Identity.

* Take your application and original documents to your local Social Security office. If you live in the New York City metropolitan area, Las Vegas NV, Orlando FL, or Phoenix AZ you may need to apply in person at your local Social Security Card Center.

----------- The thing that they got stuck on this morning is - Work Eligibility -- but if I'm not mistaken, form RM00203.500 is proof of eligibility to work without specific DHS authorization?

I might not even bring up marriage if I go to a different office!! Im still waiting on my official marriage certificate (only have the one from the ceremony) so I might just not say anything and just get it in my maiden name for now (the idea of changing names seemed to really bend them outta shape!) That is if my man can take ANOTHER morning off work for immigration fun! Or I might just mail my passport and application to a different office....but I feel I probably need to go in and point things out to them...like 'See Section C here, and K1 visa in Secion C!' Duh!!! Once I actually have it I can go do the name change!

Thanks for your answers everyone Hi Kim!

Well, we DID get supervisors over - two in fact! And they were both emphatic that it was NOT possible and printed of the RM 00203.500 as proof of the fact that it was not possible! I saw that K1 is listed in the section of people who do not need direct DHS authorization- but they seem to have read that and still insisted that K1 is not eligible! I dont really have any hope of convincing the morons in that office otherwise, we spent at least 20 minutes arguing with them...so I'm considering mailing all my original documents to a bigger social security office with previous approvals (any in Florida that anyone knows? Or I could even mail one outta state!!) Any up to speed offices? (my office didnt even know what the USCIS was!)

So, I'm on a K1 visa, just got married, and waited two weeks before going in to apply for my Social Security number so I would be on the government systems- only thing is - the staff at the Gainesville SS office say that you CANT get a SSN on a K1 unless you have your EAD (even though I said I want a card that says 'cant work' and they DO have them- until I get my EAD!) They said the computer REQUIRES the input of the EAD number or it won't go ahead with the processing!! From what I've seen on this website, thats BS! So- I'd like to hear from anyone who entered the US on a K1 (without adjusting from say a student visa or anything- just a K1 like me) and just got their SSN so I can know what you did and which office I should send my documents to because my local one doesnt know anything!! And I need that SSN or I cant get a Driver's License!

Thanks for reading!

So, I'm on a K1 visa, just got married, and waited two weeks before going in to apply for my Social Security number so I would be on the government systems- only thing is - the staff at the Gainesville SS office say that you CANT get a SSN on a K1 unless you have your EAD (even though I said I want a card that says 'cant work' and they DO have them- until I get my EAD!) They said the computer REQUIRES the input of the EAD number or it won't go ahead with the processing!! From what I've seen on this website, thats BS! So- I'd like to hear from anyone who entered the US on a K1 (without adjusting from say a student visa or anything- just a K1 like me) and just got their SSN so I can know what you did and which office I should send my documents to because my local one doesnt know anything!! And I need that SSN or I cant get a Driver's License!

Thanks for reading!

Hi all - nice to see everyone is doing well!!

Im FINALLY flying out to the US TOMORROW!! AHH! Nervous and excited!!! Happy and sad! Hope I dont have my connecting flight cancelled like my last US trip!!

So whats the TB requirement thing all about?? Also- are my medical results in my envelope and do they give em to me or forward them on with my other paperwork to my local center? I had my medical recently so I dont need another right?? I also had a TB shot and all my vaccinations cept for my HPV vac..so Im good to go for AOS right (once married of course!! )

Love to all!!!!!!!!!!!! XXXXXXXXXXXX

Well, this thread was all too hard to find so I'm bumping it back up

I guess everyone is busy enjoying life in the USA! And its probably almost time for a lot of us to start moving to AOS threads!!

Kim- wheres your wedding pics!!!!!! Graham and Megan- its so nice to see you 2 are together with the lil bump too!

I only have 3 weeks until my new life in Florida, so things are busy busy busy here! Cant wait for all of it to be over honestly and just be there already!!

Wish I could vote for Obama Though- I do hope whoever is President does SOMETHING to make me get more dollars for my pounds- its dropped soo dramatically :/ hehe...McCain is probably who I should be praying for then

Well, thats enough of a random bump post already....

love to all!!

quick question for all off you who have done ur flight to the US- VJ.com recommends having a layover of 3-4 hours 'just in case' - ie if the immigration people take forever to proess you. I will be catching my connecting flight in Atlanta, and I have two options- a flight with a 2.40hr stopover, or a 4.25 hour stopover- which do you think is the better choice??? I've read info on the Atlanta POE and some people have gone through in 10 minutes, others have had to wait around for hours and missed their flights!!!

Gaura mate, take the 4.25 option - if the price of that little extra peace of mind is 2 hours, then it's a bargain. I always look for the longer connection times whenever I go over there, if for no other reason than international airports are great fun, and it gives you longer to get pi$$ed in the wide selection of bars.

lol, thanks for the advise!! I have booked the 'peace of mind' flight, (even though, like Kim, Im soo impatient but yeah, I decided I can wait another 2 hours to see him after 3 months!! ) That will give immigration all the time in the world to deal with all the cocaine smugglers and deportations they need to (would be kinda cool to see them deport a cocaine smuggler!) However, I betcha I'll be out in record time, probably 15 minutes- and then have to bum around the airport trying on every perfume, sampling makeup and drinking too much in airport bars so that by the time I meet my fiance again I'll look and smell like a bargain priced 'lady of the night'

Only 48 days to left of this life ahh...then I'll be in a whole new world! Kinda scary!!!!! I cant even drive and Im moving to America lol!! Soo much to do including memorizing road rules!

what a sweet story!

quick question for all off you who have done ur flight to the US- VJ.com recommends having a layover of 3-4 hours 'just in case' - ie if the immigration people take forever to proess you. I will be catching my connecting flight in Atlanta, and I have two options- a flight with a 2.40hr stopover, or a 4.25 hour stopover- which do you think is the better choice??? I've read info on the Atlanta POE and some people have gone through in 10 minutes, others have had to wait around for hours and missed their flights!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh - I GOT MY VISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Totally wasnt expecting it today- the couriers said they warn me the day before they delivered....and I walked into work...and it was THERE....the guy didnt follow the protocol of asking for ID ect cos he'd been to my work before to pick up my passport so he knew I worked there, so just left it with a co- worker!!!!!!!!!!!! Total shock!!!!!!!!!! Well, co-worker knows know but shes a gem and wont tell the boss until i give my notice which will be at the beginning of Nov,as Im only at the end of Nov. OMG OMG OMG :dance: lol, its REAL, its in my hand...all that waiting and I actually HAVE it...almost a let down hehe....They should have fireworks that come with the pack just to make it more of an event....

Now the terrifying reality of leaving my life, job, country for a distant land can REALLY being oh, and I can open that celebratory bottle of wine I've had saved up for about 3 months!!!!!!!!!!

Still having paperwork issues with the London Embassy, its so depressing this close to getting it and they wont let it go through yet - I sent them BOTH of the affadavits that my future father in law sent me (apparently the one I brought in with me was a copy), and I got a letter yesterday saying the one I mailed in is a copy!!! Cant exactly argue with them and perhaps my father in law got muddled up, but it means I have to get him to do it again and fedex it ASAP to the embassy!! Its so annoying, especially when everyone else is celebrating, and I was soooo looking forward to getting my visa in the mail this week!!

Gaura, I'm so sorry you have to go threw the pain of more paperwork TWO times over!, but third time lucky right? The good thing is London will probably send your Visa out the day they recieve you Affadivit, so it shouldnt be to far off, keep us updated!. We will all surely be hanging around to celebrate teh Visa arrival when it comes hon!

Awww, thanks !

They should have received the hastily FedExed new affadavit by Tue/Wed, so now begins the 5 working days count down!!! Ahh!! And the continual calling of DOS We have got this one signed with BLUE pen so they cant say its a copy!!! (unless the reject it cos they prefer black pen lol!!)

I really hope AOS isnt as awful about paperwork as this- as any glitches like this in AOSt will delay me getting a job by months probaly - and the prospect of being jobless for any time period over two months is scary (2 months I can deal with- I'll just potter around sorting out my life, spending time on relationships and myself (ie- gym!!), and editing my novel and such just nooo shopping fun over two months and savings start to be used and thats not good!!!

Trying to enjoy my remaining time in London..will miss it when gone so am having as much Fish and Chips as possible (while trying to also stay healthy lol) and trying to ignore the bitter cold that has crept in this week!

I soooo hope I get approved soon its fraying my nerves it is

Congrats to everyone who finally made it past all the crazy border control stuff and into each others arms!!!!!

Sigh...others who HAVENT been through this experience would find it hard to understand this whole thing but I think they should make a movie about all this for us....something to remind us later of what we went through for love and maybe we can have a laugh at it one day......a comic/tragedy/love story type of movie.....the comical compulsive checking for NOA1+2 and the tragedy of lovers apart and the great love stories of people who survive being apart and remain faithful to eachother and their love across the distance and of course the blissful reunions....I can see it now, a new blockbuster, we'd have to name it 'Kim&Russ' (though the resulting exposure may lead to Kim's notrious 'video' being leaked onto YouTube

love to all XX

Still having paperwork issues with the London Embassy, its so depressing this close to getting it and they wont let it go through yet - I sent them BOTH of the affadavits that my future father in law sent me (apparently the one I brought in with me was a copy), and I got a letter yesterday saying the one I mailed in is a copy!!! Cant exactly argue with them and perhaps my father in law got muddled up, but it means I have to get him to do it again and fedex it ASAP to the embassy!! Its so annoying, especially when everyone else is celebrating, and I was soooo looking forward to getting my visa in the mail this week!!