TonyDanza

Hey all. What are peoples experiences after getting the green card approval letter, for those who have, in getting the ACTUAL green card.

My letter explicitly said I should get it in 3 weeks.

It is now been more than 6 and I am worried. Do you think they may have reopened my case? Found something they didnt notice? Is this normal? And I dont know what to do but am freaking out. After the interview was super nervous, now its worse. Help please anyone!

Gotcha all. Thanks for all the info.

I am leaving and withdrawing my case to apply for k-3. Thanks all.

Hi there.

Not sure if I am posting this in the correct area but this is my category so forgive me if its not.

I am looking for a TOP Boston Immigration Lawyer. I have made a few calls and have some ideas for when I head up there, but referrals are always good.

My case is anything but simple so I am looking for a very well experienced and smooth talking lawyer that KNOWS HIS STUFF.

If he/she has a heart too, that be nice seeing as I am a dumbass and have totally messed up here, and would rather get someone that understands people make mistakes.

Anyway, again I would be gratefully for any Boston area referrals here. Thanks all!

That was GREAT info and I appreciate it. In regards to your query though, yes prior to me potentially (not by leaving but by not showing for upcoming interview) I was overstayed on a tourist visa by more than a year when my wife and i spontaneously decided to get married on a trip to vegas. That is the dilemma. Most people said (I am Canadian) that it is forgivable if you can prove you entered that time without the intention of getting married which we very easily can. But the second trip after I already filled is whats gotten me into all this hot water and is now threatening to seriously damage or ruin my marriage. I am about to talk to the lawyers anyway, and tomorrow, but wanted to hear from very smart VJ folks too. Just thought that if the lawyers say to goto the interview, I will. But being faced with such a long ban, it might be best to pull out of the process and leave on my own accord and re-apply as the two visas you mentioned above. Just wanted to know if that was a viable option and what this so called waiver is (if I do in fact need one). The whole thing sucks and making a bad decision in my 20's looks like it may last me the rest of my life.

Hi there.

I have got myself into a rather sticky (to put it waaaayyy mildly) situation which could be possibly life ruining.

In my other posts in other forum categories I posted my dilemma of having left the US while on AOS without AP.

I am now back in the US and have done enough potential damage that I dont need to do anymore. I am waiting for a conference call with some lawyers in about an hour, and then meeting some other ones tomorrow.

BUT, before I do, I was wondering who know anything about what would happened if I now 'abandon' (which I kind of already have by leaving) my AOS interview and didn't attend and then returned home to Canada to apply again for a K-3 visa for spousal entry. Is this allowable? I read something about a 'waiver' but I am a bit confused as to how that would work. Would they deny me a K-3 for having abandon a previous claim?

I just dont want to goto the interview and face a 3-5 or worse life ban on the US where my wife is, because I messed up. Not looking at going into the details of the torrid story, just wanting to know if this scenario is possible.

Thanks in advance!!

OK understanding your point. I did missunderstand thinking that it was visa fraud based on a missrepresentation the first time regarding the marriage. I did overstay my first visa which I had not planned. People told me that was probably ok to get overlooked, but yes now I have this recent exit & entry. I had been abiding by the laws the previous 5 years before this each summer coming for holiday and then returning home. I just got carried away with my then girlfriend (now wife) and remained longer than I should have the final time. We also had not planned on the marriage as I said.

Then this time, this last re-entry which was obviously a horrible mistake and awful decision, perhaps the most regretable of my life as it looks thus far, the BCP officer asked me how long I intended to stay in the US. I guess that is what you are reffering to here as the primary 'fraud' correct? I didnt lie however as I never said I was leaving the next day on the continuing flight. I said not sure but going to visit a few people and then after a month or so, head back to Canada as I figured I would if I either got a green card or didn't. I guess I looked at it as shades of grey. I didnt lie, I just didnt offer forth all the info I had and I also answered truthfully all the questions he asked. I know, I know, but I was staring down a full on refusal and AOS claim abandon if I didnt show for the interview, so I played it as best I could at that point. Either way, I thought I am going to head back to Canada after this interview unless they tell me to stay again, (like a stupid dog I will learn the command the second time that's for sure.)

I know this all sounds so totally crazy and I even appreciate you're all suggestions and ridicule but I did what I did. Sometimes people just snap and do things they shouldn't have when they're emotions and family are involved. Clearly I messed up big time and totally regret it, but whats done is done thus far. People have different cracking points, and that was foolishly mine.

I apologize to all who follow the gameplan to a tee, and abide by all the rules. I was a stupid kid and made a stupid choice and I guess it reflects badly on us as a whole (immigrants).

Moving forward, I am trying to salvage what little tiny window of opportunity I have left to life with my wife and earase my bad choices. I appreciate your help in doing that.

OK thanks guys!

I will goto the interview, not offer any info, but answer all truly and honestly. That is what I had planned anyway unless I found out different here.

To the above poster, as stated in my previous post, I did not commit visa fraud as I entered on a tourist visa with no intention of ever getting married. It had not even been discussed. It came up on a US holiday my wife and I took after I overstayed my tourist visa (minor offense for Canadians) and we did it spontaneously. An oportunity raised its head, the moment was right, we were madly in love and had been together 5+ yrs, and we just did it spur of the moment Vegas style. This was NOT visa fraud. Just sometimes things in life happen like that. In this case they did. But enough of that.

Also as a Canadian I do not have an i-94. Even the last time I entered I never recieved one also. This time I filled it out on the plane and then at customs they took it from me. The only record I have of an entry exit is a stamp in my Mexico issued (through a Canadian embassy) passport. So no i-94 for Canadians.

Anyway, guess you have all helped enourmously. Anyone know what happens if I dont get my AOS. Do they just send me a letter to please leave the country to which I leave and then am able to re-apply for a spousal visa? Just wondering the what if's. Thanks guys n gals! Your 10 sec of help on replying to my questions has been really appreciated.

Also, my last passport prior to the one issued while down there was not reported lost or stolen. It was just running low on time and dipped just under the 3 month of validity date while down there, so the embassy issued this new one and took my old one from me. I had no K1 visa as my wife and I who had been dating for 5 years (saw each other primarily on my tourist summer trips and her trips to me in Canada) married spontaneously while in Vegas on a holiday so that is the history there. It wasn't really planned at all although we had discussed it previously but we just decided while on a happy holiday that after such a long time it was something we both really wanted together so we grabbed a limo and did it. We plan to have a huge traditional family wedding after and if we get an AOS and can set up camp for our large families to attend. Thought Id add that for the question above...sorry to ramble.

Thanks for all the help folks.

'Flying by the seat of my pants' is ANYTHING but what I 'like to do' but I dont want to get into my life here and how rarely I have seen my family in the past decade. (Lets say you could count it one one hand after you fell hand first into a lawnmower).

Anyway, I made a mistake and am upfront in realizing that. I messed up and made an emotional decision which is now fast becoming a very scary prospect about years without my wife.

So the details are, I went to Mexico. Then when returning I thought it would be better (for whatever non sensical reason) if I entered back from my home country, so yes I bought the flight home back to Canada. The flight had a stopover in the US in which I thought I would just wait in the airport. They actually made me go through customs as it was a little less than a day layover and a different connecting flight company so they made me do immigration, then get my bags and then do customs. They gave me a new i-94 (which are not required for Canadians but they just hand them to all on a plane) and I filled mine out and turned it in. They didn't fingerprint or photo me, although EVERY other person I saw they did but thats probably neither here nor there. I then was in the US and came back to see my wife. I am trying to abide by all other laws so I will tomorrow look for a reasonable lawyer however I dont have too much money as I have been waiting and not working for the past quarter of a year while waiting for this process to come to completion. And of the money I had, I spent a significant portion trying to get to my sisters wedding.

So now my 'new' passport which was issued there, says so, and also has a US entry stamp dated a few weeks ago. So I will re-read all comments again and hope I answered any questions that were posted cause I appreciate EVERY comment. My stomach is a knot over this whole fiasco.

How hard and long is the process to switch applications? Or is there harm in going to the interview, being honest, and saying yes, I fudged up? Other then at worst a denial, would they ban me for life? Not like a denial woulnt totally shatter me also!

Anyway an additional tips are a huge aid to me. You guys know as much as most lawyers I've talked to anyhow cause the really knowledgeable ones are for the most part just out of my financial ballpark. Boo-hoo. Anyway I truly appreciate it all, and yes someone asked if I was Canadian which I am. Thanks again all.

Hi all.

I posted here before and it turned into a why are you so stupid thread. But I fixed the main issue and am now back in the US.

I am awaiting my AOS interview and left the country without AP to attend an important family event. (Stupid I know).

I was worried about getting back into the US but my plane ticket to my home country happened to have a layover which went through a US airport where they required me to go through customs...which I cleared.

Now though, I have two issues. I have a passport with a recent entry stamp, (doesn't match my original entry date prior to this trip which I stated on my AOS forms) and my new passport was issued a week ago while overseas, meaning it was issued outside the US, i.e proof I left.

Will these be serious issues at the AOS interview? Was I not supposed to leave the country because of the danger of not getting back in, and that was it? Any other reason? Did I violate and laws? I told the customs official the truth but am worried about the INS official thinking I lied or telling me that I broke a law by leaving without AP.

The last question is, if I have broken a rule by leaving, can I attend the AOS interview without a passport but perhaps a letter stating I have applied for a new one? I am kind of desperate here and realize my mistake here so please, advice helps where criticism doesn't. I am just trying to minimize the damage I inadvertantly caused by making a hasty and emotional desision. And my AOS interview is bearing down quickly so I am working to problem solve this situation.

Anyway, thanks for reading and/or posting~

Thank you all for the advice. I am trying to specifically get to my best option so the judgement is only making me feel worse. I guess I deserve it.

My questions exactly are....

Will this come up at the interview and can I just say if it does that I left for my sisters wedding and when returning that I showed the custom agent at the border my AOS interview letter and he let me in after giving me a stern talking to or something, even if that happens to not be the case.

And

Why does this abandoned my claim? Because I may not be there for the interview....which I will be! Can I just not get a new passport issued at the Canadian NY embessy which will have no custom stamps on it? I am reaching for threads here I know, and to many of you I prob sound like a loon, but this is where I am at and the situation I am in, and my entire life is going to be made in these next few decisions.

If no other option exists, I may try the one people suggest here often but which is obviously the STUPIDEST possibly idea around. But if you know what you are doing, can work. OK, back to desperation thinking and thank you all for advice.

Hi all.

I am in DIRE need of any help you can offer. It is very worrying and perhaps stupid what I have done, but whats done is done, so let me quickly explain.

I was in the US on an overstayed tourist visa when my Girlfriend and I spontaneously got married in Vegas after 5 years dating. We then applyed for AOS and a green card for me.

We have been waiting so long just as you all have, but people on here were so helpful for the entire process thus far, including giving me the advice not to leave the country while waiting for my immigration appointment.

I have been 'stuck' in the States now for so long, and had no idea how possibly longer it could be for our AOS interview to come, that when my younger sister said she was getting married in Mexico I had to finally take a risk and leave, athough I didnt apply for advanced parole stupidly not thinking I would need it.

I had already missed my bothers wedding, have only 2wice been able to meet my nephews because I was so worried about being denied back to be with my wife, that is got to the point where I said I can be a slave to that fear of leaving the US.

Well now it has bit me in the #### big time, as I am in Mexico right now for the wedding next week, when the person checking my mail back home told me low and behold, my letter for the AOS interview arrived scheduled for 3 weeks from now. So, I am wondering about getting back into the US for this interview as if I state that as my claim for entry, I will prob be denied. People have said that leaving while in process will possible jeprodize our appeal, but why is that? Mostly because reentry is so hard? Or for other reasons?

And what is my best plan of attack. Should I perhaps just say I am coming in as a Canadian visitor?

So basically my two huge worries are....my reentry into the States.....and more importantly, will this somehow taint my appeal at the interview or can I not mention it. Anyways, I am now highly concerned that I made such a rash emotional decision to come to her wedding which might now ruin everything my wife and I have worked so hard and for so long for. You guys are the best in the biz and ANY and ALL help would be soooo appreciative and grateful. Again thanks.

What the heck is going on here.

Even I got my interview date notice today! March 11th! Something must not be right, cause I am away for two weeks and I asked my wife (I have thus far handled everything pretty much) and she said, no today we got an interview notice! Are there other interviews or is this it...the one!?

I cant believe my ears!!!! Hopefully soon my eyes. I felt so far behind you all, and now it seems we are all getting close to that finish line! Please make sure you all update your status/timelines so we know what or how your interviews went and where you at. There are so many of us now. Hopefully soon there will be none

Congrats and good luck to all! PS. Whats all this about 'preparing'? Just the proper paper work and some photos and bills is all we need no? Is there a good thread rgd this for those who have been? OK off to celebrate!!!!!!

Congrats BeanTownBabe!!!!

Must be super excited!

Finished my biometrics today. When I arrived after searching the suburbs for some innocuous building, I finally found it. I went in and was the only person there. They did it right away, and as I left a bunch of people started arriving. I guess now I wait for 'touch'? What is that? Is the next step of 'actual contact' the interview? And my EAD letter in the interim?

At least something happened for me.

Good to hear your all near the goal line!!!!!!

I am sitting in my hotel room right now about to goto bed. I have my bloody biometrics in the morning at 10am. Costing me about $200 to get it done as I live on an island and they scheduled it in some town Id never heard of near Providence rather than the much closer and easier Boston. So anyway, hope it goes smooth. Any tips?

Gnight all.

I finally got my bio appointment after 21/2 months of bloody waiting!

I am wondering, after all those passport images I sent in, are the pictures they take the ones that will be on the EAD AND the Green Card, or one, or neither?

Just wondering why they take them again and that they jsut cant confirm your likeness when you go in. If its the picture that will be on my Green Card for the next 10 years I might want to get a hair cut.

Also, anyone ever do this in the Providence, RI station? Could I get away with a walk-in? Trying to speed stuff up as I have been waiting SOOOO long. Tnx

Oh Thanks so much BeanTownBabe!

Wondering your and others progress as well. Just knew that checking in each day was adding to my already undue high stress levels.

I have to accept that if it happens, it happens.

Still massively behind, but we each have our own path, and caseworker...ha!

I will head your advice and show up in Boston on the 13th....Sigh. (with a small smile)

WOW!!!

I stopped checking this thread about a month ago around post 30 or 35, cause it became so utterly depressing for me, each additional day as I fell further and further behind.

For those not familiar, I was in very eager anticipation to reach a milestone therefor allowing me to join the new US Army special forces selection program before my 30th birthday. I now will clearly not as I turn 30 in a little more than a month from now. But I am being positive and we'll see what happens.

Regardless, I got back from holidays and low and behold, FINALLY a glimmer of hope in my mailbox. My ASC Appointment Notice, biometrics, for Jan 13th! In Providence, RI no less adding at least a little sting to it. (I wanted and am FAR closer to Boston.) I was originally going to do a walk-in in Boston once I got the letter but now not so sure. Anyone successful at this in Providence? And Can one goto another location?

So, it only took a little over 2 months which most people get in two weeks. I am hoping now I will be back to a 'normal' timeline if such a thing exists. But at least I had a brief smile on my face when I opened it.

By the time this is all done with, if we are successful (God willing), I am probably going to jump off a building to celebrate. Oh, wait a min, make that a diving board!

Congratulations and good job are in order to all these recent developments I have been reading here. And hang in there for those like me. Rosie if your altering the Spreadsheet can you add this development for me. Thanks so much! Appointment is for 1/13/2009 and I got it 1/1/2009.

Hey all.

Just checking in to see how all are doing.

I still have absolutely no idea of where I am at, and STILL haven't got my Biometrics. Should I be worried. By the looks of our spreadsheet, I should be. I mean the least they could do is update me on that additional tax stuff I mailed in.

Oh no!!!! I just mailed it off!

Here is the situation. I included his last year of tax filings. He said he is 'employed' by his real estate agency, but that he is self employed. He called it more of an 'affiliation'. He doesn't understand that EVERY tiny detail matters and calls it semantics which is hard to hear for me because I am the one going through the realities and frustration of the process. Details always matter with the government.

So I am pretty sure on the i-864 that he checked the 'employed' box. He is a real estate broker. I added his most recent year of tax filings to the RFE and sent it back WITH a letter of employment which said "He works with Killen Real Estate as a broker making ________ and has since....' etc.

This now seems to be a very poor idea to have had a Real Estate Broker help me on this as it is compounding what otherwise could have been a very easy process.

Could you guys elaborate on the 'past 3 years if real estate agent/self employed?' I mean he is not self employed and at the same time is. I am sounding stupid now

I am trying to keep a smiley face on as the massive disappointment at reading this thread 10 min after I mailed back my RFE, realizing the potential for an additional month delay now after that first RFE, in finding out I potentially have to file his past 3 years rather than past year! ;(

I mean, if one makes well above 125%, I mean well into 6 figures here, it is crazy to even have to go back 3 years. He would logically have way more to 'cover' me than a person who makes just above the 125% guideline, and has scraped by on that for the past 3 years! The one year 6 figure salary is STILL more! ;/

My frustration oozes onto the keyboard.

I'm sorry.

Thankyou!

Congrats to all those moving on!

Quick question here...

To sum it up I got a yellow RFE regarding my sponsor and joint sponsor. The three check boxed points were...

1-In order to process your application further the petitioner/sponsor on form i-864 Affidavit of Support must submit all federal income tax documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service for the most recent tax year.

2-In order to process your application further the joint petitioner/sponsor on form i-864 Affidavit of Support must submit all federal income tax documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service for the most recent tax year.

3-The joint sponsors income on the federal income tax return does not meet or exceed 125% of the poverty guideline. The joint sponsor lists their current income on form i-864 as an amount to be considered as sufficient; however no evidence has been submitted as proof of current income.

In order to process your application further submit evidence of joint sponsors income. Such evidence should include...

Letter of Employment.

Pay Stubs.

OK. So on 1 and 2 I had previously submitted just a one page tax return summary which had their name, Social, and tax paid summary for the most recent year. Thought that was all I needed! Clearly not. So now i have photocopies of all their previous year tax dealings which I will mail in which are very long in my joint sponsors case. Is this right? Did you all mail the one page of a whole slew of pages for the most recent year. Also thanks to the advice about IRS Faxing!!! Never wait for them to mail it to you I was told. And thus I changed it Fri to a fax! They never initially offered that and I should have asked.

But the funny one is point 3 above. It even contradicts itself!? I mean, who is typing these things? I mads an example letter of employment and am going to have his boss sign it. Thing is, he makes well over $100,000 grand a year but no pay stubs as he is a real estate broker. Letter of employment looks like this....

RE: Employment Verification For ___________

Dear Sir or Madam:

This letter is to confirm that _________ is currently employed with ___________ in ____________ and has been since May 2006 on a full time basis as a real estate agent. His salary exceeds $100,000/yr. Mr.____________ current employment is stable and is likely to continue far into the future.

Please feel free to contact us should your office require any additional information.

Sincerely,

His salary changes depending on how many houses he sells. Is this sufficient?

Think this is all these bozos need? Am I missing anything? Did I mess up anything else and am not seeing it? I cant possible handle another RFE!

Thanks ALL SO MUCH!

Hi All.

To sum it up I got a yellow RFE regarding my sponsor and joint sponsor. The three check boxes were...

1-In order to process your application further the petitioner/sponsor on form i-864 Affidavit of Support must submit all federal income tax documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service for the most recent tax year.

2-In order to process your application further the joint petitioner/sponsor on form i-864 Affidavit of Support must submit all federal income tax documents submitted to the Internal Revenue Service for the most recent tax year.

3-The joint sponsors income on the federal income tax return does not meet or exceed 125% of the poverty guideline. The joint sponsor lists their current income on form i-864 as an amount to be considered as sufficient; however no evidence has been submitted as proof of current income.

In order to process your application further submit evidence of joint sponsors income. Such evidence should include...

Letter of Employment.

Pay Stubs.

OK. So on 1 and 2 I had previously submitted just a one page tax return summary which had their name, Social, and tax paid summary for the most recent year. Thought that was all I needed! Clearly not. So now i have photocopies of all their previous year tax dealings which I will mail in. For the most recent year. Thanks to the advice about IRS Faxing!!! Never wait for them to mail I was told. And changed it Fri to fax! They never initially offered that and I should have asked.

But the funny one is 3. It even contradicts itself!? I mean, who is typing these things? Anyway I mads an example letter of employment and am going to have his boss sign it. Thing is, he makes well over $100,000 grand a year but no pay stubs as he is a real estate broker. Letter of employment looks like this....

RE: Employment Verification For Bruce Beni.

Dear Sir or Madam:

This letter is to confirm that _________ is currently employed with ___________ in ____________ and has been since May 2006 on a full time basis as a real estate agent. His salary exceeds $100,000/yr. Mr.____________ current employment is stable and is likely to continue far into the future.

Please feel free to contact us should your office require any additional information.

Sincerely,

Think this is all these bozos need? Am I missing anything. Did I mess up anything else and am not seeing it? Thanks ALL SO MUCH!

DJ Osmo yes you do need that medical. The money can be tough no doubt. Everything can be tough for that matter. I think we all put so much blood, sweat, and tears in getting ourselves to this stage, that any little bump can seem like a mountain.

Smallz, I feel your pain! I just had to practically beg my joint sponsor to again let me get at his tax records for photocopying. Then for my USC wife's tax returns, we had to call the IRS and initially I called and waited on hold for an hour of course when the onyle person they would talk to was my wife, who was at work. Duh.

Then she called later, only to order new tax transcripts which take an extimated 10 days to arrive....yeah right!

So once they do, I can then mail them priority (another $20) with the other joint sponsor documents back into USCIS and hope they carry on with my case processing. So all told, only a little over a month lost, when I am counting minutes to my Army SF age deadline. ;( sniff sniff.

Kind of crazy that with all these wars, troop shortages, and B.S. scare tactics that immigrants are in the US 'stealing' American jobs, HAHA, that they dont expedite this process for those who wish to enlist. (Although they do expedite to citizenship for green card holders who are already serving.) Sorry, dont want to take this thread of track.

But anyway Smallz, I'm feeling your pain. I was initially reading all the RFE posts here before I got my own and just thinking, oh man that must be tough. Now i realize the suckage that is RFE! Or should I say red tape bureaucracy and snail paced government processes.

Looks like a few of us might have to drop out of this thread and join the January Filers!

PS> HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!! For all the troubles, anger, and frustration, I still have a hell of a lot to be thankful for!

Aw, thanks so much I really appreciate it.

Yes I filed out two complete forms for both sponsors. Also included main page passport photocopies.

I think I may have gone wrong where I only filed a photocopy of my joint sponsors return as I thought was all that they required. Additionally I thought only the most recent tax year was required. I guess I will look into getting those additional forms tomorrow but I appreciate your assistance!