bslsailor

Bust signal = phone lines tied up.. try calling back numerous times until you get through.. different times of the day and remember they are there late at night...

The reason could be that they are most likely in an area covered by a couple of feet of snow??

the Mid-Atlantic area has been paralyzed by Snowagedon.

No need for details -

We just put - to visit family and planning cruise in the box.

We applied for AP just in case it was needed before the GC.

I haven't heard of anyone being turned down.

John & Nilma

Thank-you, and do I need to attach the separate sheet explaining that I am obtaining AP for emergency use? I put that in section 4 already but noticed they requested an attachment with further explanation and why I qualify.

Hi -

Sorry hearing about the stolen purse ;(

Don't recall they I-94 being required for the AOS interview.

The I-94 will not be needed any longer after AOS -

Hopefully she applied for AP if she needs to travel before she gets her GC.

John

My wife entered on a K1 visa, we were married within the 90 days, then we filed for AOS shortly after we received our marriage certificate.

A couple of weeks ago my wife's purse was stolen with her passport and I-94 in it. We submitted a police report and purchased a replacement passport from the Brazilian consulate.

My question is, do I need to get her a new I-94? I believe the old one is expired anyway, same goes for her visa, since it was only good for the original 90 days.

She has her biometrics appointment later this week, and it says all she needs is valid identification. Will she need the I-94 for our AOS interview?

Thanks!

Congratulations!

John & Nilma

Do you have IRS tax records going back at least three years ?

Hey bsailor,

And why $64? I didn't remember having to pay that fee...

An American Slang Expression

There was a famous and popular TV Game show years ago, The 64,000 Question

The show started with a simple question that awarded the contestant one dollar.

Each correct answer doubled the prize, ending with a with the $64,000 question

In the end it was discovered the show was rigged and the most poplar show at the time was

taken off the air.

I think 2 or 3 years ago an entertaining movie was made about it. You can also Google it.

The phrase "The 64 Dollar Question" became slang for a particularly difficult question or problem.

Updating ...... and a new question .....

Got the Apostille back from the Mississippi Secretary of State office -

Its a very cool looking document with a huge gold seal..

Have an appointment with the Atlanta consulate Late October, however they have thrown

in a new demand...err requirement of obtaining a new Brazilian Birth Certificated to be dated

within 6 months..... which we are now working on.

and yes, I'm saving all my emails to bring along, however somehow don't think they would impress anyone

there if there is a contradiction

There's the 64 Dollar Question -

What's the advantage of going thru all of this???

I have a American friend in Brazil telling me there is no advantage to me, only possible drawbacks-

anyone, anyone Bueller?

Nothing wrong with that - it's a great way to get out there into society and learn a lot... that's worth something..

Agreed, Shes ready to get out of the house and do something.

The interaction will help perfect her English.

The area we live in there are literally only two types of jobs available (if you can get one)

minimum wage or rocket scientist at nearby Stennis Space Center.

I'm third generation Polish, my grandparents also started in the US around 1910.

Thanks for the replies -

I was kinda thinking along the lines that the EAD wouldn't be needed after GC

Appreciate you guys confirming this.

We've started filling out applications for her first minimum wage starter jobs!

Hi -

My spouse was just approved for EAD (not received yet)

however I have been reading that it must be renewed yearly with a $300 some dollar fee.

Is the fee still applicable after she gets her 2 year GC?

How's that work?

We are fortunate that our AOS file has been sent to CSC and

hopefully she will be approved in a couple of months.

Thanks, John & Nilma

Already sent it in. went with the Apostille request....

I'll update in a couple of weeks

Got an answer back from the Atlanta Consulate (sort of)

After a short explanation that there is no procedure to Certify by County Clerk in Mississippi

I asked -

"Will you accept a Apostille or Authentication issued by the Mississippi Secretary of State Office?"

There complete email answer -

"yes"

SOooo, I'll take it as they prefer an Apostille and it's off to the Mississippi Secretary of State

with my $2.00 check in the mail.

Yes, we have a number Certified Marriage Certificates, knowing they would be needed.

I wouldn't expect the local County Clerk to be knowledgeable about Brazilian documentation

however I would think the Brazilian Consulate would know about the State in their jurisdiction.

I'll update the situation when I get a response from the Atlanta Consulate, they have been

taking a couple of days to respond to past emails.

John

Thanks, Mark -

that's what I ran across when started researching Mississippi Notaries.

The local county Clerk didn't know about about MS Dept. State Certifications, only she couldn't do it.

NYCBRA -

Brazilian Consulates have jurisdictions - God forbid you go to another one !

http://www.brazilhouston.org/ingles/jurisdic.htm

I used to fall under Miami, however since the new Consulate opened in Atlanta, I must go there.

If I lived just 13 miles West of my location I would be under Louisiana's jurisdiction and go to the Houston Consulate.

I think I just figured out the problem -

I checked the Mississippi Dept. of State Website -

The State of Mississippi has no procedure that will allow Notary Certification by county.

All Certifications are done by the Mississippi Secretary of State Office.

They will issue an Apostille or Authentication for $2.00 by mail.

this form is expressly issued for a foreign country.

I just emailed the Consulate to see if they will accept. Haven't quite figured out

the difference between an Apostille or Authentication yet, but I'm feeling a lot less frustrated now.

John

Just returned from another trip to my Country Courthouse -

The Country Clerk is still refusing to Certify my Notary stamp, stating there is

no procedure in Mississippi for that.

Hopefully someone from the New Orleans or Atlanta area is reading this and had successfully done it there.

New Orleans is 50 miles away or I would stop by somewhere in Atlanta before going to

the Brazilian Consulate.

Good luck, and let us know if they accepted it. In the worst case, you go to NY for a getaway weekend and do everything at the Consulate there :-)

No such Luck - If I could I would visit the Miami Consulate as I lived in South Florida for 20 years

and go back there from time to time.

Mississippi has been transferred to the jurisdiction of Atlanta, so I must go there.

John

NYCBRA-

Thanks for the clarification about the County Clerk certifying the Notary stamp, not the number of

Brazilians I married!

I'll go back to my County Clerk and ask for she certify the stamp.

Wish the form was more explicit and it would have been helpful if the Consulate had

explained that after I explained my difficulty with them!

John

Congratulations!

Another milestone in your Journey

John & Nilma

Thanks, JoeyJoye -

Mississippi used to fall under the jurisdiction of Miami.

We now "belong" to Atlanta, which opened about 2 months ago.

Appreciate your experiences with the other Consulates around the USA -

So you didn't get any certification other than the notary stamp?

I'm asking before I fire off another email to the Atlanta Consulate, trying to keep this from escalating

into a Pi$$ing contest which I'm sure to lose

If anyone has gotten a County Clerk Certification did they just "Certify" the notary?

Yes -

That's the form I have.

I've emailed the Atlanta Consulate explaining the County Clerk is refusing to certify it.

They are responding that they will not accept it without Certification, suggesting

that I find another Notary and someone else to Certify it.

I have several notaries in down, however there is only one County Clerk in my small County.

Hi -

Trying to register our marriage with my the Brazilan Consulate in Atlanta.

(I'm the USC, Wife is Brazilian)

We have 180 days to register, however they are asking for a Declaração de não casado

The form states -

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

I, (Name) holder of U.S. Passport No. ###########

hereby declare that I have not been married to a Brazilian citizen before

my present marriage to (Name of Brazilian Citizen)

City and Date

Signature

THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE NOTARIZED BY A NOTARY PUBLIC AND CERTIFIED BY THE COUNTY CLERK.

No problem getting a Notary Stamp, however my County Clerk (we only have one)

is refusing to Certify it. Understandably so, how would she know how many Brazilians I've married!

Has anyone run up against this, any as the Atlanta Consulate is suggesting I find

another County Clerk. Who in their right mind would Certify this??

Thanks, John

Unless you have your GC or AP, the only cruise you can think about would be going down the Mississippi River.

Even a Cruise between the West Coast and Hawaii can be diverted.

Sorry, everyone must clear I Immigration and Customs if you ship visits a port in another Country.

There is no way to separate people who stay on the ship. Otherwise someone who gets off the

ship can give something illegal to someone who stays on the ship.

Best to wait for your AP or plan something in the USA for now.

Best of luck, John

He doesn't have to list personal clothing, items, books, etc.

If he has new gifts he should declare them.

Good luck on your starting your life together!

I've been talking to Jean at Dr. L.E. Arnold's office in Austin, Texas.

They will fill out the I-693 form for $30.00.

If you do a forum search Dr. L.E. Arnold's name come up quite a lot and people seem to be ecstatic

about their help.

There phone number is 512-444-3131 and she will return your call, unfortunately she will be on vacation

for the next two weeks.

Hope this helps if you can wait.

John