Julie Ivy

hey, thanks for that, I did exactly that with the wage he now gets. right 1 more question, i dont have a ds3205, from my medical, i do have a copy of my vaccinations from my g.p in london. I would prefer to wait to go and see a civil surgeon because of the cost and because it looks like most of them here want to give you the frigging vaccines even if you have already had them, and I have.. Should i just wait for the rfe? also should i really do the separate apps as you did, how much quicker is the EAD dealt with as a result?

thanks nic

About the 3 separate applications---that's what they are. You are applying for AOS (green card), EAD (work permit), and AP (travel). They are processed at different places, so you complete each as a stand alone application as they will go their separate ways once received. Are you asking if you need to do EAD and AP? Sure, it's free with the AOS filing and just a couple of extra photocopies and photos. You could get authorized to work sooner than waiting for the GC. And the travel document is a "just in case" thing. What if somebody got sick or died suddenly. You would be stuck in the USA waiting on a green card. The AP comes in 60 days, many sooner.

DS3025-- If you have had every (age appropriate) shot and booster needed for AOS recorded on a DS3025, then it's good for filing AOS. But if you got boosters later or shots in the US, then the DS3025 isn't a complete up to date record. That's when you need a civil surgeon to look at your various proofs (DS3025, GP in London, maybe health dept in the US or a US doctor). The civil surgeon will put all your records on one form (I693) and seal it for submitting with AOS.

I know a few people have expressed their thanks to you before on this forum but I just wanted to say...wow...you really do have a wonderful nack for expressing what can appear to be a very daunting and complicated process in a very simple and understandable way. I hope you are on the road to recovery.

Happy halloween everybody. I am dressing up as john lennon and wifey is yoko ono. should be fun

Chris

Nice middle name Magpie!!

Our GC was ordered today which is good news.

Been busy lately as I have started work. Started working back at the bank I used to work for in NYC.

Tough waking up in the morning but nice to get back into a routine.

Good Luck to everyone

Congrats to AP and EAD approvals/send-offs.

Apparently my AOS case has been transferred to CSC - but we only got the NOA1 about 3 weeks ago! Is that normal? We haven't even had biometrics yet...

Sounds normal to me, my case went to CSC 3 weeks after the NOA.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend - I'm struggling a little after too much whisky last night at a card game and Julie wants to go walk round a corn maze, BUT...My EAD card came in the post today so that has perked me up a bit.

Congrats on the approvals, I wish we did a walk in Biometrics whilst we were in Grand Rapids last weekend! Oh well I'll just have to be patient.

On a cheerier note, my hubby & I have decided to stay down in Florida after Christmas to escape the cold, cold winter. Apparently last year was one of the coldest & it snowed for 6 months! eeek! (we're in the Upper Peninsula, Mi)

My parents visited the upper peninsula on their last visit to the States - showed me some photos and it looked incredible - quite different from where we are in bergen county NJ!! They even went to Mackinack Island where I see you gtot married! Enjoy the sunshine in Florida

I guess they update the cases to (card production ) that's first

then they update the case to mailed approval when they mail it ,

right?

Correct - Card production means `exactly that and once you receive the approval/sent email it means it is in the mail. I understand that typically the card arrives 7-10 days after card production notice and 2-3 days after approval/sent email/ Bear in mind that sometimes multiple notices / emails are posted and some people get no updates / emails at all. It is far from an exact science but rough estimates are possible based on others experiences.

Hi guys quick update on our case - AP arrived in the post today (was approved on Oct 1st). Hoping EAD card is quick on its heels. Got a second card production email dated the 6th, I understand it is quite common for this to happen. Nich I hope you feel better soon. Good Luck to everyone waiting, thanks for all the updates to the spreadsheet Ellie

hi im just confuse has anyone here receive twice email from uscis because i did with my ead....

Application Type: I765 , APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On September 30, 2009, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

Application Type: I765 , APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On October 5, 2009, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

I received 2 emails regarding approval of the EAD as well. Also, like yours, I received the first one on 9/30 and the second on 10/5. No EAD in the mail yet. I think a couple others on the other AOS thread reported the same thing.

Exact same situation here - case status indicated card production on the 1st of October and then today an email saying card production was ordered on the 6th of Oct. This happens in many cases, no idea why but I believe we can expect an approval/sent email in the next few days and the EAD card hopefully within the next week. Never thought I would actually look forward to getting back to work

That's awesome, Magpie. I've just got my degree in psychology and would love to do something like that. Go you.

Congrats on the EAD, guys... what work are you gonna look for, Ellie?

I have NO idea Gemmie. I certainly dont want to go back to doing what I did before. It was a very lonely job, I worked from home and then any contact I did have with people in my company was very tense because I was contracted to go around auditing projects and then writing tell-tale reports on what they were doing right and wrong, whether they were complying with their contracts, how much money they were losing through incorrect interpretation of the rules and recommending they change their processes. I was not popular! David earns enough for me to go part-time somewhere for a while.....I'm thinking LUSH

I just bet I end up doing quality assurance and guideline application again....that always happens to me. I think I'd like to go into leasing though. It's huge here.....and I love contract law. (<<<<Freak)

I'm just so excited about the EAD! I didn't expect for it to even be approved for at least a couple of weeks.

Congratulations Ellie and David and Jim and Christy. We had good news too! Our EAD case hadn't been appearing online but I thought I'd check it again just in case having seen the approvals and this time it DID work and said they ordered production of the card on Oct 1st I was laughing with Julie cos this means no more lie ins for me, the firm I interviewed with a few weeks ago told me to let them know when I have authorization so I am going to wait till I actually have the card and cross my fingers that the job is still there. I'm the same as you Ellie, wasn't expecting approval for a couple of weeks

Hi Guys, I have received NOAs for AOS/EAD/AP. I completed my biometrics last Saturday (the notice had both I485 and I765 application numbers). When I go on the new website I can only view the case for GC, when I type in the number for the EAD it says this is not a valid case number . Should I be worried and call up or should I just expect the EAD to arrive in the post? Thankyou

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: MIAOW

Application Type: I765 , APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On September 25, 2009, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Check My Case Status and Check Processing Times.

*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.

Sincerely,

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Na-na, now I'll get a jooob...that Offspring song's gonna be stuck in my head all day, now. I'm gonna start looking for joooooooooooooooooooooobs!

Magpie.

Great news Magpie, what kind of work are you going to be looking for?

Hi guys,

I had biometrics done in New Jersey on Saturday so that's done. Good to tick it off. Just checked case status on the new website and our case was transferred to CSC on the 22nd of September which I guess is good news. The only slightly weird thing is that my I485 case comes up on line as being in "initial review" which makes sense but the I765 can not be found in My Case Status. Hoping the EAD will just arrive in the Post no worries. Have a good week everyone

ok so i posted off my AOS package on 5th sept.. and havent heard anything yet.. how long does it take to get NOA1?

miss g, we sent ours on the 3rd and just got the NOAs today so yours should be coming!

on a side note, although we recieved our NOAs, the cases are not showing up online..thoughts?

We have our NOAs and the case does not appear online either. Apparently it's quite common - sometimes the case will appear after approval.

I found the "why you should get that wording of your SSN card" thread - interesting reading. Suffice to say, you really should do it.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...206589&st=0

Entertaining Thread!!

Julie Ivy---

Did a quick look and found some links for you on the DL.

NJ official site's page on non-citizens:

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/LicensesNon-Citizens.htm

NJ has a nice interactive tool for figuring out what documents will work for id.

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Licenses/Docume...ector/index.htm

And some VJ threads from the Your New Life in America section with NJ info in them

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=191950

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=195741

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=199123

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=190012

Social Security number: Yes, use the old number. It's yours for life. Get the restriction wording removed after getting the GC just so you have a nice clean card I guess. You could change to your married name too. Actually Americans don't show their SS card much except maybe at the driver's license place for their first license. Many forms, banks, credit card companies, tax returns ask for you number but you just tell them without physically showing a card. I bet half of America doesn't even know where their card is. Memorize the number and put the card away, then forget where it is in 10 years like the rest of Americans.

Also a tip to the new immigrants....don't give out that SSN except for authorized reasons. It's the key to your whole US identity, so protect yourself from identity theft by not carrying the card and not giving out the number to phishing schemes.

Thanks a lot - I will definitely get that restriction wording removed. have a great weekend everyone

Hey guys - 2 quick questions:

1. Anyone had any recent experience of applying for Driving License in New Jersey?? I am looking to get an examination permit and sit the written test as I only have a provisional license from the UK. Do I have to wait for my EAD? I have read conflicting messages, I called up the MVC and they said I was fine but i'm not so sure and don't want a watsed trip to the test centre in Wayne NJ. sorry if I missed the answer somewhere.

There's a load of these DL question threads over on the "New Life In America Fourm." You can start off here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=193408

2. I lived in the US previously in 2006 for a year on a J1 Visa, I was working as an Intern, paying taxes etc and was issued a Social Security Card. On this card it says "valid for work only with DHS authorization". My understanding is that my SSN does NOT change and I do not have to apply for a new card.

Right that the number doesn't change, wrong that you don't have to apply for a new card. The card you have will be just fine until you are approved, and have received your green card. One you have the GC in hand, you apply for a new SSN card, minus the restriction text. Funniliy enough, I've just completed that process myself, and received the card in the mail yesterday.

Make sure you do this - I've read of more than one VJer that didn't, and has run into issues down the line.

Cheers Damian - presumably the number will stay the same - and I will still be able to work once I have the EAD using my original Social Security card, but for the long term i need a new card that will not show this restriction?

Hey guys - 2 quick questions:

1. Anyone had any recent experience of applying for Driving License in New Jersey?? I am looking to get an examination permit and sit the written test as I only have a provisional license from the UK. Do I have to wait for my EAD? I have read conflicting messages, I called up the MVC and they said I was fine but i'm not so sure and don't want a watsed trip to the test centre in Wayne NJ. sorry if I missed the answer somewhere.

2. I lived in the US previously in 2006 for a year on a J1 Visa, I was working as an Intern, paying taxes etc and was issued a Social Security Card. On this card it says "valid for work only with DHS authorization". My understanding is that my SSN does NOT change and I do not have to apply for a new card.

Thanks so much

Hi guys, We have a BIO Appointment for the 26th September in Newark

Hi all, not a long post, just asking to be added to the UK AOS spreadsheet please We had a wonderful outdoor wedding in North VA yesterday and are now thoroughly looking forward to married life. Oh, and more dealings with USCIS of course

Sent AOS+EAD+AP off today. For the notes I did HPV in the US and used Dr Arnold for I-693

Cheers all, good to see how people's timelines have be moving along on this next part of the journey and hope ours goes as smoothly. Lots of luck to us all!

Jacqui

Hey Jacqui!

Congrats on the wedding. Glad you had a lovely day....welcome to married life! ....and more USCIS dealings of course. :-)

Our cheque (I am NOT giving up the brit spelling of this!!!) was cashed today...so here we go again! eeeeeeeeek...

Yep cheque cashed for us too and 3 NOAs received in post today with a notice date of 27th August.

Do you want us to update the spreadsheet or is that all taken care of??

Im sure you guys will find this amusing but I actually have an interview for an immigration law firm this week!!! I figured I have some personal experience!! I am really hopeful that the EAD will come through in around 4 weeks, anyone had any experience recently in the New Jersey area?

Cheers

Chris

Hello fellow UK Vj'ers! Sorry we've not been on for the past two months, we've had an extremely busy time in organising our lives together! Our paperwork for AOS will be sent off either on Monday or Tuesday this week because we are still waiting for an additional document to come through the mail. This is like the K1 visa process all over again lol! Also a great big thank you to Nich-Nick for the detailed list on page 6 of this thread, it made the paperwork process much easier.

Can't wait to start working, boredom kicks in now and then, especially when the wife is in work. Unfortunately state law does not allow me to start driving until I have proof that I'm eligible to stay in the country for at least 160 days. The EAD can't come soon enough! For AOS we are not submitting the I-693 since I received all of my necessary shots when I was back in the UK. Fingers crossed the USCIS doesn't lose my medical record from Knightsbridge.

Good Luck Jim and Christy, and I would like to second the thank you to nich-nik for her summary of the AOS package.

I've updated the UK AOS Timeline with Shaz, Ellie, and Julie.

Question to Julie and Ellie: Did you use a Civil Surgeon or send the DS3025 from Knightsbridge? Anything for the notes column like Dr. Arnold or got HPV in the US like I put on some people.

Shaz--are you going to try to do a walk-in biometric appt to speed things up?

I just sent through the DS3025 from Knightsbridge, so no notes for us. I got all vaccinations updated at knightsbridge.

Cheers,

Chris (and Julie!)

Hi Guys,

Count us as official participants of the UK AOS club, the package is leaving tomorrow!

Official date of sending 08/21/2009. Eeek. Here we go....AGAIN.

Hi Ellie and David,

Just had a trip to staples and will be sending our package off tomorrow too. Good Luck - I guess we can compare timelines (-;

Chris and Julie

if I have an interview for a visa on a Friday, if I am granted it when can I expect the passport back? I would want to fly back to Cyprus as soon as I can after it as my husband is there and then we will fly back to UK and sort out our stuff and fly on to US.

I had my interview last Thursday and the visa was delivered this morning (Tuesday). I got the text the day before confirming next day delivery. At the embassy they told me up to 5 working days. I waited until I got the text message before I booked my flight to be on the safe side. I live in St Andrews, Scotland and that was 3 working days so that's not bad I guess. Good Luck

Visa was couriered out this morning, POE at Newark on Friday!!! Waiting almost over Good Luck to all other February filers

Interview is in 3 days and I'm getting so nervous!! I head to London tomorrow night!

Its natural to be nervous but if you have all paperwork in order you really will be just fine. Had my interview last thursday and it was all good, visa arrived by courier this morning flight booked for POE at Newark on Friday. The waiting is almost over!!

Congrats to all who have been approved this week!

Good Luck for tomorrow Julie Ivy!

Hi guys, we are approved!!! And very very happy and relieved. Had the nice young american guy and it really did feel more like a chat than anything, he asked some basic questions then said everything was in order and congratulations. Am exhausted having missed my flight back to edinburgh and having to get a later one (shouldnt have had that 2nd beer!) but just happy to be sorted and hoping to have visa in hand and fly out to newark next friday. thanks for everyones words of wisdom. chris and julie