S.Fu + T.Fu

Congratulations to everyone with approvals and receiving GC's We went for interview today and was approved!!

That's great~!

Congrats! v^_^

Received my permanent resident card (2 year greencard) today in mail.

It came with a little envelope to protect it (lol! how cute!).

Cheers. <3

Today I went to infopass and got I551 stamped successfully,sunday will be out of country............yeah.......travel freely feels so good B)

恭喜啊~! :]

可以好好放鬆

Hey Guys,

I am having my interview on 31st, but I haven't got any LUD on my i-485, is it normal? Don't they need to look over your case before the interview???

I didn't get any updates on my I-485/I-130 before my interview. It wasn't updated till the night of my interview date. Just prep all that you can. I had my interview on Tues and received my welcome letter/approval for my I-485 and I-130 on Sat morning.

Congrats all!

Time to celebrate XD.

Got both approval letter for I-485 + I-130 today.

G'luck on those with upcoming interviews. Do your best and prepare for the worst. Always a good idea to over prep than having not enough documentation.

Best.

It says on the interview letter that you have to show ID at the door before they will let you in the building for the interview. What kind of ID's did you guys show? I applied for a state ID over 5 weeks ago and it still hasn't arrived yet. My passport is in my old name and not new married name. Does that matter? Would it be ok to show the EAD as that is the most recent form of identification i have?

Kiwiana

When I arrived to the Santa Ana Civic Center the security guards requested the Interview NOA, my Drivers License, and my husband's Drivers License.

I definitely believe the EAD will be a legit form of ID. They wont hold you at the door because you don't have your state ID. :]

Btw, when I went that morning I mistaken a white building Civic Center Tower Plaza with the actual Civic Center Plaza (missing the Tower) and parked there instead [oh well it's public parking, so it's ok : P] and had to run across the street to the actual Federal Building Civic Center Plaza. (LOL!)

Just FYI the actual Civic Center Plaza is a red-brown brick colored building w/ a big blue 34 Federal Building sign in the front of the entrance.

Btw, leave your cell phones in your car, 'cause they'll ask you to run back to your car and leave it there and back to the entrance. [didn't happen to us, but I read somebody's comment about bringing cell phones] save the trouble.

I brought a box of about 10 folders tabbed and a binder with 13 compartments as well as our 200 slot photo album.

The IO was a bit o.O and when we asked if she needed the pay stubs, employer's letter, letters from fam/friends she seemed extremely content with what we provided her and even said, " these... are all for me?!".

Hope this helps!

I agree it is quite a long process to go through.

Honestly, quite a few of us have been able to complete this process within three months [including me, I just got approved this Tuesday].

If you do want to travel, however choose not to apply for AP because of the extra application fee you may travel within the U.S.

tbh, the U.S. is not a bad place to travel, there are still yet many places I'd like to visit.

Learn to adjust to the situation and be positive about what you already have, not what you want to have.

Live in the present, not the past or future.

Good luck.

p.s. just fyi when we had the AOS interview this past Tuesday the IO did not want to talk about anything apart from the interview. When my hub wanted to strike up a convo. w/ her, she glared at him and just went on with the interview. so don't assume everyone is decent and open about what you think. The IOs probably go through many interviewees each day, they don't have time to be wasted.

Hi all,

Our AOS has been approved as of this morning 8:30 A.M, received a congratulations printout letter from the IO.

Process of interview:

8:10 A.M. We arrived at the Civic Center Plaza

8:15 A.M. Our interview officer (Rosalina Samante) called T's name. She brought us to her office and had the interview.

Q's asked to T:

1. Everything on the I-485 form.

2. S's birthday.

3. When did we get married.

4. Were there any witnesses at the wedding.

5. When was the last time I entered the U.S.

6. Have I visited the U.S. many times.

7. Who do you live with.

8. What is your address.

9. What is your phone number.

Q's asked to S:

1. T's birthday.

2. Where does he work.

3. What does he do at work.

Information the IO collected:

1. Joint savings and bank account.

2. Utility bills: some were under T's name and some were under S's name w/ the same address.

3. Joint cell phone account.

4. Joint auto insurance.

5. 5 Photographs of S and T w/ family.

6. Joint apartment lease.

7. Joint medical insurance.

8. Itinerary with both our names.

9. E-mail from S's parents.

10. New/updated copy of the I-693.

11. Photocopied both our DL and T's I-20.

12. T's I-94.

8:30 A.M. Done.

The IO was quick, professional, and all business throughout the whole process. Overall experience was quick and to the point, time weren't wasted.

Congrats to those who got their AOS approved and those receiving their GC. :]

Best of luck and wishes to those who will have their interview. :]

<3

t.fu + s.fu

congrats everyone w/ their approvals! now you can fully enjoy the summa! ;]

Cheers!

congrats! that's great news ** cheers **

best of luck to the rest of us who are going to have our interviews! :]

cheers!

哈哈。。。你们两位好 B)

希望大家都顺顺利利地搞定。。。。

被此被此~

加油啊!

Hey May filers!

I have received my Interview Letter today for August 31th.

No EAD yet...though..=)

看吧~

慢慢等有好結果的 ;]

加油!

-T.Fu

Interesting how you mentioned that the interview notification didn't tell you what to bring however on my interview letter they gave specific examples of things to bring:

"YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH YOU:

*** Supporting evidence of your relationship, such as copies of any documentation regarding joint assets or liabilities you and your spouse may have together. This may include: tax returns, bank statements, insurance documents (car,life,health), property documents (car, house, etc), rental agreements, utility bills, credit cards, contracts, leases, photos, correspondence and/or any other documents you feel may substantiate your relationship. "

You might have over looked that section on your interview notification sent. It was definitely on it. The IO was doing her job, you were unprepared and assumed.

Congrats to everyone getting their interview dates.

I still have no update. I have not heard anything about my EAD and don't think I will be hearing anything anytime soon. I think I mentioned on here that I called the USCIS hotline about 2 weeks ago and was told to call back in 1-2 weeks. I called them back today and was told I had to call back in another two weeks. Why? I don't know. I questioned him a little but he started reading off a piece of paper so i told him how UNHELPFUL that was and asked if there was anything he could do to actually help me instead of repeating things that I have been told over and over of course he couldn't. So I have no idea what is going on with my case. I have not received even a touch within the past month and a half. Money is getting even tighter and at this rate the best thing is for me to go home. As of right now we will give it to August at the latest and then I will look into getting a ticket home.

I was going to make an infopass appointment however, from what I have read that won't do me any good. Can anyone tell me whether it may or may not help?

Aloe:

Did they send you an e-mail notice or any notification that they have received your RFEs? Because if they haven't send you any receipt for your RFEs does it also mean that your case hasn't resumed or they have lost your RFEs in mail? Just out of curiosity. I think you should still try scheduling an infopass. Wouldn't hurt to try. Go all out on it and see what you can do to hear where you stand in your case. I do believe this is getting out of hand that they haven't updated or done any progress on your case.

Best,

T.Fu

Two updates for me!!

I got my interview letter today!!!!

August 20th!! I think by the look of the spreadsheet I share the date with some other people!

I also got a new job!! Whoot! But I won't be starting for another 2 weeks. I hope I have enough time to build up some

more stuff to bring with us for the interview!!!

I'm also kinda annoyed that I can't bring a lease with me because the current one doesn't expire until end of september

and they won't write anything up until then. I'm sure that'll be okay though.

Congrats everyone who got interviews!! Everyone else -I'm sure you'll get letters soon!!

Double congrats!

(-o^,^)-o

For all you who have your interview letters, did they come in the mail or if you have signed up for email updates do you get an email first? Just wondering what I should be obsessively checking. I have been looking on uscis.gov for touches, but that doesn't seem to be the way!

Rexalite:

I received my interview letter via mail. Didn't get any e-mail updates [i was checking it daily just like you did... then I stopped 'cause I felt like I had OCD or smth lol!] After reading a couple posts, many seem to say that the USCIS online system isn't the most updated way to check where you stand in the process. Even after I received my interview letter nothing has been changed/touched/updated on my I-130 and I-485 case study through USCIS.

Hope this clears your question about the interview letter.

Cheers,

T.Fu

Congra!!! where is my interview letter????

耐心的慢慢等-別著急

你會收到的

Best,

T.fu

For those of you getting a DL......did you have to retake a driving test? or did you just take your issued DL from your home country to the DMV?

You might still have to retake a test. Even after getting my first license in Mass. I had to retake my written test here in Cali when I moved here. I think whenever you move to a new state and want to change your drivers license you'll need to take their driven test since regulation for every state is different.

My situation with the DMV is a bit different since I had to renew it not apply for a brand new one so they had a bit of a trouble w/ the documentation since I applied w/ a F-1 for my first license and renewed with the EAD card.

Either way g'luck on it.

Best,

T.Fu

Anyone else having trouble getting a DL?? On the Arkansas DMV website it says you need photo ID from the Dept of Homeland Security, so I thought I was golden with my EAD but the guy at the wicket told me that I needed a green card. Anyone have any luck talking their way into a DL? My Canadian DL is about to expire - I need ideas on how to appeal this!

I had some trouble with the DMV here in SoCal. I had to go to the DMV 4 times in a month -0- ####### ? lol

I had to renew my license [ not sure if it's the same case as applying for a new one] and had some trouble because like you've mentioned they needed an official government issued ID.

The CA DMV requires the EAD card as a form of ID. I actually received a notice saying they are unable to validate the ID and I had to contact the main office in Sacramento, CA in order to fix the problem. [i had to spam the number at least 5 times before reaching a person lol! was fun ]

Apparently the main DMV office said I was alright and it should have went through so I had to photocopy my EAD card double/tripple in size so it pretty much filled the whole page and fax it over to the DMV office.

The number I contacted was provided on the notice unable to validated documentation so I'm not sure if there's a number you can contact directly not a 1800 number.

I hope this helps.

Best,

T.Fu

S.FU + T.FU: Do we have to bring copies of birth certificates and passports? And if so, do those copies have to be notarized?

B&J

Regarding the birth certificates and passports I'm just going to have photocopies, not the original copies. The photocopy is for the IO to keep and I will also bring the original along if he wants to take a look at the original.

I'll have to try to dig up e-mails of our itineraries way back in 07 o.O hopefully I'll be able to find it. We do have visas to Japan w/ the same dates so we'll see .

Best,

T.Fu

I am getting kind of anxious about that interview. We don't have that much to bring as proofs. I am not on the lease. The only thing we would have so far are our wedding pictures and a joined bank account. Well, and my ID shows the same address as my husbands. What else could we bring?

Hi B&J,

Here's the list of things that I will be bringing to the interview which I have compiled thus far:

For Us:

1. Apartment lease contract since 2007 with both our names on the contracts.

2. Medical/health insurance as my husband as the subscriber and me as the spouse. Both our insurance cards.

3. Home utilities with some utilities under his name and some other my name with the same address. Also online authorizations showing that he/I is the authorized user.

4. Cell phone account with my husband in my family plan.

5. Joint checking account

6. Joint savings account

7. Joint credit card account with statements showing our names in detail.

8. Letters from family addressing both our names on it since 2004.

9. Two copies of my husband's birth certificate & passport

10. Two copies of my birth certificate, passport, I-20 + F-1 student Visa [My legal entry into the U.S.],

11. Photographs of the two of us and with friends and family members dating back to 2002 [so far 100+ photos].

12. Copies of my husband and my SSN card. [just to have in case they request]

13. Our marriage certificate

14. Unofficial transcripts from the boarding high school; where we met. As a proof that we both went to the same school, and that was how we met.

To be worked on:

1. Joint auto insurance--> having some trouble with DMV.

2. Another letter/statement from my husband's current employer verifying that he is currently working at the company in this position for X amount of pay, on ave. X amount of hours. Two months of pay stubs. Since my interview is in Aug. We'll be printing out June 2009, and July 2009.

3. Affidavit from our friends knowing about this marriage and about our relationship since the day they have known us.

4. Any updated application forms that we needed to update will be reprinted. [Made a few typos that we didn't realize till recent]

5. Hopefully once I receive my renewed license [which might take till august] will be an evidence that we both live in the same address.

Hope this helps. Pretty much include anything that has both your names on it. The more the merrier.

Best,

T.Fu

Happy 7/4.

Grats everyone for their EADs, APs, and interview notifications! :]

Best of luck to everyone of us and be positive.

Cheers,

T.Fu

Thanks Levnd & Bellavita.

Here's the list of things that I will be bringing to the interview which I have compiled thus far:

For Us:

1. Apartment least contract since 2007 with both our names on the contracts.

2. Medical/health insurance as my husband as the subscriber and me as the spouse.

3. Home utilities with some utilities under his name and some other my name with the same address. Also online authorizations showing that he/I is the authorized user.

4. Cell phone account with my husband in my family plan.

5. Joint checking account

6. Joint savings account

7. Joint credit card account with statements showing our names in detail.

8. Letters from family addressing both our names on it since 2004.

9. Two copies of my husband's birth certificate & passport

10. Two copies of my birth certificate, passport, I-20 + F-1 student Visa [My legal entry into the U.S.],

11. Photographs of the two of us and with friends and family members dating back to 2002 [so far 100+ photos].

12. Copies of my husband and my SSN card. [just to have in case they request]

13. Our marriage certificate

To be worked on:

1. Joint auto insurance--> having some trouble with DMV.

2. Another letter/statement from my husband's current employer verifying that he is currently working at the company in this position for X amount of pay, on ave. X amount of hours. Two months of pay stubs. Since my interview is in Aug. We'll be printing out June 2009, and July 2009.

3. Affidavit from our friends knowing about this marriage and about our relationship since the day they have known us.

4. Any updated application forms that we needed to update will be reprinted. [Made a few typos that we didn't realize till recent]

5. Hopefully once I receive my renewed license [which might take till august] will be an evidence that we both live in the same address.

Let me know if there's anything I am missing. I am using vanilla like folders and tabbed all of them with color coding with the right category in a box. Also, I am using a 13 divider folder to organize the applications [copies] as well as our birth certificates, approval notices, passports, other important documentations.

This is a list that other people can consider compiling together.

Best,

T.Fu

Wow,just came in and so many exciting news,it's amazing!!!congraturation on the EAD/AP and interview appointments. B)

and T.Fu, when is your appoitment ,could you please share?

Hey BellaVita,

My Appointment is on Aug 18.2009 @ 8:20 AM in Civic Center Plaza at Santa Ana.

I updated my time on the spread sheet. :]

I'll update you all on the list of things that will accompany the interview.

Best,

T.Fu

Got my interview NOA in mail today.

What do you know, got it on the day of my birthday.

A bit nervous at the same time happy [?] It's a bittersweet feeling.

Anyways, time to really get the game face on and get my docs and act together.

Best,

T.Fu