CanadaLove

Why not just make a week's vacation out of it and do the medical and interview in the same trip? That's what the hubby and I are planning, since trying to get him from Edmonton to Montreal (or Toronto) twice is going to be way too insanely expensive.

You may not be physically yelling, but in the online forum world, typing in all caps is seen as if you were yelling.

OP, the visa you applied for is the K3. It used to be faster than the *R-1, but that's no longer the case. Now, usually what happens is the I130 is pulled from the queue and tied with the I-129f. Both get sent together to the NVC which closes the K3 path and leaves the *R-1 path open.
Now, I'm not sure where you got this K3 gets to work faster idea from. K3, like K1 has to adjust status once you arrive in the States. That's more money and leaves you kicking around for about 4 months while your paperwork processes. The CR-1 will give you a 2-year green card when you enter the country, which means you can work once you get your social security number in approximately a month.

We (petitioners/beneficiaries) all are held to the same standards. Seems fair doesn't it?

They set themselves up for this when they entered the US illegally. The pitiable situation they find themselves in now would not have happened if they hadn't broken the law to begin with. I do have sympathy for their children, but their situation is not the fault of the Alabama government or it's new law. They took the risk that something like this could happen when they entered illegally, and when they chose to have children in the United States. They presumed it wouldn't happen because the federal government has a record of selective law enforcement. The Alabama law mirrors federal law, with the additional caveat that it requires Alabama law enforcement officers to enforce the law. I'm a little disgusted with the media for trotting these people out with their sob stories and completely glossing over the fact that they got themselves into this mess voluntarily.
"I can't stop working. My daughters need shoes and other things."
She shouldn't be working in the US to begin with, and her employer is breaking the law by providing her with a job. What's next? "We're doing the work that Americans won't do!" What they really mean is that they're willing to work for slave wages because they don't have legal status, and there's no shortage of employers in the US who are more than happy to exploit them. If they had green cards then they too would be demanding minimum wage jobs. The ones who use fake ID's and Social Security numbers and lie on an I-9 form are even worse because they actually ARE taking a job that a US citizen or permanent resident would be happy to take.
I know a farmer who grows strawberries near the Northern California coast. He only sells his fruit through roadside stands and local farmer's markets. Because he doesn't have to pay distributors he gets to keep all the profit, so he can afford to pay minimum wage to strawberry pickers. He insists on proof of lawful presence for everyone who shows up for work, and he turns people away every day because he's got more than enough workers by the time the shift starts. Every day he says someone will show up and offer to work for half as much if he'll overlook their legal status. He just laughs and tells them to go find a farmer who is willing to break the law because he's not. Other farmers who sell their produce to distributors are forced to hire illegals because their competitors are hiring them, and the net result is artificially deflated prices.
This is the same reason that unemployment is so high in the US. We can't compete with Chinese labor costs, and we don't charge tariffs to offset the difference. Nobody can afford to produce anything in the US because their competitors will always be able to undercut their retail prices because they're getting their products made in China. Free trade is the reason the middle class are disappearing in America. It's not the greed on Wall Street.
Frankly, I think every state should enact laws similar to Alabama's. Eventually, there would be far fewer people in this situation because they'd simply stop coming if they know the chances of getting away with it were slim. Someone's willingness to break the law is directly proportional to their perceived chances of getting caught.

If you checked the box asking for your SSN at the POE, then wait about 3 weeks for it to come in the mail. If you don't see it in that time, then get to your local SSN office and apply there.
As for drivers license, it varies by state. Look at your state's DMV and that should answer your questions about whether you have to take written/driving tests or if you can just exchange it.

No they won't. Married over two years gets them an IR-1 visa, which means the petitioner gets the 10-year green card without conditions. K3 is a different visa path.

No they won't. Married over two years gets them an IR-1 visa, which means the petitioner gets the 10-year green card without conditions. K3 is a different visa path.

NavyK, you have been very helpful on the forums and I (and I'm sure everyone else here) appreciate your insights and quick replies to issues and problems that others face. But I must say I disagree completely that the OP should not report the mistake to NVC. Unlike your case, OP's case has barely begun at NVC so there is no issue about reopening or delaying the case.
Someone in Turkey in the IR5 preference category has been waiting years for their priority date to become current and you really want the OP to just pretend they didn't see the email? Seriously?
Anyone with a conscience would report it.

all,
I know people can get out of shape, with the whole "im American #######" and I know the OP didn't mean to insult anyone. as most know as in a recent post, America was built by immigration, unless you were part of that original tribe (can't think of the name for the life of me) then somewhere down the line in your family, was an immigrant.
I am a little sensitive with that subject, as myself, a green card holder, and here legally, and working and paying taxes, I had a run in with one of those arrogant Americans who think that "he deserves something" for being American, being a Canadian, living in the south, I have a bit ob an accent, and get "where are you from " daily, well i was interviewing him for a job, yes interviewing him, and he asked me that question, and he boldly told me to go home, and im not welcome here, and that I am taking jobs away from the Americans. and he deserves a job before I do. well needless to say, I did not give him that job, and well, it did rub me the wrong way, so i do get a little hyper when i see posts when at first you think someone saying "i'm American" i deserve something. i know the OP didn't mean it that way, but were all here in the same boat, and alot are sensitive, so, on both sides, understand each other, and just quit, before it gets ugly. so much negativity here on this site lately. were here for "support" not arguing or belittling someone.
i know i kind of blabbered but i wanted to put my word in. for both the Americans, (not the idiots who think they are owed something, as they need to look at their family tree) and for us "immigrants" who came here for love, and love only.
Jen.

Personally, I feel that only individuals that have not achieved anything in their own careers/lives that keep mentioning their heritage and "blue blood". Just makes me lough every time. All of us have rights and privileges. However, #1 goal of USCIS and DHS is to protect USC from terrorism and illegal immigration. Immigration is a privilege, not the right. For the same token, this is a privilege to grant admission of the foreign wife. If you decide to marry abroad then be ready to jump through the hoops. On this site we will all help you as much as we can. In fact, this site is a wonderful resource and people are ready to help. What people don't like on this site is whining and sense of entitlement. I feel that USCIS and Consular staff in Moscow were extremely happy. I am grateful for their work and efforts.

Just a reminder that when you correspond with someone via PM for immigration advice you are running a serious risk. While most of our members are knowledgeable in immigration matters, many are less knowledgeable than others. A few - especially recent members - still have some mistaken beliefs about the immigration process and may lead you into danger. Following their advice may end up causing you unaccountable grief.
To re-iterate, visa fraud is considered one of the most serious breaches of immigration law and is severely punished - often with consequences that appear far harsher than the situation seems to warrant. You can ask many sadder but wiser individuals who are now living their lives outside of the US with their foreign spouse who has been banned for life from the US.
Entering the US on a visa meant for one purpose - as a visitor - but with the full and knowing intent of using it for another purpose as a means to bypass the appropriate visa process is considered visa fraud. There is an appropriate visa for a spouse to join his/her US citizen partner in the US and there is a process by which a US citizen can get permission for his/her fiancee to travel to the US and apply to remain in the US as a permanent resident. Even though the process will take longer, it is far safer for your future happiness and well-being. There is no statutes of limitation on visa fraud. The consequences may take effect right away - or 5,10, 15 years from now. You will live with that 'fear' for however long it takes until it is discovered.
No-one 'likes to be apart from their loved ones, and in an ideal world, that wouldn't happen. Unfortunately, this is far from an ideal world and US immigration agencies (USCIS and DOS) are rules-driven, insensitive, hard-nosed, non-commiserating and unforgiving. If you expect them to understand about love, then expect again. They 'understand' about love- and it doesn't make one bit of difference to their rules. If you don't follow the rules, then not only are you denied the benefit which you desire - you may suffer challenging consequences in addition.
So, do not play fast and loose with the idea that it is at all right for your partner to enter the US with you on a visitor's visa with the intention of remaining in the US and becoming a permanent resident. To do so is like playing with fire - you - and she - will be badly burned. This is not something you want to do to the person you love. If she is worth spending the rest of your life with, then she is worth doing it the legal way. Don't be so selfish and short-sighted as to think that your immediate gratification is worth being paid for by putting your long term happiness at risk. It isn't.

The best 'banks' are actually credit unions. They have better interest rates, less fees, and as for ATM/debit cards, they have plenty of options. Look around your area, most are local.

Yes, I'm sure she won't be able to sleep at night because of this. These kinds of silly statements are best left in your head, not on a public forum.

This means you are responsible for paying your own taxes (IIRC about 15%) quarterly if you make over $5000 per quarter, and you will be getting a 1099 rather than a W-2 for reporting purposes. However, it's still illegal if you don't have the proper paperwork to work here.
ETA: it could even be doubly illegal if they're trying to circumvent paying taxes on their end, too. If you're going to be required to keep to a schedule (say working 9-5 every day) and a couple of other things I'm blanking out on, then legally you'd be an employee and they could get into big trouble if the IRS finds out they're ducking on paying taxes and into the unemployment fund. (Which, btw, you'd be ineligible for if you quit, since you're not their employee.)

Nickky, the petitioner has to send in a birth certificate to prove they are a US citizen with the I130. The beneficiary does NOT have to send one until the NVC stage with the DS230/DS260. Please stop giving out wrong information.

$88 and $404

The Beneficiary ID # is only used by those doing online forms. Australia isn't one of the eligible countries, so you can disregard the BIN completely. You just need your case number and IIN.

I did not ask for advice on 'what to do', I asked for advice on how to re-schedule the interview. If you can't answer my question, do not write on my post.

Aww, sadness! We'll wait with you, no closing the thread till every last one of us has NOA2 in hand!

*smirks* Oooooh, 138 days. 12 more and I would have been at 5 months exactly. SO FREAKING LONG *raises hand dramatically to forehead*

*smirks* Oooooh, 138 days. 12 more and I would have been at 5 months exactly. SO FREAKING LONG *raises hand dramatically to forehead*

Uh.. ####### are you saying here? What two months have you lost? IT WILL TAKE 5 MONTHS FOR YOU TO GET THROUGH THE USCIS PROCESS. Unless you have a compelling reason to expedite, which I doubt you have. Sit back, shut up, and quit with your ridiculous posts please.

You did NOT apply for a visa with USCIS.
YOU sent a petition.
Your wife must apply for the visa.

@ GeorgeT911: You've generally got slightly less than a month to wait before the USCIS will say anything other than 'wait until the 5 months are up.' Now, after that five-month mark (May 9th), you can start calling USCIS, but they'll say wait an additional 30 days before they will consider putting in a service request. You can then call either your Senator or your Representative and see if they can speed it up, but I'm fairly skeptical of the efficiency of that move so close to the five-month mark. 6-7 month, sure, but YMMV. (Disclaimer: my NOA2 came without prodding or poking approx. 2 weeks before my five months were up.)
TL;DR: sit tight and wait till May 10th, then start making noise.