CBM

Tatisvans - I actually dont have to go to SB for my appt! Im so happy!

I hope you get an appointment that works for you, and congrats on the pregnancy

Magdasal... welcome to the thread! Good luck.

Magdasal... welcome to the thread! Good luck.

Birdygirl, I'm glad you were able to request the days off! It stinks that you have to make such a trek of it for fingerprints but at least you can have a little getaway - I love those!

It took exactly a week after we sent our package for the NOA1 to arrive, and yes, the NOA1 is the one year extension.

Sure! Congrats on getting your biometrics letter! I hope we get ours soon. But I hope they give us at least a three week in advance notice so I can go with my husband to Portland... Our local office is a 5 hour drive away!

California Service Center (5 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

CBM.................06/03/13.......06/05/13.......07/02/13........--/--/--....

BIRDYGIRL85.........06/03/13.......06/05/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

OZMA................06/04/13.......06/07/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

ENTRIDIAN...........06/04/13.......06/05/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

JUAN & NAN..........06/10/13.......06/--/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

Vermont Service Center (4 applicants)

VJName............Date of I-751....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

KIKOLINA092069......06/01/13.......06/??/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

JAHBEAUTY...........06/05/13.......06/--/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

CESTLAVIECHERI......06/07/13.......06/--/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

SACHIN1901..........06/10/13.......06/--/13.......--/--/13........--/--/--....

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.

* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

Thanks for updating for me!

As for how much notice I got - I'm really surprised that they were able to schedule me for a little over 2 weeks... 2.5, I guess.

Are you sure the closest office to you is 5 hours away?? I honestly had NO idea there was one down the street from me - literally, on the same street, 5 minutes away. I thought I was going to have to go to LA or San Bernadino to get it done, since I had to go to SB for my green card interview and Riverside or something like that for my biometrics before... so maybe your biometrics notice will surprise you and have a location much closer! I hope so!

Tatisvans.... i live close to csc, too.

We overnighted ours with usps since fedex wont deliver to PO boxes. It left at 3 pm and got there the next day at 11 am!

Hey birdygirl... im not sure how to edit the list on my phone. Could you update for me please??

I got my biometrics letter in the mail today, dated yesterday. My appt is scheduled for 7/2.

I filed at CSC... i live about half an hour from laguna niguel

Sachin, i put a ton of sticky notes and highlighted exactly what i wanted them to look at. Of course, they can look at the entire sheet of paper, but for example, i highlighted my husband's name as the death benefit recipient on my teacher retirement plan. Rather than them looking at a bunch of useless fine print about when i can take money out, etc, they see the pertinent info.

I dont know if most people do it, but i thought it might save some time for the IO!

Hey all... I sent my I-751 overnight via usps on 6/3, and got my receipt/noa1 on 6/7, dated 6/5. Check has been cashed!

Im praying for no interview, since we had one for my 2 year green card and it took a long time to prepare all the stuff we brought! The interview itself was easy peasy but the prep was stressful.

We sent a ton of joint acct stuff and evidence of our lives together, so im also hoping for no RFE!

Good luck to you all!

Hey all... I sent my I-751 overnight via usps on 6/3, and got my receipt/noa1 on 6/7, dated 6/5. Check has been cashed!

Im praying for no interview, since we had one for my 2 year green card and it took a long time to prepare all the stuff we brought! The interview itself was easy peasy but the prep was stressful.

We sent a ton of joint acct stuff and evidence of our lives together, so im also hoping for no RFE!

Good luck to you all!

Hi All -

I can't believe it's been 2 years already. I'm just finishing up my I-751 application to remove conditions. All is great with our marriage, and we are so happy we went the K-1 route.

Quick question - is the first receipt, or "NOA1", I guess, what extends your greencard for a year? Or does this come after you've been fingerprinted?

I'm just wondering for travelling purposes. We were hoping to travel internationally the same week my GC expires, and would like to make our plans before too long, but obviously if I don't have the extension letter, I won't book any travel.

It expires August 25th, and we're planning on fed ex'ing our application on Monday. Do you think think that's enough time?

Thanks in advance!

i found a brand of chips down here called California Chips that makes a flavour called Earthquake.. they taste pretty darn similar to all dress chips...

What store?! I think we're pretty close... I'm in Diamond Bar, and would love to procure me some chips.

I can honestly say I don't teach for the money. If I did, my plans to get rich went wrong somewhere a while back.

You're golden, Coconuts! That's all I had as well.

Just to be on the safe side, I also included a copy of my medical receipt and a copy of the sheet they give with the Xray, giving you a clean bill of health for your lungs.

And.... I also included instructions from the I-693 or whatever it is (haha now that I have my GC in hand, I'm trying to dump the info), with the part highlighted noting that K-1's do not need a new medical exam unless their's is over 1 year old. It may have been a bit cheeky, but I didn't get an RFE! I think someone else on VJ suggested this... I know I didn't come up with the idea on my own. Just an idea

Hope this helps

Hey Alina;

I just went to the DMV in Southern CA yesterday to get my license. You're right in that you will have to wait to get your EAD because they require proof of legal presence. Also, I think someone mentioned it above, but make 100% sure that your name is changed to your married name at the Social Security office before going to the DMV, because if your name at the SS office is still your maiden name, you won't even be allowed to write the test or get any sort of license or ID.

So, just bring your EAD and your SSN (you don't need the actual card, just the number) and ensure your name is changed at SS.

Additionally, you won't have to surrender your Canadian license. You will get a temporary license, as you know, and if that expires before you get your EAD (it may, it expires 2 months after getting it), you will have to re-write the test, then do your actual driving test. As you may know, you won't get a learners permit or anything, just the temporary license. You have the same driving privledges as a full license, just that it's temporary. My insurance said I do not have to drive with a licensed person in the car; I can drive on my own.

Also, someone else mentioned above, you will need to bring proof of insurance and registration to your driving test

Hope this helps!

Thanks OBX! They offered me the job yesterday

It's just part time, but at least it's something to keep me occupied. It's a teaching position for an educational services company contracted by school boards in California. At least it's teaching!

I went to the SS Office yesterday to change my name and get my conditions lifted from my SSN. I did not have to apply for a card when I entered on my K-1, because I received my SSN back in 2006 when I had a J-1 visa. The woman at the desk was convinced she couldn't change my name or conditions because "Immigration doesn't know my new last name".... despite my greencard in my married name. I repeatedly told her this, and she kept saying she couldn't..... and I kept getting annoyed... and eventually, I just asked for a supervisor, who got the job done in less than 5 minutes.

I actually wouldn't really care that much, except California is a state that requires the DMV to verify your name with the SS Office before issuing a driver's license, which I really need.

Thankfully it's done now!

And, on a MUCH happier note, I have a job interview this evening! Fingers crossed and praying!

Sounds nice wear something warm. Staying in US waiting for wife's GC, trip to Las Vegas for the Rodeo..

haha, I left a whole closet of warm winter clothes at my parent's house when I moved from Nova Scotia

I've become acclimatized to California though, and will probably weep in the cold and snow,

I just booked our flights to Canada for Christmas for WAY cheaper than usual on Expedia.com. We got our roundtrip tickets for $1180 for LA to Halifax. My husband paid close to that for his ticket alone last year to come to my parent's house at Christmas!

Anyone else planning to go to Canada for Christmas??

Probably not. I grew up in (very) rural Nova Scotia, and as quaint and scenic as it is... I have no desire to live there forever. Or even a while.

We're happy in California anyway

Last night, was about to start cooking dinner when the power went out in our complex. I think it was because everyone and their dog is using the AC lately.

.... So we went to Red Lobster Neither my husband nor I have ever been there, and were not expecting great things, because I've never heard anything great about it... but it was surprisingly good! I had snow crab legs and loved them! And made a bit of a mess... haha

I have always wondered why people ay that.. why is it any harder to be apart once married then before?

we went the Cr1 route and I am glad we did..our journey took a little longer though because our lawyer caused us a couple of RFEs

In hindsight, I agree with you now... but I wouldn't have a year ago, which is why we chose the K1. I think for us, it was a psychological thing, maybe. I guess we viewed it as wanted to spend our first year of marriage together, and spend the majority of our engagement apart.

I see both sides of the coin. If we could go back, we would probably choose the CR-1.

PS - you're in SoCal too aren't you? is it hot as h-e double hockey sticks there today? it's 108 here... I'm sweltering

After going the K-1 route, I think you've made a good decision to go the CR-1 route. Our reason was we didn't want to separated after getting married, but in hindsight, it was very hard to be separated anyway.

I just think the CR-1 has advantages that the K-1 doesn't. Your wife won't have to wait months for her permission to work and can get started on job applications right away. A lot of states (mine does) require you to prove residency before getting a license, so your wife won't have to wait around for that, either. That has been one of the biggest annoyances for me - not being able to drive.

I think you've made a great choice

I had my AOS interview on Monday and it was easy peasy!

Since receiving my EAD a few weeks ago, I've been applying like mad, and I have a job interview in 2 weeks for a professional tutoring company! fingers crossed!

I had double chocolate fudge ice cream! I wasn't very hungry tonight, but had a sweet tooth!

Sometimes chocolate is just the answer

I think every time I post in here, I include corn on the cob, but for once, we're not having that tonight! We haven't eaten yet (I'm on the pacific coast), but we're having salmon, brown rice, and steam broccoli and cauliflower! yum!

AOS interview today was a success and I already received an email that my card in is production!

It was entirely unsettling for me at 37 to stay at home and not work for the first 5 months.....we weren't worried about money, but I just couldn;t handle doign the housewife thing. I am very independent and have made it my business my entire life never to depend on ANYONE...so you can see how staying home and waiting for the kids and hubster everyday just about drove me over the edge!

What do you mean I can't spend my last $5 on starbucks...I have to think about whether he's spending it too? I exaggerate, but you know what I mean....I used to like to waste $$ on books but now it's not all mine anymore...just takes some getting used to that's all.

Have I mentioned differences in Money styles? Enough to drive you over the edge (seems to be a theme with me...hmmm).....I am the kind of girl who gets the bill and pays it that day - then I know what's in the account is mine. My husband on the other hand prefers to wait until the last day it's due ...a couple days late is not a big deal to him. You can guess who took over the bill situation It worked out well because I smoothly transitioned that to me under the guise that I was off for 5 months.

It must be a male thing! When we get a bill, I run to the computer and pay it online so I know it's done and dusted. There are few (mundane) things in life I dislike more than unnecessary late fees and interest payments! I like paying things in full, on time. Obviously paying in full is not always possible (e.g. car loan), but I can't stand having a balance on my credit cards. I also took over the bill situation, but I didn't even use a guise.... I just announced I was doing it and my husband has been quite pleased with the outcome . I have increased the amount we put into our savings account by 4x and my husband was sort of blown away that we can afford to haha

I love deals and savings.