AtariBaby

Oh, I got my NOA1 letter already.

I am seemingly at an advantage, being that there are so fewer applicants sending into Laguna Niguel, perhaps.

I think you must use US Postal Service because these are going to PO Boxes, which traditionally do not accept FedEx. You should go to the counter and get as much proof of delivery as possible, such as a return receipt or registered mail or what have you.

If it is at all close to the deadline use Express mail (now called Priority Mail Express). I did the latter, and got signature required, so I now have proof of delivery plus a scanned copy of the signature via the USPS website. A lot of people on the forums are wishing they had spent an extra few dollars for proof of delivery!

Last week IRS was having a lot of problems with their website. Should you be unable to download them through the site, you or a CPA can call them and request they be faxed. They will say it takes 48 hours but it takes 4 or 5 hours after you call.

Finally filed today! My window opened March 17th but due to calamity after calamity, here we are, filling less than two weeks before my conditional residency expires... I forgot to include a cover letter, think that'll be a problem??

I think the idea is to make it clear and easy for the examiner to know what's what. Kind of a little insurance against error or what have you. I have read here about positive feedback from actual examiners who appreciated clear and orderly packets. It's probably fine, though. Be sure to post the result.

Hi guys I'm almost done with putting the package together, do you guys know if the affidavits are a good idea, I know they are not required but my friend wrote a letter but she is not a citizen and my mom also wrote a letter (she is a citizen)...is that ok? what's the norm for these affidavits? Also, I'm the owner of the house where we live, can I just send them a copy of my mortgage statement?

Here is the list of the stuff we are sending:

Tax returns 2 yrs,

joint account (checking and savings) bank statements 2 months

life insurance policies

car insurance policies

copies of joint credit cards

2 affidavits

phone, tv bills

copy of my mortgage statement (just in my name)

pictures of us together in different places and with family

Thoughts are appreciated

Thanks

I am only going by what others have said:

Seems that affidavits aren't that big of a deal. Maybe good to use if you don't have much other evidence.

I don't think there is a need to include mortgage or similar if it only has you on it. They are looking for evidence you both live together, so unless you are putting her one some papers, what's the point?

That's a lot of good stuff with both of your names on accounts and bills. I think that's a big deal. Good stuff!

You need tax return transcripts, not just copies of your returns that you submitted.

Some pictures are probably good although again, I think they mainly want to see that you two are sharing financial stuff. I gather that sham marriages rarely keep it together well enough to pull that off.

AtariBaby it sure is nice to see others' progress to figure out whether it's time to freak out or not. I am just soooo ready to be done with the whole immigration process. I have already looked at the forms and evidence required for naturalization next year.

Well, given your nickname, I probably can't do much to sway you. But everyone from VJ.com to struggling immigrant friends of mine, in much more difficult spots than I, state that this step is pretty much a foregone conclusion. Even in really bad scenarios I think just about everyone gets this, provided two people can show up lol.

The goal here is just to make it go as swiftly and effortlessly as possible. And given your nickname, I'm betting you made sure your packet was flawless. And hopefully there will be no RFE's or interviews for anyone in this thread!

It's nice not to be alone on this "visa journey".

I'm such a PITA XD

Some links you might need in the process of I-751....

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/dateCalculator.html ->USCIS early filing calculator.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/367977-thinking-of-early-walk-in-for-biometrics/page-9 ->Places that allow early walk-in for Biometrics.

California Service Center (0 applicant)

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

AtariBaby.............05/31/14......--/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

Vermont Service Center (0 applicant)

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

Name..................--/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/14......--/--/--

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 anyone's 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

[p]

Do you want to be in June filers list?

Sure, why not.

Yes, expressed this morning, for Monday delivery to CSC.

So if I mailed my stuff off today, what do you think, should I be the last May filer or the first June filer?

Thanks, all. Thanks especially to the lovely Harpa Timsa, who is apparently often reluctant to come to such a "silly place".

My wife worries excessively, to be sure. Sometimes that's an advantage, other times it is exhausting. But of course, it's a good balance for me. I must take part of the blame for this final-seconds shot.

I was so tempted to fire that thing off, rather than risk another delay, but I'm so glad I waited. The transcript finally arrived at about 11pm last night, and so I was able to send Priority Express this morning for Monday delivery, 5 days ahead of the deadline.

Based on reports here, and my previous experience, I think it's highly likely to go through. But we'll see.

Due to difficulties with the IRS this week (they were having problems with their website), we are still waiting to receive one tax return transcript for one year for one of us. Because our deadline is the 6th, I am probably going to go to the nearby airport post office later tonight, with or without that transcript. I figure even if we get an RFE for that one year, that's better than being past the deadline. With any luck the fax will arrive any minute now, but regardless, here goes.

My question is this, though: she will get a letter stating that she has been extended for a year while they review, right? But that letter won't spontaneously appear. What about the few days between when the deadline has arrived and she gets her letter? She's going to be terribly worried about that; that's the kind of person she is.

lol glad I asked. The number on the visa didn't begin with "A" so I thought that was different. Thanks all!

Well, the Mrs. and I are about to sign the Removal of Conditions form. And of course, there is that Alien Registration Number field, as with all these forms.

She was visiting as a tourist when we married, and, as is normal for Canadian visitors, had no Alien Registration number. I just wanted to make sure that this is likely still the case, even after we went through AOS (to which I must always say "Thank you, VJ. I couldn't have done any of this without you!")

It is important to show you filed your taxes as a married couple each year of your marriage; joint or separate does not matter. How much you make or owe is not part of the ROC process. Show that you both filed married separately and if you filed an extension for 2013, then show proof of doing so. Provide plenty of other co-mingling and co-habitation evidence as well.

^makes sense. Thank you.

This is probably going to be me, but I haven't filed the paperwork yet.

A great bump for justice?

Do we have a difference of opinion here from two seasoned VJ posters? Others care to chime in? Is a consensus possible?

I have a lot of evidence of bona fide marriage: photos, plane tickets, joint bank accounts, and can supply affidavits.

What's kind of a mess right now is taxes. It's complicated, but a) my wife files "married filing separately"; and b) being an entrepreneur, I have been negotiating payments with the IRS and that requires re-negotations with each year's filing, which is currently not done yet, because we have filed an extension. There is ample evidence that taxes have been paid in the past, and my wife is an employee so hers come out of her check automatically, but overall things are just... murky and unsettled, I guess you could say.

Is this a trouble spot that absolutely must be cleaned up before I submit evidence, before the interview, or not a major issue?

Depends on the Canadian, I imagine.

Well, after this site guided me through the tremendous ordeal of marrying a Canadian and keeping her in the US all nice and legal, the two-year mark is nearly upon us, it's time once again to seek the wisdom and support of Visa Journey. Thank you all for making this such a great resource.

Time for an update on our Green Card, which we just received after being lost in the US Postal system for nearly 8 weeks:

I kept going around to different postal locations and calling various offices and no one ever knew anything.

After being lost in the mail for nearly 8 weeks, we received it, marked "Delivered to Wrong Address". What's scary is, I had just been sent a form to report it lost or stolen, and because the GC wasn't received by USCIS "Returned to Sender", we would have had to pay over $500 again.

Had I not dragged my heels on filing that form, I would be in another phase of red tape, because the green card we finally received would have been flagged as lost or stolen.

To future searchers finding yourself in this predicament, make of this what you will and good luck to you.

Time for an update: I kept going around to different postal locations and calling various offices and no one ever knew anything.

After being lost in the mail for nearly 8 weeks, we received it, marked "Delivered to Wrong Address". What's scary is, I had just been sent a form to report it lost or stolen, and because the GC wasn't received by USCIS "Returned to Sender", we would have had to pay over $500 again.

Had I not dragged my heels on filing that form, I would be in another phase of red tape, because the green card we finally received would have been flagged as lost or stolen.

To future searchers finding yourself in this predicament, make of this what you will and good luck to you.

Thanks. Have tracking #, and talked to many postal employees in person as well as by phone.

And yes, I know from years of sending and receiving parcels, "tracking" is a joke where USPS is concerned. It's more like the illusion of tracking, in order to appear more like UPS and FedEx. But I won't hijack my own thread with my horror stories.

I hope you're right about the interview, but I do note that a biometrics fee is part of it, seeming to indicate we'll have to do that part again, at least, yes?