redfragglekat

Biometrics September 16th, and still no EAD either.

I'm the K1 fiance, we're in the process of AOS for my K1 Visa.

We submitted the I-864 back in February of this year. 8 months later life has changed drastically and instead of only just making the poverty line cut off for sponsorship, we'll now be WAY over the cut off line. We've received a Request for Initial Evidence for the I-485 (status adjustment) to provide more supporting documentation to prove that we meet the cut-off. We've prepared everything as per the letter and we're ready to submit.

Question is, since there's a $50,000 difference between what we expected in February to be this year (current year) income and what we now know this current year to be, should we also submit a new, updated I-864 with the package of information going to USCIS?

I'm adjusting status from K1 to Permanent Resident (entered on K1 May 31st, married June 24, filed EAD, AP and AOS on July 22nd, they acknowledged receipt July 29th).

Sept 14 we received an RFE for more information on our financial situation (or more accurately, on my husband's situation - he's American). He was laid off, just as we began this process (of course, disaster always strikes when least convenient). Fortunately he has retirement income, had decent savings and has since been picking up enough freelance work that we're above the income limits for this year. 2009 we were above the limit only by including my assets and his land assets to help us show above the limits. (We're a household of two, though he has an 18 year old son that is independent, though apparently we must continue to count him as a dependent, making us a household of three). We have no debts at all, no credit cards, no car loans. We're pretty stable, despite him being on contract work. I can begin working as soon as I have my EAD.

Long story short, the RFE is asking for "current year" tax forms, bank statements, evidence of employment, and any details showing that we make the correct amount of income. Current tax year, I assume is 2010 (which they already have) but we're pulling together as much as possible for 2011 too. When we filed the forms originally the 2009 tax year was the most current. We submitted the 2010 tax year information in the I485 packet, since we were then in the new tax year and had 2010 taxes filed.

Now we're scrambling to pull together anything and everything we can to show info for 2009, 2010 and 2011. We're worried we're missing something.

Any suggestions on what we can pull together to show income, value of our assets, and that we're generally not dead-beats and that I can be employed rather quickly too?

the ones from the border

A k-1 is eligible to apply for a SSN up to day 76 after entry into the USA

Thank you very much... I don't know what I'd do without this board... so many layers of red tape that disagree or conflict with one another... crazy.

All you need to take is your passport with your visa in it. They will ask a bunch of questions......Have you ever applied before, say no even though you checked the box on the forms. K1's do not have that option do you did not apply for one before. They will also ask about previous visits to the US. I am attaching a link. I took this with me in case I ran into any trouble. But didn't need it.

http://www.k1k3.com/stuff/SSNMemo.pdf

If that link doesn't work ...type in to your search EM-00154 Evidence of Employment Authorization for K1....notice it says I-94 OR EAD form I-688B

Thank you very much!!

I went to the Social Security office about 7 business days after my entry. They did not have anything in the system yet from DHS. They recommend that you wait 10 business days before you go apply.

Did your K1 Visa and entry suffice as proof for your eligibility JeannieL? I ask because at first glance it looks like I can't even go in until after my EAD?

"In general, only noncitizens who have permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can apply for a Social Security number."

"Social Security will ask to see a current DHS document. Acceptable documents include:

•Form I-551 (includes machine-readable immigrant visa with your unexpired foreign passport);

•I-94 with your unexpired foreign passport; or

•Work permit card from the Department of Homeland Security (I-766 or I-688B)."

(http://www.ssa.gov/ss5doc/ )

My Montreal Consulate interview was May 16th and the Visa was in the Ottawa DHL location on May 30th. There was TWO long weekends in that time frame (Montreal Consulate observes both Canadian and American long weekends, but DHL only observes Canadian ones!)

Total = 14 days

I crossed at the Thousand Islands crossing on May 30th with my fiance, his SUV and a UHAUL trailer of belongings. I had a list all prepared of the contents of each box, and they didn't even bother to look at it. They asked to have the UHAUL opened, and checked to be sure it was boxes (and not, like, people I guess) but other than that, I had nothing else to delcare, record or list.

I successfully crossed into the US on May 30th with my K1 Visa (horray!) and we're all set to get married next week. My question relates to the instructions for what comes next.

- my "Welcome to the United States" paper received at the Consulate (Montreal, Canada Consulate, if that matters) states that my Social Security Card will come to me immediately in the mail, if I requested it on the appropriate form (which I did).

- my "K1 Visa Instructions" letter from the border crossing itself states that I must go into the Social Security office to obtain my card, only after I marry

- my "Welcome to the United States" letter says that I may work as soon as my SSN is issued, usually within 2 weeks of entry.

- my "K1 Visa Instructions" letter from the border crossing says I may work only after I (get married, file more papers then) go into the social security office to apply for a car and then wait 6-8 months to receive the card.

SOOOO... which is set of instructions are correct? And what the heck am I supposed to be doing now?

Hi! i had the same date (May 16) as you on your interview. i checked online and nothing yet. How did you know that your passport has left Montreal?

I am hoping i could get my passport by Monday.

Thanks.

The US Visa tracking site showed the DHL waybill number, using the waybill number I looked it up on DHL.ca and saw that it had left dorval at 10pm last night.

JUST got the DHL notification that the passport has left Montreal en-route to Ottawa! Not sure if there's Saturday delivery/pick up but it looks like Monday for sure! (Was worried that the American holiday weekend would delay everything until Tuesday, but it looks like they got it out of the Consulate before their long weekend!)

Will keep y'all posted!

Maybe they're backlogged and everyone falls into AP for a while until they can manage to stamp the passport in bulk?

The DoS call center person yesterday (Katie) said that the DoS system shows "AP" for all cases that are "in between" like this, still getting reviewed administratively. She said it's not necessarily an indication of something going wrong, just that Montreal is slow.

Joy. *rolls eyes*

Well ours was on the 18th of May and we're also waiting. I'm not going to call DOS until next week. It also felt anti-climactic for us too. She just said congratulations we will send you the visa in the mail as she was walking away. We did not get a letter. What does yours say?

The letter basically explains the next steps... that the passport will be mailed to the DHL location, gives instructions on how to choose your designated location, and tells you that there's no way to call DHL or the Consulate to get more info. It explains a bit about entering the country and that you have 90 days to get married. That's about it, just 1 sheet, text on front and back.

I had my interview on the 13th and i'm still waiting aswell I called DOS yesterday and the computers crashed so im going to my dads later to use his magic jack to make the call (FREE) especially with the 20 minute hold the first time they picked up and hung up, and then 15 mintues the second time.

I hope to get something soon POE is june 1st or around there

Let me know if you get yours, eh? If you do, it'll be my cue to panic LOL

We had a 1:45pm time on May 16th and were not allowed in until 1:30pm. Were made to stand out in the rain waiting until the magic time.

Just called DoS who says that my passport hasn't even been stamped yet. It is officially in administrative processing "AP" until the moment it's stamped, but there doesn't seem to be any missing information or anything that the DoS call centre person can see anyway.

How many people does it take to stamp a passport?! 6 business days...and counting

We had our interview in Montreal May 16th, and we're still waiting on passport return. Here's a recap of how it went (I read these recap posts obsessively before my interview, so I thought I'd post one for others too!)

We found out May 9th that my K1 Interview was May 16th in Montreal. I was in Washington DC with my fiance. Frantically booked a medical appointment in Montreal for Wednesday May 11, and drove all day Tuesday May 10th to make it to Montreal. Went for the 11:00 am medical appointment and was stuck there until 4:30pm! It was very busy there that day as a number of truck drivers were in for medical screening before getting their licenses. Bring a drink, lunch or snack with you - the one kiosk for snacks was closed at 2pm, and you don't have the freedom to come and go once you are in line for your bloodwork, or in line for your xray, or in line for your physical etc etc.

We hung out in Montreal and played tourist (we stayed at the Quality Hotel on Avenue du Parc - right across from a grocery store, a Cora's (great breakfast and lunch) and close to a dog park and a 5 minute drive (or $20.00 cab ride)from the medical building.) On Friday May 13th after 2:30pm we returned to the medical building to pick up my results.

We tried to distract ourselves with tourism throughout the weekend. Monday morning rolls around and I frantically worked on double checking everything. Our appointment was for 1:45pm so we arrives at 12:45, just in case. The security guys turned us away and had us stand out in the rain. Until 1:00pm when another guy came out and told us to go sit in the coffee shop around the corner until 1:15pm.

We returned at 1:15pm and stood in the rain until the pizza delivery guy was ushered through the security screening checkpoint at 1:30pm. The guys needed their lunch. After that we were allowed inside. There were six other people having their interviews during the same time period. We chatted and compared our experiences.

We were sent up to the 19th floor of the building (one elevator, only three floors that elevator goes to, can't make a mistake!). We were given a number and told to sit and wait. When our number was called we were sent to one service window to hand in a specific documents (DS-230, and DS-160 and my passport) then were told to go back and sit down.

Ten minutes later we were called to a different window with a different person and told to hand in my fiance's letter stating his intent to marry me, and to provide my sealed envelope of medical information. They broke open the seal and removed the CD with the xrays on it and returned them to me, and directed us to sit down in the waiting room again.

We waited for half an hour and were called to yet another window with a different person who said "We have a lot of people waiting, so this will be the shortest interview ever!"

She asked:

Do you intend to get married?

Where did you two meet?

Where will you live?

When will you go to the US?

And then she handed over the "Welcome to the US" letter!

It was rather anti-climactic, really.

So, I've been sitting here waiting, hotel bills mounting, checking the DHL website four times a day, and worried that maybe I didn't sign a piece of paper or something. How much longer do I wait for my passport to be returned? It's been six business days (nine days total - darn long weekend!), so I know it could be a while yet, but I'm getting antsy! Come on passport fairies! Be nice to me!

:-)

Good luck to everyone else preparing for their interviews!

Make copies of any originals while you are making the birth certificate copy. They won't make copies for you. Make 2 copies of your bio page of your passport. One for them and one for you to keep so you have the info for signing into the CSC site to check on your visa status.

WOW! thank you again! We so need to create a list of this stuff "the real checklist of things you need to have for the interview". I have two lists from them that are slightly different, but neither mentions this info!

Thank you so much!

You can show up at 7am but some people in the past few weeks have been getting a bad reception for showing up early for their appointments. I think that maybe around 11 would be a good time for you to show up. As Chris says...Have your birth certificate and copy together..and all the other things that you have originals of....they will take the originals and put them in one pile and the copies in another.

You do NOT need the Xpresspost envelope.....You have registered for DHL. That is how they send things now.

Good luck at the interview!

Relax and be yourself. It is the easiest part of the whole process.

Thank you for mentioning the birth certificate AND copy! I don't see it written anywhere that they need a copy! I have a long form certificate and a short form (the small laminated card) so I'll copy both of them in the morning before I go! Thank you so much for telling me!

I emailed my documents into the Consulate (at their request, since they lost them!) so I have originals of DS-156 and DS-156K, DS-230, I-864 and I-346 (? the Affivadit of Support) plus I have all the previous documents, everything on the Packet 3 checklist.

Hoping I have everything... *sigh* what a process this is!

P.S if they are anything like the Embassy here the first person you will see will go through the paperwork and put it in the folder, and if the sense you're nervous will help you by caming you down and reassuring you, it worked for me at least

(sorry for double post but when i went to edit my first post it told me i didn't have permission

Thanks for the info! We'll aim for 1pm then. Did you bring an xpresspost mailing envelope to your interview, for them to send your passport and visa back to you?

Trying not to be too excited (or scared!!). My appointment is for 1:45pm tomorrow. The appointment letter tells me to arrive not more than 20 minutes early, but I have read of others here on VJ arriving before the doors open. What's your thought... arrive at 7:00am or arrive at 1:00pm?

Also... xpresspost envelopes... is this still needed now that they are using DHL? Should I be sure to pick one up enroute?

I THINK I have everything put together. I have a copy of every single thing we have submitted to them, along with all supporting documents, organized in a binder with tabs and everything (finace says it's a good thing I'm doing this, cause the Consulate would be getting what the IRS would get from him: a shoe box full of paper! LOL!)

Wish us luck! We really need this to happen smoothly!

Got mine for May 16th!!

For the folks following along...

We sent our Packet 3 stuff in on February 27, then waited and waited. By the end of March I began calling DOS looking for more info. All they could tell me was to call the Consulate... which is impoassible of course. Three weeks of emails with the Montreal Consulate, I'd be passed along, re-directed to another email address and re-directed back to the original email address, over and over. Finally someone took pity on me (or got sick of my repeated inquiries!) and checked my file. Low and behold, they had lost my package of info, nothing was on file! (Soooo glad I made copies!)

So, I was told by the Consulate to simply scan the documents and send them in by return email. Their email servers have an attachment limit, so I had to send two emails in order to get the entire contents of the Packet 3 materials to them.

This Friday, within 24 hours I had the Packet 4 letter emailed to me, instructing me to book the interview! Crazy exciting, of course, but it gets better!

I logged on this weekend to book the interview and completely lucked out with the interview date too! First available date: May 16th! OMG! I was expecting September or October!

We're running around like chickens missing our heads right now. We're driving from the States to Montreal on in order to get to the Medical on Wednesday, then on to the interview on Monday. I'm frantically searching the posts here trying to make sure I haven't forgotten to pack anything, and looking for tips and more information of what to expect (the docs seriously have to check my genitals to verify my gender?!)

If anyone has any last minute tips for the medical exam and interview, I'd be more than happy to hear them.

Wish us luck!!

Haha. It made me think of when I was little and I would ask my mother if I could do something and she would say "Ask your father." So then I'd go to my father and he would say "Ask your mother." I'd be in an endless loop which would frustrate the heck out of me. Nothing compared to the frustration you must be feeling, though. Sorry.

LOL this is exactly what I thought of too!!!

It's now been seven weeks.... I'm beginning to worry that it's been lost somewhere....

I figured I'd share my adventures in the hopes that someone else can laugh over this, cause I just wanna scream.

Government red tape is such a pain, eh? :-)

From: Me

To: Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

date: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 1:39 PM

subject:Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Good afternoon,

On February 23rd I sent in the requested information for Packet 3 (which was received by you, according to the tracking receipt, on February 24th).

I spoke to the (US) Department of State this afternoon to inquire about the status of my Case (case number referenced above). They have told me that the Montreal Consulate has not yet sent out my Packet 4 information nor scheduled an interview.

At their suggestion, I am writing to you to inquire about the status of my expected Packet 4, specifically to be sure that:

1) Packet 3 has indeed been received, and;

2) Packet 4 should be expected by email soon?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

(redfragglekat)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

from: Montreal, IV <Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov>

to: Me

date: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 1:39 PM

subjectRE: Case Number XXXXXXXXXX

Thank you for your message to the Immigrant Visa (IV) unit of the U.S. Consulate General in Montréal, Canada.

We review and reply as appropriate to all e-mails in order they are received.

DO NOT send inquires about the status of the case. All cases are handled and reviewed in turn.

Please note: IV Unit will NOT reply to inquiries about DHL courier services, scheduling / rescheduling an appointment, status of documents sent to/from the Consulate. These inquires should be addressed to CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> using the contact details listed here http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_generalinquiries.The IV Unit receives a high volume of messages daily. You may expect a reply to your inquiry within two weeks. Please do not send the same inquiry by both mail and email as this will further delay a reply.

1. If you have been asked to provide additional documents, please send all the required documents together. Sending documents separately will not allow the IV unit to complete processing of your case. When you have all of the required documents, please mail them together with your name, case number, mailing address and email address to our office using the CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> . Please visit http://canada.usvisa-info.com/to'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/to register for a DHL courier location to drop-off your documents. Upon receipt of all the required documents, the IV unit will review your file. In rare instances, you may be required to return to Montreal for a follow-up interview. If the visa is approved, the IV unit will send the completed visa packet to you via the DHL courier services to the courier location you have previously registered for. Please allow six to eight weeks from the time you send correspondence to receive a reply from the Consulate. Please note the IV unit is not able to confirm receipt of documents. Documents received at the IV unit are processed in the order in which they are received.

NOTE: our P.O. Box 65 at Stations Desjardins is no longer in service. Mail sent to this address as well as the mail sent to our office address will be returned to the sender.

2. If you have difficulties registering for the DHL courier services, scheduling / rescheduling an appointment, please try again to access the CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> website. A new appointment date might become available daily. If you still have difficulties registering on the website or you want to inquire about the courier services, please send an e-mail to contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com or call CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> using the contact details listed here http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_generalinquiries.

3. If you have sent your passport to the IV unit and need it returned without a visa being issued, please send a separate message to Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov with the subject line "Passport return." In the text of your message, please list your full name, your IV case number, the date on which you mailed your passport, and the DHL location to which you would like your passport mailed back. Please visit http://canada.usvisa-info.com/ to register for a DHL courier location to pick-up your passport.

Please also note the IV Unit is not able to accept communication by facsimile machine or telephone.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Immigrant Visa Unit

Consulate General of the United States of America

Montréal, Canada

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

redfragglekat emails the new email address as directed in the auto-response

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

from: Me

to: contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com

date: Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 11:59 AM

subjectCase Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Good afternoon,

Following the instructions from the Immigration Visa (IV) unit, highlighted below, I am contacting you for more information.

On February 23rd I sent in the requested information for our K1 Visa application's Packet 3 (which was received by you, according to the tracking receipt, on February 24th).

I spoke to the (US) Department of State this afternoon to inquire about the status of my Case (case number referenced above). They have told me that the Montreal Consulate has not yet sent out my Packet 4 information nor scheduled an interview.

At their suggestion, I am writing to you to inquire about the status of my expected Packet 4, specifically to confirm that:

1) Packet 3 has indeed been received, and;

2) Packet 4 should be expected by email soon?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

from: info <info@visaops.net>

to: Me dateTue, Mar 29, 2011 at 1:12 PM

subjectRE: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

We are only the non-immigrant visa appointment scheduling service for the US Mission to Canada. You would need to address your question directly to the consular section at montreal-iv-dv@state.gov.

The Contact Desk Support Team

___________________________________________________________________________

from: Me

to: info <info@visaops.net>

dateTue, Mar 29, 2011 at 1:17 PM

subjectRe: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thank you for your response, unfortunately I have already the Department of State who told me to contact montreal-iv-dv@state.gov. I did and montreal-iv-dv@state.gov. they told me to contact you. You have now asked me to contact montreal-iv-dv@state.gov.... Any new or additional direction would be appreciated.

Thank you!

(redfragglekat)

__________________________________________________

from: info <info@visaops.net>

to: Me dateTue, Mar 29, 2011 at 1:57 PM

subject

RE: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As we are only the non-immigrant visa appointment scheduling service for the US Mission to Canada we cannot advise you when the consulate in Montreal will prepare your IV packet.

Only the IV section at the consulate would have that information.

_______________________________________________________

redfragglekat calls DOS again on March 29th, they advise me that the case is not logged and to contact the Consulate for more information.

redfragglekat calls DOS again on April 5th, they advise me that the case is not logged and to contact the Consulate for more information.

redfragglekat calls DOS again on April 12th, they advise me that the case is not yet logged and to contact the Consulate by email at montreal-iv-dv@state.gov for more information.

_______________________________________________________

Re: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

From: Me Tue, Apr 12, 2011 at 11:47 AM

To: montreal-iv-dv@state.gov

Good afternoon,

The Department of State information line (202-663-1225) has advised me to contact the Montreal Consulate again to inquire about the status of my case. I have previously (as seen by the email trail below) been directed, by montreal-iv-dv@state.gov to direct my inquiry to contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com instead. Unfortunately contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com has redirected me back to montreal-iv-dv@state.gov. A call placed to DOS has also directed me back to montreal-iv-dv@state.gov.

Therefore I would like to request further information on the status of my case, as I am now outside of normal processing times stipulated in the previous correspondence I have received from the Consulate.

On February 23rd I sent in the requested information for Packet 3 (which was received by you, according to the tracking receipt, on February 24th).

I am writing to you to inquire about the status of my case, specifically

1) that Packet 3 has indeed been received, and;

2) the date when I should expect Packet 4

Your assistance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

(redfragglekat)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Within minutes I get the same auto-response I received to my first email to them a month ago back as a response. *sighs*