MikeAndIryna

I got a statement from the bank and they stamp it and signed and attached a biz card - that was it. Beleive they are more concerned about the income level verified by the tax returns than the bank account. good luck

Or 640 days from the date on the green card, if you are left handed. 641 during leap years.

And make sure you use the new i-129f form, old one stops being accepted on the 18th of Feb and a guy I know (who took forever to compile his stuff) got his kicked back from MSC when they received his papers on the 20th.

You may have to update your "filed for" field, so it can populate with the correct timeline variables (i.e. K-1, K-3 etc.)

One of the requirements you need to have for a 129-f is meeting your fiance' in the last 2 years. If you don't have a passport for international travel, did she come to meet you or met her when she was in the USA on a visitor visa or something similar?

I beleive it's standard practice to do both, the arm test and the x-ray for the beneficiary, along with a blood test for STD's etc., but not the dependent if they are a minor under 14. Even when we had the supplemental exam done, we had to re-do it all again, inclusive of the blood test, and bring my wife's vaccinations up to snuff. The daughters vaccinations were done prior to the AOS exam, in accordnace with the requirements for school.

The x-ray shows they do not have any infections visible, despite what the arm test showed. We brought my wife's x-ray with us when they moved and used it for the supplemental medical for AOS, since once again she had a false positive. My daughter had to have a chest x-ray done, since she did not require one prior to the interview in Ukraine being as she was 11.

In our case, my wife & daughter had biometircs done (different days) and we waited quite a while for the interview dates. We rcvd notice of my wife's interview, but never got one for our daughter. When we went to the interview, they asked where our daughter was and we told them she was in school and we didn't get the notice. After our interview, they went ahead and approved our daughter as well, bith subject to a supplemental medical exam from a Civil Surgeon. She never had to go to an interview.

Also take into consideration that many Europeans have a false positive when they get the TB test on their arm. My mother, wife & daughter all had false positives, but the chest x-ray cleared them.

The X-ray & exam done for the interview is to usually determine if the person as any STD's, AIDS or TB. If they have an infection that is being treated with an antibiotic, it should be no different than treating a flu or similar disease. Good luck.

We enrolled my step daughter in school 1.5 years ago with my last name. Her mother & I were married and wanted to keep everything the same (last name in school) and not have to change everything on the front end of the AOS process and doing it on the backend instead.

We filed and were approved for AOS, I have a Fed Tax ID # for her that I used the last 2 returns (she's 13). Tomorrow, we are going to file for a legal name change, which takes about a month and of course $$, then we will need to send in the document with what form to get her green card re-issued in her new name? Once we have those in place, can get a regular SS# and all should be good for a while. Thanks for the help.

Mike, did you have to officially adopt your stepdaughter in order to make her name change legal?

Howdy Eau & Rebelheart - it appears the process varies from State to State somewhat. We filled out the petition, paid them the $$, running an ad in the local paper for 3 weeks, then have a hearing where the Judge just stamps it and we ae good to go. However, one of the forms in the packet states "XXXX, a minor, has resided in the family of the Petioners, and has been recognized and known as an adopted child in the family of Petioners".

So it appears the by product, in IL, of having a minor renamed is considered adoption. I wonder if now she can go to the head of the line for her citizenship? While we did get a Green Card for her, we didn't do SS yet, because of the name change, so in the interim just using a Fed Tax ID #. Soon as the name change is done, then we get to do new green card (and if I time it before her 14th bday, wave the biometircs fee), then SS card then maybe citizenship?

We enrolled my step daughter in school 1.5 years ago with my last name. Her mother & I were married and wanted to keep everything the same (last name in school) and not have to change everything on the front end of the AOS process and doing it on the backend instead.

We filed and were approved for AOS, I have a Fed Tax ID # for her that I used the last 2 returns (she's 13). Tomorrow, we are going to file for a legal name change, which takes about a month and of course $$, then we will need to send in the document with what form to get her green card re-issued in her new name? Once we have those in place, can get a regular SS# and all should be good for a while. Thanks for the help.

Use the name and translations you have from the birth certificates. My wife didn't have her middle name on her passport either, but did on her birth certs & marraige/divorce decree.

They had a copy of the petition when we got there, came from the NVC after USCIS was done with it. They complete their portion, probably make a copy and send it back to USCIS for follow-up. Not exactly sure what that process is.

My fiance' had a copy of the petition as well, along with all the docs you mentioned and a current set of the financials she surrendered to the Consulate. Fortunatly I had spare pictures of them both, because she only brought one of each of them, and they require two. That would have been a pain to get booted and reschedule because we lacked a couple of pictures for the Visas.

You will need to add 3 years of tax records to show your INCOME. You have to be above the poverty guidelines as stated in the USCIS tables. If you are not above those levels, then yes they will take other forms into consideration, but you may need to get a co-sponsor if you do not have the right assets.

Varies, my wife's friend who went thru Denver got hers in 4 months, and ours going thru Chicago took much longer (see signature). In both cases, there were no RFE's or snags delaying the AOS interview, just the sheer volume and backlog created the delays.

We made copies, we poked holes, we sent in and was approved. However, if you are told that this particular document HAS to be sent in, then it's going to have some ACCO vents in it for them. My documents were originals from a foreign country (Germany), but copies sufficed, no RFE's, no problems.

No need to poke holes and send in an original, a copy will do. SHOULD they ever need an original (with the exception of the forms) they will let you know.

They probably spent a whopping 10 seconds on the financials. While I did have the original form, the 3 years worth of taxes were copies. I did not enclose any other financial backup (ie insurance, 401k, whatever) since I was over the guideline requirements. Every other document we used were copies as well, but we did bring some original photos, of course her original passport, sealed medical envelope but copies of the NOA2, petition etc.

During the interview, they brought up my (step) daughter who was 11 at the time and asked her questions. Not normal, but I'm sure they did to take advantage of her being there, me being there, etc.

Well there are two areas inside the Consulate people go for Visas. The first area inside the double set of glass doors is the general visa area for tourist visas etc. It's also where you pick up your FedEx waybill, should you decide to pick it up the same day, etc. These people tend to be short fused because of the sheer # of people that are there at any time (25-35 when I was there).

Down the hall, take a left and proceed to the end is the K Visa area. When we were there, there were 4 other people as well. Even if you go with your fiance', they don't call you up together, she goes first (and foremost) and if you are there, they may ask you some questions. I thought the people to be very professional, but not rude at all. You check in at the main window, they verify your papers, appt. do you have photos etc. then you sit & wait until your name is called. You then proceed to one of two windows where they are on one side of the glass and the fiance' on the other. They look thru the papers, ask questions and just try to validate it is a true and bonafide relationship.

Due to some paperwork glitch, we had to go back to the Embassy a couple of times, but I thought the people we dealt with were great.

Congrats on your approval!! I was with my fiance' (now wife) at the time of the interview - it wasn't as bad as WE think, but so many times THEY are used to bribery to get things accomplished - not very democratic. Assuring them it's all on the up and up may settle their nerves. The questions are pretty straightforward, they are just trying to make sure it is a bonafide relationship. The actual maze at the Embassy can rattle most people, knowing where to go, all the other people in line, the two people at a time etc. is intimidating. For those of you still waiting for the interview, and it's not easy to do, is try to get them to relax, be prepared and be honest. Easier said than done, however.

Bloodofheroes, do you now have a decent relationship with your sister now? Time heals many wounds, and if you two are past what happened - perhaps she will explain what occured to your fiance'? Either way, don't hide anything and be upfront - it is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission at times and you could creae a whole set of problems by not being honest now.

We were a CSC transfer and from the time of filing until our interview was 10 months (interview in Chicago). Then we got the supplemental medicals at the interview as an RFE and sent those in. I don't think being transferred is clear cut that you get to bypass anything.

Can't you go to your State Motor Vehicle office and get a State ID card? With the passport, a piece of mail addressed to her (can be from your office) and the marraige license should be enough proof and issued the same day.

We had our AOS interview today. Interview was for 10 AM, and despite leaving 2 hours early, Chicago traffic killed us and we were 10 minutes late. Only had to wait 10 minutes and they called us in. We took a friend along to help translate if needed, since I couldn't but because she wasn't a citizen or premanent resident - she couldn't be in the room. Iryna did very well, despite being nervous and a couple of questions threw her off. Fortantly, the interviewer Ms. Love was very helpful, tried everything possible to help, asked the questions repeatedly so she understood and could answer them. They did not ask for any additonal evidence, photos, new affidavit of support, nothing. Questions were pretty straight forward, here they are to the best of my recollection.

- when were you married?

- what was the date you entered the United States?

- have you ever voted in an elecetion in the USA?

- have you ever committed any terrorist activities?

- have you ever recevied any money from the US Government?

- have you ever used a fake passport or douments to enter the USA?

That was it. She was beyond helpful and actually let me help out translating a little to ease the pressure. Pending the girls getting a supplemental vaccination from a Civil Surgeon (have 84 days), they will get their green cards and we are approved!!

One more thing - our daughter had her biometrics 2 months after my wife, so we figured she would have a seperate interview. The woman asked where our daughter was, because she was suppose to have her interview 30 minutes after my wifes, but we NEVER received the notice from USCIS of her interview. She said because of our interview and her age (13), she would not have to come in seperatly and was approved as well. THANK YOU MS. LOVE, you were wonderful!!

Hope this info helps others or maybe ease some of the concerns they have.