JoyDee

Where do you all get these processing times? When I check the USCIS website it doesn't list family based AOS at either the National Benefits Center (MSC) or the California Service Center. Why do you think that these centers processes family-based AOS when it is not listed on the website? Additionally, my local field office is swamped with AOS and the last one they processed was from Jan 7th! looks like i'm in for a wait. =/

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do

Thanks for everyone's help on this matter, we really appreciate it.

I will wait a little while longer and then try calling them to see if they can update us, though we haven't even received a NOA1 yet so there doesn't seem much point.

Does anyone know how long it would take them to send back an RFE? Do they normally call or mail you about this?

@JoyDee - which service center did you mail your package to?

I mailed to Chicago Lockbox. Did you include the Email notification paper? We got a case number with that email but it isn't coming up in the system yet. Hard to do anything without a case number.

i posted this on another thread, but i sent my package last saturday, they received it on monday, i got email confirmation on Wednesday and the check was cashed on Thursday. good luck!

FYI I mailed out my package last Saturday, it was signed for on Monday, I received confirmation and acceptance notification on Wednesday and the check was cashed today, Thursday. I'm glad too because I don't like having checks for 1K just floating around in space!

go back and talk to a supervisor at social security. my hubs i94 was stamped authorized to work and they do see the poe info when they pull up your A# at Social security. in any case, try again. sounds fishy.

or you can just adjust status without a SSN

Hi

How are you? and NO i'm not going through with it its just when I called so I could let them know I want to put a stop to the case they told me that it was under the administrative but who knows but in some ways I want him to get the packet 3 so he knows what he has lost because of all his lies and cheating

Chances are he won't get the packet three unless you facilitate it, by emailing and asking for it and then sending it to him. I don't know anyone that has actually received packet 3 in Haiti. That said, why are you torturing yourself and him? If you don't want to marry him just put a stop to it! I don't have any doubt that he knows exactly what he is missing out on, with or without that paperwork.

IT took my husband ten days to receive his after the interview. K1 visa. They are notoriously bad though, LIke telling ppl the interview is one day and when you get there saying oops, we meant next week. etc. If its a big thing you are planning, I'd put it off til the visa is in hand, or at the very least approved.

I think, honestly, it depends on the kind of place where you live and in all likelihood the nationality of the LPR (sad but probably true).

I mentioned 287(g) above. In Georgia, immigration is a hot button topic of the moment. Three counties near me are part of the program, as are the State Patrol. If they should arrest you, you'll be challenged about your immigration status when you're booked in at the county nick. A green card deals with that little matter instantly and without hassle. Not having your GC would make it a messy and probably very unpleasant experience while they clear it up. Now I for one don't plan on being arrested for anything but it seems to be something that can happen at the drop of a hat for very minor things so it would be foolish to assume it'll never happen to you.

The stats for one of the 287(g) counties in Metro Atlanta paints a clear picture. The vast majority of those detained for immigration matters were from Latin America and the vast, vast majority were arrested for minor traffic violations, not having their DL or "other misdemeanor" offences. Having your GC on your person, if you're in those groups and/or in an area where 'catching the illegals' is a big deal, would be more than advised!

It takes quite a bit to get arrested, drunken driving for instance, perhaps soliciting a prostitute. A red light violation is not an arrest, nor is a speeding ticket, and they cannot ask for your paperwork. I think that folks should brush up on their rights, especially in states like that where you are under constant threat. If you are a legal resident they will find that out when they book you whether or not you are carrying the physical copy of the greencard. Thank heavens for the internet.

Go and get your cards on the same day! Its a big enough hassle to have to go there once =) We didn't need his birth certificate, just the passport with Visa and I94. You'll need your marriage license for your name change. I just went last Friday the 1st and received my card today.

One of the main reasons you want to do his now is so that you can open a joint bank account. They also ask for the number when you file AOS if you have them..

I have been trying to figure out where my application will go as well. Looks like it will only go to California if it is an employment based application, not family based. My local office is working at like 7 months so its frustrating.

What state are you in?

If you have the K1 visa stamp and the marriage license along with social security card and proof of address you should be able to get a state ID. A receipt for AOS could also help. We are going through this now. OF course it varies by state and by the person at the counter. We were told that our request was sent to the higher authority in the state capital for approval before they would issue it.. a big pain, but still try again.

Awesome! Thanks so much!

I had to have a translator just to get the marriage license. Unfortunately they sent us away the first time because i thought I could translate for him because i've translated every paper document and for every other bureaucratic agency like social security and driver's license. In any case, it had to be a non-family member translator because it was a 'legal contract'.

I think for AOS you do need a translator if she cannot understand and respond in English yet. I would try to start practicing with her to see her skill level. You might want to practice anticipated questions anyway. Do you or she have any friends that are bi-lingual? The person I found to translate for the license is a friend and her French was much worse than mine and my husband's but she got us through the required dialogue (with me whispering at her). I will probably ask someone different for AOS if hubs still can't speak very well at that point.

Thanks Jay-Kay,

I found the DS-3025! It was inside the large envelope with the x-rays.

The instructions for the 693 state that if you are a K non-immigrant then a) you don't need another exam as long as there were no Class A medical conditions found or if they were resolved and b) that we still have to show vaccination records. Does the DS-3025 satisfy the vaccination requirement? Or do I need to get the vaccination schedule in the 693 signed by the Civil Surgeon.

I called a surgeon and he was kind of a jerk saying he didn't know what he could do for me since i read him the list of vaccines my husband had taken in March and he said that my husband already had the required vaccinations. Then he told me hoped i was using a lawyer because i didn't know what i was talking about when i told him we didn't need the full physical examination. oy!

The 485 instructions are not very clear either stating that if you are a K-1 fiance within the last year you don't need a physical but you DO need to submit the vaccination supplement, again not clear if the DS-3025 satisfies, or if it has to be the 693.

Thanks for all pointers!

Another question this morning:

How do we translate the instructions for the medical examination?? K1 visa holder, Arrived less than one year ago, but I take it as a bad sign that I have not heard of the form DS-3025. I take it that this form was never filled out at the overseas examination. Does this mean that my fiance must be examined again? He doesn't have an official vaccination record either. We do have the chest xray.

thanks bluebonnet! after re-reading my own question i realized how silly i was being.. ahh this journey is crazy!

I noticed that for the K1 application we sent in photocopies of originals. FOr the interview my now hubby brought all the originals and they were thankfully returned. Now we are filing AOS. Do we send the original marriage license or a photocopy? I am still using the original for my name change and banking issues, etc.

I recently married my fiance. We are in the process of AOS. I have been changing my name on documents like social security and driver license. What name do I use when we file for AOS? I have clearly used my maiden name until now and its my maiden name that's listed on his Visa and my tax transcripts.

I just wanted to add that I think you need two sets of forms, one for you stating your income full set of w2's and another full set of forms and w2's for the co-sponsor.

Definitely print or better yet email the packet to your fiance for him to print. My fiance never received a packet 3 via post in Haiti. The letters should be addressed to him anyway. They'll want to see the letter at the medical and when he goes to sogebank to pay. I think i got my regular mail packet 3 from PAP about a week before the interview.. definitely don't wait for it. If you email the consulate they are pretty prompt at getting back to you. Calling them is a different story and hasn't worked at all in my experience.

You must have the translations at the interview. It does not have to be done by an official translator. You can just write something like this:

Certification by Translator

I, [NAME], certify that I am fluent (conversant) in the English and

[OTHER] languages, and that the above/attached document is an accurate translation of

the document attached entitled ______________________________.

Signature_________________________________

Date ________________________

Joy Dee

STREET, APT

CITY STATE ZIP

The translation is needed every time the birth cert is needed. If you can translate yourself just do it.

So you are saying that you didn't have an already completed Form SS-5 and they made you complete one?

correct. i went to the office, filled out a form, had my fiance sign it and they issued us a receipt that the card will come in the mail.

however, they entered his name wrong at the POE so the card will have the wrong name on it because they can only use the name attached to the I94. therefore, have to go to border patrol today to fix the name, and go back to social security again to re-issue a card with the correct name.

In our state, PA, we need the social security card in order to get married. We can't adjust status without marriage, thus need the SSN to adjust. This must vary by state.

Do you know if we have to go back to the POE where he entered or if we can go to our local one??

Thanks so much!

Or if the Dream Act goes through. Which is highly unlikely. Congress was just discussing whether or not to let student visa holders adjust status. why educate folks with our resources and then send them packing? didn't pass though =/

There are so many universities here in the US its hard to say whether its easy or hard. It depends on your brother's grades and general mission in life. US students apply to up to 9-12 schools for the undergraduate programs. He needs to know what discipline he wants to study and write persuasively about why the university is a good match for him.