Update & Questions

[Ricca711 1]

Hey VJer's,

I MISS VISA JOURNEY!!!! All is well with Samuel and I. Outside of the normal frustrations of the weather (too cold), waiting for SSN, and not being able to work, Samuel is adjusting well. Before I get to why I got on here today, I have to tell this story. I love the way Ghanaians have a serious network. On July 4th I must have had 20 Ghanaians at our home! In actuality he only knew one guy, but when Abu called two friends, and they called two friends, and so on, and so on. Before you know it it was A Ghanaian Family Reunion! The feeling was wonderful, and I loved watching him interact with his friends.

Since his arrival I have not had a lot to time to get on the website. However, today I had to. We are looking ahead to the AOS process and I just called a few civil surgeons regarding the exam and one doctor really just pissed me off. So of course I had to jump on here quickly and get some advice.

1. The USCIS website and instructions clearly state that if you entered on a K-1 fiance' visa you do not have to have another medical. One doctor I talked to insisted that a medical has to be done again, if the medical in Ghana was NOT done by a civil surgeon in Ghana. Is she correct?

2. Samuel is very anxious to get his drivers license. Once he has his SSN can he get his drivers license or will he have to wait until he is a permanent resident?

3. He has an opportunity to work. However he is afraid that once the EAD expires that he will have to quit. Can he continue to work while the application for AOS is pending or will he need to quit?

Ok, well I guess I should get back to work. I will wait for any responses or advice. You know I appreciate it.

Erika

[4theloveofhenry 8]

Sorry I dont have any answers but just wanted to say how glad I am that everything is going well for you and your husband. Take care.

[Ta Ta 1]

Hi Ricca , good to hear all is well.

Yes the networking is always wonderful to watch as it unfolds.

Too cold ? Really hot here in IL.

The CS is INCORRECT ..........he does not need a medical, unless it has expired, it is good for one year. There are no CS to do the medicals in the beneficiaries country, only panel physicians.

He needs to have the vaccination worksheet transfered by a CS , some get approved without it but you may get a RFE so I recommend it.

This CS will do it per fax or mail for $ 10.

Dr. L. E. Arnold

4534 Westgate BLV, Suite106

Austin, Tx. 78745

512 444 7845 phone

512 447 3131 fax

Yes, he has to stop working and has to wait for the EAD to start again.

[Ta Ta 1]

Is he working now ? I may have misunderstood you.............he needs to wait for the EAD to work. If it expires he can renew it.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

[LovinLiberia 0]

1. The USCIS website and instructions clearly state that if you entered on a K-1 fiance' visa you do not have to have another medical. One doctor I talked to insisted that a medical has to be done again, if the medical in Ghana was NOT done by a civil surgeon in Ghana. Is she correct?

Keep shopping around. Some civil surgeons will want him to get the whole thing done again while others won't. We never got our vaccine paper from Liberia, so we went to a travel clinic (you can try the health department, too) and got the 3 (or 4, I think) vaccines that are needed for AOS. Once we got the vaccines and the documents showing that he had them done here, we were able to find a civil surgeon who was willing to transfer that information to the I-693a. The civil surgeon sealed it in an envelope and put her stamp on it. We were then able to send it off with our AOS package. You are right, he does not need the whole medical done as long as he came on a K-1 and had the original medical within the last year. Some CS don't seem to realize or know this.

2. Samuel is very anxious to get his drivers license. Once he has his SSN can he get his drivers license or will he have to wait until he is a permanent resident?

It's different for each state. Check with you DMV and see what they say. Some people need to be a perm. resident first, while others are able to get it with just a SSN.

3. He has an opportunity to work. However he is afraid that once the EAD expires that he will have to quit. Can he continue to work while the application for AOS is pending or will he need to quit?

Sorry, I don't know much about this since we never got the temp. EAD stamp.

Ok, well I guess I should get back to work. I will wait for any responses or advice. You know I appreciate it.

Erika

It sounds like Samuel had a great time with his friends! It is truly amazing how much they can network with each other. Thanks for the update.

Hi Ricca , good to hear all is well.

Yes the networking is always wonderful to watch as it unfolds.

Too cold ? Really hot here in IL.

The CS is INCORRECT ..........he does not need a medical, unless it has expired, it is good for one year. There are no CS to do the medicals in the beneficiaries country, only panel physicians.

He needs to have the vaccination worksheet transfered by a CS , some get approved without it but you may get a RFE so I recommend it.

This CS will do it per fax or mail for $ 10.

Dr. L. E. Arnold

4534 Westgate BLV, Suite106

Austin, Tx. 78745

512 444 7845 phone

512 447 3131 fax

Yes, he has to stop working and has to wait for the EAD to start again.

Dr. Arnold charges $20 now and her suite number recently changed. This is the one we used and she was very professional and quick.

[Zee Bee 61]

Hey VJer's,

I MISS VISA JOURNEY!!!! All is well with Samuel and I. Outside of the normal frustrations of the weather (too cold), waiting for SSN, and not being able to work, Samuel is adjusting well. Before I get to why I got on here today, I have to tell this story. I love the way Ghanaians have a serious network. On July 4th I must have had 20 Ghanaians at our home! In actuality he only knew one guy, but when Abu called two friends, and they called two friends, and so on, and so on. Before you know it it was A Ghanaian Family Reunion! The feeling was wonderful, and I loved watching him interact with his friends.

Since his arrival I have not had a lot to time to get on the website. However, today I had to. We are looking ahead to the AOS process and I just called a few civil surgeons regarding the exam and one doctor really just pissed me off. So of course I had to jump on here quickly and get some advice.

1. The USCIS website and instructions clearly state that if you entered on a K-1 fiance' visa you do not have to have another medical. One doctor I talked to insisted that a medical has to be done again, if the medical in Ghana was NOT done by a civil surgeon in Ghana. Is she correct? As long as the medical was done within the last year he does not need to do a full medical again. Check out the AOS forum about what is needed.

2. Samuel is very anxious to get his drivers license. Once he has his SSN can he get his drivers license or will he have to wait until he is a permanent resident? Check out your local DMV website. Every state is different in regards to giving oul DL.

3. He has an opportunity to work. However he is afraid that once the EAD expires that he will have to quit. Can he continue to work while the application for AOS is pending or will he need to quit? There have been some threads in the AOS forum and the Working and Traveling Prior to Greencard forumabout this. I would check those out.

Ok, well I guess I should get back to work. I will wait for any responses or advice. You know I appreciate it.

Erika

[Kanyiri 0]

1. The drs on that list are typically pretty clueless. Nevertheless, Re did get another medical. He may not have had to, but it was less hassle that way.

2. Re waited until he was a permanent resident, but we have good public transportation and only one car, so it wasn't as high a priority for us.

3. If you have the temp EAD (the 90day one) once it expires he has to either quit or start volunteering for free for a while. When you file for AOS file for the longer term EAD and then he can work again until the permanent resident card comes. Unfortunately for us, they arrived at the same time so we kinda wasted money on the second EAD. Oh well.

[Ta Ta 1]

LL can you give me the new suite number for my records please ?

[Ta Ta 1]

Also, get an extra copy of the vaccination transfer for your own records, they tend to ' misplace ' a lot during AOS. Keep the other one sealed and submit with the rest of your package.

[LovinLiberia 0]

Dr. Arnold's new number is (512) 444-3131 and she is at the same address, but now in suite # 114.

[Ricca711 1]

Sorry I dont have any answers but just wanted to say how glad I am that everything is going well for you and your husband. Take care.

Thank you my friend. If you need help please do not hesitate to call. Its better you call because like I said, I dont get the opportunity to get on while I am at home and I try to limit my time here at work. I sent you my number in a personal message.

Keep in touch,

Erika

[Ricca711 1]

Thanks to all for such quick responses. I knew I could count on you guys. I am at work, so I will print these out your suggestions and start making some phone calls. I will send an update as soon as I can. Again....I appreciate it each of you.

[Ricca711 1]

Hi Ricca , good to hear all is well.

Yes the networking is always wonderful to watch as it unfolds.

Too cold ? Really hot here in IL.

Oh Yes Omoba! We live in Cleveland by the lake, so our days can be hot, but the nights are generally cool.

The CS is INCORRECT ..........he does not need a medical, unless it has expired, it is good for one year. There are no CS to do the medicals in the beneficiaries country, only panel physicians.

He needs to have the vaccination worksheet transfered by a CS , some get approved without it but you may get a RFE so I recommend it.

This CS will do it per fax or mail for $ 10.

Dr. L. E. Arnold

4534 Westgate BLV, Suite106

Austin, Tx. 78745

512 444 7845 phone

512 447 3131 fax

Yes, he has to stop working and has to wait for the EAD to start again.

[Ta Ta 1]

Oops, LL I had the right number but typed it wrong, I typed in the zip code I am a real stickler about giving out wrong info.

Correction :

512 444 3131 phone

512 447 4699 fax

new suite 114

[Ricca711 1]

Is he working now ? I may have misunderstood you.............he needs to wait for the EAD to work. If it expires he can renew it.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

He had an interview yesterday and the employer wants to hire him. But the employer did not know if he would have to stop working or not after the EAD expires (he got the stamp at JFK). I was just trying to make sure I am versed on the topic in case the employer really does not know. I do not want any trouble when we go for the AOS interview. I also did not want to pay $300 plus dollars for a permit only to have to pay again when we adjust our status.