AOS-Filing (or Compiling) in October 2008

[BexandAlan 0]

Yey!! After bitching about it yesterday I just went to check the online status and it worked! It also said we were transferred to CSC yesterday too so will be hanging out with ya'll shortly. I'm getting a little bit stressed about the whole TB thing. I don't mind so much having to have the skin test but all the horror stories coming out about if it is positive don't make me feel at ease. I had to have the BCG immunization when I was in school and so I can tell them before they do it that my test will be positive. There is no way in hell I am going on antibiotics for 6 months so that in 6 months time they can do the test again and get the exact same reading. Its so stupid when we have already be cleared by the X-rays. Sigh.

ANYWAY ... One day closer to my deep fried turkey!!

[aleena 0]

Hello my dear friends!

NICH why am i not at all surprized you are having Thanksgiving at your house! You seem exactly the type of person that would do that for their friends and family, which is a good thing!

I have 2 days off from work! Yaaaay! I have gotten to appreciate weekends and holidays! but we will be very busy in December so i will get my share...

Tomorrow we're going to one of Lee's sisters for dinner. His family is really nice and they really make me feel good every time. I am actually baking some apple tarts right now. Hopefully they come out ok and i won't embarass myself

Hunting weekend again so i guess i won't see my baby to much... Time for some Christmas shopping!

He got me a pink camo hoodie today! He wants to buy me a pink shot gun and teach me to shoot. Whatever makes him happy...lol

He built a box deer stand in the woods that can be heated so i guess i am not getting away this winter. I told him i will scare all his deer away on purpose!

BEX and KIM it is nice to hear back from you!

My little English friend, I understand your excitement about Thanksgiving. It is my first one also. Actually i was here 2 years ago, but i was working so i did not get to have a real thing.

So HAPPY TURKEY DAY everyone!

And one more little thing.... I am thankful for the existence of this "place" and for having friends that like to listen and share their worries and joys!

[Susita 175]

Hey guys an update... we're getting married on Dec. 19 and I already have most of the stuff ready for AOS, just have to make a few photocopies etc.

Can you guys tell me what I have to do for the medical? Luis had a medical exam in Lima already. I heard about filling out some form. What is it / how do we do it???

And as far as evidence, pictures, marriage pictures, etc is ok? I'm also getting a joint bank acct for us.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi Susita,

We're not real clear about the medical. Well we are, but we're ignoring it. LOL. Luis had a medical in Peru, so technically he doesn't need another if it's within a year that his AOS gets done.

There is form I-693 for a medical given in the US by a Civil Surgeon that is submitted with AOS by people who are adjusting from another kind of visa like student or work visa, because they didn't have a medical like the K1s and K3s did just a few months back. The I-693 was revised and the new form and rules affect people who had a medical after June 1, 2008. The new version of the form has a section for immunizations. So what K1s are supposed to do is go to a Civil Surgeon and show him the immunization record copy that they fiance got at his/her medical in their home country (DS-3025). The Civil Surgeon is supposed to transcribe the shot record to the new I-693 form and sign it and seal it in an envelope that you would send in with AOS. Prior to these new rule changes, K1s, etc could just send in that DS-3025 shot record from the medical overseas and many got by with just that. So if you read people telling you that's all you need to do, look and see when they got their visa. If it was before this summer, they didn't have to go by the new rules.

Bad news: Lots of people report that every Civil Surgeon they call says they won't sign anything unless they do the whole medical over again at a cost of several hundred dollars.

Good news: There is a doctor in Austin, Texas (Dr. Arnold) that will take your immunization record and transcribe it and send it back sealed for $20.

Bad news: People with a medical after June 1, also have to have a TB skin test that has to be cleared on the I-693 by the Civil Surgeon. It doesn't matter if Luis had a chest x-ray to determine he doesn't have TB, he has to have a skin test reported on the I-693.

Bad news: Dr. Arnold doesn't transcribe the skin test because she said it isn't needed. Probably she's not yet used to the new rules and maybe that will get sorted out with her soon. So that makes you kinda stuck trying to find a Civil Surgeon in your area and probably paying for another medical.

So those of us you know like Bex, Kim, me, etc are kinda in the same boat with medicals after June 1. I didn't do the I-693 thing, just filed and sent in the DS-3025 and waiting for a probable RFE because I was tired of chasing down forms. I was too busy with a hurricane to even worry about what to do. Kim is waiting to see what happens to other people and if they get RFEs. So far there haven't been masses of RFE info about the medical. But the real rules are as I explained for Luis. And it's cr@p to be in the changeover group where the rules change but the Civil Surgeons aren't clear on them yet. So we're kind of in limbo not knowing the best thing to do. But I don't care since we're together. I can wait until somebody sends me an RFE with some specific instructions.

How is Luis doing? We are doing well. Had a great Thanksgiving and everybody is impressed with Nick....really like him alot, including the ex in-laws who were also here for Thanksgiving. I am so happy.

[Susita 175]

Wow sounds like a big messy situation. This stinks. LOL

Luis is doing great, although he's bored out of his mind most of the time b/c he can't work yet due to not having work authorization. He starts school at night in January so that should get his mind off of things until he gets the EAD.

My family really likes him, his birthday was actually Thanksgiving so we got him an ice cream cake

It's a little hard because of the language barrier, but in January he starts with the ESL classes so that should help.

Hope everything is going well for you guys!!

[HighwayStar 0]

Checking in here too... Hello everybody ! Finally got to the US on Nov 19, everything smooth and easy peasy. We'll probably get married some time this week - it will be the ultimate no-frills wedding, with just the two of us. After that, we'll file for AOS. I intend to do exactly the same as Nich did as concerns the medical and TB test, as I have NO intention whatsoever of spending some more money on a medical when mine was on Oct 7. If I get an RFE, then I get it.. The only snag is that I have to have AP as soon as possible, since by the end of October 2009 I will have to travel back to Italy in order to resign from my job (I am on leave of absence now). Well, I suppose we'll just wait and see.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hooray! Highway is here. Welcome to the USA

Hi Raff~

Thanks for posting. I've been wondering about you, but assumed it was all good. I'm so happy that you're getting married this week.

You should be fine with the AP by next October. Those are only taking a couple of months and they are independent of the AOS/medical/skin test fiasco, I think.

Back to the reference I made about Dr. Arnold not transcribing the TST...Damian wrote her a letter explaining the situation and new requirements and just got a reply today.

"Dear Mr P

We are in receipt of your letter. The TST is not an immunization, but part of the medical exam. We are only authorized to transfer your immuniztions to the proper form. The physician who does the medical exam is responsible for the TST. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.

Sincerely

Jean Durocher, RN"

So fully understanding that there are new requirements, she is declining to transcribe the TST. And using her would be a waste of time and money if you still need another Civil Surgeon to fill in the TB part of form I-693. Her transcription would be incomplete so it sounds like one will have to find a Civil Surgeon who will do both without charging for a whole medical. I think I'm going to go have a visit to the CS in my town and tell him he could make alot of extra money if he would become the "new" Dr. Arnold and transcribe both.

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Hooray! Highway is here. Welcome to the USA

Hi Raff~

Thanks for posting. I've been wondering about you, but assumed it was all good. I'm so happy that you're getting married this week.

You should be fine with the AP by next October. Those are only taking a couple of months and they are independent of the AOS/medical/skin test fiasco, I think.

Back to the reference I made about Dr. Arnold not transcribing the TST...Damian wrote her a letter explaining the situation and new requirements and just got a reply today.

"Dear Mr P

We are in receipt of your letter. The TST is not an immunization, but part of the medical exam. We are only authorized to transfer your immuniztions to the proper form. The physician who does the medical exam is responsible for the TST. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.

Sincerely

Jean Durocher, RN"

So fully understanding that there are new requirements, she is declining to transcribe the TST. And using her would be a waste of time and money if you still need another Civil Surgeon to fill in the TB part of form I-693. Her transcription would be incomplete so it sounds like one will have to find a Civil Surgeon who will do both without charging for a whole medical. I think I'm going to go have a visit to the CS in my town and tell him he could make alot of extra money if he would become the "new" Dr. Arnold and transcribe both.

And if you do find someone, Nich, be sure to let us know!!!

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Interesting~~

I mailed the AOS, ect. package certified mail with a return receipt. Well yesterday on Dec. 1, the little green postcard arrived in my mailbox stamped OCT 12 2008 and signed for by Lock Box. Now where has that return receipt been hanging out for 7 weeks?

Perhaps it's been shacked up with somebody's missing Biometrics letter.

[wizardfitz 13]

had the same experience. we sent ours oct 15th, did not hear anything til we got a noa 1st week of nov stating the noa ltr is dated nov 27th and we didnt get the green rtn card way after we got the noa so who knows....????

[Ana&Jeff 0]

Hi evebody!!! I am still here!!! hahaha

I hope evebody is doing well my wedding was on nov 15 and was awesome it was at 11am after that we had lunch at the sherborn Inn was really nice and after there evebody came over to my house and played games until mid night hahahah It was fun!

Todays was my last day of work I had the temporary work authorization and now comes up a question. I sent my papers to the USCIS TODAY but my 3 months visa is done today and I ahvent got my driver license yet I am going to change my name on the SS tomorrow and then I Will do that. So how can I prove that Iam legal here is US? becaus eI lot of people doesnt know anything about the K1 visa I have to explain 10 thousands times.

Now that I stoped working I will have time again to come here and chat with you people hahaha

Ana

[aleena 0]

Raffaella!!!!!!!

Congratulations on you marriage! we are happy to hear from you!

And Ana is here too! That is nice! The whole gang is back!

Ana...regarding your quetion, i do not know for sure how it works in the state you are in, but in Maryland you either need a valid i-94 or a work permit to get your driver's licence. I got mine before my I-94 expired. About the SS...i know there had been a lot of conversation about whether you are able to do it or wait for the EAD or green card. I know i will wait.I don't feel like looking up information and explaining my situation 100000 times...like you said.

It is soo weird that I am starting to plan my wedding. I might actually go and look for a dress this weekend. Since it had to happen right away we did not make a big deal about our court house wedding. And now we have to prepare for the big thing. I think it is better for me this way because i had time to get used to some things and get to know people. Did i tell you it will be on March 21st? I am getting really excited! I even forget I am already married with all this big day preparation!

I had a long day at work and know i'm waiting for my baby to come back from the woods.

By the way...there are 2 gutted deer hanging in front of the garage door...Pretty view when you wake up in the morning...lol I think i will just have to get used to it or...get over it or...whatever!

He's running late tonight so he might actually come back with another innocent dead animal....

Oh well...life is tough! lol

Good night everyone!

Alina

[Ana&Jeff 0]

ALina! hahah yes the gang is together hahahah!!!

I am not sure because in MA the only thing they ask for you to have your drive license is a ID and the mariage certificate and on the list of visa that are able to have a driver license the K1 is on it

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/license/16visacodes.htm

SO I am assuming that I dont have to explain the hole stituation... I should had done that before but I didnt want to do it with my single name so I was waiting to get married. and blah blah blah

I dont know .. I 've got to decide what I am going to do...

Ana

Raffaella!!!!!!!

Congratulations on you marriage! we are happy to hear from you!

And Ana is here too! That is nice! The whole gang is back!

Ana...regarding your quetion, i do not know for sure how it works in the state you are in, but in Maryland you either need a valid i-94 or a work permit to get your driver's licence. I got mine before my I-94 expired. About the SS...i know there had been a lot of conversation about whether you are able to do it or wait for the EAD or green card. I know i will wait.I don't feel like looking up information and explaining my situation 100000 times...like you said.

It is soo weird that I am starting to plan my wedding. I might actually go and look for a dress this weekend. Since it had to happen right away we did not make a big deal about our court house wedding. And now we have to prepare for the big thing. I think it is better for me this way because i had time to get used to some things and get to know people. Did i tell you it will be on March 21st? I am getting really excited! I even forget I am already married with all this big day preparation!

I had a long day at work and know i'm waiting for my baby to come back from the woods.

By the way...there are 2 gutted deer hanging in front of the garage door...Pretty view when you wake up in the morning...lol I think i will just have to get used to it or...get over it or...whatever!

He's running late tonight so he might actually come back with another innocent dead animal....

Oh well...life is tough! lol

Good night everyone!

Alina

[BexandAlan 0]

Hi Guys!!

Ana I had a nightmare trying to get my SSN changed into my new name, the woman was so rude because I didn't have a valid visa and kept telling me I was illegal! Psshhh technicalities!! I would wait until you have EAD to go change it. I've heard that a lot of DMV's only require your NOA1 from the USCIS to show that you are applying for AOS to let you take the tests. You could always give them a call.

Hope everyone's well. It was Alan's birthday yesterday and about halfway through the day we realized that we had never spent his birthday together before. It was nice

lots of love xxxx

[Ana&Jeff 0]

This is so cute!!!

yeah I gues I will wait until my NOA1 to I can show that to everyone they should had thought about that when they amde the rules for the visa you know... They need to understand that the reason we do all this is to not be illegal in any situation but people dont understand =(

Hi Guys!!

Ana I had a nightmare trying to get my SSN changed into my new name, the woman was so rude because I didn't have a valid visa and kept telling me I was illegal! Psshhh technicalities!! I would wait until you have EAD to go change it. I've heard that a lot of DMV's only require your NOA1 from the USCIS to show that you are applying for AOS to let you take the tests. You could always give them a call.

Hope everyone's well. It was Alan's birthday yesterday and about halfway through the day we realized that we had never spent his birthday together before. It was nice

lots of love xxxx