shall I go home on AP and come back by interview date ?

[leapoffaith 0]

I have filed for AOS last week, was on K1.

Is it a good idea to seek infopass for AP and come back when I get the letter for AOS interview appointment ?

Is there timeline for AOS interview here ? How long is it taking for the interview at this time ?

thanks.

[candyace 0]

I have filed for AOS last week, was on K1.

Is it a good idea to seek infopass for AP and come back when I get the letter for AOS interview appointment ?

Is there timeline for AOS interview here ? How long is it taking for the interview at this time ?

thanks.

If you go in for an infopass appt. they'll only give you AP for an emergency, I believe. If you are planning on leaving the US during that whole time, I think they'll see that as pretty odd considering you just got married and now you're going back home until your GC interview.

[JeremyR 8]

It's my understanding that AP is only be given at an InfoPass appointment for the direst of circumstances (death of immediate family member and needing to attend the funeral, etc). If you just want to go home for a holiday, you'd need to file and wait out the processing time (3 months or so). If you leave the country without AP or a green card after entering on K-1, you will not be allowed back in as K-1 is a single-entry visa. Further, your AOS would be considered abandoned.

According to the VJ stats page, the current wait for interview is a little over 5 months from filing.

Unless you're thinking of taking your spouse with you, why would you want to your home country for the entire period between AOS filing and interview? Unless there's a bona-fide reason then even with AP, you might have a hard time convincing an interviewer that your marriage is genuine...

[leapoffaith 0]

Well, this is not a "bonafide" reason but a personal genuine one. I am just sick of being in the house while she goes to work - seems like under house arrest with no AP, no EAD, no DL, no car and also money running out. Well, if I could only hibernate for six months......

[alexpapa 4]

Well, this is not a "bonafide" reason but a personal genuine one. I am just sick of being in the house while she goes to work - seems like under house arrest with no AP, no EAD, no DL, no car and also money running out. Well, if I could only hibernate for six months......

you might have a tough time explaining that during your interview I think

[raymaga 25]

Your original question was whether it "was a good idea" to leave the U.S. until your AOS interview.

The answer is simply.... no, it is not a good idea.

Firstly, did you apply for AP at the same time as your AOS? If so, you could wait around 6 weeks for the AP to be approved, and then you could travel. Without your reason for leaving the U.S. being an emergency of some kind, you would not get approval of the AP at an InfoPass appointment.

I agree with all the other posters that you wanting to leave the U.S. right after your marriage, and not wanting to return until your AOS interview, would certainly look suspicious to the interviewer. It could definitely cause suspicion about whether you have a bona fide marriage.

I would try to find something to occupy your time in the U.S. while you wait for either the AP documents or your GC before you travel. Maybe do some volunteer work or take a class. Or even a home-improvement project could occupy your time while your wife is at work.

We have all been in your shoes and we can certainly understand how you are feeling.

Be patient.

Edited February 18, 2009 by raymaga

[leapoffaith 0]

thanks for your replies. I did apply for AP at the same time. OK I will hang on , thanks again.

[2xHollyx2 3]

It is definetely not a good idea.

Why don't you volunteer if you are bored.

You get out of the house, meet people and get first references that can help you to get a job when you receive your EAD.

[leapoffaith 0]

I know Gina and wanted to do that. But, the problem is of conveyance (transportation). There is no public transport service where I live.

[JeremyR 8]

Could you put some more dates into your timeline? It would help us answer your questions more precisely (such as when you can likely expect to receive your AP).

By all means once you've got AP, go home for a short time, say 2-3 weeks but much longer than that, unless there's a very good reason (and 'I'm bored' won't count) you'll probably have trouble showing a genuine marriage at the AOS interview. Think of it from the interviewer's point of view - after all the expense and separation of the K-1 process, you then spending several months away from your new spouse is going to raise a red flag in their eyes.

I've been here since May last year and every Monday to Friday since, between 8am and 5pm, I'm alone in the house with no car, no job, etc. You have to find yourself things to do, otherwise you're right - we'd go nuts! If you can't volunteer, find a new hobby that can be done in the house, do some DIY, fix up the yard, etc, etc. I'm currently working on repainting all the kitchen cabinets to keep me from going insane (oh, and spending far too much time reading VJ ).

Another point is that if you file an I-765 with your AOS application (did you?) then you can expect to receive an EAD at about the same time as the AP. Once you have that, you can get a Social Security number, driver's license and of course, a job. The normal processing time for EADs is 90 days from the NOA1 date. It takes a few more weeks after receiving the EAD to get the documentation sorted for a driver's license (check your state's DMV website) and depending on your state's laws you may have to get a learners permit first but it's a good solid step towards not being so house-bound

[leapoffaith 0]

Wow, Jeremy, you have opened my eyes. I was feeling so miserable right now.

this wait game is really enough to drive anybody nuts and with the money running out .....

because all you do is spend and spend ......

I will update my timeline today,

wondering if I could add you as a buddy here

[Jon&Lindsey 0]

I also know what it's like to be at home with nothing to do, but like the others, I don't think going home (for more than just a quick trip that is obviously (to the IO) a visit) is a good idea. At least you have filed for AOS, so there is an end in sight for you I know it's really hard, but at least now you are with your loved one and married, and well on the way to your GC and new life in the US, so that's two good things, right?

I arrived in Nov '07 and didn't get my EAD until Sept '08, so I was just at home too. I was often at home alone from 7am-8pm, and yeah, it really sucked. I explored the area on foot with our dog, and started setting up a home craft business (of course, I didn't actually sell stuff until I was allowed to, but there's nothing to stop you preparing beforehand). I also worked on writing some ebooks, again to sell as soon as I was allowed to make money. Volunteering is a great suggestion, but like you, I had no means to get anywhere. Learning to cook, a new hobby, a new language, DIY work in the home are great things to do too. Will you be able to work in your job/profession immediately once you get your EAD? I had to take exams, since I didn't train in the US, so studying and taking the exams was another thing I did. Maybe there is some kind of online course you could do, related to your job, which would occupy you and make you more employable once you get the EAD? Now would be a great time to expand your skills for later employment. Since I have had my EAD/GC I have basically been home still, since I help hubby with his writing/editing business, and am only just now eligible to get a licence to work in my profession. We have no money for another car right now, and anyway, if I can't work in my profession, I make more doing the writing than getting an unskilled job. I am desperate to get out of the house too, so I know how you feel. Try to think of things you always wanted to do, but never had the time, and see if you can do them now. Pretty soon this time will be over, and then you'll feel like a 'real person' and everything will be much better

[leapoffaith 0]

thanks you Lindsey. Good to know there are people who are feeling the same as me.

[Craneman 2]

Well, this is not a "bonafide" reason but a personal genuine one. I am just sick of being in the house while she goes to work - seems like under house arrest with no AP, no EAD, no DL, no car and also money running out. Well, if I could only hibernate for six months......

Sounds like you need to go home.

[patriciaofoz 0]

leapoffaith,

I went home for 2 months November '08 to December '09 and had no problem coming back into the US, using my Advance Parole & without knowing whether they were going to ask me for an Interview while I was away.

I can understand the hesitation of using an AP before getting your GC. But before I bought my ticket, I got reassurance from Immigration Officers from USCIS that I shouldn't be afraid to use my AP - that's why they grant you one. Not once was I asked at LAX why I used my AP, how long I was gone for, etc. As long as you have the appropriate paperwork, you should feel confident in using it.

And the main reason why I went back for that long: I was homesick, I missed my family and needed to just go home. Relocating to another country isn't easy for all of us and you get to a point where you need to be around familiar things. And for your own sanity, an AP is there to be used - not to be afraid of. That is my opinion on it.

Good luck and I hope you are granted your AP & GC soon!