August 2008 fillers

[Chris & Mara 0]

ok that is a little crazy....

[maliciant 7]

Tomandtanja: As far as I know I'm the furthest along the AOS path of the august filers, or at least the furthest along of anyone who is still paying attention to this august thread. No AOS or EAD yet here, though it's only been 2 months (tomorrow) since we got married and a little over a month since we filed AOS. We have done our biometrics appointment 11 days ago so now it's probably any day until the EAD shows up (but it could take another 2 months too), the AP could also show up anywhere in that time frame. The AOS case has been transfered to CSC instead of the local office, so an interview is pretty unlikely, in our case. If there is an interview they'd transfer the case back to st louis and schedule it, but I'm hoping to just get to skip the interview since st louis is a bit of a trip and right now I don't have enough money to make it worth the trip by staying a few days.

Since I filed in march for AOS, here's where people stand so far. There are 67 people listed in our spreadsheet, 19 have had their cases transfered to CSC. Two people have interview dates scheduled (not the ones who were transfered), one person (who actually filed a few days before march) has received AP and EAD already, and one other person has already received AP as well. I think both cases where people have received AP had requested expedites and apparently got them (for the AP only). Just one person who has received EAD, no interviews yet, no green cards yet, but it's almost May, and the first scheduled interview is for then. Here is the spreadsheet for those who want to look March 2009 AOS filers

AP showing up about the same time as the green card is kind of stupid, but I believe the AP and EAD have a much shorter maximum time frame, I think both are issued within 90 days, I'm sure they can be denied though I don't think that is likely, and it seems like I've read that they are supposed to be issued within 90 days, unlike the AOS which could be completed within 90 days but may take years.

Our marriage was on 2-22, does that mean we can hang out?

Someone asked how the wifey was doing... everything is going great so far, homesickness hasn't been too much of a problem which I was worried about, she's starting to get a serious itch for that EAD card, and I'm looking forward to her having an income, though I'm enjoying the current schedule now that things have kind of settled down (I'm back to having time to work on learning things, getting some good daily exercise, and now I have a partner to keep me motivated with that... at least until she gets a job that has her working a few hours later than I work or something and mangles the current routine). Not looking forward to the change in schedule that'll most likely happen but a second income will be very beneficial and I have no doubt that my wife will find a job fairly quickly, I'm hoping she can find something that fits in her long term goals, she wants to work with children (beyond that she's not as picky about it, teaching, daycare, whatever).

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Tomandtanja: As far as I know I'm the furthest along the AOS path of the august filers, or at least the furthest along of anyone who is still paying attention to this august thread. No AOS or EAD yet here, though it's only been 2 months (tomorrow) since we got married and a little over a month since we filed AOS. We have done our biometrics appointment 11 days ago so now it's probably any day until the EAD shows up (but it could take another 2 months too), the AP could also show up anywhere in that time frame. The AOS case has been transfered to CSC instead of the local office, so an interview is pretty unlikely, in our case. If there is an interview they'd transfer the case back to st louis and schedule it, but I'm hoping to just get to skip the interview since st louis is a bit of a trip and right now I don't have enough money to make it worth the trip by staying a few days.

Since I filed in march for AOS, here's where people stand so far. There are 67 people listed in our spreadsheet, 19 have had their cases transfered to CSC. Two people have interview dates scheduled (not the ones who were transfered), one person (who actually filed a few days before march) has received AP and EAD already, and one other person has already received AP as well. I think both cases where people have received AP had requested expedites and apparently got them (for the AP only). Just one person who has received EAD, no interviews yet, no green cards yet, but it's almost May, and the first scheduled interview is for then. Here is the spreadsheet for those who want to look March 2009 AOS filers

AP showing up about the same time as the green card is kind of stupid, but I believe the AP and EAD have a much shorter maximum time frame, I think both are issued within 90 days, I'm sure they can be denied though I don't think that is likely, and it seems like I've read that they are supposed to be issued within 90 days, unlike the AOS which could be completed within 90 days but may take years.

Our marriage was on 2-22, does that mean we can hang out?

Someone asked how the wifey was doing... everything is going great so far, homesickness hasn't been too much of a problem which I was worried about, she's starting to get a serious itch for that EAD card, and I'm looking forward to her having an income, though I'm enjoying the current schedule now that things have kind of settled down (I'm back to having time to work on learning things, getting some good daily exercise, and now I have a partner to keep me motivated with that... at least until she gets a job that has her working a few hours later than I work or something and mangles the current routine). Not looking forward to the change in schedule that'll most likely happen but a second income will be very beneficial and I have no doubt that my wife will find a job fairly quickly, I'm hoping she can find something that fits in her long term goals, she wants to work with children (beyond that she's not as picky about it, teaching, daycare, whatever).

any pictures of the wedding you would like to share?

[Cuchita 1]

Hey Dani so you are a healthy Lioness that's great!.

Maliciant: I am glad your wifey is getting used to the USA. She will enjoy it even better when she gets her docs.

XOXO,

[HYENA 4]

Driver's license:

It's my understanding it is easier for them to get their international DL rather than trying to get a learner's permit here given the new rules and apparent requirement for a green card? I read through VJ and it seems this is the better way to go to get them on the road faster.

What do you think? A few posts I read discussed difficulty driving on the left side of the road vs learning right side here but being a relatively new driver, it seems it is cheaper to learn abroad then transfer here from what I can tell.

Any thoughts on this route based on those who are now here and taking these hurdles now?

Thanks!

[maliciant 7]

The wedding photo's are here. I think I posted them before, but I'm not 100% sure anymore.

I don't think you need a green card to get a drivers license, I may be wrong though as all we applied for was an ID. There was no real issue getting the state ID, however, because she is a foreigner they could take up to 60 days to send it by mail (vs citizens who just get it right there as they can print them in the license center), and, when we received it, we found out it was only valid for 3 months, so I guess the point is, if you don't have a green card yet, you might want to wait to get your drivers license if going without isn't too much of a hassle and you expect the aos to complete soon. I guess it depends on the fees etc, though id fee in missouri is only $8.50, a license may be more.

[Fred N Emilia 0]

Varies from state to state

[HYENA 4]

Varies from state to state

I think they recently made a new national law that one needs paperwork to show they're in the us legally BUT apparently the motor vehicle branches in most states don't seem to accept a NOA1 or any notices...they're looking for a work permit or a green card from what I've reviewed recently in VJ.

I told her to go take a class and get a Thai DL then get the international one since my guess is we're looking at 2-3 months (my guess) more till we get a NOA2 then a couple months after that for her to get here.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

The wedding photo's are here. I think I posted them before, but I'm not 100% sure anymore.

I don't think you need a green card to get a drivers license, I may be wrong though as all we applied for was an ID. There was no real issue getting the state ID, however, because she is a foreigner they could take up to 60 days to send it by mail (vs citizens who just get it right there as they can print them in the license center), and, when we received it, we found out it was only valid for 3 months, so I guess the point is, if you don't have a green card yet, you might want to wait to get your drivers license if going without isn't too much of a hassle and you expect the aos to complete soon. I guess it depends on the fees etc, though id fee in missouri is only $8.50, a license may be more.

myspace?? it's blocked by the company

Thanks god for proxy though

Great pics!!

[HYENA 4]

The wedding photo's are here. I think I posted them before, but I'm not 100% sure anymore.

I don't think you need a green card to get a drivers license, I may be wrong though as all we applied for was an ID. There was no real issue getting the state ID, however, because she is a foreigner they could take up to 60 days to send it by mail (vs citizens who just get it right there as they can print them in the license center), and, when we received it, we found out it was only valid for 3 months, so I guess the point is, if you don't have a green card yet, you might want to wait to get your drivers license if going without isn't too much of a hassle and you expect the aos to complete soon. I guess it depends on the fees etc, though id fee in missouri is only $8.50, a license may be more.

I'm just not sure the aos process and what's considered acceptable based on other posts I read when i searched "drivers license" on this forum, it is apparent some new rules are making it impossible without a permanent green card. i read several DL's expired then their temp green card expired awaiting some other step i'm not familiar with so they wouldn't renew the DL. Just trying to preempt hurdles.

[Bulgarican 0]

OK, i'm back from the interview, everything went fine and.........

I GOT THE VISA, WELL THEY SAID I'M APPROVED

The visa itself will come in 2 days

I still cant believe but its all true

We're really happy and i'm traveling on 31 May

Thank you my lovely VJ friends for your support

Hugs, Dani

Edited April 22, 2009 by Leo and Lioness

[Chris & Mara 0]

YAY DANI!!!! I am so happy for you girl

:dance: :dance: :dance:

[HappyDancer 7]

YIPEEYAY Dani!!! See you in August for the Irish Festival in Dublin!!! Wooohooo!!!

[maliciant 7]

Well, only a few more august filers to go now.

I didn't know about any changes to DL rules, and haven't really done any research on it. I assumed it was a little varied state by state though. The international DL is sounding like a better idea all the time, what I don't know is, how long will that be valid in the US? I know citizens are supposed to switch their license and other information when they become residents of a different state than they were issued in, are there going to be any similar rules like that for the international DL? (I could see once she has a green card it makes her a resident at which point she may need to get a normal DL, but at that point that shouldn't be hard...). Have you asked this question in the life in america forum? (The AOS forum might be good too but this affects k-1 to aos etc).

[Chris & Mara 0]

Hyena and I are still waiting in the wings in some dimming hope that one of us will be approved soon.....