August 2008 fillers

[Chris & Mara 0]

Congrats on getting her home and starting your new life HW

Sadly I have no idea about the AOS, sorry!

Our paperwork came through from the lawyer yesterday that we have to fill out for our court case, he seems to think that it will take about 2 weeks to get it in front of a judge, and then it will be in USCIS's best interests will have a 30 turn around period for our NOA2. If all goes to plan, that means NOA2 by the start of August, our Lawyer will then help push it through NVC and hopefully that means an interview sometime around september/October. Meaning I might actually make the "ill be here for Thanksgiving" dream we have.

Wish us luck.

[maliciant 7]

There is a deadline to get married, make sure you do that within 90 days... I recommend getting it done as soon as possible because... the sooner your apply for AOS the better off you are, while many on this site will tell you that there isn't really a deadline for AOS, it seems far more likely that the AOS will take a long time or have complications if you wait until after the visa expires to file. There are some things that seem pretty certain too, such as if you wait a year you will have to do the medical again which is going to cost more, I think it's a 213.35 flat rate outside the US but inside the US doing the medical is more along the lines of $600 (this seems odd to me that it's a flat rate everywhere else so maybe that's not right). And of course, the sooner you file AOS the sooner the work auth and everything else can show up, even if the plan is for her to be a house wife, getting the AOS taken care of is pretty important. File as soon as you can, especially if she plans to work or travel.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Congrats on getting her home and starting your new life HW

Sadly I have no idea about the AOS, sorry!

Our paperwork came through from the lawyer yesterday that we have to fill out for our court case, he seems to think that it will take about 2 weeks to get it in front of a judge, and then it will be in USCIS's best interests will have a 30 turn around period for our NOA2. If all goes to plan, that means NOA2 by the start of August, our Lawyer will then help push it through NVC and hopefully that means an interview sometime around september/October. Meaning I might actually make the "ill be here for Thanksgiving" dream we have.

Wish us luck.

There is a deadline to get married, make sure you do that within 90 days... I recommend getting it done as soon as possible because... the sooner your apply for AOS the better off you are, while many on this site will tell you that there isn't really a deadline for AOS, it seems far more likely that the AOS will take a long time or have complications if you wait until after the visa expires to file. There are some things that seem pretty certain too, such as if you wait a year you will have to do the medical again which is going to cost more, I think it's a 213.35 flat rate outside the US but inside the US doing the medical is more along the lines of $600 (this seems odd to me that it's a flat rate everywhere else so maybe that's not right). And of course, the sooner you file AOS the sooner the work auth and everything else can show up, even if the plan is for her to be a house wife, getting the AOS taken care of is pretty important. File as soon as you can, especially if she plans to work or travel.

Thanks!!

[Cuchita 1]

Say Welcome to USA to your fiancee on my behalf HW!.

Abou the AOS run to the court house! don't waist time, many people say filing before I-94 expires avoids getting another interview here!.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

also about the Social Security Card

was it recommended to wait 2 weeks after POE to apply for it?

[Fred N Emilia 0]

also about the Social Security Card

was it recommended to wait 2 weeks after POE to apply for it?

I gave it 2 weeks +. We applied for her SSN after 15 days.

And we have a wedding date. July 7th.

We got officially engaged July 7th 2008 and getting married July 7, 2009

[maliciant 7]

You probably have to wait at least 10 days on the SSN so yeah... figure on waiting a bit on that, but it's not really a big deal for the most part, if your state doesn't require it for weddings, there probably isn't anything that's a huge rush to get it for. I've used it to add my wife to my bank account, a credit card, and to get a state ID (that was only valid for about 3 months... I assume now that she is a LPR she would get one that's good for a few years). While I say no rush on the SSN, you should still get it done within the first month, if you wait until the visa is close to expiring they may require you to wait until completing AOS to get an SSN. A little off topic and me and Fred both had different experiences with the social security offices, you'll porbably get her number in her maiden name, though I think Fred's wife got it in her married name, I think most SSA offices will limit you to her maiden name, after the green card shows up you can go back to SSA bringing in your marriage certificate and green card and have them change it. The SSN stuff is pretty much hassle free and fairly quick... and I say that despite having to make 5 or 6 trips (one for going too early, one for the card that never showed up, one for not bringing in the marriage license for the name change... and two successful visits where we got what we needed... so guess maybe it's 5 times).

When you get married get a certified copy of your marriage license, or maybe two or three wouldn't hurt, but at a minimum you need one. This is in addition to the original marriage license, the certified copy you'll send to USCIS in the AOS.

[Gemmie 142]

I'm going to see if we can have the legal wedding on July 4th. As a little joke, seeing as America declared themselves independent from England on that day.. we're declaring ourselves legally together on that day. We'll see.

I would advise filing the AOS fairly quickly if your fiance wants to work or travel. Personally, even though I would like to settle in a little first, I already have a possible job offer on the line at Harvard and have been told that the EAD is essential if I want to be paid. So I'm giving myself the couple of months to settle in while waiting for the EAD, then I have the option of working when I want afterwards.

And we're going to get the SSN 2 weeks after POE to make sure it's in the system. It's important for us to apply for a drivers permit and add my name to accounts (as evidence for AOS).

Congrats on getting your fiance here. It's been a tough week for myself, there's been a few tears already as I miss my friends so much, but my fiance has been amazing, always there to give me cuddles, words and cups of tea.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Thanks everybody for the great info!!

[Lisa and Ian 7]

I'm here, guys...

Feels bittersweet. I feel so happy to be with my fiance but I'm still in shock over saying goodbye to my friends. There were lots of tears and cuddles, andI keep melting down in stores and everything when I think of not seeing them again. I hope this feeling passes.. I don't miss England yet but I miss my friends terribly.

Anyways thanks everyone for all of the help and support.. I can't believe we made it.

Congrats and welcome to the US.

I wish I could say something helpful besides, "You'll be back to England" and "Get on Skype" where your friends are concerned. It may take some time to get settled. I bet it's a bit of a shock, like you say... bittersweet.

How are your wedding plans coming along?

[Hell0W0rld 10]

Happy Saturday Everyone!!

[Badgerella 5]

Page 2, uhoh.

I've been really busy with school. The four-exams-to-go problem that I had at the beginning of our finals has turned into three-down-one-before-I'm-done. It's a really hard one, with a very, uh, let's say special professor (just so I don't get censored ). I'll be taking it on Tuesday, and there is one more chance two weeks after that. But, of course, I hope I'll be done and over with this week, so that I have a little bit more time for the thesis and the remaining essays. At the beginning, I didn't think it was possible to be done before the trip, but now things seem to be really falling into place.

Wedding's been fully planned, my dress is about done and I finally bought shoes yesterday morning. Cultural and other shocks are yet to come, too, but I'm doing my best not to think about it too much. Am looking forward to finally being with my fiance.

(And kind of hating hopping on a plane, too.)

[Chris & Mara 0]

End of page two where is everyone!!!!

Well Im back to Australia for 6 weeks today but will be back in August for another holiday, hope it all goes smooth.

Good luck with getting your wedding date there Gemmie, that would be amusing.

[Hell0W0rld 10]

End of page two where is everyone!!!!

Well Im back to Australia for 6 weeks today but will be back in August for another holiday, hope it all goes smooth.

[Gemmie 142]

I'm feeling a lor better about missing my friends now. The shock is wearing off.

Bill said NOWHERE will be open on July 4th... guess I was reaching with that one. We haven't planned anything for a wedding yet, we're waiting for my SSN so we can get a marriage license and then will think of when to do the legal marriage. None of my friends and family can make it so we want to wait for the actual wedding. I'm hoping someone will slip us some mini-honeymoon money for a weekend or something so we can acknowledge getting married, but at the moment, we're busy saving for the AOS fee and apartment deposit, so it looks unlikely.

Sorry to hear about your leaving, Mara. Have a safe trip, and focus on the positives. I hope everything goes smoothlu for an August POE. Are you hoping to have had the interview by then? As I fear that you'll be in the US when there is K1 proceessing to be done in Australia.

You're almost there, Badgerella.