AOS'rs...

[Tina&Roland 4]

Quick question: For those who have applied for SSN, did you put down that you were "Legal Alien allowed to work" or "Legal Alien NOT allowed to work"? I ask this because the instructions say that if you put the latter then you need a letter from a federal agency that says that you need a SSN. If that's the case, what did you bring with you? I'm looking to apply tomorrow. Thanks!

[SapphireDreams 71]

K1's are legal alien allowed to work (with an EAD, technically).

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I put Legal Alien Allowed To Work.

I brought with me the following:

- Long Form Birth Certificate

- Passport with the K-1 Visa in it

- Drivers Licence

- Filled out Form

[kuro 0]

I thought I read somewhere that you're supposed to wait 5-7 days after your marriage before you file for AOS.

Is this correct?

I am trying to get my forms organized ahead of time so I can file right away.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I don't see why you'd have to wait.

Just file as soon as you can after your marriage. It'll probably take a few days to get there and looked at anyway.

[darkchilde794 5]

You prolly have to wait if you marry as soon as you POE. The K1 file goes to the visa center (wherever it is) from your POE point -- and it might take as much as a week to happen. But if youre marrying two weeks or a month or 90 days after you POE, you can do AOS as soon as possible!

[coldwatersurf 5]

Border: Im not sure if thats the whole reason for it... it could be that Dr. Arnold was also retiring the time I got her to do my medical, so maybe she didnt keep up with her CS status. Anyway goodluck to you. If you do get an RFE, there is a thread in the AOS forum about doctors who dont rip you off for vaccine transcription. Thats how I found the one in Bethesda.

Unfortunately i got my I693 transcribed by Dr. Arnold around the last 2 weeks from her retirement. They also made a mistake on my address so I had to send it back to them for corrections and the date on my I693 is mid December.

well if i get an RFE at least I know where to go to get it done for $50. there's only one civil surgeon in my county and she costs $350. im in Washington state and Tacoma civil surgeon have the cheapest I've seen so far plus transcribing I693 is not new to them which is a plus!

[kuro 0]

Unfortunately i got my I693 transcribed by Dr. Arnold around the last 2 weeks from her retirement. They also made a mistake on my address so I had to send it back to them for corrections and the date on my I693 is mid December.

well if i get an RFE at least I know where to go to get it done for $50. there's only one civil surgeon in my county and she costs $350. im in Washington state and Tacoma civil surgeon have the cheapest I've seen so far plus transcribing I693 is not new to them which is a plus!

Borderdriver, do you mind posting the civil surgeon in Tacoma that charges $50 for transcription? Thanks.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

You prolly have to wait if you marry as soon as you POE. The K1 file goes to the visa center (wherever it is) from your POE point -- and it might take as much as a week to happen. But if youre marrying two weeks or a month or 90 days after you POE, you can do AOS as soon as possible!

Good point darkchilde!

In a lot of states and counties there is also a waiting period for your marriage license to be recorded and sent back to you. Some allow you to do it in person, many only allow you to mail them in and wait. We went on our honeymoon immediately following our wedding so we had someone mail it in for us and we didn't get it back until a week later.

[darkchilde794 5]

Update!

So I received a hard copy of my RFE last Thurs and it was about the medical. I called USCIS and a customer rep said I shouldnt have received one. Anyway I managed to get a hold of a local CS who transcribed my vaccines the next day, Friday, and sent my RFE response via USPS Priority mail that afternoon.

Just to note, the CS said that I could have asked ANY doctor in the country, whether I appear in front of them or not, to transcribe my vaccines. Its legal. Furthermore, she didnt even look to see my ID or whatsoever... so I dont see the big deal about the Dr. Arnold thing. I think its likely they missed my medical info in my cover letter. And I think I must have posted this already, so sorry for the repetition!

Anyway the application reached Lees Summit on Monday (Jan 11) and I received an electronic alert that it was touched yesterday. So now the waiting begins!

Today I had my biometrics appointment. Since I live in south Baltimore, I elected to walk to the ACS located downtown. It is cold When I got there, they asked for my ID and letter. Unfortunately, my ID is still in my maiden name because the wonderful people in the MVA refused to change it to my married name until I get my EAD card The receptionist person asked me for my marriage license, which of course I did not bring. Anyhow, as I was gearing up to fight her for my appointment, she spoke with a supervisor who said that my appointment is still good, in spite of not having my married name in any government issued ID.

The finger printing process was really fast, and they gave me the appointment letter back with a stamp detailing when I should re-appear for another biometrics (in 2011), which I presume will happen if I dont get my GC within the year, and have to renew the EAD.

What I found really weird about the process though was that they had no security in the building. They said dont bring cellphones to the appointment, but lots of people had one

So for those who received an RFE... do they let you know of any "decision" about the RFE... or does it just automatically continue your application process and the next alert you get is if they approve your EAD and AP or transfer your application, etc?

[Tina&Roland 4]

I just came back from a civil surgeon who wanted to give me the full medical exam plus the blood test even though I had those all done in Toronto already. He didn't understand that as a K1 visa holder, I don't require it. To think I was going to get charged another $131! Anyway, I called around and found a clinic that knows that they just have to fill out the paperwork for $50 and can probably give it back to me while I wait....getting closer to the Jan. 15 deadline!

[Rhiannercakes 14]

I don't think I'm going to get my vaccines transcribed. I'm going to try it with the photocopy of the one from the Canadian medical.

I believe some people have AOSed without needing them transcribed.

[TimandJoyce 1]

I don't think I'm going to get my vaccines transcribed. I'm going to try it with the photocopy of the one from the Canadian medical.

I believe some people have AOSed without needing them transcribed.

Well so far so good for me. My RFE was for financial, and after we submitted it back, the case was transferred to CSC. I don't know however, if CSC may RFE me for the transcription or will just let it go and approve it.

Guess I'll find out. I'm thinking that if I was to get an RFE for it, I would have along with what we already did get, wouldn't I have??

Oh how I'll cry if CSC sends an RFE...

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Most of the RFE's for I-693's seem to be coming from California lately, as least that's what I've been noticing in the AOS forum. Since they already sent you an RFE for something else Joyce I would think you're ok on the I-693 issue. I don't know if not sending it is worth it anymore... Since November tons of being have been getting RFE's for not having it. But, if you don't mind the possibility of a delay Rhiann then risk it. I didn't really care if my case was delayed by a few weeks so I decided not to send it and was approved without the form. Saved me a lot of money!

[darkchilde794 5]

Hmm I thought if your case was transferred, it was already at the last stages of things (ie. towards GC production)? I hope you dont get anymore RFEs TimandJoyce, and get your GC soon.