AOS, EAD & AP from K1 - the Aussie way (doc list included)

[alex and astrid 38]

Oh nice!! I just got my biometrics letter today (actually 2 copies.. weird but now I have an original as my "copy"

I'm about to call the office and see if I can do a walk-in (it's a 3 hour drive) which means we'd be going this friday. I hope we can. I would also REALLY like the opportunity to get out of the house (his mother.. omg.. words cannot describe... actually.. she's the mother in law that's not nice to your face, but not mean either.. pretends like you don't exist... and then leaves NOTES for you in the morning (well actually notes for Tony, seriously I don't exist) telling him to move the snakes etc. It pisses me off. Can't ask in person, needs to leave a snide note. Ugh. Hate.

Ruins my nice biometrics letter day it does.

I think i got two bio letter too...i cant remember now and im not home to check.

Btw, you should sick the snakes on your MIL...that will learn her!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

I think i got two bio letter too...i cant remember now and im not home to check.

Btw, you should sick the snakes on your MIL...that will learn her!

Lol. There's some mean things I could say involving my fear for the snakes and her fat #######.. but I'll try and refrain

As for the Des Moines office: I should be a detective. I located the number (mwah hahahahaaa) and spoke to a lady there who told me that they prefer that you change the appointment but acknowledged that sometimes they allow walk-ins. She said worst case scenario she would ask that I wait till the end of the day (if it's a busy day) but that she would still do me that day. That makes me happy. I didn't want to try and organise a day off for Tony who's trying to change jobs at the moment (so who knows how hard that will be) and now it gives me something to do this Friday!! Woot woot

Ugh. New whinge topic. Just called a vehicle insurance company to ask about driving here on my aussie licence and he said unless I'm a resident they won't insure me. pricks. So no driving for Vanessa. That's fricken retarded. There's not even an addendum or something I can add for "international drivers". Morons. Fine. Whatever. I'll just keep practicing in Tony's little town...

[Ravi_Beth 0]

okay, i got my Biometrics appointment letter today and it is on 5/18 , that is like another 25 days.......i read that Astrid did a walkin and got her bio done..(congrats on your GC )

Can i do that....what are you going to do Vanessa ??? are you going to try and walk-in for your bio's..

What is the number that you called....???

Edited April 28, 2010 by Ravi_Beth

[alex and astrid 38]

Lol. There's some mean things I could say involving my fear for the snakes and her fat #######.. but I'll try and refrain

As for the Des Moines office: I should be a detective. I located the number (mwah hahahahaaa) and spoke to a lady there who told me that they prefer that you change the appointment but acknowledged that sometimes they allow walk-ins. She said worst case scenario she would ask that I wait till the end of the day (if it's a busy day) but that she would still do me that day. That makes me happy. I didn't want to try and organise a day off for Tony who's trying to change jobs at the moment (so who knows how hard that will be) and now it gives me something to do this Friday!! Woot woot

Ugh. New whinge topic. Just called a vehicle insurance company to ask about driving here on my aussie licence and he said unless I'm a resident they won't insure me. pricks. So no driving for Vanessa. That's fricken retarded. There's not even an addendum or something I can add for "international drivers". Morons. Fine. Whatever. I'll just keep practicing in Tony's little town...

Insurance can be hit and miss with international drivers or even new residents.....Alex is with Geico and they added me with no problem whatsoever, but, others on this board that are with Geico as well were denied, or had their premiums shoot up. It's ridiculous, you would think that they would insure you, just so they could make money.......Good news on the biometics though!

okay, i got my Biometrics appointment letter today and it is on 5/18 , that is like another 25 days.......i read that Astrid did a walkin and got her bio done..(congrats on your GC )

Can i do that....what are you going to do Vanessa ??? are you going to try and walk-in for your bio's..

What is the number that you called....???

Thanks!.....You can try a walk in and just go to the ASC....if you are lucky enough to live close to the office then you can just go and hope for the best. Thats what I did, because the office is only 10 minutes from me. I think Vanessa called the office directly, though I am also sure she can give you pointers on how to find the number for your office.

Which office are you meant to go to?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

okay, i got my Biometrics appointment letter today and it is on 5/18 , that is like another 25 days.......i read that Astrid did a walkin and got her bio done..(congrats on your GC )

Can i do that....what are you going to do Vanessa ??? are you going to try and walk-in for your bio's..

What is the number that you called....???

Thanks!.....You can try a walk in and just go to the ASC....if you are lucky enough to live close to the office then you can just go and hope for the best. Thats what I did, because the office is only 10 minutes from me. I think Vanessa called the office directly, though I am also sure she can give you pointers on how to find the number for your office.

Which office are you meant to go to?

Astrid is right. I did a bit of detective work. There might be a different way to do it but googling it directly didn't help. If you tell me what office you're at I can try the same trick I did with mine (trust me when I say it wasn't underhanded or illegal).

As for walk-in in general yes I'm going to try that. Like you I got my letter today and mines in 3 weeks! the 21st May which is AGES for my file to be sitting around doing nothing... so Tony has agreed to drive me down there. Now that I have that ladies "okay" about doing walk-ins (even though they don't like it) I don't feel so bad about it. I will sit around all damn day if I have too. A couple of hours (or several ) won't kill me. We need to talk about what time we're leaving in the morning. I want to get there around when they open 10am sounds like a nice number. Not too early that they're not set up, but early enough that there might be a couple of appointments but not too many.... I'll let you all know how I go.

[Nishi 0]

Wow! Thankx so much "Vanessa&Tony" for posting this in-depth post about AOS. This will help me a great deal, as I am in the process of looking up documents for AOS for my fiance once we enter into the U.S.

Thank You,

Nishi

[Phayamoa 0]

I want to bump this post because it so good, and because it fell behind page 2 of the AOS forums. BUMP!!!

Edited April 29, 2010 by Phayamoa

[besaangel 18]

Oh nice!! I just got my biometrics letter today (actually 2 copies.. weird but now I have an original as my "copy"

I'm about to call the office (if I can find a number) and see if I can do a walk-in (it's a 3 hour drive) which means we'd be going this friday. I hope we can. I would also REALLY like the opportunity to get out of the house (his mother.. omg.. words cannot describe... actually.. she's the mother in law that's not nice to your face, but not mean either.. pretends like you don't exist... and then leaves NOTES for you in the morning (well actually notes for Tony, seriously I don't exist) telling him to move the snakes etc. It pisses me off. Can't ask in person, needs to leave a snide note. Ugh. Hate.

Ruins my nice biometrics letter day it does.

lol. Had to butt in vanessa... Im still here awaiting my letter. Its like they for got me. Im glad u found the number and hope for the best on your visit tommorrow. Keep me posted pretty pretty please

[VanessaTony 3,567]

lol. Had to butt in vanessa... Im still here awaiting my letter. Its like they for got me. Im glad u found the number and hope for the best on your visit tommorrow. Keep me posted pretty pretty please

Thanks for the words of encouragement I'm sure yours isn't too far away. Mine was a big surprise because I didn't realise the "touch" on the 23rd was them sending the biometrics letter... I also honestly expected them to list it as an "RFE" or something like other people had a while back. Oh well. Woot!

As usual I will post an in-depth post about my experience (whether good or bad but PLEASE PLEASE good ). Tony and I are hoping that it will be quick in which case we can go and "explore" Des Moines and if his friend is able to come then the three of us may go to a movie. Hmmm reminds me I need to see what's out and what's good

Edited April 29, 2010 by Vanessa&Tony

[alex and astrid 38]

Got my "Welome to America" letter today

I was starting to convince myself that USCIS had stuffed up and I wasn't really approved, so this calms me down

I hope everyone else hears good news soon!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Got my "Welome to America" letter today

I was starting to convince myself that USCIS had stuffed up and I wasn't really approved, so this calms me down

I hope everyone else hears good news soon!

Grats!! I'm looking forward to my biometrics tomorrow but that's all the news I have there

[Giggles 1]

I've had touches all week (but not yet today) and I'm still waiting to get my biometrics letter. They amended the incorrect A number on my NOA as well. I'm hanging out for the mail man to get here....I hope he has my biometrics letter today.

[Warren and Cindy 6]

Got my "Welome to America" letter today

I was starting to convince myself that USCIS had stuffed up and I wasn't really approved, so this calms me down

I hope everyone else hears good news soon!

Grats on the GC

not been around much, just catching up now, moved it out out own home and have 2 new kittens we adopted

what has me worried now seeing yours was done so fast is whats happening to my GC app? mine was transfered a month before yours and the only touch since is the change of address

[alex and astrid 38]

Grats on the GC

not been around much, just catching up now, moved it out out own home and have 2 new kittens we adopted

what has me worried now seeing yours was done so fast is whats happening to my GC app? mine was transfered a month before yours and the only touch since is the change of address

Yay for kittens and new houses!!

I really don't know what is going on at CSC...I feel bad because though I'm so happy to be an LPR now, I don't know why mine was approved when people who are waaaaay ahead of me are still waiting. It doesn't make sense. I really hope you get some good news soon!

[alex and astrid 38]

I don't have the patience or the calmness need to type this in a rational matter, so be warned, there is going to be a lot of swearing in this post.

THE CA DMV IS THE BIGGEST PIECE OF SH!T GOVERNMENT AGENCY WHICH DOES NOT KNOW IT'S HEAD FROM IT'S #######.

The CA DMV website says the following can be used to prove legal presence and obtain a licence -

"Notice of Action (I-797 Approved Petition) must indicate approved extension of stay or change in status that grants temporary or permanent residency, or indicates that an original, duplicate or renewal Resident Alien card is forthcoming"

I got that letter in the mail yesterday, so I went into the DMV today armed with all the paperwork and ID's that I needed - My QLD licence, my now-expired CA ID card, the NOA Approval/Welcome Notice, my birth certificate and marriage certificate. Forgot my passport but figured it was okay, since all the stuff in it is voided now, all it would serve as is another form of ID. Waited more than an hour to be called to a window, told the woman that I was just granted permanent residency and would like to get a permit to drive. She asked for my green card, I told her I didn't have it, but had my welcome notice like the website said I could use. FLAT OUT REFUSAL. Why? Because the Welcome Notice does not have my picture and date of birth on it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I have every other scrap of evidence to prove that is me....oh yeah, guess a piece of paper from THE U.S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT isn't good enough! I asked her why the website says otherwise, and she said that it was wrong, and if I wanted it changed, to call Sacramento. But that wasn't even the best part - She then advised me to get my I-94 extended, so then I could get a permit under that! I just stood there dumbfounded. That doesn't even make sense! I'm a permament resident now, I don't NEED an I-94! And since when does USCIS extend I-94's just because? And, even if I did get an extension, the DMV says you need to be able to prove more than 60 days of legal presence, why would I bother getting something thats only valid for that long?

So, before I started yelling at her for being stupid, I turned heel and walked out. I was literally shaking with anger.

I walked to Alex's work, since it was just down the road from the DMV and told him about it. He told me to call the information line to confirm if I was right or wrong. Waiting on hold, told another woman what happened, she put me back on hold to ask her supervisor. Gets back on the line and tells me that yes, I do need the card. I read back to her what the website says, and ask why that is there. She doesn't have an answer for me. So I continue by saying that it's not fair that people that are in the same position as me are trying to do the right thing and get a licence (since I think I now quality as a california resident and apparently have ten days to get a licence), yet the DMV can't get their act together, and that doesn't instill much confidence - the site needs to be updated so we don't get our time wasted. And I just get silence on the other end. I just lost it and loudly said "Well, I guess just hang up on me if you don't want to listen!!" and she started to say something back but I hung up."

I hate it when this kind of thing happens. You try and do what you are told, but even then it's not good enough, and you are made to feel like you are the one in the wrong. I probably sound like a spoiled brat right now, but I really am just in the worst mood.

Edited April 30, 2010 by alex and astrid