DECEMBER 2010 AOS Filers

[thatbritishlass 2]

Hey folks!

Just adding in my tuppence worth We got married on the 27th, filed on December 1st, and received our hard copy NOA1s for AOS/EAD/AP today

Our receipt numbers aren't showing up in the online system but I rang them today just to check. Receipts been sent but no other action on our file so far...just waiting for biometrics letter then we're going to attempt a walk-in at the field office!

Good luck to everyone, and enjoy your Christmasses with your other halves...it's me and my boy's first Christmas together

[MeggyMo 4]

I am joining the ranks here!

I filed on the 6th! We have been married since August 20th but had some slight delays getting this all taken care of.

Now we are on our way!

The only odd thing is I got my NOA1s for my AP and EAD in the mail today but no NOA1 for my actual AOS. Hoping it comes in the mail soon its worrying me

[J & J 3]

I am joining the ranks here!

I filed on the 6th! We have been married since August 20th but had some slight delays getting this all taken care of.

Now we are on our way!

The only odd thing is I got my NOA1s for my AP and EAD in the mail today but no NOA1 for my actual AOS. Hoping it comes in the mail soon its worrying me

Same thing happend to me too. I got my AOS and AP, but I didn't get my EAD yet! It is around Christmas time too, so maybe it got mixed in the shuffle..Hopefully we will both get ours soon

[2ndMessiah 184]

Good luck to everyone, and enjoy your Christmasses with your other halves...it's me and my boy's first Christmas together

Its you and your spouses first Christmas.

Calling my other half my wife sounded strange for a while,lol.

And you had better get it right for the AOS.

[MeggyMo 4]

Same thing happend to me too. I got my AOS and AP, but I didn't get my EAD yet! It is around Christmas time too, so maybe it got mixed in the shuffle..Hopefully we will both get ours soon

I hope so too! I am getting nervous. I just hope this all goes smoothly for all of us!!!

[J & J 3]

I hope so too! I am getting nervous. I just hope this all goes smoothly for all of us!!!

I ended up getting my EAD hardcopy in the mail yesterday..it skipped a day to get to me.. I'm sure yours should get to you soon

[thatbritishlass 2]

Its you and your spouses first Christmas.

Calling my other half my wife sounded strange for a while,lol.

And you had better get it right for the AOS.

I said 'boy', not 'boyfriend'. I call him my boy all the time. And yes, I'm aware he's my spouse for AOS.

Edited December 19, 2010 by Miss Jess

[MeggyMo 4]

I ended up getting my EAD hardcopy in the mail yesterday..it skipped a day to get to me.. I'm sure yours should get to you soon

I was impatiently waiting yesterday but sadly when the mail came no NOA1. Oh well fingers crossed for next week!

[2ndMessiah 184]

I said 'boy', not 'boyfriend'. I call him my boy all the time. And yes, I'm aware he's my spouse for AOS.

You are absolutely right. My bad.

Cant read worth a dang these days. It was all that time reading and re-readinf I-485 and every other document. Has addled my brain. PLease dont read anything into my post. I hate not being able to emote the correct feelings in text.lol

And enjoy the winter break.

Edited December 19, 2010 by 2ndMessiah

[thatbritishlass 2]

You are absolutely right. My bad.

Cant read worth a dang these days. It was all that time reading and re-readinf I-485 and every other document. Has addled my brain. PLease dont read anything into my post. I hate not being able to emote the correct feelings in text.lol

And enjoy the winter break.

No worries And I know where you're coming from - to the extent I'm having an eye test next Thursday, lol! All that close reading has my other half questioning my driving, when actually I point out to him that driving on the other side of the road when you haven't even owned a car in your own country for 2 years is enough to make anyone's driving a little wobbly

[2ndMessiah 184]

No worries And I know where you're coming from - to the extent I'm having an eye test next Thursday, lol! All that close reading has my other half questioning my driving, when actually I point out to him that driving on the other side of the road when you haven't even owned a car in your own country for 2 years is enough to make anyone's driving a little wobbly

On a different note. I see you managed to get a VW Jetta (I have read your blog). Can I ask its age,cost and mileage? we got a car when I got to the States but unfortunately it is a lemon.lol

So we are on the look out for another one in the new year. Like yourself we will probably only have about $5000 but most resaonable cars seem to be about twice as much as I have. Any tips?

[brit_sf 0]

Another December filer!

12/14/2010: I-130/I-485 sent to Chicago Lockbox by USPS.

12/15/2010: Package signed for by L. BOX (made me laugh)!

12/20/2010: e-mail and text notifications of receipt for both forms.

[thatbritishlass 2]

On a different note. I see you managed to get a VW Jetta (I have read your blog). Can I ask its age,cost and mileage? we got a car when I got to the States but unfortunately it is a lemon.lol

So we are on the look out for another one in the new year. Like yourself we will probably only have about $5000 but most resaonable cars seem to be about twice as much as I have. Any tips?

I was gonna PM you but decided to post this here as it might be useful for other people, lol

My Jetta is a 2003 (just coming up on 8 years old), 73,000 miles, and $4500 plus tax, tag, and title (which, in Florida, is extortionate - tag alone is $450!). But I've only had her a week and I've already spent another $1600 on a range of repairs that were not obvious from looking at her or driving her (she's actually a great drive, ironically) but that ranged from needed all 4 brake pads replaced to getting a new catalytic converter, which was thankfully still under warranty. As I speak my husband is down at Auto Zone trying to find a part to do another repair himself, as in doing the repairs the VW dealership managed to break a bolt on another engine component and the Check Engine light was back on 4 days later

We went to a variety of different major dealerships with my spec - around $5000, under 10 years old, under 100,000 - but options were severely limited, although they do exist. One dealer told us to try Craigslist so that's what we did and in terms of private sales it is a gold mine, there is loads more listed there than anywhere else. But you have to be careful as there are a lot of scams out there (if you email about a car and they give you a sob story about Iraq and want you to pay on eBay, DON'T DO IT!) - but you could easily find a bargain. Mine was definitely not the bargain I thought it was as I've now spent about $2500 more than I planned , but I maintain that it's a solid car overall and should last me a couple of years.

So I guess my advice is as follows:

1. Do your research. Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) gives the estimated retail and private sale values for used cars and there's a lot of websites out there that I wish I'd known about that give advice. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - my Jetta was nearly $3000 under the suggested list price and voila! I got stung.

2. Get a CarFax report, or even better see if the person/dealer selling already has one or will pay for it (it's in their interest). Lets your know if your car was stolen, flooded, written off/totalled, or has any reported structural damage. So basically all the major things but don't expect it to tell you everything.

3. Most importantly - get a mechanic to look at it before you buy. This is the one thing I didn't do - I followed all other advice, got a carfax, the lot - and all the problems with my car only a mechanic would have seen. Really wish I'd done this!

I maintain Craigslist is a good place to look though (AutoTrader is also good) - more choice for the amount of money you're looking to spend. Just proceed with caution!

Hubby just got back and my Check Engine light is off - hopefully that's it for a while!!

[pookaphilus 12]

welcome everyone..good to have this forum for all of us who just filed our AOS this December...sorry to hear about the one who got their application back..don't worry, just do what you have to do and resend it again.... just wanna share an update on our application..Yepey!!...We just got both of our NOA1's for I-485 & I-765 in the mail just 6 days after they sent us an email acceptance and almost 12 days after we filed our AOS!!...now waiting for my Biometrics appointment & hoping it would be soon!!..a wonderful gift for us this Christmas!..God is so good!!...seems like USCIS is doing fast for the coming Holidays :thumbs: may this be a good sign for us!! ..btw, how long will you receive the Biometrics appointment after you get your NOA1??..thanks alot..we are so happy!!..God bless us all!!

[pookaphilus 12]

I was impatiently waiting yesterday but sadly when the mail came no NOA1. Oh well fingers crossed for next week!

We somehow have the same timelines..they also received and cashed our application last Dec.14, 2010...so don't worry, your NOA1 hardcopy is on it's way!!!..we just got ours today!!..God bless!!