AOS May 2011 Filers

[moSu 0]

Hi Everyone,

We are new members of VJ. We have been following forums on this website for a while now. We are starting to put together documentations for AOS packet to adjust Su's status from F1. Su will be going to the doc for her medical checkup I-693 next week. Our packet should be ready to be sent out in May. We hired a lawyer although we know the chances are still 50-50. There is no words to describe how this process can do to couples's mentality. It's like we go to sleep with 'IT', wake up with 'IT', shower with 'IT', eat with 'IT', take the subway ride with 'IT'.. We're basically breathing 'IT' untill whenever.. We're starting this forum for couples who are preparing their AOS packet and possibly to be sent out in May but everybody is welcome to post messages and advice. Let's share 'IT' and support each other through this experience..

Best Wishes,

moSu

[Little_My 464]

If there is nothing specifically fishy about your case and there are no red flags that you left out, AOS from F1 should be a pretty straight forward thing Of course it is always better to not be overly confident, but if you put your package together carefully, pay attention to detail, make sure to cross your t's and dot your i's and send everything as requested according to the official instructions, you should be just fine!

Good luck, and welcome to VJ.

Edited April 28, 2011 by Little_My

[Casprd 167]

If there is nothing specifically fishy about your case and there are no red flags that you left out, AOS from F1 should be a pretty straight forward thing Of course it is always better to not be overly confident, but if you put your package together carefully, pay attention to detail, make sure to cross your t's and dot your i's and send everything as requested according to the official instructions, you should be just fine!

Good luck, and welcome to VJ.

Can definately relate to "IT" consuming your life. On the plus side, thanks to dealing with the NVC, there is no more tree stump in my front yard As said above, it should be a pretty straight forward process but double, triple and quadruple check everything. Good luck and hang in there.

[moSu 0]

Thank you so much for your wishes and positive input. Unfortunately, both Mo & Su's 'White papers' has 'Black dots'. Below is the summary;

This is Mo's 2nd marriage and he has 2 kids, but Mo and his ex didn't sign a marriage certificate. So, he wasn't 'married' by law and he also filed his income tax as single. So our situation will be very tricky when it comes to our interview. We did think about it and of course it's best to give them the truth. Question: Is this his first marriage? Answer:(We're still trying to figure out the best answer)

Su went to SF for her first degree in 2004, graduated in 2006 and moved to NY for OPT. She enrolled back school before her OPT ends for a certificate program that also allows her to renew her i-20 and do CPT. She decided to go back to Malaysia for good Nov 2008. Economy is bad, business didn't do well. Su decides to go back to school and at the same time her relationship with Mo 'blooms'. She decided to take the relationship slow because wants to see how the relationship goes with Mo. Education is important so instead of NY, Su applied back to school in SF (Jan 2010) for Masters. When she was at the US Embassy in KL, the officer already gave her a hard time by questioning her intentions for not going back to Malaysia after her OPT. What makes matter worse is she enrolled in a small institute in Manhattan for a certificate program which is a big NO NO. She failed her 1st interview, but she passed her 2nd interview sweating cold sweat. Anyways, after one semester, Su realized the Masters program isn't that great. Our relationship grew steadily as both Mo and Su genuinely love each other, we were visiting each other almost once a month. At the end, Su decided to move to NY(May 2010) for her 2nd degree. She met up with her previous employer and her employer offered to apply for her working visa. Her application was submitted on Dec 2010, RFE, Denial Feb 2011 and finally MTR March 2011. She is still a full-time student but will her history affects her AOS? We don't know. It all depends on how the officer wants to think of us.

We only had a simple wedding at New York city hall. Only our close friends were there to share the special day. Our parents didn't know. Mo's parents don't like the idea that he's 'divorced' to begin with and Su is not ready to bring up to her parents about being with someone who has kids. FYI, Mo is 31 and Su is 29. The question of 'Do your parents know about the wedding?' is possible.

We can only hope for the best to happen..

[BMW4me 12]

let me just give you an answer for this

Question: Is this his first marriage?

Answer: Yes, there's nothing you need to worry about this why coz he wasn't `legally` married!

[Myopia 93]

Thank you so much for your wishes and positive input. Unfortunately, both Mo & Su's 'White papers' has 'Black dots'. Below is the summary;

This is Mo's 2nd marriage and he has 2 kids, but Mo and his ex didn't sign a marriage certificate. So, he wasn't 'married' by law and he also filed his income tax as single. So our situation will be very tricky when it comes to our interview. We did think about it and of course it's best to give them the truth. Question: Is this his first marriage? Answer:(We're still trying to figure out the best answer)

Su went to SF for her first degree in 2004, graduated in 2006 and moved to NY for OPT. She enrolled back school before her OPT ends for a certificate program that also allows her to renew her i-20 and do CPT. She decided to go back to Malaysia for good Nov 2008. Economy is bad, business didn't do well. Su decides to go back to school and at the same time her relationship with Mo 'blooms'. She decided to take the relationship slow because wants to see how the relationship goes with Mo. Education is important so instead of NY, Su applied back to school in SF (Jan 2010) for Masters. When she was at the US Embassy in KL, the officer already gave her a hard time by questioning her intentions for not going back to Malaysia after her OPT. What makes matter worse is she enrolled in a small institute in Manhattan for a certificate program which is a big NO NO. She failed her 1st interview, but she passed her 2nd interview sweating cold sweat. Anyways, after one semester, Su realized the Masters program isn't that great. Our relationship grew steadily as both Mo and Su genuinely love each other, we were visiting each other almost once a month. At the end, Su decided to move to NY(May 2010) for her 2nd degree. She met up with her previous employer and her employer offered to apply for her working visa. Her application was submitted on Dec 2010, RFE, Denial Feb 2011 and finally MTR March 2011. She is still a full-time student but will her history affects her AOS? We don't know. It all depends on how the officer wants to think of us.

We only had a simple wedding at New York city hall. Only our close friends were there to share the special day. Our parents didn't know. Mo's parents don't like the idea that he's 'divorced' to begin with and Su is not ready to bring up to her parents about being with someone who has kids. FYI, Mo is 31 and Su is 29. The question of 'Do your parents know about the wedding?' is possible.

We can only hope for the best to happen..

Based on what you have written about subways and NY, I am assuming that you are both in NY state.

NY state is a unique state, in so far as, your marriage is considered to be valid even if you did not get a licence. If you had a religious marriage with someone who is able to officiate your marriage presiding then it can be considered a legal marriage under NY law. The fact that Mo and his parents considered the previous relationship to be an actual marriage is proof that Mo intended to his marriage to be a marriage, albeit without a license.

My friend was married in her religion in Michigan state. When she went for her interview for her new spouse, she was asked about it and asked whether she was divorced in their religion.

Just some information for you and yes you could have filed taxes as married in NY state.

Just a FYI.

Your parents not knowing about the marriage may be a negative factor in Su's case. Does anyone in your family know?

MTR/ Motion to remove right? Your wife's situation is not straightforward at all. I suggest you post this in the AOS tourist forum because I believe you will get more input from people with the same experience.

Post in this forum.

Edited April 29, 2011 by Myopia

[Myopia 93]

How did Mo divorce his wife?

[moSu 0]

Based on what you have written about subways and NY, I am assuming that you are both in NY state.

NY state is a unique state, in so far as, your marriage is considered to be valid even if you did not get a licence. If you had a religious marriage with someone who is able to officiate your marriage presiding then it can be considered a legal marriage under NY law. The fact that Mo and his parents considered the previous relationship to be an actual marriage is proof that Mo intended to his marriage to be a marriage, albeit without a license.

My friend was married in her religion in Michigan state. When she went for her interview for her new spouse, she was asked about it and asked whether she was divorced in their religion.

Just some information for you and yes you could have filed taxes as married in NY state.

Just a FYI.

Your parents not knowing about the marriage may be a negative factor in Su's case. Does anyone in your family know?

MTR/ Motion to remove right? Your wife's situation is not straightforward at all. I suggest you post this in the AOS tourist forum because I believe you will get more input from people with the same experience.

Post in this forum.

Thanks for your input.

I guess different ppl sees it differently. We've never heard of divorced in religion and religious marriage is considered valid. That's interesting to know. Will do research on that. Mo's first marriage was simple too, simple as in they just had a small dinner with friends and relatives. They felt that there is no need to sign the paper and he has always file his taxes as single. I guess the better word to describe Mo's first marriage is Mo and his ex are 'separated'. They both agreed and went separate ways. Ex wants the kids and didn't want to have anything to do with Mo anymore.

Nope, no one in Su's nor Mo's family knows about the marriage, we just need more time cause we don't want any drama, sometimes time may be the best cure for situations like this. Our parents are conservative (Mo's parents might not accept his 2nd marriage, Su's parents might not accept Mo's background), so instead of 'show hand', we think it's best for us to wait and eventually the right time will come, as time will prove everything.

MTR is Motion To Reconsider/ Reappeal for Su's H1B cause her H1B application was denied - No response from USCIS yet, the Motion takes 1 to 11 months. She has been a full-time student. She was just worried that the officer might think that she got married because her H1B was denied.

We're very clear about the negative factors that would affect our case so we're aiming to prepare ourselves with hopefully acceptable answers to the officers.

Edited April 30, 2011 by moSu

[Myopia 93]

Thanks for your input.

I guess different ppl sees it differently. We've never heard of divorced in religion and religious marriage is considered valid. That's interesting to know. Will do research on that. Mo's first marriage was simple too, simple as in they just had a small dinner with friends and relatives. They felt that there is no need to sign the paper and he has always file his taxes as single. I guess the better word to describe Mo's first marriage is Mo and his ex are 'separated'. They both agreed and went separate ways. Ex wants the kids and didn't want to have anything to do with Mo anymore.

Nope, no one in Su's nor Mo's family knows about the marriage, we just need more time cause we don't want any drama, sometimes time may be the best cure for situations like this. Our parents are conservative (Mo's parents might not accept his 2nd marriage, Su's parents might not accept Mo's background), so instead of 'show hand', we think it's best for us to wait and eventually the right time will come, as time will prove everything.

MTR is Motion To Reconsider/ Reappeal for Su's H1B cause her H1B application was denied - No response from USCIS yet, the Motion takes 1 to 11 months. She has been a full-time student. She was just worried that the officer might think that she got married because her H1B was denied.

We're very clear about the negative factors that would affect our case so we're aiming to prepare ourselves with hopefully acceptable answers to the officers.

Just letting you know what NY state says. You can google the Domestic Relations law 25 and see for yourself.

My point is the parents see the marriage as legit and NY state may see it in the same way. There was a Hindu man who married his wife in the temple and in their divorce proceedings he tried to say that it wasnt valid because he hadnt signed the certificate. The court ruled that it was a legal marriage because that was the intent in the ceremony. People who attended knew it was a marriage. The couple was considered marriage and the court didnt let him off the hook as a result. You can google that.

There was a jewish man here in NY who wasnt divorced from his first wife, got married to his second wife in a religious ceremony and had all kinds of issues because in NY that second marriage is legal therefore it was bigamous.

All the best.

Edited April 30, 2011 by Myopia

[moSu 0]

5/16/2011 - Text and email confirmation received today. Breathe.. Waiting patiently in line behind AOS VJs from New York..

Best Wishes,

moSu

[BMW4me 12]

i don't know but none of the February filers even received their interviews (new yorkers) i don't know what the hell is peeps at federal plaza are doing..............

Edited May 20, 2011 by vkn & jsb

[moSu 0]

i don't know but none of the February filers even received their interviews (new yorkers) i don't know what the hell is peeps at federal plaza are doing..............

I understand that the number of applicants in New York are more than other states but it seems kind of unfair to us. We applied same as others, but our waiting timeline is 3 times longer... @___@". At least you're halfway there , my waiting game just started, lol....

[dtudtu 1]

Hello, would like to share my AOS journey: I'm currently a F-1 visa holder applying for AOS through marriage to an US citizen.

December 2006: Arrive in USA with J-1 Au Pair Visa

April 2008: Met my husband

August 2008: Change of Status to F-1 (student visa)

January 2009: Moved in together

December 2010: Got married

05/16/2011: Sent I-130, I-485, I-864, I-131 and I-756 to Chicago Lockbox facility via USPS Express Mail.

05/17/2001: Package received and signed by S BUSH.

Waiting to get email/text confirming they received...hopefully soon...

Hate waiting... :-/

[Kyungmin 0]

hey I filed AOS 2nd May. still haven't gotten the receipt yet. I don't know why. I confirmed it has arrived to chicago lockbox via USPS website tho.

would it be ok? just do I have to wait more?

Edited May 24, 2011 by Kyungmin

[moSu 0]

Hello, would like to share my AOS journey: I'm currently a F-1 visa holder applying for AOS through marriage to an US citizen.

December 2006: Arrive in USA with J-1 Au Pair Visa

April 2008: Met my husband

August 2008: Change of Status to F-1 (student visa)

January 2009: Moved in together

December 2010: Got married

05/16/2011: Sent I-130, I-485, I-864, I-131 and I-756 to Chicago Lockbox facility via USPS Express Mail.

05/17/2001: Package received and signed by S BUSH.

Waiting to get email/text confirming they received...hopefully soon...

Hate waiting... :-/

Hi dtudtu,

Welcome aboard to May 2011 filers! Where are you filing from? Let's wait together.. I have a long way to go because i'm filing from NY.