AOS - Did you file for AP?

[Kimbear 53]

Yes, they do a EAD/AP combo card now.

oh thats awesome..no more annoying papers anymore? i'd say get it as well you just never know if youll need it !

Apply for it and consider it like a type of insurance. You may not ever need it but if you have a family emergency back home and have to travel quickly you will be glad you have it. Trying to get an emergency AP while time is of the essence is nerve-wracking and in some cases heart-breaking. We never expect emergencies but that doesn't mean we don't plan to address them when they arise. That is why we have car insurance, house insurance and life insurance. Consider this a type of emergency travel insurance - and this one is free.

My AOS took 22 months to process. I applied for AP and had to re-apply for the second AP - and this is when it did cost extra. I didn't use either but it gave me great peace of mind knowing I could quickly get home if something happened to my family. You'll appreciate the peace of mind whether you use it or not just knowing you have the option available.

22 Months??? OMG..you must have gone insane almost. Poor you.

[nycheryl 0]

Apply for it and consider it like a type of insurance. You may not ever need it but if you have a family emergency back home and have to travel quickly you will be glad you have it. Trying to get an emergency AP while time is of the essence is nerve-wracking and in some cases heart-breaking. We never expect emergencies but that doesn't mean we don't plan to address them when they arise. That is why we have car insurance, house insurance and life insurance. Consider this a type of emergency travel insurance - and this one is free.

My AOS took 22 months to process. I applied for AP and had to re-apply for the second AP - and this is when it did cost extra. I didn't use either but it gave me great peace of mind knowing I could quickly get home if something happened to my family. You'll appreciate the peace of mind whether you use it or not just knowing you have the option available.

WOW. Any insight as to why AOS took so long? Does this mean you apply for citizenship 2 years after AOS is approved?

[Inky 1,111]

WOW. Any insight as to why AOS took so long? Does this mean you apply for citizenship 2 years after AOS is approved?

No you have to be a LPR for 3 years. If AOS is not approved you are not a legal permanent resident until it is and you go by the date on your card. Please see the guides.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

WOW. Any insight as to why AOS took so long? Does this mean you apply for citizenship 2 years after AOS is approved?

No idea why it took so long. I applied when applications were still being submitted to your regional office so it was sent to Atlanta, which at that time had 18 months waiting time for processing I-485s due to sheer number of applicants. I applied in July 2004. On September 30, 2005 my application was transferred to CSC - this was the second wave of transfers from the regional offices, the first wave having started in July or August that same year. In February 2006, I received a notice to re-do my biometrics since my originals had expired (only valid for 15 months) which I did. In May - 3 weeks before my 2nd wedding anniversary - my AOS was approved without an interview and without any requests for further evidence. The only thing I can imagine is that somewhere in the process it got misplaced or lost. The ironic part of it - besides being 3 weeks shy of my 2nd anniversary which would have meant not having to go through Removal of Conditions - is that if it had remained at Atlanta instead of being transferred, I would have received it 6 months earlier.

As Inky mentioned, your time counted towards citizenship starts from the date you received your green card, so no, my residency didn't start until May 26, 2006 even though I had been here since May 7, 2004. I also had to file to remove conditions by May 26, 2008 - and you can be sure I sent lots and lots of documentation that covered all 4 years of my marriage. I figured if they made me wait 22 months before approving my green card and still felt it was necessary for me to 'prove' the validity of my marriage, well, by god I was going to give them proof - 3 pounds worth of documentation, in fact! And I got great satisfaction out of knowing they had to read each and every piece of paper! You take your legitimate victories where you can get them when dealing with USCIS !

Edited March 15, 2012 by Kathryn41

[nycheryl 0]

No you have to be a LPR for 3 years. If AOS is not approved you are not a legal permanent resident until it is and you go by the date on your card. Please see the guides.

Thanks, I'm not sure where I got 2 years. We haven't gotten married yet, so I'm not that far along yet

[nycheryl 0]

No idea why it took so long. I applied when applications were still being submitted to your regional office so it was sent to Atlanta, which at that time had 18 months waiting time for processing I-485s due to sheer number of applicants. I applied in July 2004. On September 30, 2005 my application was transferred to CSC - this was the second wave of transfers from the regional offices, the first wave having started in July or August that same year. In February 2006, I received a notice to re-do my biometrics since my originals had expired (only valid for 15 months) which I did. In May - 3 weeks before my 2nd wedding anniversary - my AOS was approved without an interview and without any requests for further evidence. The only thing I can imagine is that somewhere in the process it got misplaced or lost. The ironic part of it - besides being 3 weeks shy of my 2nd anniversary which would have meant not having to go through Removal of Conditions - is that if it had remained at Atlanta instead of being transferred, I would have received it 6 months earlier.

As Inky mentioned, your time counted towards citizenship starts from the date you received your green card, so no, my residency didn't start until May 26, 2006 even though I had been here since May 7, 2004. I also had to file to remove conditions by May 26, 2008 - and you can be sure I sent lots and lots of documentation that covered all 4 years of my marriage. I figured if they made me wait 22 months before approving my green card and still felt it was necessary for me to 'prove' the validity of my marriage, well, by god I was going to give them proof - 3 pounds worth of documentation, in fact! And I got great satisfaction out of knowing they had to read each and every piece of paper! You take your legitimate victories where you can get them when dealing with USCIS !

Thank you for the background! It's good to hear your story