Hit me with some links

[Andy and Kayla 45]

Y'all are awesome!

Edited March 22, 2012 by Andy and Kayla

[Operator 1,927]

Any friend who refers a friend to VJ is a good friend.

Our AP took 61 days (and it was the first time I have ever filed for one). Your lawyer has not counseled you very well on this process. I would seek some sort of remedy.

We wish you better luck moving forward.

[SF2007 48]

How many AOS cases has she handled? I would assume very little because she keeps putting her foot in her mouth.

What your lawyer says about having to provide specific dates to justify an AP being issued to you is absolutely not true. You don't need to. You are allowed to apply for AP even if you don't plan to use it as you are adjusting from a family visa. At the very least, I would write a letter to her cabinet to explain how you found out you were more knowledgable about the process than she is and that was a very disappointing experience for you. They should be held accountable for their poor counsel. And as Vanesse&Tony suggested, I would also ask a refund for the $450 replacement card based on her mistake.

When time comes to remove conditions on your GC, just hop on VJ and you'll get free valuable counsel

Edited March 22, 2012 by SF2007

[Tithen 4]

Thanks folks. T-Bone I will definiately be notifying the proper people about all this.

quick question.

A and C are the same thing aren't they? Or should I send c (485 receipt) and a photocopy of my EAD for a? or will the 485 receipt cover both?

Thanks SF2007. We will definitely be doing it ourselves next time. Kayla gave me more information in a 30 minute conversation than the lawyer did over 8 months of communication! And now that I have this place (once I learn where I belong) I'll know where to get accurate information. Especially since I have some questions about citizenship for later on down the road.

Edited March 22, 2012 by Tithen

[Tithen 4]

scratch it... I just got the interview appointment notice via email for 30 days from now. Someone point me to where I can ask questions about this process?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

scratch it... I just got the interview appointment notice via email for 30 days from now. Someone point me to where I can ask questions about this process?

Here is where you can ask questions or you can start a new post in this same forum.

Thanks folks. T-Bone I will definiately be notifying the proper people about all this.

quick question.

A and C are the same thing aren't they? Or should I send c (485 receipt) and a photocopy of my EAD for a? or will the 485 receipt cover both?

I know you are no longer needing AP but to answer your questions for anyone else reading...

No. "A" would be a photocopy of your K1 visa. "C" is your I-485 receipt OR if you don't have the receipt you don't bother sending anything for C (or B for that matter).

Congrats on your interview!!

p.s. What questions about citizenship do you have?

[Tithen 4]

Thanks. I didn't come to the US on a visa though... maybe that's why she said I didn't qualify? I came for a visit and we jumped the gun and ran off and got hitched. lol. We wanted an excuse to go on Vacation, and though going to see a friend in the south so she could witness it (since she kept us together during a rough patch) was a great one.

I just don't know how citizenship works really. I've had a few people tell me to never give up my Canadian citizenship, just keep reapplying for my green card. I've had others tell me it doesn't mater, I automatically keep both... I never know who to trust. If I can have dual, I'd love dual. More so, I'd like it for future kids, but I don't even know if it's possible.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You were still eligible for AP coming from Canada on the Canadian Visitor program, not that it matters anymore that you got your interview notice.

If you went for US citizenship you wouldn't give up the Canadian one.

[SF2007 48]

If you are NOT adjusting status from a K1, the IO will most likely ask you questions about how you entered the U.S. Entering the U.S as a tourist with the intent of getting married and staying in the U.S. to adjust status is misrepresentation and illegal: when you enter on a tourist visa you need to leave the U.S. after what you told CBP would be the length of your stay.

This raises the concern of traveling abroad with AP. You can't use AP if you've accumulated 180 days of overstay as AP does not clear you of overstaying. However that restriction will be lifted once you receive your GC.

To prepare for your interview, you can read reviews of your local USCIS office here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/ (under "local CIS office reviews). You will need to provide the interviewing officer with certain documents which will be listed on your official interview notice you will soon receive by mail.

Tip: make copies of everything so you can let them keep a photocopy. If you show up with only originals, they might keep those. You might want to start gathering/organizing proof of co mingling and bona fide marriage such as: marriage certificate, joint bank account, utility bills under your name, driver's license with same address, other kind of joint memberships (AAA, Costco, Sam's Club, etc), wedding/honeymoon pictures, pictures of you and your husband in social settings, etc.

You can ask general questions about the AOS process in the Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from Family Based Visas forum. If you have questions specific to your EAD/AP, you can use the Working & Traveling During US Immigration forum.

Edited March 22, 2012 by SF2007

[Tithen 4]

Congrats on your appointment! To prepare for your interview, you can read reviews of your local USCIS office here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/ (under "local CIS office reviews).

You will need to provide the interviewing officer with certain documents which will be listed on your official interview notice you will soon receive by mail:

- Copy of original AOS Package (optional)

- Original and copy of all Department of Homeland Security USCIS correspondence (optional but interview letter is mandatory)

- Original and copy of government issued ID

- Original and copy of travel documents used to enter the U.S. (includes both passport and I-94)

- Original and copy of Birth certificate (translated if not in English)

- Original and copy of petitioner's birth certificate and proof of status

- Original and certified copy of Marriage Document and supporting evidence of the relationship

Tip: make copies of everything so you can let them keep a photocopy. If you show up with only originals, they might keep those. You might want to start gathering/organizing proof of co mingling and bona fide marriage such as: marriage certificate, joint bank account, utility bills under your name, driver's license with same address, other kind of joint memberships (AAA, Costco, Sam's Club, etc), wedding/honeymoon pictures, pictures of you and your husband in social settings, etc.

You can ask general questions about the AOS process in the Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from Family Based Visas forum. If you have questions specific to your EAD/AP, you can use the Working & Traveling During US Immigration forum.

my lawyer submitted (and I have the photocopies of the ENTIRE thing she submitted). And she submitted the originals. Not to mention that NONE of our utilities will allow us to put my name on them until i have a SSN (they won't take an ITIN either). Lease, pictures, copy of marriage cert (we sent an orig, we got extra copies) all submitted. Wi wouldn't grant me a drivers license until I could show I was allowed to be here (they requested an EAD or GC as proof). She submitted just about everything... but submitted originals. The only "new" thing I have is my name on the lease for our 2nd apartment and our sams membership. Heck, I don't even have a copy of our original lease submitted. My husband works construction and we leave our apartment a few times year for months at a time. I don't even think I have an I-94... they stamped my tickets, not the paper I filled out.

I suddenly feel very unprepared.

[SF2007 48]

I think we all assumed you were adjusting from a K1. As I now understand, you are not adjusting from a K1 and did not file a CR1, you overstayed on a tourist visa and are now adjusting status from the U.S., correct? If it is so, you should get help in the "Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas" forum.

As for the originals... big mistake. You never send USCIS any originals, you keep them for an eventual interview. I hope you can get them back. Maybe your lawyer could make up for her mistake by attending your interview pro bono.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Well, you have an EAD now, right? So you can get a SSN.

[Tithen 4]

Well, you have an EAD now, right? So you can get a SSN.

Can I do it with out the I-94? Everything we had the lawyer submitted in original copies to USCIS with our paperwork.....

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Can I do it with out the I-94? Everything we had the lawyer submitted in original copies to USCIS with our paperwork.....

Yes, of course. Once you have an EAD you are qualified to get a SSN. Since you came as a visitor from Canada, I doubt you ever had a I-94. Go to your local Social Security office and get a SSN and start co-mingling your stuff.

Here is another tip. When you go to the interview, bring a copy of the entire packet you sent. Ask to exchange the copies you bring for the originals the lawyer originally sent. Some things, like your marriage cert and your birth certificates are especially important things that you need for your life - there is no reason for USCIS to have them.

I am going to ask to have this thread moved to the AOS-other forum. If you have any new questions, I'd start a new thread to keep things organized. It sounds like your lawyer steered you wrong and seriously confused you. I am surprised s/he didn;t tell you you could get a SSN now with your EAD.

Edited March 23, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[Andy and Kayla 45]

Moved from Adjustment of Status from Family Based Visas to Adjustment of Status from Work, Student & Travel Visas.