Minor Step Children

[EVL2011 0]

I'm a USC and also a petitioner for my wife and her 2 children (my step children).

We hired a lawyer and he sent the documents at the same time, but separate envelopes.

My wife's has already had the interview last week and been approved on the spot.

However, until now the children's status on the USCIS website is still on the INITIAL REVIEW.

They've had their biometeric on March 14th, 2012.

Actually they should have the biometric on March 8th, 2012, however we received the Biometric Appointment Notice letter late.

We didn't know that they needed the biometric test because both of them are under 14 yrs old.

Even the officers were confused also, why we brought them for the the test.

Finally, they only had their pictures taken and ONE FINGER printed (the index finger)

My questions are:

- How long after the mother's AOS has been approved, would we expect those children be approved?

- Do they need to be interviewed also?

- What do we have to bring for the interview?

Has anyone here had the same/similar experience?

Thank you so much in advance

[kcoyclay1 98]

Based on my undesrtanding they should receive their GC based on their mom's. Under 14 and filed at the same time may result in no interview for the minors.

[EVL2011 0]

Based on my undesrtanding they should receive their GC based on their mom's. Under 14 and filed at the same time may result in no interview for the minors.

Thank you so much for the reply.

That's what I was thinking also.

However, my lawyer said that they MIGHT be interviewed. It's really confusing me.

I read on the other posts saying that officers might ask for the custody (approval) letter from their biological father. Is it really true?

He lives in another country and my lawyer didn't tell me anything about it.

I'm afraid that we don't have much time to get that custody paper.

They've been with the mother since they were born.

The kids have already received their EAD cards last week.

What is it for? Is it only to apply for their Social Security numbers?

Thank you so much again for your help.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I'm a USC and also a petitioner for my wife and her 2 children (my step children).

We hired a lawyer and he sent the documents at the same time, but separate envelopes.

My wife's has already had the interview last week and been approved on the spot.

However, until now the children's status on the USCIS website is still on the INITIAL REVIEW.

They've had their biometeric on March 14th, 2012.

Actually they should have the biometric on March 8th, 2012, however we received the Biometric Appointment Notice letter late.

We didn't know that they needed the biometric test because both of them are under 14 yrs old.

Even the officers were confused also, why we brought them for the the test.

Finally, they only had their pictures taken and ONE FINGER printed (the index finger)

My questions are:

- How long after the mother's AOS has been approved, would we expect those children be approved?

- Do they need to be interviewed also?

- What do we have to bring for the interview?

Has anyone here had the same/similar experience?

Thank you so much in advance

We had two sons as K-2s. One under 14 at the time. He did not go for biometrics. He DID get an interview letter but they told it it was a mistake and they did not interview him but he sat in the room with us while they interviewed my wife. The older one (18 at that time and a K-2 to follow) did not have an interview, he did have biometrics.

We received my wifes green and the youngers son's green card the same day, the others came later, but he applied later. Childrens green cards are derivitive of the parents.

[EVL2011 0]

We had two sons as K-2s. One under 14 at the time. He did not go for biometrics. He DID get an interview letter but they told it it was a mistake and they did not interview him but he sat in the room with us while they interviewed my wife. The older one (18 at that time and a K-2 to follow) did not have an interview, he did have biometrics.

We received my wifes green and the youngers son's green card the same day, the others came later, but he applied later. Childrens green cards are derivitive of the parents.

Thank you so much for the information.

My wife and I feel so much relieved now.

Really hope we would get any information about their status from the USCIS sooner.

I will update our situation when it's finished.

Really appreciate your help.

Have a wonderful weekend

[kcoyclay1 98]

relax and enjoy the weekend. Use the EAD to get the SS for the kids.

[EVL2011 0]

relax and enjoy the weekend. Use the EAD to get the SS for the kids.

YES! We've done it. We're waiting for their SS on the mail.

The kids are so excited because they think that they'd be able to work

I called the USCIS yesterday to ask about the kids' status and they just told me to wait

I asked also whether there'd be any interview for them for they both are under 14yrs old.

The answer was just to wait for the mails also

Well, I guess that's the best think I can do now.. Wait and wait

[EVL2011 0]

We're still waiting for the kids' update, but still haven't heard a word.

We also called USCIS, but there's nothing they could do.

We called our lawyer and there's nothing he could do either.

The documents get stuck somewhere in CSC

Does anyone know why my wife's and my stepchildren's documents were separated?

We filed the documents altogether, but it seems like USCIS filed them separately.

They even transferred the kids' cases to CSC when the mother's (my wife) document was sent to the local office.

My wife must fly back to her country this month. We all do wanna fly together.

However, due to the kids' cases not approved yet, we're stuck too.. LOL

I can't go anywhere because the lawyer said that I (as the petitioner) must be at the interview if it's needed.

Does my wife have to be at the interview also?

We haven't bought the ticket yet because we're still hoping that we'd receive good news soon.

It's really frustrating us

Thank you so much for your help.

[ceadsearc 516]

CSC cases don't usually get an interview. They were probably sent to CSC for "quicker" processing because USCIS didn't feel the need to interview them. Unfortunately, CSC isn't processing very quickly at the moment.

Do the kids have AP?

[EVL2011 0]

CSC cases don't usually get an interview. They were probably sent to CSC for "quicker" processing because USCIS didn't feel the need to interview them. Unfortunately, CSC isn't processing very quickly at the moment.

Do the kids have AP?

No they don't have AP

I asked the lawyer last week to file for the AP (because I read some threads here about it), but he said it would be useless because it'd take 1-2 months.

We really didn't know that their cases would take this long.

And I really didn't know either that children under 18 yrs can get AP eventhou they've overstayed.

If I knew they could get AP, I'd file it from the beginning

[ceadsearc 516]

Oh, I didn't realized they'd overstayed. That's probably not a good idea then, anyway. Illegal presence doesn't accure for those under 18 but CBP does not have to let them in under AP, either.

I hope their cases are completed soon. Unfortunately while CSC is supposed to be for "quicker" processing, lately it isn't.