We've been approved, so I'd love to hear advice on next step please.

[G. Rod 0]

My fiance attended her interview at the Belgian consulate and she waas approved. She just needs to head back to the consulate to pick up the K1 visa. We have a general idea where to go from here, but would love to her the advice from any of you guys and gals since it's helped us so much in the past.

She's planning on starting her 90 days in January. Would we have to call our local courthouse to set up our court-marriage?

When does she receive her Social Security card? I'm thinking we just need to go to our local SS office and ask for one there?

What other forms are need to be completed for her Green Card? Just want to make sure I have the correct ones in mind and don't miss one.

Finally, after the marriage and paperwork, what's the estimate to recieve her Green Card if there even is one.

Sorry for the question bombarding, but this is the best place for help.

[Que Saudade 284]

My fiance attended her interview at the Belgian consulate and she waas approved. She just needs to head back to the consulate to pick up the K1 visa. We have a general idea where to go from here, but would love to her the advice from any of you guys and gals since it's helped us so much in the past.

She's planning on starting her 90 days in January. Would we have to call our local courthouse to set up our court-marriage?

When does she receive her Social Security card? I'm thinking we just need to go to our local SS office and ask for one there?

What other forms are need to be completed for her Green Card? Just want to make sure I have the correct ones in mind and don't miss one.

Finally, after the marriage and paperwork, what's the estimate to recieve her Green Card if there even is one.

Sorry for the question bombarding, but this is the best place for help.

Call the courthouse and find out the details.

She needs to go to SS Department about 4 weeks after entering and file for SS. Doesn't allow her to work until she gets Employment Authorization Documents or GC.

Bottom of my signature, click on guide to AOS (adjustment of status) you can file that after you are married. That is the road to 2 year conditional green card. Probably the wait for GC is about 7-9 months after you file AOS.

make sure you keep the I-94 form (arrival card she fills out on flight over) you will need it for filing adjustment of status.

Good luck

[G. Rod 0]

Call the courthouse and find out the details.

She needs to go to SS Department about 4 weeks after entering and file for SS.

Thank you for this, it answered most of my questions.

Bottom of my signature, click on guide to AOS (adjustment of status) you can file that after you are married. That is the road to 2 year conditional green card. Probably the wait for GC is about 7-9 months after you file AOS.

Oh, wow. 7-9 months??! Will she be able to visit her homeland during that time?

make sure you keep the I-94 form (arrival card she fills out on flight over) you will need it for filing adjustment of status.

I will keep this in mind, but how is she able to keep it, don't the airport officials keep it? I might be wrong here, it's been awhile since I filled one out myself.

Good luck

Thank you!

[Que Saudade 284]

Make sure to file your AOS as soon as possible after you guys get married. Make sure to fill out the EAD and the AP at the same time. All 3 for the price of one ($1070) if you do it this way. Once she gets her EAD/AP card, she can work and travel. While there is no timeframe to file AOS, once the date expires on her I-94, she will be accruing overstay as she is not a lawful permanent resident (LPR) yet. This isn't really a problem, except if she accrues more than 180 days, even if she gets AP she can't use it. Here is a link that shows what I am talking about Read about AP and overstay

Customs stapled the i-94 to my wife's passport. We took it out and put it with the rest of our papers for safekeeping.

As for the 7-9 months, right now processing the AOS for K1 visas is not moving very fast. I guess they figure that our spouse is here with us and they usually always approve the EAD and AP with the K1 process.

[Winning23 25]

Congrats on KI

1. Once you fiancee arrives in USA, go get a court marriage ASAP.

2. Take documentation (I-94), marriage certificate to SSN office. Get SSN (2 wks for arrival). When asked do a name change at this time, and make sure you have your last name documented on SSN. This will

serve the main document for further name changes.

3. File for AOS. See instructions on this forum. Very easy to complete.

4. Start documenting your wife and your communal assets (bank account, real estate, etc) for AOS interview.

5. You will receive AOS reply for USCIS. Get biometics done. and wait

6. You will receive AOS interview date.

7. Get Green Card for wife.

[Que Saudade 284]

Congrats on KI

1. Once you fiancee arrives in USA, go get a court marriage ASAP.

2. Take documentation (I-94), marriage certificate to SSN office. Get SSN (2 wks for arrival). When asked do a name change at this time, and make sure you have your last name documented on SSN. This will

serve the main document for further name changes.

Just depends on whether they want a courthouse marriage or not. Just get married before 90 days is up.

Don't have to get married before getting SS. Just depends on how you want to go about the process.

[G. Rod 0]

Thank you so much for the useful info. We are planning a courthouse marriage on last month of the 90 days, would that be too late?

I know I may be missing some info, but could you guys list the forms that we will need to fill out, please. I'd greatly appreciate it everything.

We would need forms:

I-485

i-765

I am not exactly sure what form I-131's use is exactly.

Possible silly question here, would we just need biometrics from her, or both of us?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Congrats on KI

1. Once you fiancee arrives in USA, go get a court marriage ASAP.

2. Take documentation (I-94), marriage certificate to SSN office. Get SSN (2 wks for arrival). When asked do a name change at this time, and make sure you have your last name documented on SSN. This will

serve the main document for further name changes.

3. File for AOS. See instructions on this forum. Very easy to complete.

4. Start documenting your wife and your communal assets (bank account, real estate, etc) for AOS interview.

5. You will receive AOS reply for USCIS. Get biometics done. and wait

6. You will receive AOS interview date.

7. Get Green Card for wife.

You do not have to get married at the courthouse. You just need to get legally married within 90 days. You do not need to get married before applying for the SSN. http://www.visajourney.com/content/ssn

The SSN does not serve as the document for name change. The marriage certificate is the legal name change document you need to show in order to change your name on SSN, IDs, accounts, etc.

Not all of those adjusting from a K-1 have an interview. Quite a large percent of them get transferred to the CSC and are approved without an interview. Unfortunately, CSC is backlogged and taking a long time to give approvals on green cards as of late.

Thank you so much for the useful info. We are planning a courthouse marriage on last month of the 90 days, would that be too late?

I know I may be missing some info, but could you guys list the forms that we will need to fill out, please. I'd greatly appreciate it everything.

We would need forms:

I-485

i-765

I am not exactly sure what form I-131's use is exactly.

Possible silly question here, would we just need biometrics from her, or both of us?

So long as you marry within 90 days of her entry into the US, then you should be fine. You also mentioned she would not be using her K-1 visa until Jan. Make sure she uses it before the expiration date on it.

You should read through the guide. It lists everything you need and what the forms are: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

I-485(form for receiving green card), I-765(EAD- employment authorization), I-131(AP- advance parole travel document). The EAD and AP typically come in a combo card now. http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=f5d28bcbf851e210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=6abe6d26d17df110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

The USC is not the one that is filing for adjustment, only the foreign spouse needs to adjust status to permanent resident. The forms are about them, not the USC, and this includes biometrics. The only thing needed from the USC is the I-864 affidavit of support and supporting documents for it, plus to show up with your spouse to the interview, should you have one.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

** Moving from K1 to AOS as this is the process OP is asking about ***

[djricky4 67]

My fiance attended her interview at the Belgian consulate and she waas approved. She just needs to head back to the consulate to pick up the K1 visa. We have a general idea where to go from here, but would love to her the advice from any of you guys and gals since it's helped us so much in the past.

She's planning on starting her 90 days in January. Would we have to call our local courthouse to set up our court-marriage?

When does she receive her Social Security card? I'm thinking we just need to go to our local SS office and ask for one there?

What other forms are need to be completed for her Green Card? Just want to make sure I have the correct ones in mind and don't miss one.

Finally, after the marriage and paperwork, what's the estimate to recieve her Green Card if there even is one.

Sorry for the question bombarding, but this is the best place for help.

[JimTory 0]

9 months before a Green Card, is this accurate? Does this mean I cannot work for almost a year?

[Que Saudade 284]

Read my post #2 and #4 on this thread. Already explained.

Typically, I use that term loosely, EAD and AP are issued within a couple of months. We got ours in 46 days. I've seen many others around 60 day mark. Some are longer. Varies from case to case for a plethora of reasons.

Edited August 3, 2012 by Que Saudade

[Que Saudade 284]

9 months before a Green Card, is this accurate? Does this mean I cannot work for almost a year?

Right now, K1 AOS is not moving very fast. There are tons of threads in AOS forum to read. I guess part of that reason is the couples are united and here in the US. EAD/AP should have been obtained with AOS and approved ahead of the GC. Who knows?? But yes, AOS for K1 is running about 8-9 months easily.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

9 months before a Green Card, is this accurate? Does this mean I cannot work for almost a year?

As was mentioned in this thread, EAD is filed along with your I-485. You will get that in 2-3 months and it will allow you to work while waiting for your green card. Please research about filing for AOS and check out the guide for it here on VJ.

[bigdog 376]

More patience, and our own research on VJ and USCIS is important. Both persons need to understand.