August 2012 AOS Filers

[iaia 8]

What do others think about taking kids to an interview? I want to take my step-daughter to show the IO we're a family and I hate to leave her with others because I don't want her to feel left out, but I'm not sure if they might think I'm trying too hard?

In my case, I don't have another choice. The twins come with us to the interview. Sean's family that lives nearby work during the week.

When I went to my Infopass in Downtown Chicago, there were a LOT of families with kids. Why taking your kid/step kid to the interview will be "working to hard"?

[iaia 8]

Hey guys, hope everyone had a pleasant Saturday. Anyway I got a text update today about my EAD card production. congrats to everyone else who got updates.

iaia: Is there anyway you can get to your FILs house to pick up that stuff yourself? I can only imagine how annoying it must be for you cuz I feel like pulling out my hair for you just knowing that they're dragging their feet so much. Tax transcript don't take thy long to get to you geez. Maybe tell him you have to get the info out to USCIS earlier than the time in which they gave you and see if that would get him to speed up the process.

Congrats!

NO!, I can't. They live in Las Vegas and we are in Chicago...He was out of town for work so my MIL is going to start screaming at him today. I love her! hahaha. Is not the Tax transcript, he asked his secretary for his PAY STUBS! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!

[Timon 26]

Congrats!

NO!, I can't. They live in Las Vegas and we are in Chicago...He was out of town for work so my MIL is going to start screaming at him today. I love her! hahaha. Is not the Tax transcript, he asked his secretary for his PAY STUBS! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!

Lol Vegas is a long way away. I guess I can only say try to stay calm then and hope he gets those damn PAY STUBS soon

[shranjan84 5]

So I am sleeping just a few minutes ago and my phone goes off. We got notice his EAD is in production! Our interview is in 10 days so I am not sure what we can get done or if we will even have it by time the interview as it says allow 30 days to receive it, but it was an update!

Congrats, I am also expecting it soon, but it does not make much difference for me as I am already working on OPT. Yesterday I got RFE for my H1B application and now its making me nervous. hope its not related to my I130 process anyway.

[iaia 8]

Well, if you already got your interview NOA it doesn't make sense that the RFE is related.

[shranjan84 5]

Well, if you already got your interview NOA it doesn't make sense that the RFE is related.

Yeah, as far I know both are separate processes, probably my employer missed something to send. Next 7 days gonna be like 7 years for me

[Frenchican 13]

BANK ACCOUNTS & SSN

I think that shared bank account is mandatory for ROC, but since most AOS don't have SSN, it's normal not to have one. And they won't take it against you.

But you have to have shared expenses. I would suggest to use your card from your own country to pay some utilities. Many accept VISA or MASTERCARD and any foreign CC would work.

I have been in the US 3 years and got SSN as student, and I have my back account at Chase. Hubby has it a mini local bank with only 2 branches, 40 min away from town. Obviously, I am not taking a bank account there. And he has some benefits of being paid in that local bank so he doesn't want to change either. We opened a shared chase account, but it's almost empty. I will take a copy to interview for their records. but, I think for interview, we will explain exactly that. We both have utilities payments from our separate accounts. If this was ROC I would be more worried about it.

In my case, I don't have another choice. The twins come with us to the interview. Sean's family that lives nearby work during the week.

When I went to my Infopass in Downtown Chicago, there were a LOT of families with kids. Why taking your kid/step kid to the interview will be "working to hard"?

what I've read, kids are welcome, they give them some paper and crayons. I don't think it's trying to hard, it's not like everybody has child care, AS LONG AS THEY DIDN'T MISS SCHOOL TO GO! then since their presence is not mandatory unless they are adjusting too, that would look irresponsible.

Congrats!

NO!, I can't. They live in Las Vegas and we are in Chicago...He was out of town for work so my MIL is going to start screaming at him today. I love her! hahaha. Is not the Tax transcript, he asked his secretary for his PAY STUBS! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!

HAH!! Lie to them! tell them you have a deadline and it's this week! you didn't say anything because you didn't want to put pressure on them but now you are really worried! And then you start crying!!! LOL!!!

Congrats, I am also expecting it soon, but it does not make much difference for me as I am already working on OPT. Yesterday I got RFE for my H1B application and now its making me nervous. hope its not related to my I130 process anyway.

I thought you were exactly like me (even same town & probably university!), adjusting from OPT. What's all that about H1B application?

[Frenchican 13]

... I am not going to change banks just to open an account he can be on and I will explain that to immigration. I think too mush fishing for one just looks a little "desperate for evidence" to immigration.... for lack of better word.

Even if Gesi gets his EAD before Oct 16th, there are no guarantees we will have time to go apply for SSN...

I think if you get any paper 1 week before interview, you have time to try to get the SSN. It takes 20 min, and it won't be mailed until a few days later, but you can bring the receipt for the interview. Just showing that you know SSN is important and you are doing your best and not procrastinating will make you look good.

Don't rush or try to work miracles for bank account, they will totally understand because they see it everyday.

Hey guys, hope everyone had a pleasant Saturday. Anyway I got a text update today about my EAD card production. congrats to everyone else who got updates.

CONGRATS!! ONE MORE!

--> August Filers spreadsheet

Edited October 7, 2012 by Frenchican

[shranjan84 5]

I thought you were exactly like me (even same town & probably university!), adjusting from OPT. What's all that about H1B application?

I did MS from Syracuse university .In May end my employer also filled my H1B too.Although if everything goes smooth on 15th , H1B would not have any importance for me.

[Sameh'sHabibi 3]

I never really thought that much about the bank account thing. I am the US citizen, and I don't even have my own bank account. I do everything via cash or reloadable pre-paid credit card. I had a bank account until about 2 years ago when I had a very bad experience with my credit union, which happened to be owned by my employer. By the time their "accounting error" was setteled, it ended up costing ME over $500!! I closed my account and have been just fine ever since. Hopefully it won't be an issue for AOS for my husband, surely I'm not the only American who chooses not to use a bank!

[iaia 8]

And how is that going to affect your credit score? Just asking...

[Kim & Gesner 14]

I never really thought that much about the bank account thing. I am the US citizen, and I don't even have my own bank account. I do everything via cash or reloadable pre-paid credit card. I had a bank account until about 2 years ago when I had a very bad experience with my credit union, which happened to be owned by my employer. By the time their "accounting error" was setteled, it ended up costing ME over $500!! I closed my account and have been just fine ever since. Hopefully it won't be an issue for AOS for my husband, surely I'm not the only American who chooses not to use a bank!

I wouldn't think it would be a problem. A bank account is the not the only way to prove comlingling. If you have a lease or mortgage together, utility bills, health insurance, car insurance, car titles, phone bills, credit cards together or any other proof, you should be fine. I know you aren't the only person in the US without an account. When I divorced in 2006, I took myself off my ex's account (Bank of America). I was finishing school, working and taking care of 2 sons so I did not have much money and did not see paying fee's for a bank account I really could not afford. My student loan money was paid through a college debit card and that's what I used for years. I guess it was sort of like a debit card but it was through the school. They had an office where I could make my paycheck deposits, withdrawals, had an ATM on campus only. I did not have an actual account until I moved to Maryland last year. It's normal to have a bank account but I know there are people who do not use them.

[Kim & Gesner 14]

And how is that going to affect your credit score? Just asking...

I don't think not having a bank account affects ones credit score.

In addition, I am at work and it's slow so I decided to look up some info on not having a bank account, this is what I found "7.7 percent of U.S. households, or about 9 million people, do not have a savings or checking account".

And some reasons....

• Distrust of the banking system.
• Cannot maintain sufficient balances to avoid high monthly fees.
• Write too few checks to need a checking account.
• Have too little income to justify a savings account.
• The decline of bank branches in many lower-income and inner-city neighborhoods has made a banking relationship inconvenient for many consumers.
• Have no Social Security Number. (believe it or not there are 20 million adults in this country who do not have a SSN)

Interesting huh?

[epsonderby 85]

A bank account is something that affects your credit score the least anyway. In a lot of cases it's not even reported to the agencies, unless you have an overdraft. The score is governed more by credit cards, phone plans, store cards and loans; actual credit.

I know a lot of people with good credit that don't have a bank account, mainly for the reasons Kim listed. Not everyone wants to pay $10-15 a month for someone to manage your account. After 2008, a lot of people don't have any trust in the banking system and would rather not use it if they can avoid it.

[iaia 8]

Sameh said he does everything via cash/ pre paid cc. My question was is reference to that. If credit builds on cc usage, paying cash won't built your credit, right?