May 2013 filers

[Nurseling 34]

Hi Friends!

I've been in the U.S. for about 10 days now, and we had our civil ceremony this past weekend... yes, I know we moved quick! My grandma was visiting from another province, and so we wanted to have the civil ceremony while she was still visiting . We filed our marriage license with the county I live in, so now we are officially husband and wife... hurray!

We are getting ready to file the Adjustment of Status paperwork, and I had a few questions stemming from when I entered in the US (and advice on what those of you who have filed for Adjustment of Status already would be much appreciated!)

We had an incredibly friendly CBP agent, who said we need to file for I-130. This is not a document on the VJ "Step by Step" guide for Adjustment for K-1... so, I do not believe I need to file for this?

Also, he said we should file for I-131 "Advanced Parole" so I could have the option of leaving the U.S. I was considering filling this out, however, the I-131 requires a date and reason for travel of which I have none. Have any of you filed for this?

Also, we never received a paper NOA2 approval notice, only an email from USCIS, and the VJ Step by Step guide says we should submit a copy of this along with our application. Wouldnt it be obvious that we were approved initially, since we had an interview, I have a visa in my passport, and that I have already been admitted to the U.S.? I will contact USCIS for a copy of this letter if need be -- but I would hate to pay out of pocket for this letter, to the tune of over $400, even though we never received it in the first place!!

Hi sjs

I just got my approval for EAD and AP on Thursday gone so the card is in production as of now.

Number one you do not need to file i130 that's for people who did not go the k1 route.

What you need to file is i485 and i131 and i765 the forms can be downloaded here on the site. Pls read all instructions and provide the evidence. Yes you will need your noa2 copy to send with your application. Also make sure you have your tax transcript last 3 years is what I sent and I got no rfe. I also sent 5 pay stubs for my husband. Pls do not forget to include a original of your marriage licence I ordered 4 copies as I have heard sometimes they ask for original. Also copy of your passport visa page and your Canadian pic page. Your husbands birth certificate copy. Do not forget your i94 print out outs online pls attach a copy to each application that you are filing as they are going in diffrent departments make sure you get additional 4 passport pics and attach them to application. Also medical form from when you did k1 medical copy needs to be attached. Put the correct filling fee I attached a cheque. Then mail everything either signed which is what I did or two day express up to you. Then wait for acceptance notice 4 weeks later you will get finger prints letter for biometrics.

Hope this helps. Let us know how you get on and congratulations on the wedding so happy for you.

[Ozgirl1981 78]

Hi Friends!

I've been in the U.S. for about 10 days now, and we had our civil ceremony this past weekend... yes, I know we moved quick! My grandma was visiting from another province, and so we wanted to have the civil ceremony while she was still visiting . We filed our marriage license with the county I live in, so now we are officially husband and wife... hurray!

We are getting ready to file the Adjustment of Status paperwork, and I had a few questions stemming from when I entered in the US (and advice on what those of you who have filed for Adjustment of Status already would be much appreciated!)

We had an incredibly friendly CBP agent, who said we need to file for I-130. This is not a document on the VJ "Step by Step" guide for Adjustment for K-1... so, I do not believe I need to file for this?

Also, he said we should file for I-131 "Advanced Parole" so I could have the option of leaving the U.S. I was considering filling this out, however, the I-131 requires a date and reason for travel of which I have none. Have any of you filed for this?

Also, we never received a paper NOA2 approval notice, only an email from USCIS, and the VJ Step by Step guide says we should submit a copy of this along with our application. Wouldnt it be obvious that we were approved initially, since we had an interview, I have a visa in my passport, and that I have already been admitted to the U.S.? I will contact USCIS for a copy of this letter if need be -- but I would hate to pay out of pocket for this letter, to the tune of over $400, even though we never received it in the first place!!

Congrats Sjs on your marriage.

I agree with Nurselling. You dont need to file I-130 as you came in on a K1. I'm in the process of doing our AOS forms also. Even if you think you may not need the AP, it's best to get it just in case and if you file the AP (I-131) and EAD (I-765) with the AOS (I-485), those forms are free, so best to do them anyway.

Dont forget the Aff of Support (I-864) also.

As for the NOA2, re-read this link again and see if it can help you...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/323385-filing-for-aos-with-lost-noa2/

[sjs87 27]

Thanks for the feedback. We can't find the letter, but we did find an email from USCIS regarding initial approval back in August, and we will also include a few other emails/documents that will prove that we were approved (as if the visa in my passport wasn't enough...)

One question though. We know we have to include a check for $1070 for the Adjustment of Status fees, but it looks like the i-765 also has a fee of $380. Thus, do we include two checks, one in the amt of $1070 and one for $380?

Thanks!

[Ozgirl1981 78]

Thanks for the feedback. We can't find the letter, but we did find an email from USCIS regarding initial approval back in August, and we will also include a few other emails/documents that will prove that we were approved (as if the visa in my passport wasn't enough...)

One question though. We know we have to include a check for $1070 for the Adjustment of Status fees, but it looks like the i-765 also has a fee of $380. Thus, do we include two checks, one in the amt of $1070 and one for $380?

Thanks!

Good luck with the NOA2 evidence..

As for the extra filing fees, you dont need them. If you file the AP and EAD forms along with the AOS, they are free.. You will only need to include the check for $1070. Only if you file them separately you need to pay the additional fees.

[BLAKCAJUN 25]

Update: My fiance and his kids did their POE in Atlanta on March 12. Our wedding is scheduled for April 26 and I am 3 1/2 weeks pregnant. Just left the doctor with the good news. I am so excited to finally give birth ;-)

[Ozgirl1981 78]

Update: My fiance and his kids did their POE in Atlanta on March 12. Our wedding is scheduled for April 26 and I am 3 1/2 weeks pregnant. Just left the doctor with the good news. I am so excited to finally give birth ;-)

Thats fantastic news... Congratulations to both of you. So happy for you both. Dreams are finally coming true for you. I'm so glad that POE went well for your husband to be.

Keep us updated on your pregnancy. I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

Late April seems to be a great time to be getting married. We are getting married on 30th April. Hopefully the weather is a little warmer then.

Congrats again Blakcajun.

[godsrule 7]

Hello Guys, I am sorry for the silence for a long time. I have a smooth POE at Dulles Washington on the 12th of april. Is a week today and i am still trying to get used to the new sleeping time. I am still on Nigeria time and I sleep by 7pm and wakes by 12am or sometimes 1am but i am getting better now though. We are getting married on first week of May though we are yet to book a date as we have been busy trying to get adjuested to the new environment.

I hope everyone is having a good time with their loved ones. I will ask for advice on the next step after the wedding.

Stay blessed May filers. You guys rock.

[cathyvrph 4]

interview schedule for AOS is on May 13th but i don't have my EAD and advance parole, a friend said she went on to the interview without it and its fine. it seems that sometimes interview comes first before those which makes it unnecessary after all. its good to know that everyone is moving forward with all the paperworks, goodluck to us all and i hope everyone is doing well.

[sjs87 27]

Hi May Filers!

I hope that everybody is doing well and things are moving in the right direction!

We mailed our AOS package off about 10 days-2 weeks ago, and noticed that the check has NOT been cashed yet. Has anybody from May 2013 already filed for AOS, and can give an idea of how long it took for their check to be cashed?

Thanks!!

[sjs87 27]

Let me just say, I hope for everyone in the May 2013 filers category that everything is going along well for you all!

We received the three receipts in the mail last week for the Adjustment of Status paperwork, and received the Biometrics appointment in the mail today. My Biometrics appt is June 6th!

Our journey has been tough (hasn't it been for all of us to some degree?), but being at this stage of happiness really erases almost all of the trying times we went through to get here!

[cathyvrph 4]

passed the interview for green card last may 13, now were just waiting for be green card to be mailed, thank God everything went well, now at least were good for almost 2 yrs until the ROC.

[godsrule 7]

Hey May filers, the room has been very quite. I'm glad every one has settled in nicely. I'm about to post my application tomorrow for AOS and I want to know if it's ok if we send just 2013,2012 and 2010 tax return as my wife couldn't find the 2011 and secondly how do I put all these documents in one package? How do I separate them in the big envelope before posting it? I will be glad to hear from you guys.

[KathSkywalker 15]

Hey May filers, the room has been very quite. I'm glad every one has settled in nicely. I'm about to post my application tomorrow for AOS and I want to know if it's ok if we send just 2013,2012 and 2010 tax return as my wife couldn't find the 2011 and secondly how do I put all these documents in one package? How do I separate them in the big envelope before posting it? I will be glad to hear from you guys.

Hello godsrule! i guess 2010 will be fine if you can't really find the tax return for 2011 and what i did with my applications (I-485, I-131, I-765) is that i put them all in a binder. I put every piece of document on a plastic sheet protector and i used paper clips instead of staples

[Texasav8r 183]

Hey May filers, the room has been very quite. I'm glad every one has settled in nicely. I'm about to post my application tomorrow for AOS and I want to know if it's ok if we send just 2013,2012 and 2010 tax return as my wife couldn't find the 2011 and secondly how do I put all these documents in one package? How do I separate them in the big envelope before posting it? I will be glad to hear from you guys.

Go online to the IRS website and download your transcripts from each year. They are more reliable than the returns anyway. This is why many banks will only accept transcripts when applying for mortgages.

[sjs87 27]

Hello May Filers!

Today was my Biometrics appointment... or so I thought! I stashed away my I-797C notification of my appointment, and took it out last night for today's appointment. Unfortunately the Biometrics appointment was for June 3 not June 6!!! I was a mess last night -- mad at myself for making such a mistake, so I immediately booked in Infopass Appointment -- the earliest available being on June 20.

Now, I was reading on forums about just being a walk-in without an appointment; however, the Seattle office didn't state they accepted walk-ins. Still, I had a lot to lose if I didn't at least try, so I drove down and arrived around 8am this morning. The staff were VERY friendly and helpful, and the first woman I spoke to at reception said they are usually pretty friendly and good about accomodating people like me. Phew!

I had to wait about 45 minutes, but USCIS did fit me in for Biometrics this morning... boy am I glad! I sure learned a lesson -- double check everything, and perhaps look at important documentation well before the night before!!

Anyways, I am glad I sorted things out -- and that our application is NOT considered abandoned (as the letter stated if the appointment was missed).

I hope everybody is doing well and reunited with their loved ones!