EAD & AOS

[Stevephoto 230]

Thanks Hank, Gary and Dave! I'll call tomorrow and find out what Hawaii can/will do for us. I will also make sure that I get regular copies of the signed (officiated) marriage license and send that if Hawaii decides not to honor the same-day service (I couldn't find that on the website, but I will ask).

[JAYANN & JAY 11]

Filing fee is $1070 and he will be able to work with the EAD and a SSC (social Security card). You can apply for the SSC at the local SSA office from arrive to about 2 weeks before the I-94 expires.

Dave

Do you happen to know how many months it takes for the I-94 to expire? So I am guessing it is ok to wait a month to file for AOS so that we will have everything in hand such as the marriage certificate and such.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Do you happen to know how many months it takes for the I-94 to expire? So I am guessing it is ok to wait a month to file for AOS so that we will have everything in hand such as the marriage certificate and such.

I-94 expires 90 days after POE date.

[Messybrownhair 251]

In VT, I picked up my marriage cert same day I filed it

EAD came after 2 months for me!

[Stevephoto 230]

oooooookkkaayyyyyy....so I will save you the drama and cut to the chase: if our minister has access to a computer and fills in the certificate online then we can pick up the marriage certificate in 48 hours. If not then it will be 4 weeks (website still says 60-120 days). Why it took 4 phone calls (back and forth) and a supervisor to get that information is beyond me.

[Stevephoto 230]

Decided to include the drama so people would know what to ask if this comes up: The DOH website says that it takes 60-120 days to receive the marriage certificate which puts us out of status. I called today and the first lady I spoke to said that they would not expedite even with the I-94 as evidence of a need for quick processing (so much for the importance of a federal document at the state level!) I could of course pay an attorney for a letter stating that we needed it quickly. Ridiculous. She even went to her supervisor and asked him and he said that they would not accept the I-94. She pretty much said that Joan would have to leave the country because they would not produce the certificate in time (Joan wouldn't have to leave, but that is a different story---just do the math: I-94 is good for 90 days and DOH might take 120 days to process the certificate, so everybody might be out of status!). Anyway, she offered to have her supervisor call me. He did but I was at the Social Security office with Joan applying for her SSN. He left a message saying that if the officiate had access to a computer then we could pick up the certificate in 48 hours, otherwise it would be 3 to 4 weeks. I called him back and he confirmed that information. Why this rather important information was not available when I called (or better yet on the website) is still beyond me...

BTW: The SSN application could not have been easier or more pleasant (aside from the hour 1/2 wait---make an appointment if you can!) Whodathunk it: federal bureaucracy easier to deal with than State offices--um, ok, nevermind!

[Psoas10 17]

Well you should know how the state runs by now, hehe. But the same situation happened with my wife. Got married in 60 days after her Poe. Applied for certified copies, and got them in about 31 days. Was told it might be 6 weeks because of the good ole furloughs. We got the original about 4 months later. So my wife filed after her I-94 expired. I think just so long you get married in 90 days, then no problem. Border patrol won't come looking for your wife. It seems that people got in trouble when they did not file after a year or more, and traveled near Mexico. Also you should get at least 6 or more copies, since you need them for later on.

[Hank_ 9,174]

Or... live near Mexico... yup... we would take a motorcycle ride to Tombstone and have to pass through a Border Patrol checkpoint on the way home. Its a way of life here in AZ.

[Stevephoto 230]

Or... live near Mexico... yup... we would take a motorcycle ride to Tombstone and have to pass through a Border Patrol checkpoint on the way home. Its a way of life here in AZ.

Hehe......!

Edited July 2, 2013 by Stevephoto

[Stevephoto 230]

Well you should know how the state runs by now, hehe. But the same situation happened with my wife. Got married in 60 days after her Poe. Applied for certified copies, and got them in about 31 days. Was told it might be 6 weeks because of the good ole furloughs. We got the original about 4 months later. So my wife filed after her I-94 expired. I think just so long you get married in 90 days, then no problem. Border patrol won't come looking for your wife. It seems that people got in trouble when they did not file after a year or more, and traveled near Mexico. Also you should get at least 6 or more copies, since you need them for later on.

Yeah..no kidding! I know all too well. DOH has kept that part such a secret that even our minister doesn't know about the "online" thing! I will file with the officiated marriage license and a printout of the State of Hawaii's website listing the 60 to 120 day time frame if I have to. I know that I don't need to, but I will feel better if it is filed within 90 days...even if we get an RFE...