November 2014 AOS filers

[WiseAndOtherwise 2]

11/26/14 for all 3 of mine too!

Mine is 17th Nov. So is the EAD being processed by National Benefits Centre? And the 485 by the local office?

I think we are in the same batch. I did my biometrics on 15/12 so we were probably there at the same time. Did you go the the application support center in Brooklyn?

Anyways, I don't think there is cause for concern right now. We need to wait at least for day 75 to call USCIS to inquire.

OMG I'll go crazy if I have to wait 75 days before I knew something. I'm already scratching the walls from the boredom of sitting around not being able to work!

[thomaschmidt 6]

Mine is 17th Nov. So is the EAD being processed by National Benefits Centre? And the 485 by the local office?

OMG I'll go crazy if I have to wait 75 days before I knew something. I'm already scratching the walls from the boredom of sitting around not being able to work!

In my case they are all processed by the National Benefits Center. Should I be worried about that?

Yes I know about the wait, it's very nerve-wracking, but I don't think there's much else to do but wait. 15-20 more days!

[iawait 9]

My case is 10th of Nov and with the RFE, I am looking at end Nov. I am going crazy sitting around, doing nothing. My wife used to say that I am turning out to be a great "housewife". But, yesterday, she said that word was very derogatory - me being a man. She decided to change my title to "domestic engineer". Really getting bored sitting around the house all day.

[WiseAndOtherwise 2]

In my case they are all processed by the National Benefits Center. Should I be worried about that?

Yes I know about the wait, it's very nerve-wracking, but I don't think there's much else to do but wait. 15-20 more days!

Actually, all my forms say they're being processed at the National Benefits Centre. But when I went for the biometrics, the guy there said I will hear from Boston office next, so I'm guessing they will conduct the interview for AoS

[paul&david 1]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share the experience we've had so far in our AOS journey. I've been reading so many stories from really nice people out there, that I thought I had to share my story too. The whole process is so nerve-wracking, mysterious and out-of-our-hands once we file the application, that I think these online communities provide a great deal of support and information to everyone going through similar processes.

We got married in November 2014 after a nine-year relationship (same sex couple). My husband and I did all the paperwork ourselves, with a lot of patience and looking up information and advice online. We mailed the application on Nov 24 2014. I had biometrics done on Jan 2 2015 (I missed my appointment for Dec 30, because we were away for the holidays and the person who was supposed to check my mail missed the appointment letter! I wanted to die! I drove to Philadelphia the next working day and had a walk-in appointment. No problems!). On Jan 14 the online status changed from "We received you biometrics fee" directly to "your interview has been scheduled". We couldn't believe it! Soooo fast! We are having our interview on February 17th.

It seems that the Philadelphia office is processing cases swiftly. I had the 2-year home residency requirement (after a J-1 visa), which I fulfilled by living in my home country for over two years. In my application I had to provide a ton of evidence to prove it, but besides that, our case should be easy.

Of course nothing is guaranteed until you get the approval, but we are so happy that we have the interview only two and a half months after we filed the application. Hopefully, everything will go well on the 17th.

I hope you all have good experiences too and that your AOS gets approved as fast as possible!

Edited January 19, 2015 by paul&david

[Amelie123 2]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share the experience we've had so far in our AOS journey. I've been reading so many stories from really nice people out there, that I thought I had to share my story too. The whole process is so nerve-wracking, mysterious and out-of-our-hands once we file the application, that I think these online communities provide a great deal of support and information to everyone going through similar processes.

We got married in November 2014 after a nine-year relationship (same sex couple). My husband and I did all the paperwork ourselves, with a lot of patience and looking up information and advice online. We mailed the application on Nov 24 2014. I had biometrics done on Jan 2 2015 (I missed my appointment for Dec 30, because we were away for the holidays and the person who was supposed to check my mail missed the appointment letter! I wanted to die! I drove to Philadelphia the next working day and had a walk-in appointment. No problems!). On Jan 14 the online status changed from "We received you biometrics fee" directly to "your interview has been scheduled". We couldn't believe it! Soooo fast! We are having our interview on February 17th.

It seems that the Philadelphia office is processing cases swiftly. I had the 2-year home residency requirement (after a J-1 visa), which I fulfilled by living in my home country for over two years. In my application I had to provide a ton of evidence to prove it, but besides that, our case should be easy.

Of course nothing is guaranteed until you get the approval, but we are so happy that we have the interview only two and a half months after we filed the application. Hopefully, everything will go well on the 17th.

I hope you all have good experiences too and that your AOS gets approved as fast as possible!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Paul&David! Wow, that is fast!! Good luck on your interview!!

It looks like things are way faster upnorth...Our field office is in Atlanta, and our online status has been "ready to be scheduled for the interview" since Dec. 23....and still no interview date and no news on EAD...so, we are waiting...

[iawait 9]

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share the experience we've had so far in our AOS journey. I've been reading so many stories from really nice people out there, that I thought I had to share my story too. The whole process is so nerve-wracking, mysterious and out-of-our-hands once we file the application, that I think these online communities provide a great deal of support and information to everyone going through similar processes.

We got married in November 2014 after a nine-year relationship (same sex couple). My husband and I did all the paperwork ourselves, with a lot of patience and looking up information and advice online. We mailed the application on Nov 24 2014. I had biometrics done on Jan 2 2015 (I missed my appointment for Dec 30, because we were away for the holidays and the person who was supposed to check my mail missed the appointment letter! I wanted to die! I drove to Philadelphia the next working day and had a walk-in appointment. No problems!). On Jan 14 the online status changed from "We received you biometrics fee" directly to "your interview has been scheduled". We couldn't believe it! Soooo fast! We are having our interview on February 17th.

It seems that the Philadelphia office is processing cases swiftly. I had the 2-year home residency requirement (after a J-1 visa), which I fulfilled by living in my home country for over two years. In my application I had to provide a ton of evidence to prove it, but besides that, our case should be easy.

Of course nothing is guaranteed until you get the approval, but we are so happy that we have the interview only two and a half months after we filed the application. Hopefully, everything will go well on the 17th.

I hope you all have good experiences too and that your AOS gets approved as fast as possible!

Good Luck guys!

[thomaschmidt 6]

There doesn't seem to be much movement among the November filers, has anyone any news to report?

Also, since it is going to be tax time soon, does anyone know if people with an adjustment of status pending need to file a tax return w. their spouse? I have heard that it is expected as evidence of a bonafide marriage by the USCIS. Anyone, any clue maybe ?

[PerditaD 35]

It's only been 15 days since USCIS received my RFE response and I'm already getting impatient I check for status updates at least 10 times a day, installed the USCIS case status app on my phone and iPad and I just keep checking and checking. I know I'm driving myself crazy but I can't help it.

I'm so annoyed that they sent me the RFE; the international birth certificate that they didn't accept from me they've accepted from other Bosnian people, it's not fair It reset my AOS acceptance date from November 28 to January 6

[Daydreaming 0]

Make an Infopass appointment at your local USCIS office. Take what you have and explain to them the situation. They will either accept what you have and enter it into the system or tell you what else you should get. Good luck!

I was so confused on why they were asking for additional evidence. They asked me to get a letter from the ministry of health back home which takes forever. I got one but they did it wrong so I have to request for another. BUTTT I just found out that my lawyer never sent the alternate document that I gave him when we originally filed our papers. This document is accepted according to the State Dept website so I don't think we would've had any issues or RFE if he had sent it. I mean, ahhhh! Its been more than 1.5 and now I find out.

[jfgk1987 303]

There doesn't seem to be much movement among the November filers, has anyone any news to report?

Also, since it is going to be tax time soon, does anyone know if people with an adjustment of status pending need to file a tax return w. their spouse? I have heard that it is expected as evidence of a bonafide marriage by the USCIS. Anyone, any clue maybe ?

It's expected as evidence yes, but it would be to your benefit (mostly for the USC) to file jointly with the non-USC spouse, they would file as "filing as a resident for tax purposes". If you file taxes jointly as married you can claim the $12,000 ($6,000 for each person) standard deduction so you get taxed on a lesser amount, which generally equals a larger return. The return will especially be greater if the USC forgot to update their W-4 to include an additional exemption when they got married.

[thomaschmidt 6]

It's expected as evidence yes, but it would be to your benefit (mostly for the USC) to file jointly with the non-USC spouse, they would file as "filing as a resident for tax purposes". If you file taxes jointly as married you can claim the $12,000 ($6,000 for each person) standard deduction so you get taxed on a lesser amount, which generally equals a larger return. The return will especially be greater if the USC forgot to update their W-4 to include an additional exemption when they got married.

Thank you for your detailed answer, that is very helpful. I'm actually the beneficiary, and since I did not (yet -fingers crossed-) received my EAD my income over the previous year has been zero (even though I own property in my home country). Should we file jointly anyway?

[jfgk1987 303]

Thank you for your detailed answer, that is very helpful. I'm actually the beneficiary, and since I did not (yet -fingers crossed-) received my EAD my income over the previous year has been zero (even though I own property in my home country). Should we file jointly anyway?

If you want that nice tax deduction you should file jointly. I'll explain our (my) situation:

I, as the USC got married to a non-USC spouse in 2014. Though my spouse was not able to work, I am still able to file taxes as jointly with him, and he would file with me as "a resident for tax purposes". My income is currently taxed at 25%, because I'm filing jointly with a spouse (extra bonus if the spouse does not work), I drop down a tax bracket to 15% because tax brackets for joint filers are different. See this chart. Since I was being taxed at 25% for all of last year I will get money back because my status changed and therefore the tax rate changes. A super bonus, because we're filing jointly I can claim a 12k deduction (6k for each person) on my taxes, so I end up getting taxed on my income - 12k, which equals more money!

I call my husband my precious little tax deduction

Edited January 21, 2015 by jfgk1987

[thomaschmidt 6]

If you want that nice tax deduction you should file jointly. I'll explain our (my) situation:

I, as the USC got married to a non-USC spouse in 2014. Though my spouse was not able to work, I am still able to file taxes as jointly with him, and he would file with me as "a resident for tax purposes". My income is currently taxed at 25%, because I'm filing jointly with a spouse (extra bonus if the spouse does not work), I drop down a tax bracket to 15% because tax brackets for joint filers are different. See this chart. Since I was being taxed at 25% for all of last year I will get money back because my status changed and therefore the tax rate changes. A super bonus, because we're filing jointly I can claim a 12k deduction (6k for each person) on my taxes, so I end up getting taxed on my income - 12k, which equals more money!

I call my husband my precious little tax deduction

Thanks a lot for taking the time to very simply and clearly explain what is for me a pretty complicated an technical subject. Joint filing it is, then!

[Skab 0]

I received an RFE today which they have asked for a copy of our marriage certificate although we have initially included the original copy with my I485 package. It sounds ridiculous!!!!!