Where to file? Any suggestions?

[Erin and Muraari 0]

Hello all

I live in Seattle right now on an H1-B visa. My fiancee (the US citizen) and I are getting married in late April, but we have to move to Baltimore at the end of August.

1) Is it better to simply wait and file once we get in Baltimore? Or should we file in Seattle by May 1st (which will give us 4 months in Seattle) and hope that our application is complete enough that we wont need an RFE's and that our interview might be scheduled before we have to move?

2) If we do file in Seattle, and the interview has not happened by the end of August, will the case be transferred to Baltimore (when I file my AR-11), or will it continue to be processed in Seattle? We have no issues with having to fly back to Seattle in order to do the interview.

The only reason we are asking is that we have heard that the Seattle office seems to be processing things pretty quickly now, while Baltimore seems to be lagging behind quite a bit.

Thanks very much all

Muraari

[Lucky7 0]

Hello all

I live in Seattle right now on an H1-B visa. My fiancee (the US citizen) and I are getting married in late April, but we have to move to Baltimore at the end of August.

1) Is it better to simply wait and file once we get in Baltimore? Or should we file in Seattle by May 1st (which will give us 4 months in Seattle) and hope that our application is complete enough that we wont need an RFE's and that our interview might be scheduled before we have to move?

2) If we do file in Seattle, and the interview has not happened by the end of August, will the case be transferred to Baltimore (when I file my AR-11), or will it continue to be processed in Seattle? We have no issues with having to fly back to Seattle in order to do the interview.

The only reason we are asking is that we have heard that the Seattle office seems to be processing things pretty quickly now, while Baltimore seems to be lagging behind quite a bit.

Thanks very much all

Muraari

I think you should apply as soon as you get married. Do you have to quit your job when you move to Baltimore? If you quit your job, you will loose h1b status and you can not file AOS if you are out of status. You have to file when you have your H1b visa status.

[meauxna 15]

Please consider how easy it is for a case to go sooooo bad when the applicant moves.

Filing after moving is generally best, where that is the only consideration. You have other considerations.

[notscenenough 6]

and you can not file AOS if you are out of status. You have to file when you have your H1b visa status.

WHAT? this is simply wrong. you CAN file AOS when you're out of status.

if you're married to USC, it doesnt matter if you're in status or not.

[Erin and Muraari 0]

Hi All

Thanks for the reply. I will still be working for the same employer but from Baltimore so I will still be in H1-B status without any change. I guess the big issue is does sending the AR-11 form to USCIS immediately transfer my case from Seattle to Baltimore? Or a more possible situation is the following: if I file in Seattle, and my interview gets scheduled for September 15th, but I dont move from Seattle to Baltimore until August 31, do I have to ask for the case to be transferred to Baltimore, or can I simply file the AR-11 by Septmeber 10th or so as required and fly back to Seattle for the interview?

Thanks very much in advance.

Muraari

and you can not file AOS if you are out of status. You have to file when you have your H1b visa status.

WHAT? this is simply wrong. you CAN file AOS when you're out of status.

if you're married to USC, it doesnt matter if you're in status or not.

[pnd629 0]

I agree with the poster who advised to wait until after the move to file any paperwork.

[meauxna 15]

Hi All

Thanks for the reply. I will still be working for the same employer but from Baltimore so I will still be in H1-B status without any change. I guess the big issue is does sending the AR-11 form to USCIS immediately transfer my case from Seattle to Baltimore? Or a more possible situation is the following: if I file in Seattle, and my interview gets scheduled for September 15th, but I dont move from Seattle to Baltimore until August 31, do I have to ask for the case to be transferred to Baltimore, or can I simply file the AR-11 by Septmeber 10th or so as required and fly back to Seattle for the interview?

Thanks very much in advance.

Muraari

Since you have your H1-B status in your pocket, you don't have the concerns about out of status that have been brought up.

Sending AR-11 does NOTHING except notify CIS about your whereabouts. Yes, the new online version is supposed to also update your mailing addy, but I remain sceptical. AR-11 certainly will NOT transfer your case--it can be very difficult to transfer a case in progress.

You also may not interview outside your own District Office. If you move, you MUST transfer your case (as I understand others' experiences).

[Dr_LHA 3]

Thanks for the reply. I will still be working for the same employer but from Baltimore so I will still be in H1-B status without any change.

If you have a H-1B that is valid for a while there's no rush to file AOS. I would strongly advise you to file AOS after you move, to make the process as smooth as possible.

Edited March 30, 2007 by dr_lha

[mozplay 29]

Just to confuse things more ...

You mentioned that Baltimore is slower. 3 (4?) Baltimore VJ members who recently filed have been transferred to CSC. So yes, it would seem that they are slower but because they are backlogged. Things may change with both centers (Seattle and Baltimore) by the time you file in May or even August.

Mo

[Erin and Muraari 0]

Hello All

Thank you very much for the replies. I appreciate them. We are going to either see if we can stay in Seattle longer to allow for enough time for the processing to happen, or we will try to move to Baltimore a month earlier. Either way I think you have convinced me that I dont want to have to move while the application is still pending. Thanks everyone

Muraari

[athena_ny 1]

Hello all

I live in Seattle right now on an H1-B visa. My fiancee (the US citizen) and I are getting married in late April, but we have to move to Baltimore at the end of August.

1) Is it better to simply wait and file once we get in Baltimore? Or should we file in Seattle by May 1st (which will give us 4 months in Seattle) and hope that our application is complete enough that we wont need an RFE's and that our interview might be scheduled before we have to move?

2) If we do file in Seattle, and the interview has not happened by the end of August, will the case be transferred to Baltimore (when I file my AR-11), or will it continue to be processed in Seattle? We have no issues with having to fly back to Seattle in order to do the interview.

The only reason we are asking is that we have heard that the Seattle office seems to be processing things pretty quickly now, while Baltimore seems to be lagging behind quite a bit.

Thanks very much all

Muraari

I think you should apply as soon as you get married. Do you have to quit your job when you move to Baltimore? If you quit your job, you will loose h1b status and you can not file AOS if you are out of status. You have to file when you have your H1b visa status.

I'm so tired of people telling people this on here. You CAN file if you're out of status, plenty of people have done it after being out of status for years. It's forgiven upon marriage to a USC.