March 2017 AOS Filers

[kimy33 19]

16 hours ago, Kalciaa said:

Since I'm here I'll ask few questions that were bugging me for a while.

 

My EAD is expiring in May, but I probably won't get interview until late April. Do you know if I need to apply for new EAD and pay the fee again? Also, since it'll be more than 12 months since my medical exam, will I need to get a new one? And the last questions- I'll be traveling abroad with my passport in my maiden name, and my AP card in my current last name. Did anybody have any experience with that? I'll be flying in through Detroit.

Thanks in advance!

bring your marriage certificate with you when traveling, to show your name change. that was what I did when flying in through San Francisco last year. 

[Shushulsan 32]

On 1/10/2018 at 10:36 AM, DelilahBrz said:

How long ago did you move from NM to FL? Where is your car registered? 

 

3 years a go. FL registered cars.

[Shushulsan 32]

I finally did bite the bullet and updated my drives license. They only gave me 6 months license as my EAD is valid for that duration. Now waiting and hoping for the best.

 

Thanks everybody and good luck.

[antoineD 36]

7 hours ago, DorothyLa said:

i can''t have a bank account, they ask for my green card or i-94. 

 

i had trustmark and they closed my account. even though i have EAD, Florida ID, social security card. 

 

first florida bank said they cannot open an account for me. 

 

is the only way to get a account from a bank is through my husband? 

if you don't care about having physical branches, you shouldn't have problems opening a bank account online. they're often more lenient.

 

i use schwab as my main bank as they reimburse every ATM fee - local or international - no questions asked. they have many branches near me but i've never stepped into one.

[antoineD 36]

17 hours ago, Kalciaa said:

Since I'm here I'll ask few questions that were bugging me for a while.

 

My EAD is expiring in May, but I probably won't get interview until late April. Do you know if I need to apply for new EAD and pay the fee again? Also, since it'll be more than 12 months since my medical exam, will I need to get a new one? And the last questions- I'll be traveling abroad with my passport in my maiden name, and my AP card in my current last name. Did anybody have any experience with that? I'll be flying in through Detroit.

Thanks in advance!

i think your other questions regarding this have been answered, but just to specify: make sure you book all your flights in your maiden name as most places will only accept your passport for ID, not AP. 

 

when back in the US, the AP+marriage certificate should be enough. 

[DorothyLa 107]

1 hour ago, antoineD said:

if you don't care about having physical branches, you shouldn't have problems opening a bank account online. they're often more lenient.

 

i use schwab as my main bank as they reimburse every ATM fee - local or international - no questions asked. they have many branches near me but i've never stepped into one.

I didnt hear anything about schwab. I have capital one 360 online bank. But it says no fdic insured etc. Thats why i didnt put any kinda money in that account. I dont know if i can deposit money from atm also. 

[antoineD 36]

6 hours ago, DorothyLa said:

I didnt hear anything about schwab. I have capital one 360 online bank. But it says no fdic insured etc. Thats why i didnt put any kinda money in that account. I dont know if i can deposit money from atm also. 

CapOne is FDIC insured, so is Schwab. Where did you read that it's not?

https://www.capitalone.com/bank/

https://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/banking_lending

 

you can't deposit money from an ATM into schwab, unfortunately - just checks and direct deposit. if you work in a cash-heavy business like waitressing, it may not be a good fit for you, but for one-time transfers, you can get a postal money order to deposit your initial funding of your checking account.

 

anyway, this is getting off-topic. feel free to message me if you have questions about schwab. from my experience, they're pretty welcoming of non-USCs/GC holders.

[DorothyLa 107]

1 hour ago, antoineD said:

CapOne is FDIC insured, so is Schwab. Where did you read that it's not?

https://www.capitalone.com/bank/

https://www.schwab.com/public/schwab/banking_lending

 

you can't deposit money from an ATM into schwab, unfortunately - just checks and direct deposit. if you work in a cash-heavy business like waitressing, it may not be a good fit for you, but for one-time transfers, you can get a postal money order to deposit your initial funding of your checking account.

 

anyway, this is getting off-topic. feel free to message me if you have questions about schwab. from my experience, they're pretty welcoming of non-USCs/GC holders.

thank you. i will pm you.

 

another question: my husband doesn't work. i was working the whole time since i got my work permit. can i claim him as dependent?

[Catalina Cuqui 17]

On 10/1/2018 at 9:11 PM, FiKen said:

They will send the response via mail post address, not e-mail. It took me 2 weeks to receive it.

Thanks FiKen. I know each case is different, but what did they tell you?

[Catalina Cuqui 17]

19 hours ago, DorothyLa said:

i can''t have a bank account, they ask for my green card or i-94. 

 

i had trustmark and they closed my account. even though i have EAD, Florida ID, social security card. 

 

first florida bank said they cannot open an account for me. 

 

is the only way to get a account from a bank is through my husband? 

Try a credit union. Otherwise, go through your husband.

[FiKen 13]

2 minutes ago, agnesita84 said:

Thanks FiKen. I know each case is different, but what did they tell you?

Case is under processing time. Sorry me for misunderstanding might caused. Lol.

[DelilahBrz 48]

13 hours ago, Shushulsan said:

 

3 years a go. FL registered cars.

 

13 hours ago, Shushulsan said:

I finally did bite the bullet and updated my drives license. They only gave me 6 months license as my EAD is valid for that duration. Now waiting and hoping for the best.

 

Thanks everybody and good luck.

You did the best thing. Looks like FL is tough on their laws and you don't want any trouble while AOS is pending 

[Californiansunset 336]

On ‎1‎/‎11‎/‎2018 at 1:17 AM, DorothyLa said:

i can''t have a bank account, they ask for my green card or i-94. 

 

i had trustmark and they closed my account. even though i have EAD, Florida ID, social security card. 

 

first florida bank said they cannot open an account for me. 

 

is the only way to get a account from a bank is through my husband? 

Did you go to Bank of America and try it there like I told you a long time ago??? Never had problems with BOA. I even had a bank account there when I was on a B1 visa without SSN. It's not the most reputable bank but they give bank accounts and credit cards to literally anyone.

On a side note if they want either green card of I-94 just get your I-94 and present it?!

Edited January 12, 2018 by Californiansunset

[Californiansunset 336]

On ‎1‎/‎10‎/‎2018 at 5:06 AM, Shushulsan said:

Greeting,

God willing I will have my interview this coming Jan 24, 2018 and I have a question regarding drivers license.

I currently live in the state of Florida but have license from state of New Mexico. I also have my EAD so I can apply for Florida license but will only be given to me for the duration of my EAD validity. On the other hand, my New Mexico license is valid till 2022 so I have been using that all these years.

Do you think I need a Florida license where my interview will be as a form of ID or I can use my EAD as an ID plus my previous state drives license?

Any input is highly appreciated.

I wasn't asked for my ID at the interview, only passport. Unless you want to use it as proof of a bonafide marriage showing that both your IDs have the same address and thus are living together I don't think you need to go through the hassle of ordering a new one. I don't think it will get to you on time before the interview anyways. 

[13roots 35]

Had my GC interview and approval yesterday! I've written a more detailed review for the San Antonio field office here - http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/view-dos-cis-reviews.php?entry=23090 if interested. In summary it was very pleasant, very straightforward and not intimidating at all, took about 30 mins. I am adjusting from TN rather than K1 or K3 (I know I'm in the wrong forum, but this one is more active), but the process is pretty much the same, except I've been married to hubby for more than 2 years, so we get a 10 year GC and don't have to go through removal of conditions.

 

All in all, I filled out and submitted all the requested paperwork according to the USCIS directions, I got EAD and AP approval around 115 days (approx 3.5 months), and GC approval around 290 days (approx 9.5 months). No infopass, no senators or congress people, just patience and prayer. I hope this gives others (at least those filing in this field office) some peace of mind. I received a notification by text and email about 2 hours after my interview with the status on the I-485 changed to "Card/ Document Production", so I'll start checking the mail for it.

 

I am so relieved and so grateful to all of you here at VJ for the emotional support and information that helped us submit our documents properly and know what to expect along the way. I could not have done this without you! Best wishes to everyone still waiting for news, it won't be long now!