February 2017 AOS from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas

[Raduga 6]

Good luck everyone! Still waiting to hear anything from USCIS after biometrics.

Edited March 13, 2017 by Raduga

[rosecloud 43]

6 minutes ago, Raduga said:

Hi everyone!

 

We filed AOS from B1/B2 in January but since there is no such group for January, I hope you don't mind I'll join you guys.

No of course not! It's such a small group that you're more than welcome to join. 

[rosecloud 43]

Good morning everyone! Another week of waiting and hoping.

Anyways, I have a question for you. Are all of you able to view your case numbers online now? Mine still aren't being recognized (well beyond the 10 days it suggests for waiting before checking). What's going on? 

[Raduga 6]

1 minute ago, rosecloud said:

No of course not! It's such a small group that you're more than welcome to join. 

Thank you! I found January group but it's mixed with K1 as well and those folks have a different timeline. Most of them don't get interviews at all.

[rosecloud 43]

2 minutes ago, Raduga said:

Thank you! I found January group but it's mixed with K1 as well and those folks have a different timeline. Most of them don't get interviews at all.

I just noticed that your local office is in Chicago too (like mine). From what I've seen, Chicago's office schedules interviews within 3-5 months after you've submitted. Excited to see how things move along for you because it'll be a good guideline for what awaits me. 

[Raduga 6]

Just now, rosecloud said:

I just noticed that your local office is in Chicago too (like mine). From what I've seen, Chicago's office schedules interviews within 3-5 months after you've submitted. Excited to see how things move along for you because it'll be a good guideline for what awaits me. 

Nice!  According to USCIS processing times we are looking at August for an interview but I was researching a lot and folks from Chicago get interviews in 3 months so it's May. 

 

Also, Friday is the day when people get notifications like "ready for an interview" or "interview is scheduled for". Very few get it on Wed and Sat. So I always can't wait for Friday to come. 

[rosecloud 43]

17 minutes ago, Raduga said:

Nice!  According to USCIS processing times we are looking at August for an interview but I was researching a lot and folks from Chicago get interviews in 3 months so it's May. 

 

Also, Friday is the day when people get notifications like "ready for an interview" or "interview is scheduled for". Very few get it on Wed and Sat. So I always can't wait for Friday to come. 

Yeah, USCIS processing times seem kind of off. Maybe they're still working on cases that got a lot of RFE's from back then, but I think as long as everything is alright, it's a much shorter wait. Hoping you get your interview as soon as possible! Did you apply for EAD and AP as well? Or just I-130 and I-485? 

[jnicolel 10]

My checks were finally cashed today, 14 days after my package was delivered to the Lockbox in Chicago. What a relief!

[Raduga 6]

45 minutes ago, rosecloud said:

Yeah, USCIS processing times seem kind of off. Maybe they're still working on cases that got a lot of RFE's from back then, but I think as long as everything is alright, it's a much shorter wait. Hoping you get your interview as soon as possible! Did you apply for EAD and AP as well? Or just I-130 and I-485? 

Probably! I'm so happy that it's 3 months in reality. Let's hope this will be the case for us.

We only applied for I-130 and I-485 and have no plans to travel until October so hopefully the green card will be in hand by that time.

 

31 minutes ago, jnicolel said:

My checks were finally cashed today, 14 days after my package was delivered to the Lockbox in Chicago. What a relief!

Congrats!

[gallegamericana 8]

5 hours ago, kat&eddie said:

 

We had exactly the same situation, we also married on the 30th December

and my husband had to file married jointly, even the IRS website says the first year needs to be filed jointly. I'll copy the link for you. Since he had no income as a student , filing jointly will also bring you the most tax return since you have two deductions (one for you and one for your husband) and you'll get more money back 

 

he definitely has to apply for an ITIN, you have to do a paper return (not online or via TurboTax etc) and in the field where his ssn or itin is required you just write "applying for itin" 

 

If you have any questions feel free to text me

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-spouse-treated-as-a-resident

 

please see the second point:

• You must file a joint income tax return for the year you make the choice (but you and your spouse can file joint or separate returns in later years), and 

 

 

since he had no income it will benefit you the most so I'd definitely recommend filling jointly (also IRS says it's a must for the first year, see above)

 

also don't be worried , filing jointly is not complicated at all and won't take longer 

 

Best luck

Thanks! I just checked and made some phone calls... We don't have to file jointly. I legally have to declare that I'm married, but I can file as married, filing separately. Since he was an F1 student and made no income, he does not have to file. He does have to send in a form to the IRS, but does not need an ITIN number or SSN. We didn't start our marriage process until February so technically he didn't start "applying" for AOS until 2017.

 

What a pain in the but all of these steps are!!

[kat&eddie 6]

24 minutes ago, gallegamericana said:

Thanks! I just checked and made some phone calls... We don't have to file jointly. I legally have to declare that I'm married, but I can file as married, filing separately. Since he was an F1 student and made no income, he does not have to file. He does have to send in a form to the IRS, but does not need an ITIN number or SSN. We didn't start our marriage process until February so technically he didn't start "applying" for AOS until 2017.

 

What a pain in the but all of these steps are!!

Haha yeah right it's really a hassle!

 

but at least he doesn't have to apply for an itin so that gives you both less paperwork! 

[jnicolel 10]

Texts and emails received today. Here is my updated timeline.

Feb. 23rd  Package left Los Angeles via FedEx

Feb. 27  package arrived in Chicago

March 13  Checks cashed

March 14  Text/email confirmations received.

[rosecloud 43]

4 hours ago, jnicolel said:

Texts and emails received today. Here is my updated timeline.

Feb. 23rd  Package left Los Angeles via FedEx

Feb. 27  package arrived in Chicago

March 13  Checks cashed

March 14  Text/email confirmations received.

Congrats! 

[gaop0988 4]

On 3/13/2017 at 9:41 AM, kat&eddie said:

Lucky you  I still haven't received my letter for biometrics 

 

may i ask what local office you have for biometrics ?

Hi there! They will come sooner rather than later! My local office is Chicago

Edited March 15, 2017 by gaop0988

[kat&eddie 6]

23 minutes ago, gaop0988 said:

Hi there! They will come sooner rather than later! My local office is Chicago

I hope so, it's been almost 4 weeks now that I've received my NOA's

 

my local office is in Texas and I've heard Texas is really slow with those things sigh ?