Anyone with J-1/ F-1 who filed for AOS (marriage-based) in 2016 & 2017?

[izavox 147]

I have an odd question but I feel like it fits with this forum post: I was on a J-1 visa, got married at the end of my program (currently on AOS, PD mid July) and the 2 year rule doesn't apply to me. Anyways, I have a social security number that I got in the beginning of my program here but now that I'm married and changed my last name, can I update the info on my SSN just with my NOA saying I'm currently on the process to change my status? I know the correct way is to wait for EAD card to come to update such and such but I was just wondering if there was a way to update my info sooner.

 

Thank you in advance, sorry for the blabbering hahaha but I was just hoping someone who's been in the situation can help me, since this forum has been great for my AOS process so far!

Edited August 17, 2017 by izavox

[lala52 25]

On 7/28/2017 at 2:20 PM, strider4 said:

Good luck for the interview! Please keep us posted!  Indeed, it is going to require a lot of patience. I see that K-1s are getting their interviews relatively sooner than we can expect ours (as J-1s and F-1s). Perhaps they have recently been through thorough background checks which saves them time compared to how we got our student visa some time back and maybe student visas don't entail rigorous background checks as that of the K-1 process. My two cents; I'm just putting forth theories while I wait, to let my sanity prevail. 

Hopefully you'll receive good news about it soon. 

Thanks for the good wishes, strider4.

 

Interview complete!

We had our interview in DC/NOVA on Day 262. The interviewer mainly asked about our dating life. We were in a long distance relationship most of the time since iI was doing my PhD in a different state. He asked if I had supporting documents showing our travels and communications. I said I did not, but most of those records were in either email or logs and could be printed if needed. It took about 45 minutes but there was a lot of silence while the he took notes. He also asked us to repeat a lot so he could write it. He said he wanted the any supporting docs at  the end. So when he requested I handed over pictures (collages printed on paper), joint tax return,  join bank statement, beneficiary doc, most recent pay stubs, and flight tickets from our most recent trip. At the end he said we should see a status change online in 2-3 weeks.

 

Day 270 Online Status change - New card is being produced! 

[strider4 43]

13 hours ago, lala52 said:

Thanks for the good wishes, strider4.

 

Interview complete!

We had our interview in DC/NOVA on Day 262. The interviewer mainly asked about our dating life. We were in a long distance relationship most of the time since iI was doing my PhD in a different state. He asked if I had supporting documents showing our travels and communications. I said I did not, but most of those records were in either email or logs and could be printed if needed. It took about 45 minutes but there was a lot of silence while the he took notes. He also asked us to repeat a lot so he could write it. He said he wanted the any supporting docs at  the end. So when he requested I handed over pictures (collages printed on paper), joint tax return,  join bank statement, beneficiary doc, most recent pay stubs, and flight tickets from our most recent trip. At the end he said we should see a status change online in 2-3 weeks.

 

Day 270 Online Status change - New card is being produced! 

Congratulations! We are in the same situation. I was concerned how they treat people with long distance relationships (I also go to grad school in a state different than that of our primary residence). But your experience has eased my worries. Thank you for sharing!

[niknik 92]

Hi everyone! 

I'm adjusting from F1 to AOS in California. Glad to have found this forum since, as a lot of you have pointed out, most family based filers are K1 😅

 

Married -1/28/2017

PD - 5/31/2017

F1 EXP - 6/05/2017

BIO - 6/27/2017

ONLINE UPDATE - "Ready to be scheduled for interview" - 8/14/2017

 

Good luck to us all!

[Abhi138 20]

On 8/17/2017 at 10:45 PM, lala52 said:

Thanks for the good wishes, strider4.

 

Interview complete!

We had our interview in DC/NOVA on Day 262. The interviewer mainly asked about our dating life. We were in a long distance relationship most of the time since iI was doing my PhD in a different state. He asked if I had supporting documents showing our travels and communications. I said I did not, but most of those records were in either email or logs and could be printed if needed. It took about 45 minutes but there was a lot of silence while the he took notes. He also asked us to repeat a lot so he could write it. He said he wanted the any supporting docs at  the end. So when he requested I handed over pictures (collages printed on paper), joint tax return,  join bank statement, beneficiary doc, most recent pay stubs, and flight tickets from our most recent trip. At the end he said we should see a status change online in 2-3 weeks.

 

Day 270 Online Status change - New card is being produced! 

Hearty Congratulations and I hope all of us who are waiting get their interview soon.

[sweetadams 138]

On 8/18/2017 at 1:45 AM, lala52 said:

Thanks for the good wishes, strider4.

 

Interview complete!

We had our interview in DC/NOVA on Day 262. The interviewer mainly asked about our dating life. We were in a long distance relationship most of the time since iI was doing my PhD in a different state. He asked if I had supporting documents showing our travels and communications. I said I did not, but most of those records were in either email or logs and could be printed if needed. It took about 45 minutes but there was a lot of silence while the he took notes. He also asked us to repeat a lot so he could write it. He said he wanted the any supporting docs at  the end. So when he requested I handed over pictures (collages printed on paper), joint tax return,  join bank statement, beneficiary doc, most recent pay stubs, and flight tickets from our most recent trip. At the end he said we should see a status change online in 2-3 weeks.

 

Day 270 Online Status change - New card is being produced! 

Big congrats on your final approval.

I am also in similar situation, currently working with my EAD in another state. We filed our application before the new job came around and being a better paying job, we decided i should take and see how we can move together when I settle down.

I am glad your case was approved. 

Thanks for sharing.

[rushman_93 5]

Hi guys!

 

Filing for AOS from J-1 (with no 2 year residency requirement luckily). Received our NOA1 on the 15th! Didn't even think to include the DS-2019 in the packet though, will that just require a quick RFE does anyone know?

 

Thanks!

[izavox 147]

1 hour ago, rushman_93 said:

Hi guys!

 

Filing for AOS from J-1 (with no 2 year residency requirement luckily). Received our NOA1 on the 15th! Didn't even think to include the DS-2019 in the packet though, will that just require a quick RFE does anyone know?

 

Thanks!

Hey rushman_93! I added the DS with the packet, mostly out of precaution than for requirement, per se. I don't know if it is a requirement to send with the original packet though, but every case is different, sometimes they require sometimes they dont.

[lmenko 12]

On 7/26/2017 at 4:52 PM, strider4 said:

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm still stuck at the "fingerprint fee received" status and don't anticipate that they'd change it anytime soon.  What dates is your local office processing right now? Hang in there, the wait is nerve-wracking but it'll be over soon.  

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! And congratulations!

Our local field office is Hartford, CT and they are currently processing cases as of November 13th (we submitted October 27, they received October 31, and our NOA was Nov. 14/15). Something seems a bit off, still being stuck where we are. I mean I guess we have no option really but to just wait it out and hope for the best. But, it's very frustrating. On the plus/minus, our 1st anniversary is coming up this weekend, so maybe that will bring some good luck with getting an interview scheduled haha.

[xillini 71]

Hello all,

 

I was F-1 on OPT, who did AOS with experienced attorney just in case.

Long story short: I was doing OPT, of which the income was used to fulfill the FPG for I-864, but USCIS issued RFIE stating that they may not accept the income earned lawfully using F-1 OPT. My attorney advised that USCIS does not have consistent guideline when they review OPT income. To respond this, I had to use financial assets to meet I-864 and requested expedite processing for EAD/AP to avoid my F-1 OPT EAD expiration. 

 

My timeline is following:

Timeline

11/XX/16: File
12/XX/16: Receipt of I485,I131,I765
01/XX/17: Finger Print 
02/XX/17: RFE 

04/XX/16: RFE responded
06/XX/17: Send cover letter to one of the IL senator with request for help by congress unit
06/14/17: Interview scheduled set by Congressional liason immigration service officer. 
07/05/17: EAD BEING PRODUCED
07/13/17: EAD delivered
07/XX/17: Interview
07/18/17: Card Being produced
07/24/17: Card delivered

 

My field office was Chicago, IL

Hope this helps

[DoubleZ 2]

On 21/08/2017 at 2:52 PM, rushman_93 said:

Hi guys!

 

Filing for AOS from J-1 (with no 2 year residency requirement luckily). Received our NOA1 on the 15th! Didn't even think to include the DS-2019 in the packet though, will that just require a quick RFE does anyone know?

 

Thanks!

Did you use the new I-485 form? It specifically asks for all documentation regarding J1 visa, including DS-2019, in the instructions. I don't think the older I-485 form was as clear on this though... It was this newer form that made me realise my own J1 home residency waiver issues! Hopefully, you don't get a RFE. 

" 13. Documentation Regarding J-1 or J-2 Exchange Visitor Status
If you previously held or currently hold J-1 (principal) or J-2 (dependent) nonimmigrant exchange visitor status,
you must submit copies of all relevant Forms IAP-66 and/or Forms DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange
Visitor (J-1) Status, ever issued to you (if available). You must also submit copies of all available J-1 or J-2
nonimmigrant visas issued to you, and copies of all available Form I-94 and passport pages with entry stamps
showing your admission to the United States in J-1 or J-2 status.
In addition, if your J status made you subject to the 2-year foreign residence requirement of INA section 212(e), you
must submit documentation to show that you complied with the foreign residence requirement, have been granted a
waiver of the requirement before filing Form I-485, or were issued a favorable waiver recommendation letter from
DOS before filing Form I-485. You can show you complied with the requirement by submitting evidence to prove
you resided in the appropriate home country for at least two years since your exchange visitor program ended. For
information about waiver of the requirement, see the Instructions for Form I-612, Application for Waiver of the
Foreign Residence Requirement."

Edited August 24, 2017 by DoubleZ

[rushman_93 5]

3 minutes ago, DoubleZ said:

Did you use the new I-485 form? 

I filed using the old form, I don't remember seeing anything about the DS-2019 on the old form or the instructions for it. Out of all of that, the only thing I am missing is the DS-2019. I hope I don't get an RFE either, but even if I do, it's just a matter of sending in the missing form right?

[DoubleZ 2]

Just now, rushman_93 said:

I filed using the old form, I don't remember seeing anything about the DS-2019 on the old form or the instructions for it. Out of all of that, the only thing I am missing is the DS-2019. I hope I don't get an RFE either, but even if I do, it's just a matter of sending in the missing form right?

Yeah, you would just have to send the DS-2019 form in. It will likely delay the process a little though. 

[cosmonauts 125]

Hi everyone! I've just found this and I'm (hopefully) close to the end of the process!

 

I'm adjusting from J-1, I had 212 residency requirement but I didn't get the approved waiver before sending my package. I never got an RFE due to this so we will just bring it to our interview on Sept 25.

 

They've changed the forms for AOS several times this year so to everyone looking for advice on filing I say read USCIS's website and instructions carefully because we've all had different experiences (and sent different forms). They also raised the prices I think.

 

We consulted with a lawyer from my university and were told that filing did not affect my J-1 program, I could finish it without problems. However, I could not get an extension on my DS-2019 after it was over and here I do not remember if it was because I had asked for the 212 waiver or because of filing (but I'm inclined to say it was the first one)

 

Everything has been going smoothly for us, thank goodness!

Check my timeline and/or signature for more info on my process.

 

 

[izavox 147]

1 hour ago, tamaara said:

Hi everyone! I've just found this and I'm (hopefully) close to the end of the process!

 

I'm adjusting from J-1, I had 212 residency requirement but I didn't get the approved waiver before sending my package. I never got an RFE due to this so we will just bring it to our interview on Sept 25.

 

They've changed the forms for AOS several times this year so to everyone looking for advice on filing I say read USCIS's website and instructions carefully because we've all had different experiences (and sent different forms). They also raised the prices I think.

 

We consulted with a lawyer from my university and were told that filing did not affect my J-1 program, I could finish it without problems. However, I could not get an extension on my DS-2019 after it was over and here I do not remember if it was because I had asked for the 212 waiver or because of filing (but I'm inclined to say it was the first one)

 

Everything has been going smoothly for us, thank goodness!

Check my timeline and/or signature for more info on my process.

 

 

Thank you for the info!!! I have a question: I was on a J-1 visa as well (no 2 year residence though) and I was thinking about trying to update my name to my married name on my SSN but I haven't gotten my EAD yet. Do you think it's possible with just the NOA1 saying I'm currently on the process of adjusting status?