November 2018 AOS Filers

[K1visaHopeful 2,817]

39 minutes ago, rogerinho said:

Just saw the status for our EAD change to "New Card Is Being Produced" on March 14th. Anybody has any idea of how long it usually takes to receive from that status change?

A week or two.

[rogerinho 3]

8 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

A week or two.

Awesome. Thank you for the info.

[Phem 27]

On 3/12/2019 at 12:48 PM, Allaboutwaiting said:

 

What I've noticed for November is a huge amount of people stuck in "Fingerprint fee received", while, from what I've read on the forums, December and January filers, get their status updated right after biometrics. 

Our case hasn't been updated since November 28th. I used to check informed delivery daily and get excited about any notifications, but all the ones I get, come from Candy Crush. 😅

 

The fantasy I had of us getting an early interview, seems now unattainable. I feel being awarded a Nobel prize is way easier. 😂

I feel you, the same as mine still at "finger fee recieved" 🤔🤔

[am08830 16]

Interview scheduled for April 17😍

[Derlon 121]

9 hours ago, S_And_J said:

While the CR1 has its benefits, I personally hated being so far away from my partner. Dealing with the long-distance or the timezones really sucked, and while the K-1 has the added requirement of Adjusting Status, I would much rather do that with both of us physically in the same place. I would say, for those of us that did the K-1 and then adjusted status, do try to remember how difficult the period of waiting was without our now-spouses. 

 

 

 

I personally regret doing the K1 visa. I know the CR1 is longer, but seeing as how I managed to get my K1 expedited, I wish we would've just gotten married, applied for the CR1 and got that one expedited instead, lol.

 

[FilAm24 75]

44 minutes ago, Derlon said:

 

I personally regret doing the K1 visa. I know the CR1 is longer, but seeing as how I managed to get my K1 expedited, I wish we would've just gotten married, applied for the CR1 and got that one expedited instead, lol.

 

That is why research and right planning is a must before deciding which way to go 😆

 

 a proud k1 beneficiary here! lol

[K1visaHopeful 2,817]

8 minutes ago, FilAm24 said:

That is why research and right planning is a must before deciding which way to go 😆

 

 a proud k1 beneficiary here! lol

What state are you in?

[FilAm24 75]

2 minutes ago, K1visaHopeful said:

What state are you in?

Kentucky

[LenaT 95]

I don't regret going through K1. Even though it took us 11 month, 6 of which we spent apart, we still are together for this part of the journey. CR1 wasn't really an option for us because we wanted to get married at church with my husband's whole family (which is huge compared to mine). So I think depending on your priorities, CR1 may be a better option, yet there were so many people whose K1 journey was much shorter than ours. I think, everyone should take everything into consideration before making a decision which route to take. If your embassy is ok dealing with this type of visa and your countries are not in the state of continuous Cold War, then add a couple of month to the expected length of the process and there is a good chance you will be fine. If the situation is not that stable, you can either try and see how lucky you get, or just get married and file for CR1 to potentially shorten the way towards a GC. 

 

[RambaCat 643]

Oh I don't regret the K1; we had a beautiful wedding, and we are together a little quicker but...it doesn't do anything for my mental health being stuck at home (and often indoors) all day every day. I like to be able to travel, even if it's just driving to the local park or beach, but I can't even do that at the moment and it's demoralizing

[jakejon 1,197]

 

11 minutes ago, RambaCat said:

Oh I don't regret the K1; we had a beautiful wedding, and we are together a little quicker but...it doesn't do anything for my mental health being stuck at home (and often indoors) all day every day. I like to be able to travel, even if it's just driving to the local park or beach, but I can't even do that at the moment and it's demoralizing

For me I've never been susceptible to depression but the amount of times I've been so upset waiting for 'something' hasn't been good- I've questioned my self worth, the contribution I make to my husband's life financially, how broke we get (like he's working his backside off like most petitioners going through this), sometimes I roll over in bed in the morning convincing myself there must be a reason I get up. 

 

I've never had a counselor before since coming here to the US but I've definitely had my struggles like most with not working, transitioning etc and I've needed her more than ever during my struggles. She's given me tips on how to overcome struggles. 

 

It is so refreshing to hear other people's opinions and to know here on this thread that there are people who 100% get the wait. I guess that even if for some of us that have to wait a longer time for the GC - at least we can flourish with the Combo card and do all them things that we have been craving to do. For those unlucky to have not be given a SSN - I love the fact your life will unlock in so many ways, such as driving, being added to many things that a SSN is needed for. 

 

No matter when my combo card comes, I'll be staying around to root for everyone waiting! I love this thread through and through ❤️ 

Edited March 16, 2019 by jakejon

[kanderson101 131]

On 3/15/2019 at 7:23 AM, RambaCat said:

Thank you x.x

 

Thankfully we have our ITIN documents ready to send off, but as soon as they're mentioned most people get a bit cagey about doing anything. I'll look into the TurboTax software and talk to my husband about it when he's home from work.

 

I'm mostly just frustrated because I'd pretty much done everything else for her; the Foreign exclusion form etc was all filled in, I just didn't know where to add it on the actual 1040...@-@

 

Thanks again. ❤️

So it sounds like you ended up using Turbotax for some of your info. Did you use the auto online filing service or just their guide to help you fill out the forms yourself? I'm currently working through the file online version and after reporting my husband's income, it's telling me needs to file the 1040NR (which isn't supported by turbotax online). I'm just wondering if I can file online for the rest of this return, then submit the 1040NR separately? Obviously the online form is currently telling me I owe money for 2018, but I'm assuming this is because we can't exclude his income with this online version of turbotax. Did you do something similar to this? 

[RambaCat 643]

14 minutes ago, kanderson101 said:

So it sounds like you ended up using Turbotax for some of your info. Did you use the auto online filing service or just their guide to help you fill out the forms yourself? I'm currently working through the file online version and after reporting my husband's income, it's telling me needs to file the 1040NR (which isn't supported by turbotax online). I'm just wondering if I can file online for the rest of this return, then submit the 1040NR separately? Obviously the online form is currently telling me I owe money for 2018, but I'm assuming this is because we can't exclude his income with this online version of turbotax. Did you do something similar to this? 

That sounds like you're married filing separately; if you file jointly you can put in foreign income through turbotax but it will cost 59.99 for those extra forms but you'll need an ITIN or an application for one to file joint

Edited March 16, 2019 by RambaCat

[kanderson101 131]

6 minutes ago, RambaCat said:

That sounds like you're married filing separately; if you file jointly you can put in foreign income through turbotax but it will cost 59.99 for those extra forms but you'll need an ITIN or an application for one to file joint

My fault, I should have used more words

 

I entered MFJ when I started the forms, and used the Deluxe version. When working through the section with foreign earned income and potential exclusions, I ended up at the section that asks whether or not spouse was a US resident while he was working. There's a qualifier written into turbotax: 

 

 

So now I'm stuck. I selected "No" to answer that question, which is when it told me to file the 1040NR. I now realize that he really shouldn't need to do that, right? We just need to file the joint 1040 and (I think) the 2555-EZ? Is that it? (Aside from the FBAR)

 

He does have a SSN so that isn't an issue, luckily. 

 

Edited March 16, 2019 by kanderson101

[RambaCat 643]

7 minutes ago, kanderson101 said:

My fault, I should have used more words

 

I entered MFJ when I started the forms, and used the Deluxe version. When working through the section with foreign earned income and potential exclusions, I ended up at the section that asks whether or not spouse was a US resident while he was working. There's a qualifier written into turbotax: 

 

 

So now I'm stuck. I selected "No" to answer that question, which is when it told me to file the 1040NR. I now realize that he really shouldn't need to do that, right? We just need to file the joint 1040 and (I think) the 2555-EZ? Is that it? (Aside from the FBAR)

 

He does have a SSN so that isn't an issue, luckily. 

 

You'll need to select yes for that question; married couples can only file jointly if they are considered residents for the full year. Then you should be able to find the 2555-EZ and schedule 1 of 1040 (it's an addition to the 1040 return)