February 2020 AOS Filers

[INNSU09 242]

Just got my Combo card in the mail! As expected i looked atrocious.. 😂 good thing it came with a “card sleeve” guess i’ll be using that. 
 

 

i applied for an SSN with my AOS, when do you guys think it will come?

[Sarge2155 4,587]

For those of you nearing an AOS (I-485) interview here are a few things I would like to share with you in case you are drawing blanks on what you will take to your interview. Although my interview was waived I was still prepared to attend so I am sharing what I was going to bring to my interview. Since I did not use it it'll be used during ROC provided we have a interview then. I have posted this before, but it's most handy to post in your own thread so the people can find it readily. Lot's of items won't apply to you and I understand younger couples won't have near the amount of items. USCIS does expect you to have basic items that married couples produce together, so if you don't have it you only can bring what you have. Good luck to you all and I hope my little tidbits help you plan for your interviews:

 

 

I broke our materials down into folders (different colors) and carried them in a nice camo bag I had laying around. I prepared a master legend or key if you will so when the IO asks for a document or an evidence, I can look on my sheet and locate which color folder it is located in and pull the folder out and locate the document to give to the IO. Here are the documents I am taking:

 

All forms I-797C (Notice of Actions for AOS) included a I-797 NOA2 for the K1 also cause if you'll notice the interview sheet says bring EVERYTHING, they ever sent to you so we are electing to bring all but the kitchen sink!!!!!

 

Complete copy of the AOS packet and ALL supporting documents

Current year 2019 tax transcript

Job verification letter

2 months of pay stubs

retirement pay letters (if applicable to you)

USC passport

LPRs arrival documents to include K1 visa and I-94

USC B/C

marriage license

SS card in married name

military ID card (if applicable to you)

divorce decree (if applicable to you) both USC and LPR

health, dental and vision insurance

life insurances both for USC and LPR listing each other as beneficiaries

ROM (report of marriage) this is Philippines specific

last will and testament to include Texas advance directive and power of attorney (this is also great for ROC)

utility bills with both names

bank statements savings and checking

joint credit cards (actual card as statement does not list who made a charge)

large purchases receipt (furniture with both names on it)

assorted mail LPR has received at her present location we share

and finally, the entire copy of the K1 packet to include all documentation

 

There is no rental agreement or mortgage contract with both names because I owned our house before we married so I included a mortgage statement to show when the house was purchased before, we married! I also used the term LPR as my wife has her GC already. Several documents will be redundant because I did not want to break open the entire AOS packet until and if I need to.

 

Like I said we threw in everything but the kitchen sink and I would have included that had it fit inside my handy carry bag. As you know with my luck that I have had throughout this visa journey I can't be to unprepared. My motto "better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it!!!!!

 

Hope this helps everyone!!!!!

 

[AFCF 273]

17 minutes ago, INNSU09 said:

Just got my Combo card in the mail! As expected i looked atrocious.. 😂 good thing it came with a “card sleeve” guess i’ll be using that. 
 

 

i applied for an SSN with my AOS, when do you guys think it will come?

I got my social security card today. Still waiting for my combo card though. Congratulations! ♥️

[AFCF 273]

15 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

Like I said we threw in everything but the kitchen sink and I would have included that had it fit inside my handy carry bag. As you know with my luck that I have had throughout this visa journey I can't be to unprepared. My motto "better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it!!!!!

 

 

 

Hope this helps everyone!!!!!

Thank you so much for this, as always, Sarge! Very helpful.

[Sarge2155 4,587]

@INNSU09 the norm to get your SS card is a few weeks at the least, but during these uncertain times coupled with the ever increasing mistakes USCIS is making there is really no telling. I'll just say this to you be prepared for a hassle getting it. Keep your expectations lowwwww and you'll be alright. Don't count out not getting the card at all and you having to apply for it with the SSA. No use in sugar coating this for you. I hope it does come like it is supposed to!

[Sarge2155 4,587]

20 minutes ago, chxakx said:

I got my social security card today. Still waiting for my combo card though. Congratulations! ♥️

Yesssss now that's how it's supposed to work...grats to you!!!!!

[INNSU09 242]

11 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

@INNSU09 the norm to get your SS card is a few weeks at the least, but during these uncertain times coupled with the ever increasing mistakes USCIS is making there is really no telling. I'll just say this to you be prepared for a hassle getting it. Keep your expectations lowwwww and you'll be alright. Don't count out not getting the card at all and you having to apply for it with the SSA. No use in sugar coating this for you. I hope it does come like it is supposed to!

OH! So ssn is supposed to come BEFORE the Combo card?! 
 

Thank you for your help! I have e-mailed the SSA office and asked if i have a been applied for already. I will give it another week, then apply for it myself. 😁

[INNSU09 242]

34 minutes ago, chxakx said:

I got my social security card today. Still waiting for my combo card though. Congratulations! ♥️

Congrats din! 🙏🏼✨

 

apparently ssn is supposed to come first pala.. 😂 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

[Sarge2155 4,587]

2 minutes ago, INNSU09 said:

OH! So ssn is supposed to come BEFORE the Combo card?! 
 

Thank you for your help! I have e-mailed the SSA office and asked if i have a been applied for already. I will give it another week, then apply for it myself. 😁

 

1 minute ago, INNSU09 said:

Congrats din! 🙏🏼✨

 

apparently ssn is supposed to come first pala.. 😂 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

No set specific time they come before and or after the EAD!

[INNSU09 242]

Just now, Sarge2155 said:

 

No set specific time they come before and or after the EAD!

Oh the uncertainty.. 😂

[AFCF 273]

30 minutes ago, Sarge2155 said:

Yesssss now that's how it's supposed to work...grats to you!!!!!

Thank you. I was able to get one in March with my married name so I’m surprised I got another one. 😅

 

17 minutes ago, INNSU09 said:

Congrats din! 🙏🏼✨

 

apparently ssn is supposed to come first pala.. 😂 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Thank you! Some people from a Filipino K1 group have been successful getting theirs. Not sure how you feel about sending original documents thru mail. Hopefully you’ll get yours soon! 😊

[Shams2322 9]

1 hour ago, chxakx said:

I got my social security card today. Still waiting for my combo card though. Congratulations! ♥️

How long did you wait to get social in the mail from the time you applied?

[Sarge2155 4,587]

21 minutes ago, chxakx said:

Thank you. I was able to get one in March with my married name so I’m surprised I got another one. 😅

 

Thank you! Some people from a Filipino K1 group have been successful getting theirs. Not sure how you feel about sending original documents thru mail. Hopefully you’ll get yours soon! 😊

I'm not a fan of sending those kinds of documents through the mail, but desperate times call for desperate measures. My local SSA office has been closed since March absolutely no face to face no appointments no nothing, but phone calls. So after we got my wife's GC in April we waited a bit to see if the SS office would open. It did not so I let my wife make the decision since they were her documents.

 

We did send her GC, marriage license, SS-5 (SS card application) and the old SS card with her maiden name on it. We sent it to our local office after making 500% sure of the correct address. We used USPS (before all the headlines) certified registered mail. I might add the office was just a few blocks away from our house. I'll admit we were on pins and needles as even then USPS is not absolutely perfect in delivering any type mail no matter how important. Long story short it got there they processed it and sent her documents back directly after they were done. This next part will scare you and had I known I might have elected not to send through the mail. When the local office sent the documents back to us they used regular mail no kind of tracking whatsoever whewwwww we dodged a bullet there. All in all we were glad we did as the card came a few weeks later in her married name. If you should do this I would highly recommend you supply return postage with tracking.

Edited September 2, 2020 by Sarge2155

[AFCF 273]

7 minutes ago, Shams2322 said:

How long did you wait to get social in the mail from the time you applied?

I applied for it in February along with my AOS/EAD/AP application. I just got it today. My EAD/AP were just recently approved. But I was also able to go to an office before they closed since I already had a number before. I applied on February 21st and got it on March 3rd. 

[AFCF 273]

1 minute ago, Sarge2155 said:

I'm not a fan of sending those kinds of documents through the mail, but desperate times call for desperate measures. My local SSA office has been closed since March absolutely no face to face no appointments no nothing, but phone calls. So after we got my wife's GC in April we waited a bit to see if the SS office would open. It did not so I let my wife make the decision since they were her documents.

 

We did send her GC, marriage license, SS-5 (SS card application) and the old SS card with her maiden name on it. We sent it to our local office after making 500% sure of the correct address. We used USPS (before all the headlines) certified registered mail. I might add the office was just a few blocks away from our house. I'll admit we were on pins and needles as even then USPS is not absolutely perfect in delivering any type mail no matter how important. Long story short it got there they processed it and sent her documents back directly after they were done. This next part will scare you and had I known I might have elected not to send through the mail. When the local office sent the documents back to us they used regular mail no kind of tracking whatsoever whewwwww we dodged a bullet there. All in all we were glad we did as the card came a few weeks later in her married name.

If you should do this I would highly recommend you supply return postage with tracking.

Wow. I thought they’d send it back with tracking or something. I‘m not sure if I’d be willing to do this after all the headlines 😅 Thank you for sharing!