Club Colombia AOS!

[KathyB 0]

Hi everyone!

It's been three months since Francisco arrived, so far everything is going very smoothly. However, I don't think I prepared myself as well for the AOS as I did for the visa petitions. Have already received one RFE for additional tax info and guessing by all the information on the boards that we will probably receieve another RFE for the I693A. We sent in the DS-3025 that we got in Bogota but am not sure if that's enough. However, our case was transferred to California Service Center from the National Benefits Center last week. So I've got my fingers crossed that we are close.

Francisco has been volunteering at a church in downtown Indianapolis since about June. I work downtown too so we can commute together. And he feels very productive--just like a normal working joe...minus the paycheck!

We have been fortunate given that he was able to get SSN, state identification card, health benefits (from my employer) not to mention the love and companionship of myself and a more-than-slightly dysfunctional Labrador Retriever.

I'll keep everyone posted on any developments. Glad to see all the familiar names. And congrats maviwaro on getting married! (I need to read through the whole thread to see what else has gone on!)

Kathy

[paisita411 0]

Guys...I spent some time reading some POE reviews for Miami, Atlanta and New York (JFK). It apprears that people going through JFK are issued temporary EADs from 30days to 6mos. This doesn't happen in Miami or Atlanta and folks going through those POEs even mention it in thier reviews. Has anyone from Colombia Club gone through JFK for POE??? If so, did your fiance/spouse recieve a EAD stamp?

[HAL 9000 96]

Hi everyone!

It's been three months since Francisco arrived, so far everything is going very smoothly. However, I don't think I prepared myself as well for the AOS as I did for the visa petitions. Have already received one RFE for additional tax info and guessing by all the information on the boards that we will probably receieve another RFE for the I693A. We sent in the DS-3025 that we got in Bogota but am not sure if that's enough. However, our case was transferred to California Service Center from the National Benefits Center last week. So I've got my fingers crossed that we are close.

Francisco has been volunteering at a church in downtown Indianapolis since about June. I work downtown too so we can commute together. And he feels very productive--just like a normal working joe...minus the paycheck!

We have been fortunate given that he was able to get SSN, state identification card, health benefits (from my employer) not to mention the love and companionship of myself and a more-than-slightly dysfunctional Labrador Retriever.

I'll keep everyone posted on any developments. Glad to see all the familiar names. And congrats maviwaro on getting married! (I need to read through the whole thread to see what else has gone on!)

Kathy

Gracias Kathy

Could you elaborate more on how Francisco got his SSN before the AOS was completed? Did you use the SSA document linked in the AOS/SSN stuff here?

And thanks on the congrats! Its been bliss so far! I'm trying to find some time to link up some pics soon.

Willie

[KathyB 0]

Our process for SSN was pretty straightforward. I printed out the pages from the SSA Manual (that are in quite a few places in the boards) to show that as a K1 visa holder, he can have the SSN, but never had to show them. The reps in the Indianapolis SSA office didn't even question it.

We waited about 2 weeks from when he entered the US and his information was already in their system. We had to show his visa and passport. His card shows his full name (first, middle, paternal and maternal last names) as we were told they will accept only what is in the system for the card. Came in the mail roughly a week later. It is stamped with "Authorized to Work with DHS Approval Only" or something like that so we will have to request a new card once we have the EAD or AOS. It's been very helpful...my company and bank don't require the SSN for benefits and membership, but they acknowledged that it sped the process up!

Ironically, I spent more time in the SSA office changing my name than he did requesting his first card!

[HAL 9000 96]

Awesome, Kathy. That is exactly what we plan on doing come 8/20/07... maybe 8/22/07 depending on work...

I assume I probably will have to show that SSA document since this is Chicago and last time I dealt with the SSA here they were not very helpful in getting me a copy of my own SS Card... Lets see how they deal with the name change itself even though we do have our marriage certificate handy.

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Just curious as to why you think you'll get an RFE for the I-693A? I submitted the DS-3025s for both my wife and step-daughter and included an explanation of why I submitted them...as opposed to an I-693A (because I could see no reason to get a civil surgeon here just repeat what was already done by the embassy-authorized doctor in Bogota). We submitted the AOS in February and have had no RFE. Our interview should have been in June, but my wife was in Bogota so it is re-scheduled for August 28. So, unless we are being sandbagged and they are going to "surprise" us in August, you may not need to expect another RFE after all.

Mike

PS - Oops, just realized that you did a K-1....not sure if that makes a difference.

Hi everyone!

It's been three months since Francisco arrived, so far everything is going very smoothly. However, I don't think I prepared myself as well for the AOS as I did for the visa petitions. Have already received one RFE for additional tax info and guessing by all the information on the boards that we will probably receieve another RFE for the I693A. We sent in the DS-3025 that we got in Bogota but am not sure if that's enough.

Kathy

Edited August 17, 2007 by Mike and Adriana

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Note to female K-3 visa holders....if you file EAD and AOS in your married name, that will allow you to file for your SS# in your married name...no need to change it later.

My wife and step-daughter's SS cards both have that "stamp" on it also. However, after AOS, you automatically have employment authorization....so showing one's green card constitutes work approval....so no need for a new card (not sure you could even get a new one)....at least based on my understanding of the process. If I find out otherwise, I'll post. I fully expect our AOS interview in less than two weeks to be successful.

His card shows his full name (first, middle, paternal and maternal last names) as we were told they will accept only what is in the system for the card. Came in the mail roughly a week later.

It is stamped with "Authorized to Work with DHS Approval Only" or something like that so we will have to request a new card once we have the EAD or AOS.

[KathyB 0]

Mike,

RE the I-693A form: I've seen many people write about the RFE for the vaccination form recently. When I read the instructions for the I-485 form, I read "vaccination supplement" and didn't realize USCIS had a specific form for this! If they do indeed require the I-693A form, I wish the instructions were more specific. But nothing to do now but wait.

Now as for the SSN replacement card, you're right...we probably don't need to get a new card. I just thought it would make him look more official, but really how many times do you have to pull that little card out anywhere???

And wow, you're interview is right around the corner! Good luck!

Kathy

[TonyS 0]

Guys...I spent some time reading some POE reviews for Miami, Atlanta and New York (JFK). It apprears that people going through JFK are issued temporary EADs from 30days to 6mos. This doesn't happen in Miami or Atlanta and folks going through those POEs even mention it in thier reviews. Has anyone from Colombia Club gone through JFK for POE??? If so, did your fiance/spouse recieve a EAD stamp?

Hola Dre

My fiancee went through JFK and yes she received 90 day EAD for K-1 visa. She didn't even ask for it. How is Oskar liking Atlanta and America in general?

[Mike and Adriana 0]

Thanks for the info, Kathy. I'll have to wait and see if ultimately our explanation and the copy of the vaccination worsksheet is enough. I'd be pretty PO'd if they never RFE us, but yet hold us up on this at the AOS interview. If that happens, I'll be sure to let everyone know.

Meanwhile, I continue to search for an interpreter. My wife's English comprehension is not good enough and my translation skills are suspect. Too much riding on this interview to hope. One place I checked wanted $125/hour, minimum 3 hours. Hopefully we can find someone from the local Colombiana connection.

Mike

Mike,

RE the I-693A form: I've seen many people write about the RFE for the vaccination form recently. When I read the instructions for the I-485 form, I read "vaccination supplement" and didn't realize USCIS had a specific form for this! If they do indeed require the I-693A form, I wish the instructions were more specific. But nothing to do now but wait.

Now as for the SSN replacement card, you're right...we probably don't need to get a new card. I just thought it would make him look more official, but really how many times do you have to pull that little card out anywhere???

And wow, you're interview is right around the corner! Good luck!

Kathy

[HAL 9000 96]

I'd gladly translate/interpret for a beer if the interview was in my neck of the woods.

I feel pretty confident that Mike and Adriana's interview will go without a hitch.

Cheers

Willie

[paisita411 0]

Tony, thank you for the confirmation on the EAD!!! That's exciting news. Oscar has not traveled yet, we're making reservations this week. I started reading about POE experiences just to see what the differences were when I realized that JFK was issueing the EADs. Since there's no direct flight from Medellin to Atlanta, JFK or Miami became our only options and now a NO BRAINER ....we'll go JFK and keep our fingers crossed that the EAD is issued on the spot!!!! Boy I need the help financially after all of this process. Someone was commenting on costs in the other Colombian forum and they're right, it trully can add up. Well, Tony thanks again for your help. I'll let you all know how things go for us at JFK...Maybe this is something that more of us need to consider when deciding on the POE.

LOL

Dre

[Mike and Adriana 0]

OK, folks. Had our AOS interview today and the conditional green card was approved for my wife and step-daughter (conditional because we have been married less than 2 years). We'll have to go through lifting conditions in one year, 9 months. Here is some information/observations about our interview.

1) Scheduled for 8:00 a.m. at the Orlando office. This was our second re-scheduled appointment due to my wife being in Colombia for two months this summer. No problems getting a re-schedule.

2) We were done by 9:00 a.m.

3) My wife is still learning English and sometimes has trouble understanding spoken English, so we brought a translator (a fellow Colombiana who has been in the U.S. for almost 30 years). Good thing we did. The FO (field officer) was a nice guy, but he spoke almost no Spanish and he spoke rather quickly. So, when the appointment sheet says to bring a translator if the beneficiary does not speak fluent English....you need to listen. We would have been screwed if we did not have the Colombiana.....because my Spanish is not good enough to translate some of the questions he asked.

4) The beginning of the interview was just a verification of information. They asked for ID (my wife initially gave him her Florida driver's license and he was fine with that...he took a photocopy). He then administered an oath to tell the truth (to both of us). He then reviewed some of the info on the I-485 and G-325A. He asked about the following: her name, current address, date and country of birth, mother's first name, father's first name, type of job my wife had in Bogota, previous marriages. He also asked some of the questions on page 3 of the form...if had previously been arrested or imprisoned, if she had committed numerous crimes for which she had not been prosecuted (caught), if she had ever been in an immigration hearing or court. Then he looked at me and said something like "Watch this....I always ask a question like this on 'slam dunks'....watch her expression" and he proceeded to ask whether she planned on practicing polygamy when in the U.S.! jejejejeje I knew we were in good shape then!!! The funny thing is that we had watched a Dateline episode the previous week or so that featured a guy in Utah that had 3 wives!

5) He asked me about my address and phone number. He asked me our wedding date and where we got married. He later asked me to tell him the story of how we met. He asked about why we got married in Colombia and not in the U.S.

6) He could not initially find the translation of our marriage license, so to save time, I gave him another copy.

7) He knew that my wife had travelled to Colombia recently and asked me if we had gotten advance parole. I told him that, no, we had not, because it was not necessary for a K-3. Not sure if he had just forgotten that we were a K-3 or if he was testing me.

8) He asked for proof of relationship. I told him, honestly, that I did not have utility bills, etc. with my wife's name on them....because I had been living in my house alone for the last 5-6 years and all of the bills were already in my name. What I did give him was the following: copy of the wedding announcement I sent to my friends and family; copy of medical insurance card; copy of car insurance binder; copy of letter indicating my wife had been added as a co-owner on one of my credit cards; copy of the social security card that was still attached to the part with our mailing address. He already had a copy of her driver's license...with out current address on it.

9) He did not ask us for the I-94....which is good because the immigration officer at the Miami airport confiscated it when she returned from Colombia two weeks ago. He said she no longer needed it. He was right. And the FO confirmed this when I asked him about it.

10) The FO took my wife and stepdaughter's EAD card....as they are no longer needed.

11) Almost forgot about something important to many of you.....he asked about the medical information. He said he thought he remembered seeing the vaccination information in the file, but before he could go looking for it, I just handed him two sealed envelopes from the Civil Surgeon. That's right, I wussed out. When I submitted the initial I-485s, I included the DS-3025, along with an explanation. I never got an RFE. But I started to get nervous last week....so at the last minute I took my wife and step-daughter to the local Civil Surgeon to get the vaccination info transferred to an I-693A. Cost me $150 for both - what a scam. But my wife did not have to get any additional shots. She had a Td shot in Bogota in January, 2007.

I WISH I would have asked the guy if the I-693A was necessary or if he would have accepted the DS-3025 that we filed (because truthfully, I see no reason why it should not suffice...given that it is done by the civil surgeon in Bogota designated by the U.S. embassy)....but things were going so well, I did not want to interrupt the flow.

12) He stamped my wife and step-daughter's passports with an I-551 stamp (the temporary, temporary green card, if you will), which is good for a year. He said to expect their conditional green cards in 4-6 weeks. My wife is now CR-6 status and my stepdaughter is CR-7 status. The stamp also provides employment authorization for 1 year.

13) He then explained what was next. He said that once we get the conditional green cards in the mail, we should take them to the social security office to get another social security card issued (as the current card says something about employment authorization being necessary for work). He also explained the "lifting conditions" process and the fact that my wife would be eligible to begin the naturalization process in 2 years, 9 months.

That's about it. Very simple, very easy. He never separate the two of us to compare answers. He was chatty and very nice. Made things very comfortable for us. Made idle chit-chat while he was filling out papers. My step-daughter was never asked anything. She was sat at a table with some crayons and coloring book pages.

By the way, ladies....my wife got up extra early this morning to do her hair....because she expected to have her picture taken....it was not. So, look nice, but don't kill yourself over it!

If I think of anything else....or anyone has any questions, just let me know. I'll try to check the board from time to time....or you can always PM me.

Mike

PS - oh yeah, I filled out another i-864 for the inteview, just in case. I had noticed that the I-864 I submitted with the I-485 included an employer letter that was written in August, 2006. So, I got an updated employer letter and filled out a new I-864 with current year tax information, but I was never asked for it.

[lucho562 0]

Congrats Mike! Glad to see everything went smooth. Thanks for the complete run down.

[HAL 9000 96]

Indeed Mike, a very complete run of the AOS interview, CONGRATULATIONS!

At least on the I-693A form I lucked out... no fee necessary at the Chicago Department of Public Health, Uptown Clinic on Wilson. In case any of you folks are around Chicago and need the vaccination supplement, let me know and I can get you the contact information. We did pay for a couple of booster shots that were due, but at $20 a pop it was a piece of cake.

I plan on submitting our AOS paperwork by the end of the week. We're moving on Friday...