Club Colombia AOS!

[motu 6]

Hey Diana:

Glad to see that both of you are back here. Give us a call if you want to talk. I came from India several years ago and realized that to get a better job you need to get a degree from a US school. So, the question is - what is his back ground? What kind of schooling has he done? Wants to do? What field of work does he have experience in? Interest in? How much he really wants to work versus go to school? All these will help him and you figure out what to do next. I did work a few odd jobs for a year or so and saved a minimal amount of $ then went to school (on loans) and got a degree in a field I thought I could get a job in. It wasn't easy and it took a while to get a job in my field but it worked out eventually and it all helped to put me on a path to a career - a slow path but it gave me a structure to try and follow and that was more important then the eventual success. Good Luck.

[parkpapa 0]

Question for you guys if you don't mind me asking since you're waiting for EADs for your wives. What kind of jobs are your SOs looking for? Do they speak English?

My husband started working for my brother in-law who's a general contractor but I don't think he's very happy doing it, mainly because of the language barrier since nobody there speaks Spanish. And also because he's not used to that type of work. I told him that we could start looking to see what else was out there for him while he goes to school to learn English.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Diana

Diana,

At this point I think Lorena would take any job! haha.... Seriously, she's had people approach her about three very different jobs. (She had made some very good friends - and contacts - in her ESL class, who have put her on to these.) One at a local college in the Spanish department. Apparently one of the professors is looking for someone fluent in Spanish to help with ensuring the correctness of what is being taught. Another job is cleaning houses at $180 a piece (I'm thinking about switching careers!). And the final one at a riverboat casino in the kitchen. I'm not real excited about the last one for a variety of reasons - likely a night shift, dangers of being in that atmosphere, the drunks, poorer pay, etc.

My wife has a fair vocabulary in English, but VERY little practice and her pronunciation is poor at times. The local ESL classes are free here and she could attend five full days a week if we lived closer to the school (half hour each way).

I think the best thing for your hubby is to go to a class like that, if available, and start networking with folks. If there's something good out there, he'll have a good chance finding it through folks in a similar situation. One of Lorena's best friends in the ESL class has lived in the US for over 10 years but never had to speak much English before moving to Missouri. She's been a good support in this.

Charles

[HAL 9000 96]

Question for you guys if you don't mind me asking since you're waiting for EADs for your wives. What kind of jobs are your SOs looking for? Do they speak English?

My husband started working for my brother in-law who's a general contractor but I don't think he's very happy doing it, mainly because of the language barrier since nobody there speaks Spanish. And also because he's not used to that type of work. I told him that we could start looking to see what else was out there for him while he goes to school to learn English.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thanks!

Diana

Hey Diana, if it involves physical labor... think of it this way... he's pumping up!!

But to be more frank, its not what he's probably thinking of as a career but something more in the line of prep work for his chosen career field right? That's what matters.

Maria is a psychologist by education and experience, so it will be a bit before she can get her license here in the USA, but she plans on doing as such. In the meantime I hope to be able to get her a decent job here on campus so that she can continue improving her English skills.

Edited October 12, 2007 by maviwaro

[OjosAzules 0]

Wow, Green Card arrived in the mail last night. one week after the email was received. Looks like we're done with paperwork for close to 2 years now which will be a wonderful thing.

thank you everyone for all the help and support you've given us in this forum and in the fiancee visa forum. Please feel free to email me with any questions as well.

[Mononoke28 135]

Congratulations!

See ya in 2009!

Diana

[parkpapa 0]

Hi all. Well, we got some interesting and disheartening news on Saturday. I once again received the entire AOS packet back as rejected. THIS time they said that the postmark was okay, but I had paid too much with the check. Their addition showed we owed $200 less than what my check was for. I have no idea how that would be possible, but what really astounds me is that they say I need to now use the NEW fees (over $3000 for Lorena and the boys). Why in the (*&* didn't they just use the extra $200 to have a nice little office party??? I paid too much so now I get to pay even more!!

I will again write to my US Senator, though I'm certain it will do no good. If and when Lorena ever gets her work permit (that's been three months already), we will start saving money to resubmit the AOS paperwork next summer.

Word of advice to anyone considering the K-3 route: DON'T DO IT IF YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER WAY!!!!!! Nothing against K-1s, but it seems really strange to me that a fiance can get a work permit, Social Security Number, and damned near anything else, in only a three or four weeks (if not right off the plane), but a spouse is treated like Typhoid Annie.

Okay, done venting (we stopped crying yesterday). Hope all is going well for everyone and we'll keep you informed when and if things change.

Charles and Lorena

[HAL 9000 96]

Repeat post from the other forum:

Hey Charles...

Words cannot express the complete and utter stupidity that USCIS is practicing on your case... OK, to be more fair... at least one or two different adjudicators are really royally screwing this up for your family. Do not give up hope on your elected officials and do repeat to them that this is the SECOND time you contact them due to USCIS inefficiency. Request an expedited handling of your case since this is now the second time some dopehead over there screws things up.

Or at the least, if they can't refund you $200 then their rejection must be based as an RFE in the form of a fee correction on your part... this doesn't make any sense to those of us with brains but maybe in their own crazy logic they are rejecting this based on a correct filing fee. Still, contact your politicians...

Best of luck buddy.

[Corey3368 3]

Charles sorry for all the trouble you have been having with the AOS. I really feel for you.

I was reading the recent posts just now when I recieved notice my AOS has been transferred to California. I am not sure but I have heard if the AOS is sent to California the green card is issued without an interview? Any truth to this? Would be great to avoid another trip to their office in Connecticut.

Receipt Number: MSxxxxxxxxx

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: This case has been sent to another office for processing.

On October 23, 2007, we transferred this I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS to our CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER location for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action. Please follow any instructions on this notice. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service. We process cases in the order we receive them. You can use our processing dates to estimate when this case will be done. This case has been sent to our CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER location. Follow the link below to check processing dates. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

[HAL 9000 96]

We can only hope for you Corey. Even though an AOS interview, compared to the Visa interview, is a piece of cake.

[buck501 0]

I was told that Paola can not get her SSN card untill she applies for a temp work status.........90 days or so. I think I have read where others have gotten theirs right away. Am I being told the wrong info?

[HAL 9000 96]

Hi Buck

As a K-1 she qualifies for a SSN. However, it will state that Work is only allowed by INS authorization. That can be changed after she gets her Green Card.

[Chester y Monica 2]

I was told that Paola can not get her SSN card untill she applies for a temp work status.........90 days or so. I think I have read where others have gotten theirs right away. Am I being told the wrong info?

Monica applied for a SSN 14 days after arrival here in the US. The SSA office only asked for the passport and K1 visa. She was issued a SS card that said "Employment only with DHS Authorization". In fact, we picked up our Marriage Certificate today from the county and went to the SSA office again to get her name changed. No problems whatsoever.

The office that handled your application is giving out incorrect information.

[Chester y Monica 2]

I-693A - Vaccination Supplement

In the I-485 Instructions, it says that for K1 applications should only submit the Vaccination Supplement I-693A.

The forms that we got from the doctor in Colombia, show that he vaccination history is incomplete.

I was calling some of the listed Civil Surgeons and asked that what would it take to get a the I-693A supplement form. They all want to do a physical and check vaccination history.

For those that did this before, did you're spouse get any additional vaccines when before filing for AOS?

[parkpapa 0]

I-693A - Vaccination Supplement

In the I-485 Instructions, it says that for K1 applications should only submit the Vaccination Supplement I-693A.

The forms that we got from the doctor in Colombia, show that he vaccination history is incomplete.

I was calling some of the listed Civil Surgeons and asked that what would it take to get a the I-693A supplement form. They all want to do a physical and check vaccination history.

For those that did this before, did you're spouse get any additional vaccines when before filing for AOS?

Chester,

I suspect that Monica should get the vaccinations before seeing the Civil Surgeon. When I took Lorena and the boys, the Civil Surgeon told me that all vaccinations needed to be current (as required by the Dept. of State) prior to an appointment. This could vary from one CS to another, however.

As for Lorena, all her vaccinations were current. We've had to update some for the boys, but that has been for school purposes rather than immigration purposes.

Charles

[TonyS 0]

I was told that Paola can not get her SSN card untill she applies for a temp work status.........90 days or so. I think I have read where others have gotten theirs right away. Am I being told the wrong info?

Monica applied for a SSN 14 days after arrival here in the US. The SSA office only asked for the passport and K1 visa. She was issued a SS card that said "Employment only with DHS Authorization". In fact, we picked up our Marriage Certificate today from the county and went to the SSA office again to get her name changed. No problems whatsoever.

The office that handled your application is giving out incorrect information.

Hey Chester this is common. Your wife may have needed shots in Colombia. Some vaccinations are given in series months apart. So she may be due for the next round. My wife had to get some additional shots here. Your wife doesn't need a complete physical. I took a copy of the requirements when I went. The work is to find a Civil Surgeon who agrees.