What to bring to your greencard interview for K1 visa holders?

[powerpuff 6,697]

We brought everything outlined in the interview letter. I wasn’t going to give them a chance to delay our case by not doing my part and bringing what was asked.

 

The IO didn’t look at anything except our IDs (driver licenses) and my birth certificate along with a certified translation. 

[SalishSea 17,818]

5 hours ago, Noktor said:

 

 

In Step 1 section C. This is where I chose Married filing seperately/Single. So how does one receive a joint's tax transcript or 1040 then in order to bring to our interview. I hope we're not doomed that I just have now discovered this mistake that I've made.

The transcript is a record of taxes paid/filing info.   So if you haven’t filed, you won’t have a transcript.   Filing status and W-4 are unrelated.

[IWander 589]

3 hours ago, K1visaHopeful said:

 

Some might conduct your interview without even obtaining your A-file from storage. 

 

How is this even possible 

[K1visaHopeful 2,812]

55 minutes ago, IWander said:

How is this even possible 

Is that a rhetorical question?

Or sarcasm?

It happens more often than you think.

Just because your LFO has been transferred your AOS application doesn't mean your IO took the time to track down the rest of your file from DHS.

Why do you think so many K1 AOS applicants get questioned about their medical? Unlike normal AOS applicants (which represents the majority) who would have either completed an I693 and submitted with I485 or brought it to the AOS interview, K1 medicals are included with the Visa envelope which gets transferred to DHS after arrival. 

Not all IOs are competent in the K1 AOS process because it's extra work on their part.

[Mexis2020 18]

16 hours ago, NorthByNorthwest said:

 

No harm in updating your W-4 as soon as possible - then you'll get more money in your pocket each paycheck instead of having to wait for tax refund season to get it back.

 

The most common debate on these forums on how to file the actual taxes relate to the immigrant not yet having a SSN which sometimes becomes an issue trying to file jointly. If your spouse does not yet have an SSN I'd suggest taking care of that ASAP so you have it in place in time for tax season. Then just use TurboTax or similar and you'll be guided through the whole process, unless you already have someone do your taxes for you.

 

IRS won't bug you for giving them too much money, and I don't think USCIS would have any issue either unless you file your actual return as single, that would be a red flag.

Yes you will get more money in each paycheck but as others have said withholding does not equal taxes paid - your are making a lot of assumptions about tax situation and they would be owe less taxes then they withhold - which is a broad assumption based on one fact. Ideally you have enough taxes withheld to represent little to no taxes owed each tax year.

[Mexis2020 18]

18 hours ago, SalishSea said:

How would you have already had joint tax transcripts when you filed for AOS?

We included tax transcripts in our Adjustment of Status meeting to get our first green card from K-1 visa. It was available when we created the packet to be sent so we included it. Not too hard if the calendar aligns.

[Noktor 4]

Is this really needed? We don't recall having a copy of our completed AoS packet (I-485, I-767, I-131). Why would they need it again when we already mailed all this stuff to them? What if you never made a copy of it or can't find it?

 

And as far as medical records, somebody mentioned as a K1 visa holder, that it's already sent to DHS in a sealed folder upon her arrival to the US, so does she still have to get her medical exam again in the US. I don't think she has an I-693 application.

[powerpuff 6,697]

46 minutes ago, Noktor said:

Is this really needed? We don't recall having a copy of our completed AoS packet (I-485, I-767, I-131). Why would they need it again when we already mailed all this stuff to them? What if you never made a copy of it or can't find it?

 

And as far as medical records, somebody mentioned as a K1 visa holder, that it's already sent to DHS in a sealed folder upon her arrival to the US, so does she still have to get her medical exam again in the US. I don't think she has an I-693 application.

The actual interview letter doesn’t list these as required. Please refer to the actual interview letter. For the medical, in the USCIS letter it says “If required….”

which isn’t the case here. Although there are cases where USCIS loses the medical and they would require you to complete one.

 

You should make copies of all original supporting documents (marriage, birth certificates) and bring them in case they want to keep it. This one is in the USCIS interview letter.

 

Edited January 4 by powerpuff

[OldUser 6,623]

6 hours ago, Noktor said:

We don't recall having a copy of our completed AoS packet (I-485, I-767, I-131). Why would they need it again when we already mailed all this stuff to them? What if you never made a copy of it or can't find it?

That is a mistake which can haunt you in the future. Always make copies of everything you ever submitted to USCIS. An immigrant may be asked questions 3 / 5 years later at N-400 stage or at some other stage about AOS forms and what answers were given.

It's to immigrant's benefit to know what was sent in the past to avoid any issues.

 

Sure, some of this information may be obtained later by filing FOIA. But it takes time (months) and it's sometimes incomplete.

Edited January 4 by OldUser

[Noktor 4]

7 hours ago, powerpuff said:

The actual interview letter doesn’t list these as required. Please refer to the actual interview letter. For the medical, in the USCIS letter it says “If required….”

which isn’t the case here. Although there are cases where USCIS loses the medical and they would require you to complete one.

 

You should make copies of all original supporting documents (marriage, birth certificates) and bring them in case they want to keep it. This one is in the USCIS interview letter.

 

 

Are you talking about the I-797C Notice of Action? That's the only piece of paper we've received, and on it it tells us our interview address and our appointment time and date and there's a section that says "You must bring the following items with you:" I don't see anywhere on it where it says "If required". Unless I'm looking at the wrong document.

Edited January 4 by Noktor

[powerpuff 6,697]

8 hours ago, Noktor said:

 

Are you talking about the I-797C Notice of Action? That's the only piece of paper we've received, and on it it tells us our interview address and our appointment time and date and there's a section that says "You must bring the following items with you:" I don't see anywhere on it where it says "If required". Unless I'm looking at the wrong document.

Yes that’s the one. I took a screenshot of mine, take a look:

[Noktor 4]

On 1/4/2024 at 10:28 AM, powerpuff said:

Yes that’s the one. I took a screenshot of mine, take a look:

Yes, so where does it say if required on that?

[powerpuff 6,697]

2 minutes ago, Noktor said:

Yes, so where does it say if required on that?

Second bullet after “YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH YOU”. 

[Noktor 4]

9 minutes ago, powerpuff said:

Second bullet after “YOU MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WITH YOU”. 

 

Thanks for pointing that out.