ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS STEP BY STEP

[justinemaaaae 6]

Hi Everyone!!!

 

Once again I am here asking for help and advise through this process. So I came to the US via K1 visa and we are now married for almost 1 month. I have been complacent about the next step after the marriage so I haven't done any research about that beforehand which I am now regretting.

 

Lots of question on the way but here the one's I can think of now. Hope somebody can help. 

 

1. I have just read that there was an option of getting a SSN before marriage right after arrival. But since we are now married and already on the way to process the AOS, is there still a way to get SSN sooner? We are using RapidVisa as our filler but they haven't mentioned that it is an option to get SSN earlier. 

 

2. Form I-693 - Medical Exam --- Again we received an email from RapidVisa informing us that I (beneficiary / AOS applicant) has to undergo another medical exam. But I have read on the USCIS FAQ that i don't need it? or maybe I have misunderstood what is says. (Please see below screenshot). But I have called rapidvisa and they say we may get a RFE if we dont submit another medical exam. I did not receive any copies of my medical report from the K1 as the hospital directly mailed it to the embassy. All I have is a vaccine record which we have already submitted as requested. 

 

 

 

3. My husband is an active duty military and can be deployed at any time. Is there a way to expedite the AOS because of this. If yes, what are the process and additional requirement we can submit. 

 

4. As mentioned above, (question 3), if ever my husband gets deployed, if it is possible we will try for me to get a government passport, agin we dont know if that is possible since I am only going thru AOS but if it is and we got a govt passport. Can I leave the country or do I have to stay here for the duration of the process until green card is released. 

 

 

I am so sorry if any of this questions are silly but my dumb ### did not do enough research about this ahead. Hope anyone can help with any of this question. I would appreciate it so much. 

[OldUser 6,449]

1. You can try, but now the earliest time to get SSN is probably going to be when EAD card arrives (6-8 months into AOS process)

[J.M. 227]

1.  If you checked the SS card box on the I-765, I think I would just wait for it to arrive, plus, it will be in your married name (assuming you used it on I-765).  Mine took a little under 3 months to arrive (from filing date), but only 3 weeks after they actually opened my package.

 

2.  A repeat medical is almost certainly not needed if the vaccine worksheet was marked "complete."  You did what you should have by sending the vaccine record.

 

3 & 4.  Despite being in the military for 10 years, I have no answer for either of these.

[justinemaaaae 6]

4 hours ago, OldUser said:

1. You can try, but now the earliest time to get SSN is probably going to be when EAD card arrives (6-8 months into AOS process)

hi. What is EAD? 

[OldUser 6,449]

2 minutes ago, justinemaaaae said:

hi. What is EAD? 

Employment Authorization Document. A plastic card allowing immigrant to work while waiting for green card.

 

Can be obtained by filing I-765 (separate fee).

 

I highly recommend it as it will serve as identity document and will allow the immigrant not only to work, but open bank accounts, credit cards, get driver's license and more.

 

The more immigrant settles in the country and comingles finances etc, the more evidence of bonafide marriage they're going to have for their GC approval.

 

Also recommend filing I-131, Advance Parole. Separate fee applies. Also serves as ID document and allows travelling outside the US without abandoning adjustment of status application. Sometimes emergencies happen. It's not rare to hear on VJ when immigrant has to decide between visiting their sick parents back home and staying in US to get GC. This solves thr problem.

Edited September 11 by OldUser

[justinemaaaae 6]

1 hour ago, J.M. said:

1.  If you checked the SS card box on the I-765, I think I would just wait for it to arrive, plus, it will be in your married name (assuming you used it on I-765).  Mine took a little under 3 months to arrive (from filing date), but only 3 weeks after they actually opened my package.

 

2.  A repeat medical is almost certainly not needed if the vaccine worksheet was marked "complete."  You did what you should have by sending the vaccine record.

 

3 & 4.  Despite being in the military for 10 years, I have no answer for either of these.

Thank you! 

 

1. Yes we did check that box and yes I will be using my married last name. So i guess now all I can do is to wait for it. This is just a little hard for me not being able to work for that long since I have been a very independent person since then. And relaying for my husband like this makes me fell a little depressing. 

 

2. I don't know where specifically on the DS 3025 to look where it says complete. But as per the physician where I took my medical exam, I did get all the shots that is CDC required. (at least that's what i can remember). I may have to call rapidvisa again as they are insisting I get another medical. we have already given them the completed ds 3025

 

3-4. Hope there is a way. I think I have read somewhere they were able to expedite their process. or i might just be dreaming lol. 

[justinemaaaae 6]

9 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Employment Authorization Document. A plastic card allowing immigrant to work while waiting for green card.

 

Can be obtained by filing I-765 (separate fee).

 

I highly recommend it as it will serve as identity document and will allow the immigrant not only to work, but open bank accounts, credit cards, get driver's license and more.

 

The more immigrant settles in the country and comingles finances etc, the more evidence of bonafide marriage they're going to have for their GC approval.

 

Also recommend filing I-131, Advance Parole. Separate fee applies. Also serves as ID document and allows travelling outside the US without abandoning adjustment of status application. Sometimes emergencies happen. It's not rare to hear on VJ when immigrant has to decide between visiting their sick parents back home and staying in US to get GC. This solves thr problem.

Thank you!

 

Yes we did file both I-765 and I-131. a little costly but got to do what we got to do... 

[OldUser 6,449]

15 minutes ago, justinemaaaae said:

Thank you!

 

Yes we did file both I-765 and I-131. a little costly but got to do what we got to do... 

Smart choice

[justinemaaaae 6]

6 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Smart choice

I am now getting confused with the I-693. So appreciate your input / advise on this. 

 

As mentioned, we are going with RapidVisa as our filler and the are kind of insisting for me to get another medical exam "just to be sure". But upon reading through the uscis faq's it is not really required to get another medical exam as long as we file the I-485 within 1 yr of my k1 medical exam. In that, I did get all the shots that is CDC required. (at least that's what i can remember). Will try to talk to an authorize Physician and see if they can verify that the vaccines I got is enough and there will be no need to get another medical exam. 

 

 

would appreciate your input / advise with this. 

[OldUser 6,449]

20 minutes ago, justinemaaaae said:

I am now getting confused with the I-693. So appreciate your input / advise on this. 

 

As mentioned, we are going with RapidVisa as our filler and the are kind of insisting for me to get another medical exam "just to be sure". But upon reading through the uscis faq's it is not really required to get another medical exam as long as we file the I-485 within 1 yr of my k1 medical exam. In that, I did get all the shots that is CDC required. (at least that's what i can remember). Will try to talk to an authorize Physician and see if they can verify that the vaccines I got is enough and there will be no need to get another medical exam. 

 

 

would appreciate your input / advise with this. 

I have a bad (personal) opinion on RapidVisa and other online services that hire people who do not have relevant education to file cases. It's a big factory where the low waged unqualified people toss files together in a short amount of time to keep productivity going. In reality, they are not liable for your application and they have low interest in your case. It's much better either spending good time to file it yourself properly OR hiring a real immigration lawyer. Even lawyers make mistakes (my did, but I caught everything before we submitted paperwork).

 

As to medical... No civil surgeon is going to look at your DS-3025 for free and won't sign it completed for sure. Every now and then somebody on VJ asks if some local civil surgeon is going to do it. No, forget about it. Their time is too valuable and their hourly rate is too high to deal with this.

 

Either check whether your medical is completed (there's check box) or do medical for I-693 to be bulletproof.

 

In theory if your DS-3025 is completed, you can just send it. Worst case, USCIS will issue RFE or NOID for missing medical. It's time consuming, if you want GC approved fast without questions, might as well pay for fresh exam.

 

I hope this helps!

Edited September 11 by OldUser

[justinemaaaae 6]

4 hours ago, OldUser said:

I have a bad (personal) opinion on RapidVisa and other online services that hire people who do not have relevant education to file cases. It's a big factory where the low waged unqualified people toss files together in a short amount of time to keep productivity going. In reality, they are not liable for your application and they have low interest in your case. It's much better either spending good time to file it yourself properly OR hiring a real immigration lawyer. Even lawyers make mistakes (my did, but I caught everything before we submitted paperwork).

 

As to medical... No civil surgeon is going to look at your DS-3025 for free and won't sign it completed for sure. Every now and then somebody on VJ asks if some local civil surgeon is going to do it. No, forget about it. Their time is too valuable and their hourly rate is too high to deal with this.

 

Either check whether your medical is completed (there's check box) or do medical for I-693 to be bulletproof.

 

In theory if your DS-3025 is completed, you can just send it. Worst case, USCIS will issue RFE or NOID for missing medical. It's time consuming, if you want GC approved fast without questions, might as well pay for fresh exam.

 

I hope this helps!

This is very helpful indeed!!!

 

Unfortunately we have already paid Rapidvisa so we are just gonna proceed with them regardless. 

 

Will talk with my husband and for sure pass along this information. 

 

Thank you so much!!!

[OldUser 6,449]

15 minutes ago, justinemaaaae said:

This is very helpful indeed!!!

 

Unfortunately we have already paid Rapidvisa so we are just gonna proceed with them regardless. 

 

Will talk with my husband and for sure pass along this information. 

 

Thank you so much!!!

I don't know how they work, but ask them to give you a chance to review everything before sending. Triple check everything. If some answers they put don't make sense, ask VJ community here to review them. If your gut tells you there's something incorrect, trust it.

 

In the past, you had a chance to correct answers during interview.

Nowadays, majority of interviews for AOS are waived. Meaning if you get approved on the wrong premise and get your GC, any serious discrepancy in answer can get you in trouble later during I-751 or even when naturalizing. The worst nightmare is for USCIS to accuse somebody of misrepresenting themselves at late stage of immigration and potential of losing GC after having it for 3-5 years.

[justinemaaaae 6]

Another question... if anyone have an idea regarding this. Would really appreciate the feedback / info. 

 

As mentioned above we have been going back and forth with rapidvisa people (they are srsly getting on my nerves) regarding the medical exam. They have sent us an email today and have mentioned that we can get the Immigration medical exam via authorized military physician. But upon calling them to clarify this, they still havent given us a clear answer. I have laso read in the USCIS website that it can be done. 

 

Just wondering if anyone has gone through the same and what did you do? 

 

Would really like to go to a base medical to save some money. 

[OldUser 6,449]

23 hours ago, justinemaaaae said:

Another question... if anyone have an idea regarding this. Would really appreciate the feedback / info. 

 

As mentioned above we have been going back and forth with rapidvisa people (they are srsly getting on my nerves) regarding the medical exam. They have sent us an email today and have mentioned that we can get the Immigration medical exam via authorized military physician. But upon calling them to clarify this, they still havent given us a clear answer. I have laso read in the USCIS website that it can be done. 

 

Just wondering if anyone has gone through the same and what did you do? 

 

Would really like to go to a base medical to save some money. 

Why is military physician involved here? I've never heard of using them in place of civil surgeon.

 

Are you sure you don't want to file case on your own?

 

I get it you, paid RapidVisa, but you may as well cut your losses here instead of dealing with their mistakes later which can cost you $$$$

Edited September 18 by OldUser

[J.M. 227]

On 9/17/2024 at 12:12 PM, justinemaaaae said:

Would really like to go to a base medical to save some money.

If you would really like to save some money, believe the regulation you included in your first post that says you do not need another medical because you filed AOS within 1 year of your medical exam.  The only way you would need another medical is if yours was lost or improperly filled out.  RapidVisa would have no way of knowing if either of those apply.  I'm in contact with some others that used RapidVisa for K1, and they also advised them to get a repeat medical for AOS, which they did not do, and had no problems. RapidVisa seems to still be going by the old rule that I-693 is only valid for 60 days from the date it was signed.  That is not the case anymore.