US Immigration from Israel

Do we need an attorney?

We have the AOS interview in 2 weeks. Having watched Jim Hacking s video, I m

starting to have some concerns.

Here is the video:

My USC wife previously sponsored her ex husband. They have a daughter who lives with us. He is now a USC, he got married and sponsored his wife. They have 2 kids.

Jim says in the video that in similar circumstances, one should consider retaining an attorney.

I also read his documents checklist which I recommend downloading:

https://hackinglawpractice.com/marital-evidence

He mentions that one red flag is Beneficiary is a friend of the family . In my opinion, this is the best way to meet your significant other. In our case, our moms, who are good friends, introduced us. But I can understand why the USCIS can see it as a concern.

Regarding cohabitation- we have been living together for 2.5 years, but I don t know how to prove it. I m not on the lease agreement because the landlord wanted to increase our security deposit if she adds me to the lease. This practice is illegal per Fair Housing Amendments Act (discrimination based on familial status). Instead of fighting with him, we have been looking to move out and buy a home. So my driver s license has my parents address and my wife DL has her parents address. Also, I got the work authorization after 1.5 years, and only then I could obtain a social security card required by the DMV to change address.

Should we hire an attorney? We definitely prefer to continue DIY, especially because our marriage is genuine and we have been together for 4 years. We have plenty of other evidence to provide the USCIS and we haven t received RFE s pertaining to our relationship.

Let's settle this once and for all. Which type of criminal record check is the correct one for a spousal green card application? "Other (Provide Details)" or "For Active Criminal Record"?

Last Thursday I was venting my frustration of having to wait 2.5 years for an interview, and then this weekend my online case status changed to "Interview Was Scheduled"!

I would like to thank everybody for the support and answering my questions. I know that I still have a long way to go, and it's much easier with VJ.

I haven't received an interview date in the mail yet. I called USCIS and they didn't know the date.

I have some questions about the interview:

1. Would my wife be allowed to go in to the interview with me?

2. If everything goes well in the interview, will a 10 years or 2 years GC be issued?

3. Medicals - I did my medical examination on 5/19/2019. I entered the US on a K-1 on 7/19/2019. USCIS received my AOS package on 9/23/2019.

- Is my medical examination form still valid? The instructions of the I-693 state that "The Form I-693 must be dated no earlier than 60 days before you filed your underlying application". It has been 4 months between my medical examination and the submission of the AOS package. It seems that on VJ, most interview RFEs are related to expired I-693. Should I just schedule an appointment with a civil surgeon to fill out an I-693, just to be on the safe side?

- I submitted the AOS package before COVID-19. The immunization record that I submitted for the K-1 did not include the COVID-19 vaccine. I understand that USCIS requires it now. I am already vaccinated. Should I have a civil surgeon fill out a new DS-3025 prior to the interview?

4. I have 2 traffic violations, of going through a red light. I did not do the violations. I was living in Israel at the time of the violations, in 2018. When I arrived to the US in 2019, I found out about the violations, the trial was over (without me knowing that it was held), and I just paid the fines because I was not able to appeal. I don't have any other violations. Is this an issue? Should I bring any documentation about it to the interview?

While I feel very lucky to share my life with my wife here in the US, especially after we lived apart during the K-1 process, I am frustrated that I haven't been able to visit my home country (Israel) and see my friends and family since I arrived to the US on July 2019. I have been waiting for the GC since 9/23/19. I have been waiting for AP approval since 3/21/21. I already submitted 3 outside normal processing times requests. USCIS hasn't responded to any requests. The EAD took 18 months to approve. My drivers license renewal was pending EAD approval.

I think that the USCIS should change their AP policy:

1. EAD should be automatically issued for 180 days, upon entry with K-1.

2. Once USCIS approves the I-131, it should be valid for at least for 3 years, (considering current "normal processing times"). Otherwise, the AP should be valid until USCIS decision on the I-485.

I know that I need to be patient, and I am trying, but this immigration process could be made much more accommodating to the beneficiary, without compromising the immigration process.

Any idea why a case could be updated on CEAC almost 2 years after receiving my immigration visa?

A friend asked me to check if the website worked because she was getting an error, I was surprised to see that my case was updated 2 months ago....I'm in the US almost 2 years now with a 10 year GC