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Hi, I had this exact thing happen to me last week, also with the NYC field office. I was positive that by DS-3025 was filed out correctly and that there was not a need to redo the medical examination. I made a cover letter where I explained everything and quoted the I-693 instructions underscoring why I did not need to file the form. I printed out the DS-3025 and the email which they sent to me. Then I went down to the office in person and was able to speak to multiple officers who were all luckily very accommodating and understanding. This morning (i.e., two days after my visit), I got the approval notice. I'm not sure if I was just lucky or why I got the approval so quickly after, but they were surprised by the fact that I showed up in person and said it underscored that I just wanted to do everything by the book and had good intentions. So, I'd highly recommend you trying to do the same, of course if your DS-3025 was marked not complete it complicates things. Our cases must've just arrived at the same time and gotten the same message

We have an exciting update with my EAD approved as per the 13th of Feb, which coincidentally is my birthday - what a great birthday gift! 🎁 It has still not updated the status on the USCIS case tracker as being approved, but I found the approval notice under the documents tab, active from the 13th, notice created on the 15th. Looking forward to receiving the approval notice in person and the card of course. I have a question, as I can see lots are receiving their combo cards. The document title states 'standalone approval', which I assume means that it is only for the I-765, and not the I-131 combo (also there is no update/approval under that, which would cooperate that it is standalone'). Just wondering if others had a similar situation - regardless, just so happy to have some movement and an approval! Best, R

We are as well It can feel discouraging to see others that share a timeline be approved before you. I keep the 'hope' up by looking at the USCIS case status analysis tool that mw & rg k1 shared in this forum earlier - there are still thousands both before my group and in my group with the same status. Although I of course hope they all get approved asap, it is comforting to see that we are indeed not alone! Also, I try not to check on the case status on USCIS every day. It can become a bit of an obsession and somehow makes the process feel even longer and difficult to deal with. I send you all good luck and hope we can all soon share an approval on here.

Hi everyone, Thank you so much for your thorough responses! I will not be changing my last name, so I hopefully will not be affected by any issues in this regard. I think our plan is then for me to file for my SSN 3-10 days upon my arrival, and then get married pretty much after this. Then of course wait for me to receive the SSN before filing for adjustment of status in order to include my SSN in the application. Otherwise, @Me and her you were able to get it the same day as your appointment it seemed? Did you just ask for it or is there a procedure for this? Thanks again I will bring the print out linked to on Visajourneys showcasing that K-1 visa holders are qualified for obtaining a SSN just in case any issues at the SSN office occurs. I will be filing in the Manhattan office, if anybody has experiences here I'd love to hear about it So great to have all your insights!

Hi all, I've been attempting to find an unanimous answer to my question at hand, but I've been unable to find anything, so I'm hoping somebody in here may know more! I can't seem to find out whether or not you can apply for SSN using your K-1 visa after you get married, but before adjustment of status. The situation is that my fiancé and I originally was planning on getting married within the first week of my arrival in the US legally, in order to get the greencard application started asap, and then later get married ceremonially. Due to insurance and other topics, it is quite important for me to obtain a SSN before my I-485 or I-765 would be approved. I had previously understood that you could simply go to your local social security office after two weeks upon entry, show your K-1 visa with the entry stamp, I-94 form, and SS-5 form, and you'll get sent your SSN two weeks later. But now I am seeing a lot of people writing that you should not get married before applying for the SSN, as your K-1 would no longer be valid to use for a SSN after marrying? So I have two thoughts I'm wondering about. Firstly, is this even true, that the K-1 expires after marriage and makes you illegible to obtain a SSN? That seems so backwards to me, but I would not be surprised. I guess you are no longer a fiancé but a spouse, but I thought the visa didn't expire before 90 days after entry. Secondly, would it be possible to go to your social security office after the two weeks, file for the SSN, and then later that week go through with the legal marriage before receiving the SSN? I'm scared it would interfere with the process of getting the SSN in case they register the change in marital status, if it is the case that its hinged upon being an unmarried K-1 entrant. I realize that it is a matter of a few weeks difference, but we have family and friends flying in for our ceremonial wedding a month after my entry and we would like to be able to be legally married at this point the latest. This issue of pushing the legal marriage in order to obtain the SSN could very well make that not possible, especially if you can't marry even after filing for the SSN initially. This is in addition to the fact it would prolong the entire greencard application process as well with at least a month and make me unable to get on my fiancé's insurance plan. I hope somebody knows an answer for this or has any experience with this process. Thank you for reading it through! ☺️ Best, R

Hi Misha, Thank you for the response, I appreciate your insight! I can't see any information in the CEAC beyond that it says "at NVC", no date of it being registeret etc. as I can see others are able to in here it seems. I got the case number and invoice number from inquiring - but I guess we can inquire about the status, I just also do not want to overwhelm them with inquiries, I'm sure they have loads to attend to already haha What sparked my concern was more when I look up how to proceed from "at NVC", the gov website says to follow the instructions in the letter I should receive from the NVC before they send it to the embassy, hence why I am a bit confused as to how to proceed as it essentially sends me in a loop that I can't do anything about. Just hope to hear back soon, but good to know a rough timeframe

Hi all, I have a bit of a general question but I've been unsuccessful in finding much info on this. We received our NOA2 on February 24th, and only last week were we able to receive our case number online from NVC after inquiring with our NOA2 letter attached. We've yet to receive the physical letter from the NVC, and when I check the case status on the CEAC website, it just says 'at NVC' - and if I check the other CEAC tracker, it just instructs me to complete the DS-160, which I have done. But, I can't proceed with anything before receiving the letter from the NVC of course. How long has it taken you guys to receive this letter? As it is almost two months ago since our NOA2, and seeing others already being able to schedule interview dates, it makes me concerned something is off with our case. Thank you if you guys have any insight! Excited for all of you who are finally on these very last steps, all very well deserved ! Best, R&Y

It's already been +2 weeks since NOA2 - but patience is key, we're hanging in there ! Likewise to you 🤞

Thank you Aleksis I only reached out to add our emails and at that time they had not yet received our case, which is understandable. Nice to see that the Feb group is getting some progress with your case!

That's super exciting to hear! Would you mind sharing what you wrote in your inquiry in order to get the case number from them before receiving the welcome letter? Thank you and good luck with the upcoming steps!

NOA1: 12/17/21 NOA2: 2/24/23 🤍

Hi! I'm not an i-130 filer but an i-129F filer (I'm not sure how great of a difference this makes on the 'risk', but wanted to share my experience anyway). I'm also a Danish citizen, engaged to a USC. Since filing our i-129F in December 2021, I've been back to the US on my B2 visa 5 times for short periods of time like you are describing. I've also previously overstayed by B2 visa with 3 months, although I did get approval beforehand, as it is a legal extension you can inform the border control officer about at the port of entry. However, from my personal experience, re-entering with a i-129F pending has never been an issue, nor have they even mentioned it to me. Perhaps I've just been extremely lucky, but my fiancé and I have also been in contact with immigration lawyers multiple times to understand what the risks may have been of entering while waiting for approval, and both lawyers have not been concerned what so ever. I know it can be scary to read all of these comments, and of course they should be taken seriously as none of us are interested in loosing our ability to eventually immigrate and be with our loved one. However, I think it is key to prove your intent to leave again as others have mentioned, if you're questioned, and your history of visiting but also leaving is a good track record as well. In my experience, I have never ever been asked about this, but rather just how long I am staying in the US and what my intent is. For that I usually just say vacation, visiting my friends and family, and thats about it. However, I do understand if you feel more precautious given the comments of other people. I hope the best for you and your husband!

Hi MW and RG, Just wanted to say thank you so much for all the work you'e putting into this. It has been a great source of comfort and hope for my fiancé and I, and we follow along every week for your updates! Hope you have a lovely Sunday and that your efforts into this will be paid back with a speedy processing and much luck in the future! R&Y