Yareth

I have seen people file a month after me who got their EAD in one month and their green card in three. I have had to wait five months for my EAD and my green card is far in the future.... There is no logic to the processing times, at least not for us. Even some officers from USCIS have mentioned that they have no idea how cases are prioritized. It is useless to predict.

Enployment-based is getting increasingly harder as it is under great scrutiny right now. There is also a cap on those visa, it is costly and difficult for your employer. Keep in mind that most (smaller) companies have no idea what they’re talking about and when push comes to shove they’ll drop you like it’s nothing. Also, you can’t work after your J1 expires so chances are high that you won’t have an income for a long time while paperwork is being processed. Your best shot is finding a USC spouse or waiting for your dad to become a citizen.

Try a different browser, a different computer, a different creditcard. Clear cookies & cache.

After 146 long, looooooong days, my EAD has finally been approved! Huzzah!

Bring everything you have, every single little thing. Bring additional evidence too. USCIS officers make mistakes and they won't fix the issue, they will expect YOU to fix it.

File your I-130. CR1 is your only option.

I second all of these comments. He is manipulating you to the ends of the earth and back again. Cut all ties, get a divorce attorney, report him for abusive behavior/irrational behavior and threats to your life. Police have interpreters and will use them to review the evidence in question.

Even if it is unpaid, it is still considered work. so yes, be very careful.

I guess so! Honestly it seemed like they were having a great time, joking around and working hard. Everybody seemed friendly. They have a special 'driver's license annex' where they only do driver's license services. Maybe it's because they transferred all DMV tasks to the tax collector's office? I believe it also helped that I brought everything I had that was even remotely connected to the letter, just in case.

Yeah you’re fine.

No. She’s a tourist and needs to go back to her country of origin before her visa runs out.

Nobody knows. USCIS has a specific date on which 98% of your group should be processed after which you can inquire (you said somewhere in August for that), but processing has slowed down significantly in the past few months.

Hello my friendly critical friends. It pleases me to say "Mission Accomplished"! I'll split it up into two parts: 1)The facts and requirements and 2)my experience at the tax collector's office/DMV. 1) If you are a Florida resident and in a period of Authorized Stay after entering on a K1 visa, you should be able to get a driver's license even without an EAD. This is based on these statutes. Requirements: -Depending on agreements with other countries and if you already own a license from your home country, you may or may not have to pass the written test, driving test, and/or follow a Substance Abuse course. Bring the certificate of the last one to your appointment/visit. -You need to prove you adhered to the K1 visa by providing your I94, proof of petitioner's (that's the USC/Permanent Resident that petitioned your K1) status (GC, Passport, Birth Certificate), certified copy of marriage certificate, your passport with stamped K1 visa. -You need to prove that you filed your I-485 by providing your I-797. -Bring your I-129F just to be safe. I will explain why in part 2 of this post. 2) I woke up bright and early to go to the office in Marion County which opens at 08:00. I arrived at 07:00 and was the first person in line. This is one of the very few offices in Florida that accepts walk-ins AND non-resident AND nonimmigrant (which is K1). Though I was the first, I was not alone as other people in line came from as far as Miami and there was even someone from Key West(!). Miami-Dade county also accepts walk-ins, but is overwhelmed with people. You need to spend the night in line to get in - it's not recommended. Anyhow, back to the process. The office opened at 08:00 on the dot. We were greeted by a cheery official who called in the appointments (driver's tests only) and then welcomed the walk-ins. I was directed to a very kind lady who accepted the letter I was sent. I provided her with the ID they needed and she lifted the cancellation then and there. She also renewed my temporary license (piece of paper). Then she mentioned she found it very odd that this happened at all. She explained to me that every employee at the offices in different counties uses the same manual for preparing the documentation to be sent to Tallahassee, and that the very first requirement in that manual for a nonimmigrant with a pending I-485 is to provide evidence of the petitioner's status. The person that prepared my documentation for Tallahassee the first time seems to have made the exact same mistake I did by confusing 'petitioner' with 'driver's license applicant'. I requested a printed screenshot of the instructions of the manual and the employee complied. In the instructions, it is noted that you must provide an I-130. However, as a (previous) K1 visa holder you do not need to provide this because, well, you don't have it! The petition instead is I-129f, and though the lady that helped me didn't ask, it won't hurt to bring it just in case. After all that, I received a new paper license and a promise to receive the actual license in 60 days. I was advised to come back to Marion County specifically if I haven't received my license by then, as they will speak to Tallahassee directly in that case to handle the issuing or re-issuing of my license. So that is all I have for everybody. I hope this information will help future K1 people in Florida as I had a really difficult time procuring the right information and don't wish this on anybody else.

And to ask for help when you don’t understand Very aware of having to read carefully. I just messed up and am now up at the crack of dawn to drive over two hours to the only county DMV around that takes walk-ins. Wish me luck.

You just blew my mind. I completely missed "Your petitioner" and did not link it at all to my partner. Thank you.