Edward and Jaycel

Same here - The only thing they asked Jaycel for was the required civil docs (BC, CENOMAR, Police Clearance, Passport). Never asked for the I-134 from her either. The consular officers certainly do have a huge amount of discretion. Jaycel went to the embassy with probably 250 pages of documents... But I know Murphy's Law all too well, if she didn't bring everything, they would have asked for whatever she didn't bring

They never asked Jaycel for the I-134 from me either 🤷‍♂️

Today's stats: May 12, 2025 22:45 MDT November 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 4,584 (+125) • Denied: 460 • FingerprintScheduled: 121 • InterviewCancelled: 213 • InterviewScheduled: 9,533 (+223) • Processing: 25,977 • Received: 633 • Rejected: 104 • RFE: 427 • Terminated: 147 • Withdrawal: 18 • Others: 49 These are the stats from 10:45 Mountain Time last night that I took a screen grab of. Just didn't have time to post until this morning

Congratulations!! 🎉 Would you share a little more detail about your interview for those of us who will likely have to do one soon?

@thonati thank you for sharing yours and your fiancée's experience with the community!

Yes you can.... My wife just did it

The EBE was working up until early March 2025 when the system appears to have been suspended. Jaycel had her EAD approved on 1/8/2025 and received her updated SS Card in her married name on 1/15/2025, 3 days before the actual EAD Card arrived

Congrats!!

This program, the Enumeration Beyond Entry (EBE) program was suspended in early 2025. This program previously allowed for automatic issuance of Social Security numbers to certain immigrants with approved work permits or pending adjustment of status applications. As a result of the suspension, immigrants now need to apply for their SSNs in person at a local Social Security Administration (SSA) office. https://www.murthy.com/2025/05/08/dhs-reportedly-freezes-the-ebe-program-for-issuing-social-security-cards/

Well that's interesting..... 🤔

My advice is to have them return for the scheduled interview - I would not give up that interview date for anything these days. Make attending that interview as scheduled the most important thing in the world right now. Good luck!

This is correct - We put Jaycel's married name on the AOS forms and her EAD and replacement SS Card requested on the I-765 both came in her married name. HOWEVER, according to the USCIS Policy Manual, they are supposed to follow the name change guidelines of whatever jurisdiction you are married in. If the forms there in Michigan state to put your new, married name in the "Certificate" portion I would do that. You can still use the AOS forms to make that change official with USCIS when filing. Congrats on getting here and on the upcoming wedding!

I couldn't agree more on this point... This would complicate things to a large degree

A lot of this is going to be dependent on which embassy this is processing through. Generally embassies will NOT grant an extension of the expiration date on the I-129F NOA2 ahead of time. (We had the same question in Manila because we were worried about not getting an interview scheduled before it expired. We contacted the embassy and they said that they do NOT extend the validity date ahead of time, that it is the Consular Officer that does it at their discretion at the time of the interview.) Personally I think this all is a risky undertaking and your fiancé(e) should schedule their interview as soon as an appointment is available. There is no guarantee that an interview slot will be available in November and most embassies do not allow the petitioning fiancé(e) in the building with the interviewee anyway. The DS-160 is valid for 1 year from the date it is submitted. My advice is to get this done as soon as the scheduling allows. Good Luck!

So happy for you guys!! 🎉

Today's stats: May 11, 2025 21:35 MDT November 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 4,459 (+123) • Denied: 436 • FingerprintScheduled: 123 • InterviewCancelled: 209 • InterviewScheduled: 9,310 (+219) • Processing: 26,353 • Received: 633 • Rejected: 104 • RFE: 425 • Terminated: 147 • Withdrawal: 16 • Others: 50

I see no benefit in submitting your own FBI background check and they would probably disregard it in any case. You are required to provide documents regarding your arrest and most importantly documents showing the disposition of the case. I found this out the hard way via an RFE on my I-129F. So I would concentrate on those documents. They will obtain their own FBI records check on you. Best wishes for a speedy approval!

I think Cyber Source is an authorized payment portal for the visa application fee.... What you should do is try to schedule the interview appointment using the receipt number they gave you. What the embassy sent you is probably not been updated since they started using Cyber Source for visa application fees.

Today's stats: May 10, 2025 21:00 MDT November 2024 Filed I-485 Stats • Approved: 4,336 (+146) • Denied: 412 • FingerprintScheduled: 126 • InterviewCancelled: 205 • InterviewScheduled: 9,091 (+240) • Processing: 26,723 • Received: 634 • Rejected: 104 • RFE: 422 • Terminated: 147 • Withdrawal: 14 • Others: 50

Ugh.... If it's one thing this immigration process has taught me, it's to expect the worst possible outcome from anything the government is in charge of 🤨

Congratulations!! Please come back and let everyone know what the experience was like!

HAHAHAHAHA Yep

I just watched this video a couple of days ago when it popped up in my feed... You and I must have a similar YT algorithm

USCIS has a phone service they can use for interpreters if the officer is not fluent in the beneficiary's native language. When the interview begins, if needed they dial the service's number and the interpreter will be on speakerphone to provide any interpretation throughout the interview.

This may be the reason... They want to make sure that the person who entered the country on the IR-1 visa issued to you is actually you and so they want to match your fingerprints now to the ones you gave the embassy at the interview