Kiki&me

The lady was alittle confused because we didn't have an interview, she thought she had seen us before lol. Anyway, after she checked our status she stamped the passport and sent us on our way. She was pretty nice and we didn't have any trouble at all. Tons of people were waiting outside because they arrived too early (when will people learn not to go early?) so make sure you get there on time. So make sure you get the stamp. Good luck

Thanks for the update freetv. What did you say was the reason for your travel at Infopass?

Hi, my wife's AOS interview in California is scheduled 5 days before we plan on traveling out of the country. Assuming she gets approved at the interview, can she travel before she gets the green card in the mail? She has a valid multiple entry K3 visa that does not expire for another year. I also heard you can get a I-551 stamp in your passport if you want to travel while your green card is in production. Would we even require that given we have a valid K3 visa? If yes, than how easy is it to get this stamp?

Thanks

Get the stamp, forget the k-3. We are going to travel 7 days after being approved at csc so I made an infopass to get the I-551 stamp two days before we leave.

Thanks freetv, I just spoke to my lawyer and she said they won't give us a stamp at Infopass or after the interview since these days card production takes only 3 weeks. Can you post your experience after you go for your infopass and let me know how it goes? Would much appreciate it! Thanks

Just so its clear - from someone who has done this before - if you are on a K3 visa, you CAN file for EAD before filing for AOS. We received our EAD much before we filed for AOS. Don't know about K1 visa holders though since we didn't go through that. The EAD is valid until the expiration date on your K3 visa. To your second question - I am in the same position and trying to find out the answer to that but I believe you have to get a new medical done if one year has lapsed between the date of your AOS interview and the date your medical for K3 was done. Don't know the answer to your third question. Hope this helps.

I may be wrong but I think he doesn't need AP even after you have filed for AOS since he is on K3. I was on the phone with USCIS recently and the agent told me as long as the K3 is valid my wife can travel on it - even though we have filed for AOS. But then he sounded like an 18yr old student so who knows if it was just his opinion. I would suggest an Infopass to get more information. When you find out can you post here and let us all know? Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the responses! I don't really care about transit issues right now. A few more follow-up questions on the original issue:

1) Assuming you do get approved after the interview, how easy is it to get an I-551 stamp? Do they just give it to you at the Infopass appointment as a courtesy if asked or do you need to demonstrate a family or personal emergency for them to give it to you? I'm afraid they won't give it unless we demonstrate a dire need - we are just going on vacation for a month.

2) Finally, what if we knew we were approved and left the country without waiting for the GC or the I-551 stamp? I could always have a family member check our mail for when the GC arrives and send it to us wherever we are. Would we be violating any law if we left the country without it but entered back with a GC?

Hi, my wife's AOS interview in California is scheduled 5 days before we plan on traveling out of the country. Assuming she gets approved at the interview, can she travel before she gets the green card in the mail? She has a valid multiple entry K3 visa that does not expire for another year. I also heard you can get a I-551 stamp in your passport if you want to travel while your green card is in production. Would we even require that given we have a valid K3 visa? If yes, than how easy is it to get this stamp?

Thanks

Hi, my wife's AOS interview in California is scheduled 5 days before we plan on traveling out of the country. Assuming she gets approved at the interview, can she travel before she gets the green card in the mail? She has a valid multiple entry K3 visa that does not expire for another year. I also heard you can get a I-551 stamp in your passport if you want to travel while your green card is in production. Would we even require that given we have a valid K3 visa? If yes, than how easy is it to get this stamp?

Thanks

Hi, this query is for a friend of mine. His wife's GC is being sponsored by her employer. They are on the last stages of approval. My friend (her husband) is on the same application as her spouse (i believe that is called FTJ?). Does he need advance parole documents to travel outside the US? He is currently on a valid H1B himself that does not expire for another 2 years.

Hi, this query is for a friend of mine. His wife's GC is being sponsored by her employer. They are on the last stages of approval. My friend (her husband) is on the same application as her spouse (i believe that is called FTJ?). Does he need advance parole documents to travel outside the US? He is currently on a valid H1B himself that does not expire for another 2 years.

We got K1 in March and married in May. It is August and we havent filed for AOS yet. Bottom line is

that I am just not financially able to file right now. Is there a deadline for getting AOS? If I wait until

Sept/Oct before filing is that ok?

No deadline. Sooner you file the better tho. For one the 3 year time requirement for applying for US Citizenship starts on the date of your GC.

Also you can't work without GC or EAD or travel home and return until you have AP or GC.

Does a K3 visa holder need AP as well to travel?

Casn we travel with a K3 visa stamp in the passport? Does advance parole apply to a K3 visa holder at any stage?

Hi, my wife's K3 just got approved (July). I would like to wait a year to file my wife's AOS so we can get approval well past the conditional period (we have been married over a year now). Is that possible/allowed or do we have to file within a certain period of time?

Also, can I file for her EAD without filing for AOS? What validity period will we get for the EAD? Her I-94 is valid for 2 years from today.

Hi, how do you get a SSN after you have your K3 visa? The guide says you have to have a approved EAD before they will grant you a SSN? That could take months! How do I get my spouse health insurance in the US till then without a SSN? Please advise if you have already gone through this. Thanks

Hi, how do you get a SSN after you have your K3 visa? The guide says you have to have a approved EAD before they will grant you a SSN? That could take months! How do I get my spouse health insurance in the US till then without a SSN? Please advise if you have already gone through this. Thanks

I don't know if this has already been posted (it probably has), but in case it hasn't:

Indian citizens with I-551 stamps in their passport need a transit visa to travel to India via London. We found this out the hard way in the last couple of days. The only form of evidence of LPR status that is acceptable to the UK government in lieu of a transit visa is either an unexpired plastic green card or an expired plastic card with the extension letter (Notice of Action).

However, if you're traveling to India I have learned of exit officials hassling those with expired cards and extension letters.

My advice: if you're an Indian citizen and do not have an unexpired plastic green card, DO NOT transit through London.

Use Paris instead.

See this link for details on transiting through London. It says you can transit with a expired I-551 stamp if you have a I-797 authorizing its extension.

TWOV

I don't know if this has already been posted (it probably has), but in case it hasn't:

Indian citizens with I-551 stamps in their passport need a transit visa to travel to India via London. We found this out the hard way in the last couple of days. The only form of evidence of LPR status that is acceptable to the UK government in lieu of a transit visa is either an unexpired plastic green card or an expired plastic card with the extension letter (Notice of Action).

However, if you're traveling to India I have learned of exit officials hassling those with expired cards and extension letters.

My advice: if you're an Indian citizen and do not have an unexpired plastic green card, DO NOT transit through London.

Use Paris instead.

AJ, what is an I-551 stamp? How did you tackle the situation? Did they make you fly back from London or re-route you? My wife and I will be flying through London with her freshly printed K3 visa. Tickets have already been bought so we don't have a choice now. Should that be ok? Their website says it is ok to transit through London as long as we had a valid visa to the US and proof of onward journey.

Hi, wife submitted pkt 4 at VFS for her upcoming K3 interview but they did not take the I-134 form. They took everything else but not the I-134 Affadavit of Support. Does anyone know why that is the case? They did not even browse through it. I thought they require the I-134 to be submitted for all K3 cases. Has anyone experienced this?

Hi, wife submitted pkt 4 at VFS for her upcoming K3 interview but they did not take the I-134 form. They took everything else but not the I-134 Affadavit of Support. Does anyone know why that is the case? They did not even browse through it. I thought they require the I-134 to be submitted for all K3 cases. Has anyone experienced this?

Its funny...I downloaded the K3 packet 4 checklist last month (Mumbai consulate) and it says the fees are $100. Today, I was going through the website and they say the fees is $131. Does anyone know what is the right fee? Did they raise fees recently? I don't want to land up there with a wrong demand draft.

The online payment system is a beta site that is being tested and has not been launched formally so it could be taken off-line at any time. There is a reason they discourage you from paying online. If you manage to get the IIN, good for you, but if you wanted to play it safe, you should send the payment via mail as instructed. Yes, unfortunately it takes a longer time for them to proces mailed payments.

Hi,

Just got my passport,I see that on the k1 approval stamp the petioner's middle name(my fiance's) is misspelled.

How serious is this?

Should i re submit it for a spelling correction or do i go ahead with my journey,please suggest ASAP

My fiance's middle name is on his birth certificate but other than that it is not used anywhere else.Not on his passport or

licenses etc etc.

What are the documents needed at the court wedding and for adjustment of status?

Thanks

I would definitely re-submit at the consulate for correction otherwise you can have problems in the future. Usually its not a big deal for them to correct it and give it back to you the same day. They might even apologize to you for the mistake They will stamp "Cancelled Without Prejudice" on the mis-spelt visa and then give you a new stamp. Get there early. Happened to me a long time ago for another type of visa and I got it corrected the same way....yeah.. no apologies to me though

What does the K3 visa look like when you get it from the consulate? Is it stamped in the passport or is it in a sealed envelope like the CR1? Is it true that if you have a sealed CR1 with no stamp in your passport you cannot travel through european hubs?

BTW, K3 visa is stamped into your passport (if you have an Indian visa in your passport, it's the same size). It'll have her type of visa (K3) and expiry date for the K3. The sealed envelope will just contain what they need to process her paperwork at the airport.

That's just the answer I needed. Thanks pbgirl!

What is "a stand alone U.S. Immigration visa Form 155A/155B attached to a sealed brown envelope". Is this a document you get when you get your K3 or CR1 ?

On our way from India to the US, we are planning to transit through either London (on BA) or Frankfurt (on Lufthansa). Since my wife will have a brand new K3 visa (hopefully) will she still need a transit visa to travel through these airports? We do not plan on leaving the terminal during plane change so I don't see why I we would need one but my travel agent insists that we do. Can someone who has flown through these airports please advise?

What does the K3 visa look like when you get it from the consulate? Is it stamped in the passport or is it in a sealed envelope like the CR1? Is it true that if you have a sealed CR1 with no stamp in your passport you cannot travel through european hubs?

You can go for your medical anytime after you have received your appointment letter but before you submit your packet 4 . It is advisable to go earlier than later so you have your report in hand when you go to submit your packet 4.