amesa

the emploer insurance said it is not in open enrollment period so they re fused to add her in plan.

have to wait 3 months more for the open enrollment.

but I dont care about insurance now, what I care is she is alone at home in sickness could lead her to die

WHOA!!!!

I work in HR...you cannot change your insurance plan except during open enrollment UNLESS you have a life-changing issue: birth of a child, marriage, divorce, or death.

Go talk to you HR representative. YOu should be able to add your spouse to your medical insurance plan.

Hi Inky,

so what about those other states that they will allow you to have your DL even after showing the EAD and SSN? what are the basis of their expiration for their DL? thanks

In Florida, an immigrant who has never held a US driver's license, once they have all required documentation, pays $48 for the written test and the driver's test. Once the exams are passed, then the license is valid for one year only. Upon renewal, it's valid for the normal 6 or 7 years. The expiration date has nothing to do with the green card expiration.

Again, this is only for FL. YOu have to check with your state's DMV.

Hi amesa,

really? Florida has a strict immigration thing also? do you have to show your GC before you were able to take the DL test? thanks

05/28/08 metin Alabama (public library). 2^nd time to visit USA.

09/2008 wentback to the Philippines

12/2008visited me 1^st time in the Philippines

05/2009visited me 2^nd time in the Philippines

12/2009visited me 3^rd time in the Philippines

09/22/10 cameto US on B1B2 visa ( POE: NY )

10/29/11visited me in NY

02/15/11 gotmarried in Alabama

TIMELINE(B1B2)

03/25/11sent AOS package I-130, I-485- I-765)

03/27/11USCIS received the AOS package ( Chicago Lockbox)

04/30/11received hardcopy of NOA1

05/07/11received biometrics appointment (05/20/11 biometrics appointment )

05/09/11medical appointment done

05/20/11Biometrics done

05/26/11Mailed RFE response (06/02/11 USCIS received RFE. Case is being processed atNBC)

06/16/11Card/ Document production

06/22/11USCIS mailed a notice that they approved I765 Application for EmploymentAuthorization

06/23/11received interview date notice

06/23/11received EAD card in the mail

06/27/11applied for SSN (waiting for the card but number is in hand)

07/27/11 Interviewdate. Checked USCIS website, says card/document production

08/01/11received I-130 has been approved and"Welcome to the United States of America" letter.

Checked the USCIS,changed to ordered production of your new card.

08/02/11checked the USCIS, changed to mailed a notice that we have approved the I485

Florida, back in 2008, did a major overhaul in their DMV area. Even citizens have to show a ton of documents confirming you are who you say you are before you can get a license or even to renew. I am a USC, but my husband just came here in June from the Dominican Rep and they wouldn't even let him do ANYTHING without all of his documents. He got his conditional residency card in 3 weeks, but we have been waiting for his SSN. Nothing had been processed as of this past Tuesday...he finally went into the office to request the card himself. He should have it soon...but my point is that each state's DMV has different requirements. YOu need to check those out instead of going by what immigration says.

Hi fellow VJ's,

for the 3rd time, DMV refused me to take the learners permit for DL even i showed the I-130 approval notice and the I-485 welcome to the USA letter. she told us to just wait until the greencard arrived since they are going to based that for the expiration of my DL. ( what???)

1st time refusal: we went there and showed the EAD and SSN. she was looking for aprroval notice.we didn't have yet at that time. i even brought all the documents received from USCIS and even the interview letter.still didn't work.

2nd time: talked already to the Corporal. he refused us.he said i was already out of status. he based it through my I-94 and when the USCIS received it. it has been 6 days that i was out of status when the USCIS received our AOS packet.

During our interview on July 27, Atlanta, Georgia, even the IO was surprised that they didn't let me take the drivers license test compared to other state that as long as u showed your EAD and SSN, would be fine and they will let you.our lawyer even said, DMV people here are idiot. they were not fully aware of the immigration thing.

I'm getting irritated with them already. what else they would like me to show. well, when the time comes and received the GC, i hope they won't make ANY EXCUSES anymore to deny or refused me!

You have to go by what your state's DMV says. Just because immigration says one thing doesn't mean that is how it's done. Two completely different offices. I'm telling you this from experience. Florida is a pain in the royal rear with documents, yet I know they do it that way because so many illegals have DLs.

I have a 2 year old son, whom I thought would be traveling with myself and family to Jamaica in two weeks. However, after 3 months trying to get his passport, I realize the passport cannot be obtained before August 16th... Soooo my son still has not met my fiance face to face. They talk on the phone and Skype video chats, but in an interviewer's eyes at the embassy is this really enough?

Does anyone have personal experiences with this issue? I'm hoping to get a passport for my son within the next 3 more months, and make a trip with him then to see fiance; however, nothing is guarenteed at this point with his passport. So my question is, how important is it for fiance and USC's child to meet face to face before the embassy interview?

My daughter was unable to meet my husband face-to-face until he arrived to the US. However, they got to know each other best they could through skype video chats. The CO asked about this and if my husband knew my daughter and had met her. She is not allowed out of the US due to previous divorce agreement, but make sure your fiance knows the child's name, age, and things about him. Those questions may come up in the interview.

I'm pretty sure that you can't pull your I-864 once a green card has been issued. She is a conditional *permanent* resident - that means she has a green card and the OP is on the hook for that until she either permanently leaves the country, gets 40 credits of work, or dies. You can't pull the I-864 during conditional permanent residence any more than you can after the conditions are removed.

She was granted a conditional residency based on the fact that they had not been married more than 2 years. She's still under the conditional residency until this fall. He can still pull it.

I am just curious, but how can I stop the AOS for my spouse. I realized a mistake was made and would like to bring this forward and put a cease on her application. We got married in October of 2010, went for our interview in March of 2011. Unfortunately, after that time we became separated and as of till this date are no longer together. I would like to know what are the proper protocols to take. Our application was granted and she received her Visa, since she went back to her home country this past December.

She informed me that there is a temporary green card, and she has already submitted the paperwork to remove the "hold" and to make this permanent.

Any information and direction on how to go about this, will be greatly appreciated.

Why don't you pull your 1-864 - your affidavit of support? That IS what you can do. If she just got approved earlier this year for a spousal visa to come to the US, then she only has CONDITIONAL residency. Send a letter in writing to USCIS, to your local and regional immigration office and to ICE with a copy of your immigration notices and a copy of your initial affidavit of support that you filed, indicating that you are getting divorced and no longer wish to support the person. She can file her paperwork, but without your support affidavit, they won't approve her. Unless, of course, she cries foul and tries to claim abuse or something.

If she already had her 10-year residency, then there would be nothing you could do but divorce, but she is still a conditional resident. You can still request your support be pulled.

Can someone explain the prose of when your spouse is denied. We were told our marriage was for paper only, Dame it I travel every month to see my husband, send money to him, send medication to my mother in law and they tell me because my husband got nerves and mixed up dates ,they denied us I’m so heart and upset today after sitting there from 5am to 5pm and treated like a criminal by my own Americans

Did you go with him to the interview? In Santo Domingo, the petitioner HAS to be there. I can't tell from your original post if you were or not.

I think you should wait before doing anything. A cool down period is the best in this cases. Believe me, I have been through hell with a divorce I didn't even want in the first place. I know you feel betrayed but obviously you love this man otherwise you wouldn't have married him. If in a month you still want to withdraw the AOS it's your decision but be aware of all the consequences for him.

WHOA!!!!

Be aware of all the consequences for him??? Dude, she's the victim here. Screw him...he betrayed her and that trust is gone. She needs to do what is best for her because I certinaly wouldn't be supporting someone for 10 years if he did that to me.

You need to go to your state's DMV website to find out the law.

For Florida, it's mandatory to have insurance...you have to have a license and show several items of proof of identity and residency.

Sure, you can drive...but if you get caught without a license or without insurance, you could get in legal trouble.

I would suggest working on getting your ID documentation and then get your US license. You may have to wait a few more months, but better that than get in trouble if caught. Do you want to risk it?

I am so, so sorry that this happened to you.

There was a guy I dated off and on for a few years. He was from Mexico. We were planning on marrying in Mexico (San Juan, Queretaro) and then me bring him here on a spousal visa. We made plans and I would send money down for him to get stuff in order, put down deposits, etc, etc.

To make a long story short, he just disappeared out of nowhere and then 6 weeks later, I received an email from some lady....she happened to be his fiancee too! He had a little girl with her that I was not aware of. She and I talked for awhile...

He had a double life and I was horrified at how he had only used and abused me for money and a chance to come to the US. I was not only hurt, I was devasted because I really, really loved this guy. He was only in for the money (which he never used for the wedding plans.)

So, I completely understand what you are feeling. Luckily, nothing had been done and I just cut my losses and moved on, which is what you are doing.

God will help you, rely on Him and His strength. Unfortunately, there are people from other countries that will do anything, play any role, tell any lie they can to come over here. We all have to be so very, very careful. However, there are also people that are already here that can do the same ####### and lie, steal, manipulate and take advantage of the other person.

The lesson is that as decent human beings, we have to be careful who we associate with and stay close to God and trust His promptings. The world is full of wonderful, great, inspiring people. It is also full of bad, evil people too. There must be opposites in all things...the key is listening to the promptings that God gives us in order to keep us safe.

Let me give you one example: several years ago, after my divorce, I met this guy...don't remember his name or where he was from, but he was very nice and he asked me out. We went out for dinner one night and I remember feeling very, very uncomfortable, but he had been the perfect gentleman the entire evening. No touching, no kiss, no come-ons. Despite that, I decided I did not want to go out with him again. He would call often, and we would talk, but nothing more. One night I got a call from his number and it was some lady asking me who I was: once she calmed down, I found out she was his fiancee and the only reason he was after me was for a good time in bed. Had I not listened to my gut, I could have been hurt badly...or ended up in a very sad situation.

We all need to pay attention to our gut...and be careful.

Again, I am really, really sorry that this happened to you. Yes, contact USCIS, ICE and do what everyone else has suggested to report him and his fradulant activity. And since he already moved out of the marital home and now has his own place with a roommate, I would think that there would not be a problem changing the locks in your home. And I love that you went to his work and picked up YOUR car.

God bless.

i know its a silly question it says to send original + copies of police report , marriage certif , etc....

now i asked somebody who just went through the same process and he said he didnt have to send originals they asked his wife about original on the interview !!!??

so shall i send them or what ?

also do i have to wait for NVC to recieve my I-864 and approve it before sending the DS230 or go ahead and mail the ds230 i already paid the IV fee and they accpet it .?

thx for ur help

You are supposed to send in the original documents. If you don't, then they willbe requested at the embassy. The NVC will send you a list of what was sent and what you need to bring in the interview letter they email you.

The DS230 can be completed and sent regardless of the status of the I-864. This document is sending beneficiary contact information to the NVC only.

It is not so clear if the OP is a USC...

That said, anybody who intends to be the petitioner must be a USC and not LPR. In your case, it seems as if you're not a USC and that categorically is an automatic denial of the petition without giving out any reason because the instruction is clearly written in the i-129f form.

I will advice you wait until you adjust your status to USC before ever thinking of filing again, otherwise USCIS will see it as an immigration fraud and you could be ban... Just my 2cent.. But then, keep your head up!!

Incorrect. LPR's can also file. The wait is REEEEAAAALLLYYYY long, but it can be done.

Brace yourself because this is going to sound a little harsh...

Your fiance didn't read the form instructions. Even without the VJ guides, you could have successfully submitted the I-129F petition AND included all of the required supporting forms, documents, and evidence just by exactly following the instructions for the I-129F form.

You don't need "proof of relationship" with the petition. You DO need proof that you've met, face-to-face, sometime in the last two years. You also need original statements from each of you indicating your intention to marry, and you may provide additional evidence to support your intentions. All of this is covered, in painful detail, in the form instructions. The form instructions also tell you to submit a G-325A form for each of you, and THAT form also has instructions. There is also evidence that must be submitted, and other evidence that may be required, depending on your circumstances. Again, it's all covered in detail in the form instructions.

I have seen other cases where people didn't read the instructions, and sent only the I-129F form, and they got a lengthy RFE asking for all of the additional required forms, documents, and evidence. I've also seen cases just like yours, where the petition was flat out denied. A USCIS adjudicator receives guidance in the Adjudicators Field Manual to send an RFE rather than deny when a case would be approvable if further evidence were provided, but this is a discretionary call the adjudicator makes. If they received none of the required evidence then it's understandable that they might not have the patience to play RFE tag with someone who clearly doesn't understand what they were supposed to have done.

It's also possible that your fiance blew some extremely important declaration on the I-129F. For example, did he check the "married" box for either of you? Did he fail to indicate how he acquired his US citizenship? Did he check "no" to question 18 - have you met and seen each other within the past two years? Did he check "yes" in response to the criminal conviction questions in part C? Did he fail to sign the form? Any of these would be sufficient reason to deny the petition outright, though some of these could have been overcome by providing the appropriate evidence.

Is your fiance subject to the IMBRA filing limitations? If so, did he include a request for a waiver? Don't know what I'm talking about? Of course not, because you didn't read the instructions.

Look, I'm not trying to rub your faces in this, but you and your fiance need to understand that the US government is beyond ####### when it comes to getting immigration paperwork right. They will not take you by the hand and walk you through it. They publish detailed instructions, and they expect you to follow them.

A minor point on semantics - don't refer to the I-129F as a "demand". There are many things which Americans have a right to demand of the government, but immigration is not one of them. Every immigrant visa petition is a "request", and a request can be denied.

Read the guides. Read the form instructions. File again.

I was just wondering how you send all your tax info and such via email to them.. Just curious!

Once I paid the financial support bill and it cleared payment, I printed the cover sheet and attached that to the I-864 and I made copies of my previous 3 years of taxes along with a letter of employment verification from my employer.

I sent all of this priority mail, registered and with a return receipt.

Make sure you make a copy of this entire set of paperwork for yourself and put your case number at the top of each page for reference.

You can't email that document. You have to send the original. At the NVC, the ONLY document that you are allowed to send via email is the DS-3032. Everything else has to be the original with an original signature.

CAUTION! The attorney seems to be engaged in processing a K3 visa instead of a CR1. If that is the case, there will be no correspondence with NVC. They will need an affidavit of support but it will be the I-134 carried to the interview, not an I-864 sent to NVC. Until the actual visa category being pursued is clarified, speculation is not helpful.

As always, pushbrk gave very good and straight forward advice. FInd out what visa the lawyer is requesting. We don't hear much of a K-3 anymore...

Thanks for clarifying.

The lawyer also said that I don't need a sponsor right now because I will be getting a conditional green card when i arrive in the US, and after that when we will be trying to adjust my status to pernament sponsors will be needed.

I have no idea what to do anymore. can anyone else give me some more info?

I haven't read the other posts to see if someone already answered your question or not, but the petitioner IS your sponsor...I don't know what the ####### the lawyer is thinking. Permanant sponsors???

If your spouse, who is the petitioner and your sponsor, doesn't meet the 125% poverty line in earnings, then co-sponsors will be required...this information is to be submitted with the financial affidavit that the petitioner completes and submits to the NVC AFTER paying the fee for its processing.

You desperately need another lawyer.

In all honestly, if you read through the information on this site, you and your spouse can do all of this yourselves without paying a lawyer. And without getting incorrect and misleading information.

So my husband just met with our lawyer, and he said our case will not be going through NVC but straight to the consulate?

He said to chill out and wait 4 weeks for consulate to send me something. #######? can that be the case? :huh: :huh:

Supposibly NVC has all of the documents aready and we don't need to send anything to them. By the way, we filed for i-130

I'm sorry, but your lawyer is an idiot. All petitions that are approved for spousal visas, such as yours, go through the NVC. They compile your case file by requesting additional documents from both the petitioner and the beneficiary: petitioner submits financial stuff and beneficiary submits immigrant visa application and supporting documentation. It is also during this stage when the financial fee is due as well as the immigrant visa bill. Once both are paid and all required documentation has been received, THEN the NVC schedules your interview at the indicated consulat/embassy and forwards the entire case file to that embassy.

Only the finance(e) petition files go straight to the embassy/consulate. The NVC assigns a case number and moves it along and all contact is done directly from the consulate.

If a lawyer does not know this, I would fire him/her.

If I missed anything, please, someone let me know, but from going the CR-1 route, this was my experience.

Fair enough. If that is the only way she can AOS.

But it seemed her reasoning for going back was closure with her dad--seemed to be her point anyway, and that's done. My point was she should continue on the track she was headed on before dad got sick. But I certainly defer on the AOS/waiver process. She needs to do what she needs to do to get with her mom/family who are here in the states. That's where her support is. She shouldn't be going back for closure--she should be going back if she needs to in order to get here permanently.

Regardless, hang in there, OP.

OP: I am truly sorry about your loss. I hope and pray that through God's help you will not give up and that He will bless you with peace and understanding.

However, the US govt doesn't play a sympathy role. Like a previous poster said, you can't AOS here. You're goingto have to go back. Sorry.

Thanks. There is a Dominican embassy in Boston luckily. I'm glad I inquired about this early, I didn't think there was so much paperwork involved.

I would strongly recommend that you take some time next week and go to the Dominican Embassy. That is the best thing to do. They will tell you exactly what you need and how it needs to be. When I went, they gave me a contact for a translatin service whose translations are accepted by the DR. They were a HUGE help in getting all this paperworkin order. You can't go wrong by doing this.

When I did it,I just stopped in and talked to the admin person in the front. She brought someone out to talk to me and we got all squared away.

It will make your life SO much easier if you do this.

Okay thanks guys. One of the things I'm confused about is the difference between legalized and notarized. BocaChicaBabe, what is WEDO?

Also I have my BC, but it is my original one from when I was born 21 years ago, so it's kinda wrinkly and worn out. If I go to city hall and request another one, will this one have the apostille? I'm assuming the apostille is that big star looking thing on my BC.

Also who writes the single status letter? Do I? Is there a format, or does the embassy do that.

thanks again EVERYONE. Your responses are greatly appreciated.

Legalization is for civil documents. It is usually a stamp on the document authenticating that it is a real, valid document used in the country of orgin.

Having a document notorized means that there is an offical person that verifies you are the person presenting the document. This is usually for personal documents that need your signature. It confirms to the entity receiving the document that you are who you say you are.

Apostilles are separate documents. They are not stamps, but a separate document that goes attached to the birth certificate, divorce certificate. YOu have to place a separate order. You need to contact the State Department of Health of the state you were born in, or divorced in, in order to get that apostille. It only comes from Department of State. I would highly recommend that you order a new original copyof your birth certificate, with an apostille. You will most likely need to send two separate payments...I did. Once you receive those documents, you need to have each one translated for the wedding.

Like I said in a previous answer, per the Dominican Embassy, you have to go to the Marriage License Bureau in your county/city and request a single status report. They will know what you are talking about. They will also notorize it for you. This will also need to be translated. It shows evidence that from the date of the report, you are still single and free to marry and will need to be given to the judge prior to your wedding ceremony with all of your other documentation. The costay vary state-to-state, but here in Miami it cost me about $7.00. This is not something you write yourself...per the Embassy.

I thought the single status letter had to be done ONLY in DR? The reason I ask about only marrying with a passport and not a BC is because it really depends on the person who marries you and SOME don't require the BC. Some places even give you the marriage certificate the same day.

I'm just trying to shop around for the best rates and least amount of work

You have to do the single status letter here and take it with you. It's required by both individuals. My husband investigated several spots and got the information that I gave you. If you can find anything different, then great.

Honestly, I would rather play it safe than to get there and not have a document that they require. When I inquired about the single status letter, I went directly to the Dominican Embassy and asked. The information I gave you is what THEY told me.

For DR VJ members,

For those of you that got married in DR... Were you able to get married WITHOUT a birth certficate and just your passport? I know not all places require a BC, and i'm trying to go that route because i'm gonna have to translate/legalize mine in order to get married over there since i'm American. I would appreciate any info on judges who do this in DR (name, location, price). Preferably Santo Domingo and southern DR.

I am a US citizen and my husband is from the DR. We married there last September. You have to bring your passport AND an original copy of your birth certificate, translated into Spanish, with an apostille. If you have been married before, you need to bring an original copy of your divorce certificate, translated into Spanish, with an apostille. The apostilles also need to be translated into Spanish.

Besides these civil documents, you also need to bring a letter from the marriage license office (here in the US) indicating that you are single. That also needs to be translated into Spanish.

Remember, they do things differently over there. All information will be written down in a marriage book and that will be taken to the wedding ceremony to be signed and stamped by the judge. Once that is done and registered, then you can obtain a copy of the marriage certificate about a week later.

Ok.. I have a question not that I don't trust and love my fiance.. I just want to be prepared for anything and

everything... Once my fiance has his green card, what would happen if he decides to leave me???? Could I file for his green card to be taken away since he is no longer with me?????????

First off, once the visa is approved, you guys need to get married. You have 90 days from the time he enters the US to do that. If you guys decide not to get married, he goes back to the DR. If you do get married, then once that is done, you have to adjust status. When all of that is done, he will receive a 2-year conditional residency (green card.) It's conditional because you guys have been married less than 2 years. Ninety (90) days before the expiration of the conditional residency, you need to apply for removal of conditions.

You can find the details to each step on the guides section in VJ.

However, once he has a green card, you can't hold it for ransom or take it away from him. If you are having insecure thoughts, then don't go through the process.

oh I didnt realize that status had to be adjusted.. So I guess in other words then I am able to do something about it at least.... another question then would be what type of evidence could u have if the person just decided to walk out on you or found another woman???

Then you report that to USCIS for visa fraud.