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Tom and Ling

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Posts posted by Tom and Ling

  1. AOS Interview Revisited

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Hello everyone,

     

    Well, on August 18th I posted our AOS interview and told you that they didn't have one item...Our packet that was dropped off at LAX (POE).

     

    Well, we were told in August that we should wait 60 days before getting back in touch...I did to a certain extent...I only waited 45 days before I made an INFOpass appointment (Oct. 15th).

     

    So here goes with what transpired......

     

    At the appointment Ling and I talked with a young woman. She was not the one who interviewed us for the AOS interview.

    At the AOS interview we were told that we passed everything except that they were waiting for the packet from China.

     

    So, the inforpass woman told us that besides us there were thirty other people waiting for the same thing....(it would seem that they miss place allot of these packets ).

     

    I asked her what we needed to do to speed up things or what we could do.

    Of course she could not tell us and she said wait another 30 to 60 days.

    I told her that this could go on forever!!!!!

    What if USCIS lost the packet??

    OH..We didn't lose it...it's just miss place.

    BOY...talk about getting put off.

    So..since she could not answer my question...."I asked to talk to a supervisor".

     

    OK.. she went to get her supervisor.

    About 20 minutes later, her supervisor showed up and said,,that he had reviewed our AOS file and everything was fine and give him two weeks to see what the problem was. He also said he would have an answer for me in two weeks.

     

    I think he was actually making me wait the full 60 days because I think he knew what was needed.

    He also told me I didn't have to make an infopass appointment...just walk in and give the guards his name and I could get in without an appointment.

     

    So, two weeks passed and Ling and I walked in and gave his name and I told the guards I needed to see him.

     

    I didn't see him, but his under-person came out with three I-693's and gave them to me.

    Well, I knew all along that this is what we would have to do...so we made an appointment with another Civil Surgeon for full medicals for Ling and the boys.( which by the way cost me $700.00),,but it was worth it....... :D :D

    They had TB skin tests which all came out negative,

    and Immunization shots recorded which we had for the supplemental were done again.

    And than blood work for HIV for Ling and the boys.

    So, complete medicals.

    On the day that we were got the paper work for the medicals, we finished early,,so I decided To take the paper work over to USCIS NC office and give them to the supervisor.

     

    Three envelopes were handed to the supervisor and He said that he would have The AOS processed ASAP.

    So, the next day (27th of Oct.) we were notified by email that the AOS was approved and cards were on order (give us 30 days to process).

     

    Well, that is it,,,we are finally approved and the green cards are being processed.

    So, we will not have to deal with USCIS for one year and 9 months at which time ,,,I will deal with "Lifting of conditional residence".

     

    Tom and Ling

  2. Ling and the boy's AOS interview

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Hi Wuhan4me and Randy,

     

    I was thinking that I should give them about one month to find the medical package before I make an INFOPASS appointment.

    I don't think I should make an INFOPASS appointment right after I left the interview.....or does the INFOPASS appointment take a month??

     

    I do not want to go off "half cocked"

    What do you boys think....one month??

     

    Tom and Ling

  3. Ling and the boy's AOS interview

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted · Edited by Tom and Ling (see edit history)

    Hi everyone,

     

    Ling and the boys had their AOS interview this morning and I will not say anything about the Immigration officer that we had.

     

    I will start out by saying that even though the G-28 says Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Representative ,,it would seem that the Immigration service thinks of it as Attorney only because the Immigration officer had to put in a wavier for the Attorney....you guess??

     

    Well, it is a good thing that we brought along a person who spoke Chinese because "at least in North Carolina" they take "speak fluent English seriously".

     

    The Immigration officer asked most of the questions on the I-485 about arrest, prostitution, and CCP. for Ling and the boys.

     

    I had put in I-130's for the boys and they were approved,,,so I guess that is a good thing.

     

    But the AOS was not approved today because in Lings file folder they did not have the original I-129F which the Immigration officer wanted,,so I gave her the approval letter from the USCIS for the I-129f,,but she also did not have the medical report for Ling and the boys.

     

    So, I would assume that the I-129F was in the package that the Immigration officer took at LAX (POE) which included the medicals from GUZ,

    So she is requesting the original I-129F and The Medicals.

    She said we would have passed AOS if she had had the missing items.

     

    What I am worried about is...what if they lost the package that we dropped off at LAX.

     

    So the usual reponse was "if you don't hear from us in two months" call us....Geeeeeee Thanks :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

     

    She also asked me allot of questions but one was what is Ling's mother and father's name which I fumbled through.

    Also worried that they will have to take the medicals over again,,,,what do you all think???

     

    Tom and Ling

  5. USCIS receipts in our hands, yay!

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted · Edited by Tom and Ling (see edit history)

    This is great news !!!

     

    After almost 22 months of document writing and waiting, my wife will be arriving here August 16 (YAY). I was wondering if you had found a list of the process, documents that you need to file after POE? I looked on the USCIS website but I could not find anything that explains the entire process after arrival in the US. Beside just enjoying my wifes company, I have no idea what, when and where I should be sending documents.

     

    I had a bad experience with our attorney for the visa, so I think I want to jump this next hurdle myself.

     

    Best of luck in your future,

    Ning and Jim...

     

     

    Hi Jim,

     

    Since you are K3 you will need to file AOS.,,however how soon you do this is up to you. K3 has a visa good for 2 year entry so you don't have to immediately file for AOS...I decided to file for AOS because ling and the boys medical was getting close to being a year old and I just did not want to pay for another medical exam.

    So depending how soon you want a green card in hand will determine how soon you file for AOS.

    I will include what Roger did for his Filing,,disregard the child part unless your wife has children.... :blink:

    Personal check for USCIS fee $1010.00

    Form I-485

    Form I-693,if medical less than year, civil surgeon fills out supplemental only

    Form I-765

    Form G-325A

    Form I-864 Affidavit of Support

    and possilble a form I-131

     

    I am sure others will chime in....... :D :P :P :D

     

    Roger writes:

     

    I will be sending off my I-485 AOS packages here in the next week or so, as soon as I get my TY 2008 Form 1040 back from my tax preparer.

     

    I waited for our two year wedding anniversary in December, so I figured I could wait a few weeks more for my 2008 tax prep info, to make the three years (¡®06/¡¯07/¡¯08) of joint filings with my wife; as well as, be able to include my daughter¡¯s Form W-7 application, and her most recent quarterly grade report from her middle school.

     

    As with my previous filings, I used the federal-format ACCO #17021 top hinged file folder, with 2¡± ACCO clip included; as well as, dividers with bottom tabs. I triple checked every form/page for accuracy, proper signature, and spelling etc. Also, all document copies were in color, e.g., marriage certificate etc.

     

    Following is my Table of Contents from my cover letter for my AOS filing, which I have prepared in the same light as I did my previous I-130 and I-129F case files:

     

     

    Cover Letter¡­.with bold highlighted notation that the marriage is over two years old

     

    1. Personal check for USCIS fee ($1010.00 and $600.00) ¡­..original and a photo copy of the item

     

    2. Form I-485 (one each for wife and daughter)

     

    3. Copy of NOA-2 approval for the I-130¡¯s

     

    4. Copy of PRC passport bio-page

     

    5. Copy of K-3 and K-4 US Visa

     

    6. Copy of Form I-94 (front and back)

     

    7. Copy of respective birth certificate (translated)

     

    8. Copy of certified PRC marriage certificate (translated)

     

    9. Form I-693 vaccination cert' with attached page from USCIS website outlining changes in protocol dates

     

    10. Form I-864 Affidavit of Support, with most recent monthly pay receipt, certification of salary from my employing agency, and three years of joint IRS 1040¡¯s

     

    11. Form I-765 (for purpose of obtaining the SSN)

     

    12. Form G-325A for wife, with photos

     

    13. Evidence of bona-fide relationship (similar to what I included with the I-130 and I-129F files)

     

    a. Another set of three years of joint IRS 1040¡¯s

     

    b. IRS W-7 for my daughter

     

    c. Copy of Blue Cross PPO and Delta Dental insurance coverage cards for each of them

     

    d. Copy of recent electric utility billing in both names

     

    e. Copy of recent phone billing in both names

     

    f. For my daughter, a copy of her middle school photo ID card

     

    i. For my daughter, copies of her 1st and 2nd Qtr. grade reports from school

     

    j. For both wife and daughter, about (10) 8X10 color photos of various family events, since their arrival here

     

    k. A modified letter of evolution/status of relationship, which covered the period since the previous one within the I-130 and I-129F packages

     

    Hopefully will have in the mail to the Chicago lock box by the end of next week; and then another wait. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

     

    This post has been edited by rogerinca: Feb 12 2009, 04:28 PM

     

    #13 is not a requirement, and is not in the I-485 instructions, but it would not hurt to include it.

     

    I would file 2 I-765s one for wife and one for child, the EAD card makes a useful ID, and allows getting SSN for wife and child.

  7. Ability to communicate thru the language barrier

    in Consulate Process: P-3 ~ Interview

    Posted

    This is hilarious: My wife will not even try to pronounce "zero" she uses "Ling".

    Best of luck to you, and all CFL members too.

    Ning and Jim...

     

    Hi Ning and Jim,

     

    Ling pronounces "zero" as "Zit.....Row" but she is getting better at it.. :) :offtopic: :harhar1: :coolthumb:

    The Chinese also have a hard time with the "R" sound and a few other letters, but in the Chinese language some of those letters are pronounced "soft".

    But she is learning...... :smartass: :cheering:

     

    Tom and Ling

  8. First Blue then Pink all in One Day!!!! Now Visa Cance

    in Interview Results

    Posted

    After submitting another single paper on Monday and having to repay the interview fee on Tuesday (the original receipt was given at interview, later misplaced and we could got give the other duplicate receipt because it is with me in the US), Yi finally received pink --- again. Passport with visa picked up on Friday without any issues.

     

    I think I am finally off the merrygoround!

     

    Eric

     

    :P :harhar1: congratulations!!!! :CopBust: :roller:

     

    Tom and Ling

  9. Ability to communicate thru the language barrier

    in Consulate Process: P-3 ~ Interview

    Posted

    Hi Mike and Yan,

     

    Randy, chilton747, and the rest are right............ :roller:

    I have put in what I wrote in my EOR letter when I submitted my I-130 and I-129F to USCIS for K3 and than I followed up with an "update" Evolution of Marital relationship for Ling's interview.

     

     

    "We bought an electronic translator in the beginning to help our communication but now only use it when detailed questions are asked.

    It is note worthy that Ling and I could even at first meeting communicate in simple English. This was because Ling had a fair grasp of written English that she could understand me. For communication we use a combination of spoken English, written English on a note pad and for detailed questions an electronic translator."

     

    Now Ling and I pretty much speak in English, but we still use the electronic translator every once in awhile and if both of us are confused,, I will write the question out on paper.

     

    For the interview,,I requested at ACH and ACS that because my wife was nervous that she be allowed to interview in Chinese.

    You might not get what you ask for but you can request and they are suppose to give the interview in whatever the person feels most comfortable with,,but you can only hope.

     

    chilton747 is right about this.......... :happy2: :bangin: :bleh: :shutup:

     

    "I really don't think it is how well you communicate as much as it is telling exactly how you do communicate. Let's face it, a lot gets lost in the communication especially in the first few years of the relationship."

     

    There are certain things that Chinese have a hard time pronouncing

    Like certain letters and My Ling still has a hard time saying "zero"... :P :harhar1: :Dah: :P :CopBust: :smoker:

     

    Tom and Ling

  11. AOS interview Questions

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    This is a little off-topic question regarding AOS... sorry Tom for borrowing your place here....

     

    Thanks,

    Missingyou

     

    Hi Missingyou,

     

    No, you are not borrowing my place or space............. <_<

    And do as Dan says....don't do what you are proposing.......... :blink:

     

    We went ahead an filed for AOS because if we had waited closer to our two year anniversary ,,than Ling and the boys medical exam would have been over a year old and they would have had to get new ones which would have been expensive. And waiting to file just before their medical exam ran out...would not have guaranteed a 10 year card verses a two year card..... :baby: <_< :roller: ;)

     

    And I was posting this subject to find out what kind of questions are asked at AOS interview.

    So anyone can put their two cents in here.... :P :P

     

    Tom and Ling

  12. AOS interview Questions

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Cant help in our experience, Approved without an interview.

     

    http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=208406

    http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=207997

    http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=202227

    http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=203082

     

    Many more: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/

     

    Note: AOS interview tends to be about asking a few questions about marriage, USCIS has another bite at the apple later when filing to remove conditions.

     

     

    Thanks Dan..... :huh:

     

    Tom and Ling

  15. AOS interview Questions

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Hi Everyone,

     

    I would like to "jar" your minds and tell what questions were ask at your AOS interview........... :lol:

    And what questions were asked of the K4 and K2 children, if any??

    Randy..has given his answers by PM but I think it would be helpful to all, if who ever wants to...relate the questions you had at your AOS interview,,of course "if you can remember"...... :lol: :P :P :redblob:

    This would be helpful for everyone having an AOS interview...in particular to determine if we would need a human translator.... :redblob:

     

    Tom and Ling

  17. AOS interview for Ling and Boys

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Our IO had our translator (a friend) sit the back and stay out of it at first

     

    Hi Randy,

     

    You say "stay out of it at first"???

    I take it that you did or did not need the translator??

    And if you needed the translator and if you remember..what was asked that you needed the translator??

    Were there any detailed questions??

     

     

    Tom and Ling

  19. AOS interview for Ling and Boys

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Depending on the interviewer, one of two things can happen

     

     

    1) They can decide it's real cute how you help her out and communicate with her (big plus)

     

    - or -

     

    2) They can stop the interview, insist that you re-schedule, and bring a translator next time

     

    It's important that she be able to communicate with the interviewer, but not necessarily at 100%.

     

    If you can find one (or hire one) fairly easily, you may not want to take the chance. Our IO had our translator (a friend) sit the back and stay out of it at first

     

    Thanks..Randy

     

    Tom and Ling

  20. AOS interview for Ling and Boys

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Tom and Ling,

     

    This is quick turn around from USCIS, don't you think? Perhaps, they have quicken their process now. My hus got this Bio appt done on 7/7, maybe ours interview will be right after yours.

    May I know if your case got updated on USCIS's website? If so, does it say that an interview sent to you? I have been checking the website everyday, but no change.

     

    If you don't mind me asking you, may I ask which state will you be having your interview yet? I think if my hus needs interview, we will be doing so in NY.

     

    Hope everythings go well for Ling at the interview.

     

    Hi Missingyou,

     

    Ling and the boys interview will be in Durham NC. Same place as the biometrics.

    On the USCIS's site there were not updates or touches for AOS,,they are still as they were..so I don't think the interview was e-mailed or placed on web-site.

    The web-site has said nothing about interview,,so they may not tell you either.

    The interview is about 2 months from biometric.

    The USCIS made a mistake on the boys EAC which I am going to have to call and correct. The cards have the boys as 7/25/1995,,but their birthday is 7/24/1995. I think the reason why is because biometrics were done on the 25th and they had 25th running through their brains.

     

    Tom and Ling

  21. AOS interview for Ling and Boys

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Hi everyone,

     

    Well, got home this friday the 17th and found allot of letters from the USCIS for interview for AOS.

    Now I had hoped to get out of this but I guess I won't.

    There is a whole list of what to bring to the interview which is everything that was submitted for AOS and than some. I have copies of almost everything so am OK.

     

    I guess the one thing that is written in the letters is "if you are not fluent in English" bring a translator".

    Ling is not fluent but OK (fair and learning,level 3 conversation english) and the boys are far from fluent (Poor),,so I am wondering from people having gone to these AOS interviews.....Should I consider bringing a human translator???

    I think I can get a just graduated college graduate ,to come with us,,but do you all think it is necessary??

     

    Tom and Ling

  22. EAD Card Arrives

    in AOS & Immigration Challenges

    Posted

    Congrats on your EAD. Yeah, I was very suprised how fancy it is. My hus is only carrying a color laminated copy of it in his wallet. We are leaving the actual at home,

     

    since he is known for losing important things.............. :)

     

     

    Congrats on your EAD.

    My boys received their EAD cards on 13th of July and they are fancy, but they don't get to carry them because they WILL lose the cards and they don't need them anyways since the EAD cards are for getting their SS# and they are not going to work but go to school........... :D :P :P :D

     

    Tom and Ling

  23. Filing I-130 for Parents

    in General Visa Discussion & First Steps

    Posted

    One for each, and also parents don't need G-325A either.

     

    Hi Dan,

     

    I am curious ...Why don't the parents need G-325A??

     

    Tom and Ling

    Because the I-130 directions specifically states that G-325A is only needed for spousal visas.

     

    {page 2}

    D. A completed and signed Form G-325A, Biographic Information, for you and a Form G-325A for your husband or wife. Except for your name and signature you do not have to repeat on Form G-325A the information given on your Form I-130 petition.

     

    {page 5}

     

    If you are filing for your husband or wife, did you include:

    His or her photograph?

    Your completed Form G-325A?

    His or her Form G-325A?

    http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-130instr.pdf

     

    Thanks...Dan :D

     

    Tom and Ling

  25. Filing I-130 for Parents

    in General Visa Discussion & First Steps

    Posted · Edited by Tom and Ling (see edit history)

    Hi Everyone,

     

    I am inquiring for some one in the North Carolina area.

     

    Her question was,,"Do I have to apply for my father and mother separately or one form for two people?

     

    This I was not sure of because I filed two separate I-130 for my two step-sons,however, for filing for parents it might be different,,so let me know whether two separate I-130's or one???

     

    After reading the instructions..I appears that an I-130 needs to be filed for each of the parents.

     

    let me know if this is correct. I am assuming she is a US Citizen.

     

    Tom and Ling

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