Michael and Manyun

That's gutsy advice... file for AP when out of K1 status? You simply include a copy of the I797C for your AOS. Just found this thread, and I am confused again. K-1 status expired on February 1st. I am working on the AOS docs now, and I plan on sending in the AP docs with the I-485. I can't tell from the thread if the consensus is that this a good (or bad) thing. Randy seems to be saying that the AP should wait intil the I-797C for the AOS is received, or is that not necessary since I am going to submit the AP and EAD docs with the I-485? Am I getting things all mixed up again? I gave up alcohol for Lent, and "Lately Things Just Don't Seem the Same".

Thanks Duke, Merc and Randy. Ok, just to recap, and set my head in the right direction, since I blew the 90 day window, its the Green Card that I am most interested in. The EAD won't help me at this point, correct? Or am I still off base here? Your help and knowledge is most appreciated. Within the 90 day window, you can apply for SS with only the K-1 visa. The 90 day EAD would not have gotten you anything, but you can file for EAD with your AOS application, or even afterwards. Specify the ( c )(9) category Thank you, Sir.

Employment Authorization is necessary to obtain an SSN. You have Employment Authorization for Social Security purposes if you are a K-1 within 90 days of arrival, if you have an EAD card (approved I-765), or if you have a green card. K-1's may file for EAD within the 90 day period(a)(6), but it is almost certain to not get approved before the 90 days is up. K-3's may file for EAD(a)(9) until that visa expires without also filing for AOS - 2 years. Or - you may file the I-765 with the I-485 Application for AOS( c )(9) Three different cases - these are 3 different categories on the EAD application. Thanks Duke, Merc and Randy. Ok, just to recap, and set my head in the right direction, since I blew the 90 day window, its the Green Card that I am most interested in. The EAD won't help me at this point, correct? Or am I still off base here? Your help and knowledge is most appreciated.

I haven't checked into the fees for removal of conditions later but you should be able to delay your interview until October if your wife will "let you". I decided to wait on filing AOS so the interview comes after our two-year anniversarry. Wife's EAD was approved last week so she can get a SSN and go to work if she wants. I am so confused that I cannot see straight. After realizing this morning (as we stood at the window of the SocSec Office) how badly I screwed up, I have spent hours today looking through old posts to get answers to SSN/EAD/AOS, etc. questions. I had to take a break, and when I came back, I found these posts. I am probably not comparing apples to bananas to pears to cumquats, because it is sometimes difficult to follow a line of posts before finding out if it was from a K-1, K-3, Cr-1, etc. standpoint. I got married before getting their SSN numbers, putting me in A MAFAN's position with respect to that. But he's in crunch time, and Merc isn't. So PLEASE, someone explain to me why some folk can get the SSN after getting the EAD as Duke states above, why A MAFAN states that he has to wait until the AOS process is completed (no one contradicted him), or why Merc's wife has been here for quite some time, and she doesn't have a SSN (although I see nothing in his timeline about the EAD). How comfused am I? Can the I-765 only be filed with the AOS process? I am not picking that up from Duke's post. Is it because they are/were k-3? I've read where the EAD can come faster than the AOS. Do I, as a K-1 have to also wait for the Green Card at this point, before I can get their SSN's? Sorry for all of the name dropping.

Very good to hear from you. Our best wishes for continued good luck, good health, and most of all, a good life here in America. Mike

mama bear Manyun and Lingyi have arrived after one overcome. I will wish the same for you. However, I also understand the presence of the membership in the Communist Party. I admire your honesty. I believe that you know the blue slip will come after your answer to the final question. Yet, you answer as an honest woman. After reading the posts on CFL, you knew this would come, but you give the honest answer. Your laogong is very lucky that he has such a woman. You will overcome, and have the happy reunion as the reward. Other women lie, yet receive the visa. I cannot accept this, but your response send a clear message of your honest character. Be well, and good luck, mama bear. Michael

Thanks, MIke, Sounds like, from your timeline, ya got caught in the IMBRA logjam. It's been pretty much cleared up, at least for the most part. I think we are looking at 6-10 months for our processing, unless something happens. I will just have to be patient and stay up on the changes. I already got the Cheetos stocked up...lol..... I know you are on top of the world right now, since your love is now in the US. I am most certainly looking forward to that day myself! I see from your timeline it took 11 months for you guys. Let us know, when you come up for air(grin) how things are going. Steve Actually, we started pre-IMBRA. We fell into a Black Hole in January, and didn't resurface for a while. Then there was an extra name check, and finally a Blue Slip. But that's all behind us now. They arrive at DTW (Detroit) in 2 hours. I can tell that I am getting REALLY nervous, as I am eating everything I can get my hands on.....

The flight attendants walk up and down the aisles of the plane handing out these forms. The airport has nothing to do with this. I have flown and returned to China 3 times, and each time, no matter what the airline, the forms were handed out in time to be completed before landing on US soil. My SO arrives tomorrow, and during our final Yahoo chat last night, I emphasized the fact that she will be offered these forms to fill out, and will need them. Mike

Welcome to both Steve and Aiwen My fiance , although not originally from Nanning, lived there for many years. It's where I traveled to 3 times to see her during this god-forsaken journey. I am counting the hours. She and her daughter Lingyi are in the air now between Guangzhou and Tokyo. After a brief layover, it's a straight shot to Detroit. They arrive about 1:30 Friday afternoon. You will get bumped and bruised, feel elated and depressed, want to laugh, want to cry, curse USCIS, DOS, GUZ, wonder aloud why in HELL you ever wanted to fly to China, but in the end..... In the end, when all is said and done, when your Aiwen is at your side, to be with you for the rest of your life...well, then you have even more hoops to jump through. EAD, Green Card, SSA...sorry, I digress. Welcome to Trigg's nightmare. He thinks you're going to like it. (Ok, so he plagerized Alice Cooper, a Detroit native). It ain't easy, but it is surely worth it. Oh yeah, if you ever need to vent, you go right ahead. We are here to listen. Just don't flame RLS (Ron). He's a little touchy about that. Right, ole Buddy??? Mike

mama bear...wishing you a speedy overcome. paula...sorry to hear that things are being dragged out even longer.

Awwww, that's just GREAT. Wishing you a long and happy life together.

Best of luck, mama bear

Trigg... Please turn your Spellchecker back on, k? Or maybe your keyboard is a little sticky since your return from "Minnie-World"?

YEOW!!!! You guys are Smokin'. I'm very happy for you.

Glad to hear it. Best wishes.

Yeah, I should have mentioned that too.

For us, it was about one month. One week of calling to secure an interview date, and then 3 weeks of waiting.

Good point, Trigg. Without taking political sides, which returns more for the American Citizen (and their lives) for each dollar spent?

Happy for ya!!! Best of luck.

Manyun and I arrived at Mr. Yang's hotel (immediatly around the corner to the left) on a Sunday, and her interview was the following Thursday. Every morning I wandered down (I was horribly caffeine-deprived...don't get all excited because there are 4 7-11's in the immediate area. They do not have coffee ) and the line was at least as long as you see in the photo, sometimes even longer. And, it is four-people wide. It is incredible that they are processed as quickly as they are. During the last half-hour or so, I was seated in the center of the pic of the coffee shop, right by the aisle. When Manyun came down and showed me the blue slip, I went off, and even more-so as I read it. I think I attracted every lawyer in the immediate vicinity. I think they could smell the blood in the water Not even any green tea? A little caffiene is better than none. I think their smell is one of money With so many people, no wonder they have a hard time of "getting it right." Green tea??? You mean that slightly-colored hot water that the serve over there????? Sorry, not worth the trouble. My oldest son requested that, after my second visit, I bring him back some "authentic" Chinese green tea. Ok, so I have friends of Manyun take me to a tea dealer. As we sit there dickering over prices, the dealer takes some tea leaves, pours hot water over them, and immediately pours the "tea" into our cups. NOT!!!!! I want flavor, ya know??? I steep my Lipton teabags for 10 minutes... Then they serve a beef dish that makes your eyes water and your nose run. Go figure, huh?

Ron, my friend, You are going to wear that darned piece of paper out before this is all over. I punched holes in whatever I was sent, put them in the binder, and waited for the interview. Of course, many of us know how THAT turned out. Hmmm...Perhaps you have a better feel for this that I did?????

Manyun and I arrived at Mr. Yang's hotel (immediatly around the corner to the left) on a Sunday, and her interview was the following Thursday. Every morning I wandered down (I was horribly caffeine-deprived...don't get all excited because there are 4 7-11's in the immediate area. They do not have coffee ) and the line was at least as long as you see in the photo, sometimes even longer. And, it is four-people wide. It is incredible that they are processed as quickly as they are. During the last half-hour or so, I was seated in the center of the pic of the coffee shop, right by the aisle. When Manyun came down and showed me the blue slip, I went off, and even more-so as I read it. I think I attracted every lawyer in the immediate vicinity. I think they could smell the blood in the water

Thank you all for your kind wishes. I never had any thoughts of success at this point. I was ready to dig in for a long, drawn-out battle. As I stated before, I expected an "interview-by-blue slip" at the very least. Ron, and everyone at the pre-interview level, be ready for anything. Hopefully they'll figure out this idiotic process.

Good for you!!!!! I wish you a happy life together.

I am out of touch with Manyun for the next 5 days as she has no computer to contact me while she is in Wuhan.....pretty rural. I will ask what she did when she and I are back in contact, but I have no reason to doubt what you have said. You are very knowledgable and experienced.