rogerinca

Hey Mike, Thanks and I understand what you are saying. They are not to be found on either of my wife or daughter's NOA-2's received from the CSC in late 2007. Only the receipt numbers are shown, WAC and MSC. They were, however, on the NOA for the I-485 for AOS (one for each of them) which we recently received from USCIS. They are 2009 'A' numbers. Even when looking at the VJ history files, there seems to be a lot of confusion over the A # and where it is located. Some swear it is on the K-Visa, others say it is stamped in the passport and others say it is the I-94 number and still others swear it is stamped on the back of the I-94. It appears that for us at least, it has made its first appearance (for wife and daughter) on the NOA for AOS/I-485. Hope you are well !!! Rog

Just for clarification for others who may not be K-1's: For my K-3 wife and K-4 daughter, the ¡®A¡¯ number (Alien Registration) first appeared on our NOA¡¯s for the form I-485 at AOS time. Wife and daughter had sequential (numeric) ¡®A¡¯ numbers on each of their I-797C¡¯s for the form I-485. Both numbers start with ¡°A09¡­¡­.¡± This was the first time we saw the ¡®A¡¯ number; thus we had left this question blank on the I-485 and biometrics forms when we filed for AOS. Therein, I only provided the I-94 number on the form. Furthermore, there was no ¡®A¡¯ number on either wife or daughter¡¯s NOA-2 for I-130. Just the WAC receipt number appeared on this NOA-2 form.

Hi Dylan, I don't know how you got Wendy's SS card before EAD. In North Carolina they told Ling she would have to get EAD before issuing the SS number, so I went a head and filed for EAD,,so that Ling could get her SS number. Other states seem to do it differently..... I take it that an alien wife can not work with out both an EAD and a SS number??........ Our Time line is as follows: Dec 15 filed I-765 "Employment Authorization" Vermont Service Center I-797C..For I-765 Rec. December 23, 2008 I-765 approved on Jan. 13, 2009 SS# applied for and received Jan.30...North Carolina SS deparment So as you can see,,it only took 1 and a half months. But I guess if you are going to get EAD through AOS than it will probably take longer. I will be filing AOS for Ling and the boys during last part of April and all of May. I wanted to wait until my 2008 taxes were filed before I file for AOS. And I don't like to give Uncle Sam his money until the last possible moment.............. Tom and Ling EAD and SS are Federal - governed by the same laws everywhere. K-1's are "work authorized" for the duration of their visa - long enough (90 days) to allow them to get an SSN and get married. Well Randy, K3's are not "work authorized" at least in North Carolina ,,it may be different in other states. North Carolina requires EAD before issuing SS#,,that is if you want SS# before AOS. At least that is what we were told in Durham, NCTom and Ling What Randy said was completely accurate. He was speaking to the K-1 visa which has some differences from the K-3 visa. Moreover, this does not vary state by state. As Randy correctly stated, this is a Federal regulation/policy. State law had no bearing in this regard. Your state (NC) does not set the rules in this regard. The SSA agents (US government) look to their guidelines for each specific visa and or situation. When I called my local SSA office in my town in California, she asked what type visa and then advised me of the same info¡­we would first need the EAD in order for them to issue the SSN. It is not the same for those with the K-1¡¯s, just as AP is not the same for the K-1 holder as it is for those with K-3.

Not legally. I know you're probably kidding but be very careful about this sort of stuff. Any marks against her regarding the law, even traffic tickets, will not be looked upon favorably come time for AOS. You don't want to take any chances. This is good advice Dave. Not only that, if she were in an accident, the insurance company would not have to cover her, as an 'unlicensed' driver. Therein is a tremendous liability factor. In CA, an unlicensed driver cite is a mandatory appearance before a magistrate, in most jurisdictions, coupled with a stiff fine.

As Charles reports, she will not have any problems at the LAX POE. As was suggested to my by the Customs officer, when my wife and daughter arrived, he said to hold up the brown DOS envelope in very plain sight as one traverses the immigration area. The Officers will be looking for an individual such as she, and will be there to assist her. Moreover, she can approach any of the Customs officers or the uniformed 'security' guards within the Customs area, for assistance. All she needs to know is "K-1 Visa". They have a few Chinese fluent offiicers at this POE, especially when the CZ flight is scheduled to arrive at Tom Bradley. And yes, make sure she understands she will need the Form I-94, along with her Customs declaration, filled out on the plane, and placed within the cover of her passport for easy access. Again, she will be fine, they do many of these each day at this POE.

Are you sure of this advice you are providing for LAX !? This has not been my observation on my many return trips into LAX on CZ, nor was it my [direct] experience, upon returning with my wife and daughter this past summer. We were directed to a K-visa specific booth by the Customs officer at the USC booth, who stamped my book, but would not process wife and daughter (note: he was very cordial) moreover, this special K-visa booth had 'zero' persons ahead of us. I will also add, that the Chinese flight attendant told me that my wife and daughter did not need a form I-94, because they had US Visas in their passport. The kind Customs Officer provided me with a couple of I-94's at the 'special' booth for K-visa entries. I wrote about this in detail in another thread a few months back.

10 days!!! This sounds great and means you passed the first look-see test OK!! You will not have an RFE for what the Chicago Center looks at…a complete package, and fees in order. You should be getting the EAD in the next month to six weeks. The next hurdle is at the Regional Center, wherein the actual Adjudicator will review all the doc’s submitted, including the medical info, but that is still a few months down the road, due to the usual backlog in cases. Moreover, you could still end up at the CSC; I have seen others here, who went first to MSC and then a month later, on to the CSC. My guess is that sometime in July, you will be getting your interview notice or maybe even the notice that there will not be an interview and the cards are being mailed. Good luck!! FYI, I recently talked to a local immigration attorney (San Francisco) on another matter (for a friend of mine) and I mentioned my front-loading of the AOS file and the inclusion of photos. She advised me that this is what she, too, “always” does for her clients. BTW, as I recall, it does take a few days for the USCIS system to be updated with the new case numbers.

Yes, that is true. And for others who may read this, following is from the USCIS webpage: Filing Fee : $930 plus a biometrics fee of $80; the fee total is $1,010. Exceptions listed below. There is no fee for applicants who are filing Form I-485 based on having been admitted to the United States as a refugee. Applicants 80 years of age or older are not charged a biometric fee; the fee total is $930. Applicants under 14 years of age: - Filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent have a fee total of $600 - Not filing with the I-485 application of at least one parent have a fee total of $930 I clearly marked the file folder that my daughter was age 12, at time of filing. I also placed this in all caps' on the table of contents and on the overall cover page for both files. Similarly, I put a sentence (in red) that we had been married for over two years, within the table of contents and on the transmittal cover sheet. These folks are processing so many files each day, that it can be easy for the eye to overlook a factual element of a specific case.

Young females must now get the HPV vaccination. It is a series of three shots. My 12 year old had #2 the first of the month and will go for #3 in August or Sept. However, the first one is all that is [required] for the AOS USCS med exam/vacc' record update. I guess they assume that if you get one, you will get them all.

Randy, I think your latter assessment is most plausible. I think one would have to be naive to think that the DOS folks at HK would not have meetings with, comprehensive information sharing with, and/or mutual in-service training with the DOS folks at GUZ, wherein both venues would thus be on the same sheet of music. To have such a big gap/disparity of policy differences between these two entities would provide too big a hole to slip through, for those who are truly intent on fraud.

Just like with the initial filing of the I-130 and/or the I-129, there is somewhat of a difference of opinion here on this subject. I have fully front-loaded my AOS packages (wife/daughter) including some photos. In another recent thread in this forum, I laid out my table of contents from my applicant files. It is my opinion that giving them info up front, may keep you from getting an interview later, or maybe even an RFE, because they do not have all the pieces of the puzzle. I have never subscribed to the ¡®only give them what they absolutely ask for¡¯ theory of dealing with the USCIS or DOS. So far, it has worked well for us. http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=35550

We were there, a year ago in July. We took the train over from GZ, and spent two days in HK. The weather was very warm, but by afternoon, the air was quite dry and clear, as compared to Guangzhou. Having been to Disneyland in So-Cal at least 25 times since it opened in 1955, I quickly realized the scale of the park was significantly less than the one in Anaheim. However, we had a great time!! The park was very clean, people were friendly, and I didn¡¯t observe anyone peeing in the bushes or in the corner of a building. It was very busy the weekend we were there. Photo: On Main Street USA. http://i43.tinypic.com/2s0ijvs.jpg

Congratulations !!!!!!!!! No, that is not odd, I had the same experience, and I recall some others here that did too. So much for all the doom and gloom crowd, with respect to the "80%" failure rate !! Last, don't stress over picking up the visa, most of us who have been there and done that, did not have a problem. Only a few have been delayed over the months/year, as compared to all of those who have had the visa in hand in 2 to 3 working days. Best wishes !!

In more than 12 trips to China and more than one POE, Customs has never failed to ask me more than one question. True, she will be required to hand in her Customs Declaration Form at this time. And, she may be lucky and get waved through. However, she should be prepared for questions such as these: 1. Do you have any food? 2. Do you have any seeds? 3. Did you buy anything before coming here? Furthermore, she should be ready to be told that her bags must inspected and/or be x-rayed. Finally, back at Immigration she should be prepared to answer questions about who she will marry, when and where. I guess each of us have our own perspective, be it how we are handled/treated at a POE, or elsewhere? I only have 10 trips to and from China; seven for my wife and three prior to that, so I guess maybe I am not quite as experienced; however, only on my first trip was I asked multiple questions at the final Customs portal. And that was my fault, because I didn't right away state that I went to China to see a woman; having spent a full month there, and answering negative to the....was it for business question. I have never been asked about seeds, food, nor did I buy anything, because that question was always answered on the Customs form, which goes into great detail. The above was true on each of my individual trips and then again when I was with Lao Po and daughter on my most recent trip. In fact, my wife and/or daughter were not asked a single question at either the first or second portal, albeit I was with them. But even I was not asked anything other than the reason for the visit, at the first, primary portal. Last, I have never had my bags checked, inspected, or x-rayed on any trip. On our most recent trip, we had a total of nine large bags plus our carry-on luggage, and there was not even a hint of inspection. I really do not recall anyone else here recently reporting that their K-1 or K-3 benficiary had his/her bags gone through at the final portal. Again, this is my personal experience, and not uniformed 'optimism'. Although, I will admit, I am for the most part, a happy and optimistic person !!

Yes, she will need her I-94, which she should fill out on the plane. She will present that form along with her passport and the large sealed brown envelope which contains the doc¡¯s forwarded from GUZ, to the Customs/Immigrations Officer and then on to USCIS for later use at AOS time. (She will also have a Customs Declaration form (Chinese and English) which she will fill out on the plane and provide at the final customs portal, described below.) The Customs/Immigration Officer will look at her K visa in her passport and stamp/date the page. He will also stamp/date the I-94. He will open the envelope and inspect the contents and stamp/date a page within. He will then most likely take a digital photo and collect some electronic fingerprints. He then will briefly advise her of her legal obligations and then welcome her to the US. She will then be directed to the close by baggage claim area to get her bags. After collecting her bags (note: sometimes there is a wait depending on the POE and number of flights at same time) she will exit toward the street/passenger pickup area,; however, she will first have to clear one final Customs portal, where they may, but most likely will not, ask more questions, but will inspect and collect the aforementioned Customs form. Depending on the configuration of the airport POE she arrives at, the walk from that last portal, to where you will be waiting, will not be very long. For obvious security reasons, they do not let anyone past the passenger waiting area, and you will not be allowed to enter the immigration control area to be with her, absent you arriving with her on the same flight and accompanying her. There have been many here who have not been able to travel with their love one for one reason or another. I cannot think of any recent issue or problem for the beneficiary(s) at any of the US POE¡¯s. If she has multiple bags, she may want to grab one of the luggage carts that are available at most baggage carousel areas. Also, if she is confused as to which line to go to at the initial immigration portal, all she has to do is tell any of the uniformed Customs Officers that she is a K-1 visa holder, and they will direct her to the appropriate line. Hope this is of benefit to you both.

Yes CG, my wife and I were married late in the year of 2006. I added her to my 2006 Form 1040 filing, and at the same time ordered her ITIN. I have used these tax filings (2006,2007, and now 2008) as evidence of relationship, both at interview time in GZ, and now as I file for AOS. As Randy says, filing as married, will most likely give you a better tax break than that of a single status person. Although, since you are a DCF, this will not be so much of an issue for you guys. BTW, I just answered your other post in the Contacts Forum, which you placed last week on the 8th. We hope to hook up with you two upon your return to the Sacto area !! Again, best wishes to you and your guy !!! Rog

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD Yes, this is the way I did it on my I-130, I-129F, and now with the AOS case file packages. Although I have never worked for the Fed's, I have worked for a large unit of government for nearly 34 years; therefore, I guess I understand the issues with respect to processing thousands of files a month and I am not an angry anti-government type personality. I am sure they did "appreciate" the way I prepared and submitted the files. Moreover, did I ever mention, that I have a friend in East Los Angeles who operates a metal plating shop....I sent him my zinc coated Acco clips, and had them Chrome plated, for use in my files. I figure I got 'extra-credit' for my efforts. I know David will appreciate this one......

It is not a dumb question, as the instructions for the form are not real clear. While this is a four page form, and each page goes to separate entities/locations, you only need one photo for each quad of the G-325A. So one photo for your beneficiary(s) and one photo for your pack of forms. While many here say to put in a plastic bag and staple to a blank sheet of paper behind the form; I used two of the large paper clips (bottom and side) on all three of my form packets, for me, Lao Po and daughter. There was no RFE for clips vs, baggie. Don't forget to put the name of the person in the photo on the back of each print.

I think the argument would be made and won by DOS and Dept of Homeland Security, that taping of these types of interviews and interaction between a VO and the foreign national, seeking to gain admittance to the US, could compromise the system, and provide advantage to those (professional groups) who work so hard to figure out methods to circumvent the controls in place designed to prevent visa fraud. And, as I have pointed out before, when it comes to the relatively few negative stories one reads about here (or hears about second or third hand) we are only hearing that side of the story. You never hear the 'rest of the story', as might be told by those (USCIS,FBI/NVC,GUZ/DOS) that have reviewed the specific case and backgrounds/details of both the petitioner and the beneficiary.

http://www.timelines.tk/

BilLing, So I am to assume your acquaintance says he actually counted 150 people applying for visas that day and after physically seeing all 150 results, there was only 1 denial? Your acquaintance must have been very busy that day! Ling was actually physically able to see 200 visa applicants denied that day? Now Charles, there you go again !!!!! The facts and the evidence is so clear !! There has been a complete reversal of the M.O. at GUZ !! IMBRA is surely out the window now too !! Thank you President Obama and thank you new Sec of State, Clinton, for addressing this issue in the first 60 days in office !! Oh Charles.....

BilLing, you didn't hijack so no apology needed. But you DID add an interesting idea-that maybe the trend is starting to reverse itself in GUZ. Could it be that the [oppressive policies] of the former Administration are beginning to be swept out the door? A 'friendlier' government? I'd sure be damn glad to see that happening... Splinterman Nothing 'political' in this post, is there !?

Well, it looks like the check for my wife's application was cashed 1 week + 1 day after delivery. However, the check for my son's application is still not cashed. They were in the same envelope. Should I be concerned? Not sure if you need to be concerned or not; I am sure they will figure it out at some point, if they just missed the two checks being together. However, just like my intial filing for I-30 and then I-129F, I treated wife and child's files at two distinctly [separate] case file packages, each with the respective check attached within the individual package, and in plain sight. Both of my initial filing checks were processed on the same day at that time. I am doing the same for my two AOS filings.

Thanks for the support! I feel fine, it is Wendy who is getting nervous. We are cooking dinner now. Frog and vegetables!! I did go to ACS to see if I could speed things up, but it didn't do any good and the person I talked to wasn't helpful in the slightest... I think she had low blood sugar... she was very grumpy. I will go again in the morning and see if I get a better response. We have Wendy's parents arriving the afternoon and time is so short for the things we want to do, and planning travel at the same time. We did spend a lot of money on plane tickets, so I am really hoping everything works out. I have faith. And I have my friends on CFL. If anyone is around here, feel free to stop by, dinner is almost ready!!! Some plates have already made it to the table!!! That's too bad. I did the same thing, as I had my ticket booked for the next day, and the woman at ACS was extremely cooperative/helpful !!! I was told that they do a final audit of the entire case file (including the info submitted on the day of the interview) after intial approval, and just before the visa(s) are actually issued. I am sure you will hear something very soon now.

Here's a link that discussed this and associated issues which are relative: http://candleforlove.com/forums/index.php?...c=34813&hl=