contretemps

We set up an InfoPass appointment for Monday morning here in Vermont. But we already sent the postponement-request letter via priority mail. Don't know if there would be some confusion there if VT can and will change our interview date.

I just called USCIS and spoke with a knowledgeable woman. I asked, "Will USCIS notify us of whether or not they accepted our request for postponement?" She answered, "Yes. But we cannot guarantee that they will." (and then she proceeded to read a pre-written legal disclaimer to that effect) So I guess we just have to wait for a notification. If they do notify us and tell us our postponement has been accepted, then great -- we won't fly back. If they notify us that our postponement has been denied, great -- we'll fly back. If they don't notify us either way, we have to fly back even if they did actually postpone the interview. In that case we waste the airfare money. Please NOTIFY us, USCIS!

I have no intention to not attend the interview if no letter arrives informing us of a rescheduled interview date. Nowhere have I said I would do this. If no letter arrives, we will fly across the country. That's just the last resort option. So tell me, do you think that USCIS, upon receiving our letter requesting postponement, would actually cancel the appointment altogether? Or would they simply deny our request and leave the appointment date scheduled as is? I am of the opinion that they would do the latter. We did not request a cancellation; we requested a postponement. If they don't respond to us, then I would like to assume that the interview date is still scheduled at the normal time. Is that a safe assumption?

Thanks for taking the time to give us some suggestions. However, I think we are taking the appropriate step by requesting a postponement of the interview. I have responded to each of the points you have laid out below. --- 1. it's perfectly acceptable to have a 'permanent address' and then live somewhere else for contract work or school. many people do this, myself included. Sure thing. 2. a side effect of having this permanent address is that you have to handle things at the permanent address, in that district or taxing authority. Yep. 3. pommey's N-400 interview (for citizenship) is the 'end game' of the process, an AOS interview for I-485 is 'The Beginning' once yer landed in the USA. IMO, is not the same thing. BUT - is possible to reschedule the interview via an InfoPass appointment AT your 'local' office (the one that has jurisdiction for your school area in VT). Regardless of the importance of the interview, USCIS probably has the same policy on informing applicants of newly scheduled interview dates subsequent to requesting postponement. So I think pommey's response is relevant to our situation. 4. Seriously, since this is the first interview on the first step of the AOS process, wouldn't it 'look better' for your case, to actually show up at the appointed place at the appointed time? Also, aren't both of you required to be there, since it's an INIITIAL AOS based on marriage to a USC? Yes, both of us are required to be there. But as to whether it would "look better" to not postpone the interview, there's strong evidence that it doesn't matter. During my wife's biometrics appointment, we discussed this exact problem with a USCIS agent in the office, because we foresaw this interview being scheduled at a time when I am in school. The agent said it would be no big deal to write a letter requesting a postponement for the summer vacation. I just verified this with another USCIS agent over the phone two days ago. People have said the specific reasons for requesting a postponement is relevant, but I think not. The I-797C expressly mentions cases such as "illness" or "close relative's hospitalization" which may be reasons for such a request. The form does not expressly mention "inconvenience." However, reasons are arbitrary and can be fabricated. As long as we can't make it to the interview, it probably doesn't matter why. This is especially convincing in light of what USCIS agents have told me. Sure, it makes sense to get the initial AOS interview done during the summer break, whilst the two of you are physically in WA state - but it also makes sense to show up in WA state on the appointed date and time - regardless of how impractical and troublesome this might actually be. It's actually very troublesome and as unbelievable as it may seem, I cannot simply skip classes--especially on those days. Law school is not cheap and I have things to do around the interview date which cannot be neglected. With my understanding about how simple it is to get this interview date rescheduled, it makes no sense to sacrifice expensive law school classes (which, if missed will adversely affect my grades and thus chances to make money in the future) for an interview that can easily be rescheduled. If you seriously can't make it in April, then strongly suggest you set up an InfoPass appointment NOW, get the interview date rescheduled. I don't know exactly what an "InfoPass" is, or where our local office is to obtain one. However, we have already sent our letter to the WA office requesting a postponement. Obtaining an "InfoPass" at this point would only complicate matters. Relax a bit, and good luck ! Thanks, we appreciate it!

When you rescheduled your interview, how were you informed of the new interview date? A letter, presumably. But specifically, did the letter say something like, "Your interview will be rescheduled at a later date." Or did it give a specific date?

Hi, just wondering how you received pink on June 4 and then received blue on June 7?

Our P3 arrived today! Two days after yours... ours was 76 days

Hi, I'm back! Since my last post, we have received our NOA2 and are now waiting for P3. I am still wondering and worrying about the I-134. My mom is going to be the sponsor and she has already filled out the I-134 and has given me all her pertinent financial information. I'm in China right now but will be leaving in late July (which just so happens to be right around the time we are expecting her GUZ interview). I won't have a job when i go back to the U.S. because i'll be a new full-time student. My question is... since I already have a sponsor (my mom), do I need to fill out a I-134 for myself as well? And what about my taxes? I didn't even file in 2007 because I was in China, and I haven't filed for 2008 yet either. I mean, I make such little money that it isn't necessary to file... unless its going to come back and bite me with this visa thing...

Once we're in the USA, can she work (after entry on a K-1 visa and after marriage)? If not, how long does it take until she's able to work? What does she need?

I have been examining CFL users' timelines and I see all of this, "Packet 3 Received", "Packet 4 Received", etc. Who receives those packets? Does the beneficiary or the petitioner receive those packets?

What is "NVC"?

My Chinese fiance was born in the countryside from a home-birth. There are no official hospital records of her being born. What can we do about this since the Guangzhou interview requires birth certificates from both of us?

Our I-129F was received by the California Service Center on October 18, 2007. No further word from them as of yet. We are shooting for an August 8, 2008 wedding in the U.S. Are we being realistic?

Dnoblett, A little confused still about the procedure for the I-134. On the USCIS web site (on the 'Immigration Forms' section), it says "Once the [i-134] form is affirmed, it should be mailed to the same USCIS office where the application was filed." That leads me to believe that once I have my fiance's sponsor (my mom) fill out the I-134, my mom will then need to send it to the USCIC Calif. Service Center. Am I misinterpreting what the USCIS web site says? Seems that the I-134 isn't necessary according to what people say on this discussion board. Can anyone give me an official web site which has explicit instructions on what to do for the I-134/financial bit of this K-1 process? Again, glad to be a newbie of this group. -Brandon

Hi everyone, Really glad to be part of this group. This is my first post. I have been browsing a lot of the posts here and its obvious that there is some real camaraderie among the users here. I like it! First a little background. I met my ÇØ°®µÄ in Nanjing in November 2006 through one of my American friends who is teaching English at her University. He lives in a town 2 hours away by train to Nanjing. He came to Nanjing to visit me and brought three of his students (she being one of them). A week after I met her, we began talking to each other every night on the phone, and it has remained like that ever since. In September 2007 we got engaged on the Great Wall. Then we sent in our I-129F for K-1 Fiance visa. The USCIS received it on October 18, 2007. That's where things stand now. Ok, now my questions. 1) Regarding the I-134, when should I send it in to USCIS? Before or after our I-129F is approved? 2) I am starting grad school in the fall of 2008 in the U.S. At first I was planning to fill out my FAFSA with my soon-to-be wife included to receive funding, but after seeing the I-134 where it stipulates she must prove she will not be a "public charge", I am wondering if that idea is blown out of the window. Should I assume that? 3) I tried calling USCIS -- California Service Center to answer some questions, but could not talk to an actual person. Does anyone know how to get around that? I figured there was no way except to use this excellent group as an outlet. Thanks in advance! -Brandon