I-485 (Greencard), I-765 (EAD), and I-131 (AP) Timeline
- 6/27/14 (Friday) - Sent all three documents via Priority Mail Express.
- 6/29/14 (Sunday) - Delivery confirmation of AOS packet (received an e-mail courtesy of Priority Mail Express services)
- 7/7/14 (Monday) - Received 3 text messages and 3 e-mails at 1:50 in the morning stating that my case has been accepted and transferred to the USCIS National Benefits Center for processing. They gave me three different receipt numbers that can be checked here. They said the I-797 (NOA1) should be sent in 7-10 days. This is the initial NOA1. I also checked my bank account this morning and the fee of $1070.00 had been withdrawn which indicates processing.
- 7/12/14 (Saturday) - Received three letters in the mail (all I-797s AKA NOA1). One was for the I-485, one for the I-765, and one for the I-131.
- 7/14/14 (Monday) - Received a letter from USCIS that contained the pre-programmed biometrics appointment.
- 7/24/14 (Thursday) - Checked Case Status on USCIS website to find that they are requesting evidence :(. The RFE was sent out on Tuesday, July 22nd.
- 7/26/14 (Saturday) - I received the RFE in the mail today. It is a two-page yellow document requesting additional information about my income, taxes, and other financial assets. Although the I-485 instructions don't state this, hand in ALL of the financial documents that you did when you applied for K-1!!! Apparently they want them all AGAIN!!! W-2s, paystubs, letter from employer, federal income tax return.
- 7/28/14 (Monday) - Sent entire RFE return packet via USPS priority mail.
- 7/30/14 (Wednesday) - USPS tracking shows that packet was delivered to the National Benefits Center today.
- 10/15/14 (Wednesday)- Received a letter in the mail from USCIS (National Benefits Center); The letter is a Notice of Potential Interview Waiver Case. It states, "Due to workload factors not related to your case, USCIS anticipates a delay in completing your case. Presently, we anticipate that delay to be approximately 6 months from the date of this later. If you do not receive a decision or other notice of action from USCIS by that date, please contact NCSC at the number below."
- 4/17/15 (Friday)- Called the National Customer Service Center (NCSC); Both Roberto and I had to be on the line. The representative said that he did not know why we hadn't received information. Apparently the case is processed in the closest city. Our is Pittsburgh. He put in a request for them to notify us and gave us an case ID number. He said that we have to wait another 30 days for news. I will be calling again on May 15th or 18th if I don't hear anything sooner.
Social Security Number
- You can apply for a Social Security 14 days after arriving in the U.S.
- They only thing we needed was:
- Page 5 of the Social Security Application
- Fiance's Passport with K-1 Visa
- I-94
- Make sure you do this at least 2 weeks before your I-94 expires!
- Your SS card will arrive within 2 weeks. It will have a special stamp that says that you may only work with the EAD.
- Applied for Social Security # on Tuesday, June 24, 2014. Received Social Security card in mail on Monday, June 30, 2014.
Vaccines and Medical Appointments
- Check to make sure that all of your vaccines are up to date.
- You will have to fill out page 5 of the I-693 form. Do this NOW!
- Use the linked table to help you figure out which vaccines you need.
- Make an appointment with civil surgeon in your area.
- He/She will have to complete page 1 of the I-693. According to the I-693 instructions, you do no need to have another medical exam if you are filing the I-485 within one year of your overseas medical examination. However, the civil surgeon that we saw thought that we should do it again! I made him fill out the Driver's License physical as well because it cost us $210.
- They required Roberto to have a TB test (which takes 48-72 hours to read). If it is positive, we will have to go for chest X-rays. They also required him to have a syphilis blood test. They took a urine sample for a sugar test (this was for the driver's license). Roberto needed the MMR, Tdap, and one Hep B vaccine. We are going to the Health Department because the vaccines are cheaper there.
- The civil surgeon will fill out the necessary paperwork and hand it back to you. It does not have to be sealed.
Driver's License
- In order to apply for a driver's license in Pennsylvania, you have to complete a physical. We had the civil surgeon fill out this form.
- 7/1/14 (Tuesday) - It is also necessary to have your SS card and the application. We went to the driver's license center and they said we need the I-797 as well as proof of immigration. Roberto was allowed to take the written permit test. He passed, but they did not give him his permit. It will be valid for 30 days until we give the I-797.
- 7/15/14 (Tuesday) - Received the I-797 on Saturday and took it to the DMV along with the other necessary documents. The woman that was helping us entered all of the necessary information, but said that she was unable to proceed with the permit because the system was not giving her some sort of necessary registration number.??? She had to fax the documents to Harrisburg and said it would be another 2 weeks.
Marriage
- Apply for a marriage license immediately. We were able to do this online.
- Then, we went to the Allegheny County Department of Court Records to appear in person to complete the application. Both you and your fiance must appear together. They completed the application for us and we had to wait 72 hours before picking it up.
- In the meantime, schedule an appointment with your local magistrate to be married.
- Once we picked up our marriage license and scheduled a "wedding date" with the mayor, we were able to complete the process. The marriage license is divided into three parts: 1) A copy the person marrying you keeps 2) A sentimental copy you keep 3) A copy that must be mailed to the Department of Court Records. Ask to take this copy in person!!!
- We were able to return the third part of the marriage license to the Department of Court Records the same day. They processed it and were able to give us a certified copy of a marriage certificate within 30 minutes!
- **I wasn't sure if I was going to the AOS packet in before the 90-day deadline was up. I called USCIS and they said that AOS doesn't have to be completed within 90 days--only the marriage does...phew!**
Health Insurance
- With the Social Security card and the marriage license, I was able to apply for Roberto to have health insurance through my work. Yay!!!