Procedure after arrival with K1 visa

Crazy4Cali says on Dec 8, 2005, 09:06:

I dunno... My finace arrived in the country,
cleared customs and immigrations,
and moved into my house.

We then got married, filled out all the AOS paperwork and we're now waiting for that to get processed.

The only thing I wished I'd done differently is get her birth certificate translated prior to her leaving Colombia. That would have saved some minor hassle, but other than that, it has gone pretty smoothly. Just don't expect your fiance/wife to work (legally) as soon as she arrives. It can take anywhere from 6-9 months to get permission (though, as with anything involving the government, there are always exceptions).

0 funny, 0 helpful.

rjstuff says on Dec 8, 2005, 09:57:

Checkout the guidelines on Visa Journey She can work right away but it can be a hassle getting the EAD and then reapplying for it after it expires. Checkout visa journey for their guidelines and the forums for people's experiences. My wife doesn't need to work so we are just waiting for the AOS (green card.) I had read visa journey before and so told her to get 2 copies of her birth certificate and two translated and certified copies also! It helps. Good luck

0 funny, 0 helpful.

kolkes says on Dec 8, 2005, 12:32:

Which are the form numbers that need to be submitted to USCIS and what personal documents?

What is the cost of the applications?

Thank you.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Gator says on Dec 8, 2005, 19:10:

Go Here On.. Visa Journey and scroll down to "AOS" This forms are down loadable and you can fill in on line:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?pg=examples

Also go to: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/ and scroll down to General Family Based Immigration Topics.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?pg=k1k3aos This is a step by step guide.

Costs shold be around 400 USD plue fingerprint charge and medical exam. Could be between 600/700 USD

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 9, 2005, 11:02:

HI Yes the way we did it was:

1) Got married
2) Apply for SSN (w maiden name)
3) Fill: I-485 for Adjustment of status, I-765 for Employment Authorization and I-131 for Advance of Parole (Travel Permit valid for a year, its optional we prefer to have it just in case of an emergency)
4) When you receive your NOAs for this processes then go back to SS office and change SS card to her married name (if she is taking it)
5) Apply for ID-card or Drivers License.
6) wait wait wait

In my case luckily Portland doenst have as much immigrants as other places so I received my EAD and my AP already. But in many of the other centers it takes a lot longer than that, so she should be mentally prepairing to wait for a long while.

Saludos

Silvia

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 9, 2005, 11:18:

oh and affidavit of support I=864

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Geo21770 says on Dec 9, 2005, 15:56:

Where did you get married at? Colombia or here in America? silviat

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 10, 2005, 11:32:

in the united states the process I was describin was after arriving to the country.

Saludos

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dannyherm says on Dec 12, 2005, 07:12:

What did you do to kill time? Silvia,

My wife is bored to death since she's used to the go-go-go life of Bogota. She's anxious to work and start helping out her family.

Any suggestions? I have her starting ESL classes tonight, and working on her Texas drivers license.

Luego,
Danny H.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 12, 2005, 14:04:

Oh I was about to jump out of my window! I am also used to be doing a lot of stuff so it was really hard at the beginning. I was so depressed I would be constantly crying and feeling miserable.

Then I realize I wasn't doing myself or my husband any good so I found a volunteer job (depending on where you are I am sure there is some work with hispanics that she could do... they are always needing people who speaks spanish in many organizations). I signed in to a pool and started swimming twice a week, I bought yoga and pilates dvds and started doing that, I learned how to make pizzas, got books from the library and learned how to knit, etc.

Here in OR there are some programs in the libraries call "Intercambio" and there you meet with a group of people and half the time you speak spanish and the other half you speak english. Look in your local library and see what they offer.

I readed for hours and also got obsessed with having my home shiny (which was challenging because I never did much home tasks before). Now I have stuff to do so the home isnt as shiny as it used to be.

Where are you guys located?

By the way those 2 things (ESL and driving) are the most important so then she can do other kind of activities... I still don't drive but I am in Portland so i can afford to be lazy about it ;)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dannyherm says on Dec 12, 2005, 14:25:

Thanks, Silvia Those are a lot of great ideas. I have looked into having her help with a local priest who children orphaned by violence in colombia. She'll probably start doing some work with them in the new year.

We live in San Antonio, TX. Fortunately, our children begin christmas break next week, so they will keep her busy for a couple of weeks.

Luego,
Danny

0 funny, 0 helpful.

utopiacowboy says on Dec 12, 2005, 14:43:

You live in San Antonio? There is an organization of Colombians in San Antonio: http://www.asociacionamigosdecolombia.org/ Email me for our phone number and tell her to give my wife a call. We don't live too far away.

Disclaimer: any comment I make is inane and is not to be taken seriously, and is so patently ridiculous that no one should take it seriously, even as an insult.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Crazy4Cali says on Dec 12, 2005, 15:02:

Just hope she doesn't like to cook.... My wife has found a love for cooking that she never demonstrated in Colombia. Now there's 10 more pounds of me to love. If it wasn't so darn good, I wouldn't eat so darn much.

I either need to get her into english classes or get me into the gym.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 12, 2005, 18:24:

hahaha get yourself into the gym, that way you can keep enjoying the food... once she is busy you won't have that pleasure as often.

I also started cooking a lot here... if I wouldnt do the cooking he would eat noodles every day...Yuck! How horrible is that?

Those noodles and that frozen food are so salty and so unhealthy... I want my gordo for many years so I have to give him good home made and healthy food prepaired with love ;)

---

Danny its great the kids are going to be out of school... that surely will give her lots of work to do... And the volunteer work it's more than a good idea. In one hand will keep her busy doing something so meaningful and in the other she will meet more people and start her own network... which will probably be helpful by when she starts looking for a job.

Come on guys you need to move up here so bob's wife and I can have more colombians close by.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Crazy4Cali says on Dec 12, 2005, 20:10:

que frio!!! No one from Florida or Colombia is anxious to live up here in the Pacific North Wet. 30 degrees for a high temperature just isn't the same as it was in Cali.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 12, 2005, 20:51:

It's all lies!!!! What are you saying! No body should believe him!!! This is a tropical paradise! Chico!!! They are not going to come if you say those things ;).

Well this is the only time of the year I wish you live in Miami... no offenses with Miami but is not my style (thought it is my temperature)

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dannyherm says on Dec 13, 2005, 07:37:

Hey UTC I sent an application to the Amigos but it got sent back as "no such address". I also sent an e-mail to the contact person, and never got a reply.

If you could send me that contact info and your wife's number, I would truly appreciate it. you can send it to: dannyherm at yahoo.com


Later,

Danny H.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

Crazy4Cali says on Dec 13, 2005, 07:42:

Not quite... The only tropical paradise up here during the winter is in the bathroom after a long, hot shower. Outside of that, it's three sweaters, a down jacket, boots, hat, and gloves.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 13, 2005, 08:36:

And that doesn't even work I go out to the streets with 2 shirts, down jacket, scarf, gloves, hat, veryworm pantyhouses, socks, pants and shoes... and I am still freezing all of the time.

Are you colder there than we are????

0 funny, 0 helpful.

flaleo says on Dec 14, 2005, 06:07:

Sorry, you're going to be cold for a while.

My girl is from Cali, used to living with no A/C, sleeping in that heat there... and she's freezing here in Miami! Last night it got cold here, like low 60s (hahahaha) not only did I close the windows and doors for her but she put on her North Face snow jacket!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 14, 2005, 08:41:

You are joking!!!! Thats beautiful... 60s??? We have from 30s to 42 (highs) during the day and no warmer than 30s at night.

And now we are flying to OH for the holidays, yesterday they had 7 :o

My city isnt as hot as Cali but I am also the type that doesnt use fan or a/c in the heat... I love the heat. So tell your girl about my northern suffering so she feels better :P

I wonder how the colombian ladies who moved to the new york area are doing...

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dannyherm says on Dec 14, 2005, 13:02:

SSN before AOS? Silvia,

How did you get your Social Security card before your adjustment of status? What do they ask for?

Luego,
Danny

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 14, 2005, 13:32:

Yes The K-1 visas can apply for a SSN before the AOS, but it will state that is not posible for her to work without a DHS authorization.

I had to fill a form (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html) and then take to the SSA. I took my passport (with the i-94 attached), and a translated birth certificate (I don't remember if they used it but I tood it anyway).

If you are already in the DHS system they will send you a card whitin the next 2 weeks. If you are not in the system yet they will put you on hold for 10 days. If after those 10 days you arent in the system yet then they will fill a form asking the DHS their records about you... which can take a long time. So if you arent in the system when you go the first time, tell the person you are just going to come back and apply in a couple weeks.

And then when you receive your NOAs with the married name (if she will change it) you come back and have them change the card.

Saludos

0 funny, 0 helpful.

dannyherm says on Dec 14, 2005, 14:03:

Thanks again, Silvia By the way, as far as you advance parole, what did you list as how you qualify for an AP document? Also, did you specify a travel date, and if you plan to use it for more than one trip?

Gracias,

Danny

0 funny, 0 helpful.

silviat says on Dec 14, 2005, 15:01:

Hi I used this form:

http://www.visajourney.com/examples/INS-Form-I-131.pdf as an example to fill out mine.

Anyway here it goes what I put in mine:

1) Part 1, Item number 3. Class of Admission: K-1 Visa Holder

2) Part 2. Application type: d. I am applying for an advance parole document to allow me to return to the United States after temporary foreign travel.

3) Part 3. Processing information:
1. Date of intended Departure: As yet undetermined
2. Expected Length of Trip: As yet undetermined

4) Part 7. Complete only if applying for advance parole.

1. For how many trips do you intend to use this document? More than one trip.


And that was it.

Then I attached a letter saying that the reason why I wanted to have the document was my step father's illness and also that if I can return to my country I will deal with the process of adapting to the US in a softer way and won't be as homesick.

0 funny, 0 helpful.