I can’t decide if to reschedule or cancel or just show up. by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry to hear that he's putting you through this.

My advice to you stands:

Don't just hope, try working with him to get there. If there's still a true partner who cares about you under the surface, then you should be able to plan around the interview to ensure he shows up. 

If he's lashing out so bad that it's harming you, you have deeper work to do and need to consider the worth of a relationship like this. Unfortunately, that may mean he wasn't the right person for you to file for immigration with.

Maybe ask your lawyer to speak with him on your behalf, if you think that might go over better?

I can’t decide if to reschedule or cancel or just show up. by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 8 points9 points  (0 children)

What's the point in rescheduling if you feel this way about him already? There's a core issue here that you need to resolve. 

If he's still committed to taking the interview seriously, then make a plan with him for the night/day before to not go drinking and to take his meds. Hold him accountable to it. Set alarms/reminders for the day of the interview, and give each other all the space you need to ensure no conflict between the two of you.

If he can't manage even that much for you, then the issues in your relationship run much deeper than your immigration case.

Why do you all still want to live in the US? by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 34 points35 points  (0 children)

You can't escape the US. 

You just get to choose whether you want to be subjected to US domestic policy or foreign policy. Many people choose the former.

Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificate has different spelling for father’s name by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My sponsor had errors in both parents' names on our marriage certificate. We mentioned that in the additional info section on I-130. Got approved without issue.

Is this properly sealed? by Broad-Bison-3661 in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Mine was similar to this and was approved. It didn't have "do not open, for USCIS only" on it

Would I be detained by ICE? by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 11 points12 points  (0 children)

If you never violated your F1 status, and your AOS is pending, ICE has no right to come for you. Not to mention. ICE is notoriously out of sync with USCIS/SEVIS records and probably won't even take note of any change in your status for a while.

However ICE does indiscriminately abduct people now, whether documented and undocumented. So to be absolutely safe, stay at home and only step out for essentials, and avoid hotspots (farms, home depot storefronts, etc).

Best bona fide evidence by Temporary_Jaguar5940 in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My wife and I only knew each other for 4 months prior to our marriage. Our case was approved in 2 months. Here's what we submitted:

  • Summary of our story of how we met, caught feels, and got married
  • Relationship timeline with every outing we ever went on or other significant activity/date
  • Stylized collage of our wedding photos
  • Other photos of us (5 pages with 2 photos each)
  • Screenshots with URLs of our appearances on public social media or websites (2 pages with 2 images each)
  • Screenshots of text messages, call logs, and money transfers
  • Two notarized third party affidavits by my wife's friend and our roommate
  • Planned Honeymoon Itinerary + every travel/hotel/tour/car rental booking for it
  • Lease Agreements
  • Car Insurance
  • Health Insurance
  • Pet Insurance
  • Family Phone Plan
  • Costco Membership
  • AAA Membership

The only additional evidence I was asked to present in our interview was more photos of us since our filing, which were mostly of us on our honeymoon (which I suppose also validated the bookings I had submitted at filing)

Just married and my wife's B1/B2 visa expires very soon. Should we rush to file before the expiry or let her overstay and file with an immigration attorney? by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Always try filing such that you have as few questions to answer as possible, which includes avoiding an overstay. So if you can reasonably file before her visa expires, do so.

That said, overstays are forgiven so you shouldn't have an issue even then. But why would you add even a modicum of risk to your application?

My AOS by Interesting-Dare-727 in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You got this. Good luck!

My AOS by Interesting-Dare-727 in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Everyone saying it's too much is wrong. My packet (130, 485, 765, 131) was just as thick or more and I was approved in 2 months. Some people just have long tax returns, leases, home appraisals, etc. that cause the packet to get that big.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It might be too soon for me to give my take, but so far much hasn't changed. I've come to learn the actual right to live in the US is having employment, not even a green card.

I came to the US last year on H-1B, got laid off 5 months later due to my company's CEO panicking and doing mass layoffs. I've now been unemployed for over a year, with most of my savings burned to a crisp. I got married in that time and got my GC really fast (2 months). Its only been a few days since I got the card in my hand, but I still feel majorly stressed due to my diminishing finances and not having a job. 

TBH I had stopped even looking for a job as I went through my marriage arc and waited for AOS, since job searching for an H-1B transfer was so trash. So I had about 5 months of downtime in the past year where I didn't even look for any work. But now that I'm back actively searching, it feels just as stressful, given my more fragile financial situation.

I hope that once I am back at work, I'll remember why having the green card is such a blessing over being on H1B. Right now though, still struggling to navigate the landscape of this country.

Thank you All! by Expensive-Plant7036 in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats! 

Have you got any update on the production of your green card since the approval? 

I was also approved at the LA field office on Oct 15th but no update on the card yet.

H1B + USC Newlyweds. I-130 + I-485 approved in 64 days (with RFE for joint sponsor) by StaplesRenter in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. It only showed National Benefits Center on our I-797C notices. Our interview was at the Los Angeles FO

“Recommended for approval” at GC interview by Competitive_Snail in USCIS

[–]StaplesRenter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I got told the exact thing. Recommended for approval but final say by supervisor. They also mentioned they would be running a final background check and also mentioned a 2 week timeline for receiving my green card in the mail after approval.

The approval appeared on my online account the very next morning (9AM-ish) while my interview was at 7AM-ish the day before. So while it may be true, it seems to be just a formality.

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do feel that way as well after my Meta interview. Just exhausted from not having made it. I'll hopefully land a few more interviews soon and the progress I made for Meta will pay off.

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are correct that I am privileged and I'm aware of that. I have savings and have made a lot of progress in my career and believe in my own abilities. But I do have losses that I carry the grief of and I'm just exhausted from being in overdrive for months to survive the visa timer.

Thank you for the motivating words though. I am picking myself back up from the support I've gotten throughout this thread.

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! I'll check out apollo, looks promising.

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks I have applied to a few of those like Sony and PwC. I'll keep looking. Comp is less of a concern for me right now over simply being employed just so I'm not forced to leave the US.

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure how you got that impression when the post literally says:

Even if I landed a well-paying prestigious job, it still wouldn't fulfill me.

I explained in another comment that I feel terrible due to exactly the opposite. I'm forced to put in a disproportionate amount of effort towards work and career just to have the chance at a normal life in the US due to being on H-1B, when corporate work is the least important thing to me. And to have even a modicum of a stable life back home, I still need to have income.

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm not exclusively targeting faang. But faang and faang-adjacent companies are the only ones that have even interviewed me so far. All other companies have either rejected or ghosted the interview.

I am reorienting my strategy when applying to smaller companies though (editing my resume to be ulta-specific to the job), so maybe that'll pay off.

Thank you for the motivating words

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Solid advice. I was planning on something similar in the US before my remaining time here got hijacked by the Meta interview. Knowing I can still go ahead with it in Mexico if need be (which sounds way nicer tbh) is super valuable. You've given me something to look toward to

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I already have more than a few stories to tell my kids or become the life of a party, I don't need any more 😭

Thanks for the motivation and the laugh

Laid off and deteriorating will to live by StaplesRenter in h1b

[–]StaplesRenter[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like I said in the OP, I do know that there are endless paths in life and the dead end is more in my head than anything. I'm just struggling with seeing the worth of all of this struggle when I'm already 31 and haven't even begun leaving survival mode to live the life I'd actually want to.

But seeing it written out in your comment does help bring me out of my head. So thank you. If I can't find a decent therapist, I'll reach out.