Follow To Join....

[rm101]

Hi,I would like to get your guidance on this....
My wife is planning to come US next week by herself because I couldn't go India to bring her due to my work assignments.

When she comes back, does she need to aware of anything to face the immigration at port of entry.(other than submitting sealed envelope).
Because this is going to be her first internation trip, we are little nervous.
Moreover, Would this Annotation "Valid only if Acc/FTJ Father/Mother/Spouse" make immigration officer to expect me along with her at port of entry?


Thanks for your help.

Agpatti,
One of my friend came back last night .(They had FTJ interview two weeks back) In his words ...They handed over the packet to officer and he looked at the docs and took some signatures and stamped in passport.They did no ask any specific questions and all was done in 10 minutes.

 

[trueguy2006]

Can we initiate FTJ process based on I-824 Receipt Notice

Thanks RM101.

Could somebody please tell me if anybody has initiated F2J process at Chennai Consular based on receipt notice of I-824?

Also, sometime it takes long time to get PCC so at what stage of FTJ process, one should start working on getting PCC?

Thanks in advance.

Best Rgds.

 

[agpatti]

Thank you very much rm.
Did your friend come alone or with spouse (sponsor) accompanied?

Agpatti,
One of my friend came back last night .(They had FTJ interview two weeks back) In his words ...They handed over the packet to officer and he looked at the docs and took some signatures and stamped in passport.They did no ask any specific questions and all was done in 10 minutes.

 

[rm101]

Thank you very much rm.
Did your friend come alone or with spouse (sponsor) accompanied?

agpatti,

Husband was also there.But per him she was alone by her self and they did not ask him any thing.

 

[rammyrammy]

Thanks RM101.

Could somebody please tell me if anybody has initiated F2J process at Chennai Consular based on receipt notice of I-824?

Also, sometime it takes long time to get PCC so at what stage of FTJ process, one should start working on getting PCC?

Thanks in advance.

Best Rgds.

I did it with I 824 receipt.
I think at this point of time, its too early for you to think about other documents.

First get the I-824 send and get the receipt.
I think you can file for I-824 electronically so that you can get the receipt, right away.
Chennai Consulate assigns a case ID, and based on PD'S at that time you will get the interview.

 

[rm101]

Did not get the interview letter yet.

Freinds,

1)Our interview is sceduled for July 24th.As of now we did not get the interview letter.I see few on the forum getting the letters.Does any one had this situation.I am just wondering what should be the next step in case if they mailed and it got misplaced.


2)Also can some tell do we need to attach the original exp letter/Original bank letter or photo copies are enough to attach with affidavit of support. (I 134)

Please share your experiance

Thanks,

 

[PraetorianXI]

How do you know your interview date without receiving the letter?

 

[EB2_091505]

Big Mess On My Part - Please Help

How do you know your interview date without receiving the letter?

I have PD of sep05 - I sent my 485 docs to the Lawyer yesterday and since I am EB2, now she is saying I may get approved before Dec- Gosh- NOOOO I was getting married in March.
I am making an emergency trip to do the marriage in September but she is still in school. I would like to do follow-to join but My lawyer is confused when can we file Follow-to-Join for her After my approval or before my approval and she is saying that the whole procedure may take 2 years.
PLEASE GURUS HELP ME.

 

[rm101]

Did not get the interview letter yet

Freinds,

1)Our interview is sceduled for July 24th.As of now we did not get the interview letter.I see few on the forum getting the letters.Does any one had this situation.I am just wondering what should be the next step in case if they mailed and it got misplaced.


2)Also can some tell do we need to attach the original exp letter/Original bank letter or photo copies are enough to attach with affidavit of support. (I 134)


3) Can we submit the docs to VFS and go to medicals with out appointment letter?

Please share your experiance ....

Thanks,

 

[trueguy2006]

Delhi Consulate accepts F2J applications

FYI:

I got confirmation email from Delhi consulate that they accepts F2J applications and they are fully aware of I-824 steps.

I thought this might be useful for everybody.

Thanks.

 

[guddu1977]

Hello All.

I really appreicate the time and energy spent by you all in maintaining this thread. I have few questions wrt my specific case.

I am currently on H1B and have my EB3 labor and I140 clear with priority date March 2006. I am getting married on July 9th in India but my wife would not be joining me till January. (For all those from India... i am doing a court marriage on July 9th and wedding ceremony is in Januay 2008).
So she would be joining me in January 2008 on H4.

With the current situation of all the categories being current if i file my I485 after coming back from India:

- Is it possible for me to add my wife to it when she comes to the US in January 2008 using "follow to join" even though the EB3 category is not current at that time??

- Or is it that "follow to join" is applicable only after getting green card?

- My wife would join me on H4 in January and in the worst case i would have to maintain my H1B and not use my EAD card. Am i risking anything else?

- Is there any other way to make use of this current opportunity and add my wife in my AOS even if she comes in January?

Thanks a lot in advance.
RT

 

[justcuriousaa]

can someone clarify these?

Hello guys.. can someone answer these queries...
Thanks for all your help.

Thanks guys kamrans and rammyrammy. You guys made things clear and now I think I understand my options and risks involved.

So, I will try to postpone my 485 filing till my marriage provided PDs are current.
And try to bring my wife in as soon as possible after wedding and try to file 485 for her.


Now I have 2 more questions.

1. I heard that once I file 485, I cannot travel outside US till I get my receipt notice which may take 4 to 6 weeks.
Is it true?

In that case, if I file in July ( i have to travel in Sept for marriage), I would be in trouble.
Also if my wife comes in Oct for couple of weeks( because she has to finish her studies in December ) , and files 485, she cannot go back to India till she gets the receipt notice.?
That is also trouble. Is that true?

Can you guys clarify?

2. In case if I file 485 now and my wife goes for H4 stamping in India, will there be any problem for her to get stamping, since i have already filed 485 for Green card?
Will they ask any questions regarding this?
This is greater concern. Because i do not want her H4 to be rejected.

Can you guys clarify?

 

[justcuriousaa]

EB2_091505 and guddu1977

EB2_091505 and guddu1977

I think I am also in a somewhat similar situation as you guys.

I am also planning to get married in September and my wife can join me only after December. So not sure when to file 485 for me and my future wife?

I thought if it is possible to bring her for a week and file 485 ( for me and her together ) in Oct provided the PD is current by then...
Thats the only hope I have..
please share any other ideas you guys have...


guddu.. for your case, is it possible to bring her here in July for few weeks soon after your court marriage and file 485 for both of you? By that way, I guess you would not have these confusions.

 

[yogkc]

Judex and others,

I called Texas Service Center today. The nice lady (surprisingly) told me that the consulate was notified on June. After talking to her, Now I am more confused. Even she is very nice and polite, I still do not trust her word :=)

The I824 case status is same from March. I thought TSC would notify NVC and NVC will notify the Consulate upon I824 approval. Am I missing something here?

Do I just sit n relax hoping the consulate would notify or call the consulate?

My lawyer doesn't know anything, I wish there is some way i can get the money back from you. I had dealt with 4-5 immigration lawyers so far and all seems fraud

Hope someone got the answer. Thanks in Advance

yogkc,

call your service center(USCIS), it will just take 2-4 months...

did u received your 824 receipt?

judex

 

[rm101]

did not get the interview letter

Freinds,

1)Our interview is sceduled for July 24th.As of now we did not get the interview letter.I see few on the forum getting the letters.Does any one had this situation.I am just wondering what should be the next step in case if they mailed and it got misplaced.


2)Also can some tell do we need to attach the original exp letter/Original bank letter or photo copies are enough to attach with affidavit of support. (I 134)


3) Can we submit the docs to VFS and go to medicals with out appointment letter?

Please share your experiance ....

Thanks,

 

[judex]

call the visa specialist, ask if a case has already been created for your spouse. then if a case has been created, call or write/fax your embassy, notify them about your case.

- - - -
Originally Posted by kamrans
Try these two numbers :

202-663-1225
202-647-4000

Tell them that you need to talk to the visa specialist. These guys have the power to open up embassy database and you can get information of any case thats opened with any embassy in the world. However you need to provide them the required information. Be specific with them. Ask your wife to try this and you need to try it there. They can tell that if your case is opened or not. Even you can ask about your situation and they will advise you.
This is the free service and lot of people dont know about it. However the wait period is too long.

Good Luck.
- - -

judex

Judex and others,

I called Texas Service Center today. The nice lady (surprisingly) told me that the consulate was notified on June. After talking to her, Now I am more confused. Even she is very nice and polite, I still do not trust her word :=)

The I824 case status is same from March. I thought TSC would notify NVC and NVC will notify the Consulate upon I824 approval. Am I missing something here?

Do I just sit n relax hoping the consulate would notify or call the consulate?

My lawyer doesn't know anything, I wish there is some way i can get the money back from you. I had dealt with 4-5 immigration lawyers so far and all seems fraud

Hope someone got the answer. Thanks in Advance

 

[ardabey]

EB GC Holder, Need to get my wife in now...

Hi All:

I just received my I-140 and I-485 approval notices on the email, and will be getting them in the mail soon.(Please see the dates below)

0. Got married : 10/06
1- Labor stuff initiated : 10/06
2- Received LC : 03/07
3- I-140/I-765/I485 filed : 03/07
4- EAD Approved : 04/07
5- I-140/I485 Approval Notice: 06/07
6- Waiting for GC approval notices and GC to arrive .

Note: I never had an H-1. Directly applied to GC while I was doing my academic training(J-1)

We were married last october, before I submitted my I-140 and I-485 applications. I was not able to include her in the 485 procedure due to her school, so I believe we need to do the follow-to-join route now.

Q1) Can you confirm that we can do FTJ?

She has 2 citizenships, born in Turkey, and she is also Canadian. She has been living in Canada for the last 7 years. She lives in Windsor - Ontario, closest port of entry is Windsor, closest consulate is Toronto, US Embassy is in Ottowa.

Q2) I am having difficulty in figuring out whether I should enter Toronto or Ottowa in the 824 application. Their websites are not very clear on this. Does anybody have any experience on Canadaian FTJ procedures, it would be great if you can provide some details.(I will also keep looking)

Q3) Can we do this procedure in Windsor port of entry? Or does she need to go to a consulate/embassy. (I am fine either way, just need clarification...)

Q4) Is it a problem (for the FTJ procedure) for her to enter US?(Canadian citizens don't need a visa, and since it's a pain in the neck for me to go/come back with all the GC application stuff she comes to visit me in Chicago every once in a while. She just shows her Canadian citizenship ID and passes thru the port, she has no legal status in US, enters just like a tourist.)

Q5) We're planning to file an 824 right after I receive all the required stuff. At what point can we contact the consulate about the interview process? Right after I receive my I-485 approval notice? After I receive my GC? Right after I receive my 824 application receipt?

Q6) We were planning for her to go to school starting September 07(we were thinking of an F1 non immigrant visa), but I am wondering whether her presence here with any kind of visa would hurt the FTJ process? Would be better off waiting for the FTJ process to conclude and get her started to school afterwards?

I also would like to start gathering all the documents in order not to lose time. I know they are stated in various posts, but I cant seem to search effectively on the forum, and it is pretty big now. I would really appreciate some pointers/links to existing posts for:

a) Documents required for 824/134

b) Documents required for the pre-interview/interview

Suggestion: Having these requirements as sticky posts at the beginning of the FTJ thread may be helpful for others that are navigating. I don't know whether this is technically possible though, even if I've seen it on some other forums.

Q7) Is there a location/posts that have sample documents, etc.

Thanks in advance for your answers.
Good luck to all that are going thru this pain.
And big thanks to all that maintain this forum and those who keep it alive with their detailed answers.

- Ardabey

 

[NJBLUE]

Freinds,

1)Our interview is sceduled for July 24th.As of now we did not get the interview letter.I see few on the forum getting the letters.Does any one had this situation.I am just wondering what should be the next step in case if they mailed and it got misplaced.


2)Also can some tell do we need to attach the original exp letter/Original bank letter or photo copies are enough to attach with affidavit of support. (I 134)


3) Can we submit the docs to VFS and go to medicals with out appointment letter?

Please share your experiance ....

Thanks,

Hi RM101,

1 Try to e-mail them ask what is the next step incase if you did not get the appointment letter in next 2 days. Ask them can your wife can collect the appointment letter directly from the consulate. Probably your wife can also get her medical done at the same time. Mean while call the lister labs (chennai) and Dr Thomas office and find out whether they test without the appointment letter. Probbaly you can show them the e appointment schedule and the e-mail from the chennai consulate with the case numer on it.

2 I have attached original empoyment letter (not the offer letter), orginal letter from the bank and dowloaded bank staments for the last 5 months.


3) I'm not sure whether VFS guys will accept without the appointment letter. Please send some one to Hyderabad VFS office and they will be able to answer this question. They are very friendly and you can go in the moring without any appointment.

Thanks

 

[NJBLUE]

I have PD of sep05 - I sent my 485 docs to the Lawyer yesterday and since I am EB2, now she is saying I may get approved before Dec- Gosh- NOOOO I was getting married in March.
I am making an emergency trip to do the marriage in September but she is still in school. I would like to do follow-to join but My lawyer is confused when can we file Follow-to-Join for her After my approval or before my approval and she is saying that the whole procedure may take 2 years.
PLEASE GURUS HELP ME.

You can only file FTJ after you get the approval and your wife is not in sates or did not file 485 for her. FTJ will take 3 to 4 months if your priority date is current. You may not need to go on FTJ route if your wife comes to states befoer the approval and if you able file 485 for her before the approval.

Thanks

 

[NJBLUE]

EB2_091505 and guddu1977

I think I am also in a somewhat similar situation as you guys.

I am also planning to get married in September and my wife can join me only after December. So not sure when to file 485 for me and my future wife?

I thought if it is possible to bring her for a week and file 485 ( for me and her together ) in Oct provided the PD is current by then...
Thats the only hope I have..
please share any other ideas you guys have...


guddu.. for your case, is it possible to bring her here in July for few weeks soon after your court marriage and file 485 for both of you? By that way, I guess you would not have these confusions.

I think it is very good idea to bring her here for few weeks and file 485 and advance parole for her. Make sure that you preapre all the paperwok before she comes here. Also DOS saying the dates may retrogress again in the next physical year (oct 2007). So it is very good idea to bring her and file 485.