Careybear

Hi everyone....i'm kinda jumping the gun for the future but....just wondering is anyone doing their AOS through Detroit? Are they back to same day filing and interviewing? I was reading one of the AOS recently and I noticed that they used to do that and am wondering if they are doing it again? Please share some Detroit AOS experiences with me!!! I'm starting to look ahead of the K1 process.

It would be so great if they are back to same day filing and interviewing because that way Paul wouldn't have to apply for an EAD or for Advanced Parole because all he needs is that I-551 stamp!!

Thanks,

Carey

D&M

I'd like to know myself. I'll be looking into the AOS in Detroit sometime
this September. If I find out anything I'll let you know and please do the
same. Thanks.


Careybear wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi everyone....i'm kinda jumping the gun for the future but....just
    > wondering is anyone doing their AOS through Detroit? Are they back to
    > same day filing and interviewing? I was reading one of the AOS recently
    > and I noticed that they used to do that and am wondering if they are
    > doing it again? Please share some Detroit AOS experiences with me!!!
    > I'm starting to look ahead of the K1 process.
    > It would be so great if they are back to same day filing and
    > interviewing because that way Paul wouldn't have to apply for an EAD or
    > for Advanced Parole because all he needs is that I-551 stamp!!
    > Thanks,
    > Carey
    > --
    > Carey
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Zahgon

I don't know for sure, but I highly doubt Detroit is back to doing same day
AOS and I doubt they will do it again anytime soon (if ever). We had our AOS
interview April 7 and, as luck would have it, that very day they had
implemented a new step (new for Detroit at least) which involves going to
the application support center down the street for complete fingerprinting,
which is a seperate appointment on a different day (same day fingerprinting
would be a lot more convenient but I guess they don't work like that).

We received the approval letter yesterday and were just back at the Detroit
BCIS today for my wife to get her passport stamped and as slow as they work
there it's a wonder they EVER did same day AOS really. Overall Detroit is
still adjusting status a lot faster than most other BCIS offices which is
great, but I doubt you can plan on same day AOS, so planning to file for EAD
and Advance Parole when you file for your AOS would probably be wise. Good
luck!

John

"D&M" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > I'd like to know myself. I'll be looking into the AOS in Detroit sometime
    > this September. If I find out anything I'll let you know and please do
the
    > same. Thanks.
    > Careybear wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > > Hi everyone....i'm kinda jumping the gun for the future but....just
    > > wondering is anyone doing their AOS through Detroit? Are they back to
    > > same day filing and interviewing? I was reading one of the AOS recently
    > > and I noticed that they used to do that and am wondering if they are
    > > doing it again? Please share some Detroit AOS experiences with me!!!
    > > I'm starting to look ahead of the K1 process.
    > >
    > > It would be so great if they are back to same day filing and
    > > interviewing because that way Paul wouldn't have to apply for an EAD or
    > > for Advanced Parole because all he needs is that I-551 stamp!!
    > >
    > > Thanks,
    > >
    > > Carey
    > >
    > > --
    > > Carey
    > >
    > >
    > > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Eiolf S. Andstrog

Hi Carey,

My wife and I filed the AOS application with the Detroit office on January
21 2003 (they were not doing walk-in AOS's).

Our ex-attorney advised me to go for the EAD in person (he said it would
save us a lot of time to do it this way), so I ended up waisting about two
months on a) a trip to Detroit + b) an initial rejection of the EAD due to
an oversight by the attorney. The "real" EAD has now been with Detroit BCIS
since March 18th, and although I know they have received it, I have not
gotten any kind of receipt or correspondance from them, and I'm now planning
to go there after the 90 days have expired.

After the AOS filing, we did receive a "cashier's recepit" and a
notification letter after about 2 weeks informing us that the processing
time was approximately 12 months. No other information since this.

Sorry I don't have much more information for you. You can also check the
web at
http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...us.htm#anchor1
55614


I will be posting my experiences as they happen with the Detroit office.
Hopefully they will all be swift and positive!

Best wishes,
E




"Careybear" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Hi everyone....i'm kinda jumping the gun for the future but....just
    > wondering is anyone doing their AOS through Detroit? Are they back to
    > same day filing and interviewing? I was reading one of the AOS recently
    > and I noticed that they used to do that and am wondering if they are
    > doing it again? Please share some Detroit AOS experiences with me!!!
    > I'm starting to look ahead of the K1 process.
    > It would be so great if they are back to same day filing and
    > interviewing because that way Paul wouldn't have to apply for an EAD or
    > for Advanced Parole because all he needs is that I-551 stamp!!
    > Thanks,
    > Carey
    > --
    > Carey
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Careybear

Thanks Zahgon...but another question for you....when did you file?...you said your interview was April 7th. If we can get out of applying for an EAD and just wait for the stamp it would be easier for us to afford this process....how long between filing and your interview?

Carey



[QUOTE]Originally posted by Zahgon
I don't know for sure, but I highly doubt Detroit is back to doing same day
AOS and I doubt they will do it again anytime soon (if ever). We had our AOS
interview April 7 and, as luck would have it, that very day they had
implemented a new step (new for Detroit at least) which involves going to
the application support center down the street for complete fingerprinting,
which is a seperate appointment on a different day (same day fingerprinting
would be a lot more convenient but I guess they don't work like that).

We received the approval letter yesterday and were just back at the Detroit
BCIS today for my wife to get her passport stamped and as slow as they work
there it's a wonder they EVER did same day AOS really. Overall Detroit is
still adjusting status a lot faster than most other BCIS offices which is
great, but I doubt you can plan on same day AOS, so planning to file for EAD
and Advance Parole when you file for your AOS would probably be wise. Good
luck!

John

"

Kristin

Hi Carey - My husband and I did AOS from a K-1 recently in Detroit. We
missed the same day filing by ONE DAY! We got married on Nov. 30 and
they changed the procedures on December 1. But it still went super
fast. My husband already has his greencard, and he's only been in the US
since October! :-) Of course, we also went through Nebraska to get the
K-1 approved, so you know we did our fair share of waiting. :-(

IMO, I don't think Detroit will ever start same-day processing agan.
Security concerns are just not going to let that happen. How the
process worked for us was that on the day we filed in person (only K-1s
file in person, all others must mail in their I-485s), we got an
appointment letter and a receipt for the filing fee. Our appointment
was three weeks after we filed. At the time, they were only doing K-1
AOS interviews on Mondays, but I'm not sure if that has changed.
Anyway, you then come back for your interview.

As John (Zahgon) said in his post, Detroit is now requiring full
fingerprints for K-1s (this is so new, my husband did not have to do it
in January when we interviewed). Hopefully, they have now figured that
part into the process and are scheduling both your AOS interview and
your fingerprint interview at the time you file.

Because they changed the "instant-AOS" rules, we filed our EAD and AP
paperwork when we had our interview, since we didn't get the stamp at
the interview. Actually, the interviewer processed the EAD for us that
day (our 90 Day stamp was going to run out a week later) and we got the
AP about a month later because we still hadn't gotten approved. I would
recommend you file for both when you file, as an expensive but
reassuring "back-up plan" in case it takes a while to get your stamp.

We got held up for about three months waiting for our I-551 stamp and
our INS/BCIS officer told us he had been pulled from processing in order
to handle "special registration." I think now that most of that is
over, the processing is moving fairly rapidly again - John's wife was
approved about a month after their interview, whereas we waited three
months. :-)

Anyway, my advice to you is to read up on AOS, start the paperwork
gathering now, and plan on having to file for the EAD and AP. It's just
like picking a POE, since you never know if you will get that EAD stamp
when you enter, and you can't bank on it. As we have found time and
again with the Detroit BCIS, things can change weekly, if not daily. I
put their office link below, fyi. Good luck! Kristin

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...it/aboutus.htm)

Our timeline for Detroit AOS:
Oct. 20 - Entered US on K-1 (got EAD at Port Huron)
Nov. 30 - Married!!!! :-)
Dec. 17 - Filed paperwork in person in Detroit, got interview appt.
Jan. 6 - Interviewed, approved pending "security checks"; received EAD
Feb. 3 - Went to ask status; got AP
March 28 - AOS approved!!
April 3 - Went in to BCIS to get I-551 stamp
April 11 - Got green card in the mail!!

Kristin

Eiolf - Were you a K-1? Only K-1s file in person, all others using
Detroit for AOS have to mail in their files and it is currently taking
10-12 months to get an interview. Kristin

Eiolf S. Andstrog wrote:
    > Hi Carey,
    >
    > My wife and I filed the AOS application with the Detroit office on January
    > 21 2003 (they were not doing walk-in AOS's).
    >
    > Our ex-attorney advised me to go for the EAD in person (he said it would
    > save us a lot of time to do it this way), so I ended up waisting about two
    > months on a) a trip to Detroit + b) an initial rejection of the EAD due to
    > an oversight by the attorney. The "real" EAD has now been with Detroit BCIS
    > since March 18th, and although I know they have received it, I have not
    > gotten any kind of receipt or correspondance from them, and I'm now planning
    > to go there after the 90 days have expired.
    >
    > After the AOS filing, we did receive a "cashier's recepit" and a
    > notification letter after about 2 weeks informing us that the processing
    > time was approximately 12 months. No other information since this.
    >
    > Sorry I don't have much more information for you. You can also check the
    > web at
    > http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...us.htm#anchor1
    > 55614
    >
    >
    > I will be posting my experiences as they happen with the Detroit office.
    > Hopefully they will all be swift and positive!
    >
    > Best wishes,
    > E
    >
    >
    >
    >
    > "Careybear" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    >
    >>Hi everyone....i'm kinda jumping the gun for the future but....just
    >>wondering is anyone doing their AOS through Detroit? Are they back to
    >>same day filing and interviewing? I was reading one of the AOS recently
    >>and I noticed that they used to do that and am wondering if they are
    >>doing it again? Please share some Detroit AOS experiences with me!!!
    >>I'm starting to look ahead of the K1 process.
    >>It would be so great if they are back to same day filing and
    >>interviewing because that way Paul wouldn't have to apply for an EAD or
    >>for Advanced Parole because all he needs is that I-551 stamp!!
    >>Thanks,
    >>Carey
    >>--
    >>Carey
    >>Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    >
    >
    >

Eiolf S. Andstrog

Hi Kristin,

Nope, I was a humble VWP entrant in late October and then decided to stay
and get married (I have known my now wife for over 20 years thou... :-).
Got married (officially) on 12/31/02, and then filed for AOS as soon as we
managed afterwards.

Best,
Eiolf




"Kristin" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Eiolf - Were you a K-1? Only K-1s file in person, all others using
    > Detroit for AOS have to mail in their files and it is currently taking
    > 10-12 months to get an interview. Kristin
    > Eiolf S. Andstrog wrote:
    > > Hi Carey,
    > >
    > > My wife and I filed the AOS application with the Detroit office on
January
    > > 21 2003 (they were not doing walk-in AOS's).
    > >
    > > Our ex-attorney advised me to go for the EAD in person (he said it would
    > > save us a lot of time to do it this way), so I ended up waisting about
two
    > > months on a) a trip to Detroit + b) an initial rejection of the EAD due
to
    > > an oversight by the attorney. The "real" EAD has now been with Detroit
BCIS
    > > since March 18th, and although I know they have received it, I have not
    > > gotten any kind of receipt or correspondance from them, and I'm now
planning
    > > to go there after the 90 days have expired.
    > >
    > > After the AOS filing, we did receive a "cashier's recepit" and a
    > > notification letter after about 2 weeks informing us that the processing
    > > time was approximately 12 months. No other information since this.
    > >
    > > Sorry I don't have much more information for you. You can also check
the
    > > web at
    > >
http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...us.htm#anchor1
    > > 55614
    > >
    > >
    > > I will be posting my experiences as they happen with the Detroit office.
    > > Hopefully they will all be swift and positive!
    > >
    > > Best wishes,
    > > E
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > >
    > > "Careybear" wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > >>Hi everyone....i'm kinda jumping the gun for the future but....just
    > >>wondering is anyone doing their AOS through Detroit? Are they back to
    > >>same day filing and interviewing? I was reading one of the AOS recently
    > >>and I noticed that they used to do that and am wondering if they are
    > >>doing it again? Please share some Detroit AOS experiences with me!!!
    > >>I'm starting to look ahead of the K1 process.
    > >>
    > >>It would be so great if they are back to same day filing and
    > >>interviewing because that way Paul wouldn't have to apply for an EAD or
    > >>for Advanced Parole because all he needs is that I-551 stamp!!
    > >>
    > >>Thanks,
    > >>
    > >>Carey
    > >>
    > >>--
    > >>Carey
    > >>
    > >>
    > >>Posted via http://britishexpats.com
    > >
    > >
    > >

Zahgon

We filed for AOS on February 6 (sorry I forgot to mention that). As Kristin
mentioned a little further down in this thread, if you need the EAD fast
then you will probably want to apply for it when you apply for AOS.
Otherwise you may be looking at a few months wait for approval (assuming
your timeline might be similar to ours). I can definitely relate to trying
to save the money for filing for the EAD though. This whole process is so
darn costly!

John

"Careybear" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Thanks Zahgon...but another question for you....when did you file?...you
    > said your interview was April 7th. If we can get out of applying for an
    > EAD and just wait for the stamp it would be easier for us to afford this
    > process....how long between filing and your interview?
    > Carey
    > Originally posted by Zahgon
    > > I don't know for sure, but I highly doubt Detroit is back to doing
    > > same day
    > > AOS and I doubt they will do it again anytime soon (if ever). We
    > > had our AOS
    > > interview April 7 and, as luck would have it, that very day they had
    > > implemented a new step (new for Detroit at least) which involves
    > > going to
    > > the application support center down the street for complete
    > > fingerprinting,
    > > which is a seperate appointment on a different day (same day
    > > fingerprinting
    > > would be a lot more convenient but I guess they don't work like that).
    > >
    > > We received the approval letter yesterday and were just back at
    > > the Detroit
    > > BCIS today for my wife to get her passport stamped and as slow as
    > > they work
    > > there it's a wonder they EVER did same day AOS really. Overall
    > > Detroit is
    > > still adjusting status a lot faster than most other BCIS offices
    > > which is
    > > great, but I doubt you can plan on same day AOS, so planning to
    > > file for EAD
    > > and Advance Parole when you file for your AOS would probably be
    > > wise. Good
    > > luck!
    > >
    > > John
    > >
    > > "
    > --
    > Carey
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Careybear

Thanks Kristin....your information is exactly what I was looking for. I have another question...if we can hold out for the 3 months or so without him having to work then wouldn't it just be wise to apply for the AOS and wait for the stamp? I can support the both of us for awhile so do we really need to apply for the EAD if he's not going to work right away?

Carey

QUOTE]Originally posted by Kristin
Hi Carey - My husband and I did AOS from a K-1 recently in Detroit. We
missed the same day filing by ONE DAY! We got married on Nov. 30 and
they changed the procedures on December 1. But it still went super
fast. My husband already has his greencard, and he's only been in the US
since October! :-) Of course, we also went through Nebraska to get the
K-1 approved, so you know we did our fair share of waiting. :-(

IMO, I don't think Detroit will ever start same-day processing agan.
Security concerns are just not going to let that happen. How the
process worked for us was that on the day we filed in person (only K-1s
file in person, all others must mail in their I-485s), we got an
appointment letter and a receipt for the filing fee. Our appointment
was three weeks after we filed. At the time, they were only doing K-1
AOS interviews on Mondays, but I'm not sure if that has changed.
Anyway, you then come back for your interview.

As John (Zahgon) said in his post, Detroit is now requiring full
fingerprints for K-1s (this is so new, my husband did not have to do it
in January when we interviewed). Hopefully, they have now figured that
part into the process and are scheduling both your AOS interview and
your fingerprint interview at the time you file.

Because they changed the "instant-AOS" rules, we filed our EAD and AP
paperwork when we had our interview, since we didn't get the stamp at
the interview. Actually, the interviewer processed the EAD for us that
day (our 90 Day stamp was going to run out a week later) and we got the
AP about a month later because we still hadn't gotten approved. I would
recommend you file for both when you file, as an expensive but
reassuring "back-up plan" in case it takes a while to get your stamp.

We got held up for about three months waiting for our I-551 stamp and
our INS/BCIS officer told us he had been pulled from processing in order
to handle "special registration." I think now that most of that is
over, the processing is moving fairly rapidly again - John's wife was
approved about a month after their interview, whereas we waited three
months. :-)

Anyway, my advice to you is to read up on AOS, start the paperwork
gathering now, and plan on having to file for the EAD and AP. It's just
like picking a POE, since you never know if you will get that EAD stamp
when you enter, and you can't bank on it. As we have found time and
again with the Detroit BCIS, things can change weekly, if not daily. I
put their office link below, fyi. Good luck! Kristin

http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...it/aboutus.htm)

Our timeline for Detroit AOS:
Oct. 20 - Entered US on K-1 (got EAD at Port Huron)
Nov. 30 - Married!!!! :-)
Dec. 17 - Filed paperwork in person in Detroit, got interview appt.
Jan. 6 - Interviewed, approved pending "security checks"; received EAD
Feb. 3 - Went to ask status; got AP
March 28 - AOS approved!!
April 3 - Went in to BCIS to get I-551 stamp
April 11 - Got green card in the mail!! [/QUOTE]

Careybear

Are you all british american couples who are replying? Kristin, Zahgon and others? if you are i would love for you to join my British/american couples group on yahoo. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/britis...uplesinamerica

thanks carey

Zahgon

My wife is from Thailand. Thanks for the invite though

John

"Careybear" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Are you all british american couples who are replying? Kristin, Zahgon
    > and others? if you are i would love for you to join my British/american
    > couples group on yahoo. ]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/britishamer-
    > icancouplesinamerica[/url]
    > thanks carey
    > --
    > Carey
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Eiolf S. Andstrog

Hi again,

Sorry, we're a US/Norwegian (me being the foreginer) couple, so I guess I
don't qualify..? On the other hand, my ancestry has been traced back to
England in the 900's, so perhaps... :-)

Best,
Eiolf





"Careybear" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Are you all british american couples who are replying? Kristin, Zahgon
    > and others? if you are i would love for you to join my British/american
    > couples group on yahoo. ]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/britishamer-
    > icancouplesinamerica[/url]
    > thanks carey
    > --
    > Carey
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Kristin

Hi Carey - You need to decide what's best for your family. If it's
better for you to wait than pay the fee, that's what you should do.
Unfortunately, I don't know of anyone who has filed recently in Detroit
(since John I mean) and I don't know how long the wait for the
appointment will be. It could be that there is a much longer wait now -
it was three weeks in December, when they started the new process, and
had grown to two months by February, when John filed. So it could be
getting longer, meaning you'll have an even longer wait to get the
interview and the stamp. It could be much longer than three months, or
shorter. It's so hard to predict! :-(

Based on that, my advice would be to bring the EAD paperwork filled out
when you file for AOS, ask them when your appointment will be and then
make your decision about whether to pay for the EAD application. Or you
could wait until the interview and see what the officer says about how
long until you get approved, and if you can't wait anymore for him to
start working, ask the officer to approve the EAD that day. That worked
for us.

FYI, my husband is from Canada, not the UK. Where are you from in
Michigan? We're in Ann Arbor. Feel free to email me
([email protected]) if you want to chat off-list. :-) Kristin

Careybear wrote:
    > Thanks Kristin....your information is exactly what I was looking for. I
    > have another question...if we can hold out for the 3 months or so
    > without him having to work then wouldn't it just be wise to apply for
    > the AOS and wait for the stamp? I can support the both of us for awhile
    > so do we really need to apply for the EAD if he's not going to work
    > right away?
    >
    > Carey
    >
    > QUOTE]Originally posted by Kristin
    > Hi Carey - My husband and I did AOS from a K-1 recently in Detroit. We
    > missed the same day filing by ONE DAY! We got married on Nov. 30 and
    > they changed the procedures on December 1. But it still went super
    > fast. My husband already has his greencard, and he's only been in the US
    > since October! :-) Of course, we also went through Nebraska to get the
    > K-1 approved, so you know we did our fair share of waiting. :-(
    >
    > IMO, I don't think Detroit will ever start same-day processing agan.
    > Security concerns are just not going to let that happen. How the
    > process worked for us was that on the day we filed in person (only K-1s
    > file in person, all others must mail in their I-485s), we got an
    > appointment letter and a receipt for the filing fee. Our appointment
    > was three weeks after we filed. At the time, they were only doing K-1
    > AOS interviews on Mondays, but I'm not sure if that has changed.
    > Anyway, you then come back for your interview.
    >
    > As John (Zahgon) said in his post, Detroit is now requiring full
    > fingerprints for K-1s (this is so new, my husband did not have to do it
    > in January when we interviewed). Hopefully, they have now figured that
    > part into the process and are scheduling both your AOS interview and
    > your fingerprint interview at the time you file.
    >
    > Because they changed the "instant-AOS" rules, we filed our EAD and AP
    > paperwork when we had our interview, since we didn't get the stamp at
    > the interview. Actually, the interviewer processed the EAD for us that
    > day (our 90 Day stamp was going to run out a week later) and we got the
    > AP about a month later because we still hadn't gotten approved. I would
    > recommend you file for both when you file, as an expensive but
    > reassuring "back-up plan" in case it takes a while to get your stamp.
    >
    > We got held up for about three months waiting for our I-551 stamp and
    > our INS/BCIS officer told us he had been pulled from processing in order
    > to handle "special registration." I think now that most of that is
    > over, the processing is moving fairly rapidly again - John's wife was
    > approved about a month after their interview, whereas we waited three
    > months. :-)
    >
    > Anyway, my advice to you is to read up on AOS, start the paperwork
    > gathering now, and plan on having to file for the EAD and AP. It's just
    > like picking a POE, since you never know if you will get that EAD stamp
    > when you enter, and you can't bank on it. As we have found time and
    > again with the Detroit BCIS, things can change weekly, if not daily. I
    > put their office link below, fyi. Good luck! Kristin
    >
    > http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...troit/aboutus-
    > htm"]http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/...troit/aboutus-
    > htm[/url])
    >
    > Our timeline for Detroit AOS:
    > Oct. 20 - Entered US on K-1 (got EAD at Port Huron)
    > Nov. 30 - Married!!!! :-)
    > Dec. 17 - Filed paperwork in person in Detroit, got interview appt.
    > Jan. 6 - Interviewed, approved pending "security checks"; received EAD
    > Feb. 3 - Went to ask status; got AP
    > March 28 - AOS approved!!
    > April 3 - Went in to BCIS to get I-551 stamp
    > April 11 - Got green card in the mail!!
    >
    > --
    > Carey
    >
    >
    > Posted via http://britishexpats.com

Careybear

Close enough you can join!!

Carey