Our concurrent filing AOS from F1 package (suggestionis welcome)

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

Hi everyone,

 

Finally, after ~2 months on and off preparation and countless re-prints, we are going to mail out our application package today. Background story, I'm currently in valid F-1 status working full time with my STEM OPT extension EAD (will expire end of April 2018) and got married to a U.S. citizen (last week). Thank you to everyone who have answered my questions in the past.

 

My application in a nutshell

 

• Filed for optional applications (I-765 & I-131)
• Photos are placed in ziploc bags and clipped to respective forms (Name and A-number (if any) written on the back with pencil).
• I organized my application package into folders
• Each form is paper clipped.
• Forms and evidences are binder clipped to the respective folder, so they won't fall out.
• My husband's family member agreed to joint sponsor, because my husband's income is insufficient.
• During the past five years, my husband had period of unemployment (full time student), so I went ahead and wrote "None-Student" on his I-130.
• In regard to the evidence of bona fide marriage, I definitely front-loaded our application package with plenty of secondary evidences. For example, list of all past shared trips and gifts exchanged.  I paper clip evidence from the same trip( i.e. hotel reservation, flight reservation, car rental reservation, photos) and made cover letter for it.
• Similarly, items included in my I-485 were not all required items per I-485 instructions, such as the entry stamps and copy of I-20s. Per page 11 #7 of the instruction document, I-94 Arrival - Departure record should be sufficient.

 

The whole package weighs 3 lbs 3 oz. and I will mail them with a priority mail envelope.

 

Alternative scenarios:

• Instead of joint sponsor, I can use my income (intending immigrant) by showing proof that my income will continue from the same source after getting the green card. 
• I could have use my saving accounts by submitting bank statements covering the last 12 months. 
• Get the medical examination (I-693) done closer to the interview date to avoid the risk of a Request for Evidence (RFE) asking for a new I-693, if case is pending for more than one year from priority date.
• Certified copy of marriage certificate is not required, but I had an extra, so I am sending it with the I-130.

 

Please let me know if you see anything missing from my application package. Otherwise, hopefully these photos could help future applicants.

 

[Coco8 1,039]

That seems like a bureaucrat's dream

Edited November 6, 2017 by Coco8

[tato2017 41]

19 hours ago, Coco8 said:

That seems like a bureaucrat's dream

ohh yeah for sure.

 

Good job for OP to prepare the application in this way.

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

1 hour ago, tato2017 said:

ohh yeah for sure.

 

Good job for OP to prepare the application in this way.

 

21 hours ago, Coco8 said:

That seems like a bureaucrat's dream

Thank you very much!! Definitely hope they agree

 

[tato2017 41]

just make sure have the exactly copy of the application for yourself as well.

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

Just want to share my biometric letter in case anyone is wondering what it looks like.

 

https://imgur.com/a/vlgd2

 

I made my maiden name as a second middle and my husband's last name as current last name, so I'm really excited to see the appointment letter listing all 4 names (first 1stmiddle 2ndmiddle last)

[GEOntificator 269]

I would like to start with enormous Thank You note for taking your time to share this information. I am also on F1 visa currently on OPT and sent my AOS package to the USCIS  yesterday (Got married in October 2018). I never write comments, but your post has been extremely helpful and was my #1 guide for preparing and putting together all the documents.  I have read a lot about immigration procedures before and also others' posts about AOS and I would like to say that your file is the most detailed and professional compared to anything I have come across the internet.

 

I hope all is well with your application. Please, post any updates. I will do the same.

 

Thank you once again!

[Eat_Pray_Love 16]

On 1/17/2018 at 8:27 AM, kvito28 said:

I would like to start with enormous Thank You note for taking your time to share this information. I am also on F1 visa currently on OPT and sent my AOS package to the USCIS  yesterday (Got married in October 2018). I never write comments, but your post has been extremely helpful and was my #1 guide for preparing and putting together all the documents.  I have read a lot about immigration procedures before and also others' posts about AOS and I would like to say that your file is the most detailed and professional compared to anything I have come across the internet.

 

I hope all is well with your application. Please, post any updates. I will do the same.

 

Thank you once again!

 

Edited January 18, 2018 by Eat_Pray_Love

[AussieGuy12 23]

I will add to this too, I pretty much followed this procedure, and I hope it works out as smooth too!

I hope I can get my EAD/AP combo card in 61 days!

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

On 1/20/2018 at 7:03 AM, AussieGuy12 said:

I will add to this too, I pretty much followed this procedure, and I hope it works out as smooth too!

I hope I can get my EAD/AP combo card in 61 days!

Hopefully USCIS processing time remains fast! Best of luck

 

On 1/18/2018 at 10:21 AM, Eat_Pray_Love said:

 

On 1/17/2018 at 6:27 AM, kvito28 said:

I would like to start with enormous Thank You note for taking your time to share this information. I am also on F1 visa currently on OPT and sent my AOS package to the USCIS  yesterday (Got married in October 2018). I never write comments, but your post has been extremely helpful and was my #1 guide for preparing and putting together all the documents.  I have read a lot about immigration procedures before and also others' posts about AOS and I would like to say that your file is the most detailed and professional compared to anything I have come across the internet.

 

I hope all is well with your application. Please, post any updates. I will do the same.

 

Thank you once again!

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this, @kvito28! Your compliment made my day! I'm really glad I could help and layout the detail for everyone else. My latest update is the approval of EAD and AP in 61 days (detail in timeline and signature). Best of luck with your application

[GEOntificator 269]

17 minutes ago, ColoradoBeauty said:

Hopefully USCIS processing time remains fast! Best of luck

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this, @kvito28! Your compliment made my day! I'm really glad I could help and layout the detail for everyone else. My latest update is the approval of EAD and AP in 61 days (detail in timeline and signature). Best of luck with your application

Congratulations!! That is pretty fast. I hope mine can go as smooth as well. Do you mind me asking where your documents were re-routed for review?

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

Just now, kvito28 said:

Congratulations!! That is pretty fast. I hope mine can go as smooth as well. Do you mind me asking where your documents were re-routed for review?

Thank you! I hope so too!

What are you referring to as re-routed? My local office is Denver, but my combo card was sent from Lees Summit, MO.

[GEOntificator 269]

2 minutes ago, ColoradoBeauty said:

Thank you! I hope so too!

What are you referring to as re-routed? My local office is Denver, but my combo card was sent from Lees Summit, MO.

In the email that I received, it states that my documents were accepted and re-routed to the USCIS national benefits center. I wonder if this makes any difference. Also, how is local office determined? I am trying to look up processing times of local offices but I am not sure which one to look. Is there any tool to do so?

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

1 minute ago, kvito28 said:

In the email that I received, it states that my documents were accepted and re-routed to the USCIS national benefits center.  I wonder if this makes any difference.

Yes, mine is re-routed here too.

https://www.uscis.gov/archive/blog/2012/06/national-benefits-center-what-it-is-and

 

Also, how is local office determined? https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/field-offices 

 

I am trying to look up processing times of local offices but I am not sure which one to look. Is there any tool to do so? Not sure how accurate -> https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/processTimesDisplayInit.do

Answers above

[ColoradoBeauty 79]

Here is the status of my I-485, so I don't think it's re-routed anywhere:

"Our National Benefits Center location is working on your case "