Please, for the Love of God HELP (F1 to residence)

[StarA 0]

Hi!

All I need is some quick answers....

Been going through the forums here, at least 1 hour now. Been researching in 2 months, either the information im seeking costs or cant be found EVEN though its probably soo easy!!!

I live in california, and im a international student (F-1 student visa from sweden), got here through that legally and my visa wont expire until 2012. Got married to my wife a month ago (she's a permanent citize).

Now what I am trying to do is, to file forms for greencard etc etc..

I heard its i-485, i-765 and i-130 something if I remember correctly.

----

1. What forms are needed for adjusting status work permit etc etc?

2. In WHAT ORDER should the forms be sent? (cause i heard my wife should send i-130 FIRST then the other forms)

3. How long will things take?

---

One's saying it takes years, one another is saying the work permit will be given after 3 months u sent the application and the greencard given after 10 months.

Please, I tried to figure this out for MONTHS...first time im taking a step and writing in a forum about it...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Welcome to vJ. Couple of questions:

Does your student visa have a residency requirement? Most student visas have "you should go back home when done" clause.

Of not, I suggese you check out the forum "Adjustment from Work, Student and Tourist Visas"

[StarA 0]

Hey Len thanx for your response.

heh no it doesn't.

So ...yea ofcourse its "when u'r done studying go home"

But since I got married to a citizen I can adjust my status to be a citizen.

But what forms exactly is what im confused about.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Cool.

What you do is adjust your status from student o permanent resident, not citizen. Citizenship is way far ahead.

I will ask a mod to move this thread to the appropriate forum so you can get better reponses.

In the meanwhile, read this VJ guides: here.

[StarA 0]

THANK YOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU !!!!!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

No worries. A lot of folks go through this process, including one of my very best friends on VJ. I PM'ed him to see if he can help out

[Kathryn41 3,205]

moved from AOS from family visa to AOS from work, student and tourist visa

One quick question - you said you are married to a Permanent Resident and then said your wife is a citizen. Which one is she? It will make a difference.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Kathryn41

[StarA 0]

Gracias once again!!!

Kathryn: Hm, sorry haven't had lunch yet hehe..

Im a F-1 student, she's a citizen

Btw, this link....: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2

not really that easy to figure out...

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

'Sup!

I'm Maria Felix's BFF

Here is the process you have to follow, I was an F-1 married to a US citizen and I prepared all my paperwork because I'm cheap and didn't want to pay a dime to a stupid lawyer that wanted to charge me hundreds if not thousands of bucks. By following this step-by-step guide I was approved, and I'm 2 months away from filing for removal of conditions.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2

I don't see the problem with the guide, it's pretty straight forward. I followed it and got my green card so can you... have a question? ask

1) You have to file all the forms at the same time and include the payment.

2) the advance parole and work permit as well, they are free and normally it takes around 90 days to process and approve, give or take.

3) the whole process from beginning to end took us 6 months, it may take more though depending on your affidavits, case and supporting documentation. Let us not forget the type of officer that reviews your case or interviews you. Some tend to be picky or just plain jerks, ours was really nice though.

After filing for adjustment of status, DO NOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY W/O THE ADVANCE PAROLE OR A GREEN CARD IN YOUR HAND ok?

Edited November 5, 2009 by TävôLuDô

[Boiler 43,733]

Never heard of a F having a home residency requirment, some J's do.

[StarA 0]

Hi maria............

thank u so much for responding........ya guys have nooo idea how much this means to me,....

Boiler, by the way what do u mean?

well...thing is...ok first of all...as u know im a f-1 student...here legally etc...

first thing that´s confusing..is the forms...i heard from a lawyer that all i need is THREE forms:

I-485, I-765 and I-130

But in the Guide it says i need:

1. I-130

2. G-325a

3. I-864

4. I-485

5. I-765

6. I-131

2. Second thing that confuses me is the affidavits thingy...

now im a poor student...only income i have is what im getting from the Financial Aid in Sweden...thats it..

but..to ENTER usa and be aproved from the school i had to show source of income...which the financial aid company in sweden provided.

so..does my wife Have to do an affidavit thingy eventhough that was taken care of 1 year ago when i got to us ? :/

3. ok so all forms aaaaall in ONE envelope and a check for around 1400 dollars right?

4. and oh my god the I-765 form, question 16 (eligibility categories) thing..........jeez why does it have to be so complicated

[milimelo 4,253]

Hi maria............

thank u so much for responding........ya guys have nooo idea how much this means to me,....

Boiler, by the way what do u mean?

well...thing is...ok first of all...as u know im a f-1 student...here legally etc...

first thing that´s confusing..is the forms...i heard from a lawyer that all i need is THREE forms:

I-485, I-765 and I-130

But in the Guide it says i need:

1. I-130

2. G-325a

3. I-864

4. I-485

5. I-765

6. I-131

2. Second thing that confuses me is the affidavits thingy...

now im a poor student...only income i have is what im getting from the Financial Aid in Sweden...thats it..

but..to ENTER usa and be aproved from the school i had to show source of income...which the financial aid company in sweden provided.

so..does my wife Have to do an affidavit thingy eventhough that was taken care of 1 year ago when i got to us ? :/

3. ok so all forms aaaaall in ONE envelope and a check for around 1400 dollars right?

4. and oh my god the I-765 form, question 16 (eligibility categories) thing..........jeez why does it have to be so complicated

Yes, your wife is the main sponsor and needs to fill out I-864 (residence is different than studies) - if she does not make $18.000 plus of what is required -- check the poverty guidelines for 2009, have her find a sponsor. She will need to get her tax transcripts from IRS for 2008 and possibly two before that.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

The forms tend to look more intimidating because they are just numbers. Thinking of them with names makes them less confusing, so:

1. I-130 - Family Petition by your husband to the Government requesting permission for you to apply to enter/remain in the US

2. G-325a - Biographical information about you and separate forms for your husband (like a resume)

3. I-864 -Affidavit of Support - proof by your husband that he can afford to support you financially

4. I-485 - AOS - Request from you for adjustment of immigrant status from non-immigrant student to immigrant Permanent Resident -- aka 'green card'

5. I-765 -EAD - Employment Authorization Document - permission to work while waiting for a decision on your green card

6. I-131 - AP Travel Document aka 'Advance Parole - permission to leave AND return to the US while waiting for a decision on your green card

There is also a form I-693 - Medical Examination - that you will need to have completed by a Civil Surgeon in the US. A 'Civil Surgeon' is a doctor authorized by Immigration to perform medical exams

You technically don't need to complete the I-765 (EAD) or the I-131 (AP) but they are included at the same price so you might as well get the benefit of having them.

Edited November 9, 2009 by Kathryn41

[milimelo 4,253]

The forms tend to look more intimidating because they are just numbers. Thinking of them with names makes them less confusing, so:

1. I-130 - Family Petition by your husband to the Government requesting permission for you to apply to enter/remain in the US

2. G-325a - Biographical information about you and separate forms for your husband (like a resume)

3. I-864 -Affidavit of Support - proof by your husband that he can afford to support you financially

4. I-485 - AOS - Request from you for adjustment of immigrant status from non-immigrant student to immigrant Permanent Resident -- aka 'green card'

5. I-765 -EAD - Employment Authorization Document - permission to work while waiting for a decision on your green card

6. I-131 - AP Travel Document aka 'Advance Parole - permission to leave AND return to the US while waiting for a decision on your green card

There is also a form I-693 - Medical Examination - that you will need to have completed by a Civil Surgeon in the US. A 'Civil Surgeon' is a doctor authorized by Immigration to perform medical exams

You technically don't need to complete the I-765 (EAD) or the I-131 (AP) but they are included at the same price so you might as well get the benefit of having them.

I think the OP is a male - so his wife needs to fill out I-864.

[StarA 0]

jeez how do u guys know all this stuff...?

hehe im impressed...and u make it look soo easy

Kathryn41, your detail list of the forms...........helped a lot!!!!!!!

* ok so she does the I-864 and she needs to get a tax transcript in order to do that form.

* form I-693 that one didnt know about ..will have to get that one though, included though in the same price as what if i may ask? :/

any one of u kinda wiz on the eligibility categories thingy in the i-765 form .......?

/ OP male =)