AOS Questions

[nancycakes 1]

Hi VJers! I'm so happy that I received my K1 and that the process was relatively easy. I am so excited to finally be able to move to the States and to start planning my wedding. However, planning for the wedding has brought up some important questions and I'm hoping that you can help me. First off, I'd like to have the wedding ceremony in Canada, but we would get legally married first in San Francisco.

Here are the key potential milestones:

1. POE beginning of March

2. Get legally married in San Francisco city hall on March 28 (tentative). Has anyone had experience getting married there? How long does it take to get the marriage certificate and can you get it right away? Do I just photocopy my marriage certificate for the i-485?

3. Travel to Canada for the dinner tasting and to finalize wedding details (June/July)

4. Have the wedding ceremony in Canada August 31 (tentative date)

For those of you who have had experience with AOS, do my milestones seem achievable? If I don't get my green card by July/July, would I still be able to use AP to complete Steps 3 and 4? What conditions do they allow people to use AP? I have wedding guests flying in from all over and don't want to NOT be able to attend my own wedding ceremony or cancel.

I would appreciate any help that you guys can offer me!

Thanks in advance!

[KayDeeCee 4,891]

Yes, all you need is a copy of the certified marriage certificate you get from the court after your marriage is registered. Call the court in the county you will marry and ask how long it takes to get your certified marriage certificate from them.

It takes 2-3 months to receive the EAD/AP after filing. Since you file together at the same time, you will most likely receive the EAD/AP combo card. This acts as your employment authorization and travel document. You can use AP more than once. You simply put Unknown for the date and length of trip and check the box for more than one trip. No explanation statement as to why you want AP is needed when filing with the I-485. There are no certain conditions to use it. You can go back to your country to visit and then use the AP to re-enter the US. That is its purpose, to use to re-enter the US when traveling while waiting for your green card approval.

[bigdog 376]

Just remember you can leave the US untill you have your AP, have fun good luck. http://www.sfgov2.org/index.aspx?page=16