My big step

[ilyes 0]

Hello,

I'm Ilyes, French guy in love with a beautiful and amazing PA girl. We are getting married soon and will send the AOS Package right after the JOP is done.

We bought the guide for AOS from Nolo, which is very helpful, but also a bit confusing from time to time.

Let me tell you a bit about me, which should help you figuring what I'm doing and why.

I came in the US 4 years ago as an au pair (J-1 visa not subject to the 2 year rule). Stayed legal for a year and a half then visa got canceled when I left the program. Lived on my own for about 2 years than met my fiance (gosh I love saying that word). Instant love basically, 3 dates later, we were sleeping at each others place everyday of the week. A month and a half later, we moved in (7 months ago), it is just getting better every single day.

-I'm gonna submit the AOS soon, though we are still waiting on her tax transcript from last year. I am not sure it will come in time, should I send the packet anway with a letter stating the transcript is on its way or wait until I get it.

-We live in NYC and it seems the processing time is quite long from start to finish, any experience for the same situation.

-The Nolo guide implied we would have to submit many copies of the same forms, but when download the form online, I only get a copy of each (I-130, I-485, I-765, I-864EZ, G-325A). Except for the G-325A that has a copy for each application, do I need multiple copies of the others?

Here is the packet as I'm going to send it:

Folder 1, I-130 Application:

G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance

Check for $420 made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Filing fee for I-130)

Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

Copy of Petitioner's Birth Certificate (Front and Back)

Copy of Petitioner’s US Passport

Copy of Beneficiary’s French Birth Certificate

Copy of Beneficiary’s Birth Certificate Translation

Copy of Beneficiary’s Passport (Biographical page)

Copy of Beneficiary's I-94, DS-2019

Copy of Petitioner and Beneficiary Marriage Certificate

Form G-325A, Biographic Information of Petitioner

1 Passport Style Photographs of the Petitioner (Placed in a plastic bag, attached to a paper)

Form G-325A, Biographic Information of Alien Spouse

1 Passport Style Photographs of the Beneficiary's (Placed in a plastic bag, attached to a paper)

Copy of lease

Joint Checking Account of Petitioner and Beneficiary

Various notes, invoices

Selection of Photographs

Folder 2, I-485 Application:

Check for $1070 made payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Filing fee for I-485 + Biometrics Fee)

I-485 Application To Register Permanent Residence Or Adjust Status

Copy of Passport's Biographical page

Copy of Passport Page with J-1 Visa

Copy of DS-2019

Copy of I-94 Card (Front and Back)

Copy of Birth Certificate/Translation

Copy of Marriage Certificate

G325A signed by intending immigrant

2 Passport Style Photographs of the Intending Immigrant (Placed on a plastic bag, attached to a paper)

I-693 Medical Eximanation (Completed by a Civil Surgeon sealed in an envelope)

I-864 Affidavit Of Support, Petitioner

Copy of Letter of Employment

Copies of Pay Stubs for the Period April 2013 – November 2013

Copy of Petitioner's Federal Income Tax Transcript

Copy of Petitioners W2 for 2012

Copy of Petitioners State and Federal Tax Return for 2012

Folder 3, I-765 Applcation:

I-765 Application for Employment Document

Copy of Passport's Biographical Page

2 Passport Style Photographs (Placed on a plastic bag, attached to a paper)

Copy of I-485 Form

Thanks for reading and your help.

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from Family-based AOS to Work, Student, Tourist-based AOS Forum~

~Inquirer adjusting from J-1 visa~

[ilyes 0]

We just got married on Friday, and it was such a wonderful day. I never thought I would be this happy in my life.

We receive the tax transcript and everything is ready to go, next stop USPS on Monday morning.

[hmh33 117]

Lived on my own for about 2 years than met my fiance

What did you do for money / employment during that time? Under-the-table work should not be a problem for you if adjusting status, but if there's any chance that any point you filled out an I-9, had one filled out for you, or otherwise claimed to be a US citizen, you could have serious issues that should be addressed now, before sending anything to USCIS.

Hopefully this is not an issue for you.

[ilyes 0]

I worked off the book for a while, one of my job made me fill a W4, and I kept a copy but I didn't feel any I-9.

[hmh33 117]

OK. Did you truthfully fill out the employment history sections of the G-325A?

[ilyes 0]

Yep, I filled it up as accurately as a swiss watch mechanism. If they want to dig, they are welcome. I just hope they won't give any problems to my previous employer. Even though we were both breaking the law, they permitted me to survive.

[hmh33 117]

Sounds like you're going to be fine. I would be extremely surprised if they went after your previous employer.

[ilyes 0]

What a start, I sent the AOS Monday morning from NYC, got to NJ the next day and Friday went to PA. I was expecting to see the tracking showing it was delivered to Chicago today, why the heck did it move from a NJ sorting facility to a PA sorting facility blows my mind and nerves. I just need to vent my frustration, and it's only the beginning of this long journey.

[rimini 4]

I really feel you. I am really frustrated about this visa/green card process just as you are... me and my husband are going through all this because we truly love each other and our love will stand above everything, even an excruciatingly red-taped government.

I just wanted to take the time to tell you one thing that you will learn from this journey. You will learn to truly appreciate the moments you spend with your loved one, more than any other person who has not gone though all this turmoil. You will learn to stick around to each other and to help each other. You will learn how to work as a team and to trust each other. You will come out as a stronger person. I think I was a much more jaded person before, but this process has turned me into a more humble person who feels empathy for the people who are in my same situation.

In our case, we plan to obtain a green card for me and a European blue card for my husband. They are going to pass a civil partnership law in Italy, probably before the end of 2014. The good thing about the Italian immigration law is that as long as you are married for three consecutive years, you can sponsor your spouse for the Italian/European citizenship with no residency requirement. Once we will be done with this US green card, it will be time for my husband to get his blue card. After that we will finally be able to visit each other's family without worries, and then when we will become old we will be able to decide whether retiring in the US or in Europe because we both will be free to do so.

Hang in there, good things will happen for you and your wife in the near future! It's only a matter of 3-4 months! Good luck!

Edited December 21, 2013 by rimini