How long does it take for AOS from F-1

[chimichanga 3]

How long does it usually take for an AOS from F-1 based on marriage? Is it fairly quicker than say, K-1? Has anyone waited for an unusually long time(6 months plus)?

[geowrian 22,337]

I would expect it to take around 10+ months for the I-130 + I-485. Within 6 months would be quick for any AOS...it does happen, but it's on the quick side.

[chimichanga 3]

Why does this happen? Is it because they are backed up and short staffed? Or they are information sharing with the country of origin and some countries have slow governments?

[geowrian 22,337]

1 minute ago, chimichanga said:

Why does this happen? Is it because they are backed up and short staffed? Or they are information sharing with the country of origin and some countries have slow governments?

It's just how long it takes. I'm certain there's a backlog (there's always a backlog) and they are likely understaffed. Dealing with other countries can also slow things down, but AOS is a primarily domestic ordeal.

[chimichanga 3]

We filed our AOS so we're concerned. Read a lot of stories about people waiting almost 2 years so thought that their country of origin isn't cooperating 

[geowrian 22,337]

15 minutes ago, chimichanga said:

We filed our AOS so we're concerned. Read a lot of stories about people waiting almost 2 years so thought that their country of origin isn't cooperating 

It's possible, but most are taking half that time or less. "A lot" is relative...there's about 100,000 family-based AOS applications each quarter. There's double that in total AOS applications per quarter.

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Resources/Reports and Studies/Immigration Forms Data/Adjustment of Status/I485_performancedata_fy2017_qtr1.pdf

https://www.uscis.gov/tools/reports-studies/immigration-forms-data/data-set-form-i-485-application-adjustment-status

Edited April 7, 2017 by geowrian

[sparkles_ 456]

A k1 aos is "pre cleared" sort of, they have passed certain background checks to get the k1. An f1 didn't do this, and is a non immigrant visa type....expect it to take the full year. Someone posted a breakdown of the checks they do on a person in many places on vj. Your country of origin seems to have a bit of a bearing on if it will be a long haul. 

Edited April 7, 2017 by sparkles_

[sparkles_ 456]

And here is another kicker. If your parents have given you a common name, ex John Smith or Jose Ramirez, your background will take longer because there are literally thousands of those names, odds are some with even the same date of birth, to pick through. And God forbid one of those name doppelgänger has a criminal record and produces a "hit" on the check process that must be sifted out.

 

Its multifold. Def. not a manpower issue though. 

Edited April 7, 2017 by sparkles_

[chimichanga 3]

Well I have had a name change before from an ethnic to English name. I forgot to mention it in the F1 visa but including it now. Do you think that could stretch out some time?

 

will we have problems because of that? No criminal record in the country of origin( don't know if USCIS checks criminal records in the country of origin). I come from a slow country when it comes to government paperwork. 

[sparkles_ 456]

9 minutes ago, chimichanga said:

Well I have had a name change before from an ethnic to English name. I forgot to mention it in the F1 visa but including it now. Do you think that could stretch out some time?

 

will we have problems because of that? No criminal record in the country of origin( don't know if USCIS checks criminal records in the country of origin). I come from a slow country when it comes to government paperwork. 

Sooooooo, what you're saying is, you didn't tell the embassy you had a legal name change? But you did tell about it on the aos?

 

Yea dude. That could actually make a big problem for you. Because maybe uscis can say you never should have gotten that f1 because you were not truthful on the application at worse, and at best you have a ton of explaining to do paired with a long background process since you technically have been two people in your life. That is what legal name change basically does. You're identity A for part of your life and identity B for the rest. 

 

You should think of getting a lawyer based on that not telling about the name change portion. And yes they check other countries records.

Edited April 7, 2017 by sparkles_

[chimichanga 3]

8 minutes ago, sparkles_ said:

Sooooooo, what you're saying is, you didn't tell the embassy you had a legal name change? But you did tell about it on the aos?

 

Yea dude. That could actually make a big problem for you. Because maybe uscis can say you never should have gotten that f1 because you were not truthful on the application at worse, and at best you have a ton of explaining to do paired with a long background process since you technically have been two people in your life. That is what legal name change basically does. You're identity A for part of your life and identity B for the rest. 

 

You should think of getting a lawyer based on that not telling about the name change portion. And yes they check other countries records.

The packet has not been sent yet but yes I wish to tell the truth. It was an honest mistake.

[sparkles_ 456]

6 hours ago, chimichanga said:

The packet has not been sent yet but yes I wish to tell the truth. It was an honest mistake.

I would still get a lawyer to at least advise you. Things happen, many people change their names at an early age via their parents wishes and literally almost forget they had another name before. Highly unlikely the worst outlook would happen but it's worth a mention. 

[KierenHby 899]

13 hours ago, chimichanga said:

The packet has not been sent yet but yes I wish to tell the truth. It was an honest mistake.

The conversion from buddhism to christianity, as well as the name change, isn't something an individual easily forgets. There is a line on several forms, along the lines of "list all aliases or other names used". 

[chimichanga 3]

4 hours ago, KierenHby said:

The conversion from buddhism to christianity, as well as the name change, isn't something an individual easily forgets. There is a line on several forms, along the lines of "list all aliases or other names used". 

I kno. I never forgot the old name but just overlooked the place where you put 'other names used'

[Megha13 49]

20 hours ago, chimichanga said:

We filed our AOS so we're concerned. Read a lot of stories about people waiting almost 2 years so thought that their country of origin isn't cooperating 

It depends. For me it was very fast. Also it depends on your field office. If yhe city is large then you have to wait