She's Here, We're Married, Now What?

[Haltech007 10]

We were married 22 April 2017. She has her SSAN card now, but it is just a temp. We will go down and get her Florida Driver's License next week. That's all fine and dandy for a start, but what do we need to do next? I know there is an 'Adjustment of Status', but everything I read about seems to be all over the place. Fees of just a couple hundred$$ to well over a grand, 2 forms to 10 forms, must be done right away to having to wait months to file it, etc etc etc. Is there someone who has gone thru it who can simplify it for me?

 

Edited May 4, 2017 by Haltech007
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[Ontarkie 13,969]

~~Moved to AOS FAmily, from K1 P&P - as this is no longer a K1 topic and is an AOS thread.~~

[geowrian 22,336]

Congrats!

 

It's all in the guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

If you have a specific question after reading that, then please update the thread.

 

Edit: Fees would be $1140 + $85 for the I-485 + biometrics (I-131 and I-765 are free with the I-485). Total: $1225

Edited May 4, 2017 by geowrian

[G Walters 136]

If you follow the guide at the top of the page for AOS. It will walk you through what you need. Be sure to apply for Advanced Parole just in case travel is needed. While waiting for AOS approval

[Becci391 339]

She needs to file for AOS (I-485; the actual Green Card application), her EAD( work permit; I-765; make sure her eligibility category is C 9,) and Advanced Parole( if she need to leave the country and comes back to the states; I-131).

The total is $1,225 including the $85 for her Biometrics.

What you will put in the envelope is:

- the 3 applications with 2 pictures for each application (she needs to write the date and the name on the back of the pictures) make sure that each application is signed and dated

- the I-864( Affidavit of Support filled out by the US-citizen with supporting documents: W2, letter of employment, recent tax return and  4 or 5 recent pay stubs) make sure you sign and date the application

- the check in the amount of $1,225

- a copy of the certified marriage certificate

- the G-325A (biographic information) only for the non US-citizen

 

Send the package to

USCIS Chicago Lockbox

For U.S. Postal Service (USPS) deliveries:

USCIS
PO Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

For FedEx, UPS, and DHL deliveries:

USCIS
Attn: FBAS
131 South Dearborn - 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60603-5517

 

Your wife is not allowed to wok until her EAD is in the mail which can take 3 to 4 months. It can take up to 12 months until the Green Card is in the mail.

 

 

Did you call or ask your local DMV about the requirements for a non US-citizen obtaining a driver's license? The license might only be valid until her I-94 expires. After that she's not allowed to drive until she has her EAD. At least that's the case here in GA. It might be different in FL.

 

Edited May 4, 2017 by Becci391

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

Congratulations to you bot on your marriage. Yes, you are correct that you have to do the AOS now after the marriage and receipt of the marriage certificate. The payment to do this is:

I–485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

1,140

 

That payment does not include the $85 biometric fee as well. So the check/money order would be $1225. If the payment is not correct it will be returned and you will have to correct it. I will include the link for the I-485 in this thread as well so that you can take a look at everything. If you want you could file for AP/EAD as well when you send in the AOS, there is no additional charge for those if you file the AOS at the same time. 

 

The AOS is not hard at all to prove just show the evidence of y'all getting married, and that you are co-mingling finances, insurance, stuff like that. 

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

 

[Becci391 339]

6 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

Congratulations to you bot on your marriage. Yes, you are correct that you have to do the AOS now after the marriage and receipt of the marriage certificate. The payment to do this is:

I–485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

1,140

 

That payment does not include the $85 biometric fee as well. So the check/money order would be $1225. If the payment is not correct it will be returned and you will have to correct it. I will include the link for the I-485 in this thread as well so that you can take a look at everything. If you want you could file for AP/EAD as well when you send in the AOS, there is no additional charge for those if you file the AOS at the same time. 

 

The AOS is not hard at all to prove just show the evidence of y'all getting married, and that you are co-mingling finances, insurance, stuff like that. 

 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

 

They are not required to proof that when they file for AOS. We only submitted our certified marriage certificate and were good.

The co-mingling fiances and the other things are required IF it comes to an interview.

Edited May 4, 2017 by Becci391

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

3 minutes ago, Becci391 said:

They don't need to proof that when they file for AOS. We only submitted our certified marriage certificate and were good.

The co-mingling fiances and the other things are required IF it comes to an interview.

That is true as well. But it is better to be safe than sorry and think like you might have an interview. I did it for my wife's AOS and we ended up having an interview, so everything worked out ok. My way of thinking is that it is better to have to much information than having to little. 

[geowrian 22,336]

9 minutes ago, cyberfx1024 said:

That is true as well. But it is better to be safe than sorry and think like you might have an interview. I did it for my wife's AOS and we ended up having an interview, so everything worked out ok. My way of thinking is that it is better to have to much information than having to little. 

Agreed. At the same time, I've seen way too many couples wait 6+ months to gather all the necessary information...putting them out of status and at risk for deportation in the process. =_=

 

USCIS will take into account how long a couple has been married with the initial filing. Newlyweds from a K-1 aren't able to have a whole lot right away, and that's fine. If there's an interview, you bring the evidence at that time (but still start gathering it as soon as you can).

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

57 minutes ago, geowrian said:

Agreed. At the same time, I've seen way too many couples wait 6+ months to gather all the necessary information...putting them out of status and at risk for deportation in the process. =_=

 

USCIS will take into account how long a couple has been married with the initial filing. Newlyweds from a K-1 aren't able to have a whole lot right away, and that's fine. If there's an interview, you bring the evidence at that time (but still start gathering it as soon as you can).

Totally agree on that as well. You don't need that long to get the documents together, maybe a couple weeks but months is crazy.

[f f 725]

start saving those documents now to make the next step easier. removal of conditions is done two years after the greencard is approved and It requires documents from the while length of the marriage.

 

good luck and let the waiting begin

[Dutchster 1,106]

To also add that her SSN is not temporary. It's permanent, it has just extra wordings with it until she received her green card and it will get erased from her SSN card. Everything else is basically already explained to you by other VJ'ers. You guys looked amazing on your wedding day, congratulations! 

You can check her what she will need to bring with her to the DMV; http://www.gathergoget.com/

[Haltech007 10]

I was totally not expecting the $1,225 AOS fee. We are married now, but her K1 will expire in a few days and I will not have the money for another month or so. Is there a way to get it extended until I can file the AOS?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Just now, Haltech007 said:

I was totally not expecting the $1,225 AOS fee. We are married now, but her K1 will expire in a few days and I will not have the money for another month or so. Is there a way to get it extended until I can file the AOS?

No you cannot extend it.  You may wait, but note that she is deportable as soon as she is out of status.

[geowrian 22,336]

1 minute ago, Haltech007 said:

I was totally not expecting the $1,225 AOS fee. We are married now, but her K1 will expire in a few days and I will not have the money for another month or so. Is there a way to get it extended until I can file the AOS?

There's no extension of a K-1's duration of stay. Once it expires, she will be out of status. Once AOS is filed, she will have authorized stay.