Wanting to know the AOS Process steps

[Baasirf 0]

Hi All,

 

First time posting here but have been reading up a lot to better educate myself with the nuances of immigration process. I am an LPR and my wife is also in the US on F-1 Student visa. She was already in the US on F-1 when we met through family connections and went back home Morocco to get married in late 2023. In June 2024 I filed I-130 in F2A category for her and then separately I-485 later in 2024.

 

Going by the current Visa bulletin, I guess her PD should become current in the next 2-3 months and this is where I would like to know what would be the process for the next steps:

 

1. Once the PD becomes current, is that when USCIS starts to adjudicate I-130? Approx. how long does the process take in number of months?
2. In F2A category, are both I-130 and I-485 processed and adjudicated together or is this only reserved when petitioner is a USC?
3. I keep reading about immigration interviews. Is that interview a part of I-130 processing or does USCIS asks to attend interview to approve I-485?
4. If the interview is for I-485 processing, usually how much time is available from when I-130 is approved to when the interview is scheduled?
5. Should we start collecting documentary evidence for bona fide marriage now e.g bank statements, lease documents, photos etc? or wait till later?

 

I am asking these questions to better understand the steps involved in the upcoming process and be ready with all documentary evidence ahead of time since I am expecting to be out of the US in early Feb next year for work reasons for about 4-5 weeks.

[JeanneAdil 7,318]

i can answer only a part as i never went thru the AOS process 

 

but yes,  gather your marriage certificate and since married in Moroc,  get it translated to English

Gather any other documents that would show your marriage is bona fide like joint bank account ,  lease agreement signed by both, utility bill in both names,  etc

didn't you include marriage in the I 485 petition? 

always carry the document like receipt notice for the I 485 (hers) and your green card with you

if stopped by any authority , u need these to prove lawfully in the US

 

others will go thru that process and timeline

[OldUser 10,821]

1 hour ago, Baasirf said:

 

In F2A category, are both I-130 and I-485 processed and adjudicated together or is this only reserved when petitioner is a USC?

Be ready for everything. It can either.

 

1 hour ago, Baasirf said:

I keep reading about immigration interviews. Is that interview a part of I-130 processing or does USCIS asks to attend interview to approve I-485?

Be ready to be interviewed on both I-130 and I-485. Hopefully in one interview. I was asked both relationship as well as admissibility questions.

 

1 hour ago, Baasirf said:

Should we start collecting documentary evidence for bona fide marriage now e.g bank statements, lease documents, photos etc? or wait till later?

 

 

 

What are you waiting for? Should have started yesterday. Keep collecting until both of you are citizens.

Edited 9 hours ago by OldUser

[TBoneTX 48,350]

1 hour ago, Baasirf said:

Should we start collecting documentary evidence for bona fide marriage now e.g bank statements, lease documents, photos etc?

Welcome to the forum!

 

It's never too early to think about removing conditions on the green card.  Take every piece of evidence physically coming in that indicates your shared life together, and throw it into a box.  Do the same thing digitally in a computer folder.  By ROC time, you'll have a smorgasbord of evidence to support the I-751 filing.

In addition (actually, before anything), shop for a lawyer who can draft wills, medical & financial powers of attorney, and similar estate documents.  These make superlative evidence for ROC, and they're even more crucial to have in "life."  Remember that if you move from one U.S. state to another, your wills may need to be redone.

[Crazy Cat 45,665]

8 hours ago, Baasirf said:

and then separately I-485 later in 2024

Am I misunderstanding? She filed an I-485 before the I-130 PD was current?  

Edited 2 hours ago by Crazy Cat

[Baasirf 0]

Thanks to all who took time out to read and reply. To answer most of them, at the time of filing I-130, we didn't have much proofs since we were still living apart but yes I've been building up relationship proofs steadily after we started living together like setting up a joint bank account, transferring some of the utilities to her name, photos from events, trips and car lease etc. I also put wife as beneficiary to my life insurance and 401K and will get the printouts when the time comes for interview. 

 

2 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Am I misunderstanding? She filed an I-485 before the I-130 PD was current?  

 

We used Table B. DATES FOR FILING FAMILY-SPONSORED VISA APPLICATIONS to assess our eligibility to file I-485 somewhere in Sept/Oct 2024 when the F2A date in that table crossed over the PD from our filing of I-130.

 

I would still love if someone can provide insight into my first question to figure out my own travel plans and absence from US.

1. Once the PD becomes current, is that when USCIS starts to adjudicate I-130? Approx. how long does the process take in number of months?