Kristen & Ben

Thanks Zyryab, I really appreciate the support. Right now I'm feeling optimistic, but I know there will be ups and downs. It will be worth it in the end.

Congratulations on reaching the end!

You might also find this forum helpful as you start and work through the process: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/130-adjustment-of-status-from-work-student-tourist-visas/

It's on the second bar at the top of the page. Here's a more direct link http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/aosstats.php

Looks like it'll take about 5 months.

Shouldn't matter if you're in different states.

If I'm not mistaken you can just apply for adjustment of status. This thread might help you: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/421055-adjustment-of-status-for-f-1-opt-student-based-on-marriage-to-us-citizen/

You can also look at the processing times page on VJ to see, but I don't think the fact that he's in CT will make much of a difference.

Are you returning to school? On OPT?

You can search the forums for proof of relationship. It can be things like joint leases, bank accounts, tickets from trip taken together or to see each other, chat logs, emails, affidavits, etc.

Do you have an I-94 record? You can check online with DHS. That record would tell you when the latest you can leave the US is.

Who has filed or will be filing this month?

I got mine in the mail this morning and was told it should be delivered at the Chicago Lockbox tomorrow. It's such a relief to have it out of my hands and now I'm just crossing my fingers it gets sent to a fast moving processing center and that there wont be any RFEs.

I hope we can all support each other on this long journey and be with our loved ones soon.

I've heard that they do and that they don't so I'm curious what your thoughts are.

For example, my husband first came to the U.S. years ago to study abroad in undergrad (F-1?), then he came over on an F-1 for grad school and when he finished received OPT. I'm mailing in the I-130 and supporting documents for his CR-1 first thing tomorrow morning, but some people have told us it might move faster because the U.S. has cleared him in the past. I'm inclined not to believe it though and at this point I'm bracing for a long journey.

Do you think getting visas in the past to come to the U.S. make it easier in the future? What has been your experience?

Exactly. The majority of America still believes that you marry an American or have a child with them and you get an automatic green card. Some even believe it equals citizenship. Honestly, proper reform won't happen without proper education on the subject.

You couldn't be more right. I have friends and family who wonder where my husband is or why he isn't in the U.S. now because we got married so he must be allowed to live here. Very few people who haven't known someone who has been through the immigration system realize how much time and effort go into it.

If he ticked "permanent resident" that is fine as long as you tick "other form 1-130" as he is the beneficiary, correct?

Ok good to know. He is the beneficiary.

I really don't want to wait any longer for him to have to resign another copy if it's ok to submit the form with the "permanent resident" box checked.

So what would be the best way to document those old trips? I can dig up the tickets from when I've gone to visit my husband this past year and maybe a couple train tickets.

Also, since we were living together up until a year ago do you think trips taken prior to that point aren't as important to include? Those old trips are the one I can't find tickets for, but I do have pictures from everything.

I'm planning to submit supporting evidence about our trips taken together and am wondering what's the best way to do that. Since our trips go back as far as 2012 I don't have tickets for most of them and the records on the airlines websites or frequent flier programs aren't all available. What I want to do is send in the emails with the flight/train confirmations. Is it enough to only submit the pages with information on the trips and our names? The pertinent information is always on the first page, but some of them print to 5 or so pages because of all the ads and whatnot at the end.

I regards to the leases and other supplemental things, is it ok to print double sided? After the first few pages of the leases with information about the rate, fees and general information there are additional pages about the heat rider, using gym equipment, a list of every time the building was checked out. Do you think it'd be ok to cut out those additional pages?

Hi all, I just got back to the US from visiting my husband in Belgium and compiling our papers so I can mail in everything how the CR-1 to USCIS later this week.

When we were working on his G-325a we checked that the form is in connection with his application for "status as a permanent resident" because by applying for a CR-1/IR-1 you clearly want to be a permanent resident. He signed the paper and I brought it back to the U.S. with me. Today I started reading more on here and there seem to be mixed answers on whether that's acceptable or whether checking "other" is better. It seems like some people say that both people should check "other" and others say one person should write that and the other should say "permanent resident" so I'm all confused now. I will say on the cover letter that everything is in conjunction with the I-130.

What did you put on your application and how everything turn out?