KATIEandMAX

I'm not completely sure what you are talking about.. but maybe you are talking about the TB test? Did she first have the skin test done?

How it worked for my husband was that they first did a skin test. Two days later my husband had to return to see how his skin reacted, or IF it did, rather. If there was a bad reaction, he would have been asked to do the Chest X ray for further inspection. Everything was healthy for him and the doctor gave him the medical examination forms on the second visit.

I'm not sure what happens if the Chest xray was a failure, though. Good luck!

Well, getting called in for an interview is generally a really good thing!

If you have already submitted all of your paperwork correctly, they are probably calling you in for your "final" interview where they make decision about granting a 2 year green card! Just be sure to bring lots of new photos, joint-account paperwork (if you have any more now) or any other proof of a bonifed marriage to the interview and that will help your case.

Good luck!

We got married in California, and despite it saying you have to wait 6 - 8 weeks, it arrived in less than 4 weeks in the mail for us.

Also, if you go into the office and ask them in person, they may be able to give it to your sooner... I went in person and they gave it to me about 2.5~ weeks after we got married, although they don't seem to like to do this. If you have proof that you need it for immigration purposes, they will also strongly consider granting it to you early, but you have to bring in some sort of visa with an expatriation date for that.

Good luck!

If you are submitting an AOS "package" (meaning your i-485 WITH your i-130), it will cost you $1070 (i-485) + $420 (i-130)

You can find all of the fees for every application on the above listed link, just search for each document you filled out.

I do not know if it is necessary, but I believe it is perferred

I would look here to be sure!

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

hi i can't see the link you posted :/

oh! how frustrating!

This should work:

here

This is exactly how we wrote our cover letters and the order we submitted everything: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/220115-katieandmax/

Our case sounds like it may be a little bit different from yours so some documents may not be valid/you may need to add more in, but this might help give you an idea of how we worded things/placed things. We did not receive any RFE with this format. We had a cover letter for the "Main Package" (the very top letter of the whole thing), one for the i-130, and one for the 1-485.

Regarding how you two know each other, it is always better to be completely honest. I do not think it will pose any problems for you if you went to school together as children.

When you are doing your medical examination, you will need to have your proof of previous vaccinations so that they can add those to your medical exam document. (i-693)

In our case, (we were a f1 visa marrying a US citizen as well) the doctor did not need to keep a copy, nor did we need to submit any of the previous vaccinations/immunization documents, as they just added them to the official medical exam document (i-693). If your spouse already had their appointment with a verified civil surgeon, they will have already taken the proper vaccinations and information that they needed, and sealed the completed document for you to submit with your entire packet, I would assume. Just remember you may not re-open this document after the doctor has sealed it! Other than this packet, you do not need to submit any more medical documents.

Hope this helps clear it up for you a little bit.

As soon as they received the package, our AOS status on the website said "Ready to schedule interview." (for about 2 months total). After my husband had his biometrics appointment, It was about 5 weeks until we received a notification that our interview was scheduled, which followed 4 weeks later. They changed it on the website at that point too.

He received his EAD about 2 weeks before our interview. On the website it said "Case Received" for about 3 months until a week before he received the card when it changed to something like "New Card being Produced."

Take a look at my timeline if you want!

Hope it helps and good luck.

We just had our interview here in LA and it was SO quick! I am guessing you will have your interview there too since you live in the area! They did not ask about an engagement date or anything like that. We also equally decided to get married without any specific "asking" moment.

We were privately married under a tree in the hills of North Hollywood and had our later celebration with family about 6 months following that.

The whole AOS process went quite quick for us and we ended up getting called in for our interview 2 days after our "real" wedding celebration. We didn't even announce that we were engaged publicly because we didn't feel like having the attention. (our families of course knew as soon as we decided! But not social medias, etc) We simply waited until our planned date of celebration to announce and celebrate even if the interview fell somewhere in between there. It did not pose as any problem to them. Just be honest

We brought lots of photos, but it seems like the officer was mainly happy to see any photos of us traveling or with each others families. So I guess it would help to start gathering those now! Take photos of the two of you with family/friends as much as possible.

Maybe we were lucky, but we had an officer that was simple and to the point. She did not ask any prying questions or much at all, actually, other than how we met and why we decided to get married.

It went well and we got approved on the spot! The whole interview was about 10 - 15 minutes. Mainly the questions were asked to my husband, who is a Swedish citizen.

In our opinion, the interview part was the easiest of the entire process. The application is where difficulties arise, but as long as you are thorough and honest you should not have any problems.

Good luck!

Just wanted to give an update for anyone who many have a similar situation and stumble across this.

Today we had our interview at USCIS and were APPROVED! YAHOO! Now we wait eagerly at the mailbox for the GC to arrive.

We chose to do everything without a lawyer and did not receive any RFE during our process. So far from the day our full application was submitted until today's approval date, it has taken about 3 months.

Hope this helps someone.. because I know this forum has really helped us!

Hi there!

You have found the right place to get your answers. You can find pretty much anything you need on this forum, but we also found this book really helpful (even though it is very long) http://shaad.info/Tmp1/MarrVisa.pdf

2. I do not recall the application(s) asking in any way for an explanation as to why you live where you do, rather they just want to know where exactly it is and for how long.

3. On the application you will need to provide all places that you have lived for the past 5 years. It can be tedious, but it's better to include everything. Sometimes it wont all fit in the application, so you can make an extra sheet listing the different addresses and dates that you lived there. That's what we had to do.

4. The more accurate the information, the easier your process will be. Include anything you can. But, if for example it was a babysitting job you had 10 years ago that you worked twice a month, I would say it is not necessary.

5. Everything seems very overwhelming at first with this process, but I would say save your money for your big shindig wedding celebration instead. You have quite some time until you are getting married. With a lot of patience, time and research, it is completely doable by yourself.

Good luck!

Maybe this can help!

http://www.gooverseas.com/blog/complete-guide-to-internships-in-united-states-for-international-students

So we're sending this in tomorrow. Anyone with any last feedback, please?

Ah, thank you very much, Pitaya!

Hello!

We have over the past month used the information here on VisaJourney as well as the book "Fiancé & Marriage Visas" to put together our case and we're excited to say we're almost ready to send it away! You guys have been amazing, thanks so much for all of the information contributed!

Max is currently on his OPT F1-Student Visa and Katie is a born US Citizen. We've been together for nearly two years and got married in the beginning of September. We'll be applying for both the I-130 and the I-485 at the same time, so this is all in one major package.

We've been double and triple checking a lot, but could use another set of eyes. Below are the Cover Letters (Tables of content) for the main package as well as the two enclosed packages.

Main Package:

(OUR NAMES/ADDRESS/ETC)

October 25, 2015

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680- 4120

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a package containing an Immediate Relative (Spouse) Family Based Adjustment of Status Application with all applicable fees. Enclosed please find Katie's I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) on behalf of husband Maximiliam XX XX along with all supporting documents, including our G-325A's (Biographic Information), followed by Maximiliam's I-485 (Application to Adjust Status) along with all supporting documents, including I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record), I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), I-864 (Affidavit of Support), and G-325A (Biographic Information).

Please note our enclosed Form G-1145.

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and we understand

that we may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular Officer at a later date.

Sincerely

I-130 Package:

(KATIE XX XX/ADDRESS/ETC)

October 25, 2015

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680- 4120

To Whom It May Concern:

Enclosed please find my I-130 Petition for Alien Relative, on behalf of my husband (Maximiliam XX), and all supporting documents.

Contents include:

▪ Check: Payment in the Amount of $420

▪ Table of Contents

I-130 Petition for Alien Relative

▪ Copy of Passport (All pages)

▪ Copy of Spouse's International Birth Certificate (with English translation)

▪ Copy of Spouse's Passport's Biographic Data Page, Entry Stamps and Nonimmigrant F-1 Visa

▪ Copy of Marriage Certificate

▪ Copy of Divorce Decree

▪ Form G-325A (Biographic Information)

▪ One (1) Passport Style Photo

▪ Spouse's Form G-325A (Biographic Information)

▪ One (1) Passport Style Photo of Spouse

▪ Evidence of Bonafide Marriage:

▪ Copy of Lease Agreement for Current Joint Tenancy and Residence Confirmation Letter

▪ Copy of Lease Agreement for Prior Joint Tenancy

▪ Copy of Joint Bank Account Summary Letter (including date opened)

▪ Copy of Joint Bank Account Statement

▪ Copy of Shared Phone Plan

▪ Copies of Affidavit Affirming Marital Relationship From Family Members

▪ Copies of Joint Trips to Visit Family Members

▪ Photo From Wedding

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and I understand

that I may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular Officer at a later date.

Sincerely

I-485 Package:

(MAXIMILIAM XX XX/ADDRESS/ETC)

October 25, 2015

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

P.O. Box 805887

Chicago, IL 60680- 4120

To Whom It May Concern:

Enclosed please find Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status,

Form I-864 Affidavit of Support, Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization and all supporting documents.

Contents include:

▪ Check: Payment in the Amount of $1070 (Biometrics fee included)

▪ Table of Contents

I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

▪ Copy of International Birth Certificate (with English translation)

▪ Copy of Passport's Biographic Data Page, Entry Stamps and Nonimmigrant F-1 Visa

▪ Copy of Electronic Form I-94 (with Travel History)

▪ Copy of Marriage Certificate

▪ Copy of Spouse's Divorce Decree

▪ Two (2) Passport Style Photos

▪ Form G-325A (Biographic Information)

▪ Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record)

I-864 Affidavit of Support

▪ Federal Income Tax Return, Including W-2’s for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014

▪ Letter of Employment

▪ Copy of Bank Statements

▪ Copy of Most Recent Pay Stub (with accumulative wages to date)

▪ Copy of Passport's Biographic Data Page

I-765 Application for Employment Authorization

▪ Copy of Electronic Form I-94 (with Travel History)

▪ Copy of Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Card, front and back)

▪ Copy of I-797 (Employment Authorization Approval Notice, front and back)

▪ Copy of Social Security Card (front and back)

▪ Two (2) Passport Style Photos

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and I understand

that I may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular officer at a later date.

Sincerely

After having looked around, these cover letters as well as all of the Forms and supporting documents should make a good and strong case.

Does this look like a complete case, and is the layout of the package acceptable?

Thanks in advance from the both of us! We'll absolutely make sure to keep you guys updated on our process and will gladly share any information that could help out if we get approved!

/Katie & Maximiliam