IJJ

Double congratulations! So glad this went so smooth for you!! 

Double congratulations! So glad this went so smooth for you!! 

Hi! I used a lot of vj information to filed for aos and I wanted to share with you my experience and my aos package.
 
I'm from Argentina and I came to America in November with a J1 visa (summer work travel program), after dating my husband for a year, we got married on May 7th. According to my visa, I had to go back home before June 30th and even though I married a US citizen and I knew if I overstayed it was going to be waived, I was still so worried that I filed for AoS asap (June 19th).
A few things I'm going to say before I talk about my application is that I think 50% was pure luck, it was filing at the right time and date. The other 50% making sure nothing in my application could make the officer doubt and ask for more information or evidence. I made sure everything was disclosed and explained, it must have been either a pain in the ### or a blessing for whoever that took my case cause it was 400 pages long lol. Also the fact that my office was Reno helped a lot, I went twice for biometrics and interview and there was no one, the parking lot was empty, so they're pretty low on cases there. I didn't get help from a lawyer 'cause I considered my case was simple, it wasn't worth the money, we were on lockdown so I didn't have much else to do but getting obsessed with sending the perfect application, visiting hundreds of VJs topics and watching youtube videos. 
 
Another thing, specifically for I130 is that I was scared because my husband and I are in our early 20s, we got married a year after meeting each other, 7 months out of those 12 we were in a long distance relationship, he still lived with his parents, we both had part time jobs, we don't own anything, so we had to prove our love by telling them our story. How meant to be we are, how we clicked instantly, how we talked 3 hours a day every day, how I told him he could come to visit me and the next day he went to get his passport and bought flight tickets to see me, how we can't imagine being away from each other, that we did it for 7 months and we don't want to do it ever again, how we have plans for the future, etc. Our bonafide evidence was full of stories and we attached them with tickets, passes, reservations, photos, invitations. By the time of the interview we did gather a lot of primary evidence and the officer that interviewed us was more than pleased.
 
 
 
This was my package main cover letter
 
 
I had to explain a few things when I filed:
1. During a road trip all my forms of identification were stolen, so I lost my passport with my visa stamp and my country ids. Thankfully, I was able to get an emergency passport and sent that in the package with an explanation of what happened and secondary proof that I was here legally such as letters from my sponsors, employers, job reviews and flight tickets.
 
2. I was given an extension of my visa because of the pandemic, so I sent a letter from my sponsor that explains the extension and extra information on why I was given this extension (the borders of my country were closed and all my flights were canceled)
 
3. My husband was a dependent of him mom for 2017 tax returns so we wrote a letter that his mom signed.
 
4. I944 was intense haha, we couldn't get IRS transcripts before sending the application because at that time IRS offices were closed, so we sent the biggest WE TRIED letter, where we stated that we received no answer from IRS so we were going to send 1040s and W2s.
 
5. We didn't have a credit score or report because none of us has credit cars, loans, car, leases, anything. We're still pretty young and we haven't thought all that out yet (we should soon). So we explained that, we sent transunion letter saying we didn't have any of that, screenshots of the experian website saying they couldn't find me and I tried to get a credit card online and I didn't qualified.
 
6. For Education, I did an evaluation of my college transcripts with a NACES authorized agency (IEE), also I graduated from college but I came to America before i could sign my diploma so I don't have my diploma with me and that's the way I can prove I graduated, what I sent to prove I graduated was a certified letter by my college that stated that I did in fact finish college. The evaluation agency wrote that my degree was incomplete because they didn't accept the certified letter but I sent everything in my I944, cause why not.
 
7.I didn't send proof I know how to speak Spanish because that's my native language and in my transcripts from school we don't call Spanish classes that, we call them Language classes. I wrote a letter swearing I know Spanish and that's it.
 
When I filed I was afraid that my husband's tax return were going to look bad, because in 2019 he made a little over the percentage he had to make to sponsor me, in 2018 he made half of that percentage and in 2017 he was a minor and was a dependent of his mom. Still I sent all that information because if I disclosed it first it means I'm ahead of any questions they can ask us. That's just my mindset, I know a lot of people believe it's better to just put the last tax return information and that's fine. Also when we filed, my husband was unemployed and so was I (pandemic related), so we sent his last pay stubs and that's all. (He did have a part time job but that didn't make enough to support me at that time and he didn't file for unemployment)
 
Another thing is that (PLEASE DONT DO IT) I worked in the past unauthorized, this was way before I met my husband and I didn't think of the consequences, I had no idea at some point it could come back to bite me. So, I disclosed it, I said from what date to what date and in I485 I said yes to working unauthorized and violating the terms of conditions of my nonimmigrant status.
 
 
So this was my timeline
 
 
and here's what I sent the June 2020 filers group and hour after the interview:
 
 
 
And that's it. Right now, I have a job offer and I'm waiting for my green card to arrive. I'm excited about the winter, being with my husband without having to think of visas, uscis, forms, is great. I did get only the conditional green card, so in 2 years I'll have to do this again hahah.
 
I hope this long post helps you, please let me know if you have any questions, this was my experience, probably had a few mistakes, it's not perfect, I was just very lucky this process went as smoothly as it did. Thank you thank you thank you VJ members for answering all my questions and giving me so much information!
 
 
 
 

Hello IJJ,
Thank you for your suggestion. I wanted to apply for an EB-2 NIW and I actually contacted an immigration law firm about this but unfortunately I don't have the required national reputation/impact, yet. As it seems now, I will continue to work in Germany for another year or so, maybe during this time I can build up some additional reputation. I will also take part in the diversity lottery during this time
 

Not sure if anyone in the thread mentioned, EB-1 and EB-2 NIW visas do not require you to have a job here. 

I self submitted for my EB 1 GC. It was a ton of work but I did receive my GC without any RFEs and saved about $7K. 

We were consulting with a lawyer (without company sponsorship) between filing an EB-1 or EB-2 NIW. Our lawyer suggested EB-2 NIW. Reason being that it is easier to get through than EB-1. My husband has a PhD (from a US University) and won some prizes but his amount of publications was not impressive (<15). The lawyer said we could go for it but it is a safer bet for EB-2 NIW. We took 3-5 months to prepare all the documents with the help of the lawyer and got all references. Started in late Oct 2018 and filed I-140 on Feb 2019. I-140 was approved in Sept 2019 and we proceed to file I-485 in Oct 2019. We just got our I-485 approved. No RFE and no interview for us. 
 
There are some lawyers who give you free consultations to tell you what they prefer. No obligation at all. We spoke to 2 before we decided on EB-2 NIW and who to use. I suggest you contact them for some ideas. If you need contact/recommendations, let me know. Our lawyer package for I-140 was "Approved or refund".

Congratulations!!!!!
I got mine approved today without the interview as well!

Wish you get through soon. It came as a surprised. My husband moved to CA for a new job just 2 weeks and we remain here in GA. I was still getting nervous about where the interview would be. For one who hardly win any lucky draw, guess we do get lucky sometimes.

Wish you get through soon. It came as a surprised. My husband moved to CA for a new job just 2 weeks and we remain here in GA. I was still getting nervous about where the interview would be. For one who hardly win any lucky draw, guess we do get lucky sometimes.

Your best option is to be transparent and disclose it  - better to explain what happened then risk being caught in a lie - 

I can’t tell for the GC yet. We are still waiting. Our previous experience with cards, they came within 2 weeks most time. Once, husband’s EAD got lost in the Usps mail. Tracking said delivered but it was never in our mailbox. We reapplied first it. 

Received an update on our I485s this morning. Our interview was cancelled in Mar 2020 and thought it will be awhile to wait for the interview to be scheduled again. With this new update, does it mean out GCs are approved without interview?
 
New Card Is Being Produced
On July 10, 2020, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number MSCxxxxxxxxxx, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
 
03/26/2020
We cancelled the scheduled interview for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
 
01/28/2020
We are ready to schedule your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for an interview.
 
12/04/2019
The fingerprints relating to your Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, were taken.
11/05/2019
We accepted the fingerprint fee for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Our National Benefits Center location is working on your case.
10/28/2019
We received your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

The adults should update their status with SSA and get new cards without the restriction.  Kids should apply for SSNs. 

You'll want to got to the SSA office and get new cards once your AOS is approved (as a permanent resident, your card won't have any restricting language), but there's no major urgency about it. The number will remain the same. You probably could have filed for an EAD for your kids (yes, it's weird) to get an SSN for them; in normal times, I'd think you were probably close enough to AOS approval to not bother, but that might not be the case right now. Otherwise, go to an SSA office once their AOS is complete (and SSA offices are open) to apply for an SSN (and get cards) for them.

Umm..  not automatic

I updated our AR-11 and 2 days later, our status were updated to "Cards are being produced" and "Your case is approved". We just received our 797 in our new address, the USCIS updated the new address the same day we applied. I also informed the new residents of the old address to help us receive any mails from USCIs so we would not worry about losing any important document.
 
 

Congratulations! 😀

Our interview was scheduled for March 27th and it was cancelled March 19th. Still our status shows 'waiting to schedule interview'. I'm hoping that soon something will move and we'll be able to move on.
Congrats on your case

Welcome to the "lucky ones" club!!! Mine also got approved without interview. Most likely we will have an interview for ROC, but I am not worried. Congrats!!!

That’s great new!  No interview!  Congratulations to you both. 

Congratulations!!! 

Received an update on our I485s this morning. Our interview was cancelled in Mar 2020 and thought it will be awhile to wait for the interview to be scheduled again. With this new update, does it mean out GCs are approved without interview?
 
New Card Is Being Produced
On July 10, 2020, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number MSCxxxxxxxxxx, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
 
03/26/2020
We cancelled the scheduled interview for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.
 
01/28/2020
We are ready to schedule your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, for an interview.
 
12/04/2019
The fingerprints relating to your Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, were taken.
11/05/2019
We accepted the fingerprint fee for your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status. Our National Benefits Center location is working on your case.
10/28/2019
We received your Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

Thank you!

One interview per application.   If in GA, he must travel.   If CA, you must.