Mrs Thor

Ahhh sorry i was on my mobile when I answered earlier, and missed that this is Philippines. So indeed no, nothing to do but wait.

*** Green Card Approved!! ***

I wanna share our case, because in the process of doing it I have seen SO MUCH misinformation that is scary. If we had listened to many lawyers and people in forums we would have not get this process done right. Always look for information in the official immigration page, sometimes it’s hard to understand, but everything is in there.
I am a Legal Permanent Resident petitioning for my spouse, F1 International Student Category: F2A I-130 PD: October 27, 2017 I-485 and I-765 sent: July, 2018 Bio-metrics Done: August, 2018 I-485 Ready to be Scheduled for Interview: August, 2018 I-130 Transfer Notice: September, 2018 (it was in California Center and was sent to NBC because when you apply for I-485, I-130 will be approved along with I-485 at time of Interview) EAD Received: December, 2018 My spouse notified the school that a change of status was being processed and they changed her from International Student to Regular Student and SEVIS I-20 was terminated *** I will get back to this *** I-485 Interview Scheduled: July, 2019 Interview Date: August 30, 2019 Approved on Spot. Passport stamped with temporary green card. Told us that green card will be sent in 4 to 6 weeks.
Now going back to my spouses student visa being cancelled AFTER I-485 was already being processed. I can’t tell you HOW MANY PEOPLE told me I was wrong, because I wasn’t a US Citizen and my spouse needed to maintain status until interview was done. I argued A LOT with them and now I can tell you with proof THAT IS INCORRECT.

Even if you are married to a Permanent Resident, as long as you were in legal status at the time that I-485 was sent, then if your visa expires, it’s NOT a problem because you were IN LEGAL STATUS at the time of application. Please DON’T listen to people or lawyers telling you otherwise because it is incorrect.

My spouse took one semester off and graduated two weeks ago. It is important that you continue your studies as the officer asked if studies were completed. Even as a regular student, that shows the officer you came with a student visa because you really wanted to study and graduate. Otherwise it may show your intentions were not sincere.

Also, you don’t need to wait until I-130 is approved to apply for I-485. If your I-130 has been received and you have a receipt notice, and the Visa Table for Filling Applications is current for your priority date, you can go ahead and apply for I-485 and I-765.

The interview went smoothly. It took us 1 hour, but only because the officer was really nice and talked to us a lot. She asked a few questions, not too many. She went through the paper work, took some extra information from us, and then told us that our relationship definitely seemed valid. Told us that green card was approved, stamped the passport and told us we would get green card in the mail in 4 to 6 weeks.
That was it. We took A LOT of things with us, because I’m the kind of person that rather have more than less and if she didn’t request it then that was fine. But everything we took as proof of relationship she kept it all.

I hope this experience is helpful to you! We are very happy and thankful to God for His help and wisdom while going through this process.

I believe you both should file I-130 and I-485 concurrently like what me and my husband did. She has to stay here in US while the case is still processing and cannot work until the EAD is recieved. 

Easy there, my friend. Be careful with those words. I hear this a LOT with foreigners (even people in my wife's country says this). And to honest, it grinds my teeth. Because it is furthest from the truth.
 
But the truth is Americans don't send money to parents at the same rate as people in countries like the Philippines because there are less parents needing financial assistance in America. I read that in the Philippines money being sent from OFW makes up the 20% of the country's GDP. Think about that for a second. And the biggest export in the PHL is workers, hence the name OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker).
 
When people make statements like Americans don't take care of their parents it can be taken the wrong way. My mother is an educated profession who owns two houses. Why would I need to send her money? How many parents you know were able to work until retirement?
 
There are very few pensions, 401k's, IPO's, and social security in developing countries. So why do Americans get criticized because we don't move our parents in one of our home when they turn 50 or 60, when those parents still have an active lifestyle?
 
The truth is that Americans DO TAKE CARE OF OUR PARENTS. The difference is when the time comes. My mother is doing very well financially and with health. But if there is ever a time where she can't do for herself (I'm hoping it will not be for a very long time), my siblings and I will be there to take care of her every need.

I understand how you feel. It is our culture as Filipinos. Although I dont send monthly money to my family in Philippines, I personally feel I want to have my own money. I too am paying for the home mortgage even though my name isn't in there. I devise an arrangement for us. We have 3 accounts all joint accounts.
1st account is our joint checking account - this is where our salary goes to. This will hold all expenses. Mortgage, Car Loans, Bills, Groceries, Shopping, Splurge, Fancy Dining, etc 2nd account is joint savings account#1- although it is still joint account, this is where i place 50% of my husband's salary. literally 50% of what he earns. that way he can splurge on whatever he wants. he can blow this one in the casino if he chose to.  3rd account is another joint savings account. - this is where i place 50% of what i earn. my husband has full access on this one. he can empty it out if he chose to. i use this account to treat him or buy him gifts so that he wont feel he is paying for his own gift. i also use this account should i choose to give/send money to philippines.  I adjust the savings portion depending on our monthly expense. if we go out of town, i save less in a month. but, regardless, it's the same percentage on both accounts. 
 
it's joint but somewhat segregated because my husband and i have different financial views. i'm the saver and investor while my husband is neutral about money.  Also, I had been financially independent in terms of money long before we got married and he respects this. 
 
i had also discussed this topic before marriage. i told my husband that whenever we get married, not a penny would be taken out from his pocket to be sent to Philippines. though I don't send every month but sometimes i give my parents gifts here and there. and i dont want my husband to feel bad or to feel robbed in anyway possible. gladly, it's working for us. 
 

kids need to be in school / i think we all agree
and here the illegals are even allowed (and the school does not call ICE about the family)
 
Under federal guidance, K-12 public schools cannot ask about a child's immigration status and, even if they do know, staff must treat them no differently than U.S. citizen students

Not worried about it because they want delay your case that happens with everybody and this problems have a name , this name is Stephen Miller he is a person order to delay all case 

This is still an abusive relationship. Financial , emotional , psychological abuse. I would need to read the VAWA guidelines to check their definition , but this is an abusive relationship  

You can read about the AOS here. It's $1225 and can be done without a lawyer but not without your husband. But if you are feeling that bad and feel they treat you bad maybe it is better to go back home and start over wouldn't that be better then living here unhappy?
 
https://www.uscis.gov/i-485

That's sad to hear. The best thing to do is to communicate and tell your husband about our filipino culture of helping our parents. In here, I believe once you're married, you have no accountability to your parents and just to focus on your kids. His kids are your kids already, so probably he thinks supporting his children and your child should be prioritiezed. 
 
On my part, I am currently going through an opposite thing. Everytime I talk to mom over videocall, she pressures me a lot of sending money and supporting them. She demands to send a huge amount of money (to think I am not working yet cause I am still waiting for my EAD) for my brother's school fees and allowances, as well as sending our tithe to the ministry (my parents are pastors and my mom wants me to send my tithe to them cause the church that we go to here in US has enough money), and send money for her monthly loan in the Philippines. My husband agreed to help me with my brother's school fees, but he's hesitant about sending too much for my mom. I am torn between my mom and my husband. My husband is so generous and loving, but he also thinks we have to start saving to establish since we just got married this year.
 
Anyway, I just felt your stress and pressure. Just talk to your husband about it. Everything's going to be alright. 

thank you for this! i will definitely check the bank. this is such a great help!

Yes.  we got one (1) notarized and made 4 copies.  It was returned to us with a letter that all 5 must be motorized.  We are in Arizona where things are not as insane as in Cal, so we took the ROM back to our bank, and the clerk notarized all 5 pieces, and entered them in the book while we waited.  Total fee for notarizing:  $0.00   If you have bank accounts, check the bank first.  At most it could be like 5 to 7 bucks I would guess for you.
 

True! Was frustrated the first time we read the letter, but we gotta do what we gonna do instead of complaining. Thank you!

We did ours by mail.  Easy peasy 

We never do things the normal way!  We did the ROM in Hong Kong the next day the consulate was open.They said it would take 12 weeks for the passport so we skipped it then.  After we got to Mexico Mary did the passport.  It took about a week to get it back.
 
I've helped a few do it in LA.  Basically they got an early am appointment for the ROM, had lunch and then an afternoon appointment for the passport.  Yes getting an appointment is a challenge.

Check the I-94 online. That's the official date to go by: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search

This is the cover letter of our application. Hope this could help as your guide and checklist when you submit yours. Go to the USCIS website to get their forms and read their instruction booklet. Try watching videos in YouTube like Immigration Guru to help you assemble your packet. 

If you do want to stay, get married ASAP! It will take a while for you to get your marriage certificate (requirement for the AOS application). You can go through the Adjustment of Status where you both file I-130 and I485 (Concurrent Filing). It will cost more or less $ 2000. After you submit the concurrent application,  it will take 7 - 10 days for you to recieve notice from USCIS. Waiting is the hardest part of this process. I am going through the same thing right now, and I am just at home all the time. No work. Can't drive. Very bored.  

You can make 2 same day appointments to do this.   First to do the report of marriage and a later one for a new passport.

Thank you a lot for your time and all the information! 

Sorry .. my incorrect interpretation of “ me and my family “ 
 
You need to do a lot of reading regarding both the Adjustment of Status  process and the Consular  process. It’s a long expensive process either way ..the  reality of what waiting for the work Authorization and travel Authorization is really like us often overlooked.  No work , no driving , so study , no income ... it can be done but it’s only easy on dreams and it puts a huge strain on even solid relationships. It breaks couples who thought they were unbreakable  
You’ll find the AOS guide under the Guides tab .. it’s going to cost around $1200 to file .. that should be done ASAP.. then add medical exam fees , vaccinations etc. and that’s just the first of several
strps to getting your unconditional green card. You won’t be denied because you overstayed your allowed visitors stay .. but until you have filed and received your notice that they have received it , you will be illegal.. an illegal alien .. and can be deported.  Low risk yes .. but huge consequences to ever living or visiting the US again soon. 

Not applicable to your case. Only applicable to cases that go through consular processing.

You don’t need to inform the DSO and they won’t be changing your status. You just go through AOS process independently.

Yeah... I think most of us are from ph.😇

We are still waiting for the mail we just recieved the receipt number from the uscis last thursday...😇