Sunil

I think I can add something here. A few years ago I was working together with a Russian gentleman originally from Leningrad (now St. Petersburg, Russia). I told me his story which sounds almost identical to yours. He had gone to the DeVry University campus in New York City, asking about his BSEE diploma. As soon as he opened his mouth, they had started telling him that his diploma is insufficient but he should not worry because they have just a perfect program in Information Technologies for him. And fill out an enrollment application right then and there and the bursar is right around the corner and what not. They had not even almost let him talk. He had walked out on them...

I think the morale of the story is that beware, they are trying to sell here... Not necessarily what you want but where they have vacancies. Also, the educational system here is bit messy. Every school and college pretty much makes their own rules as they go. If they told you they can't do what you want that's probably because they are not interested in having you with them for a few semesters only. You said that you wanted to learn and they smelled the money, that's why they started to "guide" you towards the Masters. For your Masters you need to be with them for at least 4-5 semesters and that's longer and more income for them.

My advice, shop around some more, much more. Contact as many schools as possible. There could still be one that lets you build on what you already have...

Regards,

-Sunil-

Hello fellow VJers,

Need your advice again. I filed the whole AOS shabang for my wife on Dec 21st and it was delivered on 23rd. Got receipts from the USCIS dated Dec 28th. Received her BIO appointment for Jan 18th, dated Jan 04th. To this date they have not cached the checks (we sent two, one for $355, the other one for $1010). We got a tad worried but I read here that because they are behind, some folks have waited for over a month for their checks to be cached. So we just waited. Today we received two emails from them stating that "...because the fee payment was returned by the bank due to insufficient funds.", both for I-130 and I-485. And they've stopped processing... WTH???

I just called the bank and all the money is still there... Looks like they have just plain lost our checks... Moreover, the bank lady said that no one had even tried to cash anything... We're perplexed.

What's the best course of action? We're a little worried 'cause if they stopped processing her case, will her BIO appointment for this coming Friday go through or will the fingerprinters see that her case has been stopped and send her back without fingerprinting...

Should we just call the bank and have the two checks already sent to them voided and send two new ones????? Please advise...

Sunil

PS. I tried to call the 800 number provided but couldn't get through to any human operator, any which way I tried... Is there a way?

Yes it is, do everything how they looking for, I did too!!!

You don't need certified copy? I just sent regural copies!

Thank you saratara,

Sunil

A few more questions. I'm reading the step-by-step guide how to file an I-130 for a spouse in the US. I little further down is checklist for I-485. I'm going over both of them and I noticed this: with I-130 it says to file my G-325A and my wife's G-325A. With I-485 it says to file my wife's G-325A. We want to file off both packages together. Does it mean that we have to send essentially 3 copies of G-325A?

Also, I-130 wants one photo of me and one of her. Then I-485 wants two photos of her. Is it all accumulative, e.g. 1 photo of me and 3 of her???

Another one; on I-130 checklist it says CERTIFIED copy of either one of us divorce documents, on I-485 checklist it says just a copy. Does it mean two copies and do they have to be certified. Where do you get a certified copy anyway?

Thanks,

Sunil

Thanks a lot for the information. I guess I'll get on it and start working on the package. If I run into something I can't figure out, I'll come back here. This is one great site here!

Sunil

Thanks for getting back to me. And thanks for the kind words. Saratara, I don't understand a few points in your post.

First, are you sure that we don't have to pay the penalty? Not that we want to pay but my understanding from reading the instructions was that her overstay made her ineligible for adjustment under normal conditions (after all, she is no longer in status) but these can be overcome by paying the penalty. I don't want to argue by no means, don't get me wrong here. This path is all unknown to me.

Second, you said that since we've been married for 2.5 years, she'll get her GC in 10 years. Why 10? Getting a GC in her status takes 7.5 years?

Finally, why can't she apply for AP (I-131)? I'm sorry; I'm still new at this. Please elaborate.

Also, on a different note, I have a question about filling out I-864. In part 2 it lists the principal immigrant, that is, her. In part 3, I put a check on line 8 where I confirm it. Then I put 1 (her) on line 10 where it asks about the total number. Next, when I move on to part 5, line 21, things get strange. I carry 1 person (her) over from 10, in box a. Box b is for me or 1. Box c "if you are currently married" I guess I have to put another 1 (I'm married to her). So that makes THREE PEOPLE in our household with only two people, me and her. What am I doing wrong, where should I leave the checkmark out? Maybe you can shed some light on this.

Thank you,

Sunil

Hello,

I want to ask for advice before I possibly do something silly. I have done some reading but looks like the laws have got a whole lot tougher.

I am a naturalized US citizen and want to file the whole Adjustment of Status package for my wife of 2.5 years now. As I said, I have done a fair amount of reading but I don't to mess up with the paperwork. So maybe you guys here can clarify.

My wife entered the US as a visitor back in 2005. She didn't come here to marry me. But we met, fell in love and got married the same year. After studying the necessary forms I discovered I couldn't file because I was unemployed at the time and our bank account didn't cover the necessary gap to sponsor her. I started looking for a normal job but then got sick. I knew before I had a health problem, just didn't know it would come to haunt me. I went to the hospital, had a surgery (the health insurance from my last job covered it, thank God) and luckily, my problem got fixed. While all of this was happening, her visitor visa ran out. Then I got a temporary job to support us that lasted through late 2005 and all of 2006.

Starting 2007 I went to school to improve our lives through better employment. The school went well, I got certified, and now I finally got a real, nice job in the field I was employed in for 6 years before meeting my wife. Now I can easily qualify as a sponsor and I also have a statement from my employer, on company stationery and all.

We have been happily married for almost 2.5 years, nicely together and want to continue. We have a better apartment and a better job. Turns even out that our joint tax filing for 2006 satisfies the 125% poverty level requirement. Financially, I could file now but ... she's been out of status for close to 2 years now :-(

I was under the assumption that I could file for her adjustment paying the $1000 penalty (I think it was form I-485A). I don't want to do anything wrong, I realize I already did but I don't want to make it any more worse...

Can we file and do we stand any kind of chance with the adjudicating officer? Or is everything lost?

Any advice, please! I’m sorry if this has been asked over and over again.

Sunil