bollandista

Hi everyone! I'm a newbie here.

I'm a F-1 student on OPT, which will be expired on Jun. And I just got married with my baby recently, we are still waiting for the certified marriage cert to come in the mail.

So what do we have to file? Do we file the I-130 packet and I-485 packet at the same time? Like mailing them in together?

Or do we have to go down to the office together?

And my OPT's EAD will expired in June. Do you guys think I'm gonna get another EAD by then if I file both of the packets as soon as we get the marriage certification?

I'm very confused... I hope someone here could give me some suggestions.

Thank you~

Hi

You should File for I-130, I-485 and I-765 (for employment) and (if you want it) I-131 (advance parole - for travel) altogether as soon as you can. You have to file by mail. I was also on an F-1 visa and had no choice but to mail my application to the Chicago Lockbox.

You may get EAD by June but that's not guaranteed as it usually takes 90 days. It depends exactly when your OPT expires and how fast your application is processed. Some people do receive EADs very quickly, others have to wait much longer. My advice is that you file as soon as you can. It's very important that you file for the EAD at the same time as you adjust status. There's a possibility that you can ask them to expedite your case based on financial hardship but there's no guarantee it will work.

Good Luck!

B

We filed on Feb 12th, our package was signed for on the 18th of the same month. They finally cashed our checks on MARCH 20th.

Like you we were completely panicked. We called our lawyer, USCIS (multiple times) and even saw our congresswoman. Of course the situation was made worse by seeing all these people who filed after us getting NOAs, biometrics appointments and their EADs.

Just wait it out a little longer and your receipts will come. I know it's awful but this does happen to a lot of people.

Just think, when they arrive you will have a whole new thing to worry about. Namely the fact that your receipt numbers don't show up online!

Good Luck

B.

Thanks everyone for the responses. It's good to become better informed about this. I really handed considered some of the advantages.

I think now maybe I'll go for dual citizenship. Just as you never know if the US will pull the rug out form under your feet you never know when the political situation might be better somewhere else...

B.

Hi

So I'm new and I can't help but notice how many people really want to be citizens. Is there anyone here who wants to be an LPR but really couldn't care less about citizenship.

I'm proud to be English and while I want to live with my husband and work here I don't really want to be a citizen. In fact I really don't want to be a citizen. Nothing against America but I'm English. I'm happy to have a green card (well a permanent one) and not vote.

Am I the only one? Am I missing something about the benefits of citizenship?

B.

P.S. As an insight into my personality... I also didn't take my husband's name. Unlikely to take his citizenship.

I filed my whole package (130, 485, 131, 765) 50 days ago. My case is processed at National Benefit. I did biometrics 12 days ago.

I need to go home, my dad is in critical situation. I called USCIS customer service for expediate service and they gave me a target date April 5th. But I am afraid I can't wait that long. My question is: can I go to local office to get emergency AP even if my case is processed by National Benefit???

thanks!!

I am sorry to hear about your Father, this must be a very stressful an upsetting situation for you.

Yes you can apply in person. You will need to make an appointment with Infopass at your local USCIS Office. They won't just let you show up. You will also need proof that your Father is sick (doctor's letter)

Once you have an appointment take two passport photos, copies of your application package and your receipts.

Good Luck!

B

Welcome to VJ and looks like things are off to a good start.

Thanks so much everyone. It took us over a month to get our NOAs but now I have advance parole!

Thanks! Just to reassure anyone in the same boat. They were very nice. I just gave them my doctors letter, copies of my AOS, I-131, I-130, my passport and two passport photos. They gave me a 90 day emergency advance parole then and there. They did, however, make me pay the $305 fee and it's only for 90 days. But whatever I can go home!

Only 90 days? Strange. Even stranger... a fee. When you applied for your AOS, did you not pay the full $1,010? Congratulations on getting the AP, though.

Oh no I paid the full $1,010. Apparently I will get another 2 year I-131 automatically. I didn't really understand why I had to pay the fee but frankly when standing before the immigration officer all my usual assertiveness dissipates. I was so afraid that they would deny me advance parole I didn't dare say anything!

Good luck on your appointment, Bollandista. The officers were very helpful and professional when I went to request emergency AP.

Thanks! Just to reassure anyone in the same boat. They were very nice. I just gave them my doctors letter, copies of my AOS, I-131, I-130, my passport and two passport photos. They gave me a 90 day emergency advance parole then and there. They did, however, make me pay the $305 fee and it's only for 90 days. But whatever I can go home!

My name is Rachel Marie, I married Andrew, a Canadian citizen from Newfoundland in (technically) April 2007 in Fort Myers, FL. (We had a religious ceremony in Canada on August 25th.)

Due to lots of ####### on our lawyer's end (I had to send paperwork corrected TWICE because of the gross misspellings... "theatre" spelled "threatrer" being one example), our process has been delayed. But it looks like we're FINALLY getting somewhere.

I just received my I-130 receipt. Because my lawyer's doing all the nitty gritty work, I kind of have no idea what's happening, and would love some help as to what's going to happen next/where we're going.

All in all, I hope to have my husband down here soon! We've known each other for almost six years now, and every minute apart is becoming more and more unbearable!

Thanks!

--Rachel Marie

Hi Rachel

Congrats!

We have had the same experience our lawyer can't spell my husband's family name. When we called him about it he blamed his secretary and then said it wouldn't affect our filing. Well gee if I knew you could misspell your own name and everything would be great I would have filed my own paperwork and saved thousands of dollars!

I'm sorry you've had problems with your lawyer's typos. Not what you hired him for, I expect

B

Hi Everyone

This is SUCH a great site. I think I check it more than email which is A LOT

I am a grad student soon to be professor from the UK. My husband is also a student and has wisely decided to flee academia for corporate finance. We got married Feb. 11th and filed for AOS immediately. We are hoping to have a religious ceremony in the UK over the summer. Fingers crossed for everything to work out.

Ironically, I could have gotten an H-1B visa through the university I will be working at. come September It would have been a cinch to apply <sigh>

B.

Hi Everyone

I'm new and this is my second post in as many minutes. I have been using these forums (fora?) as emotional life-support.

I have an infopass appointment for emergency advance parole tomorrow. I am a transplantee and need to receive follow up care in the UK (every hospital is different when it comes to aftercare). I have a doctors letter to this effect but I am still anxious they will deny me advance parole.

Can those who have applied in person for emergency advance parole let me know what to expect? I know this depends on the particular officer etc etc but some reassuring 'it's not that bad' would be great.

Anxiously yours,

Bollandista.

Hi I'm new here but an avid reader of the posts. What else is there to do when your receipts numbers aren't in any system anywhere?

I have applied for AOS, I-131, I-130, EAD. I have receipts. I also have a Connecticut driver's license and a restricted SSN card from my time as an F-1.

Will I have problems getting an Indiana Driver's license? Should I try and keep my CT license as long as possible?

Any advice gratefully received!

B.

P.S.

This site is great is satiates my desire to do something while I wait.