longey

No, it should not affect it at all. As long as you file before the current GC expires you will be fine.

Adding longey to CSC list Congrats !! When is the Decision Date?

Sorry, should have added that. It's 5/14.

Hi all,

I've been lurking here on and off, but finally decided to recover my old account password. I'm a December filer (mailed 12/20, NOA dated 12/21) at the CSC, did biometrics on 1/13, and got my approval notice in the mail today (5/18). Woot!! And for what it's worth, the online status check still says "initial review" dated 12/21...

Anyway, it seems like things are starting to move, good luck to y'all!

Congrats to everyone who as approved! What a relief.

I kinda lost track, are all of us December filers done for now?

Indeed most things seem to have been answered, but just to make sure: Once they receive your application, *do not* leave the country until you have the AP! Reentering on your F1 will void your AOS application and can get you into all sorts of trouble.

That being said, if you apply now and don't forget anything important (i.e., don't get an RFE), chances are good you'll get your AP in time, it takes about 8 weeks for most people. Also, I'd say that you can save yourself the effort (and expenses) of getting a visa extension.

I LIVE IN RUSTON LOUISIANA WHERE IS MY LOCAL OFFICE.

Check this site, towards the bottom it lists the different kind of offices that USCIS has: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices

If you are looking for the local office for AOS interviews, you can enter your zip code on the bottom of this page: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=LO

Add one to the list of people who have received their green card in the mail.

Good luck to everyone with an upcoming interview!

Quick question: Did they ask to see the USC's birth certificate at the interview? My husband didn't have his and we didn't send it with the applications, and now he has ordered it but it still hasn't arrived. Our interview is in a week and I am worried it will not arrive in time. They said it takes 15 days, but 15 days have passed and nothing.

In our case the officer did not ask for my wife's US birth/naturalization certificate. But then again he didn't even check my birth certificate, let alone our passports.

We sent a bunch of additional things with our AOS package (photos, voided check from common account, etc.), only to be handed everything back at the interview because the officer "didn't need these"...

So in essence, there's no "best" option, it varies from case to case.

What about processing times?and this paperwork is all filed after the marriage? Is there anything needed before?

For myself and several others on this board it took about three months from mailing in the application to the approval at or shortly after the interview. So I'd say that's a reasonable estimate if there are no complications in your case (request for evidence etc.).

And yes, you need to get married first before you can file, since that will be the basis of the application.

You can start collecting documents and going over the different forms before your wedding, though.

My checks i think got cashed like a week after i sent the papers. Look at my timeline. But it's not unusual. i used money orders so they were instantly cashed but if you used personal check it usually takes 2 days to clear your account, and checks won't clear on weekends. Your good to go!

I second that, nothing happens within the first week. You know your application package has been delivered, so there's nothing to worry about. Just give it a few days.

Did he ask the standard i-485 questions about did you ever..blah blah blah?

No, not a word. The only thing he referred to from the application forms was our address...

I just returned from my interview. It was... weird, but eventually successful. *phew*

Schedule for 10:35, we arrive at 10:15 but don't get called in before 11:30 or so. The officer is not really friendly but also not rude (We had a bit of a hard time understanding him since he was slurring somewhat). He lead us to his office and asks us to have a seat. He proceeded to inform us that this it his last interview for the day and he hopes to keep it short (at this point I think to myself that is a good sign). He looked at our file, and confirmed our address. He asks to see our DLs and passports, but never actually looks at the passports. He picks up the DLs and notices that the addresses on them are not updated. I inform him that the CA DMV does not issue a new DL in case of an address change, but he says that's not true (quote from DMV website: "A new driver license, identification card or registration card is not issued when changing your address."). At this point he remembers that he needs to swear us in and does so.

He then hands us back a bunch of documents that we mailed with our initial application, including a set of 20 photos documenting our relationship and wedding day, since "he doesn't need those". I point out that I have a new passport since the old one expired in January, but he only waves his hand and says something along the lines of "don't bother unless I ask for it"...

He inquires about my studies (what program? which major?) and asks me to confirm my student status (I'm on F-1 visa) and I point to my valid I-20 and show my student ID. He says he needs to see a diploma, but I say I haven't graduated, so I don't have that. He asks for a curriculum and I say I didn't know that would be required. He goes on to give a little speech about how he has to confirm a) that that the marriage is real and b) that I have properly maintained my status. I point him to the recent (this academic year) signature on my I-20. While he looks at that I offer my payroll statement from last month (from the University) and start going through my folder to get it out. But before I can find it he says never mind and asks my wife how and when we first met. She says it was through mutual friends and I explain a bit more. He notes that it was only about 3 months after my initial arrival in the US and wonders if I had intended to come here to get married all along. I said no, I came to study and made friends in the process, and we also didn't actually get engaged until more than 2 years later.

He asks about other evidence and I show him our joint lease (which he should already have had on file, but he takes a copy anyway) and hand him a recent bank statement showing my wife and I as a joint owners (which we also already submitted in December). He asks for life insurance (which we don't have) and medical insurance (which comes through our respective jobs). I say I have a full set of wedding pictures if he's interested but again he waves his hands and tells me to just pick out two. I then offer other pictures of us visiting each other's families, but he's not interested. I take out our wedding venue rental contract which both our names on it, which he inspects and adds to the file. At this point he says "Oh, where's your I-94?" and I point to my expired passport, he takes it out and adds it to the file.

Lastly, he asks whether by any chance "there's a baby inside" my wife. We respond that we actually just had a home test come out positive and will see a doctor later this week (even though it could be a false positive, given my wife's medical history).

He then makes a few notes in the file and starts flipping through it, seemingly randomly and without actually paying attention. Finally, after a minute or two he, he says since we got married only recently he will approve me for a 2-year GC. I ask about removal of conditions but he basically cuts me off and points to a form he's filling out and says it's all on here.

He gets up and asks us to follow him, walks to the photocopier out in the hall and makes a copy of the form, which he hands then to me. Hurrying out behind him, I ask about a trip I have to make for work at the end of the month and how I should go about that. He just says "don't travel unless you have received your green card", to which I point out I might not get it in time, that the trip is for work and that the travel date is not up to me. He tells me to come back to their office in that case and bring the removal of conditions form with me. And with that we say goodbye and head out of the building...

Some things I found peculiar: The officer never had a look at our passports, my wife's naturalization certificate, or my birth certificate. He never really went over any of the information on the original application forms other than the address. I also had a bunch of other documents (tax stuff for 2009, etc.) that I didn't dare to bring up after he cut me off right at the beginning...

All in all, it was definitely a strange experience and quite different from what I had expected. But in the I'm just glad it's over, at least until 19 months from now.

Advantage: you save money and headache by avoiding the ROC process. (By the way, since the AOS process takes time by itself and the date you get approved is the one that counts, all you really need to wait is about 19 months.)

Disadvantage: if you get divorced, you missed a valuable opportunity to get a GC.

Another possible disadvantage: if you are married to a US citizen and try to reenter the US on a nonpermant visa (after travel abroad) you might get into trouble, i.e. worst case you might be refused entry.

According to the I-485 instructions, I believe, you only need to provide the criminal record if you've ever been arrested/convicted. Is this correct?

I believe that is correct, yes... don't know of anyone who had to provide their criminal record with the I-485.

Just to let you know:

1) I-864 goes with I-485 package...

2) I-131 with I-130 (I think lol)

3) 1 form G-325A with I-485 for beneficiary

4) 2 form G-325A with I-130 for USC and Beneficiary (one form each)

Sorry to nitpick again, but technically the I-131 goes with the I-485 as well, since you are the petitioner on both (as opposed to your USC spouse, which is the petitioner on the I-130). In the end, however, all of the above will be mailed in the same envelope...

Finally: Yes, definitely get the medical done and sent it in with the initial application package, to avoid a RFE and delays down the road.

Let me add my two cents here, how I understood things:

In theory (what's in the law) you are supposed to register your residence where you spend most of your time -- so if you are immigrating to the US that place will most probably not be Germany.

So yes, theoretically you should go to the Einwohnermeldeamt and file your Abmeldung. And while they won't necessarily take your German Personalausweis away, you will definitely not be able to get a new one when your current one expires some years in the future.

Now, in practice this is not strictly enforced and you don't have to do the Abmeldung, as long as you still maintain a place of residence in Germany -- and that could for example be your parents' house. You will still be able go to the German consulate/embassy in the US. But in that case the fee for passport renewals, for instance, is significantly higher than what you'd pay if you were abgemeldet in Germany.

DO NOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY unless you will file form I-131 with your AOS (another $305 added)... and this procedure may take a few months to be approved for you to leave the country.

besaangel is right, it is not wise to leave the country on your F-1 once you're married -- there's a chance you might not get back in.

However, filing the I-131 (to get the advance parole travel document) along with your I-130/I-485 does *not* incur an additional fee!

How come I never had any of these? Is there something wrong (my timeline is in the signature)?

No, nothing is wrong. The online status check is just optional, additional information and not necessarily accurate. In fact, especially "touches" often don't show up for many people, including myself.

What really matters is the stuff you get in the mail, in particular the interview notice (which you have).

I sent the package on 2/22, and there's been ZERO updates. It should be delivered today.. but with no updates.. I don't understand why? I've never sent certified mail.. does it behave differently?

USPS shipments sometimes get delayed and on top of that their online tracking is often notoriously inaccurate, so I wouldn't worry.

I actually had a similar problem, my application package was MIA for a week before it finally got delivered. I'm sure yours will get there soon, too.

Once you have sent off your application you'll get your NOA1. These are basically receipts saying that they have gotten your application and that you are 'in the system'. If you forgot to add something in, or there is some information missing or incomplete they will then be in touch for further information (a RFE). If you get a RFE it is my understanding you have a certain amount of time to get what they want to them.

This is almost correct (as far as I know, at least).

If some very elementary thing is wrong with your application (e.g., you forgot to sign a form or included the wrong or no payment) your package will be rejected right away and sent back to you -- without any NOA. You would then have to fix the problem and resubmit the complete application. Not dramatic, but delays things somewhat.

Issues with supporting documents (tax returns etc.) will be addressed through an RFE after they accepted the application and sent you the NOA, as stated by lovelyalex.

Dont travel on AP after interview it royally delays your green card production (it screws up their computer)...

So what if one has to travel after the interview but before receiving the green card? There's a good change that could be the case for me...

Btw Val marty i never received an email notification of the interview. just the letter that came today...

Indeed, my I-485 and I-130 online case status is still stuck in December, back when they first sent out the NOAs. And I received my interview notice in the mail about two weeks ago...

You mention you and your husband have a daughter? That's plenty of "evidence" right there.

Just to keep this thread alive: I also received emails today that my EAD card production has been ordered and that my AP approval notice has been mailed.