AdamNewfoundland

Thank you! I completely overlooked that paragraph!

Thanks for the information!

Adam

The welcome letter does mention the requirement to remove conditions:

"Your new card will expire two years from when you became a permanent resident. By law your resident status is conditional, and you must apply to remove those conditions before your card expires. We recommend you apply several months before your card expires."

The process involves filing an I-751 form within 90 days of the expiration of your card. Don't file before that window of time unless you're asking for a waiver of the joint filing requirements. The VJ guide for filing the I-751 is here:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/751guide

There's also a separate forum for removing conditions here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/86-removing-conditions-on-residency-general-discussion/

Hello, everyone!

I came here early this year (in February), wondering what I was supposed to do, since I was here in the States on a TN status and getting married in Newfoundland in August.

Several helpful VJers steered me away from my initial "plan" (getting a K-3 visa, which, as it turns out, would have led me directly to unwitting immigration fraud - yikes!). I was advised to get married here in New York, set in motion my green card process, and hopefully have everything settled before the family wedding in August.

Long story short, everything worked out, my application was accepted and processed with no problems, I got my green card, we had a fantastic wedding in Newfoundland (with a lovely second reception in Iowa for her family that couldn't make it), and we're happily slogging away at life here in New York.

Long story long....

After getting some much-needed nuts-and-bolts advice from SoCal-Canuck on how to actually assemble my application package, I filled a large envelope with an I-130, 4 copies of G-325A, an I-693, I-765, I-131, copies of our passports and birth certificates, photos, affidavits, proof of joint savings, marriage certificate, and a load of money. Phew!

A few weeks later, I received several notices in the mail, one for each of my applications. (Permanent Residency, Employment Authorization Document, Travel Document.) I made an Infopass appointment to get Emergency Parole for a trip home to Newfoundland, both to settle certain details regarding our family wedding, and also to visit my grandmother, who had recently been moved into a retirement community after breaking her hip and suffering a minor stroke. After jumping through some more hoops (it turns out the birth certificate I've been carrying around, which got me my TN status, as well as my passport and visa for Taiwan in 2003, is not suitable for proving blood relations, so I had to get my mother to get the "long-form" birth certificates from the Department of Health in Newfoundland.), I was granted advance parole. (And thank God for that; I spent 8 days in Newfoundland on that trip in March and April, and got to see my grandmother every day. She passed away at the end of April, so the wedding in August would have been far too late for me to visit.)

I received my EAD and Travel Document in the mail soon after coming back from Newfoundland. On June 2nd, Katie and I went in for our interview. It was smooth and easy; we brought several photos of our travels in Asia together, as well as of our life in New York. We also brought all our supporting documents (indeed, the entire file I'd been accumulating since we began this mission). The lady we spoke with was lovely. She took a look at our photos, asked us where we met, asked to see our savings account papers. Then she asked if she could keep one particular picture (the umbrella hats picture here: http://www.adamfirefist.com/2010/06/cards-green-and-birthday.html) for our file, and sent us back out to the waiting room. Five minutes later, she called my name, and handed me my passport with my Green Card (err... rather, Red Stamp) in it. I got the welcome letter a week later, and my actual card a week after that.

So, I believe the only thing I have left to do is apply in a year and a half to remove the restrictions on the card, yes? (Basically, proving that we're still married.) There was no indication in either the welcome letter or the papers that accompanied the card that I needed to do any such thing, but I've noticed people here mention it repeatedly.

Sorry for taking so long to check in, update, and thank everyone here for their help! Immediately after we got "paper married" and I got my work authorization, things got very busy at Oxford University Press (where I've been doing editorial work), then we had the wedding in Newfoundland and the reception in Iowa to take care of! So, busyness and procrastination make great friends!

Again, THANKS SO SO MUCH! If it weren't for these VisaJourney forums, I would, very literally, not be where I am today, and my life would be considerably more stressful than it is (and that's saying something, given the summer we just had!). If anyone has any insight into this issue of removing conditions, I'd be further indebted for any advice. (Although, I see now that the card has an expiry date in 2012. I imagine that's the point before which I'll have to inform USCIS that Katie and I are still together.)

Thank you so very much, folks! My wife and I owe you big time!

Adam

(Cross-posted with the "Adjustment of Status from Work, Student, & Tourist Visas" forum.)

Hello, everyone!

I came here early this year (in February), wondering what I was supposed to do, since I was here in the States on a TN status and getting married in Newfoundland in August.

Several helpful VJers steered me away from my initial "plan" (getting a K-3 visa, which, as it turns out, would have led me directly to unwitting immigration fraud - yikes!). I was advised to get married here in New York, set in motion my green card process, and hopefully have everything settled before the family wedding in August.

Long story short, everything worked out, my application was accepted and processed with no problems, I got my green card, we had a fantastic wedding in Newfoundland (with a lovely second reception in Iowa for her family that couldn't make it), and we're happily slogging away at life here in New York.

Long story long....

After getting some much-needed nuts-and-bolts advice from SoCal-Canuck on how to actually assemble my application package, I filled a large envelope with an I-130, 4 copies of G-325A, an I-693, I-765, I-131, copies of our passports and birth certificates, photos, affidavits, proof of joint savings, marriage certificate, and a load of money. Phew!

A few weeks later, I received several notices in the mail, one for each of my applications. (Permanent Residency, Employment Authorization Document, Travel Document.) I made an Infopass appointment to get Emergency Parole for a trip home to Newfoundland, both to settle certain details regarding our family wedding, and also to visit my grandmother, who had recently been moved into a retirement community after breaking her hip and suffering a minor stroke. After jumping through some more hoops (it turns out the birth certificate I've been carrying around, which got me my TN status, as well as my passport and visa for Taiwan in 2003, is not suitable for proving blood relations, so I had to get my mother to get the "long-form" birth certificates from the Department of Health in Newfoundland.), I was granted advance parole. (And thank God for that; I spent 8 days in Newfoundland on that trip in March and April, and got to see my grandmother every day. She passed away at the end of April, so the wedding in August would have been far too late for me to visit.)

I received my EAD and Travel Document in the mail soon after coming back from Newfoundland. On June 2nd, Katie and I went in for our interview. It was smooth and easy; we brought several photos of our travels in Asia together, as well as of our life in New York. We also brought all our supporting documents (indeed, the entire file I'd been accumulating since we began this mission). The lady we spoke with was lovely. She took a look at our photos, asked us where we met, asked to see our savings account papers. Then she asked if she could keep one particular picture (the umbrella hats picture here: http://www.adamfirefist.com/2010/06/cards-green-and-birthday.html) for our file, and sent us back out to the waiting room. Five minutes later, she called my name, and handed me my passport with my Green Card (err... rather, Red Stamp) in it. I got the welcome letter a week later, and my actual card a week after that.

So, I believe the only thing I have left to do is apply in a year and a half to remove the restrictions on the card, yes? (Basically, proving that we're still married.) There was no indication in either the welcome letter or the papers that accompanied the card that I needed to do any such thing, but I've noticed people here mention it repeatedly.

Sorry for taking so long to check in, update, and thank everyone here for their help! Immediately after we got "paper married" and I got my work authorization, things got very busy at Oxford University Press (where I've been doing editorial work), then we had the wedding in Newfoundland and the reception in Iowa to take care of! So, busyness and procrastination make great friends!

Again, THANKS SO SO MUCH! If it weren't for these VisaJourney forums, I would, very literally, not be where I am today, and my life would be considerably more stressful than it is (and that's saying something, given the summer we just had!). If anyone has any insight into this issue of removing conditions, I'd be further indebted for any advice. (Although, I see now that the card has an expiry date in 2012. I imagine that's the point before which I'll have to inform USCIS that Katie and I are still together.)

Thank you so very much, folks! My wife and I owe you big time!

Adam

(Cross-posted with the "Canada" forum.)

Sigh.

Nothing is ever easy.

I received the fax from my aunt with the letters, so I went on Infopass to make an appointment.

Of course, it's the Manhattan office, so the soonest available time is 7:20am on Thursday, March 18.

Ugh.

Good thing I'm not in a hurry. Nnngh.

Anyway, I'll fill out a new I-131 and bring it with me, along with our travel itinerary and the fee. Do they accept credit cards, or should I bring my checkbook or cash?

We don't leave until March 30, but I wish I had been able to get in there this week. Ah, well. If wishes were horses...

Thanks, everyone!

Adam

Sigh.

Nothing is ever easy.

I received the fax from my aunt with the letters, so I went on Infopass to make an appointment.

Of course, it's the Manhattan office, so the soonest available time is 7:20am on Thursday, March 18.

Ugh.

Good thing I'm not in a hurry. Nnngh.

Anyway, I'll fill out a new I-131 and bring it with me, along with our travel itinerary and the fee. Do they accept credit cards, or should I bring my checkbook or cash?

We don't leave until March 30, but I wish I had been able to get in there this week. Ah, well. If wishes were horses...

Thanks, everyone!

Adam

Thanks a lot, everyone!

Great advice! Just waiting for my aunt to fax me the letters today, and I'll check out Infopass right away!

Thanks again! I'll let you know how it goes!

Adam

Great, good info!

Did you have to apply again, (and pay the fee again?) or did they just basically accelerate your AP application?

Did you still end up getting your AP in the mail 60-90 days after you applied?

Thanks!

Adam

Hey, guys!

So, I got my I-797Cs (Notice of Action) for my I-130, I-485, I-131 and I-765, saying that I'm in process now.

I have a trip home to Newfoundland planned for March 30 - April 5 (to visit my grandmother who broke her hip and work on wedding details), but there's no way my AP will get here in time. My aunt is faxing down the note from my grandmother's doctor outlining her condition, along with a note from my aunt herself (who is a psychologist) saying that my presence would be beneficial to my grandmother's well-being.

Now my only question is: how to I start the Emergency Parole process?

Do I go on Infopass and make an appointment? What category should I enter my appointment under? Will I need to apply for a different I-131, or will they just accelerate the one I've already submitted?

Has anybody here done this? I'd dearly love some advice!

Thanks so much in advance!

Adam

Hey, guys!

So, I got my I-797Cs (Notice of Action) for my I-130, I-485, I-131 and I-765, saying that I'm in process now.

I have a trip home to Newfoundland planned for March 30 - April 5 (to visit my grandmother who broke her hip and work on wedding details), but there's no way my AP will get here in time. My aunt is faxing down the note from my grandmother's doctor outlining her condition, along with a note from my aunt herself (who is a psychologist) saying that my presence would be beneficial to my grandmother's well-being.

Now my only question is: how to I start the Emergency Parole process?

Do I go on Infopass and make an appointment? What category should I enter my appointment under? Will I need to apply for a different I-131, or will they just accelerate the one I've already submitted?

Has anybody here done this? I'd dearly love some advice!

Thanks so much in advance!

Adam

Hi!

I've been in the States for nearly three years on TN status, and my girlfriend and I got engaged this past August. We had planned an August 2010 wedding in Newfoundland, but after visiting VJ, I was advised that getting married in Canada and trying to come back to the States on my nonimmigrant status (or another visa type) would result in mega problems.

So, we got hitched last month, and I applied for AOS. The crowd here on VJ has been very helpful! (There was one fellow from Newfoundland who just got his green card that was full of good information over on the AOS board.)

I'm still in process now (my application has been forwarded to the National Benefits Center from the Chicago Lockbox), so the information I have is kinda limited, but feel free to PM me if you have any questions, and I'll do my best to help!

Adam out

Here's the direct link, if that helps:

And yes, I hope to god that Tron Guy gets at least a cameo.

For your enlightenment, then:

a1IpPpB3iWI

I heard on one of the internets that the cool new trailer for Tron: Legacy was attached to Alice in Wonderland.

Almost enough to make me want to go...

Hooray for you!

/highfive

Hi, everyone!

Dropping an update:

Sent in my I-130/I-485/I-everythingelse package on Feb. 23.

Yesterday, the checks were cashed, and I got an e-mail saying that my application was being forwarded to the National Benefits Center, and in 7-10 days I should get a receipt in the mail, and then I can check my status online.

Phew! First hurdle cleared! Thanks again to everybody who helped out with my insipid questions and especially those who steered me onto the right course! (As I was originally planning on getting married in Canada and coming back on a non-immigrant spousal visa, lol.)

Adam, cautiously optimistic

Hi, guess I'll check in here!

Sent my package (I-130 & I-485, etc) on February 23.

Got an e-mail confirming receipt at Chicago Lockbox, stating that the file is being forwarded to the National Benefits Center, and the checks were cashed yesterday, March 3.

Waiting for something in the mail with my receipt number on it so I can check my status online.

\o/

Waiting is fun!

Adam

Hi again!

Got my I-130/I-485 package into the mail today. I overnighted it (time's a-wastin'!) via USPS.

So, what happens now? I just wait until I get a letter? Is there a way to track my case on one of the internets?

Also, how long do we think I should wait before looking into getting an emergency parole to go to Canada on March 30 to visit my broken-hipped grandmother?

Again, thank god for VJ.com, or I would have been up an unpleasant creek with nar paddle.

Adam out!

Thanks for the well-wishes, everyone!

I got my package into the mail today, overnighting it to the Chicago lockbox.

How long do I need to wait now before looking into emergency parole for my March 30-April 5 trip to Newfoundland? (Wedding planning and a visit to my hip-broken 87-year-old grandmother.) I imagine I should wait at least until my checks are cashed.

Does anyone know the process I need to go through to get an emergency parole?

Thanks!

Adam out

Thanks a million, Warren!

That was just incredibly helpful. The process as a whole so far has gone very smoothly, but whenever I try to explain to anyone what the hell I'm doing, their eyes glaze over and they eventually shake their heads and say either, "Wow, I'm glad I'm an American" or "Wow, I'm glad we got the lawyer to handle all that."

/cry

Katie and I got married on Tuesday down at the Ol' Courthouse. We're in New York, in Manhattan.

I went for my medical today. He took a blood sample, listened to me breathe, and gave me the TB #######; I was able to get my records faxed from Eastern Health, but they only go up to 1996, when I graduated from high school. I know I got a couple of other shots in 2003, when I was in Toronto before I moved to Taiwan. I think I got Twinrix and a Tetanus shot, but I don't have any of the paperwork from then (I think I gave it all to the Taiwanese government with my visa application). I called my doctor in Toronto, but he can't remember which Travel Clinic he sent me to for the shots (and neither can I, ha ha ha). I've called the ones he thinks are most likely, but no confirmations yet. Oh, well, the Civil Surgeon said that he really just needed something for Tetanus, or he'll give me a Tetanus shot (Td, I think) on Monday. The consult cost $135, with $60 for the bloodwork, and whatever the Td shot will be on top of that (hopefully less than $100).

After I get all this in the mail on Monday, then I need to try and get an Emergency Parole so I can go home in March-April for a week to see my grandmother!

Thanks again for the answers and your cover letters, such a big help. I'll be sure to let you know if I hit any more snags along the way!

Adam

Hey, folks!

Just a quick note to say that Katie and I got married on Tuesday, so now I'm just waiting on my blood test from the doctor to ship off my AOS package.

Could anyone please weigh in on some of the questions I posted above? Other than the medical, that's all I need to start my process, and I'd be absolutely miserable if I get the whole thing returned to me in two weeks because I put my I-94 number in the wrong place (or whatever)!

EDIT: Never mind, someone on the AOS board (who just recently completed the TN-to-GC flip) answered all my questions!

Thanks in advance!

Adam

Hi again!

Thought I'd drop my few new questions in over here, too, just in case any old TNers have some insight for me! (Let me know if this is spam, and I'll knock it off!)

(snip)

•With regard to who should file each form, I just want to make sure that I'm doing this right:

- I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is signed by Katie (my American fiancee)

- G-325a, Biographic Information, is signed one by me and one by her. (But I include a second one by me in the I-485 package.)

- I-864, Affidavit of Support, is signed by Katie, since her income is enough.

- I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is signed by me.

- I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is signed by me.

- I-131, Application for Travel Document, is signed by me.

- G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, is signed by Katie, since she's the "petitioner."

•As for the cover letters, I can find no indication of who is supposed to sign them (one for the I-130, and another for the I-485). I presume that Katie has to sign the first, because she's filing the I-130, and that I have to sign the second, because I'm signing the I-485, but I don't want to _presume_ anything, so if someone could just verify that I'm thinking rightly here, that would be great!

•A fairly important one: In Part 2 of the I-485 (Application Type), which option do I choose? Is it (a) "An immigrant petition giving me an immediately available immigrant visa number that has been approved"? Is that statement a reference to the concurrent I-130 we're filing? I think the "...relative...visa petition filed with this application" is the I-130, right. Again, sorry, I just want to make extra sure I'm doing this right!

•Also in the I-485, Part 3, it asks for my Nonimmigrant Visa Number. I'm on TN-1 Status currently (not technically a visa). I have a stamp in my passport with TN written on it in pen, but no number visible. There _is_ a number on my I-94 card; is that the number that they want entered here, or should I fill that cell as "None"?

(snip)

Thanks, fellows!

Adam

P.S.: Off to pick up our marriage license and get my immunization records faxed from Canada! Eep!

Thanks!

More clarification and questions:

•With regard to who should file each form, I just want to make sure that I'm doing this right:

- I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, is signed by Katie (my American fiancee)

- G-325a, Biographic Information, is signed one by me and one by her. (But I include a second one by me in the I-485 package.)

- I-864, Affidavit of Support, is signed by Katie, since her income is enough.

- I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, is signed by me.

- I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is signed by me.

- I-131, Application for Travel Document, is signed by me.

- G-1145, E-Notification of Application/Petition Acceptance, is signed by Katie, since she's the "petitioner."

•As for the cover letters, I can find no indication of who is supposed to sign them (one for the I-130, and another for the I-485). I presume that Katie has to sign the first, because she's filing the I-130, and that I have to sign the second, because I'm signing the I-485, but I don't want to _presume_ anything, so if someone could just verify that I'm thinking rightly here, that would be great!

•A fairly important one: In Part 2 of the I-485 (Application Type), which option do I choose? Is it (a) "An immigrant petition giving me an immediately available immigrant visa number that has been approved"? Is that statement a reference to the concurrent I-130 we're filing? I think the "...relative...visa petition filed with this application" is the I-130, right. Again, sorry, I just want to make extras sure I'm doing this right!

•Also in the I-485, Part 3, it asks for my Nonimmigrant Visa Number. I'm on TN-1 Status currently (not technically a visa). I have a stamp in my passport with TN written on it in pen, but no number visible. There _is_ a number on my I-94 card, is that the number that they want entered here, or should I fill that cell as "None"?

That's all for now; thank you so much in advance for any help!

Adam

Thanks again! I started a thread over there with my questions!

Here we go!

Adam

Hello, all!

Just shifting a few questions about the AOS process over here from the "Canada" sub-forum.

Summary: I've been in the US since 2007 on TN status (two border-crossing "renewals"). My fiancee, Katie, and I were planning an August 20, 2010 wedding in my hometown, St. John's, Newfoundland, but my current TN expires on August 27. (Also I'd be trying to enter the US as a spouse of a citizen on a nonimmigrant visa.)

So, we're going to get married early next week instead, get the paperwork in the mail by late next week, and we should be good to go for August. (We're also planning a trip to Newfoundland for March 30-April 5 to plan wedding stuff in person and visit my grandmother, who broke her hip last week. As soon as the application is received, I'll ask for an Emergency Parole so I can go home to see my grandmother.)

So, here are the questions:

The I-130 is for Katie (my fiancee) to fill out, but everything else is filled out by me, correct?

•Hm, wait. I-864, the financial support document, as well, should be filled out by Katie. There are sections for me to enter my savings and income, as well. Or should I just stay out of it, since her individual income is well above the minimum of $16,000 for a 2-person household?

•The cover letter for the I-130 package should be signed by Katie, and the cover letter for the I-485 package should be signed by me, correct? Or should we both sign both?

•With regards to the medical; the last time I had a full medical was in 2003 when I was getting my visa to go to Taiwan. I had a couple of medicals while in Taiwan, but I don't see any vaccination record anywhere in my files. Is this going to cost me a mint? I don't have health insurance in the States, and I dread the cost of getting a slew of vaccinations that I may or may not need.

•I don't need to worry about the last two items on the I-485 list, correct? (The Supplement and the I-601.)

Thanks in advance!

Adam

Old thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=241376

Wow, you guys are amazing!

I really appreciate the help. Don't worry, I'm sure I'll be in here with tons of fiddly little questions.

Should I just keep posting here, or is there another sub-forum I should be in?

Regardless, here are a few first-impression questions:

•The I-130 is for Katie (my fiancee) to fill out, but everything else is filled out by me, correct?

•Hm, wait. I-864, the financial support document, as well, should be filled out by Katie. There are sections for me to enter my savings and income, as well. Or should I just stay out of it, since her individual income is well above the minimum of $16,000 for a 2-person household?

•The cover letter for the I-130 package should be signed by Katie, and the cover letter for the I-485 package should be signed by me, correct? Or should we both sign both?

•In the step-by-step guide (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=i130guide2), under the I-485 assembly, point 12 is the I-693, the medical form. There's no link to that at the top of the page, and the link in point 12 just takes me straight to the USCIS front page. I googled the form name and got this link: http://www.primarycarephysiciancenter.com/...on_Forms010.pdf

It's not a government website, but the form looks right. Google doesn't return any hits from the USCIS website. (At least none that provide the PDF.) Am I not supposed to provide this form to the doctor when I go for my exam?

•I don't need to worry about the last two items on the I-485 list, correct? (The Supplement and the I-601.)

Thanks!