beppo

It's a good thing you did file the I-130, by the law a 10 year greencard cannot be issued for someone adjusting status based on K-1 entry. IOs are known to make mistakes. I've seen a few threads on VJ where the member was confused because either they were told at the interview that they needed an I-130 due to the delay in filing or after the interview was approved they received notice that they needed an approved I-130 petition before a greencard could be issued.

I will point to JimVaPhoung's response in the same thread that was already pointed-out.

If you spend the $420 then you have everything in place for the 10 year greencard which is cheaper than ROC in 2 years and means no more worrying about USCIS until naturalization.

But then there's what I always say: Why not error on the side of caution when it's life critical things like the immigration status of our self or our spouse?

I mean if it can "go either way" then what's the harm in nudging it in our favor?

That's why we filed the I-130, as it was a safer route to go. Trust me, the extra $420 was worth it, even if the IO said we didn't need to.

You're right that they might be better off waiting and filing with the I-130, but they CAN be issued a conditional greencard even if they have been married 2 years. Your statement that he cannot get a conditional greencard is incorrect. Here is someone on VJ who was married over 2 years but who got a 2-year GC because they were basing their I-485 off of the original I-129F: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/276256-late-to-apply-aos/page__p__4210223#entry4210223

Like me, I was advised by VJ members to hang on and wait to file my AOS until my 2 year marriage came. When we went to the interview, the IO said we didn't need to file the I-130, all that was needed was the I-485 and I-765. I got approved for a 10 GC. Even though we spent the extra money spending on the I-130 it wasn't a big deal on doing so.

Lol see. Dude was a moron Congrats!

I'm a chiel, not a dude lol.

Never ever use false documents of any kind, It's bad news and can ruin your life. I myself was grilled to hell my 2 UK fraud immigration officers when I arrived back in Heathrow 1994.

My UK passport was stolen while I was working in Germany, I had to get a temporary passport to get home to the UK. Once I landed, I was greeted by fraud officers who question me to death as they thought I sold my passport to some eastern European. They even showed me a a copy of my passport. It was my picture but not my name on it.

I couldn't even apply for a new passport for about 6 months until it was all sorted out. What a bloody pain that was.

After all that, today I got a letter that the I-130 was approved, with my 10 year GC.

Apply ASAP, just make sure you marry within 90 days. If you apply after your I-94 has expired, your AP will be a waste of time(that's if you apply for AP)

I myself never came across any big problems as I didn't adjust status until 2 years after I married, but I wouldn't recommenced doing what I did.

Quicker you get it done, the quicker you can work, get a drivers license etc etc.

If your 10-year GC is on its way, the I-130 is approved. As I recall, you arrived on a K-1 and did not apply for AOS for a few years, so you filed a I-130 to make sure that you got the 10-year GC. I tend to think it's approved and just the online notification doesn't work, which is normal. Good luck.

Thanks Harpa. I wasn't too sure as the IO said it the I-130 wasn't needed. My case status for the I-485 was updated 3 days ago but the I-130 hasn't yet.

Cheers.

With my 10 year green card on It's way, I'm now not sure what happens with the I-130 that was also sent off with the I-485. At our interview the IO told us the I-130 wasn't needed.

Will the USCIS just approve the petition or does something else happen to it? If I log on the USCIS website the case status still says 'Initial Review' It's been like that since March 27th.

Thanks again everyone.

I just want to say thanks to Visajourney and to it's members who helped these last few months on the AOS process. Today I got approved for my 10 Green Card and me and my wife are relieved and glad this chapter is over.

It was a very strange interview. We were expecting to show a lot of evidence and questions answered. In fact, it seemed more like an interview for a 2 GC.

I would like to personally thank JimVA, Vanessa&Tony, Harpa Timsah and everyone else for their helpful information we have been give.

Tonight I am going to get drunk as a skunk

Well, I have to say, the interview today went far better than I thought. I got approved for a 10 year GC.

The IO was very pleasant. He hardly asked any questions, just a few on how we met and where we married. He asked us for 2-3 documents to show the co-mingling financial side. He then looked at both of us and he said approved with a 10 GC based on 2 years of marriage.

On the downside, he said my wife didn't need to file the I-130, but I don't care, better safe than sorry and money well spent as far as I'm concerned.

Hows all the March Filers doing?

Got my interview interview tomorrow at 12:30pm. I will post the outcome when I can.

Keep your fingers and legs crossed for us lol.

I'm sure everyone from different nations will find the US different from their own country. As I'm from Scotland there is certainly some big difference's. Here is my top 10 list, not in order.

1- Vehicles, seems as though some households have at least 2-3 cars as public transport doesn't exist in this part of the US.

2- Your local butcher, they don't have it here and I miss my local butcher big time.

3- Same kind of stores beside each other eg- If you see a Lowes, Walgreens, gas station etc, you will see Home Depot, CVS or another gas station right next to each other.

4- Shootings, robberies. I am amazed how many people are murdered and gas stations or banks are robbed. Even with a population of 45,000 of where I live, I'm shocked.

5- Churches, well this is the bible belt.

6- The houses have far more sq-ft but are like made out of cardboard.

7- Insurance, whether It's health or car insurance. Man It's expensive here.

8- Here It's heat, humidity, thunderstorms. North Scotland, It's 60 mph winds and horizontal rain.

9- Driver's, their bloody nuts here. They don't indicate(put the blinker on) plus they ride your ####.

10- The true Rednecks. Yep, I've seen a few of them and lets just say some are.......well, strange lol(but funny)

You have to understand that being married so long you will be judged as if you were ROCing so prepare enough evidence as if it was that. They expect more from a long-term marriage then they do for freshly married peeps.

I take it they will ask me and the wife questions in different rooms?

None of these things will "swing" you to a 10 yr card versus a two year card. The item that "swings" you to a 10 yr card is totally out of your control. It is the age of your marriage at the time the greencard is approved.

Marriage:

1) less than 2 yrs old = 2 yr card.

2) more than 2 yrs old = 10 yr card.

Period.

We applied for the I-485, I-765, and I-130 just over the 2 year marriage. I married on the K1 visa within the 90 days but didn't AOS straight away due to financial issues. That's why I'm hoping to get the 10 GC.

Hi again folks.

Got our interview for AOS coming this Monday and were getting all documents ready.

With some luck I'm hoping to get the 10 year GC and not the 2. I've got all the documents ready for the interview eg - birth certs, photos,marriage cert, I-94 etc, the usual standard stuff. Below is the documents I have in which I'm hoping will swing the 10 GC. Does anyone think It looks good, or Is it not enough?

Gas & Electric bill in both names

Joint bank account

Water bill in both names

Car insurance in both names

House lease in both names

We do have other documents and bills that's in our names to show same address but both names are not on it eg - I have a credit card but my US Citizen wife's credit score went t1ts up after she got involved in a bad car accident 3 years ago, DirecTV is in mine, cell phone is in mine.

I know the USCIS like to see a lot co-mingling financial wise and as some of the bills is single and not joint, we hope this might not cause an issue.

Thanks again.

The most surprising one and funny post I have ever seen was by a lawyer asking the forum how to file the paper work for his client, for which he was going to charge his client.

I would not mind shaming the lawyers who take the ppl for ride. Same time would be good for ppl to know who are the good lawyers who can help them on the case.

Lol. I'm in the wrong business.

Looks great for newlyweds!

That's more than I had with my first wife who I was married for 13 years haha.

Friends don't share bank accounts, bills, credit cards, buy wedding rings, state them as work beneficiary, half a shelf full of our pictures, health insurance, life insurance stating our wills to each other, and a bunch of people who knew our marriage. We are confident with evidence of our marriage, other than the fact that we don't have kids yet. We want our own house for that, so we'll need a stable career together. I screwed up in my driver's license, and I still have proof and receipt of the old one.

You would be surprised what so called friends do to help one another out. I actually know a US citizen who was offered a lot of money to help someone out in immigration. I can't remember how much was involved, but it was around $15,000 and part of the deal was to live with each and make out the marriage was real for about 3 years. She obviously and rightly refused.

I'm not saying that is you, so don't take it the wrong way. If the USCIS smells something wrong, they may and probebly will go in deeper. The last thing you want is to get get denied or whatever else may happen eg- Stokes Interview.

Again, good luck.

It sounds like you have not heard of distant marriages, and making it work out through the eyes of USCIS. There have been approved applications with the same scenario as us, especially couples who are apart because of work and college locations. What we need is a good defense - why we don't live together if we live close enough. Thanks for the well wishes, though.

There's distant yes, but your talking of 15 miles away not 150 miles away. You tell me or show me a link on the same sort of scenario as yours.

My question is........Is your husband willing to live with you or not? Easy question to answer.

In addition, my husband first and foremost likes to see success to his relatives, education-wise. He and his mother helped me pass the nursing course in 2009. Now he is doing the same with his brother. He turned his brother from a C/B student to an A student this year. So, he rationalized not moving with me because of this, and it's not like I'm hurt by this decision because we still go out frequently.

Obviously your not going to take certain advice from VJ members. The USCIS don't really care about other family members. All they want to know is about you and your OH, living in the same house, having a bona fida marriage.

All I can say is good luck...................cause you will need at the interview.

Our marriage became rocky because of his parents. They gave me a hard time with finances and asked favors that I don't agree with... I just want to get away from the headache that his parents caused. We as a couple have been the same for the past 5 years otherwise. I'd say he's become even sweeter than before, he bought me better gifts and a new ring for our 5th anniversary.

With that aside, should he change his address to mine as well? The problem with this is he doesn't have any paper trail with this address, and he has a 9 yr. old brother that he takes care of when his parents aren't around.

I'm confused here. You say you left cause of his parents, as a couple have been the same for the past 5 years and he's sweeter than before.....Your asking should he change his address...Why isn't he living with you at your house full stop?

There's things missing here and you have to be upfront with the facts.

You have less than a month to sort out things properly and that isn't a long time. You need to talk to your husband now to get this sorted out or your interview may very well go t!ts up.

Our marriage became rocky because of his parents. They gave me a hard time with finances and asked favors that I don't agree with... I just want to get away from the headache that his parents caused. We as a couple have been the same for the past 5 years otherwise. I'd say he's become even sweeter than before, he bought me better gifts and a new ring for our 5th anniversary.

With that aside, should he change his address to mine as well? The problem with this is he doesn't have any paper trail with this address, and he has a 9 yr. old brother that he takes care of when his parents aren't around.

"He bought me better gifts" I'm scratching my head on that one

My new address is closer to work, and it's only about 15 miles away from him.

Were you separated at the time when you sent in your AOS?

I would give the USCIS the new drivers license if they ask for it. Try not to hide anything from them, that will do you no good.

My wife(US Citizen) lives at home for only 4 days off the week, but that's due to having to travel 150 miles away for work. We stated that when I AOS.

you would be surprised at the number of ppl who actually get visa attorneys off the websites that say we can guarantee your visa...or from phone book just cos they say immigration

im not saying life and death is just like an immigrant visa but at the same time your talking about being able to live the rest of your life with your family...thats HUGE!!!!!! ... im also saying the ppl that have got to do all their research and not hire someone just because it says immigration specialist...

and yeah i do think its in violation to post names here

So we don't mention lawyers names or give feed back, so other people can get screwed big time or ripped off.......Nice

So much for freedom of speech.

Not sure that naming them is appropriate but those needing an immigration lawyer absolutely MUST look at the credentials of the attorney and basically interview him before hiring...making sure they know and understand the immigration process. You can ask about how many cases they have for immigration (what percent of all his cases are immigration etc) and look them up im sure somehow on the state bar association to see if they are still licensed and basically do your homework on this....

You wouldn't go to a medical doctor to perform heart surgery just because he places an AD on the web would you? Why trust immigration attorneys the same way....

I think taking the heart surgeon advertising on the web a bit far. No, wait a minute, I think I will call that heart surgeon on craigslist to see if he can do a quick job on the side.

I'm talking about VJ members who have had simple or major complications with their lawyer.

And why not name them or give feed back? Members give feed back on other issues, whether it's a POE or interview based. Why not lawyers?

If I gave a lawyer lets say $2000 for a simple K1 or AOS and they screwed up, whether it was a check mistake or not filing correctly, I would be welllllll pissed and I would fire their #### on the spot.