Tweet
Hi everybody!
My name is Juan, I am from Argentina and I want to share my experience with the hope of helping others that are going through this stressful process. I am there and I feel you
I used this website to prepare my Application and I couldn't have done it without it. I want to be as clear as possible and you can ask me as many questions as you need. Doing this was one (if not the most) of the most stressful things that I had to do in my life. It takes a long time of getting everything together, checking and double checking and getting the final letters from USCIS.
Background
I met my awesome husband in 2014. We started dating on the third day and we were really happy until I had to go back to my home country, because my Tourist Visa was going to expire soon. I came back to visit him in October of 2015 and he proposed to me and I couldn't say no. That day was the happiest day of my life, but it was also the begging of the most stressful time in my life (as I said before).
Application
Gather all the information may take a while, so the best thing to do is start getting all your documents as soon as you know you are going to do this. You DON'T need a lawyer to do it, trust me, I'm a lawyer in Argentina and I know for a fact that anybody can do this. You just need to pay close attention to every detail and be very patient.
Read everything many times and be 200% sure that you understand every word.
Steps:
1- The first thing then is to gather all your papers: -Birth Certificate (If it's not in English you need to translate it: https://www.immihelp.com/translation...s-immigration/),
-Passport (Remember to renew it if it's going to expire in 6 months or earlier),
-Vaccination Records (This is the most difficult document for some, like me, who had lost it. Don't panic, it's easier than you think. You can take all the documents that you can find with some vaccine that you have and show it to the doctor that is going to do the Form I-693. If you need to apply a vaccine you can go to Fred Meyer and apply it in the pharmacy for a really low price. https://www.immihelp.com/greencard-v...-requirements/).
-Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Records. You can get it online https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/consent.html)
2- Download all the Forms from the USCIS website (https://www.uscis.gov/forms): -Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
-Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
-Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support)
-Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
-Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document)
-Form G-325A and G-1145
3- Gather all other documents, fill the Forms and MAKE 2 COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!
Package Checklist
1- Cover Letter (see mine below)
2- FORM I-130:
2.1- Form G-1145
2.2- Cover Letter
2.3- Fee of $420 (Check or Money Order to "US Department of Homeland Security)
2.4- Form I-130 with all supporting documents: -Copy of Birth Certificates of each of you
-Copy of all pages of both Passports
-Form I-94 of Immigrant
-Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate
2.5- Form G-325A US Citizen and Form G-325A Immigrant
2.6- One Passport-Style photo of each placed in a small plastic bag and labeled (write the name on the back of the photo and on the bag)
2.7- Proof of Bona Fide Marriage: -Joint Bank Accounts
-Credit Cards
-Joint Lease
-Affidavits of the Relationship
3- FORM I-485:
3.1- G-1145
3.2- Cover Letter (see mine below)
3.3- Fee of $1,070 (Check or Money Order to "US Department of Homeland Security)
3.4- Form I-485 with all supporting documents: -Copy of Birth Certificates of the both of you
-Copy of all pages of both Immigrant's Passport + Visa Stamps
-Form I-94 of Immigrant
-Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate
3.5- Form G-325A US Citizen and Form G-325A Immigrant
3.6- Two Passport-Style photos of Immigrant placed in a small plastic bag and labeled (write the name on the back of the photo and on the bag)
4- FORM I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination) completed by a doctor (If you are in the US you can find one here https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor) and sealed.
5- FORM I-864 (VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! You have to send One for the US Citizen and, if needed, One for the Joint Sponsor),
with all supporting documents: -Copy of Current and Prior Year of Tax Returns and W-2
-Copy of bank statements
-Letter of Employment (I didn't send this and it was ok)
6- FORM I-765 with all supporting documents: -Two Passport-Style photos of Immigrant placed in a small plastic bag and labeled (write the name on the back of the photo and on the bag)
-Copy of Passport Biographic Data Page + Visa Stamp
7- FORM I-131
EXAMPLES OF THE COVER LETTERS THAT I SENT
PACKAGE COVER LETTER
Your Name and Address
To,
United States Department of Homeland Security,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
February 26, 2016
Nature of Submission: Adjustment of Status Application for Juan X (last name),
a national of Argentina.
To Whom It May Concern,
This package is an Immediate Relative (Spouse) Family Based Adjustment of Status Application (Form I-485) with a concurrent I-130 filing.
Mayor Contents:
1. Form I-130 and supporting documents.
2. Form I-485 and supporting documents, with Form I-693 and Form I-864.
3. Form I-765.
If you have any questions or concerns on the above matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at (206) 890-7527, or at the address below.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
Kind Regards,
Juan
FORM I-485 COVER LETTER
Your Name and Address
To,
United States Department of Homeland Security,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
February 26, 2016
Nature of Submission: Adjustment of Status Application for Juan X,
a national of Argentina.
To Whom It May Concern,
Please find enclosed the following documents in support of my Adjustment Application. My eligibility is based on my condition of immediate relative (spouse) of a U.S. Citizen. Our marriage took place on 02/08/2016 in X.
Table of Contents:
1. Form G-1145.
2. Filing Fee of $1.070 (Money Order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
3. Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Ajust Status), signed by me (the applicant), along with the following supporting documents:
- Copy of U.S. Citizen Birth Certificate,
- Copy of U.S. Citizen Passport (biographic data page),
- Copy of Applicant's Birth Certificate, translation and cerficate of translation,
- Copy of Applicant's Passport (all pages) and Visa Stamp,
- Copy of Applicant's I-94,
- Certified Copy of the Marriage Certificate.
4. Form G-325A U.S. Citizan.
5. Form G-325A Applicant.
6. Two (2) Passport-Style Photos of the Applicant (placed in a small bag, labeled with full name).
7. Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a Civil Surgeon and sealed in an envelope).
8. Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), signed by the sponsor along with the following supporting documents:
- Copy of Sponsor's Passport (biographic data page),
- Copy of Sponsor's Current and Prior year of Tax Returns,
- Copy of Sponsor's Current and Prior year of W-2 Forms,
- Copy of Sponsor's Letter of Employment,
- Copy of Sponsor's Bank Statements.
9. Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), along with the following supporting documents:
- Two (2) Passport-Style Photos of the Applicant (placed in a small bag, labeled with full name),
- Copy of Applicant's Passport (biographic data page) and Visa Stamp,
- Copy of Applicant's I-94.
If you have any questions or concerns on the above matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at (phone number) or at the address below.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
Kind Regards,
Juan
MY PROCESS
-03/05/16: Package Sent
-03/07/16: Package Delivered
-03/13/16: Text message: Case Received
-03/14/16: Checks cashed
-03/18/16: NOA (Not of Action) on the mail
-04/02/16: ASC (Biometric Services) Appointment - online "Check My Status"
-04/08/16: RFE (Request for Initial Evidence) - online
-04/15/16: ASC Appointment Letter and RFE letter on mail
-04/16/16: New Initial Evidence sent
-04/18/16: Package delivered
-04/19/16: Response was received - online
-04/28/16: New Card being produced - online
-05/12/16: Case ready for Interview - online
-06/08/16: Card was mailed and Interview scheduled (July 14th) - online
-06/10/16: EAD card and Interview Appointment Letter
I hope you find this helpful and you can ask me whatever you need. GOOD LUCK!!
My name is Juan, I am from Argentina and I want to share my experience with the hope of helping others that are going through this stressful process. I am there and I feel you
I used this website to prepare my Application and I couldn't have done it without it. I want to be as clear as possible and you can ask me as many questions as you need. Doing this was one (if not the most) of the most stressful things that I had to do in my life. It takes a long time of getting everything together, checking and double checking and getting the final letters from USCIS.
Background
I met my awesome husband in 2014. We started dating on the third day and we were really happy until I had to go back to my home country, because my Tourist Visa was going to expire soon. I came back to visit him in October of 2015 and he proposed to me and I couldn't say no. That day was the happiest day of my life, but it was also the begging of the most stressful time in my life (as I said before).
Application
Gather all the information may take a while, so the best thing to do is start getting all your documents as soon as you know you are going to do this. You DON'T need a lawyer to do it, trust me, I'm a lawyer in Argentina and I know for a fact that anybody can do this. You just need to pay close attention to every detail and be very patient.
Read everything many times and be 200% sure that you understand every word.
Steps:
1- The first thing then is to gather all your papers: -Birth Certificate (If it's not in English you need to translate it: https://www.immihelp.com/translation...s-immigration/),
-Passport (Remember to renew it if it's going to expire in 6 months or earlier),
-Vaccination Records (This is the most difficult document for some, like me, who had lost it. Don't panic, it's easier than you think. You can take all the documents that you can find with some vaccine that you have and show it to the doctor that is going to do the Form I-693. If you need to apply a vaccine you can go to Fred Meyer and apply it in the pharmacy for a really low price. https://www.immihelp.com/greencard-v...-requirements/).
-Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Records. You can get it online https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/consent.html)
2- Download all the Forms from the USCIS website (https://www.uscis.gov/forms): -Form I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative)
-Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status)
-Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support)
-Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
-Form I-131 (Application for Travel Document)
-Form G-325A and G-1145
3- Gather all other documents, fill the Forms and MAKE 2 COPIES OF EVERYTHING!!
Package Checklist
1- Cover Letter (see mine below)
2- FORM I-130:
2.1- Form G-1145
2.2- Cover Letter
2.3- Fee of $420 (Check or Money Order to "US Department of Homeland Security)
2.4- Form I-130 with all supporting documents: -Copy of Birth Certificates of each of you
-Copy of all pages of both Passports
-Form I-94 of Immigrant
-Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate
2.5- Form G-325A US Citizen and Form G-325A Immigrant
2.6- One Passport-Style photo of each placed in a small plastic bag and labeled (write the name on the back of the photo and on the bag)
2.7- Proof of Bona Fide Marriage: -Joint Bank Accounts
-Credit Cards
-Joint Lease
-Affidavits of the Relationship
3- FORM I-485:
3.1- G-1145
3.2- Cover Letter (see mine below)
3.3- Fee of $1,070 (Check or Money Order to "US Department of Homeland Security)
3.4- Form I-485 with all supporting documents: -Copy of Birth Certificates of the both of you
-Copy of all pages of both Immigrant's Passport + Visa Stamps
-Form I-94 of Immigrant
-Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate
3.5- Form G-325A US Citizen and Form G-325A Immigrant
3.6- Two Passport-Style photos of Immigrant placed in a small plastic bag and labeled (write the name on the back of the photo and on the bag)
4- FORM I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination) completed by a doctor (If you are in the US you can find one here https://my.uscis.gov/findadoctor) and sealed.
5- FORM I-864 (VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! You have to send One for the US Citizen and, if needed, One for the Joint Sponsor),
with all supporting documents: -Copy of Current and Prior Year of Tax Returns and W-2
-Copy of bank statements
-Letter of Employment (I didn't send this and it was ok)
6- FORM I-765 with all supporting documents: -Two Passport-Style photos of Immigrant placed in a small plastic bag and labeled (write the name on the back of the photo and on the bag)
-Copy of Passport Biographic Data Page + Visa Stamp
7- FORM I-131
EXAMPLES OF THE COVER LETTERS THAT I SENT
PACKAGE COVER LETTER
Your Name and Address
To,
United States Department of Homeland Security,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
February 26, 2016
Nature of Submission: Adjustment of Status Application for Juan X (last name),
a national of Argentina.
To Whom It May Concern,
This package is an Immediate Relative (Spouse) Family Based Adjustment of Status Application (Form I-485) with a concurrent I-130 filing.
Mayor Contents:
1. Form I-130 and supporting documents.
2. Form I-485 and supporting documents, with Form I-693 and Form I-864.
3. Form I-765.
If you have any questions or concerns on the above matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at (206) 890-7527, or at the address below.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
Kind Regards,
Juan
FORM I-485 COVER LETTER
Your Name and Address
To,
United States Department of Homeland Security,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120
February 26, 2016
Nature of Submission: Adjustment of Status Application for Juan X,
a national of Argentina.
To Whom It May Concern,
Please find enclosed the following documents in support of my Adjustment Application. My eligibility is based on my condition of immediate relative (spouse) of a U.S. Citizen. Our marriage took place on 02/08/2016 in X.
Table of Contents:
1. Form G-1145.
2. Filing Fee of $1.070 (Money Order payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
3. Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Ajust Status), signed by me (the applicant), along with the following supporting documents:
- Copy of U.S. Citizen Birth Certificate,
- Copy of U.S. Citizen Passport (biographic data page),
- Copy of Applicant's Birth Certificate, translation and cerficate of translation,
- Copy of Applicant's Passport (all pages) and Visa Stamp,
- Copy of Applicant's I-94,
- Certified Copy of the Marriage Certificate.
4. Form G-325A U.S. Citizan.
5. Form G-325A Applicant.
6. Two (2) Passport-Style Photos of the Applicant (placed in a small bag, labeled with full name).
7. Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, completed by a Civil Surgeon and sealed in an envelope).
8. Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support), signed by the sponsor along with the following supporting documents:
- Copy of Sponsor's Passport (biographic data page),
- Copy of Sponsor's Current and Prior year of Tax Returns,
- Copy of Sponsor's Current and Prior year of W-2 Forms,
- Copy of Sponsor's Letter of Employment,
- Copy of Sponsor's Bank Statements.
9. Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), along with the following supporting documents:
- Two (2) Passport-Style Photos of the Applicant (placed in a small bag, labeled with full name),
- Copy of Applicant's Passport (biographic data page) and Visa Stamp,
- Copy of Applicant's I-94.
If you have any questions or concerns on the above matter, please do not hesitate to contact me at (phone number) or at the address below.
Thank you very much for your attention to this matter.
Kind Regards,
Juan
MY PROCESS
-03/05/16: Package Sent
-03/07/16: Package Delivered
-03/13/16: Text message: Case Received
-03/14/16: Checks cashed
-03/18/16: NOA (Not of Action) on the mail
-04/02/16: ASC (Biometric Services) Appointment - online "Check My Status"
-04/08/16: RFE (Request for Initial Evidence) - online
-04/15/16: ASC Appointment Letter and RFE letter on mail
-04/16/16: New Initial Evidence sent
-04/18/16: Package delivered
-04/19/16: Response was received - online
-04/28/16: New Card being produced - online
-05/12/16: Case ready for Interview - online
-06/08/16: Card was mailed and Interview scheduled (July 14th) - online
-06/10/16: EAD card and Interview Appointment Letter
I hope you find this helpful and you can ask me whatever you need. GOOD LUCK!!
Comment