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Hi,
Just wanted to share with you my wife's experience obtaining a K1 visa all the way through Green Card. Most of my discussion here will be centered around the Green Card process and a bit of the K1 process. We never used any lawyers or legal consultants. All we did was follow the instructions to get a K1 and then a Green Card. She received her green card a month and a half later.
First of, I am a US Citizen...a naturalized US citizen. I petitioned my fiance for a K1 visa on January 15 2007 and we received approval from USCIS January 28, 2007. USCIS then forwarded the documents to my wife's country where she waited for two months for an interview. After the interview, she packed up her stuff and left for the US. She arrived here in the US October 11, 2007 and we then got married on November 5, 2007. We filed her I485 AOS on November 29, 2007. She received her biometrics/fp appointment on Dec. 23, 2007- scheduled for January 15, 2008. She received her green card on March 4, 2008. No RFEs, no rejected applications, everything went smoothly without any hitches or headaches. We were not asked to come for an interview. It was that smooth!
Several tips I'd like to share with you when filing an I485...
1)READ READ READ READ READ the instructions. Everything is there on the instructions. Read it. Read it when you wake up, when you are sitting on the toilet, while heading to work, while having lunch, before you go to bed. Read read the instructions. Everything is there. No need for a lawyer to interpret it. Everything is in plain English.
2)LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST every requirement you see on the instructions page. Highlight the sentence describing a document requirement on the instructions. After you highlight it, put it on your list. Read through the instructions again, and check your list. The list of requirements should match exactly what's on the instructions sheet and vise versa. CREATE A LIST.
3)PREPARE ALL DOCUMENTS ACCORDING TO HOW THE INSTRUCTION SHEET ORGANIZED IT. Any photocopy of an official document should be notarized especially birth certificates and letter of employments. Every document that's not in English should be translated with an accompanying certificate of a real translator. Photocopies must be clear.
4)MAKE COVERSHEETS SHOWING YOUR CASE NUMBER AND ALIEN NUMBER, YOUR SPOUSE'S PASSPORT NUMBER OR ALIEN NUMBER AND YOUR ADDRESS. PUT A TITLE ON THE COVER SHEET TELLING USCIS WHATS ATTACHED ON THE COVERSHEET. INDICATE ON THE COVERSHEET WHAT TYPE OF APPLICATION YOU ARE FILING. In this case I485.
5)BATCH YOUR DOCUMENTS. Don't just stack your documents in a pile and send it to USCIS. That's why you have coversheets so you can organize them into batches. The more organized it is, the less frustrating it'll be for the USCIS official.
6)If you don't understand what the instructions are saying...have somebody read it for you. Visit forums and discussion groups and then go back and read the instructions again. Soon, the truth will set you free.
7)DOUBLE CHECK YOUR DOCUMENTS BEFORE FILING. I almost filed the wrong Affidavit of Support. I double checked it and then filled out the right form. If you have that feeling that something's not right, then most probably there's something wrong. Trust your senses. If you're not comfortable sending it, then don't. Chances are something is not correct.
8)If your sponsor doesn't have his/her past tax returns. I suggest you contact IRS and ask them to send his/her Federal Tax Return Transcripts. USCIS wants to make sure that your sponsor can support you.
9)CHECK WHERE IT SHOULD BE MAILED. Most people send it to the wrong processing center. Again, go back to the instructions and READ IT! Send it via UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. You can send it by private courier but I strongly advise that you use UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE aka USPS because they have their own USCIS PO BOX so it'll land right where it should be...at the USCIS mailroom. The documents are actually dropped at a USCIS PO BOX and a USPS truck collects it and delivers it to USCIS. Make sure to send it EXPRESS OVERNIGHT with signature verification.
DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A LAWYER AND THIS POST IS NOT INTENDED TO SERVE AS LEGAL ADVISE. WHEN IN DOUBT, SEEK LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
Just wanted to share with you my wife's experience obtaining a K1 visa all the way through Green Card. Most of my discussion here will be centered around the Green Card process and a bit of the K1 process. We never used any lawyers or legal consultants. All we did was follow the instructions to get a K1 and then a Green Card. She received her green card a month and a half later.
First of, I am a US Citizen...a naturalized US citizen. I petitioned my fiance for a K1 visa on January 15 2007 and we received approval from USCIS January 28, 2007. USCIS then forwarded the documents to my wife's country where she waited for two months for an interview. After the interview, she packed up her stuff and left for the US. She arrived here in the US October 11, 2007 and we then got married on November 5, 2007. We filed her I485 AOS on November 29, 2007. She received her biometrics/fp appointment on Dec. 23, 2007- scheduled for January 15, 2008. She received her green card on March 4, 2008. No RFEs, no rejected applications, everything went smoothly without any hitches or headaches. We were not asked to come for an interview. It was that smooth!
Several tips I'd like to share with you when filing an I485...
1)READ READ READ READ READ the instructions. Everything is there on the instructions. Read it. Read it when you wake up, when you are sitting on the toilet, while heading to work, while having lunch, before you go to bed. Read read the instructions. Everything is there. No need for a lawyer to interpret it. Everything is in plain English.
2)LIST LIST LIST LIST LIST every requirement you see on the instructions page. Highlight the sentence describing a document requirement on the instructions. After you highlight it, put it on your list. Read through the instructions again, and check your list. The list of requirements should match exactly what's on the instructions sheet and vise versa. CREATE A LIST.
3)PREPARE ALL DOCUMENTS ACCORDING TO HOW THE INSTRUCTION SHEET ORGANIZED IT. Any photocopy of an official document should be notarized especially birth certificates and letter of employments. Every document that's not in English should be translated with an accompanying certificate of a real translator. Photocopies must be clear.
4)MAKE COVERSHEETS SHOWING YOUR CASE NUMBER AND ALIEN NUMBER, YOUR SPOUSE'S PASSPORT NUMBER OR ALIEN NUMBER AND YOUR ADDRESS. PUT A TITLE ON THE COVER SHEET TELLING USCIS WHATS ATTACHED ON THE COVERSHEET. INDICATE ON THE COVERSHEET WHAT TYPE OF APPLICATION YOU ARE FILING. In this case I485.
5)BATCH YOUR DOCUMENTS. Don't just stack your documents in a pile and send it to USCIS. That's why you have coversheets so you can organize them into batches. The more organized it is, the less frustrating it'll be for the USCIS official.
6)If you don't understand what the instructions are saying...have somebody read it for you. Visit forums and discussion groups and then go back and read the instructions again. Soon, the truth will set you free.
7)DOUBLE CHECK YOUR DOCUMENTS BEFORE FILING. I almost filed the wrong Affidavit of Support. I double checked it and then filled out the right form. If you have that feeling that something's not right, then most probably there's something wrong. Trust your senses. If you're not comfortable sending it, then don't. Chances are something is not correct.
8)If your sponsor doesn't have his/her past tax returns. I suggest you contact IRS and ask them to send his/her Federal Tax Return Transcripts. USCIS wants to make sure that your sponsor can support you.
9)CHECK WHERE IT SHOULD BE MAILED. Most people send it to the wrong processing center. Again, go back to the instructions and READ IT! Send it via UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. You can send it by private courier but I strongly advise that you use UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE aka USPS because they have their own USCIS PO BOX so it'll land right where it should be...at the USCIS mailroom. The documents are actually dropped at a USCIS PO BOX and a USPS truck collects it and delivers it to USCIS. Make sure to send it EXPRESS OVERNIGHT with signature verification.
DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A LAWYER AND THIS POST IS NOT INTENDED TO SERVE AS LEGAL ADVISE. WHEN IN DOUBT, SEEK LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
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