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I'm so freaking excited that I can't contain myself! We just got the notification today that my husband's green card has gone into production and we should have it very soon. As he originally came here on a tourist visa well before we met, it has been a long and difficult process trying to prove our relationship to the federal government. But, thank goodness, he finally will have the basic rights that he needs now. To anyone starting the process, be strong! It is very stressful at times and frustrating at others. To have your love questioned and have your entire life history dug out and thrown in front of strangers, not as wonderful memories and experiences but as basic data, is very trying. But, it's totally worth it to build your life and future together! I included our approximate timeline below for anyone who is looking for reference.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed on here as this has been a huge resource along the way! I feel as if I shared many of your journeys from afar. It has also helped me to understand how this process feels to him, not being allowed certain basic rights, such as working or traveling, without having special documentation, having to rely on someone else when you lived your whole life very independently, etc. Being an engineer with great credit in your home country then finding out your education doesn't mean much here and you have no credit whatsoever here is not easy! For an immigrant who has to rely on a sponsor, no matter how thankful you can be for that person being there, you still have to work twice as hard to do the things they can do easily. So, to all the US citizens out there who married immigrants, be patient and give love and support no matter what. It's not easy but your support to your spouse is priceless and is a major investment into your future.
Atlanta field office
05/18 - My husband entered the US on a tourist visa in May then swapped to a student visa later that year.
12/18 - We met and fell in love almost instantly! I never had intentions of marrying until I met him. He was definitely perfect for me, with our strengths and weaknesses complementing each other, rather than causing discord.
01/19 - We got married! Yes, people thought we were nuts and I even thought I was at first. But that feeling of instinct in the bottom of my stomach told me it was right. I have never looked back since, even in the toughest of times.
02/06/19 - Filed for adjustment of status, forms I485, I864, I130. Received receipt notice and biometrics appointment soon thereafter.
03/06/19 - Form I765 received by the USCIS - I prepared all the paperwork and wasn't aware we needed to file this originally so it was sent in separately.
07/03/19 - Form I131 received by the USCIS - again, this should have been in our original application but I wasn't aware.
08/05/19 - Received a request for initial evidence on the form I485 and form I130.
10/09/19 - The USCIS received our request for evidence. I took a bit longer to prepare it as it was a considerable amount of information.
11/06/19 - Applied for expedited processing of the I131 as we had planned a trip to his home country. While the expedite request wasn't approved, it seemed to hurry things along.
11/20/19 - Received notice that the USCIS was ready to schedule an interview.
11/25/19 - I765 approved and sent for production - we received it a few days later.
12/13/19 - I131 approved.
01/07/20 - I131 produced and mailed out - we received it shortly thereafter.
02/06/20 - Interview scheduled for 03/18/20 in Montgomery, AL. You can guess where this went wrong...
03/17/20 - Spoke to USCIS call center about interview and found out it was cancelled due to COVID pandemic.
03/20/20 - USCIS again ready to schedule interview.
09/28/20 - Interview scheduled for 10/14/20 in Atlanta, GA.
10/14/20 - Did the interview with what I'm pretty sure was a trainee officer (there was another officer in there, too). We were not separated but were instructed to answer only if spoken to and not speak to each other. Everything went well with him missing a couple of questions. He mixed up my birthday date and year by one day and one year and forgot about his trip overseas in 01/20 when asked about his last entry into the US. I accidentally gave the wrong name of his mother because she is technically his mother but his grandmother actually raised him. Otherwise, it went well but I think his nervousness and the trainee officer's nervousness (he was shaking like a leaf!) probably smoothed it over. We received a letter on the spot saying that the case needed further review.
10/23/20 - Received a request for evidence for a certified translation of his divorce certificate from his home country. I used Tomedes online and highly recommend them.
10/26/20 - Mailed documents to USCIS.
11/04/20 - I130 approved - we finally convinced the USCIS that our relationship is real! This was a huge stress relief!
11/16/20 - Received a request for evidence for his birth certificate and a certified translation of it. Somehow we missed this in our original application. I used Tomedes again for this.
11/17/20 - Mailed documents to USCIS.
12/08/20 - Received a notification that the green card is in production!!!Green card in production!!! AOS, married to a USC - Atlanta field office
Thanks to everyone who has contributed on here as this has been a huge resource along the way! I feel as if I shared many of your journeys from afar. It has also helped me to understand how this process feels to him, not being allowed certain basic rights, such as working or traveling, without having special documentation, having to rely on someone else when you lived your whole life very independently, etc. Being an engineer with great credit in your home country then finding out your education doesn't mean much here and you have no credit whatsoever here is not easy! For an immigrant who has to rely on a sponsor, no matter how thankful you can be for that person being there, you still have to work twice as hard to do the things they can do easily. So, to all the US citizens out there who married immigrants, be patient and give love and support no matter what. It's not easy but your support to your spouse is priceless and is a major investment into your future.
Atlanta field office
05/18 - My husband entered the US on a tourist visa in May then swapped to a student visa later that year.
12/18 - We met and fell in love almost instantly! I never had intentions of marrying until I met him. He was definitely perfect for me, with our strengths and weaknesses complementing each other, rather than causing discord.
01/19 - We got married! Yes, people thought we were nuts and I even thought I was at first. But that feeling of instinct in the bottom of my stomach told me it was right. I have never looked back since, even in the toughest of times.
02/06/19 - Filed for adjustment of status, forms I485, I864, I130. Received receipt notice and biometrics appointment soon thereafter.
03/06/19 - Form I765 received by the USCIS - I prepared all the paperwork and wasn't aware we needed to file this originally so it was sent in separately.
07/03/19 - Form I131 received by the USCIS - again, this should have been in our original application but I wasn't aware.
08/05/19 - Received a request for initial evidence on the form I485 and form I130.
10/09/19 - The USCIS received our request for evidence. I took a bit longer to prepare it as it was a considerable amount of information.
11/06/19 - Applied for expedited processing of the I131 as we had planned a trip to his home country. While the expedite request wasn't approved, it seemed to hurry things along.
11/20/19 - Received notice that the USCIS was ready to schedule an interview.
11/25/19 - I765 approved and sent for production - we received it a few days later.
12/13/19 - I131 approved.
01/07/20 - I131 produced and mailed out - we received it shortly thereafter.
02/06/20 - Interview scheduled for 03/18/20 in Montgomery, AL. You can guess where this went wrong...
03/17/20 - Spoke to USCIS call center about interview and found out it was cancelled due to COVID pandemic.
03/20/20 - USCIS again ready to schedule interview.
09/28/20 - Interview scheduled for 10/14/20 in Atlanta, GA.
10/14/20 - Did the interview with what I'm pretty sure was a trainee officer (there was another officer in there, too). We were not separated but were instructed to answer only if spoken to and not speak to each other. Everything went well with him missing a couple of questions. He mixed up my birthday date and year by one day and one year and forgot about his trip overseas in 01/20 when asked about his last entry into the US. I accidentally gave the wrong name of his mother because she is technically his mother but his grandmother actually raised him. Otherwise, it went well but I think his nervousness and the trainee officer's nervousness (he was shaking like a leaf!) probably smoothed it over. We received a letter on the spot saying that the case needed further review.
10/23/20 - Received a request for evidence for a certified translation of his divorce certificate from his home country. I used Tomedes online and highly recommend them.
10/26/20 - Mailed documents to USCIS.
11/04/20 - I130 approved - we finally convinced the USCIS that our relationship is real! This was a huge stress relief!
11/16/20 - Received a request for evidence for his birth certificate and a certified translation of it. Somehow we missed this in our original application. I used Tomedes again for this.
11/17/20 - Mailed documents to USCIS.
12/08/20 - Received a notification that the green card is in production!!!Green card in production!!! AOS, married to a USC - Atlanta field office
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