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I-485, I-130, I-765 Houston, Tx 2011-2012
Hello to everybody! I am going to post all the necessary information about our journey to get my green card or permanent residency here in the US as a payback to all those people who helped us and gave information here in immihelp.
I am from Manila and have a tourist visa valid for 10 years (2001-2011) and was going to expire last Nov. 6, 2011. Last 2009, I went to the US to have a vacay with my father, then I met my boyfriend, also a Filipino and a US Citizen. He was able to meet my relatives as well as my father. I went back home because me and my family doesn't want to have a bad record in the immigration for overstaying. So me and my boyfriend had a long distance relationship for almost two years. Keeping constant communication is the key together with trust and understanding. He visited me in the Philippines last 2010 to meet my relatives there. On May 2011, I went back to the US to have a vacay again, now with my mom. So when my return date was almost there, My boyfriend doesn't want me to go back so he talked to my mother, my relatives here in Houston and my father who was in the Philippines and asked them if he could marry their daughter/niece. They just said yes!
We only have a two weeks to prepare for my simple wedding ceremony & reception. We had our wedding ceremony at a small Christian church initiated by a Pastor. That was last October 15,2011. We did the wedding as soon as possible so that we can be able to file the papers and have them processed before my visa expired
Now, for the filling of paper. We didn't hired a lawyer because we did not have any budget for that. My Aunt helped us to file the papers because she already had experiences filling papers for the immigration such as (adoption, petition an immediate relative). We first read the instructions and followed it. The key is just to follow the instructions on how to file it. Read it carefully so that you guys won't have mistakes. For us, it is crucial not to commit mistakes because we want to file it before my visa would expire to make it a valid petition. (as stated in the instructions). We organized it in such a way, the immigration people who would check it, would see that our request for the petition is true and valid. We sent everything to the mail, including my Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination. We don't want to delay the papers.
The expiration date of my stay now becomes Nov. 26, 2011 as stated in my I-94.
Filled I-130, I-485, I-765: Sent it to the mail Nov. 7, 2011; Immigration received it Nov. 9, 2011; Priority date is Nov. 9, 2011
Biometrics appointment notice Nov. 17, 2011; Date of appointment Dec. 15, 2011; it said on the appointment notice to bring my passport. I brought my passport but they didn't let me in because the name on the appointment notice (used my husband's last name) was different from my passport (maiden name). I got so irate because we just wasted time and effort and it's not our fault because we just followed what they told us bring. But my husband said we cannot do anything about it. The officer was nice enough to reschedule us the next day and told us to bring the marriage license. so Dec. 16, 2011 - Biometrics done. They interviewed us a bit, and because there just a few people there, it just took us 15 minutes to finish it.
(Always bring the marriage license, if you are going to apply for something.)
Request for applicant to appear for intial interview, notice date was Dec. 21, 2011; appointment date was January 26, 2012.
They processed my Employment Card production last January 6, 2012; sent it Jan 11, 2012 then I received my EAD last January 14, 2012
Applied for Social Security Number and Texas ID last Jan 18, 2012.
Did my online driving test January 19 and passed it. Received my certificate for adult driving course January 26, 2012 (this varies from State to State) Texas law requires us to have adult driving course if you are 18-24 y/o
Received my SSN last Jan. 23, 2012
On January 26, 2012, the interview went smoothly. At first he was just checking the papers. We brought everything, as in everything that we can think of, that we think it, can help to prove our marriage.
Here are some of the questions. (for both of us)
What is your full name?
What is your address?
What is his/her birthday?
What do you do for a living? (for him)
Where do you work?
Who is ...? (was referring to my husband's mother)
(Checked my passport (old & new), took the I-94, checked my visa, EAD card, SSN card)
How did you guys meet?
How did you proposed? When did you decided to get married?
How many kids do you guys want?
Are you going to include her in the taxes for this year? (for him)
Do have any proofs about your marriage like bills? bank account?
---- we only showed cellphone bill that is both in our names, letters that we sent to each other while we were still in the long distance relationship, album from our wedding that we have to identify who are in the pictures (he took some to make a copy but returned it at the end of the interview)
--- we told the officer that we couldn't make a joint account because I just received my SSN the other day. We dont have lease for the home because we are living with my mother-in-law and that's her house. and that goes for the insurance too.
--- We showed everything we could, including marriage certificate which he didn't even looked at.
--- I think he was looking for something more that will prove that we really are tied up to each other.
--- Make sure when you go to your interview, you bring the bank account, lease, insurance, birth certificate of your sons or daughter (if you have these) because that's what they are looking for to prove the marriage. They don't care much about the pictures & letters, wedding ring.
The interview went on for like less than 20 or 30 mins only.
The officer told us that our proof of marriage lacks more evidences but it is understandable because I just received my SSN. He said that he believes in our marriage. Then that's it. He congratulated me and that I will receive my Green Card in two weeks. He reminded us about the conditional green card that I have because our marriage is less than two years.
Know the name of the officer.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask for clarification. If you didn't understand the question ask to repeat it. Treat the interview very lightly so you would feel comfortable. They said that some officers can be intimidating, do not mind them, just smile and answer honestly their questions and you will be alright
Went to the DPS to get my learner's permit and my temporary driver's permit, same day, January 26, 2012
If you have nothing to hide, you can get your green card too! Just be confident and smile at the officer and breathe. The interview was more of like a verification of what you guys entered in the papers that you filled. So know it by heart. Pray, Pray, Pray and offer everything to God!
Also you cannot compare our experiences to your experiences because it varies in many different ways.
Good Luck to everybody and I hope you find this very useful. I will try my best to answer your questions as I am not a lawyer. I am only going to base my answers as to what we had experienced.
Thank you! Maraming Salamat po!
I am from Manila and have a tourist visa valid for 10 years (2001-2011) and was going to expire last Nov. 6, 2011. Last 2009, I went to the US to have a vacay with my father, then I met my boyfriend, also a Filipino and a US Citizen. He was able to meet my relatives as well as my father. I went back home because me and my family doesn't want to have a bad record in the immigration for overstaying. So me and my boyfriend had a long distance relationship for almost two years. Keeping constant communication is the key together with trust and understanding. He visited me in the Philippines last 2010 to meet my relatives there. On May 2011, I went back to the US to have a vacay again, now with my mom. So when my return date was almost there, My boyfriend doesn't want me to go back so he talked to my mother, my relatives here in Houston and my father who was in the Philippines and asked them if he could marry their daughter/niece. They just said yes!
We only have a two weeks to prepare for my simple wedding ceremony & reception. We had our wedding ceremony at a small Christian church initiated by a Pastor. That was last October 15,2011. We did the wedding as soon as possible so that we can be able to file the papers and have them processed before my visa expiredNow, for the filling of paper. We didn't hired a lawyer because we did not have any budget for that. My Aunt helped us to file the papers because she already had experiences filling papers for the immigration such as (adoption, petition an immediate relative). We first read the instructions and followed it. The key is just to follow the instructions on how to file it. Read it carefully so that you guys won't have mistakes. For us, it is crucial not to commit mistakes because we want to file it before my visa would expire to make it a valid petition. (as stated in the instructions). We organized it in such a way, the immigration people who would check it, would see that our request for the petition is true and valid. We sent everything to the mail, including my Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination. We don't want to delay the papers.
The expiration date of my stay now becomes Nov. 26, 2011 as stated in my I-94.
Filled I-130, I-485, I-765: Sent it to the mail Nov. 7, 2011; Immigration received it Nov. 9, 2011; Priority date is Nov. 9, 2011
Biometrics appointment notice Nov. 17, 2011; Date of appointment Dec. 15, 2011; it said on the appointment notice to bring my passport. I brought my passport but they didn't let me in because the name on the appointment notice (used my husband's last name) was different from my passport (maiden name). I got so irate because we just wasted time and effort and it's not our fault because we just followed what they told us bring. But my husband said we cannot do anything about it. The officer was nice enough to reschedule us the next day and told us to bring the marriage license. so Dec. 16, 2011 - Biometrics done. They interviewed us a bit, and because there just a few people there, it just took us 15 minutes to finish it.
(Always bring the marriage license, if you are going to apply for something.)
Request for applicant to appear for intial interview, notice date was Dec. 21, 2011; appointment date was January 26, 2012.
They processed my Employment Card production last January 6, 2012; sent it Jan 11, 2012 then I received my EAD last January 14, 2012
Applied for Social Security Number and Texas ID last Jan 18, 2012.
Did my online driving test January 19 and passed it. Received my certificate for adult driving course January 26, 2012 (this varies from State to State) Texas law requires us to have adult driving course if you are 18-24 y/o
Received my SSN last Jan. 23, 2012
On January 26, 2012, the interview went smoothly. At first he was just checking the papers. We brought everything, as in everything that we can think of, that we think it, can help to prove our marriage.
Here are some of the questions. (for both of us)
What is your full name?
What is your address?
What is his/her birthday?
What do you do for a living? (for him)
Where do you work?
Who is ...? (was referring to my husband's mother)
(Checked my passport (old & new), took the I-94, checked my visa, EAD card, SSN card)
How did you guys meet?
How did you proposed? When did you decided to get married?
How many kids do you guys want?
Are you going to include her in the taxes for this year? (for him)
Do have any proofs about your marriage like bills? bank account?
---- we only showed cellphone bill that is both in our names, letters that we sent to each other while we were still in the long distance relationship, album from our wedding that we have to identify who are in the pictures (he took some to make a copy but returned it at the end of the interview)
--- we told the officer that we couldn't make a joint account because I just received my SSN the other day. We dont have lease for the home because we are living with my mother-in-law and that's her house. and that goes for the insurance too.
--- We showed everything we could, including marriage certificate which he didn't even looked at.
--- I think he was looking for something more that will prove that we really are tied up to each other.
--- Make sure when you go to your interview, you bring the bank account, lease, insurance, birth certificate of your sons or daughter (if you have these) because that's what they are looking for to prove the marriage. They don't care much about the pictures & letters, wedding ring.
The interview went on for like less than 20 or 30 mins only.
The officer told us that our proof of marriage lacks more evidences but it is understandable because I just received my SSN. He said that he believes in our marriage. Then that's it. He congratulated me and that I will receive my Green Card in two weeks. He reminded us about the conditional green card that I have because our marriage is less than two years.
Know the name of the officer.
If you have questions, do not hesitate to ask for clarification. If you didn't understand the question ask to repeat it. Treat the interview very lightly so you would feel comfortable. They said that some officers can be intimidating, do not mind them, just smile and answer honestly their questions and you will be alright
Went to the DPS to get my learner's permit and my temporary driver's permit, same day, January 26, 2012
If you have nothing to hide, you can get your green card too! Just be confident and smile at the officer and breathe. The interview was more of like a verification of what you guys entered in the papers that you filled. So know it by heart. Pray, Pray, Pray and offer everything to God!
Also you cannot compare our experiences to your experiences because it varies in many different ways.
Good Luck to everybody and I hope you find this very useful. I will try my best to answer your questions as I am not a lawyer. I am only going to base my answers as to what we had experienced.
Thank you! Maraming Salamat po!
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