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First... Thank God there is a forum like that. I learned a lot from this site and frankly if I knew about this site 2 yrs ago, I would probably save around 4K in my pocket...
It all started with first interview. I went there with my wife (US Citizen) in June 2010.
We were "prepared" by "someone knowledgeable" (not a lawyer) and assured that everything will be fine.
Well... it wasn't... back then I didn't know anything about immigration law and went to interview with J-1 visa in my passport WITH 2 yrs home residency required and WITHOUT a waiver !!!
That's how "someone knowledgeable" prepared us.
So my advice is - before you start AOS process, see a lawyer and tell him your situation. Every situation is different and advice will cost you around $50-100, maybe even free but you may save tons of money, as you see in my case. I know, lawyer can tell you, that you’re in deep sh#%$ and you need to pay him $$$K, so he will fix it… but again not all of them are like that.
If you live somewhere in Chicagoland, I can refer you to my lawyer. And I did trust him with all my heart.
After 1st interview in 2010 IO asked for some basic documents, simple question (how did you meet?), and went straight to the point - do you have a waiver for J-1?
He didn't even ask for pictures or anything else. I had to hand write I-485 withdrawal in front of him and go home very shocked!!!
I asked around for a good immigration lawyer and was given 2.
First one – told me my case is hard and will be time consuming and will cost a lot $$$
Second one – assured me that it’s not that bad. I paid almost 4K (with fees) but he managed to:
Get me No objection letter, a waiver for J-1 and approve my I-130.
At that moment (still 2010) I had 2 options:
- again, file I-485 right away and wait for another interview soon (then possibly 3rd?), or
- wait till 2012 and file for a permanent GC
I decided to wait, and I’m glad I did as one interview = less fees, less stress, less paperwork, etc.
Well, we have 2012 so I started at the very beginning:
6th of Jan – lawyer sent package to Chicago
13th of Feb – I had my biometrics done.
15th of Feb – I got a letter to show for interview. YES, only 2 days after biometrics!!! Even my lawyer was shocked!!!
15th of March – interview in Chicago:
IO was very professional, very nice, went through all the papers really fast and asked only very simple questions.
To me: when was I born? How did we meet? Where do I work?
To my wife: where do you work? How was your process of naturalization? What is your ex-husband doing?
She asked for pictures, saw first few pages of album and said: “I’m just gonna approve the case”
19th of March – EAD received in mail
24th of March – GC received in mail
As far as I learned after 2 years of preparing documents, reading this forum here and talking to my lawyer:
Immigration Officer pretty much knows, before inviting you to his room, whether you are eligible for AOS or not. I’m not sure what is it based on (background check??? + of course all documents + experience?) but I can assure you – they know. They DO go through all your documents they already have on file, before you are invited.
Again, many thanks to anyone who created this forum.
Good luck to anyone with AOS
It all started with first interview. I went there with my wife (US Citizen) in June 2010.
We were "prepared" by "someone knowledgeable" (not a lawyer) and assured that everything will be fine.
Well... it wasn't... back then I didn't know anything about immigration law and went to interview with J-1 visa in my passport WITH 2 yrs home residency required and WITHOUT a waiver !!!
That's how "someone knowledgeable" prepared us.
So my advice is - before you start AOS process, see a lawyer and tell him your situation. Every situation is different and advice will cost you around $50-100, maybe even free but you may save tons of money, as you see in my case. I know, lawyer can tell you, that you’re in deep sh#%$ and you need to pay him $$$K, so he will fix it… but again not all of them are like that.
If you live somewhere in Chicagoland, I can refer you to my lawyer. And I did trust him with all my heart.
After 1st interview in 2010 IO asked for some basic documents, simple question (how did you meet?), and went straight to the point - do you have a waiver for J-1?
He didn't even ask for pictures or anything else. I had to hand write I-485 withdrawal in front of him and go home very shocked!!!
I asked around for a good immigration lawyer and was given 2.
First one – told me my case is hard and will be time consuming and will cost a lot $$$
Second one – assured me that it’s not that bad. I paid almost 4K (with fees) but he managed to:
Get me No objection letter, a waiver for J-1 and approve my I-130.
At that moment (still 2010) I had 2 options:
- again, file I-485 right away and wait for another interview soon (then possibly 3rd?), or
- wait till 2012 and file for a permanent GC
I decided to wait, and I’m glad I did as one interview = less fees, less stress, less paperwork, etc.
Well, we have 2012 so I started at the very beginning:
6th of Jan – lawyer sent package to Chicago
13th of Feb – I had my biometrics done.
15th of Feb – I got a letter to show for interview. YES, only 2 days after biometrics!!! Even my lawyer was shocked!!!
15th of March – interview in Chicago:
IO was very professional, very nice, went through all the papers really fast and asked only very simple questions.
To me: when was I born? How did we meet? Where do I work?
To my wife: where do you work? How was your process of naturalization? What is your ex-husband doing?
She asked for pictures, saw first few pages of album and said: “I’m just gonna approve the case”
19th of March – EAD received in mail
24th of March – GC received in mail
As far as I learned after 2 years of preparing documents, reading this forum here and talking to my lawyer:
Immigration Officer pretty much knows, before inviting you to his room, whether you are eligible for AOS or not. I’m not sure what is it based on (background check??? + of course all documents + experience?) but I can assure you – they know. They DO go through all your documents they already have on file, before you are invited.
Again, many thanks to anyone who created this forum.
Good luck to anyone with AOS
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