Concurrent Filing (I-130 & I-485)

[ravitijare]

Hello:
My wife is USC and I am on H1B (Valid till Aug 2008). I want to file I-130 & I-485 concurrently. I have following questions:
1. I-485 - Part 2 (Application type) it asks " I am applying for an adjustment to permanent resident status because: " - what should be my selection, looks like none of them is applicable ?

2. Non Immigrant Visa Number: which is the number for H1B visa ?

3. I was given "A #" when I was a student 3 years back when applied for OPT (Optional Practical Training similar to EAD) though school should I use that number in there ? as I am now in H1B Visa not student anymore or should I leave it blank ?

4. What else do I have to apply other than I-130 and I-485 ?

Any help for above queries will be very helpful and very much appreciated.

Thanks so much for your time.

[kkboy]

xZX

My wife is USC and I am on H1B (Valid till Aug 2008). I want to file I-130 & I-485 concurrently. I have following questions:
1. I-485 - Part 2 (Application type) it asks " I am applying for an adjustment to permanent resident status because: " - what should be my selection, looks like none of them is applicable ?
since you are filing concurrent 130, choose the 1 that says something like ...approved 130 petition
2. Non Immigrant Visa Number: which is the number for H1B visa ?
the red color number at bottom right on ur visa
3. I was given "A #" when I was a student 3 years back when applied for OPT (Optional Practical Training similar to EAD) though school should I use that number in there ? as I am now in H1B Visa not student anymore or should I leave it blank ?
yes, add that A# from your EAD..however, uscis will give u new A# for Gc process
4. What else do I have to apply other than I-130 and I-485 ?
bunch of other forms. medical(693), affidavit of support (864), biographic (325A) and fees, photos and the usual paraphernalia
Any help for above queries will be very helpful and very much appreciated.

[agni]

follow up to earlier query

kk boy: thanx for u r reply.....I have a follow up question
I am in a similar situation as ravitijare and am planning to file I-130 and 485 concurrently. You mentioned about other paraphernalia.....could you expand on that? Do you mean documentation reg. bonafide marraige and such....please elaborate....I would appreciate if someone has a checklist and would care to share here.

Thanks in advance
Agni

[TrueBrit]

Paraphenalia

Agni

On the I-485 or I-130 applications (I forget which), they will ask you to provide supporting documentation like your most recent tax return, evidence of joint property (copies of bank statements, rental agreements, mortgage, property taxes, cars etc.). When we submitted our forms, we just provided this type of info along with a few photos of us together at various times.

You should need an I-130 from your spouse, an I-485 for yourself to change status from whatever you have at the moment (H1-B?) and an I-864 Affidavit of Support. You can submit an I-864 W waiver if you've already got 40 credits with the Dept of Social Security but it takes about 10 years working in the US to accrue these at about 4 per year.

You'll also need the medical (I-693) which involves making an appointment with a USCIS approved physician (they're listed on the USCIS.GOV website) and having your immunization shots brought up to date, being tested for HIV and other nasty stuff, and having a chest X-Ray. I'd recommend having this done before you submit the various forms if you can as the physician will give you a sealed envelope with the I-693 results to give to the INS. You also get the chance to bring this envelope along to the I-485 Initial Interview if you want to submit the I-130/485 applications before incurring the hassle and expense of the medical (I think mine was about $350 as I had to have a couple of needless but expensive vaccinations).

[kkboy]

agni...

..it's all in the forms, just like truebrit posted below. just don't follow the " mailing address" mentioned on the forms. Everything goes to chicago lockbox, remember.

send tons of marriage evidence with your I130 app. joint bills, car title,home title, bank statements,costco membership,car registration,car insurance,joint credit card copies,photos..if u want to send, health, life insurance etc. marriage cert of course.

with your 485, submit wife's BC copy. also, status proof ( i94, visa stamp, I797, if any)
with I864, send copies of tax returns for past 3 yrs + w2 + 1099. If you want to make things easier, just request IRS transcripts for the past 3 yrs and send them in place of the (w2/1099/copies).
Also ,get latest employment letter from your employer(sponsor's) and attach copies of past 6 months of paystubs.

This will make life easier at the interview since the IO will have already gone thru the proof and give u a less hard time at the interview. Most of it is NOT needed...but send it, costs $5 more with postage...but u will sleep peacefully.

hope this helps.

[ravitijare]

Thank you!

Thank you so much kkboy, TrueBrit and Agni for your replies and guidance...it was very helpful