My Wife's Green Card Approved within a month and a Half After Filing

[pauare 0]

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. 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.

[payxibka 10,045]

I see biometrics appointment at 1.5 months after filing... this is very different than I-485 approval

[NOandJO 0]

What country is your wife from?

NOandJO

[pauare 0]

I see biometrics appointment at 1.5 months after filing... this is very different than I-485 approval

I calculated the approval time from the FP date to receipt of GC. Since most of the waiting happens after you've submitted everything, including FPs, I was a bit surprised myself. I've trawled through several forums and found out that several delays occur after FP and background checks. I was anticipating a long waiting period after the FP. Then yesterday, after coming home from work, I opened my mailbox and this unmarked window envelope was sitting there. I opened it and there it was. I was speechless.

What country is your wife from?

NOandJO

My wife's from the Philippines. I'm from the Philippines as well. I'm a naturalized US citizen.

[nu7015 0]

Congratulations on a quick approval. Unfortunately, even after following all of the above suggestions, the AOS process can (and quite often does) take much longer. Our application was organized to a 'T' as well and we are still waiting 12 months later.

[ED*Riza 0]

Congratulations!

We filled in Nov.19,2007 and got my GC January 29,2008 same with your wife no interview .. Reading VJ helped a lot and most of all prayers as well.

[payxibka 10,045]

I calculated the approval time from the FP date to receipt of GC. Since most of the waiting happens after you've submitted everything, including FPs, I was a bit surprised myself. I've trawled through several forums and found out that several delays occur after FP and background checks. I was anticipating a long waiting period after the FP. Then yesterday, after coming home from work, I opened my mailbox and this unmarked window envelope was sitting there. I opened it and there it was. I was speechless.

My wifes biometrics appointment was October 24th and her approval date was November 20th.... You will find your situation is not so unusual ... your procedural advice is however is a good practice for others to follow...

[YuAndDan 153]

Good advise, I saw a quick green card yesterday on another board, maybe the added fees ars starting to produce results.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=46179

And can you add country and filed for to your profile?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

[pushbrk 12,883]

Good advise, I saw a quick green card yesterday on another board, maybe the added fees ars starting to produce results.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=46179

And can you add country and filed for to your profile?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

All is great here except the severely misleading title of the topic. You've described a quite normal three month green card approval process not one of a month and a half.

As already mentioned, a biometrics appointment isn't an approval.

[YuAndDan 153]

Good advise, I saw a quick green card yesterday on another board, maybe the added fees ars starting to produce results.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=46179

And can you add country and filed for to your profile?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

All is great here except the severely misleading title of the topic. You've described a quite normal three month green card approval process not one of a month and a half.

As already mentioned, a biometrics appointment isn't an approval.

Correct, as I have posted "Show me the timeline"

[Niels Bohr 72]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[scur 0]

Good advise, I saw a quick green card yesterday on another board, maybe the added fees ars starting to produce results.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=46179

And can you add country and filed for to your profile?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

All is great here except the severely misleading title of the topic. You've described a quite normal three month green card approval process not one of a month and a half.

As already mentioned, a biometrics appointment isn't an approval.

Exactly. I guess there are lota other people with 3 months approval. I fall in 4 months of which im not in a K-1 visa, had an RFE which i mailed it a month later. But hey Biometric's not an approval.Its a good topic for new AOS filers. Please update your timeline.

Edited March 7, 2008 by scur

[carpe diem 2]

Good advise, although there are a lot of things that are not in the control of the applicants and from reading the forum, there appears to be some arbitrariness as to why some applications take longer to process than others. But that doesn't mean that applicants shouldn't try to be diligent about whatever they can control and submit a complete, well-organized application.

[pauare 0]

Good advise, I saw a quick green card yesterday on another board, maybe the added fees ars starting to produce results.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=46179

And can you add country and filed for to your profile?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

All is great here except the severely misleading title of the topic. You've described a quite normal three month green card approval process not one of a month and a half.

As already mentioned, a biometrics appointment isn't an approval.

Correct, as I have posted "Show me the timeline"

OK my mistake. Sorry for that severely misleading header. Anyway, just focus on my tips. Three months normal is good then. I just figured I wanted to help out because I've noticed a lot of the issues I find are based on either submitting the wrong paperwork or not filling out the right info or just not reading the instructions. Thank you to all those who congratulated me. I wish you all a smooth process. I know it can be difficult and frustrating. Just be patient. The process we have here in the US really needs overhauling. Maybe the increase in fees will speed up things for all.

[pauare 0]

Good advise, I saw a quick green card yesterday on another board, maybe the added fees ars starting to produce results.

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=46179

And can you add country and filed for to your profile?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...rCP&CODE=01

All is great here except the severely misleading title of the topic. You've described a quite normal three month green card approval process not one of a month and a half.

As already mentioned, a biometrics appointment isn't an approval.

Correct, as I have posted "Show me the timeline"

OK my mistake. Sorry for that severely misleading header. Anyway, just focus on my tips. Three months normal is good then. I just figured I wanted to help out because I've noticed a lot of the issues I find are based on either submitting the wrong paperwork or not filling out the right info or just not reading the instructions. Thank you to all those who congratulated me. I wish you all a smooth process. I know it can be difficult and frustrating. Just be patient. The process we have here in the US really needs overhauling. Maybe the increase in fees will speed up things for all.

I always look back at what may have contributed to the smooth process and I think it's because I've known my fiance for 15 years and we're both of the same age, from the same country, we didn't meet online, nothing suspicious there, we had pictures together way back early 90s so not too many questions were raised on the paperwork to prove our relationship. Who knows. It could be anything. Case to case basis. Maybe the official was having a good day.

Edited March 7, 2008 by pauare