F1 student AOS+Fee waiver

[sarko 0]

Hello,

I'm an F1 student right now on status studying at a University. I met my wife last year and we got married last month. I didn't know marrying a US citizen will hurt my visa status. so right now I'm trying to do AOS.

I just want to know what to do, I filled out most of the forms already, I did the medical test... but the problem is that we don't have enough money for the application fees since we both are students. I called USCIS and they told me that I can apply for a fee waiver but I just wanna know if it works, cuz I don't want my application to take for ever because of that.

I just nee advice on what to do. I also made an appointment on USCIS with an officer in Detroit.

Please help me out, I didn't want to change my status because I don't mind stay F1 but I got told to change since I was trying to go back in my country for the break and since I will have to reapply for a new F1 visa they said I will be denied since I have an American Spouse.

I also don't know:

1 where to send the forms

2: what should I includ, letter from friends, wedding pictures, credit card bills, ......

Thank you for your help !!!!

[YuAndDan 153]

Some reading here:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/Fe...ver03_29_04.pdf

http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/FeeWaiver072007.pdf

[ssrose18 0]

Hello,

I'm an F1 student right now on status studying at a University. I met my wife last year and we got married last month. I didn't know marrying a US citizen will hurt my visa status. so right now I'm trying to do AOS.

I just want to know what to do, I filled out most of the forms already, I did the medical test... but the problem is that we don't have enough money for the application fees since we both are students. I called USCIS and they told me that I can apply for a fee waiver but I just wanna know if it works, cuz I don't want my application to take for ever because of that.

I just nee advice on what to do. I also made an appointment on USCIS with an officer in Detroit.

Please help me out, I didn't want to change my status because I don't mind stay F1 but I got told to change since I was trying to go back in my country for the break and since I will have to reapply for a new F1 visa they said I will be denied since I have an American Spouse.

I also don't know:

1 where to send the forms

2: what should I includ, letter from friends, wedding pictures, credit card bills, ......

Thank you for your help !!!!

My husbands in the Army and we don't make a lot of money either. So I applied for the fee waiver back in Nov. and they rejected it. They basically want you to be dirt poor to apply for the fee waiver. But if you can't afford the application fee then you probably don't meet the 125% of the poverty line which means you will have to have a co-sponsor sign the paperwork. I suggest just borrowing the money and getting the paperwork in because it takes them over a month to tell you that they are rejecting it. I'm a student right now also and we ended up borrowing the money from family. That way you will be able to work while the application is pending and you can work anywhere, not just on campus. As for being out of status your visa should be valid for the whole time you are at school so if you don't leave the country in the mean time then you are still here legally. I was on an F-1 visa when I married my husband and mine doesn't expire until December. But I haven't left the country since then. Maybe others will have some good advice for you.

[sarko 0]

Thank you for your quick answer:

We basically make 7 000 a year with our oncampus work ! so we really do not have money, lol, my parents send me money since I can't take care of myself,but paying 1500 and paying a lawyer is a pain !

and for the affidative of Support we don't know who to talk to, she tryied to call all her uncles and aunties they said that they were scared......... and her dad was in jail last year and her mom just makes 19 000 $ a year.

I'm trying to go back home in december do you think that I have enough time????

Thank you again

Hello,

I'm an F1 student right now on status studying at a University. I met my wife last year and we got married last month. I didn't know marrying a US citizen will hurt my visa status. so right now I'm trying to do AOS.

I just want to know what to do, I filled out most of the forms already, I did the medical test... but the problem is that we don't have enough money for the application fees since we both are students. I called USCIS and they told me that I can apply for a fee waiver but I just wanna know if it works, cuz I don't want my application to take for ever because of that.

I just nee advice on what to do. I also made an appointment on USCIS with an officer in Detroit.

Please help me out, I didn't want to change my status because I don't mind stay F1 but I got told to change since I was trying to go back in my country for the break and since I will have to reapply for a new F1 visa they said I will be denied since I have an American Spouse.

I also don't know:

1 where to send the forms

2: what should I includ, letter from friends, wedding pictures, credit card bills, ......

Thank you for your help !!!!

My husbands in the Army and we don't make a lot of money either. So I applied for the fee waiver back in Nov. and they rejected it. They basically want you to be dirt poor to apply for the fee waiver. But if you can't afford the application fee then you probably don't meet the 125% of the poverty line which means you will have to have a co-sponsor sign the paperwork. I suggest just borrowing the money and getting the paperwork in because it takes them over a month to tell you that they are rejecting it. I'm a student right now also and we ended up borrowing the money from family. That way you will be able to work while the application is pending and you can work anywhere, not just on campus. As for being out of status your visa should be valid for the whole time you are at school so if you don't leave the country in the mean time then you are still here legally. I was on an F-1 visa when I married my husband and mine doesn't expire until December. But I haven't left the country since then. Maybe others will have some good advice for you.

[ssrose18 0]

Thank you for your quick answer:

We basically make 7 000 a year with our oncampus work ! so we really do not have money, lol, my parents send me money since I can't take care of myself,but paying 1500 and paying a lawyer is a pain !

and for the affidative of Support we don't know who to talk to, she tryied to call all her uncles and aunties they said that they were scared......... and her dad was in jail last year and her mom just makes 19 000 $ a year.

I'm trying to go back home in december do you think that I have enough time????

Thank you again

You don't need a lawyer to send in the paperwork. In my opinion they are expensive and a waste of time and money. The majority of people on here applied without a lawyer. There are guides on here to filling out the paperwork. It does take awhile to get everything together. But once you get the paperwork in it shouldn't take them forever. I applied at the beginning of Feb. and I just received my AP (so I can travel while the paperwork is processing) and my EAD (so I can work). You will have to fill out I-485, I-130, and if you want to work and travel I-131 and I-765. You have to pay $1010 for I-485 (which also includes I-131 and I-765, so you don't have to pay a separate filing fee) and $355 for I-130, so a grand total of $1365. You will need to find someone to sponsor you because they will deny you if you don't meet the 125% of the poverty line. About going home in December if you have a F-1 visa and it's valid for who knows how long, I know you are supposed to get it signed every year at your school before you leave to go home. If you apply for the paperwork now you will probably have your AP so I wouldn't worry about it too much just make sure your visa is valid. I'm guessing you are Canadian also?

[sarko 0]

no I'm not Canadian, I'm French,

so you said: you have to have a valid visa even with the Advance parole???

I have an F1 visa experied but I have Duration of Stay on my i94 which means I can stay in the US legally until the end of my studies.

I thought the Advance parol works like a visa. so you mean even with the advance parole I will have to reapply for a new f1 visa if I go home for the break??

THanks

Thank you for your quick answer:

We basically make 7 000 a year with our oncampus work ! so we really do not have money, lol, my parents send me money since I can't take care of myself,but paying 1500 and paying a lawyer is a pain !

and for the affidative of Support we don't know who to talk to, she tryied to call all her uncles and aunties they said that they were scared......... and her dad was in jail last year and her mom just makes 19 000 $ a year.

I'm trying to go back home in december do you think that I have enough time????

Thank you again

You don't need a lawyer to send in the paperwork. In my opinion they are expensive and a waste of time and money. The majority of people on here applied without a lawyer. There are guides on here to filling out the paperwork. It does take awhile to get everything together. But once you get the paperwork in it shouldn't take them forever. I applied at the beginning of Feb. and I just received my AP (so I can travel while the paperwork is processing) and my EAD (so I can work). You will have to fill out I-485, I-130, and if you want to work and travel I-131 and I-765. You have to pay $1010 for I-485 (which also includes I-131 and I-765, so you don't have to pay a separate filing fee) and $355 for I-130, so a grand total of $1365. You will need to find someone to sponsor you because they will deny you if you don't meet the 125% of the poverty line. About going home in December if you have a F-1 visa and it's valid for who knows how long, I know you are supposed to get it signed every year at your school before you leave to go home. If you apply for the paperwork now you will probably have your AP so I wouldn't worry about it too much just make sure your visa is valid. I'm guessing you are Canadian also?

[ssrose18 0]

no I'm not Canadian, I'm French,

so you said: you have to have a valid visa even with the Advance parole???

I have an F1 visa experied but I have Duration of Stay on my i94 which means I can stay in the US legally until the end of my studies.

I thought the Advance parol works like a visa. so you mean even with the advance parole I will have to reapply for a new f1 visa if I go home for the break??

THanks

Yes my F1 visa doesn't expire until Dec. so it's still valid and my I-94 says duration of stay also. I'm not sure about the AP, but based on what it says on the AP you still have to have a valid visa in order to leave the country. If you leave the country without an AP while the paperwork is pending they will consider it "abandonment of application" and they will deny you. That's what the AP is for. So yes I believe you need a valid visa in order to leave the country.

[YuAndDan 153]

no I'm not Canadian, I'm French,

so you said: you have to have a valid visa even with the Advance parole???

I have an F1 visa experied but I have Duration of Stay on my i94 which means I can stay in the US legally until the end of my studies.

I thought the Advance parol works like a visa. so you mean even with the advance parole I will have to reapply for a new f1 visa if I go home for the break??

THanks

This much like K-1 visa holders, the visa is VOID the moment they enter the USA, the I-94 indicates how long they can stay NOT the visa.

AP will allow you to leave and re-enter the USA from travel abroad, AP tends to be valid for 1 year, NO NEW Visa needed to re-enter on AP.

[athena_ny 1]

Thank you for your quick answer:

We basically make 7 000 a year with our oncampus work ! so we really do not have money, lol, my parents send me money since I can't take care of myself,but paying 1500 and paying a lawyer is a pain !

and for the affidative of Support we don't know who to talk to, she tryied to call all her uncles and aunties they said that they were scared......... and her dad was in jail last year and her mom just makes 19 000 $ a year.

I'm trying to go back home in december do you think that I have enough time????

Thank you again

Hello,

I'm an F1 student right now on status studying at a University. I met my wife last year and we got married last month. I didn't know marrying a US citizen will hurt my visa status. so right now I'm trying to do AOS.

I just want to know what to do, I filled out most of the forms already, I did the medical test... but the problem is that we don't have enough money for the application fees since we both are students. I called USCIS and they told me that I can apply for a fee waiver but I just wanna know if it works, cuz I don't want my application to take for ever because of that.

I just nee advice on what to do. I also made an appointment on USCIS with an officer in Detroit.

Please help me out, I didn't want to change my status because I don't mind stay F1 but I got told to change since I was trying to go back in my country for the break and since I will have to reapply for a new F1 visa they said I will be denied since I have an American Spouse.

I also don't know:

1 where to send the forms

2: what should I includ, letter from friends, wedding pictures, credit card bills, ......

Thank you for your help !!!!

My husbands in the Army and we don't make a lot of money either. So I applied for the fee waiver back in Nov. and they rejected it. They basically want you to be dirt poor to apply for the fee waiver. But if you can't afford the application fee then you probably don't meet the 125% of the poverty line which means you will have to have a co-sponsor sign the paperwork. I suggest just borrowing the money and getting the paperwork in because it takes them over a month to tell you that they are rejecting it. I'm a student right now also and we ended up borrowing the money from family. That way you will be able to work while the application is pending and you can work anywhere, not just on campus. As for being out of status your visa should be valid for the whole time you are at school so if you don't leave the country in the mean time then you are still here legally. I was on an F-1 visa when I married my husband and mine doesn't expire until December. But I haven't left the country since then. Maybe others will have some good advice for you.

If her mom does not have any dependents, her mom could be a joint sponsor. It's less than $18,000 to be at 125% of the poverty level for 2 people.