Came to the US on F1, now I am married

[timtreacy 0]

Hi everyone,

I find this site confusing so sorry if this has been posted before.

I came to the US from Ireland in 2006 to do a PhD on an F1 visa.

That visa runs out in July of 2011.

In November of 2010, I got married to my lovely wife, who is a US citizen born here in Boston, MA.

What forms do I need to download and file so I can get my greencard, work here, and also travel.

Thank you in advance, and again, apologies if this (which I suspect it has, but I cant find the answer) has been asked before.

Tim

[YuAndDan 153]

Start here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=i130guide2

Moving to AOS from Work/STUDENT/Tourist visa forum.

[Maxximus1074 14]

Welcome to VJ !!

See you got a link already - so I thought I just stop by and welcome you - and if there's any questions, post them and we'll be more then happy to respond, share our experiences with you (am a former F-1 myself).

Congrats on your recent marriage

Maxximus

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

I-130 "Petition for an Alien Relative" ($420), I-485 "Adjustment of Status" ($1,070) I-765 "Work Authorization" ($0 if filed concurrently) what is what you want to do.

Edited February 24, 2011 by Just Bob

[YuAndDan 153]

I-130 "Petition for an Alien Relative" ($420), I-485 "Adjustment of Status" ($1,070) I-765 "Work Authorization" ($0 if filed concurrently) what is what you want to do.

Forgot to add I-131 for AP ($0) cannot leave country while AOS pending even with valid F1 without AP document.

[timtreacy 0]

Forgot to add I-131 for AP ($0) cannot leave country while AOS pending even with valid F1 without AP document.

Thank you everyone! This is great news! This whole process is so nerve racking. Hoping I get the correct forms etc...

One other question, is there anywhere I can go (Here in Boston, MA)where I can have someone official check my forms before I end them in?

[SophWeb 25]

Thank you everyone! This is great news! This whole process is so nerve racking. Hoping I get the correct forms etc...

One other question, is there anywhere I can go (Here in Boston, MA)where I can have someone official check my forms before I end them in?

No, but if you follow the guides here and double check them against the example forms (http://www.visajourney.com/content/examples) then you should have no problems. If anything is incorrect, then USCIS will contact you and ask for further/correct information.

[Little_My 464]

I've sudmitted my AOS package a couple of weeks ago, and I'm adjusting from F1 to LPR as a spouse of a USC. So far everything has been going very smoothly! You an find a list of our sent items here

It's not hard to do it on your own, just follow the VJ guidelines, double check everything against the official USCIS instructions for each form, make sure that everything is signed - and that the signatures are on correct lines - and make a copy of the whole thing before sending it out!

[timtreacy 0]

I've sudmitted my AOS package a couple of weeks ago, and I'm adjusting from F1 to LPR as a spouse of a USC. So far everything has been going very smoothly! You an find a list of our sent items here

It's not hard to do it on your own, just follow the VJ guidelines, double check everything against the official USCIS instructions for each form, make sure that everything is signed - and that the signatures are on correct lines - and make a copy of the whole thing before sending it out!

Why did you include e-tickets of trips you took together? I don't see that being required anywhere-Am I looking in the wrong place?

And you had 4 affidavits, again, is that just as many as you got? Would 2 do? I don't see a number listed anywhere of how many we will need.

Thanks again,

Tim

[Little_My 464]

E-tickets are just to show proof of a bona fide marriagea nd 4-year relationship - the type of proof you personally submit is up to you, and the only proof that is specifically required as an attachment to the AOS package is a copy of your marriage certificate. We did a bit of "front loading" - i.e. sent in what ever we could think of to make sure there are no questions of our relationship being valid. Some people don't sent much of anything with the AOS, and bring the evidence to the interview - or, send it if / when they get an RFE.

Same goes with affidavits - there is no required number, and it's not really required at all. It's up to you wether or not you want to add affidavits to your AOS package and if you feel those are needed to show your relationship history. We had two from people who attended our wedding at city hall, and the two other ones were from both of our dads.

[SophWeb 25]

E-tickets are just to show proof of a bona fide marriagea nd 4-year relationship - the type of proof you personally submit is up to you, and the only proof that is specifically required as an attachment to the AOS package is a copy of your marriage certificate. We did a bit of "front loading" - i.e. sent in what ever we could think of to make sure there are no questions of our relationship being valid. Some people don't sent much of anything with the AOS, and bring the evidence to the interview - or, send it if / when they get an RFE.

Same goes with affidavits - there is no required number, and it's not really required at all. It's up to you wether or not you want to add affidavits to your AOS package and if you feel those are needed to show your relationship history. We had two from people who attended our wedding at city hall, and the two other ones were from both of our dads.

OP - it's really up to you what you want to send in. Technically they don't even ask for any proof of a relationship with the AOS package. The interview is when you give them all that evidence and they ask you questions about your relationship.

Some people (especially those from high risk countries) choose to add all the evidence in that AOS packet, which is fine too. You will not be penalized for it.

Personally, I didn't send in any proof of our relationship at all. Just proof that we were married (marriage certificate). My AOS was approved in 6 months with no issues and no interview.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

People who are adjusting based on an approved I-129F (leading to a K-1 visa) petition do not need to include any proof of bona fide marriage, like the poster above.

People who are filing I-130/I-485 concurrently (like everyone in this forum), DO need to include proof of a bona fide marriage. Therefore, suggestions here should be appropriate for concurrent filers, which is different from K-1 visa adjusters advice.

The I-130 instructions state on page 3, "In addition to the required documentation listed above, you should submit one or more of the following types of documentation that may evidence the bona fides of your marriage:" It goes on to list suggested evidence. Strictly speaking, it is not required, but they specifically say you SHOULD send in proof for your I-130. It's not a secret trick, just following instructions literally.

Edited March 22, 2011 by Harpa Timsah

[SophWeb 25]

People who are adjusting based on an approved I-129F (leading to a K-1 visa) petition do not need to include any proof of bona fide marriage, like the poster above.

People who are filing I-130/I-485 concurrently (like everyone in this forum), DO need to include proof of a bona fide marriage. Therefore, suggestions here should be appropriate for concurrent filers, which is different from K-1 visa adjusters advice.

The I-130 instructions state on page 3, "In addition to the required documentation listed above, you should submit one or more of the following types of documentation that may evidence the bona fides of your marriage:" It goes on to list suggested evidence. Strictly speaking, it is not required, but they specifically say you SHOULD send in proof for your I-130. It's not a secret trick, just following instructions literally.

I see. My apologies. I take back what I said, and I will remember this in the future.

[Little_My 464]

Timtreacy - as mentioned earlier, in our case (adjusting I-130 and I-485 concurrently) you are strongly recommended to submit proof of your relationship with the application. You don't need to send everything you have at once, it's fine to leave something for the interview. Many people, for example, don't submit photos with the application but bring them to the interview - it is up to you.

It's generally said here that things like joint lease, joint bills, joint insurance, joint phone plan etc. are considered stronger proof of bona fide marriage than, for example, photos or affidavits. We sent both, and the E-tickets were mainly to show that we were living and traveling together before I moved to the US (we met two years before I came here).

You should send something from the list in the instructions - but what and how much you sent, is totally up to you.

[timtreacy 0]

Timtreacy - as mentioned earlier, in our case (adjusting I-130 and I-485 concurrently) you are strongly recommended to submit proof of your relationship with the application. You don't need to send everything you have at once, it's fine to leave something for the interview. Many people, for example, don't submit photos with the application but bring them to the interview - it is up to you.

It's generally said here that things like joint lease, joint bills, joint insurance, joint phone plan etc. are considered stronger proof of bona fide marriage than, for example, photos or affidavits. We sent both, and the E-tickets were mainly to show that we were living and traveling together before I moved to the US (we met two years before I came here).

You should send something from the list in the instructions - but what and how much you sent, is totally up to you.

Thank you so much everyone. We are just waiting on our parents to mail our birth-certs and then we will be all set! For the I-130, we will include some bill heads, and e-tickets, as well as our insurance plan and possible a copy of last years tax return. Thank you again, you guys should get paid for this! Yesterday I was at a loss at where to start and now I am all but done thanks to you guys! Big ups to you all!!!