I need help... filling out the AOS forms!

[D5RQ 0]

Hi everyone,

my husband and I got married about two weeks ago and we finally received our marriage certificate! So I've been starting to fill out the visa papers! I'm just about done filling out Form I-485, but still have a couple of questions I hope you can help me with!

First of all... I looked at the example I-485 form on here that helped me a lot. In the instructions it says "Answer all questions fully and accurately. State that an item is not applicable with N/A. If the answer is none, write none." So far so good... there are a couple of questions that are not applicable for me, like middle name, or c/o. In the example form they just left those questions blank. Is that ok? Does anyone have any experience with that? I'd honestly rather leave them blank than putting n/a or none, but the instructions say you should put something there. Sorry for that silly question, I just don't want to do it wrong!

Another question is if I was inspected by a US Immigration officer. Honestly, I don't know... when I first entered the country I talked to a guy who took my fingerprints, asked me what I was doing here and gave me a stamp on my I-94. Is that an immigration officer?

That's it... I had a lot more but there's not a whole lot left after I looked at the example form

Well I hope someone can help me!

Thanks a lot

Julia

[Inky 1,111]

You were inspected you had your fingerprints taken and they processed an I-94.

[patient2010 93]

welcome to VJ and if I were you I would write N/A instead of leaving a line blank...good luck!!!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Are you here on a J-1 visa now? If so, then you have a LOT more forms to fill out than just the I-485. There is a guide in the "guide" section for AOS with spouse inside the US.

[D5RQ 0]

Thanks for the quick answers everyone

Are you here on a J-1 visa now? If so, then you have a LOT more forms to fill out than just the I-485. There is a guide in the "guide" section for AOS with spouse inside the US.

Yes, I'm here on a J-1 Visa now. I have all the other forms I need printed out already, I just thought I'd start with the I-485! Thanks for pointing it out though!

I just finished filling out that form... so I'll probably be back soon with more questions about the other forms

Thanks so much everyone!!!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Sounds good I have seen people who think they just need I-485, so I thought I'd mention it just in case. Another just in case... make sure your J-1 visa isn't subject to the 2-year Home Residency Requirement.

[D5RQ 0]

Sounds good I have seen people who think they just need I-485, so I thought I'd mention it just in case. Another just in case... make sure your J-1 visa isn't subject to the 2-year Home Residency Requirement.

That would be awesome if it was just the I-485... seems a little unrealistic though, considering all the paperwork I had to fill out just for my J-1 Visa ... And my J-1 Visa is not subject to the 2-year rule. Luckily. That would suck!

So I'm on the G-325A (Biographic Information) now, and here's my questions for that:

There's a field that says "all other names used". My original Visa is in my maiden name, but I filled the forms out with my new married name. So I put my maiden name in that field, right? And would it be just my last name or both first and last name?

On the bottom, it asks "This form is submitted in connection with an application for...", and then you can choose between "Naturalization", "Status as permanent resident" or other. On top of Form I-485 it says "application to register permanent residence or adjust status". I'm adjusting my status, so I check "other" and write "adjustment of status" as explanation... right?!

Another question, whenever it asks for my parent's name, it only asks for the first name and it doesn't have a field for the middle name. So in the field for the first name, shall I include the middle name? Or just leave it out?

That's it about that form... another question, I know that my husband has to fill out the affidavit of support for me. He doesn't earn that much money though (he's still in school) so I was considering having his parents fill one out too. Is that allowed/necessary? They have supported us a lot when we first moved into our apartment and with the wedding etc so I thought that would be a good idea?!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

1. Put your full maiden name in "other names used" - the first middle last, whatever - the whole name.

2. We checked" application for permanent resident" but I don't think it matters much. Adjusting Status is getting permanent residence - it's the same thing.

3. Your choice. If they don't ask for middle name then they don't need it, but if you really want to put it, it won't hurt you.

4. Your husband must be the primary sponsor, and if he doesn't make enough, then yes, it is necessary to find a co-sponsor. The Co-sponsor will also fill out a I-864 (you will have 2 - one from husband, one from co-sponsor)

[D5RQ 0]

Thanks! We were just trying to figure out if we still need my husband's parents as co-sponsors... What we're wondering though (and what I haven't found anywhere in the instructions) is if the Annual Income they're talking about is before or after taxes. If it's before taxes we'd definitely be good, but after taxes he gets just about enough... so what is required?

[D5RQ 0]

So I'm having my husband fill out the I-130 right now, and there's one thing that's kind of confusing us right now. On the first page, it asks for his address and for his relative's (=my) address. We're living together, so it's the same, obviously. So far so good. On the second page, there's three questions that we're not sure how to answer:

1. Address in the US where your relative intends to live.

2. Your relative's address abroad.

3. If filing for your husband/wife, give last address at which you lived together.

1. I am already living in the US, so the answer would be n/a?!

2. Should I put in my parent's address in Germany? Or would the answer be n/a as well, cause I don't have an address abroad?

3. We live together RIGHT NOW, so... just put in our current address? Or write an explanation saying that we live together right now?

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Put N/A or none or whatever the answer is. This form is used by all sorts of people in all sorts of situations. Those questions are for people who have a relative abroad, which is different from your situation, so just fill out the form the best you can. Not all questions will pertain to you and your situation.

To answer your earlier question, it's total income.

[D5RQ 0]

Put N/A or none or whatever the answer is. This form is used by all sorts of people in all sorts of situations. Those questions are for people who have a relative abroad, which is different from your situation, so just fill out the form the best you can. Not all questions will pertain to you and your situation.

To answer your earlier question, it's total income.

Awesome, thanks So we're basically done... a couple of things need to be copied, I have to take more pictures (didn't realize you needed two more for the EAD :/ ) And that'll be it! We were going to send it off tomorrow, but won't be able to make it... so it'll be Tuesday I guess, which means it will be in Chicago by Wednesday or Thursday. My J-1 Visa expires on Friday. Is that going to be a problem? As soon as we sent it off by then it should be fine, right?

I also have some more questions concerning the I-765 for the EAD. I am here on a J-1 Visa and was allowed to work for my host family. I had that job BEFORE I came to the States though (it was a requirement for my J-1 Visa as well), so did I officially have the permission to accept employment? If I check that box, it asks to "attach previous employment authorization documentation". I went through all the stuff I have (Visa, I-94, SSC that says "only valid with DHS authorization", and a form called DS-2019. But that's all, so I'm not sure if I have anything they want to prove that I was authorized to accept employment?!

And on question number 14 it asks for the manner of last entry, which, in my case, was exchange visitor. In number 15 it asks for the current immigration status. Is it still "exchange visitor", as I haven't filed the AOS yet?

Thanks so much for all your help!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

You new period of authorized stay will only begin when the package has been accepted for initial review (not the day the package physically arrives), which takes at least a week and sometimes longer. However, a few days of overstay will not affect you in any way.

I am not sure how J-1 and employment works, so alas, I do not know the answer to your question.

Your current status and last manner of entry is J-1 exchange visitor. It is most definitely not AOS applicant because you have not applied yet.

[D5RQ 0]

You new period of authorized stay will only begin when the package has been accepted for initial review (not the day the package physically arrives), which takes at least a week and sometimes longer. However, a few days of overstay will not affect you in any way.

I am not sure how J-1 and employment works, so alas, I do not know the answer to your question.

Your current status and last manner of entry is J-1 exchange visitor. It is most definitely not AOS applicant because you have not applied yet.

Thanks! I hope I can find someone to answer the question about the J-1 employment! Just another quick question. In the instructions for the i-485 it says that I have to fill out the G-325A. In the instructions for the I-130 that my husband fills out, is asks for TWO G-325A's... one filled out by him and one filled out by me. Is it enough to have one in the whole packet or should I fill out another one for the I-130?

That's it with my questions... promise

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

2 G325As for you, one for husband.