Filing I-130 & I-485 for AOS after marrying US citizen - please help with some questions.

[Cyrusxs 0]

Hello all,

I came to the U.S. on a student Visa and after graduation, I started working on an H-1B. I had traveled outside the country once, in 2004, and before I embarked on that trip, I went to the U.S. Consulate in Canada to get a visa stamp in my passport, so that I could re-enter the U.S. I was able to re-enter the U.S. in 2004, and the visa expired in 2007, but I haven't left the country since. I've been having my H-1B renewed on an annual basis due to a pending Green Card application through work, and so I have a valid I-797A form.

I got married earlier this year to a U.S. citizen and we decided to file for a Green Card for me as it would take far less time than waiting for one to be approved through work. I had some questions about what to enter on some of the forms, and I was hoping I could get some help.

(p.s., my wife wasn't born in the U.S., she received her citizenship in 2008)

1. We are filing 2 G-325A forms (one for her as the petitioner, and one for me as the beneficiary). There is a section in this form where it says, "This form is submitted in connection with an application for:" For my G325-A (the beneficiary) I presume that I would check the box for "Status as a Permanent Resident", but what do we check for her G-325A (the petitioner)? Should we check "Other (Specify)" and type in "Petition for Alien Spouse"? Should it be something else?
   
2. Again, regarding the G-325A, I've seen quite a few posts where people say there are 4 pages to it, all identical. However, when we open our G325-A forms, we see only one page. Is this something I should be concerned about?
   
3. I've seen on a couple of forms (G-325A, I-130) where it asks for my Alien Registraion Number. My wife has one, and I see it on her Certificate of Naturalization, however, I have gone through my passport and searched through the stapled I-94s, and my I-797A forms, and can't find any A#. I am assuming that this means I don't have one, and I can enter N/A for the A# for myself - correct?
   
4. On the I-485 form, it asks for my Nonimmigrant Visa Number - where do I find this? I read somewhere that it's the number in red on my visa in the passport. If this is the case, can I enter this number, even though the visa in my passport expired in 2007?
   
5. On the I-130 form, Section C, Question #22 says "Complete the information below if your relative is in the United States and will apply for adjustment of status". The instructions for the I-130 and the I-485 state that we should send the applications to Chicago, IL. So would I put Chicago, IL for this part? I've read other posts that say to enter the closest USCIS office to where we live (which isn't Chicago).
   

I think I've included all the relevant information - if I need to give more information, please let me know.

I'd really appreciate any help. Thanks a lot!

[Little_My 464]

Welcome to VJ!

1.You need 3 G-325As all together - 2 for you, and i for him (you need one for both I-485 and I-130). Yes, you check "Status as a permanent resident". We checked that same option for my husband (the USC) as his application is also in connection with an application for status as a permanent resident - though not his own status, but mine. Had no problems with that.

2. It's only one page - plus the page with information regarding the form.

3. You probably don't have an A-number. You can leave it blank, or write "none"

4. I believe you should enter the visa number of the last visa you entered with - so yes. And yes, it is the red number.

5. Everyone who files for AOS sends their forms to Chicago - it is not your local USCIS office. Put the one that is closest to you (that's what we did at least, and had no problems along the way.)

Good luck with your filing process!

[Cyrusxs 0]

Thanks so much for replying so quickly Little_My! A couple follow up questions:

After reading the the instructions from the USCIS, I was under the impression that we would have to file the following forms:

- I-130 (which my wife fills out, since she's the petitioner)

- I-485 (which I fill out, since I am the beneficiary, applying for an Adjustment of Status)

- G-325A for the petitioner (my wife)

- G-325A for the beneficiary (myself)

- Other forms (I-693, I864, G-1145)

So, given this, I'm a confused why we'd need 3 G-325As. I understand that we need one for the I-130 and one for the I-485, but why the 3rd one? Sorry for all the confusion - I wish the USCIS instructions were a little clearer.

Thanks again for all your help!

[EDIT]

You know what, I just went through Visa Journey's Step-by-Step guide, and it looks like it's more like this:

- I-130 (by petitioner) + G-325A (for petitioner) + G-325A (for beneficiary)

- I-485 (by beneficiary) + G-325A (for beneficiary)

Am I understanding that correctly?

Edited September 15, 2011 by Cyrusxs

[Little_My 464]

Yes, that is correct. All together 3 x G-325A - two filed by the foreign spouse, one filed by the USC. Sorry about the confusion as to who is who in my first post! You, as the foreign spouse, need two G-325A forms and your wife as the USC needs to file one.

Edited September 15, 2011 by Little_My