Starting AOS

[Patrick&Chloe 7]

Hey all,

So my husband and I got married a week ago and I'm starting on the AOS paperwork but there's a couple of things I can't seem to get my head around. Firstly, I am to file JUST 1-485? and not I-130? I've read on the step-by-step guild for k-1 and k-3 visa holders that all you need is the 1-485. I just want to make sure though

Also with the optional forms such as Employment and Travel, are the fees for these forms included with the cost of AOS together? I've heard by are not certain if you file the forms the time you file for your status change they are free.

Now because my husband and I have only been married about 1 week and our marriage certificate is going to take 8 weeks apparently. However our marriage license has our details on it when we were married etc. Is this valid proof? It's a copy but it has been signed dated and stamped.

any help would be great! Thanks guys!

[Inky 1,110]

Follow the guide there is absolutely no I-130 in the AOS process from a K-1.

Read the instructions - there is no fee for the AP or EAD when filed with the AOS at the same time. One fee of $1070. It is in the instructions and on the USCIS website.

They do not want the marriage license. They want the marriage certificate.

[DarlingNikki 7]

Follow the guide there is absolutely no I-130 in the AOS process from a K-1.

Read the instructions - there is no fee for the AP or EAD when filed with the AOS at the same time. One fee of $1070. It is in the instructions and on the USCIS website.

They do not want the marriage license. They want the marriage certificate.

I'm just reading over this... but can you tell me what you mean by Marriage Certificate?

Here in FL we received a certified copy of our marriage license after we were married. That's all we received and we're not receiving anything else. Can you clarify?

Edited to add... it's actually a certified copy of our marriage application.

Edited December 28, 2011 by DarlingNikki

[God fearing 13]

I just sent an abstract of my marriage.

[Inky 1,110]

I'm just reading over this... but can you tell me what you mean by Marriage Certificate?

Here in FL we received a certified copy of our marriage license after we were married. That's all we received and we're not receiving anything else. Can you clarify?

Edited to add... it's actually a certified copy of our marriage application.

A marriage license is a paper you get and fill out before marriage, at your marriage you sign it. After marriage this paper is taken back/mailed to the registration place. A marriage certificate is the paper that you get back after the marriage license has been registered.

Edited December 28, 2011 by Inky

[ceadsearc 516]

If you got married according to the terms of your K-1 you don't need to file the I-130. If you want to file for AP and employment authorization, you can do so for free at the same time - the fees are waived with the AOS filing.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No to the I-130 given your circumstances (it is wrong that K1's don't need it. In certain situations a K1 WILL need it). There is an AOS thread in my signature that should help you (and a few other Aussie specific links )

The fees for EAD and AP are waived if filed together with AOS or while AOS is pending.

No the licence isn't enough. The wedding certificate will have the registrars signature, the date it was issued, a certificate number and a seal (not necessarily raised). Our marriage cert is the marriage licence but it's been printed on different paper and has all the stuff on it I just listed. Your post kinda implies that's what you have so what are you waiting on exactly?

[Patrick&Chloe 7]

Thanks everyone for your reply. No need to pay for EAD and Travel. Awesome.

Now, I have to wait for my marriage certificate (we were married in California) the guy who married us took the license filled out what he had to do and send it in. He left us with a copy of the license. On the License paper it says "license AND certificate of marriage" it was the same thing the guy sent in but just copied. That's the only thing I was left with. Is that valid to use?

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks everyone for your reply. No need to pay for EAD and Travel. Awesome.

Now, I have to wait for my marriage certificate (we were married in California) the guy who married us took the license filled out what he had to do and send it in. He left us with a copy of the license. On the License paper it says "license AND certificate of marriage" it was the same thing the guy sent in but just copied. That's the only thing I was left with. Is that valid to use?

Ahhh then no. It doesn't have the registrar info on it. Wait until you receive the official one.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

I'm just reading over this... but can you tell me what you mean by Marriage Certificate?

Here in FL we received a certified copy of our marriage license after we were married. That's all we received and we're not receiving anything else. Can you clarify?

Edited to add... it's actually a certified copy of our marriage application.

This is correct for FL. The officiant and witnesses sign the license you filled out, it gets turned into the court to be recorded and what you receive back as a certified marriage certificate is simply a copy of that same document with the county court clerk's signature and stamp on it.

[bigdog 376]

You will need the official registered certificate of marriage for your AOS. Order more than one. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/certlic/birthdeathmar/Pages/AthorizedCopyvsInformationalCopy.aspx

[dindo and patty 20]

I guess we were lucky that in our county, which is Solano county in the Bay Area produces the Marriage Certificate in house. After the civil ceremony,

I took the signed marriage license on the 2nd floor of the county clerk's office and I paid $32.00 for 2 certified copies of the Marriage Certificate.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I guess we were lucky that in our county, which is Solano county in the Bay Area produces the Marriage Certificate in house. After the civil ceremony,

I took the signed marriage license on the 2nd floor of the county clerk's office and I paid $32.00 for 2 certified copies of the Marriage Certificate.

It was the same here. We received three copies right after the ceremony.

[Travis and Meghan 24]

hopefully it won't take the full 8 weeks to get the certificate back. I know we're in different states, but we got told that ours would take more than a month to get back and we got it in a little over a week.

[menina 50]

I bet you can get it faster if you go in person to the County Clerk´s office or the equivalent in your town. My sister got married in CA,and I think she had her certificate within a week or so.