4 AOS Questions, HELP!

[GrayL 47]

Hello once again good people of VisaJourney,

Well, I've had a great break from dealing with all this fun and exciting visa stuff... got married on the 14th January, settling in well and loving my new home in Montana!

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ztesk4.jpg

Now the family has gone, the next step is here, AOS....

I've just been gathering information and reading every word that's available here on VJ.

Some background, I am from Australia, I am the guy, married a US Citizen, my beautiful wife!

I have some questions, I am hoping some people can help me with

1. Fee- From what I can gather, the fee is $1010, which from what I can gather includes the I-485 filing fee AND the biometrics. I'm also under the impression this includes the fee for the AP (Advance Parole) and the EA (Employment Authorisation). Is this correct? Is the total for everything $1010 or am I missing something? Also who do we make the money order out to?

2. I-693 Medical- My complete medical was performed in Australia in July last year, therefore I should retain my 1 year validity and not have to get another medical? My question is do I have to complete any part of the I-693, or what? I have copies of my DS-3025 here, and everything is complete, so what exactly do I do here? Do I send off the copy of my DS-3025, or what.. very very confused about that!

3. Her name change- My wife is taking on my last name. The marriage certificate was signed by her using her new name, but considering that I'm the Non-US Citizen, and I won't be changing my name, how critical is this? We are planning on getting her drivers licence changed tomorrow and to head to the SSN to change her name there in the next week. But we are expecting not to hear back from the SSN for a while after (well after the 90-day I-94 expiry anyway). Our plan is to have her sign all the forms as her new name, and get her driver's license and SSN name change applications in in the next week? Is this okay?

4. Who is the petitioner- When we filed for the I-129F, my wife, the US Citizen was the petitioner. Is this the same now for the AOS, or am I the Non-US Citizen now the petitioner? It states on the instructions to date and sign the cover page, does that mean me (the non-US citzen) or my wife (the US Citizen).

Anyways thank you in advance for helping me, I'm sure there's going to be a whole bunch more questions to come in the next few days, but for now these would help our sanity

Wow, crazy to get all this done in 90 days.. I feel we did well getting married in two months to the date of me arriving here.. now we're nearing the end!

Kindest Regards,

GrayL

Edited February 1, 2012 by GrayL

[Inky 1,110]

Not a K-1 topic or question - moving to AOS forum as this is about AOS.

[GrayL 47]

Oops my apologies for posting in the wrong forum thanks Inky for correcting it..

[Inky 1,110]

Hello once again good people of VisaJourney,

Well, I've had a great break from dealing with all this fun and exciting visa stuff... got married on the 14th January, settling in well and loving my new home in Montana!

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ztesk4.jpg

Now the family has gone, the next step is here, AOS....

I've just been gathering information and reading every word that's available here on VJ.

Some background, I am from Australia, I am the guy, married a US Citizen, my beautiful wife!

I have some questions, I am hoping some people can help me with

1. Fee- From what I can gather, the fee is $1010, which from what I can gather includes the I-485 filing fee AND the biometrics. I'm also under the impression this includes the fee for the AP (Advance Parole) and the EA (Employment Authorisation). Is this correct? Is the total for everything $1010 or am I missing something? Also who do we make the money order out to?

2. I-693 Medical- My complete medical was performed in Australia in July last year, therefore I should retain my 1 year validity and not have to get another medical? My question is do I have to complete any part of the I-693, or what? I have copies of my DS-3025 here, and everything is complete, so what exactly do I do here? Do I send off the copy of my DS-3025, or what.. very very confused about that!

3. Her name change- My wife is taking on my last name. The marriage certificate was signed by her using her new name, but considering that I'm the Non-US Citizen, and I won't be changing my name, how critical is this? We are planning on getting her drivers licence changed tomorrow and to head to the SSN to change her name there in the next week. But we are expecting not to hear back from the SSN for a while after (well after the 90-day I-94 expiry anyway). Our plan is to have her sign all the forms as her new name, and get her driver's license and SSN name change applications in in the next week? Is this okay?

4. Who is the petitioner- When we filed for the I-129F, my wife, the US Citizen was the petitioner. Is this the same now for the AOS, or am I the Non-US Citizen now the petitioner? It states on the instructions to date and sign the cover page, does that mean me (the non-US citzen) or my wife (the US Citizen).

Anyways thank you in advance for helping me, I'm sure there's going to be a whole bunch more questions to come in the next few days, but for now these would help our sanity

Wow, crazy to get all this done in 90 days.. I feel we did well getting married in two months to the date of me arriving here.. now we're nearing the end!

Kindest Regards,

GrayL

No the fee is $1070 - please check the USCIS website.

The petitioner of AOS is the person applying for the green card.

Not sure why you have to get everything done in 90 days because there is NO requirement to file AOS in 90 days. The only requirement is to be married in 90 days. AOS can be filed anytime after the marriage. Please read the guides and the USCIS website.

[GrayL 47]

Thanks Inky, I see, I retraced my steps and ended up on an outdated VJ forum link with the fee showing $1010. It's actually the link from the AOS guideline so maybe a moderator could fix up the link? Thanks for clarifying, that's good to know!

Thanks for your help.. oh I thought you should apply for AOS before your I-94 expires.. oh good to know.. thank god!

Cheers,

Gray

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Bring your DS-3025 form to a Civil Surgeon on USCIS list to transfer to a I-693, costs less than 100 bucks.

[GrayL 47]

Bring your DS-3025 form to a Civil Surgeon on USCIS list to transfer to a I-693, costs less than 100 bucks.

Ohh I see, so then in the end I just submit an I-693 and not the DS-3025? That's brilliant helps a lot.. I looked up Civil Surgeons and there's one only 10 miles from here.

Is there usually a long waiting list here?

Thanks so much, really appreciate the help.

GrayL

[NancyNguyen 1,657]

Ohh I see, so then in the end I just submit an I-693 and not the DS-3025? That's brilliant helps a lot.. I looked up Civil Surgeons and there's one only 10 miles from here.

Is there usually a long waiting list here?

Thanks so much, really appreciate the help.

GrayL

Please call them for the price first so you don't have to surprise when you get there. Remember to mention you don't need any physical exam, you just need a I-693 filled based on your valid foreign medical report.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Hello once again good people of VisaJourney,

Well, I've had a great break from dealing with all this fun and exciting visa stuff... got married on the 14th January, settling in well and loving my new home in Montana!

http://i40.tinypic.com/2ztesk4.jpg

Now the family has gone, the next step is here, AOS....

I've just been gathering information and reading every word that's available here on VJ.

Some background, I am from Australia, I am the guy, married a US Citizen, my beautiful wife!

I have some questions, I am hoping some people can help me with

1. Fee- From what I can gather, the fee is $1010, which from what I can gather includes the I-485 filing fee AND the biometrics. I'm also under the impression this includes the fee for the AP (Advance Parole) and the EA (Employment Authorisation). Is this correct? Is the total for everything $1010 or am I missing something? Also who do we make the money order out to?

2. I-693 Medical- My complete medical was performed in Australia in July last year, therefore I should retain my 1 year validity and not have to get another medical? My question is do I have to complete any part of the I-693, or what? I have copies of my DS-3025 here, and everything is complete, so what exactly do I do here? Do I send off the copy of my DS-3025, or what.. very very confused about that!

3. Her name change- My wife is taking on my last name. The marriage certificate was signed by her using her new name, but considering that I'm the Non-US Citizen, and I won't be changing my name, how critical is this? We are planning on getting her drivers licence changed tomorrow and to head to the SSN to change her name there in the next week. But we are expecting not to hear back from the SSN for a while after (well after the 90-day I-94 expiry anyway). Our plan is to have her sign all the forms as her new name, and get her driver's license and SSN name change applications in in the next week? Is this okay?

4. Who is the petitioner- When we filed for the I-129F, my wife, the US Citizen was the petitioner. Is this the same now for the AOS, or am I the Non-US Citizen now the petitioner? It states on the instructions to date and sign the cover page, does that mean me (the non-US citzen) or my wife (the US Citizen).

Anyways thank you in advance for helping me, I'm sure there's going to be a whole bunch more questions to come in the next few days, but for now these would help our sanity

Wow, crazy to get all this done in 90 days.. I feel we did well getting married in two months to the date of me arriving here.. now we're nearing the end!

Kindest Regards,

GrayL

1) The fee is $1070, $985 for the form fee and $85 for the biometrics fee. The I-485 instructions list the fees. EAD and AP are included in the fee since when filing with the I-485, the fees for those forms are waived.

2) If your DS-3025 is marked as complete, then there is no need to see a civil surgeon at all. Just send a copy of your DS-3025 with your I-485.

3) Your wife should use her married name on the forms, since she took your last name and this is her new legal name. You can send it off now in her married name before getting her new ID. Although you do not HAVE to rush to send it off before the I-94 expires. There is no deadline for filing AOS.

4) You are filing for adjustment of status and the forms are all you this time. Your wife only needs to provide the I-864 and supporting docs for that.

Ohh I see, so then in the end I just submit an I-693 and not the DS-3025? That's brilliant helps a lot.. I looked up Civil Surgeons and there's one only 10 miles from here.

Is there usually a long waiting list here?

Thanks so much, really appreciate the help.

GrayL

Going to a civil surgeon for an I-693 is not needed if you already had all the required vaccinations done at the time of your medical.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Some background, I am from Australia, I am the guy, married a US Citizen, my beautiful wife!

1. Fee- From what I can gather, the fee is $1010, which from what I can gather includes the I-485 filing fee AND the biometrics. I'm also under the impression this includes the fee for the AP (Advance Parole) and the EA (Employment Authorisation). Is this correct? Is the total for everything $1010 or am I missing something? Also who do we make the money order out to?

The fee is $1070 and yes the fees for EAD and AP are waived if filed together with AOS

2. I-693 Medical- My complete medical was performed in Australia in July last year, therefore I should retain my 1 year validity and not have to get another medical? My question is do I have to complete any part of the I-693, or what? I have copies of my DS-3025 here, and everything is complete, so what exactly do I do here? Do I send off the copy of my DS-3025, or what.. very very confused about that!

If you're not missing any shots just send the DS-3025. The I-693 transcription is only needed if you're missing shots (doesn't matter if the DS-3025 has the "complete" or "incomplete" box checked). If the medical is more than a year old you'll need a whole new medical

3. Her name change- My wife is taking on my last name. The marriage certificate was signed by her using her new name, but considering that I'm the Non-US Citizen, and I won't be changing my name, how critical is this? We are planning on getting her drivers licence changed tomorrow and to head to the SSN to change her name there in the next week. But we are expecting not to hear back from the SSN for a while after (well after the 90-day I-94 expiry anyway). Our plan is to have her sign all the forms as her new name, and get her driver's license and SSN name change applications in in the next week? Is this okay?

If she chose to take your name then she writes her new name on the forms. She doesn't need to have all her stuff changed over at the time of filing. People like me (the immigrant female) file AOS and most of our stuff isn't in our married name until after receiving the GC

4. Who is the petitioner- When we filed for the I-129F, my wife, the US Citizen was the petitioner. Is this the same now for the AOS, or am I the Non-US Citizen now the petitioner? It states on the instructions to date and sign the cover page, does that mean me (the non-US citzen) or my wife (the US Citizen).

There is no petitioner any more. The immigrant is the applicant, the USC is the sponsor.

Wow, crazy to get all this done in 90 days.. I feel we did well getting married in two months to the date of me arriving here.. now we're nearing the end!

There is no deadline to file AOS

Please see answers in red above. There is also an AOS thread in my signature that should help you.

Good luck!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Ohh I see, so then in the end I just submit an I-693 and not the DS-3025? That's brilliant helps a lot.. I looked up Civil Surgeons and there's one only 10 miles from here.

You don't need an I-693 if your shots are complete.

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Thanks Inky, I see, I retraced my steps and ended up on an outdated VJ forum link with the fee showing $1010. It's actually the link from the AOS guideline so maybe a moderator could fix up the link? Thanks for clarifying, that's good to know!

Do you have the link for where you found the $1010 fee so we can report it for fixing? If it was a post, that's different but if it's a guide then it should be changed.

[GrayL 47]

Do you have the link for where you found the $1010 fee so we can report it for fixing? If it was a post, that's different but if it's a guide then it should be changed.

Okay yeah I did find it on the AOS guide.. this is my breadcrumb trail

VJ > Guides > K1 Flowchart > Step 20. AOS

The link in the main column, takes you to this page;

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

Which is the main K1/K3 AOS Guide.

Under the assemblies checklist, point 1, there's a link to the 'fee for I-485 applications', which takes you here;

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/75836-reminder-july-30th-2007-new-filing-fees-in-effect/

Which is where I saw the $1010, also the link in that post to the latest fees is broken..

[GrayL 47]

Wow, thank you everyone for your replies.. they are so greatly appreciated. God Bless :innocent:

Edited February 1, 2012 by GrayL

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Okay yeah I did find it on the AOS guide.. this is my breadcrumb trail

VJ > Guides > K1 Flowchart > Step 20. AOS

The link in the main column, takes you to this page;

http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos

Which is the main K1/K3 AOS Guide.

Under the assemblies checklist, point 1, there's a link to the 'fee for I-485 applications', which takes you here;

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/75836-reminder-july-30th-2007-new-filing-fees-in-effect/

Which is where I saw the $1010, also the link in that post to the latest fees is broken..

I have reported this error to be fixed. So thanks