**F-1 Not selected in 2013 H-1B, now GC Aprroved!!!!**

[F-1.to.GC 0]

All,

We just want to thank VisaJourney and its awesome members who have posted about their AOS experience. We did not hire a lawyer and we packaged our documents based on VJ members advice. We never received a RFE and Green card was approved in less than 90 days. All glory be to the Almighty.

Short Story

Beneficiary came in 2008 as F-1 graduated in 2012. Got his OPT EAD card and worked for employment agency as a contractor. In 2013, Company Filed H-1B to keep him but it was a lottery selection. He was not selected in the lottery (Most Msc student were selected thou). Company was not E-verified so can't utilize 17 months STEM extension EAD, It was a difficult situation. USC became a citizen May 28th 2013, we were married 7months ago while she was on Green card.

2013 H1-B Journey

• March 28^th 2013 – Company Visa Team filed H-1B petition with occupation as an Engineer.
• April 28^th 2013 – Not selected in the H-1B lottery. (Filling fees and application packet returned by USCIS).
• June 6^th 2013 – Filed Adjustment of Status.
• June 17^th 2013 – OPT employment authorization document expired.

AOS Journey

June 3rd - sent package (Day 0)

June 5th - Package delivered (Day 2)

June 10th - Received txt msg @10pm (acceptance) (Day 7)

June 14th recd 4 NOA (Day 11)

June 17th Received Biometric letter. Appt date for 07/05/13 (Day 14)

June 19th Successful Walk-in Biometrics at ASC lubbock, Tx (2pm) (Day 16) (Abt a month earlier)

July 10th Email notification for I-485 interview scheduling (Day 37)

July 25th Interview date scheduled. (Day 52)

July 29 Recivd text & letter in mailbox, interview scheduled for August 28th (Day 56)

August 7 AP approved & EAD in card production (Text & email update) (Day 65)

August 12 Second EAD in card production (Text & email update) (Day 70)

August 13 EAD card mailed to address (txt & email) @ 10:30am (Day 71)

August 13 USPS picked up card Tracking no 920559233840011096xxxx (Day 71)

August 16 EAD COMBO CARD in HANDS!! (Day 74) (same day TX driver license expires). USCIS text & email @ 7pm card delivered.

August 28 Interview Day @ 10:15am (Day 86) Update Text msg @ 4:36 pm USCIS website updated (GC in production)

August 29 Text & Email msg (Day 87) I-130 Approved & I-485 Registered

Sept 03 Received NOA in mail I-130 approved & Welcome to USA letter (Dated Aug.29) (Day 92)

Sept 04 USPS picked up card Tracking no 920559233840011341xxxx (Day 93)

Sept 07 GREEN CARD IN HAND!! Glory be to the Lord. (Day 99)

Interview Experience

We got to ElPaso the night before the interview. Interview was scheduled for 10:15am, we arrived 9:45am and a lady finally called us inside the room at about 10:40am. We were not asked to raise our hands or take an oath. The interview started right away.

IO: I need your id cards, passports, birth certificate if any.

USC: Provided US passport and DL

F-1: Provided both expired and new national passport, DL (same address as USC) and birth certificate. Expired OPT card & current EAD+AP card.

IO: Removed F-1’s I-94 and said you don’t need this; I will keep it as evidence of status in your file. She did not collect my expired and current EAD.

IO: Asked USC & F-1 to confirm Names, address, DOB, Date & place of marriage, Age, occupation & name of company.

IO: So how did you both meet? (As she was going through our packet)

USC & F-1: answered briefly.

IO: Any kids? Plans to have kids? How many?

USC & F-1: answered briefly.

IO: Is there any documents you have here that you did not submit before?

USC & F-1: USC took over the Health insurance and we have flight itinerary for December vacation.

IO: Oh ok. Do you have pictures? (She was really interested about pictures)

USC & F-1: Gave her an album with over 100 pictures from dating till present. We did not have a wedding or any ceremony. Pictures were arranged in chronological order.

IO: I will run through this album real quick, I am running out of time.

IO: (talking to F-1) You need to register with selective service, it is important to do so now because it comes handy when you want to become a US citizen. Because your marriage is less than 2years you will have to remove conditions before GC expires. Hopefully you both have a child by then. You hold on to the EAD as it serves as AP for you to travel and come in without problems. You are eligible to be a US citizen the 3^rd year as a PR if married to same USC spouse.

IO: Ok, that is it. You will hear from us in 3 weeks. (She didn’t say if we are approved or not, she did not give us the white paper with the check boxes)

F-1: I was confused and asked would you stamp my passport?

IO: No I do not need to do that.

And she led us out of the office with a hand shake and a smile. We got back to the car and started questioning the interview because it was too easy and straight forward. Our worries of no wedding rings, details of courtship etc didn’t even come up in the interview. We really prepared so well and she barely asked us questions. We talked through it and had a positive expectation as we left Elpaso. We were literally freaking out at each email or text message we got on our phones to see it was that USCIS update. Finally at 4:36pm we got a text message that I-485 case has been updated. While still on the road, we checked on the phone and it said” Card production” Was a big relief. We are really thankful to God. No RFE’s and it took less than 90days to wrap up. No USCIS drama till 2015.

[FelixTX 2]

Great story!! Thank you for sharing your experience

And of course... Congratulations!!!!

How did you guys meet, if I am allowed to ask?

Edited September 8, 2013 by FelixTX

[F-1.to.GC 0]

Great story!! Thank you for sharing your experience

And of course... Congratulations!!!!

How did you guys meet, if I am allowed to ask?

lol...Thank you so much...We actually met 2008, online . We just started off as friends and obviously the rest is story up tlll now . Still thanking God the USCIS nightmares are over (at least for now ). We are still celebrating up till today ​

ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE....IF YOUR OPT/EAD CARD EXPIRES WHILE YOU HAVE A PENDING AOS, KEEP ON WORKING TILL YOU GET YOUR NEW EAD...DON'T QUIT...IT MIGHT SOUND ILLEGAL BUT 99% OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT COME UP IN THE INTERVIEW.

AGAIN...DON'T QUIT YOUR JOB...IF THE HR DOES NOT BOTHER YOU, DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL..

Edited September 8, 2013 by F-1.to.GC

[Morningmist 76]

"ONE IMPORTANT THING TO NOTE....IF YOUR OPT/EAD CARD EXPIRES WHILE YOU HAVE A PENDING AOS, KEEP ON WORKING TILL YOU GET YOUR NEW EAD...DON'T QUIT...IT MIGHT SOUND ILLEGAL BUT 99% OF THE TIME IT DOES NOT COME UP IN THE INTERVIEW.

AGAIN...DON'T QUIT YOUR JOB...IF THE HR DOES NOT BOTHER YOU, DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL.."

Except your employer could get into trouble if they ever get audited and trust me it takes one suspicious visa application for that to get triggered. Kind of short sighted advice what you just said and yes it is illegal. If it is a small company they could be in big trouble. Bigger companies can usually get away with certain things because of sheer volume of foreign nationals they hire. The policy of "don't ask don't tell" does not apply to work authorization.

[olsan3 8]

Great story!

I hope mine is as straightforward as that!

Congratulations ma'am

[Sone 0]

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!