How to begin the AOS process?

[MiaTher 73]

Hey everyone, so my love and I just got married, and we are a bit (very) clueless about how to begin this process. So I have a bunch of questions that I hope you guys can help us with. I must mention that we will likely need one of his parents (or both) as cosponsors; we are in our 20s and he is just out of work right now, hopefully will get a new job soon before we start the process. So here are my starting questions:

1- How do we order and pay for the forms? Can we order and pay for them online? Or can they be filled out online even?

2- Are there any fee waivers for certain things?

3- What is the minimum income required for him?

4- Does he need to be in a job for a certain amount of time right before we fill out and file the forms?

5- When filling out the affidavit of support form, do we need to order and pay for two of them for him and his parent(s) or is one enough?

6- Since I've always entered the country with a tourist visa, do I need to provide all my previous passports to show dates of entry and exit?

Now, I don't work for obvious reasons, and me and him don't have a joint bank account, (he has his own) nor do we have a lease or bills on our name because we are living with his parents, will this make it hard for us when providing evidence that we are a bonafide marriage?

And the most important: do we really need a lawyer? My husband gets very paranoid and he thinks we absolutely need one. I've mentioned that the forms come with clear instructions and that many people do the process on their own, but I'd still like to know if an immigration attorney would make a great difference.

These are all my questions at the moment, I'm sure more will arise eventually and I'll probaby post them on here.

Sorry that this is so long, but I will really appreciate your help and if you have any other advice for us or anything else we should know please do share with us.

Thank you everyone!

[JDWright 30]

First congrats, second the guides should have all that you need to know.

1- How do we order and pay for the forms? Can we order and pay for them online? Or can they be filled out online even?
All the forms are available on USCIS's website, see the guides for the ones you'll need.
2- Are there any fee waivers for certain things?
None to my knowledge
3- What is the minimum income required for him?
Provided he has no dependents other than you, >125% of the poverty limit.
4- Does he need to be in a job for a certain amount of time right before we fill out and file the forms?

No, once he has the income/assets to satisfy the i864 requirements.
5- When filling out the affidavit of support form, do we need to order and pay for two of them for him and his parent(s) or is one enough?

No it's just one fee far as I know to file your AOS package, co sponsors and all.
6- Since I've always entered the country with a tourist visa, do I need to provide all my previous passports to show dates of entry and exit?

No that's what your i94 is for, but I guess it can't hurt to show that idk.

An attorney won't make a difference. Just do your due diligence in research before doing anything. If you don't know the forums here are a wealth of information searching them will most likely give you an answer.

Edited August 17, 2015 by JDWright

[MiaTher 73]

Thank you so much JDWright! I know my questions have likely been asked by other people already, but I just wanted to put them all together anyway. I'll definitely keep browsing the site to find more info. ?

[KayDeeCee 4,896]

Adjusting from a tourist visa, follow this guide > http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2

The forms are free and available at the USCIS website > http://www.uscis.gov/forms

There are filing fees though. The I-765 and I-131 form fees are waived when filed with a pending I-485. No fee for the I-864 forms that are filed with an I-485.

How new the job is won't really matter since you are using a joint sponsor anyway.

~ Moved from AOS from Family Based Visas to AOS from Work, Student & Tourist Visas ~