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F1 to Greencard Holder! -- The steps I took, for anyone who needs help

By slee0000 in Adjustment of Status Case Filing and Progress Reports

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cedric1738 Rookie

cedric1738   0

Posted
Filed: F-1 Visa Country: France
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Hi friends,

I finally got my green card! It arrived through usps yesterday, and I am so beyond emotional and excited as this has been a very stressful journey.

Visajourney helped me a LOT, and I just wanted to pay it forward by listing the entire process.

A little background on me -- I came into the country on a visitor's visa, and then eventually changed my status to F1

Being an F1 student was incredibly hard, not only because of tuition, but because the limitations. Getting my license, for example, was like getting stars from the sky.

Eventually I was able to get my social security card through the school, as I had to do a summer internship.

4 years ago, I met my now wonderful husband, who didn't really know about my situation. He did know I was an F1 student, but that was the extent, because truthfully, american citizens who were born here don't really understand all this immigration stuff. Fast forward 3.5 years later, I transferred to a 4 year college, and tuition was even more expensive. Somehow we got into talking about loans and how I needed a co-signer, and how hard life is, etc. He had also mentioned that his mother pretty much said 'if you love her, marry her'. He proposed with my dream ring, got married February 12th, and began the AOS process.

I mailed everything (I-130, I-485, I-765) on February 29th, and arrived at the Chicago Lockbox on March 1st.

April 8th - Went to get my biometrics

May 11th - EAD card in production

June 1st - Greencard interview scheduled for June 30th

June 9th - Got EAD in the mail (finally)

June 30th - Went in for greencard interview. Interview lasted less than 1 hour

Online USCIS status changed to Card in production

July 1st - USCIS status changed to I-485 approved

USCIS status changed to I-130 approved

July 7th - USCIS status changed to USPS picked up card

July 8th - GREENCARD IN HAND! :)

I'm trying to attach my I-485 and I-130 checklist, but it says i'm not "permitted to upload this kind of file" -- if anyone needs it, I can email them to you.

I also have pictures of my packages before I sent them - I can email them to you as well!

If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask! I might not have all your answers, but it may help others going through the same process.

Hi friends,

I finally got my green card! It arrived through usps yesterday, and I am so beyond emotional and excited as this has been a very stressful journey.

Visajourney helped me a LOT, and I just wanted to pay it forward by listing the entire process.

A little background on me -- I came into the country on a visitor's visa, and then eventually changed my status to F1

Being an F1 student was incredibly hard, not only because of tuition, but because the limitations. Getting my license, for example, was like getting stars from the sky.

Eventually I was able to get my social security card through the school, as I had to do a summer internship.

4 years ago, I met my now wonderful husband, who didn't really know about my situation. He did know I was an F1 student, but that was the extent, because truthfully, american citizens who were born here don't really understand all this immigration stuff. Fast forward 3.5 years later, I transferred to a 4 year college, and tuition was even more expensive. Somehow we got into talking about loans and how I needed a co-signer, and how hard life is, etc. He had also mentioned that his mother pretty much said 'if you love her, marry her'. He proposed with my dream ring, got married February 12th, and began the AOS process.

I mailed everything (I-130, I-485, I-765) on February 29th, and arrived at the Chicago Lockbox on March 1st.

April 8th - Went to get my biometrics

May 11th - EAD card in production

June 1st - Greencard interview scheduled for June 30th

June 9th - Got EAD in the mail (finally)

June 30th - Went in for greencard interview. Interview lasted less than 1 hour

Online USCIS status changed to Card in production

July 1st - USCIS status changed to I-485 approved

USCIS status changed to I-130 approved

July 7th - USCIS status changed to USPS picked up card

July 8th - GREENCARD IN HAND! :)

I'm trying to attach my I-485 and I-130 checklist, but it says i'm not "permitted to upload this kind of file" -- if anyone needs it, I can email them to you.

I also have pictures of my packages before I sent them - I can email them to you as well!

If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask! I might not have all your answers, but it may help others going through the same process.

Congrats!!! I am just starting the whole process. Could you please send me copy of your package?

Email:

Thanks

~E-mail removed for privacy reasons~

VJ Moderation
Edited by Happy Chic
Shaun&Jessica Rookie

Shaun&Jessica   0

Posted
Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I mailed everything (I-130, I-485, I-765) ....

First of all, CONGRATS!

I just wanted to confirm that these three forms, including items requested on them, are the only things needed to send into the lockbox?

I'm Canadian, my wife is American, we have been married for over 2 years now and moved to the USA from Canada back in April. I first came in as a "visitor", but because my wife works at a university and my tuition is waived I went back to Canada for a couple weeks and then came in on an F1 visa about 5 days ago. I actually do plan on finishing school (I'm a non-traditional student, 33 years old) because of the tuition waiver but would still like to get my green card so I have more options for working besides just on campus and just moving forward if we decide to stay in the US long term.

Thanks for your help! I'll also PM my email address to you.

Shaun, West Coast Canadian. Jessica, Down South American.

04/04/2013 - Met in Las Vegas, NV (That night I knew I would marry her!)

07/01/2013 - First Phone Call

07/20/2013 - Shaun's First Visit - Oklahoma City, OK

08/23/2013 - Jessica's First Visit - Victoria, BC

21/11/2013 - Shaun Visits For Thanksgiving - Oklahoma City, OK

02/01/2014 - Jessica Moves To Seattle, WA

26/04/2014 - Shaun Proposes - Sombrio Beach, BC

22/06/2014 - We Get Married - Coeur d'Alene, ID

04/10/2014 - Jessica Moves To Victoria, BC

07/15/2015 - Jessica Applies For Canadian Permanent Residency - Victoria, BC

12/06/2015 - Jessica Receives Canadian Work Permit - Comox, BC

02/15/2016 - Jessica Moves Back to USA for Dream Job - Fairbanks, AK

08/03/2016 - Jessica is Approved for Canadian Permanent Residency - Victoria, BC

08/11/2016 - Shaun Arrives on F-1 Student Visa - Fairbanks, AK

??/??/???? - Shaun Applies for Adjustment of Status?

Shaun&Jessica Rookie

Shaun&Jessica   0

Posted
Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Also, do I have to file the I-765 if I'm not worried about working until after I get my green card?

Shaun, West Coast Canadian. Jessica, Down South American.

04/04/2013 - Met in Las Vegas, NV (That night I knew I would marry her!)

07/01/2013 - First Phone Call

07/20/2013 - Shaun's First Visit - Oklahoma City, OK

08/23/2013 - Jessica's First Visit - Victoria, BC

21/11/2013 - Shaun Visits For Thanksgiving - Oklahoma City, OK

02/01/2014 - Jessica Moves To Seattle, WA

26/04/2014 - Shaun Proposes - Sombrio Beach, BC

22/06/2014 - We Get Married - Coeur d'Alene, ID

04/10/2014 - Jessica Moves To Victoria, BC

07/15/2015 - Jessica Applies For Canadian Permanent Residency - Victoria, BC

12/06/2015 - Jessica Receives Canadian Work Permit - Comox, BC

02/15/2016 - Jessica Moves Back to USA for Dream Job - Fairbanks, AK

08/03/2016 - Jessica is Approved for Canadian Permanent Residency - Victoria, BC

08/11/2016 - Shaun Arrives on F-1 Student Visa - Fairbanks, AK

??/??/???? - Shaun Applies for Adjustment of Status?

iBillz Rookie

iBillz   1

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Also, do I have to file the I-765 if I'm not worried about working until after I get my green card?

You don't have to, but if you're paying for AOS don't be a moron and do it anyway. It's a short form and you never know when you'll need to work or travel (I-131) . You never know what delays may arise. For example I thought my green card would take 6-8 months max but my local field office is behind and now I have to wait 15 months. If I didn't have my EAD I don't know what I'd be doing.

TL:DR if you're paying the $900+ fees to adjust your status, the I-765 and I-131 are included in it for free. Don't be stupid and take the extra 5 minutes and 4 pictures to fill those out.

Shaun&Jessica Rookie

Shaun&Jessica   0

Posted
Filed: F-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

You don't have to, but if you're paying for AOS don't be a moron and do it anyway. It's a short form and you never know when you'll need to work or travel (I-131) . You never know what delays may arise. For example I thought my green card would take 6-8 months max but my local field office is behind and now I have to wait 15 months. If I didn't have my EAD I don't know what I'd be doing.

TL:DR if you're paying the $900+ fees to adjust your status, the I-765 and I-131 are included in it for free. Don't be stupid and take the extra 5 minutes and 4 pictures to fill those out.

:oops: I didn't realize the I-765 or I-131 were included, I thought it was an additional fee. I just started looking into all this and came across this thread.

I noticed this poster didn't mention doing an I-131, is it included with or part of another form?

Thank you!

Shaun, West Coast Canadian. Jessica, Down South American.

04/04/2013 - Met in Las Vegas, NV (That night I knew I would marry her!)

07/01/2013 - First Phone Call

07/20/2013 - Shaun's First Visit - Oklahoma City, OK

08/23/2013 - Jessica's First Visit - Victoria, BC

21/11/2013 - Shaun Visits For Thanksgiving - Oklahoma City, OK

02/01/2014 - Jessica Moves To Seattle, WA

26/04/2014 - Shaun Proposes - Sombrio Beach, BC

22/06/2014 - We Get Married - Coeur d'Alene, ID

04/10/2014 - Jessica Moves To Victoria, BC

07/15/2015 - Jessica Applies For Canadian Permanent Residency - Victoria, BC

12/06/2015 - Jessica Receives Canadian Work Permit - Comox, BC

02/15/2016 - Jessica Moves Back to USA for Dream Job - Fairbanks, AK

08/03/2016 - Jessica is Approved for Canadian Permanent Residency - Victoria, BC

08/11/2016 - Shaun Arrives on F-1 Student Visa - Fairbanks, AK

??/??/???? - Shaun Applies for Adjustment of Status?

slee0000 Explorer

slee0000   13

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: South Korea
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Hi I'm also an F1 applying for a greencard soon. I am preparing my documents now and I know I need to provide sufficient evidence that I haven't been violating my F1 status, I was wondering if you can tell me if you need to submit your I-20? And were you still enrolled in school when you've applied? The start of fall semester in my school is on the 22nd of this month and I won't be enrolling since I'll be applying for AOS.

Hii!

I didn't need to submit my I-20's.. I don't think I did.

So I sent in my AOS March 1st, and spring semester had already smarted in the beginning of February. I was not enrolled in Spring semester, and a few weeks before I sent in my AOS and a few days before I got married, I went to go talk to my international advisor to tell him that I hadn't enrolled yet (I had still waiting for my student loans to kick in and pay off my previous semester), but that I was getting married to my US citizen husband. He said that all he needed from me was my letter from USCIS confirming my status change, which I gave him and everything was okay. So yea, I was out of status for like.. 2 weeks but it didn't affect anything.

Good luck!!!!!!

You don't have to, but if you're paying for AOS don't be a moron and do it anyway. It's a short form and you never know when you'll need to work or travel (I-131) . You never know what delays may arise. For example I thought my green card would take 6-8 months max but my local field office is behind and now I have to wait 15 months. If I didn't have my EAD I don't know what I'd be doing.

TL:DR if you're paying the $900+ fees to adjust your status, the I-765 and I-131 are included in it for free. Don't be stupid and take the extra 5 minutes and 4 pictures to fill those out.

Agreed

:oops: I didn't realize the I-765 or I-131 were included, I thought it was an additional fee. I just started looking into all this and came across this thread.

I noticed this poster didn't mention doing an I-131, is it included with or part of another form?

Thank you!

Hi,

No I did not fill out I-131.

Just I-485, I-130 and I-765

Pitaya Grand Master

Pitaya   2,577

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
 Timeline
Posted

~Moved from WST-based AOS to WST-based AOS Progress Forum~

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

ndifonman Explorer

ndifonman   6

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: South Africa
 Timeline
Posted

Congrats! I came with an F1 visa too and just got married to my husband after dating for about a year. I am hoping to file for AOS in the next 2 weeks and I will appreciate if you email me the documents so I can use as a guide. My email is ndifonnman@gmail.com

Thank you!

Congrats! I came with an F1 visa too and just got married to my husband after dating for about a year. I am hoping to file for AOS in the next 2 weeks and I will appreciate if you email me the documents so I can use as a guide. My email is ndifonnman@gmail.com

Thank you!

Starkilla09 Proficient

Starkilla09   366

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Cameroon
 Timeline
Posted

Congrats! I came with an F1 visa too and just got married to my husband after dating for about a year. I am hoping to file for AOS in the next 2 weeks and I will appreciate if you email me the documents so I can use as a guide. My email is ndifonnman@gmail.com

Thank you!

Congrats! I came with an F1 visa too and just got married to my husband after dating for about a year. I am hoping to file for AOS in the next 2 weeks and I will appreciate if you email me the documents so I can use as a guide. My email is ndifonnman@gmail.com

Thank you!

These are the forms you'll need. Forms I-130, I-485, I-765 and I-131. File all concurrently together in one package and follow instructions on each form. The fee for I-765 and I-131 are waived when filing as an adjustment of status applicant concurrently so you get to pay just for the first 2 mentioned.

Adjustment of Status From F-1 Visa.

8/14/2014: Mailed AOS package: I-130, I-485, I-765.

8/18/2014: Accepted in Chicago. Transferred to Nebraska Service Center.

8/21/2014: Received NOA 1. I-130, I-485, I-765 in mail.

8/25/2014: Received biometrics in mail. Scheduled for 9/8/2014

9/24/2014: EAD approved. 36 Days!

10/01/2014: EAD mailed.

10/03/2014: Received EAD card.

10/14/2014: I-485 moved to testing and interview.

1/28/2015: Interview scheduled for 3/4/2015.

1/31/2015: Received interview notice.

3/4/2015: Interview completed and APPROVED!

3/5/2015: Welcome notice mailed and I-130 Approved.

3/10/2015: Welcome notice and I-130 approval notice received.

3/12/2015: Green card mailed.

3/14/2015: Green card delivered.

Removal of Conditions: 

12/14/2016: Mailed I-751.

12/19/2016: NOA issued.

01/26/2017: Biometrics.

05/03/2018: I-751 transfered to NBC.

02/27/2019: Joint I-751/N-400 Interview.

05/14/2019: I-751 APPROVED.

Naturalization:

12/02/2017: Mailed N 400 to Phoenix, AZ Lockbox. (I-751 still pending)

12/05/2017: Package delivered in Phoenix, AZ. Transferred to Harrisonburg Processing Center.

12/07/2017: Notice of action issued. (IOE)

12/26/2017: Biometrics.

01/23/2019: Interview Scheduled for 2/27/2019.

02/27/2019: Joint I-751/N-400 interview. N-400 recommended for approval.

05/16/2019: N-400 APPROVED! Placed in line for oath ceremony.

05/17/2019: Oath ceremony notice mailed.

06/12/2019: Swearing in Ceremony! Finally a U.S. citizen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • 2 months later...
neilhunt1918 Newbie

neilhunt1918   0

Posted
Filed: F-1 Visa Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Congrats!

My wife and I are just starting the process. Could you email me as well?

Email: <removed>

Thanks!

~Mod note: Post was edited to remove e-mail address for privacy reasons~

Edited by CookieCat
  • 3 weeks later...
Ontarkie Grand Master

Ontarkie   14,365

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

~~Hijacked post removed. Do not post additional posts in other members threads, stick to the thread you have started.~~

Spoiler

Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

 
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