Mistakes to Avoid (AoS) and Process

[Chancy 6,243]

24 minutes ago, Joe30 said:

What is the difference between transcript and return?

 

The transcript is what you can get from IRS after they've processed the tax returns you've submitted.  Different types of transcripts will be available from IRS.  You should get the Tax Return Transcript to submit with the I-864.

 

[Joe30 17]

20 hours ago, Adventine said:

Form G-1450: https://www.uscis.gov/g-1450

 

Very very easy to miss where you need to sign this document.

 

If I use the credit card method, can I use that one paper for a payment for all the documents or do I need one for each document requiring a payment? 

[Adventine 3,213]

1 hour ago, Joe30 said:

If I use the credit card method, can I use that one paper for a payment for all the documents or do I need one for each document requiring a payment? 

We used two Forms G-1450, as follows:

 

- I-130: amount of $535

- I-485: amount of $1225

*** I-131 and I-765 are free if filed together with I-485 like we did.

*** We also included I-864, which doesn't have a filing fee at all.

 

You can check the USCIS online fee calculator to be sure of the correct fees that apply to your packet.

[mc962 55]

11 hours ago, Joe30 said:

What is the difference between transcript and return?

IRS recommends the Return Transcript, if you tell them you want information for Immigration when getting the transcripts from the online account.

 

I believe we sent the Account Transcript initially with AoS, which led to a RFIE.

 

If you look at both, I think the Return Transcript is basically the complete IRS record for the tax return, with the information that was entered into their system off your Form 1040 + additional forms. The Account Transcript is mostly just a summary of the whole Return, but doesn't show the complete information. 

[Adventine 3,213]

Here's a sample of the IRS Tax Return Transcript, taken straight from the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-utl/New_Tax_Return_Transcript.pdf

[Irish42 19]

Be sure to send in proof of marriage and not just pictures. Shared credit card statements, bank account. I phot copied our shared credit card but blacked out every number except the las four digits just to be safe. Shared automobile insurance if you have it. Anything that you think will prove your case. Honeymoon pictures as well. 
 

The one thing I learned is having plenty of copies of everything. Because when you go to your interview they will want you to bring all of your paperwork over the whole process, even though they may never look at it. So take the time to put together your paperwork while in the process to help you save time down the road. 
 

Send in pictures of things you do together like family outings and such to further prove you are happily together. 

 

 

[marjandchri 22]

On 6/2/2021 at 5:18 AM, Adventine said:

Some things we missed but thankfully caught after rereading, or browsing VJ:

 

- the credit card authorization forms also need signatures

- USPS is slow and unreliable. Better to use UPS/FedEx/DHL to mail the package

- In a rush to copy/paste, I added the wrong I-94, for a previous 2019 entry, not the latest 2021 one.

- Walgreens photos weren't exactly 2x2 for some reason. We had to go back and reprint them.  Only costs a few cents if you use a passport photo app.

Off topic, but we got our NOA2 in Feb. 2021, and the valid date is closely upon us.  How were you able to get PH to process your K1, or file an extension? Ours is stuck at NVC.  Thank you for your time.

[Adventine 3,213]

35 minutes ago, marjandchri said:

Off topic, but we got our NOA2 in Feb. 2021, and the valid date is closely upon us.  How were you able to get PH to process your K1, or file an extension? Ours is stuck at NVC.  Thank you for your time.

 

I was visiting the US using my valid tourist visa when the PH government announced a travel ban on non-OFWs. Then my flight home got cancelled. It was the last straw for us, after a year of lockdown and a separation that was much too long. We decided withdraw the K1, get married and file for AOS.

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

1 hour ago, Irish42 said:

Be sure to send in proof of marriage and not just pictures. Shared credit card statements, bank account. I phot copied our shared credit card but blacked out every number except the las four digits just to be safe. Shared automobile insurance if you have it. Anything that you think will prove your case. Honeymoon pictures as well. 
 

The one thing I learned is having plenty of copies of everything. Because when you go to your interview they will want you to bring all of your paperwork over the whole process, even though they may never look at it. So take the time to put together your paperwork while in the process to help you save time down the road. 
 

Send in pictures of things you do together like family outings and such to further prove you are happily together. 

 

 

Yes, having copies of everything is very important. We made 4 identical AOS packages. Mailed one to USCIS, one for my husband, one for me - in case we got separated during the interview and one for our lawyer who attended the interview with us. We were not separated but they interviewed us at different times. 

 

For the I-751, we used maybe 75% of the evidence we submitted for AOS and then added updated evidence to it since the date my husband got the green card. That way we submitted plenty of evidence since the date of the marriage. 

 

You want to be as thorough as you can be starting with AOS. 

[Joe30 17]

8 hours ago, USC4SPOUSE said:

Yes, having copies of everything is very important. We made 4 identical AOS packages. Mailed one to USCIS, one for my husband, one for me - in case we got separated during the interview and one for our lawyer who attended the interview with us. We were not separated but they interviewed us at different times. 

 

For the I-751, we used maybe 75% of the evidence we submitted for AOS and then added updated evidence to it since the date my husband got the green card. That way we submitted plenty of evidence since the date of the marriage. 

 

You want to be as thorough as you can be starting with AOS. 

Why did you guys hire a lawyer?

[USC4SPOUSE 506]

4 hours ago, Joe30 said:

Why did you guys hire a lawyer?

@Joe30We are a same sex couple with a 16 year age difference and we are both people of color. Aside from that, we did not have any legal issues. Our case was straightforward. We only hired a lawyer to come to the interview with us. We wanted to make sure that a lawyer would be there with us in case we got separated. Looking back, it probably was not necessary but we wanted to make sure that we were treated fairly, and we were. While we were not separated, the officer interviewed my husband first (without me present) and then, interviewed me next without my husband present. 

 

The interview went fine. We front-loaded all kinds of evidence since the time we met, and brought additional evidence to the interview that dated from the time we filed until the interview date. The officer told us he'd review our case and we would get a response within 120 days. We actually got a text notification with the approval within 24 hours. Husband received the green card by mail a week later. 

[D&J S 6]

On 6/2/2021 at 1:14 PM, USC4SPOUSE said:

Missing any initial evidence that is required. At one point, USCIS changed the rules and they started rejecting applications that were missing initial evidence like birth certificates, marriage certificates, the I-864. I do not know if that's changed back to USCIS issuing RFEs for those items as they used to. 

My understanding is that this is no longer applicable because the new administration has specifically changed it. 

**Someone please correct me if I am wrong.