November 2022 - AOS Filers

[Nylar 58]

Hello November 2022 AOS filers another month another round of AOS submissions,  Please be aware that this checklist is NOT all inclusive and you must consult the USCIS website to crosscheck this checklist against/with. The AOS process has been confusing since the pandemic hit, not to mention the added politics. So please I want to stress that you only use this check sheet as a starting point and guide if you will. The USCIS site will be the final guide. Please ensure that you check your forms for the correct versions and editions because if you use the wrong forms USCIS will reject your application and send it back to you. This is easily checked on the USCIS website prior to downloading your forms. You should also ONLY download your forms from the USCIS website.  The current and correct fees can also be ascertained from the USCIS website .

 

Just a side note before we get started  USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 and Form I-131 if filed jointly with Form I-485. Here is the quoted text taken directly from the USCIS website. "To improve efficiency and reduce Form I-765 processing times for Form I-485 applicants, USCIS may decouple Forms I-765 from Forms I-131 filed at the same time. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, when possible, we will adjudicate an applicant's Form I-765 first. If we approve it, we will issue an Employment Authorization Document without any notation about advanced parole. We will adjudicate the Form I-131 separately and if we approve it, we will issue an advance parole document". I know this is old news, but I thought it would be good to include it here for your knowledge.

 

What this means is some people elect to include three (3) copies of their marriage license / certificates one attached to each form (I-485, I-765 and I-131 respectively). I do not know of anyone receiving an RFE for a marriage license/certificate missing on the I-765 or the I-131 since USCIS has started doing this new way of adjudicating the AOS (the marriage license / certificate with form I-485 is required though). This is an age old concern that has been in play before this new way USCIS started adjudicating these forms. Some filers including me when I filed the AOS back in 2019 sent in three (3) copies of their marriage licenses / certificates. I did it then because of peace of mind and there were some RFEs given out for missing licenses / certificates (back then).  USCIS also used to issue Combo Cards, Employment Authorization Document and Advance Parole (EAD and AP combined in the same card). I've seen now where they have issued an EAD without the AP.  Whether you include three (3) copies of your marriage license / certificate is going to be your individual call when you file your AOS.  Having said that let's get into the checklist: 

 

 

AOS Checklist

• Cover Letter listing Table of Contents
• Check Payable to U.S. Department of Homeland Security - $1,225.00 (this includes the Bio-metrics fee) 

 

Form I-485 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary)

• Form G-1145  
• Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page 
• Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp 
• Copy of NOA2 Approval letter (from K1 process) 
• I-94 
• Copy of beneficiary's Birth Certificate 
• translation of birth certificate (if needed)
• Certified copy of Marriage License or Certificate
• Passport Photos (2) name written on the back 
• Copy of DS-3025   

 

Form I-864 (completed and signed by USC) (goes with form I-485)

• Proof of USC's citizenship (copy of birth certificate, copy of passport bio page, or other)
•  Current tax year 2021 and (optional 2020 , 2019) Tax Return (with W-2) or Transcripts (transcripts are better if you can get them)
• Employment Verification letter (updated one - not the one used during K1 process) 
• Pay stubs (last 3 months)   

 

Form I-765 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary)

• Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page 
• Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp 
• I-94 
• Passport Photos (2) name written on the back 
• Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process)
• Be sure to use the correct filing code of (c)(9) if this code applies to you. The I-765 instructions explains all the codes in detail. If you are filing under a different code (other than (c)(9) the fee for your AOS will not be correct and USCIS will reject your entire packet.

 

Form I-131 (completed and signed by non-US Citizen/beneficiary)

• Copy of beneficiary's Passport with biographical page 
• Copy of beneficiary's K1 Visa from Passport and entry stamp 
• I-94 
• Passport Photos (2) name written on the back 
• Copy of NOA2 (from K1 process    

 

Be sure to double check for the current fees as fees do sometimes increase and they can change on a dime so please check. Additionally, check the forms as listed above i.e., current version and or edition date, there have been many changes to various forms. Consider sending tax transcripts instead of the 1040, and W2's. Also consider preparing a cover letter for each form in addition to the main cover letter. 

Make sure you send long form birth certificates and not the short form.  Hope this helps in your preparation of your AOS. When in doubt ask questions.

 

Please consider filing the I-131 and the I-765 even if you don't think you'll need them right now. You never know what changes your life will have on down the road, so I recommend you file these two forms from the start. There is no extra charge to file them with your AOS and it's better to submit them all at once.  There has been much confusion coming out of USCIS, partly due to Covid-19 and partly self-inflicted. This confusion filters on down to the people filing for AOS. The above listing is subject to change at a moment’s notice so please check, recheck and check again BEFORE you send off your packet for any last-minute changes.

 

 

Congratulations on a successful submission of your AOS packet!

Edited November 7, 2022 by Nylar
Fix typo

[Nylar 58]

Didn't see a thread for November 2022 so created one.

 

Sent our package off (AOS, AP, EAD) on November 4th to the Elgin lockbox. USPS confirmed delivery on November 6th.

[sourumeboshi 61]

Hype for the November crew.

 

Sent ours off on the 5th of November to the Chicago lockbox. 

 

USPS confirmed delivery on the 9th. 

 

Now to wait. 

[Nylar 58]

On 11/7/2022 at 1:54 PM, Nylar said:

Didn't see a thread for November 2022 so created one.

 

Sent our package off (AOS, AP, EAD) on November 4th to the Elgin lockbox. USPS confirmed delivery on November 6th.

Received 3 texts today (November 10th) saying my case has been received by USCIS, priority date was November 7th.

[sourumeboshi 61]

36 minutes ago, Nylar said:

Received 3 texts today (November 10th) saying my case has been received by USCIS, priority date was November 7th.

I hope that means mine is coming through soon! 

[anon13670 0]

Sent mothers 485/EAD/AP to Phoneix lockbox received on 11/10

 

I include my USCIS Online account numbers with the application.

 

Do the applications/receipt notice get updated in the online account automatically?

Edited November 11, 2022 by anon13670

[Nylar 58]

On 11/10/2022 at 9:21 AM, Nylar said:

Received 3 texts today (November 10th) saying my case has been received by USCIS, priority date was November 7th.

I-485 case status updated to say "Biometrics appointment was scheduled".

[BB Family 299]

Good morning everyone! I just recently became a citizen and am now filing AOS for my mom. (I130/I485 concurrently). She was here on a tourist visa when I was scheduled for my interview and conducted my oath before she had to leave. So now we’re filing AOS for her 😁. 
I filed i130 online, received the reciept notice same day, and now We will be mailing her i485/i765/i131 with supporting documents on Monday. 
 

I know the majority of everyone here is probably filing for their spouse, and not a parent,  but I hope we all have a smooth process and a quick approval for those we’ve filed for. 

[BB Family 299]

Received my hard copy of the I130 receipt notice in the mail today. Planning to review all my other documents with my mom tonight and drop it in the mail Monday. 😁

[sourumeboshi 61]

8 hours ago, BB Family said:

Received my hard copy of the I130 receipt notice in the mail today. Planning to review all my other documents with my mom tonight and drop it in the mail Monday. 😁

Hey this thread is specifically for those adjusting from k1 visas. You might want to check out the family based threads. 

[KitcatM 14]

We filed 4 November, it was received by the lockbox 7 November, and our CC was charged and we got a text with 3 IOE numbers on 10 November. My question is where do we go to check the status of our cases at this point. We get an error with all three codes when we put them into CEAC?

[sourumeboshi 61]

1 hour ago, KitcatM said:

We filed 4 November, it was received by the lockbox 7 November, and our CC was charged and we got a text with 3 IOE numbers on 10 November. My question is where do we go to check the status of our cases at this point. We get an error with all three codes when we put them into CEAC?

You don't put them into ceac. Use your USCIS account or case tracker.

Got my three texts this morning all beginning with IOE and back dated to the 8th of November.

[sourumeboshi 61]

On 11/11/2022 at 11:03 PM, Nylar said:

I-485 case status updated to say "Biometrics appointment was scheduled".

Did this get updated in your USCIS account? Mine keeps asking for an access code that I need to enter so I think I need to wait for the hard copy to arrive. 

[Nylar 58]

9 minutes ago, sourumeboshi said:

Did this get updated in your USCIS account? Mine keeps asking for an access code that I need to enter so I think I need to wait for the hard copy to arrive. 

Still waiting on the physical letter with my access code, if it doesn't come this week I think I'll try asking a live agent on Ask Emma, would hate to miss my appointment because of the slow mail. 😬

[sourumeboshi 61]

7 minutes ago, Nylar said:

Still waiting on the physical letter with my access code, if it doesn't come this week I think I'll try asking a live agent on Ask Emma, would hate to miss my appointment because of the slow mail. 😬

Oh no doubt. Okay I'll keep my eyes peeled. Our dates are so close that hopefully I also hear back soon re-biometrics 👀👀👀