How and where to mail your I-485/I-767/I-131

[YecaCruz 379]

is there a specific reason for delaying filing those? I filed about a month after my husband and I got hitched after adding him to as many things as I could, just to get the ball rolling and to stand in the immigration line for Green cards.

 

My opinion is to file as soon as possible

Edited April 13, 2023 by YecaCruz

[Crazy Cat 41,985]

There are NO benefits in waiting to file the I-485...none.  When you delay filing, you endanger yourself, delay working, delay being able to leave the US, delay applying for citizenship.

 

Just as others have said, ANY non-immigrant is out of status and subject to removal after the expiration of their I-94.  I would do whatever it takes to get a PROPER I-485 filed prior to I-94 expiration.

 

A truly successful immigration process requires a lot of knowledge, planning, time, patience, and money.  

Edited April 13, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

5 hours ago, Mike E said:

SpaceAge stopped posting to visa journey and I presume her immigration journey ended, even after she bonded out of jail. Once ICE gets involved, the legal expenses are prohibitive.

 

SpaceAge made the same mistake others make: she was waiting for that one extra document to file. She did not need to wait.

 

ICE does not have to forgive unauthorized presence and unauthorized work.

She filed for AOS through court after 5 weeks in jail. Posted twice after that but no one answered.

Edited April 13, 2023 by Allaboutwaiting

[beloved_dingo 1,979]

20 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

She filed for AOS through court after 5 weeks in jail. Posted twice after that but no one answered.

I remember that thread vividly and even if everything is perfectly fine now...what an awful experience. 5 weeks in jail and so much extra money down the drain as well - AOS is already pretty expensive as it is. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

Just now, beloved_dingo said:

I remember that thread vividly and even if everything is perfectly fine now...what an awful experience. 5 weeks in jail and so much extra money down the drain as well - AOS is already pretty expensive as it is. 

It was beyond horrifying! She said back then her emotional state was rock bottom.

 

What seemed like an innocuous thing transformed into a real life nightmare: they had to pay 5k for bail plus whatever the lawyer charged; and the whole experience of 5 weeks in jail!

Can't even fathom. 

[Sammy_2496 116]

Get it done as fast as possible. After the 90 days, she will be out of status and subject to removal proceedings. 

[Scandi 4,173]

4 hours ago, Caligirl1 said:

Depends on the state you're living in, too: in California the officer isn't allowed to ask for your immigration status during a traffic stop.

It's enough to drive through and be stopped at one of the check points in southern CA to get in trouble. I myself have been stopped there, between San Diego and Los Angeles, and had to show my greencard and all. But obviously that's not a regular "traffic" stop, that's an actual "border protection" stop. Regular police doesn't ask, like you said. I bet all the states bordering to Mexico (and Canada?) have these check points. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

1 minute ago, Scandi said:

It's enough to drive through and be stopped at one of the check points in southern CA to get in trouble. I myself have been stopped there, between San Diego and Los Angeles, and had to show my greencard and all. But obviously that's not a regular "traffic" stop, that's an actual "border protection" stop. Regular police doesn't ask, like you said. I bet all the states bordering to Mexico (and Canada?) have these check points. 

Where and when exactly were you stopped? The only check point I know, has not been working in ages.

[Caligirl1 213]

7 minutes ago, Scandi said:

It's enough to drive through and be stopped at one of the check points in southern CA to get in trouble. I myself have been stopped there, between San Diego and Los Angeles, and had to show my greencard and all. But obviously that's not a regular "traffic" stop, that's an actual "border protection" stop. Regular police doesn't ask, like you said. I bet all the states bordering to Mexico (and Canada?) have these check points. 

True. like I said, I was talking about a traffic stop- not actual border protection stop😉

[Mike E 11,741]

11 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Where and when exactly were you stopped? The only check point I know, has not been working in ages.

 

I have never been stopped in southern California, but I have seen BP patrol vehicles on I-10 in California. I assume it is denser on I-8. 
 

If you live south of I-10 or you drive on I-10 or I-8, you either carry evidence of lawful presence or you stay home. 
 

I have had stops where I had to produce my gc.
 

 

[Scandi 4,173]

26 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Where and when exactly were you stopped? The only check point I know, has not been working in ages.

We were stopped at the one just south of San Clemente in 2017, I had just received my greencard, luckily. We pass there often but have only been stopped once. There's always a ton of border protection cars parked all over the place there but have only seen them stop traffic once, so doesn't appear to be common. It should be a warning though, it CAN happen and does happen to some, evidently. So that's something for OP to take into consideration too, especially if living in a southern border state. 

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

5 minutes ago, Mike E said:

 

I have never been stopped in southern California, but I have seen BP patrol vehicles on I-10 in California. I assume it is denser on I-8. 
 

If you live south of I-10 or you drive on I-10 or I-8, you either carry evidence of lawful presence or you stay home. 
 

I have had stops where I had to produce my gc.
 

 

The one we pass by often -on the I-5 near San Clemente-, has vehicles around but I have never seen it working as a check point. Therefore my curiosity regarding @Scandibeing checked on the way from San Diego to LA.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,503]

1 minute ago, Scandi said:

We were stopped at the one just south of San Clemente in 2017, I had just received my greencard, luckily. We pass there often but have only been stopped once. There's always a ton of border protection cars parked all over the place there but have only seen them stop traffic once, so doesn't appear to be common. It should be a warning though, it CAN happen and does happen to some, evidently. So that's something for OP to take into consideration too, especially if living in a southern border state. 

Regardless of border check points, LPR's must always carry proof of status -though we know that is not necessarily the case-.

 

And in the many years we have lived around the area, we have never seen that check point working. Thought it was just for "decor". 🤣

[Scandi 4,173]

2 minutes ago, Allaboutwaiting said:

Regardless of border check points, LPR's must always carry proof of status -though we know that is not necessarily the case-.

 

And in the many years we have lived around the area, we have never seen that check point working. Thought it was just for "decor". 🤣

It's very much open, they are certainly working there. But they don't appear to be stopping the actual freeway very often at all. You also see their cars parked in random places all along that part of the freeway, "hiding" in the little bush that is there. That station is permanent and operating 24/7 I believe. We drive past at least once a week and have only been stopped once. 

 

It was so crazy to see how they stop the entire freeway going north, with traffic lights, large signs (yes that little "bridge" you drive under have large signs on it that they light up when they need traffic to stop) and temporary stop signs on the street. A little intimidating but cool experience, but maybe not so much if you don't have any documentation.

 

Not sure if you're sad or glad you haven't had to experience it. 😁

[mam521 2,113]

I wonder how her case panned out.  Horrifying, for sure. I can't imagine...

 

We estimate immi has cost us over $100K because I had to leave to prevent visa overstay, which meant 18mo paying for living expenses, properties, etc in 2 countries and essentially biweekly airfare for hubs to visit.  There was also no close civil surgeon, so we had additional costs for 3 of us to traipse cross country to complete the medicals and interview.  Immi is definitely not cheap.  Far from it, in fact.  You really gotta want it and I feel like there's a lot of rose coloured glasses on people's faces.  

 

It also grinds my gears when people do boast that they didn't adjust for 5 years and didn't get caught.  Honestly, there should be repercussions for these people because those that spend the time, effort and energy to do it correctly should be able to take some solace in the process working when you follow the rules.  Bad behaviour and blissful ignorance shouldn't be rewarded.  I left to prevent visa overstay myself because I wanted to follow the rules!  I had 5 and a half years of paying taxes, filing taxes, contributing to the economy and my community and I was rewarded with having to leave and spend over 600 days to get through the immigration process. If you're playing by the rules, you shouldn't be punished.  If anything, that history should count for something.