AOS guide outdated?

[Rachel n Tyler 46]

Hi friends!

I'm researching the AOS guide, but I know that recently the process for it has changed a bit. They used to have a fee for i-485, i-131 and the work visa thing in one. Since it's been seperated, there's no update on it on how to file those three payments, if you should do it separately, together.. Does anyone know if there's going to be an updated version of it? We'll likely file it in December, so we'd love to know what changed etc.

 

[wildbug100420 130]

1 hour ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

Hi friends!

I'm researching the AOS guide, but I know that recently the process for it has changed a bit. They used to have a fee for i-485, i-131 and the work visa thing in one. Since it's been seperated, there's no update on it on how to file those three payments, if you should do it separately, together.. Does anyone know if there's going to be an updated version of it? We'll likely file it in December, so we'd love to know what changed etc.

 

Pay separately for each form. Use personal checks for peace of mind and tracking. Credit card payments often get declined despite having available funds 

[Rachel n Tyler 46]

5 minutes ago, wildbug100420 said:

Pay separately for each form. Use personal checks for peace of mind and tracking. Credit card payments often get declined despite having available funds 

And would you also send them in separate envelopes? I kinda assume I have to, since the I-131 states you have to provide proof of the I-485 being sent (receipt) when you send it in, and the employment authorisation can be done online 

[wildbug100420 130]

34 minutes ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

And would you also send them in separate envelopes? I kinda assume I have to, since the I-131 states you have to provide proof of the I-485 being sent (receipt) when you send it in, and the employment authorisation can be done online 

Separate each form, but mail it in together. The forms get separated by uscis for processing at the lockbox 

[Ontarkie 14,304]

~~Moved to AOS Family K1/K3 P&P, from K1 P&P- the OP is asking about AOS.~~

[Rachel n Tyler 46]

16 hours ago, wildbug100420 said:

Separate each form, but mail it in together. The forms get separated by uscis for processing at the lockbox 

So would that waive the need for the receipt for the 485?
Because it states this required evidence for the I-131

[Edward and Jaycel 283]

54 minutes ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

So would that waive the need for the receipt for the 485?
Because it states this required evidence for the I-131

 

Correct.... If you are filing concurrently, you do not have a receipt for the I-485 yet. Just make sure you include cover letters for each filing (I-485, I765, I-131) with the applicant's name, address, phone number and email AND most Importantly the applicant's A-Number. In the "RE:" of that letter, say "Original Submission, FORM NUMBER FORM DESCRIPTION Filing Concurrently with Form I-485" I'll pop a screen shot below of the one we are sending for the I-765 with all the identifying info changed

[Edward and Jaycel 283]

18 hours ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

And would you also send them in separate envelopes? I kinda assume I have to, since the I-131 states you have to provide proof of the I-485 being sent (receipt) when you send it in, and the employment authorisation can be done online 

 

If you are filing the Employment Authorization application concurrently with the I-485 it needs to be in paper form mailed in along with the I-485 (Separated) with its own filing fee attached ($260 when filing concurrently) 

[Rachel n Tyler 46]

54 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

If you are filing the Employment Authorization application concurrently with the I-485 it needs to be in paper form mailed in along with the I-485 (Separated) with its own filing fee attached ($260 when filing concurrently) 

God this is all so confusing hahaha. So I'd still need to file it on paper, all at once with the I-485? All in one package, with a cover letter.

[Edward and Jaycel 283]

23 minutes ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

God this is all so confusing hahaha. So I'd still need to file it on paper, all at once with the I-485? All in one package, with a cover letter.

 

Yes... If you are filing an I-485 concurrently with I-131 and I-765, you file them all in the same package together, with each form, its own cover letter, payment and supporting documents separated from each other. We are going to do it with a separate clip holding together the cover letter and each form and its documents so that they see that (for us) there are 2 separate submissions (we are only doing the I-485 & I-765 and not the I-131). Also don't forget that the US Citizen has to fill out the I-864 Affidavit of Support and provide supporting documents and that goes in with the I-485. Here's what we are using for cover letters for the other forms. Hope this helps. (P.S. - I put "Applicant's Married Name" in the letters because we are putting that as her "Legal Name" in the Form I-485 as she is taking my last name and we are filing with that as her new "Legal Name". (Legal name change based on marriage)

Edited October 18 by Edward and Jaycel

[Rachel n Tyler 46]

1 minute ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Yes... If you are filing an I-485 concurrently with I-131 and I-765, you file them all in the same package together, with each form, its own cover letter, payment and supporting documents separated from each other. We are going to do it with a separate clip holding together the cover letter and each form and its documents so that they see that (for us) there are 2 separate submissions (we are only doing the I-485 & I-765 and not the I-131). Also don't forget that the US Citizen has to fill out the I-864 Affidavit of Support and provide supporting documents and that goes in with the I-485. Here's what we are using for cover letters for the other forms. Hope this helps.

You’re a light in this darkness, thank you! It’s making more and more sense now ❤️

[Edward and Jaycel 283]

2 minutes ago, Rachel n Tyler said:

You’re a light in this darkness, thank you! It’s making more and more sense now ❤️

 

No worries... Just trying to pay it forward as I have received so much guidance from the amazing people here on VJ. They were a Godsend after I had filed the I-129F for Jaycel. I only wish I had found this site sooner. May have saved us from that RFE we got during the I-129F processing! LOL     My best advice? Become "A" students at this process. Study the application forms and their instructions that are provided on the USCIS website, also look at all the drop downs on each Form page on USCIS.gov for things like filing tips, checklists of initial evidence, etc. And read, read, read through all the posts involving AOS here on VJ. I feel like I got a Master's level education on AOS here 😁 Feel free to send me a message on any questions on the screen shots or whatever. I will do my best to help with whatever I know.

[Edward and Jaycel 283]

I just realized that the cover letter I pasted for the I-864, I still had the line listing that I was including my W-2s for the past 3 years. As I am including Tax Transcripts downloaded from IRS.gov, per the instructions for the I-864, if you are sending them transcripts (instead of copies of your tax returns) you do not send in the W-2s or 1099s. So in my updated copy of that cover letter I have removed that line item from the list.

[Rachel n Tyler 46]

36 minutes ago, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

No worries... Just trying to pay it forward as I have received so much guidance from the amazing people here on VJ. They were a Godsend after I had filed the I-129F for Jaycel. I only wish I had found this site sooner. May have saved us from that RFE we got during the I-129F processing! LOL     My best advice? Become "A" students at this process. Study the application forms and their instructions that are provided on the USCIS website, also look at all the drop downs on each Form page on USCIS.gov for things like filing tips, checklists of initial evidence, etc. And read, read, read through all the posts involving AOS here on VJ. I feel like I got a Master's level education on AOS here 😁 Feel free to send me a message on any questions on the screen shots or whatever. I will do my best to help with whatever I know.

That's why I started my study now, so I can be prepared when we're doing it haha. I don't want to feel rushed to find out the answers, I'd rather know in advance. And VJ is a godsend, I agree. It's made it so much easier, and it made me realise this is doable without an expensive service!

[Nous Eb 128]

On 10/18/2024 at 9:56 AM, Edward and Jaycel said:

 

Just make sure you include cover letters for each filing (I-485, I765, I-131) with the applicant's name, address, phone number and email AND most Importantly the applicant's A-Number.

 

Huh? That would be strange to be most important considering you don't know your A-number yet when you come in on a K-1 visa. I only learned my A-number when I received the NOA's for my forms.

 

@Rachel n Tyler file everything in 1 envelope, use tabs and a cover letters and paper clips and anything else that would make your application a breeze for the USCIS officer to get through. I had covers for every separate form I filed, even for the envelopes with the personal checks. These covers were numbered and had a short list of what was included after that tab and how many pages it contained per form. Those numbered covers had a cover themselves right after my cover letter that stated all the numbers and description as a table of contents. In my OCD head that makes it easy for the officer to find documents and it certainly made it easier for me to make sure I had it all complete. Let me know when that doesn't make sense, I can send you the covers through WhatsApp. Also make sure you make a 1-on-one copy of what you send out in your package so you always know exactly what they have received.