OldUser

Might be an unpopular opinion, but I did not duplicate evidence for each form when I did my AOS with a lawyer. Everything was sent as one packet and as far as I remember, only two photos were sent. Approved, but that was few years ago.

Did RFE letter received by mail mention replying online? Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Most likely the instructions in RFE provided address to mail response to. Technically, USCIS doesn't have to take any response provided online if RFE instructions don't mention it. Add to that glitches in USCIS IT systems (duplicate A numbers, missing case statuses, etc etc) nobody can guarantee uploaded evidence won't be silently discarded / lost / agent won't have permission, desire or training to see it. Sometimes it is OK to follow the suggestions from members who've seen it all. I think @K1visaHopeful is coming from a good place. If I was paid $10 every time I see people's packets being rejected due to declined credit card payment, I'd get a Michelin star dinner for free. Yes, many times USCIS offers something, but it doesn't mean just because it's there it's a good idea to use. If online RFE reponse is lost and USCIS says you never sent it, how are you going to prove you submitted it? Do you get a confirmation email with some unique receipt number (like AR-11 online)? If not, I'd respond by certified mail / UPS / Fedex with proof of delivery. So that if USCIS claim they never got it, I could argue they received it.

Congratulations! Hopefully you won't have to do I-751. Right now it's even a longer journey of close to 2 years.

What about joint lease? Did you get her ID? Submitting copies of your and her IDs showing matching address can be helpful. Also, I hope you're submitting all pages for both banking and utility statements? And not just one of each, but all statements with both names since you added her name on them?

Why 6? Only two passport photos (not even a set) needed as far as I know?

So who is this woman? Is she a licensed lawyer? Sounds fishy / not trustworthy to me. For anybody reading: be careful and check credentials before trusting anybody with your personal information or paying somebody to do any immigration work for you.

How did you answer the question about your citizenship?

I'd include this evidence. Not all evidence should be continuous. Why not include him on current job? That's a qualifying even as far as I know? Or it doesn't make financial sense?

You're fortunate that didn't trigger RFE. Sending incomplete or seldom statements is one if the ways people get RFEs.

I'd say it's pure luck. Can never advice sending bare minimals as RFEs are pretty common for I-751s

6 months is for continuous residence requirement which is important for N-400. You should not have any trip exceeding 6 months at any point as GC holder, otherwise you'd break continuous residence for naturalization purposes. Say, today you returned from a 6.5 months trip overseas. This means you start counting eligibility date for N-400 from today, not when your GC started. So it would be 3 or 5 years from today. If you go again for over 6 months, your "clock" will reset again. If you do a lot of trips such as 4 months out, two weeks in, you'll eventually find a CBP who will give you NTA or ask to sign I-407. You should not be absent from the US for over 1 year at a time also. This could result in losing LPR status. Again, the "clock" resets, again CBP may conclude you abandoned LPR status. Even if you don't spend more than 6 months or 1 year at a time, if you travel back and forth, don't forget for N-400 you need to spend at least 50% of the time in the US. And you'll have to provide all trip dates. So start keeping track of trips and countries visited in Excel / Google sheet. E.g. when you left, when you came back and what countries you visited. Don't spend too much time outside of the US, as I-751 would be harder to approve with no ties / jobs / lease in the US. You should at least maintain bank accounts and lease in the US do demonstrate some ties. If you don't keep ties and use GC as fancy visa instead of living in the US, you will lose residency and won't be able to naturalize.

That's quick. Congratulations !

Also check processing times for your field office here >> https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/

No, you should not be concerned. I submitted case in late November 2021 and got biometrics almost in May of the following year. I also saw it took a year for some people to get biometrics appoitment or reuse. Same for 2022/2023 filers. I-751s are sloooooow

I strongly suggest going elsewhere to have a formal marriage. If you want to have celebration in Ukraine, you can (though I would think twice about safety). My reason is: if the country is in war for indefinite amount of time, you may have issues getting copies of marriage certificate / other documentation in the future. Some documents may get lost due to damage to archives etc. I'd get married in some EU country. Ukrainians can travel there visa free, as US citizens. You could go usual I-130 route but that's another 2 years of separation. U4U may be the option but I'd consult with a lawyer to know how easy would it be to adjust. Bonus point: I hope you do not posses Ukrainian or Russian citizenships. Even if you hold US citizenship but never formally renounced Ukrainian, you may not be able to leave Ukraine due to 18-60 ban for travel for men. If you still have Russian citizenship, you may get in trouble for obvious reasons.

You can roll a dice and have better estimated times based on that VS what USCIS provides. From what I see there's little correlation between estimates and real world out there.

Depends on the bank and landlord. Talk to them.

No, they won't raise an eyebrow. Many people never change their names in marriage. They will raise eye brow if you don't file taxes jointly, don't comingle finances (joint account), don't include both names on lease / mortgage etc, live separately etc etc. Those are important after marriage, not the name change.

Name change occurs AFTER marriage, based on marriage certificate. Also, name change is optional in immigration process. Unless one of you wants to change name (not because of immigration!) it's not required.

Three years after receiving GC.

Not surprised at all. USCIS probably will decide everything together. Good luck!

No, only mother has to file N-400. As long as the kid was in your and her custody, living with you, he will become a US citizen by operation of law. It's also beneficial to apply for certificate of naturalization for that kid once he becomes a US citizen. It costs over $1000, but it will ensure the kid will never have issues proving he is a citizen when applying for some jobs or renewing passport. He may be asked for proof 30 years later when you or your spouse may no longer be around. Also, did your spouse have a conditional green card or always 10 year GC? If she still has a conditional green card, did she and her son apply for I-751?

Yes, this is called the statutory period. You'd only list information for the past 5 years. You may be a GC holder for 8, but if applying now, you only list the last 5 years of addresses, trips and employment. Overlap is OK. That's what happened after all.

Beware this can all change any moment. These estimates are largely inaccurate. You may still be asked for an interview and I'd be ready until I get approval notice and GC in the mail.