Immigrant is the one who needs to get 40 quarters, not the sponsor.
Whoever is the sponsor / joint sponsor is responsible for updating their address until immigrant becomes a US citizen or earns 40 quarters.
@Pat J
Is there a stamp like this next to immigrant visa?
If NOT, even if you paid fees, Green Card won't get produced until you enter the US on visa and it gets endorsed.
Was I-865 also filed by sponsor in the mail? Sponsors are required to update address with USCIS within 30 days of moving, until LPR becomes a citizen or earns 40 quarters of SSA.
Verbal approvals and promises mean nothing, sadly. And you cannot pressure USCIS into deciding faster because of your vacation plans. They'll take however long they need to decide the case.
Usually people are advised not to plan any international travel until GC is in hand.
Just to add to that point @MacPara
According to https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/, El Paso processing time is currently within 8 months for 80% of cases.
Every case is unique.
I believe anything under 12 months is normal. Expecting interview within 3 months of filing is elevated expectation in my opinion.
This is definitely not the usual course of things...
I wonder what date GC will have.
You'll have to be careful when applying for naturalization. Out of caution, I'd treat later date as the starting point of LPR status for determening when to apply for N-400
1. That's OK, it takes time to establish life.
2. I wouldn't bother with it.
The only question is, when was husband added to lease (if you have or had one)?
You can renew passport, sure thing. Many people do it. You'd use new passport info in DS-160.
What's up with "wife of"? What is it all about? Sorry this is not common in all countries.
I was also on J-1 and other non-immigrant visa. The immigration lawyer who worked with me stressed the importance of maintaining my non-immigrant status. As far as I could tell, filing for adjustment in itself wasn't considered a violation, strictly speaking. Otherwise the answer to question about violating status would have been "yes" by merely filing I-485.
This was answered as "no" on forms. I successfully adjusted, successfully removed conditions and successfully became a citizen. It was never questioned.
Because I was on work visa with original employer, I never used EAD for employment. After I got GC, I updated I-9 with that document.
I'd file AR-11. An LPR is required to file AR-11 whenever address changes. I'm not aware of any alternative ways of fulfilling this requirement, such as talking to CBP at POE. It does't hurt doing it online. It only takes a minute. You can save confirmation that's shown after submitting the request.
Passports, any IDs issued by USCIS, children's birth certificates, house deed(s), lease agreement(s), certified copy of marriage certificate etc. If you had issues with laws, any paperwork related to that.