ellie_gbr

I thought it would be useful to start a thread for those of us who are going through the US immigration process via marriage but doing AOS within the US (concurrent I130/I485 filing), due to already being here legally on another type of visa (F1,H1B, L1 etc...).

Here's my history so far:

2004-2005: J1 undergraduate exchange student
2005-2007: F1 masters student
2007-2011: F1 PhD student
2011-2013: F1 OPT and OPT STEM extension
2013-2014: First H1B (cap exempt)
2014-present: Second H1B (cap exempt)

And the AOS timeline:

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered

DottM

Ill be filling my I-130/I-485 concurrently also in the next few weeks so will add my timelines.

Best of luck.

ellie_gbr

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015: 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015: Checks/ACH payment cleared

S Folinsky

When I was in practice, the question I would receive on almost every case was "how long?" A reasonable and understandable question, indeed. That said, the acronym of "YMMV" is applicable. One big variation is what district in which the applicants reside. Also, workflow patterns within the government vary. An applicant may have the same name and date of birth of an arch-criminal on every lookout list [don't think that has not happened].

So, the "usefulness" of these timelines may not be all that large.

ellie_gbr

I completely understand that timelines vary substantially from one person to the next, from one month to the other etc., and have had experience of this with prior USCIS applications. However, I still think it is useful for people to at least see the steps and know what to expect once they have filed the AOS paperwork.

It seems that most of the other situations on this site are K-1s or IR/CR-1s with the immigrant in the UK rather than AOS from within the USA and as the process isn't the same if this helps even one person I'll be happy!

Meanwhile...

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015: 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015: Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015: Received 4 NOAs in mail

Jerni

Here is my timeline

9/16/2013 - AOS package mailed
9/24/2013 -(day 06)Texts/Emails received
9/24/2013 -(day 06)Check cashed
9/27/2013 -(day 09)Hardcopy NOAs received in mail (x3)
9/30/2013 -(day 12)Biometrics Appointment Notice I-797c
10/04/2013 -Successful biometrics walk-in
11/19/2013 -(day 62)Online status changed to Testing & Interview
11/21/2013 -(day 64)EAD approval/card production ordered (2 emails)
11/29/2013 -(day 72)EAD arrived
12/16/2013 -(day 89)Hard-copy of interview notice arrived
01/16/2014 -(day120)AOS Interview - Approved!!
01/18/2014 -(day122)Email stating I-485 card production ordered (8:15am)
01/22/2014 -(day126)Emails stating I-130/I-485 approval notices sent
01/27/2014 -(day131)Green Card arrived along with hard copies of I-130 and I-485 approval notices

ellie_gbr

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015: 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015: Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015: Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015: Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15

ellie_gbr

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015: 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015: Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015: Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015: Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15
16 July 2015: Biometrics appointment in Oklahoma City

ellie_gbr

Finally an update!! I've had no online status updates until today (pretty much day 90 since documents were received). I have a valid H1B visa so don't need the EAD/AP but it's good to have a backup just in case something terrible happens!

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015: 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015: Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015: Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015: Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15
16 July 2015: Biometrics appointment in Oklahoma City
15 September 2015: online case update (and email) stating I765 and I131 have been approved and card is being produced

ellie_gbr

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015 (day 6): 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015 (day 7): Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015 (day 11): Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015 (day 17): Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15
16 July 2015 (day 30): Biometrics appointment in Oklahoma City
15 September 2015 (day 91): online case update (and email) stating I765 and I131 have been approved and card is being produced
18 September 2015 (day 94): online case update (and email) stating EAD/AP card has been mailed

ellie_gbr

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015 (day 6): 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015 (day 7): Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015 (day 11): Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015 (day 17): Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15
16 July 2015 (day 30): Biometrics appointment in Oklahoma City
15 September 2015 (day 91): online case update (and email) stating I765 and I131 have been approved and card is being produced
18 September 2015 (day 94): online case update (and email) stating EAD/AP card has been mailed. I765/I131 NOA received in mail
22 September 2015 (day 98): EAD/AP card received

ellie_gbr

After what feels like forever, we finally have an interview date in Oklahoma City.

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015 (day 6): 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015 (day 7): Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015 (day 11): Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015 (day 17): Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15
16 July 2015 (day 30): Biometrics appointment in Oklahoma City
15 September 2015 (day 91): online case update (and email) stating I765 and I131 have been approved and card is being produced
18 September 2015 (day 94): online case update (and email) stating EAD/AP card has been mailed. I765/I131 NOA received in mail
22 September 2015 (day 98): EAD/AP card received
13 January 2016 (day 211): online case update to "testing and interview" (and email) stating interview date for I-485 is February 18 2016.

ellie_gbr

Interview did not go as expected:

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015 (day 6): 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015 (day 7): Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015 (day 11): Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015 (day 17): Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15
16 July 2015 (day 30): Biometrics appointment in Oklahoma City
15 September 2015 (day 91): online case update (and email) stating I765 and I131 have been approved and card is being produced
18 September 2015 (day 94): online case update (and email) stating EAD/AP card has been mailed. I765/I131 NOA received in mail
22 September 2015 (day 98): EAD/AP card received
13 January 2016 (day 211): online case update to "testing and interview" (and email) stating interview date for I-485 is February 18 2016.
18 February 2016 (day 248): Interviewer had no problem with our marriage (gave some additional evidence including pictures and this years joint tax return) but was concerned with my previous J1 visa. He was not convinced that I was not subject to the 2-year residency requirement (I wasn't). He said he would "look into it", and I would either get an RFE or the greencard would be approved. Online status hasn't changed from interview & testing and nothing received in mail so far. Have written to State Department for official advisory opinion concerning the J1 visa.

DottM

I'm sorry it didn't go as smoothly as you had hoped. Fingers crossed there are no more RFE's and you get the Greencard in the mail. It's been a long process for you.

ellie_gbr

22 May 2015: Wedding!
15 June 2015: Sent package (I130,I485,I693,I864,I765,I131, G325a,G1145 & associated documents) to Chicago lockbox via USPS Priority Express
16 June 2015: Tracking shows package delivered
22 June 2015 (day 6): 4 emails and 4 text messages saying case accepted & receipt numbers for I485, I130, I131, I1765
23 June 2015 (day 7): Checks/ACH payment cleared
27 June 2015 (day 11): Received 4 NOAs in mail
3 July 2015 (day 17): Biometrics Appointment Notice for 7/16/15
16 July 2015 (day 30): Biometrics appointment in Oklahoma City
15 September 2015 (day 91): online case update (and email) stating I765 and I131 have been approved and card is being produced
18 September 2015 (day 94): online case update (and email) stating EAD/AP card has been mailed. I765/I131 NOA received in mail
22 September 2015 (day 98): EAD/AP card received
13 January 2016 (day 211): online case update to "testing and interview" (and email) stating interview date for I-485 is February 18 2016.
18 February 2016 (day 248): Interviewer had no problem with our marriage (gave some additional evidence including pictures and this years joint tax return) but was concerned with my previous J1 visa. He was not convinced that I was not subject to the 2-year residency requirement (I wasn't). He said he would "look into it", and I would either get an RFE or the greencard would be approved. Online status hasn't changed from interview & testing and nothing received in mail so far. Have written to State Department for official advisory opinion concerning the J1 visa.
4 April 2016 (day 293): Online case update (and email) stating I130 has been approved. No update on I485.