Yi Chen

Hi All:

I have some questions about the I-485 form. I am
a student on F-1 VISA, my wife is an US citizen.


1. I am confused about the item in Part 1, "Current
INS Status", and the item in Part 3, "In what
status did you last enter(visitor, student..)".
I figured that these two items should not be the
same, so the "Current INS Status" should be my
VISA type, that is, F-1. The following item
"Expires on", should it be the expire date on
the F1 visa or the date on my I-20 form?


2. About Birth Certificate.
I don't have my birth certificate with me, but I
have the "Notarial Certificate of Birth", which
is in the following form:
"This is to certify that XXXX, male,
was born on Januray 1, 2003 at YYY
Couunty, ZZZ Province. His father's
name is CC, his mother's name is DD.
-- Signature, Date"
Will this work as the birth certificate?


3. How an immigration lawyer can help me? I do
notice some controdicting information from online
resources. Do I need a lawyer for my case? How a
lawyer can help me? In what case should I consider
hire a lawyer?

Thanks a lot!

Yi Chen