For those of you interested in what it takes to get permanent residency in the US, or those of you wondering why it took us about 3 months to put the application together, here are some details on what the process has involved up to this point:
A Rough Timeline:
Nov 2010:We started to research how we would be able to keep us together, in the same country, after Mike finished college in the summer of 2011.
Dec 2010:
We got engaged over Christmas break and celebrated being able to call one another "fiance(e)"! Happy, happy times!
July 2011:
Mike began to put our photo album together. We used this as supporting documentation for the I-130 that I file on Mike's behalf, as proof that our relationship is valid and based on love. (and I think it's pretty convincing, too!!!)
We read through the instructions, made notes, and began to fill in the necessary forms and gather the necessary paperwork needed to validate the application.
August 2011:We started to fill in the forms more accurately, made checklists of things we were missing, and started to compile the cover sheets' info for each form.
September 2011:
Mike finished the photo book, ordered an extra copy to add to our application, and received the books in the post a week later (we have a new found love for mixbook.com).
Mike went to a civil surgeon to be deemed medically fit to be in the US (proof that he does not have leprosy, TB, syphilis, HIV, HepB, and other vaccine-preventable diseases).
September 23, 2011: We celebrated the completion of the green card with a few of our family and friends.
October 1, 2011: We sent the green card off to the USCIS! :) :) :)
Now, here's a bit of information about the forms:
I-485: Application for Permanent Residency & Supporting Applications and Documentation:
1.
Form G-1145, E-Notification of
Application/Petition Acceptance, clipped to the first page of the application.
2.
Check in the amount of $1070 ($985 Filing Fee + $85
Biometric Fee).
2.
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent
Residence or Adjust Status.
3.
Copy
of birth certificate of non-US citizen.
4.
Copy
of Passport of non-US citizen..
5.
Two
identical, color passport-style photographs of non-US citizen.
6.
I-693,
Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record of non-US citizen.
1. Complete physical exam and infectious disease titres of non-US citizen, performed by a
government-approved civil surgeon.
7. Copy of Certificate of Relationship.
8.
Form
G-325A, Biographical Information Sheet non-US citizen.
9.
Form
I-864, Affidavit of Support, from Petitioner (US Citizen):
1.
I-864,
Affidavit of Support completed by Petitioner.
2.
Proof
of US Citizenship:
a.
Copy
of birth certificate
3.
Letter
of Explanation for not filing 2010 Federal Income Tax Return.
4.
Copy
of 2009 Federal Income Tax Return:
a.
2009
W-2 from
b.
2009
Tuition Statement
c.
Copy
of Form 1040EZ
5.
Copy
of 2008 Federal Income Tax Return:
a.
2008
W-2
d.
Copy
of Form 1040EZ
6.
Academic
Transcript.
7.
Unofficial
Academic Transcript, showing courses in progress.
8.
Letter
from the university, stating currently in good standing.
9.
Cost
of Attendance/Financial Aid Award for 2011-2012, 2010-2011, 2009-2010,
2008-2009.
10.
Copy
of Medical Student Identification
10.
Form
I-864, Affidavit of Support, Joint Sponser (US Citizen):
1.
I-864,
Affidavit of Support completed by Joint Sponser.
2.
Proof
of US Citizenship:
a.
Copy
of Birth Certificate
3.
Copy
of 2010 Federal Income Tax Return:
a.
2010
W-2
b.
Federal
Income Tax Summary
c.
Form
1040 & all related schedules and forms
d.
Supporting
documentation for 2010 Federal Income Tax Return
4.
Copy
of 2009 Federal Income Tax Return:
a.
2009
W-2
b.
Federal
Income Tax Summary
c.
Form
1040 & all related schedules and forms
d.
Supporting
documentation for 2009 Federal Income Tax Return
5.
Copy
of 2008 Federal Income Tax Return:
a.
2008
W-2
b.
Federal
Income Tax Summary
c.
Form
1040 & all related schedules and forms
d.
Supporting
documentation for 2010 Federal Income Tax Return
6.
Copies
of previous six months' Pay Stubs.
11.
Form
I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, from US Citizen:
1.
Form G-1145, E-Notification of
Application/Petition Acceptance, clipped to the first page of the application.
2.
Check stating to pay to the order of U.S.
Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $420.
3.
Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative.
4.
Copy of birth certificate of US Citizen.
5.
Copy of current passport for US Citizen.
6.
Copy of Certificate Of Relationship.
7.
One
color passport-style photograph of US Citizen.
8.
G-325A Biographic Information form for US Citizen.
9.
One color passport-style photograph of non-US Citizen.
10.
G-325A Biographic Information form for non-US Citizen.
11.
Supporting evidence:
a.
Copy of current lease 2011-2012.
i.
Copies of Household Bills in non-US Citizen's Name.
1. Internet Supplier
ii.
Copies of Household Bills in US Citizen's Name.
1. Electric Supplier
2. Water Supplier
3. Gas Supplier
b.
Copy of previous lease 2010-2011.
c.
Copy of previous lease 2009-2010.
d.
Copies of shared finances:
i. Shared Bank Account
ii. 2 Shared Credit Cards
e.
Photo Album: Our Relationship, from 2008-2011
We also filed the I-765, Application for Employment Authorization:
1. Form G-1145, E-notification of Application/Petition acceptance clipped to first page of application.
2. Form I-765.
3. Copy of current I-94, front and back.
4. Copy of non-US citizen's passport page, showing picture, name, and date of birth.
5. Copy of non-US citizen's birth certificate.
6. Copy of non-US citizen's driver's license.
7. Copy of previous visas (J1, H2B, and F1)
8. 2 passport photos of non-US citizen, taken within 30 days of application.
So, as you might imagine, it took us a significant amount of time to put this whole application together...nearly 3 months, actually. And we had to make sacrifices for each other, had to find legal support from my family, and ended up making a few people upset by completing the application...but sometimes we do what we have to do for love. It is more important to us to stay together than it is to save the money, or to be apart for the next two years while each of us separately work on our education. We've made a lot of sacrifices in the name of immigration. And now, fingers crossed, nothing will keep us from being together for the rest of our lives.
"It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
The I-130, which I had to file on Mike's behalf:
The Application, Ready for Send-off:
Marley gave her blessing:
Fingers crossed for a quick "YES!"
...and it's off!!!!!
Time to Celebrate!!!!!!
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