AOS Timeline (NYC)

Keywords: Greencard, adjustment of status, AOS, NYC, INS, USCIS, H1 visa, permanent residence

On this page, I'll note the timeline of my application for Adjustment of Status from H1B visa status to permanent residence. The information here is provided in the hope that it may be useful to other people in similar situations.

Dates

2006-05-22: Received Permanent Resident Card (aka Greencard) in regular mail.
2006-05-16: Received "Welcome notice" in the mail.
2006-05-15: Received a note from USCIS via email that on 2006-05-12 a new permanent resident card was issued and mailed to me.
2006-05-12: Received a note from USCIS via email that on 2006-05-10 a "welcome notice was mailed for this case."
2006-03-28: Interview in NY; no decision was made, waiting to receive a notice
2005-10-05: Note from USCIS via email that results of the fingerprint review were received.
2005-09-22: Fingerprinting
Turned out not to be a problem. Took approximately 40 minutes in total, (<10 minutes actual procedure).
2005-07-28: Made appointment for biometrics and finerprinting.
Apparently, on any given day, the USCIS only gives out appointments for one day only. If that day is full, you have to call again the next day, so one should call right at 8:00am.
2005-07-25: Received official Receipt Notices for I-485 and I-130.
2005-07-22: Checks cashed by USCIS
2005-07-18: According to the USPS return receipt:
Application received by Chicago office, signed for by Thomas P. Bergthold.

2005-07-15: Application sent per certified mail with a return receipt.

Application consisted of:

    (a) Form I-485  Application to Register Permanent Resident                                                 
                    or Adjust Status (self)                                                                    
    (b) Form I-130  Petition for Alien Relative (spouse)                                                       
    (c) Form I-864  Affidavit of Support (spouse)                                                              
    (d) Form I-693  Medical Examination of Aliens Seeking                                                      
                    Adjustment of Status (self)                                                                
    (e) Cover letter                                                                                           
                                                                                                               
    (a) I-485 contains:                                                                                        
    - Form I-485                                                                                               
    - Copy of birth certificate (self)                                                                         
    - Copy of passport page with nonimmigrant visa (self)                                                      
    - 2 Photos (self)                                                                                          
    - Copy of I-94                                                                                             
    - Form G-325A (self) (b)                                                                                   
    - Check of $315 (filing fee)                                                                               
    - Check of $70  (fingerprinting fee)                                                                       
                                                                                                               
    (b) I-130 contains:                                                                                        
    - Form I-130 (spouse)                                                                                      
    - Copy of birth certificate (spouse)                                                                       
    - Copy of unexpired US passport (spouse)                                                                   
    - Copy of marriage certificate                                                                             
    - Check of $185  (filing fee)                                                                              
    - 1 Photo (spouse)                                                                                         
    - 1 Photo (self)                                                                                           
    - Form G-325A (spouse)                                                                                     
    - Form G-325A (self)                                                                                       
                                                                                                               
    (c) I-864 contains:                                                                                        
    - Form I-864 signed before notary public (spouse)                                                          
    - Form I-864A signed before notary public (both)                                                           
    - Proof of current employment (spouse)                                                                     
    - Proof of current employment (self)                                                                       
    - joint federal income tax returns 2004                                                                    
    - joint federal income tax returns 2003                                                                    
    - joint federal income tax returns 2002

    (d) filled by approved USCIS civil surgeon in sealed envelope

Application sent to:

U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: FBASI
427 S. LaSalle, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60605-1098

Short history before filing for AOS

2004-10-26: Learned lesson: during trip to Germany, receive renewed H1B visa in Frankfurt, before returning to US.
Summer 2004: Renew H1B visa, receive notice of action.
2003-05-16: Visa issued in Frankfurt, Germany. Return to US and enter without problems.
2003-05-12: Return from trip to Germany. Unable to enter US, since passport is lacking the actual visa. Withdrew my application for entry voluntarily, returned to Germany (2003-05-13), went to embassy there and applied for my H1B visa.

Ever since that incident, upon re-entry to US the immigration officer will look at me suspiciously, ask about when i've ``gotten into trouble'' and eventually either stamp my passport or send me off to the back-office, where -- after waiting for somewhere between 10 minutes and 1.5 hours -- the next officer will stamp my passport within 2 minutes and send me on my way.
2002-10-18: Date of Marriage
Application for AOS not submitted earlier to avoid having to deal with a temporary green card and renew status after two year.
Summer 2001: While in US, change visa status from F1 to H1B. Received notice of action that H1 visa was approved. Nobody informs me that in order to travel abroad and return I need actual visa in passport.
1998-08-20: Enter US on F1 Visa.