Having received the US Green card (GC) in May 2020 through the spouse GC application I am sharing my experience in this blog with potential applicants so this process can be a little less cumbersome.
We started with the application in May 2019 in California, USA and received the GC in May 2020. Yes, we got my GC within a year from the application date but most of it alludes to the fact that our application forms were complete and had all the attached documents in proper order right from the beginning.
You can find our Youtube video on the Green Card process here.
Please note that based on your location and the time of application the total duration of your GC process may be different. This blog is intended for people already in the US on a valid visa (applying internationally might require a few more documents).
Before we get further into this blog I would like to make it clear that THIS IS NOT PROFESSIONAL LEGAL ADVICE, it is only a blog of my personal Green card application experience. I would suggest reaching out to an Attorney in case professional legal guidance is needed.Now that that is out of the way let me start off by explaining in brief how the Spouse GC application works. Just like any other visa process with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) the applicants need to fill out a bunch of forms, seven to be precise. The first and most important requirement of this process is PATIENCE and you would need a lot of it if you're completing the application yourself like we did.
We used the HP printer below to print all our confidential documents at home and we highly recommend purchasing one from the link below.
Before we get into the nitty gritty of the application I would suggest putting together a 'Folder of Marriage Proof'. The contents of this folder could be found towards the end of this blog. You will notice this folder containing documents proving your marital relationship and will be used twice (two copies) in your GC application. Having all these documents in place will ensure you have all the details needed to fill out the USCIS forms.
My timeline of the GC Application process:
* May 2019 – GC Application forms mailed to the USCIS office
* June 2019 – USCIS sends confirmation of Application receipt (Checks deposited)
* June 2019 – USCIS sends appointment notice for BIOMETRICS
* July 2019 – USCIS office Biometrics done
* October 2019 – Approval of EAD and Travel Parole received
* November 2019 – EAD and Travel Parole received
* January 2020 – GC interview notice received
* February 2020 – GC couples interview at the USCIS office
* May 2020 – Approval notice received for the GC
* May 2020 – Green Card receivedForms:
Below is the list of the USCIS forms that would be used for your GC application:
(Please click on the document name to open the USCIS link for the form, if the link doesn't work please find the documents on the USCIS website https://www.uscis.gov/ )
1) I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
2) I-130A Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary (This form can be found in the I-130 page)
3) I-485 Application to Adjust Status
4) I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
5) I-864 Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA
6) I-131 Application for Travel Document
7) I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination RecordFees:
As you will read below the total USCIS fees for the GC application is $1760
$535 for the form I-130
$1225 for the form I-485
(This does not include the doctor fees for I-693 and other expenses for this process)
I spent around $2000-$2500 throughout this process. Just to give you a rough estimate.Application Forms and attached documents:
Each of the seven USCIS forms mentioned before would need to be completed and mailed to the USCIS office serving your state along with the documents mentioned below. I used the mailing pad shown below to secure every form and its attachments separately and I suggest buying it from the picture linked. All these mailing pads can then be bundled together and mailed to the USCIS office.
Notes:
1) The US citizen spouse is called 'The Petitioner' and the non US spouse is called the 'The Beneficiary' for the forms below.
2) The documents listed below are the one's i sent with my application. You may be required to attach more or less documents based on your case.
A) Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
*Check for $535 (Filing fee for I-130).
1. A copy of petitioner’s birth certificate
2. A copy of petitioner’s biographical page of passport (Current - Post Marriage)
3. A copy of petitioner’s biographical page of passport (All previous – Before Marriage)
4. A copy of petitioner’s SSN (Current – Post Marriage)
5. A copy of petitioner’s SSN (Previous – Before Marriage)
6. A copy of Marriage certificate and License
7. A copy of petitioner’s current employer’s offer letter and visiting card
8. A copy of petitioner’s last 3 years W2s
B) Form I-130A, Supplemental Information for Spouse Beneficiary
1. Copy of Beneficiary’s Current Passport
2. Copy of Beneficiary’s H1B Visa
3. Copy of Beneficiary’s Old Passport and visas
4. Copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval Notice I-797A (Current Employer)
5. Copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval Notice I-797A (Previous Employer)
6. Copy of Beneficiary’s I94
7. Copy of Beneficiary’s SSN
8. Copy of Beneficiary’s previous EAD Cards
9. Copy of Birth Certificates in English
10. Copy of Beneficiary’s Master’s Degree
11. Copy of Beneficiary’s Master’s Transcript
12. Copy of Beneficiary’s current employee offer letter
13. Copy of Beneficiary’s previous employee Job letter
14. Copy of Beneficiary’s last 3 years W2s
15. Copy of Beneficiary’s Paystubs
16. Folder proof of Marriage (Please scroll to the bottom of this blog for the contents of this folder)
C) Form I-485, Application to Adjust Status
*Check for $1,225 (Filing fee for I-485 and biometric services fee).
1. Copy of Beneficiary’s Current Passport
2. Copy of Beneficiary’s H1B Visa
3. Copy of Beneficiary’s Old Passport and visas
4. Copy of Birth Certificates in English
5. Copy of Beneficiary’s I94
6. A copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval notice I-797A (Current Employer)
7. A copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval notice I-797A (Previous Employer)
8. Copy of Beneficiary’s previous EAD Cards
9. Copy of Beneficiary’s SSN
10. Copy of Beneficiary’s current employee offer letter
11. Copy of Beneficiary’s previous employee Job letter
12. Copy of Beneficiary’s last 3 years W2s
13. Copy of Beneficiary’s last 3 months Paystubs
14. Copy of Beneficiary’s Master’s Degree
15. Copy of Beneficiary’s Master’s Transcript
16. Copy of Marriage Certificate
17. Folder proof of Marriage
D) Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
1. Copy of Beneficiary’s Current Passport
2. Copy of Beneficiary’s H1B Visa
3. Copy of Beneficiary’s Old Passport and visas
4. Copy of Beneficiary’s I-94
5. A copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval notice I-797A (Current Employer)
6. A copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval notice I-797A (Previous Employer)
7. Copy of Beneficiary’s previous EAD Cards
8. Copy of Beneficiary’s SSN
9. Copy of Beneficiary’s current employee offer letter
10. Copy of Beneficiary’s previous employee Job letter
11. Copy of Beneficiary’s last 3 years W2s
12. Copy of Beneficiary’s last 3 months Paystubs
13. Copy of Marriage Certificate and License
14. Copy of the last I20
E) Form I-864, Affidavit of Support
1. Copy of petitioner’s Birth certificate
2. A copy of petitioner’s biographical page of passport (Current - Post Marriage)
3. A copy of petitioner’s biographical page of passport (Previous – Before Marriage)
4. Copy of Beneficiary’s Current Passport
5. Copy of Beneficiary’s H1B Visa
6. Copy of Beneficiary’s Old Passport and visas
7. Copy of Beneficiary’s H1B VISA and stamps.
8. A copy of petitioner’s current employer’s offer letter and visiting card
9. Copy of petitioner’s last 3 years W2s
10. Copy of petitioner’s last 3 years
11. Copy of petitioner’s recent 3 months Paystubs
12. Copy of Beneficiary’s last 3 years
13. Copy of Beneficiary’s last 3 years W2s
14. Copy of Beneficiary’s recent 3 months Paystubs
15. Copy of petitioner’s recent Bank Statement
16. Copy of Beneficiary’s recent Bank Statement
17. Copy of Beneficiary’s recent Stock Investment Statement
18. Copy of Beneficiary’s current employee offer letter
19. Copy of Marriage Certificate and License
F) Form I-131, Application for Travel Document
1. Copy of Beneficiary’s Current Passport
2. Copy of Beneficiary’s H1B Visa
3. Copy of Beneficiary’s Old Passport and visas
4. Copy of Beneficiary’s I-94
5. A copy of Beneficiary’s Driver’s License
6. Copy of Beneficiary’s previous EAD Cards
7. A copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval notice I-797A (Current Employer)
8. A copy of Beneficiary’s H-1B Approval notice I-797A (Previous Employer)
G) Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
This form would be filled by you and by your USCIS certified doctor. Please ensure after the doctor completes their reporting on your health and vaccination records they seal the forms in an envelope. This sealed envelope would need to be posted to the USCIS along with the other forms mentioned above.
'Folder Proof of Marriage'
· Marriage Certificate
· Marriage License
· A copy of petitioner’s SSN (Current – Post Marriage)
· Copy of petitioner and beneficiary’s joint medical Insurance cards
· Copy of joint Auto Insurance
· Copy of joint Renters Insurance
· Copy of Lease and Holding Deposit for the apartment
· Copy of the joint home internet bill
· Copy of sample joint mail at home address
· Copy of petitioner and beneficiary’s Driver’s License
· Joint Bank account recent statements
· Copy of petitioner new passport biographical page
· Car moving company statement with names
· Copy of petitioner’s job offer letter and visiting card
· Travel History Tickets
· Events Attended together tickets
· Sworn Affidavit (Letter of Support) Petitioner's Brother
· Sworn Affidavit (Letter of Support) Beneficiary’s Ex- roommate
· Sworn Affidavit (Letter of Support) Beneficiary’s Ex- co worker
· Engagement and Wedding Invitation copies
· Engagement ring purchase receipt copies
· Greeting card copies between the couple and guests at the events
· Pictures according to dating/marital timeline.
These are just some of the many documents that can prove your marriage. For a full updated list of other possible documents please checkout the USCIS website.
I suggest putting your seven mailing pads containing the forms and attachments in a hard box as shown below to ensure your mail is received securely at the USCIS. We used this box and recommend buying it from the link.
I hope I have helped you in your application process through this blog.
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