B”h, I just received my Green Card, so I thought I’d document my experience in obtaining it, which will hopefully be a help for people applying.
Mid-January
Four forms were sent to the USCIS:
• I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (which my wife filled out)
• I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (the actual application)
• I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
• I-131, Application for Travel Document
January 16th
USCIS received the applications
January 23rd
USCIS responded, confirming applications receipt and start of process
January 30th
Received USCIS response, including appointment for biometric registration
February 10th
Case was suspended due to lack of original Marriage Certificate
February 12th
Biometric appointment - fingerprints and photographs were taken (conveniently in Boro Park at 1260 60th Street)
February 17th
Received suspension notice
February 18th
Sent in my Marriage Certificate
March 13th
Received Employment Authorization and Advance Parole (Travel) Document
Wanting to make summer plans, I had checked up on the processing times on their website, and had seen that they were only processing applications from June 2014. By now, they were up to September 2014, so I figured I wouldn’t have a problem flying out of the country for vacation, since it seemed that I had a long wait for my interview.
July 2nd
USCIS sends me an interview notice, scheduled for…. 10th of August! At that time, I would be in Israel!!
I called UJO, and they advised me to skip the trip and attend the interview, even at the cost of losing thousands of dollars (flights and hotels etc. were already booked), since if I missed the interview, there was no knowing what would happen. I called up a lawyer (who my niece had used) for a second opinion and he also said that I should rather stay. He told me that if I wanted, I could send them a letter with copies of my interview notice and itinerary, and a letter asking to reschedule my appointment, but I might risk having to redo parts of the process. I decided that’s what I would do, and sent it off the next day with registered mail, hoping for the best.
August
Vacation…
I returned from my vacation, not knowing what would be, when…
September 21st
I received a second interview appointment. Boy, was I relieved!!
October 22nd
Interview in Federal Plaza, Manhattan.
October 23rd
Approval and Welcome Notice was mailed
October 27th
Approval and Welcome Notice was received
October 30th
GREEN CARD WAS RECEIVED!
God Bless America!!
Feel free to ask any questions about the process….