Help! Forgot to file for change of address..

Allison, it was indeed pretty smooth going all considering. I think at time of filing I had been married for less than a year perhaps. Yup, that was the good ol I-130!

Marlespro, you are advised to apply to have conditions removed within the 90 day period before the 2nd year anniversary of arriving in the states, i.e. the date the greencard expries. I think you are fine if you file it on day 90 or day 1, as long as it is filed within those days... Filed mine a week or two ago, my greencard expires May 27th

I see. So, if you weren't married for 2 years before you moved over, how long did it take your husband to get his paperwork to come to/work in the USA?

It took us exactly 3 months from our first filing to our embassy interview, where he received his visa. Doesn't always take that short, but I guess we got lucky!

Wow Marlespo and Robatwork!  I'm feeling a bit more positive now.  Marlespo, you mentioned "our" interview.  Do my husband and I both have to go to the interview?  I'm asking as in 3 months time, I"ll be in the US and too pregnant to fly.  Actually, he'll be in the US late August too.  Do you know if there is a place in NYC (or if they do interviews in the US) that they'd do an interview if we were both there?

I'm just waiting to hear back from my immigration lawyer, but it sounds like once we file the I-130 together with the G-325A, that we just wait to hear and from there they'll tell us what to do (i.e. Affidavit of Support, etc.)  Does that sound right to you?

If he's already started the paperwork for the green card he shouldn't leave the UK. We had a vacation planned for July (we filed in June and our interview was in September) and I had to go alone (well, with our 3 month old!). We consulted an immigration lawyer about it and were told that it looks WAY bad, he could be stopped at the airport, etc. So make sure you keep that in mind!! If he needs to fly to the US to be with you in 3 months time I'd definitely say wait to start the process until after the birth, to make sure he can be there. OF COURSE.... that means filing a different way, as you can only DCF if YOU are resident in the UK with his as well. People have done it both ways. You could also hire an immigration lawyer, but they are crazy expensive (our quote was for around 3000 pounds) and they *may* not be able to expeditie anything, though perhaps if a pergnancy is involved.

To remove the conditions I don't think you have to appear together but for the initial green card interview you do and that's very important.

As far as what the conditions means, it simply means that they first give you a 2-year card (conditional) and then you file a petition to remove these condition when it's less than 90 days before your expirations date. The new green card will be "permanent" meaning that it's good for 10 years before you have to renew it. They essentially just want to check that you are still married :-)

Hey everyone, good news.. i think?

Just received a letter in the mail today, I-797C Notice of Action

Your alien card is extended 1 year - employment & travel authorized. Processing your form will require a minimum of 6 months. If you have not heard from us within 8 months, then you may contact this office.

Ok, so the good news is im good for another year! But if I am good for another year already, what more needs to be processed? Kinf of confused. Not sure if im home free or if this is just a temp extension until they decide whether or not I am home free?

Well, its a relief at least that I have an extra year i suppose

Robatwork,

They extended your green card while they are still deciding just so you won't have one that's outdated. Once they have decided they will send you a new card that will be good for ten years, but since the processing takes more than the 90 days in most cases, you can use that notice in case you need to travel. Don't sweat it though, I'm sure you will receive your card soon. I was told it would take six months, but I received mine within a month :-)

We have a UK friend who lives in Michigan who kept getting those 1 year extensions for 7 years before they finally removed his conditions, but it was only due to a backlog - just not getting to his paperwork for a long time! From what I hear, this has changed a lot, he finally got his permanent card about 5 years ago and I guess things are faster now??

Marlespo,

Did you friend file based on a family relation such as a spouse? If it's under different circumstances you may have to wait for a long time due to the quota for other petitions, but I also know the USCIS has made a lot of improvements to speed up the process so it doesn't take nearly as long as it used to take.

This all reminds me of my own experience with an inordinately long USCIS application- my entire family was granted 10-year green cards before we even entered the US so we never had conditions to remove, but my application to renew my 10 year card was filed in 2002 and has yet to be granted, almost four years later.  It took me 2 additional 1-year extensions in my passport and a lot of frustration before I realized that I could apply for naturalization anyway even without the actual green card, so I did and the whole thing was done and dusted in 4 months    The silly thing is that my I-90 is STILL pending, even though I'm a citizen now!  The left hand really doesn't know what the right hand is doing, that's for sure.

Marlespo,

Did you friend file based on a family relation such as a spouse? If it's under different circumstances you may have to wait for a long time due to the quota for other petitions, but I also know the USCIS has made a lot of improvements to speed up the process so it doesn't take nearly as long as it used to take.

I think their situation was different because they are all English, having lived here for ages and ages. He finally got his green card (entered ona work visa) but perhaps because no other memebr of his family was/is a USC that the process took longer, or had to be sent elsewhere? Dunno. I'm expecting a pretty easy time of it when we do it this October, but I've been proven wrong before.

Just an update: Got a pink letter in the mail today, basically telling me that my case had not been reviewed yet but to make sure the case reviewer had a full case, I needed to send in the following if I had not sent it already:

Proof of relationship - already sent that in

2 passport photographs - already sent that in

My greencard! So, I have taped the thing to the letter as requested and am sending it out to them now. Im hoping they dont expect me to include the other stuff since I already sent that with my petition to remove conditions. Anyway I will send that off today and see what happens I guess