In family immigration law, one topic that surfaces frequently is the simultaneous filing of the I-130 petition for an immigrant relative and the I-485 adjustment application. As a managing attorney at Nachman Phulwani Zimovcak Law Group, I aim to help you understand what this process entails and what to expect during your marriage interview.
Can You Navigate the Process Yourself?
Yes, you can handle these types of cases on your own. However, it requires a clear understanding of the documents you must fill out, how to package them appropriately, and where to send them. It’s not just about filling out forms but ensuring you have the proper supporting documentation. Without the correct supporting documents, your case may attract additional scrutiny, which could be avoided if the appropriate documentation is attached.
At our office, we ensure that the appropriate primary and secondary evidence is attached to the petitions and applications before they’re sent in. This way, the officer can sense the individuals coming in for that interview, such as the marriage case interview.
How Does the Process Work?
The process begins when you combine the I-485 with the I-130 petition, along with the I-864 affidavit of support document. You send these to the Chicago Lock Box, which is the National Benefits Center. The documents then get forwarded to the National Benefits Center, where an initial adjudication is made. If more information is needed, a request for evidence may be submitted back to the individuals.
Preparing for the Interview
When you go for the interview, the officer will ask questions about the bona fides of your marital relationship. It’s essential to bring documents demonstrating the bona fides of the marriage relationship, including receipts for the rings you bought each other, driver’s licenses with the same address, or cards sent by friends congratulating you on your wedding. Other valid documents could be your marriage certificate and a joint tax return filing.
Remember that the legal standard the officer will be looking for is evidence of the bona fides of the marital relationship.
What to Expect at the Interview
After the officer interviews you, they can either approve the case on the spot, deny it, or request additional information. If they approve the case, the green card, usually granted on a conditional basis, should follow soon after. However, make sure to check the expiration date. It should be valid on a conditional basis for two years unless you’ve been married for two full years prior to the interview. In that case, you’d be interviewing for your 10-year Green Card.
Navigating the simultaneous filing of an I-130 and an I-485 and preparing for the marriage interview can be daunting, but it’s doable with the right guidance. At the NPZ Law Group, we’re ready to assist you. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about marriage-based procedures or the filing of an I-130 and an I-485 simultaneously for your foreign national spouse.
If you or your family members have any questions about how immigration and nationality laws in the United States may affect you, or if you want to access additional information about immigration and nationality laws in the United States or Canada, please don’t hesitate to contact the immigration and nationality lawyers at NPZ Law Group. You can reach us by emailing info@visaserve.com or by calling us at 201-670-0006 extension 104. We also invite you to visit our website at www.visaserve.com for more information.