Filing I485 without a lawyer

[mayajk]

Hi,
My husband's EB1 EA I140 petition was approved last week. It was a self-petition filed with the help of a lawyer. Our lawyer has quoted around $5K as the lawyer fees for filing the I485 petition. When I looked at the 485 checklist, it looked quite simple. Can we file the 485 without the lawyer? Will we have any issues because of that? If anyone using this forum has filed 485 without the help of a lawyer, can you please provide me the check-list and the cover letter? Thanks so much..

Regards,
Maya

 

[ginnu]

Hi,
My husband's EB1 EA I140 petition was approved last week. It was a self-petition filed with the help of a lawyer. Our lawyer has quoted around $5K as the lawyer fees for filing the I485 petition. When I looked at the 485 checklist, it looked quite simple.

Can we file the 485 without the lawyer?
---Yes
Will we have any issues because of that?
-----No
If anyone using this forum has filed 485 without the help of a lawyer, can you please provide me the check-list and the cover letter? Thanks so much..
-----------Why don't you make a list of the documents to be attached with I-485? if anything is missing then others can correct it.
** Form I-485, Copy of latest I-94(front and Back), USCIS Fee(that include fingerprinting Fees), Copy of Birth certificate, Copy of Marriage Certificate,Copy of Passport Pages, Medicals, Photographs, Copy of your spouse I-140 approval(with his I-485), Job offer letter (with your spouse I-485). many file EAD and AP with I-485. if filing EAD and AP then extra Photograph for EAD, AP and forms for EAD and AP and Fees for EAD and AP.
Regards,
Maya

---------------------------

 

[mayajk]

Thanks ginnu!! Do we need a cover letter for the I485 petition? If yes, can you provide a sample cover letter? Also, how do we assemble the application? Should we have a separate package for each family member?

 

[ginnu]

Thanks ginnu!! Do we need a cover letter for the I485 petition? If yes, can you provide a sample cover letter? Also, how do we assemble the application? Should we have a separate package for each family member?

1 FYI cover letter is not must . Cover letter is for the list of documents attached so that officer can know what is attached by just reading the Cover letter and knows what kind of Form is submitted ( Out side the Envelope also write in big bold letters "Form I-485". Cover letter will have your Name and address at top. Then Service center XYZ.... Then in bold write RE:Original submission of form I-485. then Sir/Madam... and the list of documents that you are providing with the I-485 Packet, write your name, address and sign the letter. Now Make your own Cover letter. Your Husband I-485 is primary and your I-485 is Derivative I-485.
2 Separate package for each family member but mail in the SAME envelope.