For Beginners/Newbies

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maniadoc

Registered Users (C)
There should be a sticky thread for persons who r new to this process & don't even know immi terminology.

So would someone start by explaining what are:-

I-130
I-485
I-765
NC=Naturalization Certificate
AP=Advanced Parole=I-131
K-1
etc, etc. Please add whatever you think might help a beginner.
Thx.
 
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The other thing a newbie immediate relative concurrent AOS application filer should know is that the correct answer for Part 2 is always A, "an immigrant petition giving me an immediately available immigrant visa number has been approved."

They should remember that W-2s and 1099s need to be sent with I-864, and that the petitioner is always the sponsor and needs to submit I-864 even if there is a joint sponsor.

They should also know that if they have accumulated more than 180 days of unlawful presence, and now plan to become permanent residents, this is not the best time to go visit the folks overseas for [insert your favorite holiday, occasion or other reason, or return to your country for CP instead of AOS, etc].
 
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OK thx. I'll copy-paste material helpful for beginners so it'd be easy for them.
=========================================================
Before the "what does [insert abbreviation here] mean?" questions, here they are...

AD - Approval Date (When your application was approved)
AOS - Adjustment of status
AOS - Affidavit of Support (Department of State definition, AOS means Affidavit of Support )
AP - Advance Parole (I-131): The authorization to travel outside the US while your adjustment of status(I-485) is pending
AR - Administrative Review
ASC – Application Support Center: offers fingerprinting services
BC - Birth Certificate
Bio - Biometrics (Digital photo, index finger FP and your digital signature. This is needed for the production of GC.
CBP - Customs and Border Protection
CP - Consular Processing
CPR - Conditional Permanent Resident
CR - conditional resident (visa category)
CWOP - Cancelled Without Prejudice
DCF - Direct Consular filing
DHS - Department of Homeland Security
DL - Drivers License
DMV - Department of Motor Vehicles
DO - District Office
DORA - Dallas Office Rapid Adjustment of Status
DOS - Department of State (aka State Department)
DPS - Department of Public Safety
EAC - Eastern Application Center
EAD - Employment Authorization Document (I-765, approval to work while waiting for AOS(I-485) Approval)
EB - employment based
EWI - entered without inspection
F1-F4 - family preference category
FB - family based
FP - Finger Print
GC - Green Card (evidence of LPR-ship)
ICE - Immigration and Customs Enforcement
INFOPASS - Is an online appointment so you can go to your DO if you have a doubt or want to know something about your case in person or to request your iEAD
INS - Immigration and Naturalization Service
ID - Interview Date
[B]IO - Immigration officer[/B]IR - immediate relative (visa category)
IRS - Internal Revenue Service (federal income tax agency)
LPR - Legal Permanent Resident (Green Card Holder)
LUD - Last Update Date on your on-line portfolio at USCIS website. It is the date when they last took action on your application, could be anything.
LOL - Laughing Out Loud
MSC - Missouri Service Center
NBC - National Benefit Center (is the one which process your forms initially)
ND - Notice Date (When USCIS notified you that they received your application)
NOA’s - Notice of Action is your receipt/letter that you received after you filed your forms indicates I-797C
NVC - National Visa Center
OP - Original Poster
OT - Off Topic
PCC - Police Clearance Certificate
PD - Priority Date
POE - Port of entry
RD - Receipt Date (When USCIS received your application)
RFE - Request for Evidence
RFI - Request for Initial Evidence
SC - Service Center (this is used with a prefix, eg CSC - California Service Center; MSC - Missouri Service Center (that is the address from where you will received your NOA's)
SSA - Social Security Administration
SSN - Social Security Number
USC - US Citizen
USCIS- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
WAC - Western Application Center
 
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I-130 is ALWAYS the first step towards getting a GC for a relative. Whether they are abroad or in the USA. Approval of this form gives a spouse K visa. On K-visa spouse enters into USA & then ADJUST STATUS using I-485.

I-485 is Status Adjustment Form, filed by people who are currently in the US,(e.g., when they enter with a K-1 or K-3 visa.).



However, in some instances, for people who are already in the USA, the preferred way is to file for I-130 and I-485 at the same time, that way both are approved concurrently and you do not have to wait 4-6 months for the I-130 to be approved and then file I-485.


While Adjustment of Status(I-485) is pending, spouse needs I-131(Advanced Parole=AP) to go out of USA & needs I-765(EAD) to work in USA.
However,Those who are authorized to work based on their nonimmigrant status (e.g. H-1B, L-1) can continue to work in their status without EAD, as long as their status has not expired, if they so wish. And, certain nonimmigrant categories (H, L, V, K1/K3) can enter on a valid visa in their category instead of using AP.

==============================================
Links for "New to Immigration" ppl in 1st post of this thread:-
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=188386
==============================================
 
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maniadoc said:
I-130 is ALWAYS the first step towards getting a GC for a relative. Whether they are abroad or in the USA. Approval of this form gives a spouse K visa. On K-visa spouse enters into USA & then ADJUST STATUS using I-485.

I-485 is Status Adjustment Form, filed by people who are currently in the US,(e.g., when they enter with a K-1 or K-3 visa.)

Person on NON-immigrant visa can't apply for status adjustment.

However, in some instances, for people who are already in the USA, the preferred way is to file for I-130 and I-485 at the same time, that way both are approved concurrently and you do not have to wait 4-6 months for the I-130 to be approved and then file I-485.
Click to expand...


This is wrong; almost all of the nonimmigrant visas are adjustable.
 
maniacdoc, to clarify, persons in nonimmigrant "status" can very well apply for AOS to permanent residency ... after all, they have be to nonimmigrants before they can become immigrants!

However, persons who enter the US with the intent to adjust status (immigrant intent) cannot enter using certain nonimmigrant visas (e.g. B1/B2, F-1) that require nonimmigrant intent. Entry using certain visas allowing dual intent (e.g. H-1B, L-1, K-1/K-3) is permissible. Entry using VWP is not permissible for someone with immigrant intent.
 
Maybe we need to take a step back, and clarify for newbies:

- "visa": what you enter the US with

- "status": what you have once you are inside the US
 
sk28 said:
This is wrong; almost all of the nonimmigrant visas are adjustable.
Click to expand...
OK i corrected that. Actually that was a copy-paste from other thread. I'm a newbie myself that's why i asked others to start explaining. I just tried to lay down a pettern helpful for beginners. :)
 
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maniadoc said:
While Adjustment of Status(I-485) is pending, spouse needs I-131(Advanced Parole=AP) to go out of USA & needs I-765(EAD) to work in USA.
Click to expand...

Those who are authorized to work based on their nonimmigrant status (e.g. H-1B, L-1) can continue to work in their status without EAD, as long as their status has not expired, if they so wish. And, certain nonimmigrant categories (H, L, V, K1/K3) can enter on a valid visa in their category instead of using AP.

[You can use my words freely as you wish in this thread in order to make it more informative!]
 
Advertising on numerrous occasions

BBQ,

Please refrain from advertsing any material. I will edit your post since on several occasions you have mentioned a book even mentioned in your signature. Users come here to get direct help from other users and we should keep it ths way. However you're welcome to refer to previously posted threads like in this case. Have a great day :)
 
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