Hi, I'm new to the forum but have been looking around from time to time.
Heres some quick background info:
I came to the US legally about 10 years ago, under my parents (I believe my dad had some type of worker visa). However, around 5 years ago, our lawyer missed the deadline to renew our visas, leaving us as illegal immigrants. After struggling to find a way of regaining our legal status through various methods (forms, petitions, etc), we finally received the I-485 fingerprint notice recently. (I believe we went through PERM). Well after getting fingerprinted this morning (which went pretty smoothly
), regaining our status seems a lot more hopeful, but I had some questions. (Sorry if some of them are commonly known, as I'm still not completely familiar with the processes)
1) What's the timeline after getting fingerprinted, until we receive our green cards? (steps, forms, approvals, etc.) Our lawyer said in about a month or two we will receive some temporary status, which I can obtain a driver's license with.
2) When (at which step) would I have regained my legal status? (I will be 21 in about half a year, which means I'll no longer be filed under my parents, but as a separate adult. Then I'll REALLY have no way of regaining status.
)
3) What documents would I need in order to obtain a CA driver's license? Awhile back I went to the dmv with a I-797 but they said I need a I-94 card (I don't know if the I-94 is still pertinent since we are going through I-485). I DO have my SSN and Alien number, but will the dmv accept the I-485 fingerprint notice with the Alien number?
Sorry these are alot of questions, but I realized that past experience of fellow members are much more valuable and reliable than just the "expectations" or "predictions" of a lawyer. Pleaaaase advise with any information that might help. Thankks
Heres some quick background info:
I came to the US legally about 10 years ago, under my parents (I believe my dad had some type of worker visa). However, around 5 years ago, our lawyer missed the deadline to renew our visas, leaving us as illegal immigrants. After struggling to find a way of regaining our legal status through various methods (forms, petitions, etc), we finally received the I-485 fingerprint notice recently. (I believe we went through PERM). Well after getting fingerprinted this morning (which went pretty smoothly
), regaining our status seems a lot more hopeful, but I had some questions. (Sorry if some of them are commonly known, as I'm still not completely familiar with the processes)1) What's the timeline after getting fingerprinted, until we receive our green cards? (steps, forms, approvals, etc.) Our lawyer said in about a month or two we will receive some temporary status, which I can obtain a driver's license with.
2) When (at which step) would I have regained my legal status? (I will be 21 in about half a year, which means I'll no longer be filed under my parents, but as a separate adult. Then I'll REALLY have no way of regaining status.
)3) What documents would I need in order to obtain a CA driver's license? Awhile back I went to the dmv with a I-797 but they said I need a I-94 card (I don't know if the I-94 is still pertinent since we are going through I-485). I DO have my SSN and Alien number, but will the dmv accept the I-485 fingerprint notice with the Alien number?
Sorry these are alot of questions, but I realized that past experience of fellow members are much more valuable and reliable than just the "expectations" or "predictions" of a lawyer. Pleaaaase advise with any information that might help. Thankks