Thank you js360! I have tickets for a trip to India in december. I did not apply for AP because I have read in many posts that the fact that I have been out of status could risk my re-entry to the country. Where can I get accurate information on that? I was out of status and stayed out of status for a looooong time before I applied for my AOS.
P.S. I was hoping to get the G.C. (and not need the AP) faster...
If you are out of status for over 6 months and leave the US as a non LPR, you get a 3-year bar for reentry. If you are out of status for over 12 months and leave the US as a non-LPR, you get a 10-year bar for reentry.
Neither a green card, nor anything short of a USCIS waiver (difficult to get) can remove these bars.
Just note that these bars trigger upon "leaving the US as a non-LPR". This is the status you would be if you left on AP. You're pretty much stuck, you'll have to wait for LPR status before leaving (eg: possibly cancel your trip) if you want your GC.
It's a standard penalty for overstaying. Marriage is one of the few things that automatically waives it, but not until the GC process is complete.
If you have a personal emergency and can't avoid cancelling your trip, you'll have to apply for the USCIS waiver described above. Cases have been approved based on extreme hardship on the USC not having their spouse(you) present, but it can take years and requires a good lawyer.
Google for the "Immigration and Naturalization Act", and go to section 212(a)(9)(B) for the specific text of the law.
-ML
K1 -> I-485 -> I-751 -> N-400
Filing I-130/I-485 for parent:
DO: Santa Ana / SC: California Service Center
5/13/08 - Parent I-130/I-485/I-765/I-131 mailed to Chicago Lockbox
5/22/08 - checks cashed, receipt numbers from Missouri MSC (NBC)
5/25/08 - Notice dates for all notices
5/29/08 - LUD I-130/I-485/I-765/I-131 (received and pending at NBC)
6/07/08 - Fingerprint appointment letter received
6/12/08 - Fingerprint appointment date
6/12/08 - LUD I-485/I-765 (no change, still received and pending at NBC)
7/29/08 - LUD I-485 - RFE sent out, case on hold
7/30/08 - LUD I-485 (no change, still on hold for RFE)
8/04/08 - RFE received, request for tax return, 87 days to respond
8/05/08 - Sent RFE response to NBC (regular mail)
8/14/08 - LUD I-485 (RFE received, case processing has resumed)
8/15/08 - LUD I-485 (no change, still case processing resumed)