Hello to everyone!
I found myself in an unusual and complicated situation. I graduated from an American college on the 22nd of May 2005. Unfortunately my application for OPT was denied, because the school officials preparing my documents were unaware of the changed deadlines for filing my application. I and several other international students were denied the chance to have an OPT due to late arrival of our documents (2 days after graduation date) in the INS offices. At that point girlfriend and I decided to get married in order to stay together. We discussed our marriage for a while before this incident happened, but my problems forced us to take this serious step a little bit earlier. We got married on the 13th of August 2005. After the ceremony I did not have the financial resources to pay the administrative fees required by INS. Now, finally, I am able to cover them, but cannot afford an attorney to take my case. Please help me with the following questions:
1. My wife is currently in college and my father in-law will provide the financial support needed by INS to approve my application. I have acquired his last three tax statements. What forms do I need to file these documents? Do I need anything any additional info?
2. Can someone please provide me with a step by step guide for the green card application process that I have to follow? I feel lost with all the forms and the way they should be filed. What forms exactly do I need in first place?
3. I have an F-1 visa until 2007. Now, since I have graduated from college and was denied my OPT, is the VISA still active? Am I illegal in the country and if so, is that going to change the application process? Do I need to use the help of an attorney?
4. Is there any webpage from where I can download sample completed forms where I can receive better information how to file my documents?
5. My official residency is FL and my wife is from Texas, is that going to change the location where we need to send my application?
6. I just passed my medical examination, do I need to apply the sealed envelope with my documents and do I need any additional forms for it?
Thank you for your help!
I found myself in an unusual and complicated situation. I graduated from an American college on the 22nd of May 2005. Unfortunately my application for OPT was denied, because the school officials preparing my documents were unaware of the changed deadlines for filing my application. I and several other international students were denied the chance to have an OPT due to late arrival of our documents (2 days after graduation date) in the INS offices. At that point girlfriend and I decided to get married in order to stay together. We discussed our marriage for a while before this incident happened, but my problems forced us to take this serious step a little bit earlier. We got married on the 13th of August 2005. After the ceremony I did not have the financial resources to pay the administrative fees required by INS. Now, finally, I am able to cover them, but cannot afford an attorney to take my case. Please help me with the following questions:
1. My wife is currently in college and my father in-law will provide the financial support needed by INS to approve my application. I have acquired his last three tax statements. What forms do I need to file these documents? Do I need anything any additional info?
2. Can someone please provide me with a step by step guide for the green card application process that I have to follow? I feel lost with all the forms and the way they should be filed. What forms exactly do I need in first place?
3. I have an F-1 visa until 2007. Now, since I have graduated from college and was denied my OPT, is the VISA still active? Am I illegal in the country and if so, is that going to change the application process? Do I need to use the help of an attorney?
4. Is there any webpage from where I can download sample completed forms where I can receive better information how to file my documents?
5. My official residency is FL and my wife is from Texas, is that going to change the location where we need to send my application?
6. I just passed my medical examination, do I need to apply the sealed envelope with my documents and do I need any additional forms for it?
Thank you for your help!