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Aug 1, 2019
August Visa Bulletin Dates Published
Relevant for spouses of Green Card holders
Good news for green card holders’ spouses – the waiting time is still zero! For the month of July, the Department of State visa bullet’s final action date will remain “current”. What this means is as soon as you file your second submission, the U.S. government will start processing it without further waiting.
If you are a green card holder’s spouse applying from within the U.S., you can submit your Form I-485 as soon as you receive the I-130 approval notice (usually received within 2 weeks after filing I-130).
If you are a green card holder’s spouse applying from overseas, and you filed I-130 before March 8, 2019, you will soon receive a welcome letter from the U.S. National Visa Center about filing DS-60, DS-61 and I-864.
Source: USCIS, Department of State
That's it for now - more news next week! In the meantime, try out our awesome marriage green card application software. 👍
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Week of Jun 30, 2019
Form I-485 Expires Today
Relevant for applicants in the U.S.
The current Form I-485 version (the edition date “12/13/17” is labeled on the bottom of the form) expires today. But since USCIS has not published a new form, it is ok to use the expired version for now. See more details on this topic in our previous newsletter.
GreenCardHero is closely monitoring this event, and will update the I-485 form edition in our software as soon as the new edition becomes available. We will let you know.
Source: USCIS
July Visa Bulletin Dates Published
Relevant for spouses of Green Card holders
Good news for green card holders’ spouses – the waiting time has just gotten shorter! For the month of July, the Department of State visa bullet’s final action date will be “current”. What this means is as soon as you file your second submission, the U.S. government will start processing it without further waiting.
If you are a green card holder’s spouse applying from within the U.S., you can submit your Form I-485 as soon as you receive the I-130 approval notice (usually received within 2 weeks after filing I-130).
If you are a green card holder’s spouse applying from overseas, and you filed I-130 before March 8, 2019, you will soon receive a welcome letter from the U.S. National Visa Center about filing DS-60, DS-61 and I-864.
Source: USCIS, Department of State
That's it for now - more news next week! In the meantime, try out our awesome marriage green card application software. 👍
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6/26/2019
The current Form I-485 version (the edition date “12/13/17” is labeled on the bottom of the form) is expiring on 6/30/2019. If you are filing I-485 before 6/30, you can safely use the current version.
If you are filing I-485 after 6/30, you may file using the 12/13/17 edition until USCIS publishes a new version. USCIS has not announced when it will publish the new Form I-485 – it may be in a few days or in a few months (For your reference, last year Form I-130 expired in July 2018, and USCIS did not publish a new version until March, 2019. During the 7 months in between, USCIS accepted the expired I-130.)
To ensure you file the correct edition, double check the “Edition Date” section of the USCIS I-485 page right before you file.
GreenCardHero is closely monitoring this event, and will update the I-485 form edition in our software as soon as the new edition becomes available.
That's it for now - more news next week! In the meantime, try out our awesome marriage green card application software. 👍
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Week of Jun 23, 2019
USCIS Aims to Decrease Processing Time for I-485
Relevant for applicants in the U.S.
Relevant for applicants in the U.S.
The wait time for Form I-485 has almost doubled since 2016. To make it worse, some USCIS offices are moving much slower than others. (e.g. 22-month processing time in San Fernando, CA vs. 17 months in Charlotte, NC).
USCIS plans to fix this by shifting I-485 applications from slower offices to faster offices.
As a result, your I-485 wait time is likely to speed up, but some applicants’ green card interview may get scheduled at USCIS offices further away from home. The price we pay for a shorter wait… (Note that your biometrics appointment will still be scheduled at the location nearest to you, so that’s the good news. 🙂)
When you receive the green card interview notice from USCIS, read carefully where the interview location is.
Source: USCIS
USCIS to Increase Affidavit of Support (I-864) Enforcement
Relevant for all applicants
Relevant for all applicants
USCIS will be on a closer watch of green card holders who take public welfare.
Most marriage green card applicants are required to submit an affidavit of support (Form I-864) as part of their application. This affidavit of support prohibits the applicant from receiving U.S. public welfare after he/she receives a green card. President Trumps has recently issued a memorandum to increasing the enforcement of this law.
To avoid violating this law, make sure the applicant does not receive any federal means-tested public benefits after receiving a green card.
One more thing to note: If the applicant’s sponsor moves to a new address after having submitted Form I-864, remember to submit to USCIS Form I-865, Sponsors Notice of Change of Address.
Source: USCIS
That's it for now - more news next week! In the meantime, try out our awesome marriage green card application software. 👍