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Concurrent I-130 / I-485 Discussion Forum
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Attorney fees

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Posted by ragscoke (5) 07 Feb 2010
I am getting married to a USC next week and am planning to file I-130, I-485, I-131 and I-765 soon after. I'm looking to file through an attorney. I've called a few attorneys and asked around for their fees. I've been quoted anywhere from $1000 to $3500. Some attorneys want me to pay upto $250 for a "consultation session" before they can tell me what their fees are. I wanted to know what others experiences in this regard and maybe some suggestions. I live in the Atlanta area.
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Posted by chddoyle (16) 09 Feb 2010
I did it on my own. There is a lot of guidance available on this website, infact a member had posted his cover letter which I used as a check list of things for own application package. I did not receive an RFE and just got approved today. Helps to be thorough and organized. The forms are pretty straight forward. But if you are not comfortable handling the paperwork, which is quite understandable, maybe attorney is a better way to go.
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Posted by ragscoke (5) 10 Feb 2010
to chddoyle:

Can you point me to the link with the cover letter and check list?
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Posted by chddoyle (16) 10 Feb 2010
Here's the copy of the other member's letter that he had posted online and I had saved for my own reference (can't remember what thread it was under)

Sir/Madam,
This Application package is in Connection to Adjustment of Status based on marriage to US Citizen. This package of application contains following Forms and supporting documents as mention in the Checklist below

1. Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative
a. Copy of Birth Certificate of Petitioner (My Wife)
b. Copy of Passport of Petitioner (My Wife)
c. Copy of Marriage Certificate
d. A passport Style photo of Petitioner and The Intending Immigrant
e. Copy of Apartment lease (evidences to bona fides marriage)

2. Form G-325A Biographic Information, printed on Color Coded paper, Both for Petitioner and The Intending Immigrant

3. Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
a. Copy of Birth Certificate of the Intending Immigrant
b. Copy of Passport with the US Visa Page of Intending Immigrant
c. Two Color Photo of the Intending Immigrant

4. Form I-864 Affidavit of Support
a. 1040A U.S Individual Income Tax Return
b. W-2 for the most Recent Year
c. Pay stubs for last 3 month and check amt record for last 6 months

5. Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
a. Copy of my OPT Card
b. Two passport sized photo

6. Form I-131 Application for Travel Document

7. Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.





ORIGINAL SUBMISSION: FORM I-485 & concurrent filing of FORM I-130

DATE

UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

NATURE OF SUBMISSION: IMMEDIATE RELATIVE (SPOUSE) FAMILY BASED ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS APPLICATION with a concurrent I-130 filing

Petitioner: XXXXX XXXXXXXX YOUR SSN: XXX-XXX-XXX
Beneficiary: XXXXX XXXXXXX(Your Spouses name)

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Please find enclosed:
A.I-130 Package, including payment, and all supporting documents and evidence:
a. Completed I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
b. G-325A Biographic Information – Petitioner
c. G-325A Biographic Information – Intending Immigrant
B.I-485 Package including payment, and required forms, supporting documents and evidence:
a. I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status
b. I-864 Affidavit of Support
c. I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
d. I-131 Application for Travel Document
e. I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record
f. G-325A Biographic Information – Foreign Applicant

My eligibility to apply is based on my marriage to XXXXX XXXXXX, a US Citizen, on XXXXXXX xx, 2009. Consequently this application is being submitted with a concurrent filing of Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents. Should you need more information in reviewing our case, please contact us at the below address.

Sincerely,


.............................. ...........................................
YOUR SPOUSE NAME YOUR NAME
YOUR ADDRESS YOUR ADDRESS

............................. .......................................
Date Date

Then for each package, I added a detailed cover letter, outlining what is in each package. Let me know if you're interested in a copy of those as well. I hope this helps.


Here is the i130 cover letter. I apologize for the long post, but I cant find a way to attach the letters. This is signed by you as the petitioner:

(WRITE THIS AT THE TOP OF THIS COVER LETTER)
ORIGINAL SUBMISSION: I-130 PETITION FOR ALIEN RELATIVE

DATE

UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

Petitioner: YOUR NAME (US CITIZEN) SSN: YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
Beneficiary: YOUR SPOUSE NAME (Spouse)

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Please find enclosed form I-130 and supporting documentation. I am filing this petition for my husband, XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX. Subsequently, this application is being submitted with a concurrent filing of Form I-485 Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.I-130 -
a. Payment: Personal Check in the amount of $355 made payable to US Department of Homeland Security
b. Application: Completed Form I-130
c. Copy of Petitioners US Birth Certificate
d. Copy of all pages of the Petitioner’s US Passport
e. Copy of the Beneficiary’s Birth Certificate
f. Copy of the Beneficiary’s Foreign Passport, including
i. Biographical page
ii. Non-immigrant Visa
iii. Valid I-94 Form (front and back)
g. Copy of Marriage Certificate
h. Copy of Divorce Decree for Beneficiary (IF APPLICABLE)
i. One passport style photo of the Petitioner
j. One passport style photo of the Beneficiary
2.G-325A Biographic Information
a. Completed form for Petitioner
b. Completed form for Beneficiary
3. Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage
a. LIST YOUR EVIDENCE HERE
b.

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents. Should you need more information in reviewing our case, please contact us at the below address.

Sincerely,

YOUR NAME DATE
YOUR ADDRESS


And here is the I-485 cover letter. REmember, your spouse becomes the petitioner on the I485, so he would sign this letter:

(WRITE THIS AT THE TOP OF YOUR COVER LETTER):
ORIGINAL SUBMISSION: I-485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR CHANGE STATUS

DATE

UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

NATURE OF SUBMISSION: IMMEDIATE RELATIVE (SPOUSE) FAMILY BASED ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS APPLICATION with a concurrent I-130 filing

Petitioner: YOUR SPOUSE NAME (Spouse) SSN/A#: None
Sponsor: YOUR NAME SSN/A#: YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Please find enclosed form I-485 and supporting documentation, as well as forms I-765 and I-131, and all supporting documentation and evidence required.

Subsequently, this application is being submitted with a concurrent filing of Form I-130 Petition for Alien Relative.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.I-485 -
a.Payment: Personal Check in the amount of $1,010 made payable to US Department of Homeland Security. This includes Biometric Fee
b.Application: Completed Form I-485
c.Copy of the Petitioner’s Foreign Birth Certificate
d.Copy of the Petitioner’s Foreign Passport, including
i.Biographical page
ii.Non-immigrant Visa
iii. Valid I-94 Form (front and back)
e. Two passport style photos of the Petitioner
f. Copy of Marriage Certificate
g. Form I-693 Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record – for the Petitioner
h. Form G-325A Biographic Information – for the Petitioner
i. Form I-864 Affidavit of Support, prepared and signed by Sponsor, with additional required supporting documents:
i. Copy of Sponsor’s Passport, including biographical page
ii. Copy of Tax Returns or Transcripts for Tax Years 200X, 200X, and 200X (SEND AT LEAST THE LAST THREE YEARS)
iii. Copy of Sponsor’s 2008 W2 AND 2008 Tax Returns or Tax Transcripts
iv. Letter of Employment for Sponsor
v. Pay Stubs for the last 6 months of 2008

2.FORM I-765 APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION
a. Application: Completed Form I-765
b. Copy of the Petitioner’s Foreign Passport, including
i. Biographical page
ii. Non-immigrant Visa
iii. Valid I-94 Form (front and back)
c. Two passport style photos of the Petitioner

3.FORM I-131 APPLICATION FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENT
a. Explanation of Eligibility letter to travel
b. Copy of the Petitioner’s Foreign Passport, including
i. Biographical page
ii. Non-immigrant Visa
iii. Valid I-94 Form (front and back)
c. Two passport style photos of the Petitioner

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents. Should you need more information in reviewing our case, please contact us at the below address.

Sincerely,

YOUR SPOUSES NAME
YOUR ADDRESS

Date



ORIGINAL SUBMISSION: I-131 APPLICATION FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
(filed with I-485 Application To Register Permanent Residence or Change Status)

NATURE OF SUBMISSION: IMMEDIATE RELATIVE (SPOUSE) FAMILY BASED ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS APPLICATION with a concurrent I-130 filing

DATE

UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
P.O. Box 805887
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

Petitioner: XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXX

RE: Explanation of Eligibility to Travel

To Whom It May Concern:

I am applying for advance parole travel documents for the ability to travel to (ENTER COUNTRY MOST LIKELY TO VISIT, SUCH AS SPOUSE HOME COUNTRY) in case of a family emergency while my adjustment of status application is pending.

Should you have any questions, or need additional information, I may be contacted at the address below.

Sincerely,

____________________________
SPOUSE NAME
SPOUSE ADDRESS
_______________________
Date
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