Change of Immigrant status from F1student visa because of marriage

12-05-2006, 12:46 PM

Hello,
I am from the Czech republic and I have been in the U.S. for 7 years
(PhD program) on a student F1 visa. I got married to a US citizen this
September and my student visa runs out in May 2007. I would like to
apply for permanent residency and I am not sure how to go about it. I
also have one big concern, I need to be able to travel to my home
country because of my family and I was told that once you are in the
immigration process you can't travel or you can apply for a travel
document but it is very hard to get. Does anyone know anything about
this? Where do I apply for the change of status and how does it work? I
have read a bunch of websites and I am thoroughly confused.
Thank yoU!

12-05-2006, 02:26 PM

> Hello,
> I am from the Czech republic and I have been in the U.S. for 7 years
> (PhD program) on a student F1 visa. I got married to a US citizen this
> September and my student visa runs out in May 2007. I would like to
> apply for permanent residency and I am not sure how to go about it. I
> also have one big concern, I need to be able to travel to my home
> country because of my family and I was told that once you are in the
> immigration process you can't travel or you can apply for a travel
> document but it is very hard to get. Does anyone know anything about
> this? Where do I apply for the change of status and how does it work?
> I
> have read a bunch of websites and I am thoroughly confused.
> Thank yoU!

Which websites did you read? What confuses you? If you go to
www.uscis.gov, and find the area which describes how to become a
permenant resident, that should tell you what forms to fill out. Or, if
you're really confused, you might want to have a 1-time consultation
with an immigration attorney, just to get you going in the right
direction.

Very basically, it's forms I-130, I-485, I-765 (if you want to work),
and I-131 (if you want to travel). You'll also need a full medical done
by an USCIS approved civil surgeon. This all gets sent to the Chicago
lockbox address, and eventually you'll get an interview at your local
district office.

Among the forms you will submit for AOS (adjustment of status), will be
form I-131, Advance Parole. This is the travel document. It comes in
the mail about 2 months after you apply, and is good for 1 year. This
gives you permission to return to the USA after a trip outside the USA.
If you have any previous overstay issues, though, don't use it.

Best Wishes,
Rene

12-05-2006, 03:43 PM

Danka wrote:
> Hello,
> I am from the Czech republic and I have been in the U.S. for 7 years
> (PhD program) on a student F1 visa. I got married to a US citizen this
> September and my student visa runs out in May 2007. I would like to
> apply for permanent residency and I am not sure how to go about it. I
> also have one big concern, I need to be able to travel to my home
> country because of my family and I was told that once you are in the
> immigration process you can't travel or you can apply for a travel
> document but it is very hard to get. Does anyone know anything about
> this? Where do I apply for the change of status and how does it work? I
> have read a bunch of websites and I am thoroughly confused.
> Thank yoU!
>

Did you look here?
http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...ypes_2991.html
You do not apply. Your spouse does.
When you apply for the change of status you also apply for permission to
travel (AP). From what I've read lately it takes a few months for that.
Note that even with AP nothing is for sure. Look around on the
Department of State site as well as the USCIS site
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/

12-05-2006, 04:20 PM

> Danka wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I am from the Czech republic and I have been in the U.S. for 7 years
> > (PhD program) on a student F1 visa. I got married to a US citizen
> > this
> > September and my student visa runs out in May 2007. I would like to
> > apply for permanent residency and I am not sure how to go about it.
> > I
> > also have one big concern, I need to be able to travel to my home
> > country because of my family and I was told that once you are in the
> > immigration process you can't travel or you can apply for a travel
> > document but it is very hard to get. Does anyone know anything about
> > this? Where do I apply for the change of status and how does it
> > work? I
> > have read a bunch of websites and I am thoroughly confused.
> > Thank yoU!
> >
>
> Did you look here?
> http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...ypes_2991.html
> You do not apply. Your spouse does.
> When you apply for the change of status you also apply for permission
> to
> travel (AP). From what I've read lately it takes a few months for
> that.
> Note that even with AP nothing is for sure. Look around on the
> Department of State site as well as the USCIS site
> http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/

I would say they actually both apply. The USC fills out the I-130, and
the immigrant fills out the I-485, I-765, and I-131. They both fill out
the backup paperwork accordingly.

Rene

12-05-2006, 06:35 PM

> Hello,
> I am from the Czech republic and I have been in the U.S. for 7 years
> (PhD program) on a student F1 visa. I got married to a US citizen this
> September and my student visa runs out in May 2007. I would like to
> apply for permanent residency and I am not sure how to go about it. I
> also have one big concern, I need to be able to travel to my home
> country because of my family and I was told that once you are in the
> immigration process you can't travel or you can apply for a travel
> document but it is very hard to get. Does anyone know anything about
> this? Where do I apply for the change of status and how does it work?
> I
> have read a bunch of websites and I am thoroughly confused.
> Thank yoU!

Don't you interface with the International Student people at your
school? I'd think that would be a good place to start gathering info.

But it's not true that you can not travel. You might need to be
selective about your timing, but the travel document isn't hard to get.

12-06-2006, 06:48 PM

Thank you. d

On Dec 5, 2:35 pm, meauxna <member1851@british_expats.com> wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I am from the Czech republic and I have been in the U.S. for 7 years
> > (PhD program) on a student F1 visa. I got married to a US citizen this
> > September and my student visa runs out in May 2007. I would like to
> > apply for permanent residency and I am not sure how to go about it. I
> > also have one big concern, I need to be able to travel to my home
> > country because of my family and I was told that once you are in the
> > immigration process you can't travel or you can apply for a travel
> > document but it is very hard to get. Does anyone know anything about
> > this? Where do I apply for the change of status and how does it work?
> > I
> > have read a bunch of websites and I am thoroughly confused.
> > Thank yoU!Don't you interface with the International Student people at your
> school? I'd think that would be a good place to start gathering info.
>
> But it's not true that you can not travel. You might need to be
> selective about your timing, but the travel document isn't hard to get.
>
> --
> Posted viahttp://britishexpats.com

12-06-2006, 06:49 PM

Thanks for all the feedback.
d

On Dec 5, 11:43 am, "Capt. Tuttle" <Tut...@mash.4077> wrote:
> Danka wrote:
> > Hello,
> > I am from the Czech republic and I have been in the U.S. for 7 years
> > (PhD program) on a student F1 visa. I got married to a US citizen this
> > September and my student visa runs out in May 2007. I would like to
> > apply for permanent residency and I am not sure how to go about it. I
> > also have one big concern, I need to be able to travel to my home
> > country because of my family and I was told that once you are in the
> > immigration process you can't travel or you can apply for a travel
> > document but it is very hard to get. Does anyone know anything about
> > this? Where do I apply for the change of status and how does it work? I
> > have read a bunch of websites and I am thoroughly confused.
> > Thank yoU!Did you look here?http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigra...ypes_2991.html
> You do not apply. Your spouse does.
> When you apply for the change of status you also apply for permission to
> travel (AP). From what I've read lately it takes a few months for that.
> Note that even with AP nothing is for sure. Look around on the
> Department of State site as well as the USCIS sitehttp://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/