I just got my greencard and would like to report back to Wenxuecity 各位大侠 and friends
1. Overall Info: EB1b to NSC: I140 submitted in Apr-2009, approved in Sep-2009; I485 submitted in Oct-2009 and approved in Dec-2009.
2. Major Step List:
10/21/2008: Hired a lawyer and started to collect information (Wenxuecity resources/friends).
Got checklist and started preparation (research summary, support letters, publications, citation collection, paper review records, award/patent records…).
2/14/2009: Submitted research summary and support letters to get lawyer’s opinion.
3/6/2009: Got completed I-140 form from lawyer to review; wrote check ($475.00) to UCINS.
3/21/2009: Submitted employer completed I-140 form and employment letter to lawyer; doc recheck and assembly in lawyer’s office.
4/01/2009: Lawyer filed I-140 package.
4/08/2009: Got Receipt Notice (USCIS Received Date, Notice Date and Priority Date: 04/07/2009).
4/08/2009: USINS cashed check.
9/08/2009: I-140 approved.
9/26/2009: Submitted medical exam forms, photos, and other supporting docs to lawyer.
9/30/2009: Submitted updated employment letter to lawyer; checked all forms (I-485, G-325A, I-765, I-131…) and fixed errors. Wrote checks to USCIS.
10/04/2009: Lawyer filed I-485 package by express.
10/08/2009: Got Receipt Notice (USINS Received Date: 10/06/2009, Notice Date: 10/07/2009).
10/08/2009: USINS cashed check.
10/19/2009: Biometrics ASC Appointment (figure print) notice issued.
11/03/2009: Approved travel docs (I-512L) issued.
11/04/2009: Approved EAD issued.
11/05/2009: Biometrics done.
12/01/2009: Received RFE regarding missed vaccination.
12/03/2009: Submitted updated medical exam form with added vaccination record.
12/04/2009: USINS received updated medical exam form with added vaccination record.
12/10/2009: I-485 approved.
12/15/2009: I-485 approvals received.
12/18/2009: Physical cards received.
3. My experiences/lessons from my greencard process are:
(1) Get stared as soon as possible;
(2) Get a checklist to facilitate preparation (a checklist makes a big task simpler and much easier to handle);
(3) Get some sample/template documents to start with doc/info preparation;
(4) Having a lawyer helps have a peace of mind. However, it is still the applicant’s job to take charge of everything and especially check that all the forms are OK before submitting, regardless of how the lawyers say/claim about the form completions.
非常感激Wenxuecity 各位大侠 and friends. Happy holidays and best wishes for the coming new year!
WaiHang