CASE: I-130 / I-485 Adjustment of Status
NATIONALITY: Filipina
LOCATION: Estill, SC
Our client came from the Philippines on a J-1 in August 2015 to work as a public school teacher in South Carolina. She was subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement. After her authorized stay period expired, has remained in the United States.
In May 2018, she got married her U.S. citizen husband and later on consulted with our firm for her J-1 visa waiver s. If someone is subject to the two-year foreign residency requirement, he or she cannot get a green card in the United States until he or she fulfills the requirement or obtains a waiver.
Upon retention, our office prepared the waiver application. On September 13, 2019, the J-1 Waiver Application (Form DS-3035) was filed to the Department of State. On November 5, 2019, our office sent our client’s materials to the Waiver Review Committee in Manila, Philippines. They eventually forwarded the materials and favorable recommendation to the Philippine Embassy in D.C. who eventually issued a No Objection Statement.
On January 27, 2020, the Waiver Review Division issued a favorable recommendation based on the No Objection statement. Eventually, on February 3, 2020, the USCIS issued an I-612 approval notice for the waiver.
Once her J-1 waiver was approved, our client retained our office again for her adjustment of status application. Our firm prepared and filed the I-130 Petition and I-485 Adjustment of Status Application on April 6, 2020. Everything went smoothly and the receipt notices, fingerprint appointment, and work permits all came on time. Prior to the interview, we thoroughly prepared our clients through conference calls. On January 25, 2021, our client was interviewed at the Charleston, SC USCIS office. The interview went well, and eventually, on the same day of the interview, her green card application was approved.