Godie Faz
Nov 5, 2022
Immigration Court Journey to Green Card
I hope this one helps someone. I was in deportation proceedings in Immigration court. I got married to a US citizen. My field office is San Bernardino, CA and my immigration court was Santa Ana, CA.
My wife filed for I-130 with USCIS in June 2020, and it was approved in Feb 2021. The I-130 was approved with no interview.
My attorney advised to use the Immigration Court for Adjustment of Status. The main reason was because I already had a work authorization based on my case in court and if the case was to be withdrawn we would have had to apply for another work authorization based on the marriage application with the USCIS as the court work authorization would become useless 30 days after withdrawing the case. The work authorization based on marriage application take about 8 months to be approved and my job was very strict on having status. I would thus have been out of a job without work authorization as I waited for the approval.
We had an option to apply to court for the case to be terminated so that we use to USCIS to adjust status. But my attorney and I chose the court route.
Even though you are in immigration court, you first have to file i-485 with USCIS, then after fingerprints file everything again with the court. You pay the filing fee only to USCIS.
We filed I-485 with the USCIS in June 26 2021. Did fingerprints in July 2021, we then used the notice from USCIS to file to Immigration court the adjustment of status with the evidence, background check and Immigration physical, this we did in August 2021.
I was scheduled for Master hearing before a judge in Santa Ana in July 2022. During the master hearing I was not required to attend and it was conducted online with my attorney. During the master hearing, my attorney was given the final hearing when the Adjustment of Status will occur for Oct 12 2022.
I went for the court date in Oct 12, with my attorney and the I-485 was approved by the judge. He gave me the judgement to take to USCIS.
In court I was questioned by the government attorney in regards to my application. They did not separate us with my wife. The judge asked the government attorney if he wanted us separated and questioned separately but he said there was no need. My wife was not questioned at all. The judge chose not to ask us any questions but just approved the I-485.
I called after 3 business days the USCIS customer care number to book for an infopass appointment. The USCIS called me 5 days later and scheduled an appointment at my field office in San Bernardino, CA.
I went to the field office for my appointment, they asked for my ID and also the judgement from the court and gave me a form to fill on where I want the green card to be mailed to.
3 days later using the case number I had from USCIS given when I filled the I-485, I was able to see the card in a day went to it being produced and mailed a day after.
I wish everyone the best. Thank you
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gagandeep SinghNov 5, 2022
thanks for info and congratulations bro
Godie FazNov 5, 2022
I was there for an Asylum case. Nothing criminal.
Godie FazNov 5, 2022
Thank you gagandeep Singh
Victory VictoryNov 5, 2022
Congratulations 🎊
mi miNov 5, 2022
thank you so much for sharing 🙏🏽 this is exactly my case
Amen Amen Nov 5, 2022
congratulations thank God your lawyer knows the job not all lawyers know this stuff I must tell you but in all it’s being God by your side
AchAay AchAayNov 5, 2022
I’m in the same situation but the thing is my lawyer decided to pass by court for adjustment and after he tell me the judge terminate with my asylum case and know I have to wait for uscis to get an interview almost 11 months nothing
Merciful God🙏 Merciful GodNov 5, 2022
congratulations
texas plsNov 5, 2022
please can you share your lawyer contact.
Godie FazNov 5, 2022
My attorney was from Santa Monica, CA. I don't know if it's okay to put his name over here. But I can send it to you if I have a way.
texas plsNov 5, 2022
don't see anything wrong with putting his no, you are even doing him a favor by getting referrals for him.
🤚🤚🤚 benNov 5, 2022
I feel it was a mistake for me to terminate with the court. we thought Uscis it’s faster.. and no .
Godie FazNov 5, 2022
Thank you all, my attorney was Steven R Landaal. His offices are in Santa Monica, CA. It was great working with him.
AchAay AchAayNov 6, 2022
@Ben you’re right it’s a big mistake. I’m in same situation 😒
🤚🤚🤚 benNov 6, 2022
😢
Mohammed ImranNov 6, 2022
hey did you had i-94
Godie FazNov 7, 2022
Yes, I had an I-94
R KNov 8, 2022
.
Mohammed ImranNov 11, 2022
can I get lawyer office number so I can discuss my case. my case is also same as you. please email me at imran12345786@gmail.com
thank you so much
Mohammed ImranNov 11, 2022
did you get your i-131 advance parole ??
Godie FazNov 15, 2022
Hi Mohammed, my lawyer's name is Steven Landaal he is in Santa Monica, CA. His office phone number is (310) 395-2828.
Please call him.
I did not apply for advanced parole.
mi miNov 15, 2022
@Godie, what category based work authorization were you using to work?
Shaq KingNov 21, 2022
Thank you and congratulations!
Ernie ANov 23, 2022
I had a similar case but my Lawyer wouldn’t file the form I-485 cause she said she wanted the immigration court to terminate the deportation before she files I-485 with USCIS. We filed termination with the court and after 2yrs of waiting the finally approved it. So now my lawyer just filed the I-485 with USCIS and I’ve already gone for my fingerprint.
gagandeep SinghNov 23, 2022
did you I 130 approved when lawyer file for termination and why it’s took 2 years please explain thanks I have same case
Ernie ANov 23, 2022
Yes I had my I-130 approved, then the Lawyer filled to terminate the deportation based on the fact that I was married to an American and had 3 kids that are born here. I live in GA and the case was in NJ. They had to reopen my case and then file for the termination before I could file for I-485 but I guess the courts were slammed so it took almost 2yrs for the prosecutor to agree to terminate.
Godie FazNov 23, 2022
Am happy they terminated your case in Court, my lawyer advised me, that the court option could be faster than USCIS. I wish you the best as you pursue your greencard with USCIS.
sunny malikDec 15, 2022
@Godie faz in how many days you got greencard after judge approved?
Godie FazDec 22, 2022
Sunny Malik, after judge approved I had to contact USCIS to get an appointment and take the judgement to them. It took about 3 weeks to get the green card.
sunny malikDec 22, 2022
@Godie faz thank you so much and my last question what did they asked you question in court room whey they took interview??
Godie FazDec 26, 2022
@Sunny Malik, the government attorney did not separate us. My wife was not interviewed at all. The judge did not ask any question. Some questions asked by the government attorney are;
1. Did you marry your wife to avoid deportation?
2. Have you been arrested for any crime here in US.
3. What is your current job and how much do you earn.
4. After you get your permanent residence do you plan on being a US citizen?
5. Why would you like to be a US citizen?
It was an easy interview and it didn't take long.
