F-1 student applying for gc through marriage
Hi everybody!
It s really helpful website.. Thank you all in advance for your help..
i just got married with us citizen and i am about to apply for gc. My visa is expired already, i am staying in us with I-20 but it will be expired next month and after i will be on grace period for 2 months (finding a new school), so my question is that if we apply for gc right away, do i have to keep my I-20 valid or after applying, am i gonna be on grace period as well?
Once youve filed the necessary paperwork, you are allowed to stay while it is in process even after your I-20 has expired.
You have a few options
OPT you can use this route to get an EAD which increases your stay by one year. I cant remember if there is a fee, I did it in 2005. There are restrictions to filing this after graduation you may want to speak to you foreign student advisor. Also you can only do it once per degree level e.g. Baccalaureate, masters, phd.
Best to start your paper work soon as possible if you have all the relevant documents. Once they are in you wont be considered as out of status. Filing too late has its disadvantages with travel, if you file post 180 days after being out of status you will be barred from re-entry if you decide to leave the country even with a advanced parole document (AP) this bar can go up to 10 years.
I have one more question. after i do all my paperwork and send them, how long does it take to get a respond from immigration? and will that respond allow me to stay in us without I-20?