Website Q & A - December 11, 2007Effect of Filing an I-485 Adjustment of Status Application When the Priority Date is Not CurrentDear Mr. Lee, I have come to the United States four times, three times legally
and the fourth time illegally in 2003. I got married and my wife,
a green card holder, applied for my immigration through an immigration
consultant on October 2, 2003. The petition was approved in September
2005. The consultant said that I could adjust my status because
my father who has since passed away applied for me in 1997. So we
filed my adjustment of status papers with the U.S.C.I.S. in November
2005 and paid the $1,000 fine. To this date, we have not heard anything
other than getting the fee receipts. We wonder if you can take over
our case to get it moving. Dear reader: Unfortunately there is nothing to be done at the present time. Your consultant is obviously not tremendously conversant with the immigration laws as the visa bulletin for October 2007 shows that applicants who filed under your category before November 15, 2002, are only now eligible to file adjustment of status applications. Your I-485 adjustment of status filing in 2005 was absolutely incorrect as there was no visa availability - which is required for an I-485 filing. U.S.C.I.S. unfortunately took the money instead of rejecting and returning the application as it should have. You will not be able to obtain a refund from U.S.C.I.S. as it is very miserly in refunding the fees. You will have to wait until the priority date clears or your wife becomes a U.S. citizen before you can refile the I-485 papers. If you wish me to represent you in the I-485 filing, kindly call for an appointment when your priority date is within striking range on the visa bulletin (within 60 days).
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Copyright © 2003-2012 Alan Lee,
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