AOS, AP, EAD | AOS Checklist

(Adjustment of Status, Advance Parole, and Employment Authorization Document)

Initial stage

AOS applicant forwards the completed AOS questionnaire and supporting documentation to Jackson & Hertogs, along with Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP) request sheet.
E-mail notification sent to AOS applicant with list of Frequently Asked Questions and name of paralegal assigned to case.
Travel e-mail, as appropriate, sent to AOS applicant and HR Rep by paralegal.

Form preparation

Paralegal reviews questionnaire and supporting documentation and initiates the preparation of AOS forms. If necessary, foreign language documents are sent for translation, and additional supporting documentation is requested at this time.
If EAD and/or AP are requested, forms will be prepared simultaneously.
Application forms are forwarded to AOS applicant for signature. USCIS filing fees are requested from AOS applicant or sponsoring employer at this time (depending on sponsoring employer’s company policy).

Preparation for filing

AOS applicant returns signed forms with all requested documentation, along with filing fees (if applicable) to Jackson & Hertogs.
Paralegal reviews signed forms and supporting documentation. If necessary, amendments /corrections to forms are made at this time.
File application (Adjustment of Status, Advance Parole, and Employment Authorization Document)
Initial stage
AOS applicant forwards the completed AOS questionnaire and supporting documentation to Jackson & Hertogs, along with Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and Advance Parole (AP) request sheet.
E-mail notification sent to AOS applicant with list of Frequently Asked Questions and name of paralegal assigned to case.
Travel e-mail, as appropriate, sent to AOS applicant and HR Rep by paralegal.

File application

Once all forms, supporting documentation, and filing fees are complete and accurate, paralegal prepares application(s) for filing with USCIS Service Center.
Attorney performs final review and signs application forms.
Application(s) filed with USCIS Service Center. AOS applicant and sponsoring employer are mailed copies of Jackson & Hertogs’ cover letter to USCIS.

Receipt Notices

USCIS sends receipt notices for all applications directly to Jackson & Hertogs.
Jackson & Hertogs forwards the original receipt notices to AOS applicant and copies of receipt notices to sponsoring employer.
Fingerprint appointment
USCIS schedules Fingerprint Appointment and sends the original notification to AOS applicant and a courtesy copy to Jackson & Hertogs.
J&H e-mails notification of appointment date and time along with a memorandum addressing Frequently Asked Questions to AOS applicant and sponsoring employer.
AOS applicant completes fingerprinting at USCIS Application Support Center.

Fingerprint appointment

USCIS schedules Fingerprint Appointment and sends the original notification to AOS applicant and a courtesy copy to Jackson & Hertogs.
J&H e-mails notification of appointment date and time along with a memorandum addressing Frequently Asked Questions to AOS applicant and sponsoring employer.
AOS applicant completes fingerprinting at USCIS Application Support Center.

Approval Notices

Jackson & Hertogs requests that USCIS send approved EAD and AP documents directly to our office. Upon receipt, Jackson & Hertogs will forward the original approved EAD and AP documents to the AOS applicant and copies to the sponsoring employer.
Original AOS approval notice is sent directly to Jackson & Hertogs; a courtesy copy is sent to AOS applicant. Jackson & Hertogs sends AOS approval package to applicant. The package includes: The original AOS approval notice, original I-140 approval notice, instructions on ADIT processing (i.e., temporary stamp placed in passport at USCIS), and memorandums on Frequently Asked Questions and maintaining Legal Permanent Resident Status. Copies of the AOS approval notices are forwarded to sponsoring employer.

ADIT (I-551) stamping

Applicant appears at local USCIS for ADIT processing, as outlined in Jackson & Hertogs’ AOS approval letter. Applicant will not be scheduled for an ADIT appointment, ADIT processing is done by “walk-in” basis ONLY.
Once the applicant adjusts his/her status by completing ADIT processing, s/he is given the I-551 permanent resident stamp in his/her passport. Applicant must forward a copy of I-551 stamp to Jackson & Hertogs. This completes Jackson & Hertogs’ services regarding AOS processing, and applicant’s file is closed (unless other applications are pending, etc.).

Green Card

The Green Card is sent directly to the permanent resident’s home address. It can take up to 12 months for USCIS to manufacture this card. If the Green Card does not arrive within one year of the ADIT date, please refer to www.jackson-hertogs.com for information and instructions regarding Green Card manufacturing and Green Card inquiries.
This information is intended for clients of Jackson & Hertogs only. This is not intended to provide legal advice to non-clients of this firm. Nor will we respond to inquiries from non-clients. You should seek your own legal counsel in these matters.
Once all forms, supporting documentation, and filing fees are complete and accurate, paralegal prepares application(s) for filing with USCIS Service Center.
Attorney performs final review and signs application forms.
Application(s) filed with USCIS Service Center. AOS applicant and sponsoring employer are mailed copies of Jackson & Hertogs’ cover letter to USCIS.

Adjustment of Status (AOS) checklist

In order to process your Permanent Resident application(s), we will need the following for each family member applying for Permanent Residence. We only require copies of these documents, please do not submit any originals. Document copies should be single-sided on 8.5″ x 11″ paper, non-stapled. Please clip each family member’s documents together, rather than copying all I-94’s on one page, for example. Click on each link below for additional required information.

Each family member must complete an Adjustment of Status questionnaire.
Copy of Birth Certificate for each family member. Check requirements for your country
Copy of Marriage Certificate, if applicable (if married in the U.S., please furnish the certified marriage certificate). Check requirements for your country
Copy of Final Decree(s) of Divorce/Death for all prior marriages for both spouses, if applicable; see Sample documents. Note: Copies of the original foreign language birth, marriage and/or divorce/death document must be provided. Our office can arrange for certified English translations.
Six color photographs for each family member, with their name written on the back in pencil or black ink. Please place your photographs inside an envelope or photo holder to ensure they do not become loose while mailed.
Medical exam (form I-693) for each family member, regardless of age (click for list of USCIS-approved physicians). The medical form(s) must be taken to the appointment with the physician. Please write each family member’s name on the outside of the sealed envelopes. Note: Vaccination records for each family member (i.e., mumps, measles, rubella, polio, tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, pertussis, influenza type B and hepatitis B) should be brought to the medical appointment(s).
Copy of Form(s) I-94 for each family member, front and back.
Complete copies (excluding blank pages) of each family member’s passport (old and new, if applicable). Please detach the I-94 when making copies.
All transcripts of all schools attended in the U.S. for you or spouse while under student status, if applicable.
If you or your dependent has been working in the United States, we will need documentation to prove that you have had employment authorization, e.g. H-1/L-1 approval notices, EADs, Forms I-20, Forms IAP66 (if you have ever been in J-1 status), etc.
Clear copy of driver’s license for you and your spouse; color copies are preferred.
If married, your spouse should provide bona fide documents.
If the AOS application is based on marriage to a US citizen, Three years of IRS Tax Transcript for you and your spouse; (you can request online at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript), or if not possible to obtain IRS transcripts, three years of tax returns.

Send all of the requested material in one package. Please do not contact us to see if we received your package. If you want confirmation of receipt, please send it via Certified Mail/Return Receipt.

DISCLAIMER: This information is intended for clients of Jackson & Hertogs only. This is not intended to provide legal advice to non-clients of this firm. Nor will we respond to inquiries from non-clients. You should seek your own legal counsel in these matters.