Want to be a Permanent Resident?

For the past several weeks, I have been putting together all the paperwork needed for submission to the USCIS. US laws state that if you’re married for less than two years when you file for permanent resident status, you will only be granted a conditional permanent resident status that expires in two years, assuming you’re approved.
So, I was granted a conditional resident status in 2005. Therefore, I need to submit a petition to the USCIS prior to the expiry date on my Conditional PR for the removal of those conditions, or risk deportation. This petition must be filed during the 90 days before the conditional residence expires. And it is strictly stated that 90 days does not necessarily mean three months. So you have to literally look on the dates on the calendar and COUNT to 90.

So why do they want this petition?

Simply put, the USCIS wants to ensure that you did not enter the country under false pretenses and that you are still married and they want to see evidence that the marriage was entered in good faith. The USCIS suggests you send in “supporting documents providing evidence of the relationship” as part of your application.

Here's what I mailed out yesterday (a total of 58 pages) (Yes, I actually counted)

• Application fee - $275
• Form I-751
• Copy of Permanent Resident Card
• Copy of the title insurance of our house, showing joint ownership
• Copy of the Warranty Deed of our house, showing joint ownership
• Copy of the Deed of Trust of our house, showing joint ownership
• Copy of the Builder Application for Home Enrollment, showing joint ownership
• Joint bank account statements
• Federal tax returns filed jointly for the year 2006
• State tax returns filed jointly for the year 2006
• Copy of our health insurance card showing a joint policy
• Copy of credit cards showing our names using the same number
• Photographs of ourselves taken on trips and events during the conditional residency period (we submitted 20 prints)
  
• Sworn affidavit from Father-in-law and Mother-in-law
• Sworn affidavit from friends who have known us since we were married (3)

The USCIS also requires you to submit sworn affidavits from people who have known you since your conditional permanent residency status was granted attesting to your relationship, meaning they write letters addressed to the USCIS that are signed and sworn in front of a notary public(in the US) about how in love you are, and when and how often they’ve seen you together as a happily married couple.
We are truly fortunate to have Sophie, Brian, our neighbor Betty and my Father-in-law and Mother-in-law write us those affidavits. They wrote such wonderful words for us and I will definitely save them as keepsakes in my scrapbook. Thank you!

Based on various forums and experiences from different couples, some have been fortunate to receive their approval only two months after submission, and some had to wait for more than a year. I can only keep my fingers crossed and pray that it will come soon so that Jason and I can go to Malaysia in August to attend my cousin's wedding.