Stuart Jonas Reich’s Answers

I am glad to hear that you have spoken with a lawyer about your situation, although these questions, as well would best be addressed to an attorney who has reviewed your entire set of circumstances. I assume that a detailed analysis was done before advising you that marriage to a citizen was the only viable immigration option (and 245i eligibility was ruled out, as was a late asylum claim). Further, I assume that you were told that this is only an option if you were planning to marry...

As always, these issues are complicated, and there is no way to know for sure what options you may have without speaking with a qualified immigration lawyer. I can only go into some of the things that might impact you. First, since you all entered legally (assuming that you all can prove this with the I-94 cards issued upon entry), any adult in the family - your mother if not currently married, you if your are over 18 - can obtain permanent residence based on marriage to a U.S. citizen....

Congratulations on your marriage! Your first stop should be the office of an immigration attorney. There are many things which might impact your husband's ability to get a green card, and just being married to a U.S. citizen (assuming that you are a citizen - it isn't completely clear from your question) isn't a magic bullet. First, generally speaking, people here illegally are in a catch-22 - they normally can't get a green card here in the U.S. through the Adjustment of Status process,...

I agree with my colleague - this is often what happens, for several reasons. It may be just that when they check "approved" they are worried about additional inquiries. It also may be that, for several possible reasons, a supervisor must sign off on the case before it is "officially" approved (so they may not be able to officially approve it yet). My guess would be that everything is fine - give it longer than the one week (say, a month), but I would expect you would get an oath letter...

No. The relationship with the person you would be filing for (marriage) must have existed when you were granted asylum. There may be other requirements not met, depending on when you were granted your green card (would need to be less than two years ago at time of filing). Speak with a lawyer for further guidance..

I am not completely clear on your question, but I can tell you that Biometrics (fingerprinting) occurs near the beginning of the process - about a month to six weeks after filing. The complete I-751 Petition to Remove Condition process can take eight to eleven months; it is one of the slower USCIS processes. So, if a long time passes after fingerprinting without your hearing anything, it doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong.

It sounds like you are going abroad and returning with a new SEVIS number/new I-20, so no gap in status. I don't think status would be the problem here - at worst, yopu could obtain the H-1B stamp abroad and reenter. The problem is, it doesn't sound like you will graduate from your program until after the H-1B petition would be filed. If this is a Master's program and you plan to qualify based on your existing bachelor's degree, this may not be a problem - but if this is a Bachelor's...

No, the ISL number is just a number assigned your case by NVC for consular processing purposes. The immigrant visa number isn't something you need to give them - or ever actually really know or need to know. It is a number USCIS will request from the State Department (which controls Immigrant Visa availability) if/when they decide to approve your I-485. What you need to give USCIS is the I-130 petition approval notice (a copy) along with a copy of your father's naturalization certificate...

Did the right thing by bringing evidence of ties to home country (property abroad), temporary nature of visit (wedding invitation) even if they failed to look at them. Would NOT say you did the wrong thing by withdrawing request for admission; no long term harm here where if you don't they can put you through "expedited removal" - quick, at-the-border deportation with five-year bar to coming back. Would NOT try to go through different post, all info will be in computer PLUS it will look...

I'm assuming that you filed an I-539 to change status to F-1 from B-2, and that this was filed before the B-2 expired. An InfoPass appointment may be a good way to force an answer. You might also go to the office of a local Representative from your district and ask for assistance. Then, when you figure out what is actually going on, speak with an attorney - you may have some serious difficulties depending on where this case stands now, impacting your ability to reenter if you leave.