Pending i485

[pgoyal]

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hey players,

so my current "citizenship" status is Pending i485. I have a SSN/A#/etc just not a physical green card but should be getting it in a few months.

Was hoping anyone in a similar situation could shed some light as to whether you applied as "permanent resident" or "international". International seems like a stretch as i've been in the US for years now, went to a US school and paying taxes, etc. However, I also do not want to forfeit my application based on some technicality that I don't have a physical card...

thanks.

 

[CanuckApp]

I just got my green card last week but from everything I have read/researched myself, you need to have the green card in hand at the time of application. Totally understand your concern.

On a related note, how does this change things? Do schools really treat permanent residents the same as citizens in applications? Or at least comparable compared to international students?

 

[pgoyal]

i am fairly certain that PR are treated same as Citizens, except for a couple schools (uniformed services and one other i believe). however, not certain about what constitutes "permanent residency" - i.e. texas schools have an explicit section for pending i485s, not sure about amcas...

 

[pgoyal]

I would say give yourself to after July 4th weekend which is 2 months before hitting the hitting the AMCAS submit button. That isnt too late and you might get the approval in that time.

hey just to clarify by approval you mean the physical card right? i have the approval just not the card...kinda like a drivers permit but not the license.

thanks.

 

[milski]

hey just to clarify by approval you mean the physical card right? i have the approval just not the card...kinda like a drivers permit but not the license.

thanks.

What approval exactly do you have? You need to have your i485 approved. Until then you are really in a rather annoying status, officially called 'adjustment of status' which is familiar to just about nobody outside of USCIS. While you do have some of the privileges of a permanent resident you are not considered one yet.

If your i485 has been approved, you are supposed to receive a notice shortly after. You cannot use the notice for anything practical except to schedule an appointment in your USCIS office to get an I-551 stamp in your passport. The stamp is considered an official proof of your permanent resident status and you can legally use it in any place where the plastic card is required. While you will be perfectly fine with a stamp dealing with something like border control when entering the country, it may be a bit exotic for places which don't deal with a high volume of emigrants, like medical schools.

 

[Scottish Chap]

hey players,

so my current "citizenship" status is Pending i485. I have a SSN/A#/etc just not a physical green card but should be getting it in a few months.

Was hoping anyone in a similar situation could shed some light as to whether you applied as "permanent resident" or "international". International seems like a stretch as i've been in the US for years now, went to a US school and paying taxes, etc. However, I also do not want to forfeit my application based on some technicality that I don't have a physical card...

thanks.

You need the physical card and it will be asked for. I was in the same situation a few years ago.

 

[Woland]

As many previous posters said, you must have your i485 approved before applying (before hitting submit button). In my experience you will receive the letter before you will have the on-line ticker updated.

You will have to have physical card/stamp before submitting secondaries to many schools.

You absolutely need physical card when confirming the acceptance.