Asian Journal- The Filipino-American Community Newspaper

I recentlywatched the movie The Proposal, which is a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Sandra Bullock plays a mean and tough Canadian, working as an editor-in-chief for a US publishing company. After learning that she will be deported for violating the terms of her working visa, she forces her assistant (played by Ryan Reynolds) to marry her. In exchange, Bullock agrees to promote him to editor and publish his book. Reynolds reluctantly agrees to The Proposal of Bullock and the two spend a weekend together in Alaska. During their weekend in Alaska, the couple is hounded by a US Immigration Officer determined to prove that their relationship is a sham. At the end of the movie, Bullock and Reynolds are shown being interviewed by the Immigration Officer separately. The questions that were asked by the Immigration Officer at the movie were at times silly and irrelevant.

Although the movie exaggerates on how immigration interviews are being conducted, it is entertaining and gives the public a general idea that applicants based on marriage petitions will be interviewed by US immigration office regarding their petitions.

In real life, the immigration process for people adjusting their status based on their marriage to a US citizen is not as simple as it appears to be in the movies. We have outlined below what an applicant for adjustment of status based on marriage to a US citizen will encounter once he or she files his or her application.

The applicant can file an application for adjustment of status concurrent with the immigrant petition to be filed by the US citizen spouse with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

It will take the USCIS between two to three weeks to mail the receipt notices to the applicant evidencing receipt of the applications filed with the USCIS.

At least a month after the applications are filed, the applicant will be receiving the biometrics notice from the USCIS. The applicant would have to go to the USCIS Application Support Center stated in the notice for biometrics. The purpose of the biometrics is to check on the criminal history of the applicant.