AOS From Los Angeles - Where To Start? Does It Have To Be By Mail?

Q: My wife and I got married while she was here on her tourist visa. We live in Los Angeles. I have been looking at some info re immigration processes, and it's got me a little confused. What should be our FIRST step towards getting her AOS? It looks like it all has to be done by mail here in L.A., from what I've gathered. Is filing for AOS the first step, or do we first get an id card at dmv or a soc. sec. card from SSA. Can I get her on my bank account without the CA ID card first? Seems like a red-tape catch-22? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg? And is it possible to speed things along with an attorney, or is it just as fast if I do it myself? (I would rather not pay $1000+ for an attorney unless it's really necessary. Our "case" should be simple - they asked her no questions at the border, and she's had her visitor visa a long time and visited me twice before - this time we just went to Vegas and got married while she was here, and she of course is going to stay here.) Any advice? Also, if there's anyone in Calif. who is currently going through this and would like to share info by e-mail, please let me know...

A: Just file the adjustment of status. Ifyou want to use attorney but cannot really afford one, there are very cheap legal services available in the INS building at LA: Go up to the third floor of the INS building and follow the blue "Immigration Legal Assistance Project" signs to their office. Be there before 9:00 am, they are strictly a walk-in clinic. I think they open at 8 or 8:30. While they will use their computer to print out all of the forms from scratch, it wouldn't hurt to have everything you have filled out with you for reference. Make sure you have all of the appropriate fees in the form of money orders, and the $175.00 fee for the lawyers. Since you are filing for AP, that may cost another $25.00, but I'm not sure...take $200.00 with you just to be safe. Make sure you have all supporting documentation like passports, birth certificates, etc. As far as your sponsors go, since they will need to notarize the support

forms, yes that person will need to be there, as well as your United States Citizen petitioner. You will probably be there until almost noon. Within a week, they will mail you your INS receipt with your A# on it. Guard that cheap cash register receipt with your life. Within three weeks or so, you will get a letter telling you when to go and get your Employment Authorization Document. I just got that letter and my appointment is for April 21st, which means from when my package was filed until I get my EAD, 49 days will have elapsed. Usually, if you mail your stuff, it takes up to 90 days. While I didn't apply for AP, they assured me it was faster if they filed it.