Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:41 am
7 years in incorrect, you have to factor in the visa bulletin. All countries except MEX, INDIA, CHINA, PHIL have a priority date of July 1997 for 4th preference family-based petitions, so your looking at more than 10 years before you can file for adjustment of status, which is in addition to the I-130 processing time. And you can't file an I-130 with an I-485 (one-step file) unless the priority date is current.
I disagree that there would be an immigrant intent issue. What CBP officer in their right mind would claim immigrant intent if you can't adjust for 10+ years?