congrats Parul. I am still awaiting my case listing on USCIS. I don't know why it doesn't show up even after 10 days post biometrics!

Finally filed the AOS. Case was mailed out June 6 and delivered (confirmed) on June 8.

A quick update on my wife's AOS: we received her EAD card in the mail yesterday (06/09/08). Thank God!!!

However, I think, our AOS is not going to be transferred to CSC since I haven't had any transfer update since we filed her AOS. We are one of the early April filers too, I believe. Oh wow.. its out of my control so I am not going to fret about it. We will deal with it when the time comes. Atleast, we are happy for getting the EAD in about 2 months after we filed.

Good Luck and hang in there, guys. TC

[quote name='ELW' date='Jun 8 2008, 07:47 AM' post='1909348']
Sorry neel06, again you are delayed! All I can think is maybe you are stuck in name check. Hope not. Did you call up the non-information line at USCIS to ask if they have any info on your case? If it is name check they have to approve within 6 months or there are steps you can take to speed it up. Good luck!

I know.. the whole immigration process has been a nightmare for me. I feel bullied. Anyhow.. ELW what is the number for the uscic Non-Information line?

It should be on your AOS NOA1, I dug out our old one:

USCIS National Customer Service Center 1-800-375-5283

Sometimes if they insist they know nothing, asking for their supervisor helps. Good luck!

ELW I did call and the woman told me that the case is within the time frame. It usually takes 6 months to a year.

you mentioned something about the name check? what is that? I am scared because I have seen people stuck for years on visajourney forums. Should I write a letter to Lee's Summit?

Letters won't do much at this point. I have info saved about name checks and the 6-month time constraint, but I'm not sure if that is after the interview (when they say the approval is "pending name check") or whenever they started the name check (which I gather is hard to determine). But the USCIS line was right, you are still within the time frame so maybe you just have to wait for now. If it goes on for more months, people have found success at getting a congressman rep to formally request USCIS to make a decision. I can give you the name check info to research it if you want, there are numbers to call to find out whether you are in name check or not.

Name check is the same as what they do at the Consulate level. It is when the name of the immigrant is sent to the FBI to confirm that there is no one with that name who is a known terrorist or criminal or whatever. We think name check starts when we get our NOA1. Usually it is done fast but common names (like Singh) get caught in name check for years sometimes. Due to so many complaints and so much backlog, new rules were made that the AOS application should be approved if the name check goes on for longer than 6 months, though some people don't know about that so they wait and wait and wait for it to be completed.

Any updates, news on AOS etc, anyone?? Hows it going?

Today checked in USCIS status page and was surprised to see the message that my case was transferred to CSC on June 11th !! Wooooooooooow. That was relief. Till few days back the site refused to recognize my MSC number !!

hehehe... Thats one less thing to worry about now, isn't it - the interview (unless they decide to send it back to the local office ). M glad that the cases are being transfered to CSC...

So if the case is transferred to CSC, there are no interviews? I am in NY... I wonder if they ever transfer our cases....

Hey cj.. no one knows whats USCIS's criteria for transfering cases to CSC. Not all cases get transfered. I was particularly happy for my transfer coz Daniel will be deployed end of july and so if I had an interview he wouldn't have been here with me.
Don't worry about it too much. Atleast the 2 of you are together

yea Parul.... that is the best part.. i dont mind how long it takes now.. we are together!!!!

Thanks Parul. But I still have a nagging doubt ... does this transfer really speed up the case? CSC is said to be the slowest moving centre in terms of handling cases because it is overloaded. I have mixed feelings on this.

Actually.. I m happy solely for the reason that I do not want the hassle of an Interview without Daniel here.. But then I have also seen cases where approvals are happening quick too. I think the average time is the same for CSC and Local Offices on the whole.
Let's just hope for the best.. atleast its not a bad start, right??

Woah... I had to dig this thread up from a few pages down just to give a minor update ...

Hi All,
We received my wife's AOS interview letter (as expected because of her K3 visa) a few days back but since I 've been too bz at work, I couldn't post it earlier.. Anyways, its scheduled for Aug 29th, '08. Its about two months away but at this time, I am just glad to have an AOS interview scheduled. Some progress... correct?

Wish us lots of luck and please keep us both in your prayers. Thanks.

Good Luck to all who are still waiting..

Regards.

ELW, RSA, Pkewl, DanielParul and everybody: thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts here. Our social marriage was in last Saturday. We are now sitting with AOS process. We would appreciate your response.

1. Should my wife apply with maiden last name or married last name?

My wife have maiden last name in marriage certificate in Social security card, in passport. She has married last name in my company insurance and few other places. I am little bit confused as to what to put in her family last name - married or unmarried?

2. Could somebody tell me what is the total fee, and Chicago loop box address. I just wanted to confirm that I have exact information.

I am filling: I485, G325, I131 and I765 (I693A)

3. In many forms, the question refers to A#. I assume it is green card number. Should I just ignore it, and write 11 digit I94 number?

4. Could you confirm I765 Question 16 (Eligibility criteria)= ©(9)

Congratulations on your wedding... I am really happy for you

1. I applied in my married name. My passport, SSN card and marriage cert were also in my maiden name but its understood with the marriage cert that she's married to you now.

2. the total fees for all 3 is $1010.00. Send 1 check for all 3.

3. Alien number is the 11 digit number on her NOAs, above her name and would look like A1234567890...

4. for K1 its C 9

Go to VJ guides and you will get all the info required. In case there is any confusion just ask..

Hi All,
I haven't been active for some time. Busy trying to adjust to the American world! Today I received my EAD card by snail mail. I was zapped! Whenever I login to USCIS website, I always get msg that it cannot find my case number in their database. I even don't know when it was approved..

Begalilover,
I agree with Parul's statement.

Thanks,
ravi

Congrats RSA on your EAD!

Great answers DanielParul, thanks! I agree with them. Bengalilover, go ahead and have your wife apply with her married name, because that is the name she will be using permanently.

Not sure if you guys are aware of the dedicated discussion forum for AOS, please use the following link:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=7

Yep! pretty sure all of us are aware of the dedicated forum for AOS. We just like to talk and get advice from friends here from time to time

Cool RSA, I got my EAD on the 21st too... Honeymoon's over, now its time to find a job... Too bad! I was quite enjoying the role of a home maker

Thanks ELW.

Parul, I guess since both of our timelines run pretty much close to each other, I guess we should be getting the conditional green card at the same time! Also let us know how your job trials are going on!

I know, it would be nice if we get the good news soon. As for job hunting, I haven't started yet. Waiting till the 28th coz Daniel leaves for his deployment so just spending as much time together.
RSA, how do you plan to start your job hunting. I have updated and uploaded my resume on a few sites. Thats all I have done though..

I struggled a long time to get a permanent job after arriving back in USA after being in India for 21 years. I got the fastest employment by signing up with local temp agencies. First they give you jobs lasting only a few days or weeks to make sure you are trustworthy, come on time, etc. Then they give good opportunities for temp jobs that lead to offers of permanent employment.

I also had good luck checking out websites of local govt - try a search for "City of.." and "County of..." in your area and see what opportunities they have. Green card holders can be employed in local govt., just not federal govt.

Thanks ELW... M going to try that right now..

Parul, I am doing the same ... updating the resume and upload to hiring agencies/vacancy notifications.

thanks for info ELW. I am having tough time too. I apply but don't get even an interview call! I will try based on your suggestion.

I received the AP papers on last Friday and it was dated 15th July. Reminds me of postal delays...

Congrats RSA
I dropped Daniel to the Armory and actually saw him off for his deployment this morning.
Now I seriously need to start work or will go crazy.
We will be on the news today on channel 5 here (nbc) coz the tv crew thought we are a really cute couple and interviewed us

Ahhh that is sweet, they interviewed you. If there happens to be a video link online to see the clip, let us know! Good thoughts and prayers to Daniel during his deployment.

Job search here in USA is really brutal. A lot of the time we give many job applications but don't hear back from anyone, it is so frustrating. I think I gave like 100 job applications and only heard back from 5-6 of them. In India a friend referred me and I was hired immediately. Same with hubby, he only had to search in Hyderabad for a few days after arriving there, friends would tell him about opportunities and hubby said they would just hire whoever came if they liked them. Not like here where there are hundreds of people applying for the same position and they take weeks narrowing it down and doing interviews. Good luck to both you and RSA to get a great, satisfying job here ASAP!!

Thanks ELW. Actually got my 1st interview call for Monday, next week. Getting the job will be a different story
Also another update. Got this mail from CRIS a few minutes ago -

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: MSC08xxxxxxxx Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Card production ordered.

want to call and tell Daniel so bad. He'll be so relieved

CONGRATS your AOS is approved!

And good luck with the job interview on Monday!

Congrats Parul.

I just checked at USCIS website and got the following:

Application Type: I485, APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

On July 29, 2008, we mailed you a notice that we had registered this customer's new permanent resident status. Please follow any instructions on the notice. Your new permanent resident card should be mailed within 60 days following this registration or after you complete any ADIT processing referred to in the welcome notice, whichever is later. If you move before you get your new card call customer service. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

Can someone please explain what is ADIT processing?

Congrats RSA on your AOS approval! WHOOHOO!

ADIT is old terminology, it stands for, "Alien Documentation, Identification & Telecommunications System". ADIT Photos are no longer used by the USCIS.

They need to delete that from their correspondence and stop confusing people!

Woohoooooo..... Congratulations!!!!

Thanks ELW & Parul. Now all that is left is to get a job.

By the way how did your interview go Parul? It is tuesday today.

Actually they wanted to start a management training program for 3 months and then would have decided who they wanted to hire. I just called and told them that I was looking for a full time job not to join a training program.
I have a couple more coming. I know job hunting is not going to be as easy as it is in India so just keeping my fingers crossed.
RSA, have you started looking??

Yes, I applied for many jobs. But no response from the companies so far. I am still waiting for my first US interview experience

Today received my Green Card via mail. What about you Parul?

hehe.. Am still waiting for my first real US interview experience.
I got my greencard in the mail today too... Looks like we are all set till removal of conditions

We mailed our AOS package yesterday. I didn't do TB skin test - hoping there will be no information request for this.

Wanted to thank you everybody - DanielParul, ELW, RSA and others.

It is frustrating to note the type of denial response I get from the agencies/recruiters. They always say "your resume is very good/good/fantastic but we want at least few months of US experience ..blah blah....". I heard this on more than 20 such occasions. Some times get disillusioned.

Glad that no more USCIS paperwork for next two years

Welcome to the AOS bandwagon bengalilover.

I hear ya. Though I am American, due to being in India for so many years, I got the same story. I was sure my experience as chief administrator in a company in India would count as something! I called several temp agencies practically every day for a month bugging them, before they gave me a few days of temp work, only filing papers in different offices. After that, slowly they were more open to giving me more work. Still, it took a year and a half before I got a permanent, "real" job here. Even after a year, hubby is still working in an Indian-owned gas station as a clerk, though he was auditing businesses in India. It takes time which can be frustrating.

Exactly!! Most of the times I don't even get a reply back so I know they are not interested.
BTW, if nobody's willing to give a job, how am I supposed to get the US experience??
I really want to start working coz sitting at home is killing. Daniel's not here either. I never though it would be this difficult

True. Now I get a another type of feedback. It seems that recruiter in US view the "gap" in the employment as evil deed and doesn't entertain the application. Inspite of my crying hoarse that the "gap" is because I don't have work permit/EAD, they are indifferent to the plea. If I take up another entry level job, then I doomed to stay in that domain only 'cause the people give importance to the last employment. This whole experience is really taunting .

Gosh.. you had worse experience than us. You must have gone through a lot. It is really tough time for us too .. with job yet to come, it is putting lot of pressure on the finances and the family as a whole.

Financially we have to cut corners and do with less. But it is worth it being together.

Yeah, we are also a bit careful about how much we spend. The only good thing about Daniel gone is that the expenses have gone down majorly
Although, cutting corners would be a lot better than being away from each other

I really admire you Parul, it must be so hard to be separated again. I am praying for a completely safe deployment for Daniel and for the time to pass quickly so you two can be together again soon!

Congrats on getting 100% on your driving test! My guy got 11 wrong first try. I TOLD him to study the book instead of just taking a few online practice tests but he didn't listen.