I just need to vent and what better place to do it than here on VJ where you all understand how frustrating this whole process can be at times.

I have been waiting for approval of my I-751 since September, 2006. Many have been approved before me that applied after I did and I'm getting just a little tired of always getting "left behind".

It all started with our initial I-129F application back in October, 2003. Do you know many people with straight-forward cases from Canada that took over 6 months to approve??????

And then my daughter's straight-forward AOS, from K-2, sent to Chicago in September, 2005 took over 5 months to approve.

And now, my Removal of Conditions, filed in September (AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!) is taking forever. We heard a long time ago that the USCIS "Immigration Lottery" takes place every year in October, and that applications filed around that time are basically SCREWED!!!!!!!!!

Well, that's all I wanted to say, and I actually don't really feel any better, but at least I vented a bit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sorry to hear that, but it looks like we are almost in the same situation right now with the waiting. And I am just tired of it, but now I think your theory with lottery explains the delay and it does suck....

I keep telling myself that each day is 1 step closer though....

It appears that VSC is not much better than NSC when it comes to processing I-751's at that time of year.

Good luck for a speedier approval than I appear to be getting!!!!!

Had my biometrics a few weeks ago and waiting to hear back for the removal of conditions though I think it will be a good while yet. Hope a speedy approval comes your way shortly. Keep the chin up.

Sorry to learn about the wait. My wife and I just started the process for Removing the Conditions.

From what I read in your time line, it appears that you are close enough to the date to file for citizenship. May be that will speed the process up for you.

Good luck.

ME! ME! Hehehe, sorry - I fully -and I mean fully - appreciate your circumstances. We filed for our I-129f in June 2003 - and it took over 6 months to approve our I-129f and we are a straight forward case from Canada as well. It took 9 months in total to receive the K-1.

On top of that, we filed for AOS within a month of our marriage - filed July 2004 - and then waited and waited and waited again. It took 2 years less 3 weeks to get my AOS approved - so you are ahead of us even though you started after us. I don't even get to file my I-751 until next March! Grrrrr! And there were no RFEs or reasons for delays or anything untoward with my application either - and I have a very unusual and unique last name - all of the people with this last name in North America are related - so security checks should not have been difficult.

I do hope you get your conditions removed soon, cause I know how frustrating it is to wait - especially when there doesn't seem to be any reason apparent.

I have been waiting since Nov 2006 using NSC, I am 2 month behind of your I-751 case but I fully understand your feelings. Even my status online hasn't changed since 1/1/2007... I have a bad feeling that processing date of NSC won't move more than a month again like last month. But your date is getting closer, keep your finger crossed!! And let us know once you get approved.

waiting since the begining of November. I know the feeling. is close to 6 months.

Could I just ask why it bothers you guys so much? Granted I'm the US citizen, but I don't see it bothering my husband that much. He has his extension letter, he has his job. It isn't going to really affect him how long he waits. I'm the one that does all the paperwork and checks this site...

I'm just wondering how it actually affects your life. I understand being frustrated at seeing others get their greencard, but I really just don't quite get getting all worked up over it.

And please don't take this in the wrong tone or the wrong way, I'm just really curious! Maybe I'm missing something, maybe it WILL affect us (or is effect, I can never get those straight)? Or is just the worry of being denied? I guess I just assume we will be fine.

I'm not in that situation yet but I'm the LPR and when it's my turn I'll probably be very bothered by the long wait. I'm in NC and I've found that even with a GC it's not easy to deal with government agencies.

This was when we tried to get a learner's permit for my 15yo son and the lady at the local DMV would not accept his GC because it didn't spell out his middle name ... arrgghhh!! We figured something out for that but I am dreading how much more difficult they will be when we try to get him his provisional driver's license with an expired green card and just a piece of paper stating his status is extended. I'm hoping that all we need to do is present his learner's permit and we won't have to go through the process of his legal immigration status all over again.

I don't know why it bothers me so much too lol. I guess I am too worried but I can't stop worrying. Waiting over a half year is just too long, especially some other people using other service center are getting approved in less than a few months. Like what if they lost my documents, what if they denied, what if I get pulled over police when I am driving with something etc etc. The main reason why it bothers me so much is for me, that I haven't gone back to my homecountry for a long time. I didn't expect it would take this long. I know I can bring NOA1 or get re-entry permit etc but I hear lots of cases they got taken to the other room when you go through the immigration at the airport, only having NOA1. I can't go back to homecountry just because I am too worried what if the visa gets approved right away and what if my case needs the interview and I wouldn't be there. So... I guess I am too worried!???

Ah ok, well I wish you luck! I would say try not to worry so much, but I am the biggest worry-wart with a lot of things in my life so I know how that is. I'm trying to work on it though. We are going out of the country in June but I think it will be fine. We have friends here in the same situation (he's from England though) and I know he had no issues with customs. I think he applied to NSC for his 10 year in Oct of 06 and I know he is still waiting....

In my situation, not having an actual valid GC caused a denial in getting better interest rate from our bank.

The extension letter is only valid for one year, and I'm not even sure what you do if you haven't received the 10-year GC by the time the extension letter expires. I will apply for Naturalization this September, but it surely won't be approved by the time my extention letter expires.

I guess I'm just getting tired of applying, waiting, applying, waiting, applying, waiting...... I not only do all the applications for myself, I also have to do all of them later on for my daughter. She came to the U.S. with a K-2 Visa a year after I did, so I can't include her in any of my applications.

I'm going to be so glad when I'm done with USCIS forever!!!!! Granted, it won't be for a while yet!!!!

I thought this was the perfect example of when they have to give you a stamp in your passport. Has anyone seen anyone on this board actually go beyond the year?

In our case they sent the letter with my wife's name wrong. It has her middle name as both her middle and last name. When I called them and asked them to correct it and send a new letter they said they corrected it but wouldn't send a new letter. Now the only proof my wife has of being legal in this country is a letter with her name wrong. In the meantime her passport has expired and she needs her green card to get it renewed with updated information. For the record we have been waiting 7 months. We have been waiting in one form or another for 4 years. I'm sick and tired of it.

Wow, I can't believe it took someone longer than me to get their AOS approved -- I really feel for you. My K1 took 4 months so not too bad (but not great). We filed the AOS paperwork days after we were married in April 2004 but it took them over a year (13.5 months) to process, in fact, we think that the only reason it didn't take longer was that we contacted our congressman about it. I'm from England and our case is also straightforward (no RFEs etc.) It is so frustrating seeing other people -- paying the same fee -- being processed efficiently and thus being able to file their I-751 / N400 months before us despite initially filing after us! Furthermore, with the impending fee hikes, we're likely going to have to pay a lot more for processing because of USCIS incompetence. I've actually written to our senators and congressman about this -- my hubby had a good suggestion: for every day over the predicted filing time, they should refund $5 of the fee -- this way, when the fees are hiked up, paying the extra isn't more of a burden...

It's just so frustrating that 1. we're out of pocket more than we should be (which, given that I wasn't allowed to work until they processed my work permit meant that we sank slowly into debt), 2. it seems like your zipcode determines the processing speed (or lack thereof) , and 3. I should be applying for my N400 this year not next -- and after nearly 8 years in this country I'd like a say in how my taxes are being spent (and who is running the country and USCIS!)...!!

Your timeline is similiar to mine. We got married in July of 04 and are now applying for the I-751, so you are just ahead of us as you should be.

If you have been here 8 years you are eligible to become a naturalized citizen. Then you can vote and have a say where your taxes are spent.

helllo,

I have also sent my application to NSC.. wow its very slow..

I may be wrong here - but I believe the years spent on F-1 and J-1 visa do not count toward eligibility for citizenship.

Ha!

We are no place close to lifting conditions and yet I can understand why it would be worrisome to wait...and wait....and wait some more.

You begin to wonder what the heck is WRONG with your file. Like....what's so MESSED UP they couldn't resolve it the FIRST time you waited ages?

Besides, doesn't EVERYBODY just want to get this monkey off their back? FOREVER.

I hope this gets sorted soon, Rayma. I don't blame you for venting. Not one bit.

Thanks for understanding, Rebecca. I am going to be sending in my Naturalization application in September, so hopefully that will get the ball rolling again.

But, like I said in my original post, I still have my daughter's Removal of Conditions (in November, 2006) and then she'll file for her Naturalization (in November, 2010 - 5 years from her original GC).

It's just so frustrating that they don't seem to waste any time cashing your checks, do they???????????

Rayma

Nope, F-1 and J-1 don't count -- the only thing that counts is the time since I got my greencard...

I noticed that NSC hasn't updated their processing times in almost 1 1/2 months. If there are any recent approvals lately does anyone know what dates? We've been waiting 7 months now and still nothing.

I notice today the new dates are out. NSC is processing Sept 6. In 5 weeks they have processed 17 days worth of cases. At this rate I'll get social security before my wife gets her new green card.

The new processing date is September 6th and I didn't even mail mine until September 9th, so it will probably be another 5 weeks until the dates change again.

I'm getting very discouraged by all this waiting, but I don't suppose there's much I can do about it.

I'm already starting to prepare my Naturalization application and accompanying documents. Will I ever be happy when I have my US citizenship and can stop watching the processing dates!!!!

I checked the processing dates for TSC,VSC and CSC. They were all Oct 14. 5 weeks ahead of NSC. I learned to hate NSC 4 years ago when they took 186 days to approve out I-129F. They are still the slowest service center. We are like you Rayma. My wife will be eligible for US citizenship in October. Then we will never have to deal with the USCIS again. Right now I would settle for a 10 year green card.

I assumed you have your Biometric done, right? I am sure you will get your 10-year card pretty soon. Chin up.

Vent away! We are still waiting for wife's AOS. Married November 2004. AOS packet received November 26, 2004. Transfer to California service center. No RFE's. Three I-131's approved. Three visits to h@ll NYC office. No help from congressman. No help from NYC s4cks service center. Waiting for FBI.........................bu%%SH*T!

Have you talked to a lawyer about filing an mandamus suit.. you look like a textbook case for one...

Well I can stop whining now. Our I-751 was finally approved today. I got this notice in email
Application Type: CRI89 , PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS RECEIVED Current Status: Card production ordered. On May 10, 2007, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you.

Nice !! Congratulations....

Congratz hopefully, this is the sign that they are moving..