ghepardo

Congratulations @jolyn69 and to all the others trekking down to Portland for interviews.  That's good news and encouraging to hear that at least same day oath ceremonies are being conducted, at least for some.  Although I can imagine that others on this forum who went to Portland and were not given same day oath are perplexed and irked they weren't given the options (I would be).  

I'm wondering if conducting same day oaths are a relatively new procedure in the last year.  I think that before the pandemic slowed down office procedures in the last 15 months, USCIS (across all offices) was only conducting same day oaths in very isolated and specific cases?  Then with the growing backlog in some offices (e.g. Seattle field office) they began to rollout same day oaths in a few offices to help expedite things and clear the log jam.  From what I gather from perusing the Portland N-400 threads, the same day oath was rarely offered in that office - even for Oregonians, unless coming from the opposite side of the state. 

Just wondering if same day oaths is something new for the Portland office, that they're just beginning to dip their toes into based on the success of other regional offices.  Of course, there could be other factors as well, for example they may have some newer employees (interviewing officials) that are not well versed on setting up the same day oath (?)...

It just seems from the context of improving efficiency and productivity that conducting same day oath procedures (or immediately following the interview) would be built into the entire interview package, just like the option to submit a passport application through the same system at time of interview.  

btw- Portland had great food, there are some really fantastic food carts and restaurants around the city, so that's always a bonus for the trip 😋

thanks again for the updates!      

Received notice on 19 May for an naturalization interview at the Portland office on 30 June.  Now the big question for all of us headed to PDX from western WA: will we get a same day oath?...Hopefully those of you in the PDX queue will update the thread. Thanks all!

On 4/13/2021 at 1:30 PM, marofams said:

Yeah, I sent a message inquiring to USCIS and plan to call in a couple of days if nothing appears. It seems that the new system is glitchy because on my husband's application it says his next step is biometric appointment and he received the biometric reuse in December. 

Early this morning (14 Apr) I sent a message via the USCIS account inquiring about the RFE notification and ask why nothing has been uploaded or received in the mail (so far).  I just logged on to my account a few minutes ago and see that the RFE notification has disappeared.  I still haven't received a response from USCIS, but I'm hoping that the RFE notification was just bug that has been corrected.  No guarantees, but it's a good sign that perhaps this was just a glitch in the matrix...

I'll update again as I learn anything new.  I'm sure if it's happened to a few of us, there's probably more people who it' has happened to who may be reading this, but aren't commenting on this this thread.  

On 4/11/2021 at 9:19 AM, marofams said:

I applied in March 2020 and I just saw online that I was mailed RFE but there are no uploaded documents yet. I'm applying not based on marriage just after 5 years of residency, any ideas what the RFE is for?

We also applied based on 5-year residency in early 2020.  We also recently received an RFE notification on the account, but as of today they haven't uploaded any documents, nor have we received any hard copy documents in the mail.  It may take a few days and I'll try and remember to update the forum with any new info.  

We submitted the N-400 online in late Feb. 2020, shortly before the pandemic took off.  As luck would have it (or not), the biometrics appointment was scheduled the same day in March that they closed the Seattle field office.  We were notified they would reschedule the appointment, but currently we have not received a rescheduled appointment (9 months).   We reached out to USCIS a few times through their online system, but received boilerplate responses each time informing us that we would receive a new appointment when it's rescheduled...OK...

By the way, for us we're not anticipating that they will use prior biometrics as the last one was completed in 2013. 

I noticed in other threads (Feb and March N-400 filers) there's still people out there in different states that are in a similar situation and have not received a rescheduled biometrics appts, due to delays caused by covid19....waiting game at this point.  For those of us waiting for biometrics appointments to be rescheduled (or approved if using your previous biometrics) we cannot do much else unless you're politically connected.  Calling and complaining and chewing out phone agents and their supervisors will likely yield few results other than canned responses.

My curiosity has peaked. Why do some people use the VJ timeline and other use the text table in the forum for their ROC timeline. Is there any advantage, one over the other?

I think you're asking why they prefer to update one over the other?

I updated both, and its my understanding that the VJ timeline is quantifying all months across years for each service center and generating estimates based off of the entire "population" for that service center across time (although I could be wrong, moderator??).

The text table is for a group filing during that particular month (e.g. October group) to view and keep track of what dates for each step along the way for that particular month group, which may not be reflected in the VJ timeline if people are not going through the trouble of updating it. Not sure why anyone would not update both if they are registered members of VJ and actively posting, it just helps everyone keep track. Typically I referred to the text table of this October group and other groups, and made my own estimates based off of those dates, versus the aggregate VJ timeline.

Perhaps someone else has another opinion on use of one over the other...?

You should definitely have included the vehicle registration, as that shows co-mingling of financial asset. A car is a 2 biggest purchase a average person makes after a house, so if your both are on it i would say include that for sure.

We didn't and we were approved, and no questions asked, and I don't think it was a matter of luck. We submitted other evidence of financial "co-mingling".

I think RFE stays initial review.. When I applied for the greencard first time it stayed initial review when I got my RFE

As far as car registrations, neither our cars are in our names. I don't think it would be a good idea to change the registration today.

We did not submit anything to do with vehicle registration or vehicle insurance as others in these forums have done. While these documents may help to support your case as part of a larger package of evidence, I'm not of the opinion that it is a key component of approvals.

Any idea on what I should write in the cover letter?

I am doing my 2013 taxes this week.

I just got my 2012 tax return transcript

I printed out all my bank statements for the past 3 years

and I am also resubmitting the affidavit my in laws wrote regarding my wife and I living in their house since we've been married.

I'm also going to print Thanksgiving, Christmas and New years eve party pictures.

I am not sure what else I should submit.

This is the most vague RFE ever.

I would keep the cover letter clear and to the point. A good start may be something similiar to "...We are responding to the request for further evidence for the removal of conditions application submitted on [date] and have included the items request by USCIS which include: ". Then add a list in order of what they requested. If they did not request anything specifically, then list the items in order of importance anyway (and btw photos are not considered primary evidence, so I would place those at the bottom of the pile but still include them).

You may want to include the 2011 tax transcript as well.

By the way, we did not submit official tax transcripts from the IRS. We submitted copies of our H&R Block tax records for two years. These records which included state records, showed our names and address and that we filed jointly.

good luck

Today we received the "[Today] we ordered production of your new card..." case status email! We'll take that as an approval! Whew! we were beginning to wonder when we would be approved as other folks in the October group are moving along in their approvals. For those of you still awaiting approval notices, good luck and hang in there. As all of you know by now it's often a waiting game...

updated list below...

California Service Center 26 applicants; (11 Transfers from VSC): 10 Approvals (38%)


VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
GHEPARDO LENTO........09/28/13......10/03/13......10/25/13......02/12/14
FAERIEVAMP............09/30/13......10/03/13......10/28/13......01/24/14 (Trans from VSC 11/18/13)
CHRISTANJ.............10/01/13......10/02/13......10/28/13......--/--/--
MARED.................10/02/13......10/11/13......11/14/13......--/--/--
CALY..................10/03/13......10/07/13......11/12/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/15/13)
HY2934................10/03/13......10/??/13......11/05/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/18/13)
M IBRAHIM.............10/07/13......10/??/13......??/??/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/15/13)
LANCE_ORACLE..........10/07/13......10/10/13......11/07/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/18/13)
NEO1..................10/07/13......10/09/13......11/05/13......01/17/14
INSOMNIACDOZE.........10/07/13......10/09/13......11/05/13......01/28/14
HEIDIDL...............10/09/13......10/11/13......11/07/13......--/--/--
MARANDA...............10/09/13......10/11/13......11/07/13......01/16/14
SXM...................10/11/13......10/15/13......11/06/13......02/04/14
LEO_LEO...............10/11/13......10/16/13......11/13/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/18/13)
KAIBOSH...............10/??/13......10/??/13......11/08/13......--/--/--
YAGISAMA..............10/16/13......10/21/13......11/18/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/25/13)
XIAOMAIZ..............10/17/13......10/21/13......11/06/13......--/--/--
LOVE_LIGHT............10/17/13......10/22/13......11/25/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/19/13)
ALINAH................10/18/13......10/23/13......11/14/13......--/--/--
GAR...................10/18/13......10/21/13......11/25/13......--/--/-- (Trans from VSC 11/18/13; RFE on 02/07/14)
JC84..................10/18/13......10/??/13......11/22/13......02/11/14 (Trans from VSC 11/25/13)
IDDUCHRISTY...........10/21/13......10/23/13......11/18/13......01/31/14 (Early Bio 11/05/13)
NEKO..................10/22/13......10/23/13......11/19/13......--/--/--
SHREEPALI.............10/22/13......10/23/13......11/15/13......02/07/14
NUSANTI...............10/22/13......10/24/13......11/29/13......02/06/14 (Rescheduled Bio 12/05/13; Trans from VSC 11/18/13)
MAGGIEB...............10/23/13......10/25/13......11/21/13......--/--/--



Vermont Service Center (2 applicants): 1 Approvals (50%)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
CHARLESR..............10/02/13......10/07/13......11/04/13......--/--/--
CAROLINE + ANGELO.....10/19/13......10/22/13......??/??/13......02/05/14



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Thanks CaliforniaGuy for replying. Can someone also address the issue of "how" in regards to changing the address. Online or AR11? Does my USC spouse also need to fill something to change address (she wasn't the one who filled the affidavit of support during I-485, my MIL was).

Also I have heard that updating the address via AR-11 doesn't update the address on your pending I-751 application. If that's true, whats the best way to make sure all I751 related docs are mailed to the new updated address?

Appreciate your help!!

Hi Hy2934,

If you read the instructions for the AR-11 on the online change of address USCIS website, it states that your address for your pending application address will be updated. Not sure about any rumours of it not updating a pending application, I think that depends on the specific type of pending application. However it appears that for most cases (including the I-751) USCIS states that it will update pending cases via the online change of address for non U.S. citizens, then my best advise is to follow their instructions and update online if applicable. See the website and read steps 1 and 2 and the note below step 2 in the row labeled "If you have a pending [case]..."

http://www.uscis.gov/forms/change-address-information

Not sure about which sponsor you mentioned should file a change of address, you will have to read the PDF "Instructions for form I-865" which is the sponsor change of the address form. If that is not clear then for a sure answer you can always call USCIS.

http://www.uscis.gov/i-865

good luck!

O.M.G guys, I received a couple text messages, saying to check case status due to an update. Here is the message I saw.

On January 17, 2014, 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. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

I knew we would soon start seeing approvals, did not think I would be among the first.

Congratulations!...hopefully we'll soon see all of us receiving notices of card production.

Hi Geode,

The NOA 1 date on the spreadsheet is the receipt date indicated on the very first letter (I-797 written at the top of the letter) you received from USCIS after you filed the I-751. This letter has a "receipt date" in the upper right side of the letter. This is the date (and time) that USCIS acknowledges the receipt of your I-751 package.

I second that. Call as soon as possible to reset your biometrics appointment. I am pretty sure service centers will not allow you to "walk-in" without a biometrics letter.

Not exactly sure about K1 visas payment (we were CR1), but you may find this link to another thread useful...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/430267-fee-paid-at-nvc-for-k1-visa/

To the original post (Gabe86):

You should be able to pick up the visa, which will be in the passport, at the end of the day at a copy center (I seem to remember "Mail boxes etc.") at the end of the day after your interview, assuming it will be approved. I've always thought it odd that the consulate in Naples uses this copy center, but unless something has changed in the last few years, expect to pick it up that late afternoon. If you prefer, I believe the consulate will send you the passport/visa to your home address, but that may take a few days.

At the copy center where you will pick-up the visa, expect quite a few people all waiting for visas.

good luck

Just wanted to update the October group that some of the August filers are just now beginning to see a few approvals. That's encouraging!

Also it seems people are receiving their approval letters from local offices rather than from CSC or VSC (unless that happens to be your local office). Unsure if this indicates that final approval is "stamped" at the local offices or if the cases are just routed from CSC. There is a good post by Ivriesling (post #449) over on the August filers' thread that discusses the current approvals.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/440263-i-751-august-2013-filers/page-30

It seems that based on the May, June and July threads that many people are approved 6-8 weeks after the biometric appointment (barring any long RFEs or unforeseen circumstances). Of course there are many of those whose wait is has been much longer than 8 weeks, and even a few who seem to fly through the process and have green card in hand within 5-6 weeks post biometric appointment. Just thought I'd update the group that things are moving, albeit slowly, but eventually we'll get there.

-cheers-

Updated biometrics. We've been waiting for biometric notice, finally arrived yesterday (October 24th) with an appointment set for 8am on the 23rd, and it was mailed on the 9th. This mail delay set us back and to slight panic. Called USCIS "800" number on bottom of biometric appointment to explain and asked if USCIS in Helena, Montana (our service center) would accept walk-ins. The people on the phone had "no idea" and could only suggest driving there (several hours away for us) and try a walk-in. It was a gamble to drive several hours with no guarantees, but we did it today and it was a success.

The folks working at the USCIS center in Helena, Montana were really nice and understanding had no problem with processesing us as a walk-in and 2 days late due to mail arriving late. No problems and in and out in 20 minutes after waiting on another couple. By the way, nice folks at the USCIS office in Helena indicated they have occasionally processed walk-ins for biometrics for people who had appointments in other states, but were passing through Montana on vacation, and they have processed people as much as a week earlier than their appointments.

California Service Center (10 applicants)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved

GHEPARDO LENTO........09/28/13......10/03/13......10/25/13......--/--/--

NEO1..................10/07/13......10/09/13......11/05/13......--/--/--

INSOMNIACDOZE.........10/07/13......10/09/13......11/05/13......--/--/--

HEIDIDL...............10/09/13......10/11/13......11/07/13......--/--/--

SXM...................10/11/13......10/15/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

ALINAH................10/17/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

IDDUCHRISTY...........10/21/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

NEKO..................10/22/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

SHREEPALI.............10/22/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

MAGGIEB...............10/23/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

Vermont Service Center (4 applicants)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved

CHARLESR..............10/02/13......10/07/13......11/04/13......--/--/--

CALY..................10/03/13......10/07/13......11/12/13......--/--/--

LOVE_LIGHT............10/17/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

NUSANTI...............10/22/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

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Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your petition
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment
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Greetings to all, it's been awhile since I was last on VJ. I've updated the list below. Note that while we filed in late-late September, our NOA was in October, hopefully that doesn't cause problems with the stats by joining the October group.

California Service Center (7 applicants)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved

GHEPARDO LENTO........09/28/13......10/03/13............................

NEO1..................10/07/13......10/09/13......11/05/13......--/--/--

INSOMNIACDOZE.........10/07/13......10/09/13......11/05/13......--/--/--

SXM...................10/11/13......10/15/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

HEIDIDL...............10/11/13......10/18/13......11/07/13......--/--/--

ALINAH................10/17/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

IDDUCHRISTY...........10/21/13......10/--/13......--/--/13......--/--/--

Vermont Service Center (2 applicants)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved

CHARLESR..............10/02/13......10/07/13......11/04/13......--/--/--

CALY..................10/03/13......10/07/13......11/12/13......--/--/--

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NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment
Approved = The Date your case was approved

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I would agree that if you have established Italian residency and it's acceptable to the USCIS/consulate in Rome, then it seems faster to file DCF. If like me you would have to wait several months to establish residency, it was easier and quicker to return to the States and file for a CR-1 (7 months beginning to end versus waiting at least 6 months to establish residency).

Also I'm not aware of a "James's DCF shortcut", but the "James's shortcut" is for CR-1 visas filed from the States..

good luck

I checked into this at one time via the Rome consulate and was told a minimum of 6 months was required, but we decided to file back in the States instead. Yes, Italy can be slow, and all the little forms and stamps and offices we had to visit to be married in Italy was enough to make us file the CR-1 in the States (7 months beginning to end).

The minimum time I noted above may or may not have changed since I initially inquired. Things are always changing and sometimes people here on the forum may have info (like me) from awhile ago. I would strongly recommend contacting the closest consulate either through a phone call, email or a visit. Note that as a US citizen you can usually foregoe the wait that non-US citizens have and usually get in for an appointment quickly. They will tell you straight up what you require.

Also Rome has a USCIS office that you can contact, and I think this is the office you have to file the I-130:

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=7b1c3d144906d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

good luck

We submitted 2 years of tax transcripts and 6 months of pay stubs (for an CR-1 visa) and it was fine.

They lied to you. Entering with a pending visa is usually a good sign that you're doing things the legal way and you're rarely given issues. This nonsense about "officially" not allowing it?.. weird. In the event you ARE denied entry it will have NO impact on your pending visa as you're denied for immigrant intent and that's the point of the K1/CR-1 etc.

Not sure why the DOS would "lie to me", rather I think they are telling us what is stated on the books. Whether someone chooses to heed that advice is another issue. As I indicated in my posting, many people pull it off without a hitch, but as can be found throughout this forum over the years you can also be turned around, and many people have posted such stories. Why do you say it's "nonsense" because others have done it and go through. As I indicated, the best way is to ask the embassy, and if that's nonsense, then I guess you could say the "official" visa process is as you say "nonsense".

What I said was that you need to know what is officially permitted and what the possible repercussions are.

I've been told, as a US citizen in Italy, that you must live in Italy at least 6 months to file DCF. If in doubt, or you have questions about the specifics of this, I recommend emailing/calling the consulate that you will file. They will answer your question more clearly perhaps than those of us on VJ. There are very few DCF Italian posters on this forum, as is typical once a visa has been granted, people come and go. I would contact the consulate..

good luck

Just because Italy is a visa waiver country does not necessarily mean that a POE officer will allow you into the country. I think there is some confusion by some (especially non-VWP countries) that somehow that the VWP is carte blanc to come and go when you like. In principle this is generally true, but as some on this forum have experienced, in reality it all depends on the POE officer.

We sought to have the Italian spouse come into the States while awaiting the CR-1 USCIS/NVC paper work to process. We contacted the embassy in Rome, and they explicitly told us that spouse should not travel to the States on a VWP, and that the proper visa would be Tourist visa, and they quite clearly said that because of our pending CR-1 visa status that unless we already had tourist visa, that the chances of being approved for a tourist visa was almost no good.

Further the US embassy in Rome told us while they know some people travel to the States on VWP with a pending visa, they officially do not permit it, and highly recommended that you do not attempt it as a POE has all of your pending visa status on the computer terminal. Of course people often do, and many times people have no problems. Be prepared to prove you have strong ties with returning to Italy in XX days (clear proof of employment etc). After reading several success stories of people from other VWP countries, we considered it, but the Italian spouse did not want to take a chance and later explain it in an interview down the road, and besides it's a looooong flight home if you get turned around. Remember that a POE officer has no problem turning you around, and as we all know some of these officers seem to relish acting like jerks (not all, but most of them seem to be).

I'm not trying to sound pessimistic, but I think you should be fully aware of the stakes. Some people may just tell you to go for it, but I think you should contact the embassy and ask them. Call whichever consulate is closest, just email them or call (we've done both over this very question). Getting turned around at a POE because the suspicious officer thinks you will overstay is not a major offense, but I can imagine it is not only wasted money for a flight, but disheartening (as I've read by others on this forum-just search a little bit you will find those stories from VWP countries). If you have strong proof of family ties and make a short trip of it, you may be fine, but just be aware of the otherside of the coin.

The other option is to have the US citizen travel to Italy, and Italy in the time of the year as you know is cheaper to travel and very festive.

whatever you decide good luck! The time will go by before you know it.