Shezi

I just cant believe how fast that is! Im assuming you got a welcome letter in the mail? If so then we will know for sure. Im just in shock still . I even went and made sure the number was not put in incorrectly lmao. and Grats to yall

Yes, I got the same update you did, dated 4th September. On 9th Sept I got a welcome letter and on 11th Sept my green card arrived in the mail! It seems to be fairly standard, I received my EAD 7 days after approval and also my AP (applied separately) on the 7th day after approval.

I'd say you're good to go

I try to be short because I do not have the strength to go into details. After almost 10 days I had the confirmation that the papers got to the right people, and I had to wait. Apparently nobody looked over the documents for 5 weeks. In the 6th week they approved the motion to reopen, they reopened the original case, they approved the case without any interview and my wife got the green card and now she holds it in her hand. Now she needs to go back and try to be rehired in the same place. All this time she was told by several people that she is no longer staying legally in US, so you can imagine how she felt. I can only hope that we will forget all the stress and anxiety we pass through.

I'm sorry to hear of the trouble you've had but very relieved to read that your wife now holds a green card!

Shezi

I got the same update 10 days ago, then my case status changed to 'decision', the next day. One status talked about the card coming within 30 days, the 2nd update said 60. Either way, Sept 14th is your date of approval. My card came 7 days after that date. Hope that puts your mind at ease a little

Forgot to come back and update...

Used AP to return to US on August 4th. There was an error on the document that no one had picked up (including me!) so I was stopped at secondary inspection in Washington DC. The officer paroled me anyway but advised me to contact USCIS. I did this, got the AP figured out and renewed - a week later my green card arrived!

If your paperwork is in order, there is little to worry about. My paperwork wasn't in order but it was ok, I had a folder full of evidence but none of it was required. Since experiences vary so widely, it's impossible to say how anyone will fare in their own situation. I'm glad I did a fair bit of reading here before I left - it helped me keep things in perspective when I was returning. The first immigration officer was very rude and unhelpful - he was half way though finger-printing me when he shoved my passport and AP letter at me and said I could go, without any explanation about WHERE I should go. The guys in secondary inspection couldn't have been more different, they joked with me and were very helpful.

I'm glad I have a green card but If I'd had to do this again with AP I would worry less now - that's about all I can say.

My greencard had arrived while we were away that's another step done

A little amused that they say keep it in the little card envelope to prevent wireless communication with the card, you'd think if it was that important, they'd actually put it in it in the post!

Congrats! I agree about the security thing... it comes in a packet with $100 insurance, a security envelope that it isn't in, and it's left in the mail box at the end of the drive! (Still not used to mail coming through my door!)

I got 6 years on my license, they last 5 years in TN but the first one gets synchronized to coincide with a 0 or a 5 on age (or something - he explained it but I was a little too focused on the 'I just passed my test' sensation )

Great hearing all the good news We sent our RFE package back and it was signed for last Wednesday so playing the waiting game again!!! Jason's convinced we will receive notification of the approval tomorrow as it's citizenship day!!!

Good to hear Sarah - I'll be thinking of you two this week, it's a nice feeling when you realise you're good for 2 years with nothing else to do. Taking a break from immigration feels good

Shezi

P.s. is a k-1 visa technically a non-immigrant visa since you are doing all your adjustment of status stuff once you are in the country and married?

Thank you for any help.

Robert

Hi Robert - yes, the K-1 visa is a 'non-immigrant' visa. It authorises a legal presence in the US but not a permanent residence until you adjust status.

Well, I've had 12 emails/texts from USCIS in the last 7 days but FINALLY... my green card arrived today! I haven't seen it yet because I'm up in Colorado but my husband has photographed the packet and sent it to me I also received my driver license this week so I'm good to go! Can't wait to get home tomorrow and open them!

Thanks Cori - that's more reassurance than I'm getting from USCIS I love the fact we have somewhere to come with our questions / experiences. With a bit of luck, there won't be any more stress once we all get our green cards, for at least 2 years. I spent some time reminding myself what the USC process entails yesterday. It looks pretty straight forward, another big process like I-485 and I-129F but hey, we're pretty good at that level of bureaucracy and jumping through hoops, right? The USC test should be a breeze by then

Oh they're going to regret asking!!!!! We prayed this morning for the medical situation to be resolved today and the first place we called couldn't have been more helpful and told us to bring all our stuff in and they would look at it and help us out. So we went and they confirmed that I would need another medical as it had been questioned, TB test, and also flu and DTAP vaccines. She went to check when they could next fit me in and then said with a surprised tone that they could actually do it all at 12.30 today!!! Two sore arms later...all results should be in and form signed on Monday! Been collecting all we have in both names. We are getting 7 notarized affidavits from friends, family and our pastor. I'm currently putting together a big fat photo diary of the past year that will make them vomit!!! Should have everything ready to mail back on Monday...praying for a fast turn around as we're moving at the end of October so don't want to go thru another change of address!!

Lol Sarah - Having been married almost a year, you'll have no problem at all showing them your bona fides

We had a couple update texts in the last 2 days which leaves me seriously confused! The first came Wednesday:

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On September 4, 2013, 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.

The second came yesterday:

Your Case Status: Decision

On September 5, 2013, 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 receiving your card, please call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Where the status page had shown it as being in production, it's now changed to 'decision'. Any thoughts on what it means?

Shezi

Talk about USCIS taking hold of your head and slamming in into a wall...we have been asked to provide substantial evidence of a Bona Fide Marriage. Also been told my medical/vaccination history is incomplete - thanks London doctor!

Jeez Sarah! Which office is dealing with your application, Baltimore? I sometimes wonder if late RFEs are a way of justifying being so slow... buying time etc.

On the up side (for us), yesterday our case status was still sitting at 'Acceptance', where it's sat since December 2012. Last night I randomly got a text to say my status had been updated so shot over to my computer to have a look. Case status has moved all the way over to Card production!

Some things we did -

• At the beginning of September 2012, we contacted our congressman to help - 7 days later we had an NOA2 for I-129F but we thought it might just have been our 'turn' so not conclusive
• on August 5th 2013 we submitted a service request for I-485 because we were past processing
• Mid-August, no response from USCIS after 15 days (when I rang she said 'give them 30 days') so we contacted our 2 senators of state
• Friday of Labor Day weekend I got a call from BOTH senators' offices who said they would look into it Tuesday and get back to me
• Wednesday I had card production status

So, maybe having a couple senators poking around spurred them on, maybe only one got to it, maybe once again it was just 'our turn' but when it comes to then next bit I won't wait so long for us to ask for help somewhere. I guess it's just like asking an MP to help back home and their job is to represent constituents' issues, right?

So on Tuesday I had a letter from USCIS regarding my I-131 to say they had destroyed my previously issued parole document and would consider my request to expedite a new one but hadn't decided yet. We're leaving home to travel on 24th, spending a few days in Boston / New England before flying out to the UK for my son's wedding. I am hoping that either the parole document or (now) the green card gets here before I leave.

Does it really have to be this stressful?

Shezi

Great news, it's great to see some movement everyone

I have just received a text to say my case status has updated, checked on USCIS and it looks like my GC is in production, yay!

Nice to hear Gavin - would be lovely if you got that next week!

Ours is in Memphis office who are processing cases dated Feb 5th 2013! Spoken to 2 senators' offices this week but not holding my breath to get it resolved any time soon. Hope you and Heather have a great Labor day weekend!

Shezi

The card arrived yesterday: wheeeeee! Such a great feeling to be done with USCIS for 2 whole years. Just in time to shift gears and start getting ready for the baby.

Aww you must be so excited! It's fantastic for you to be able to take your eyes off USCIS for a while, you deserve it

Shezi x

Well...I got the quick response I prayed for...unfortunately it's come in the form of an email saying I have a RFE on the way Just called but they couldn't tell me over the phone so I have to wait for the letter to arrive!!!

So.... you wait for 9 months and get nothing... you give them a poke to say you're still waiting and they are processing dates after yours... and THEN they decide they want more evidence. I sincerely hope it's something and nothing.

Having said that, we put in a service request, the nice lady said give them 15 days. I gave them 15 days and phoned to ask - another, even nicer, lady said 'give them 30 days'. 30 days is up on September 6th - we got our I-129F approval on September 6th 2012. Still no movement at all.

I also requested they expedite my re-application for I-131 since I already have an approved document. We'll see.

Congratulations!!!

And.....we just got the same email last night! Wheee! It's funny how this seems so much less life-changing than the I-129F petition approval, even though it's a much bigger deal. Aaron is a permanent resident: YAY!

Fantastic news! We're still waiting on service request telling us something - but since I've already been back home now (and returning again in 5 weeks for my son's wedding), it takes the pressure off a little. I agree that it doesn't feel like quite the big deal that initial approval meant to us but, all the same, I will be glad to get past this hurdle

Woo hoo! I just got the email that Rob's card is in production! As of last week, he was still at the NBC, so either they transferred him to Chicago and he got approved there, or NBC processed the paperwork. Either way, I'm anxious for the card to arrive and for us to be free of USCIS for at least another year and 9 months.

Fantastic news, you two! Such a relief to finally be seeing some movement!

Hi Terri,

Well, I had my interview on June 25th and i have not received my GC ...

Maria

Congratulations Maria! I agree with Gavin - get on the phone to them!

A quick update - spoke to USCIS yesterday who informed me that the office processing our case is working on cases from December 31st, so we are past processing. Completed the service request and she said wait 15 days. I did ask what would happen, typically, and she said that USCIS would either contact me to say it was approved, or request further evidence, or reject but essentially they should contact me with something.

I do notice that we're all coming up on the first anniversary of our I-129F petition approvals. 18 months of our lives taken up in paperwork. Then there's citizenship....

I returned to the US yesterday using AP, so thought I'd just mention here what the process was like just to keep this topic current.

I had my advanced parole letter, no problem at all in Manchester airport - they are very familiar with the document and it says clearly that it is authorises a carrier to transport me without liability. In Dulles, the first desk inspection was a little confusing. I'd been told I didn't need I-94 on the plane since they don't do them anymore. I'd clearly read before I left that I needed one so I checked in the immigration hall.. 'No, we stopped using them 4 months ago', I was told. Got to the desk - 'you need an I-94!' Half way through finger-printing, the officer just gave all my documents to me. I asked if I was done, he said yes. Nothing about further inspection. I went to get my bags and custom inspection and was told there I have to follow the signs to B, again nothing about further inspection, just 'follow the signs to 'B'. Very little information and explanation - don't know if they simply assume we've done it before. However, secondary inspection staff were lovely - they pointed out that my alien registration number was wrong on the letter and I had the number of a Vietnamese woman!!! (Couldn't believe I missed that having scrutinized again and again my paperwork!) But they cleared it all for me and let me through - they even had a sense of humour about it! I'm going back to the UK in October so will contact USCIS and ask them to change it. No other evidence was required even though I'd taken a wallet full of documents and ID.

For those of you planning to use an AP, it seems to me that your experience will depend very much on which routes you take. Some smaller airports around the world seem unfamiliar with the document and that can cause some delay. For Manchester - Washington, the process is very straight forward. I was in secondary inspection less than 15 minutes. From landing on the aircraft it took 1 hour 5 mins to disembark, wait in immigration hall, first inspection, second inspection, customs, recheck bags, security hall. I doubt that's everyone's experience but it's good to know that even with a significant error (like the #A on my AP), it can still be a smooth outcome sometimes.

But check every last detail on documents and then check again.

Just an update to let people know about the process...

I received a letter from USCIS yesterday in reference to my call earlier in the week, they said it's unlikely that our case will need an interview but there's a back log so they won't get to our case until 6 months from the date of the letter - Personally I think this is one of those standard responses we get from them. I still think we'll hear something on the GC front in the next month.

Well it's good news that you may not have to worry about interview but frustrating that it just takes so long!

I returned to the US yesterday so thought I'd just mention here what the process was like since none of us seem to have a green card yet. I had my advanced parole letter, no problem at all in Manchester airport - they are very familiar with the document and it says clearly that it is authorises a carrier to transport me without liability. In Dulles, the first desk inspection was a little confusing. I'd been told I didn't need I-94 on the plane since they don't do them anymore. I'd clearly read before I left that I needed one so I checked in the immigration hall.. 'No, we stopped using them 4 months ago', I was told. Got to the desk - 'you need an I-94!' Half way through finger-printing, the officer just gave all my documents to me so I wandered off to get my bags and custom inspection and was told there I have to follow the signs to B. Very little information and explanation - don't know if they simply assume we've done it before. However, secondary inspection staff were lovely - they pointed out that my alien registration number was wrong on the letter and I had the number of a Vietnamese woman!!! (Couldn't believe I missed that having scrutinized again and again my paperwork!) But they cleared it all for me and let me through - they even had a sense of humour about it! I'm going back to the UK in October so will contact USCIS and ask them to change it. No other evidence was required even though I'd taken a wallet full of documents and ID.

For those of you planning to use an AP, it seems to me that your experience will depend very much on which routes you take. Some smaller airports around the world seem unfamiliar with the document and that can cause some delay. For Manchester - Washington, the process is very straight forward. I was in secondary inspection less than 15 minutes.

Shezita

Hi all, just an update - I called USCIS today to get an update, they said my case had passed the processing date so they are going to put in a service request and they gave me a reference number for the request. It'll take a couple of weeks before I hear anything, but at least it's progress

Well that's something Gavin, I was told to call back after 3 weeks which will be next week I think. I'm in the UK right now so it will be interesting to see what the process is like landing in Washington next weekend

I just called to see if there's anything new to find out as the last update online for Baltimore says as of April 30th they were working on applications from October 6th!!! I'm totally fine most days, but now and again I just get this longing to have that stupid green card in my purse!!!

I called today too, she said they were processing December now but not up to the date ours was accepted yet - if not heard anything in the next 3 weeks should be able to file past process. It's something I guess.

I'm using my AP though - flying home to the UK next Friday for a couple of weeks to catch up with family and friends. After 9 months of waiting, I decided to go to a family wedding there. It's good value - everyone will be in the same place at the same time

btw, there was no guarantee that you'd be let in on your K-1 visa either. Were you worried then?

Honestly? I don't think there's been a single stage of this process I haven't worried about. There feels to be a difference though between not being able to go make a new life (I would have continued with my old) and, having made a new life, not being able to continue it (lots of sacrifices been made and old life now not where it was!)

I immigrated on the evening of October 28th 2012, Hurricane Sandy was expected in the next day and Dulles was closing down... I think my 'quick' immigration had at least a little to do with that!

Thanks for your reassurance

...we're having a baby! I'm due around Thanksgiving.

What a year! And to think that last year at this time, I was sitting on the edge of my seat convinced that the NOA2 would never come and Aaron would never get over here and even if he did, how did I know that we'd get along well and be able to make a life work together. And somehow, pretty much everything fell into place <knock on wood>. Happy, happy, happy.

Absolutely FANTASTIC news!!! Our first baby

Wishing all the very best to you both - Congratulations!

Ok, so for "new people" in here (like me) who haven't even entered the US yet, the best and safest thing to do is:

To both marry and fill for AOS, EAD, and AP before the end of the 90 days. Even a bit earlier so the NOA1 is issued before the end of the 90 days. This way, there is absolutely no unlawful presence on the US territory. The benificiary can then use AP with no risk (but the one of the AOS being denied while outside of the country, for reason not linked at all to the trip), even 180 days after the I-94 expired.

Am I right?

I understand that the risk of being denied entry when using AP, even if the above conditions are not met could be very low. But why take risks when it is possible not to take any?

That's also my understanding Carol (though I have to say that my understanding was a little clearer before I read the debate in this thread). So to marry, file I-485, file accepted all before expiry date on I-94 means no overstay. This seems clear.

I didn't initially file for I-131, that little phrase 'this does not guarantee re-entry' put me off. But then any risk seemed crazy. After more than 5 months waiting on pending AOS with no information and son's wedding looming later this year, I've decided to apply for I-131 as a precaution. Whether I will have the guts to use it, we'll see

Oh by the way... popped around to Massachusetts Ave to see where the British Embassy was while in DC - it was weird remembering standing in Grosvenor Square in London looking at the US Embassy, then doing it in reverse in Washington. I still feel too much the alien Sarah, feelings of integration are coming slowly.