mysticlady

Here's the latest - Received a reply from customer connect @ USCIS (nice service), the card was apparently mailed and returned as undeliverable. It has apparently been mailed again. Gosh, I wish I get it soon. Will keep you posted.

OK, GC in hand. The process was a bit of a hassle, because I had to go the INS office and talk to an officer. Apparently, they sent the card to the wrong address. Twice! Since it was a mistake from their end, they forwarded it to the correct address. Phew, relieved.

Here's the latest - Received a reply from customer connect @ USCIS (nice service), the card was apparently mailed and returned as undeliverable. It has apparently been mailed again. Gosh, I wish I get it soon. Will keep you posted.

Thanks a bunch, I will call and ask for an ISO. I spoke to the regular customer service reps I think. Will update.

Ok, here's the update.I called the USCIS hotline again, spoke to the customer service rep and requested for an ISO. She said there was no available ISO to take my call and I could leave a message for a call back. I was transferred to a voice mail service, but the said voice mail box was full and I was disconnected. I called again and it appears that there is an e-mail address you could write to get information. I have mailed there and expect an answer in 10 days time. That's the best I could do for now. Will update in a bit.

Here is the e-mail id for anyone who is in a similar situation, though I would recommend calling the hotline first. NSCS-customerconnect@uscis.dhs.gov. You are required to mention your name, Alien number, application receipt number (if available) and a summary of your problem.

call the USCIS hotline again, get an ISO

then ask if any returned mail pieces on you.

If there are, go over the correct address with the ISO, then ask that the returned mail pieces be sent to the right address.

Getting an ISO is important - see

ISO - http://www.dhs.gov/files/publications/gc_1305658440339.shtm

Good Luck !

Thanks a bunch, I will call and ask for an ISO. I spoke to the regular customer service reps I think. Will update.

Call them to look for your case using Alien Registration Number.

Or you can visit to any near USCIS center using infopass. They can look your case using Alien Registration Number.

Hey,

Thanks for the reply.

I called and they said they cannot using the Alien registration number? This is the USCIS 1800 you are talking about right?

Hi All,

I got to the U.S End November and am yet to receive my welcome letter or GC. I tried calling USCIS to find out the status of my green card and they couldn't help me because I did not have the USCIS receipt number. The USCIS system does not recognize the case number which is what I got because we filed under direct consular processing. Is there any way to find out the status of my green card or welcome letter?

Thanks

Thanks, mystic. My wife's interview is today at 7:45 AM. I was freaking out since its been almost 2 hours and I haven't gotten a text from her but then I re-read your first post from this thread and it seems it took you around 4 hours before you finally had your interview. So I feel a little better now, lol.

I can imagine. Also, if she hasn't stored her phone at the VFS locker facility, you'll have to wait a little longer till she gets to wherever she's left her belongings. Mumbai traffic's crazy. My people had to wait one hour extra till I got home to get news from me. Let me know good news soon.

Congratulations, mystic. Just a quick clarification. I (US citizen), submitted returns for tax years 2008/09/10 to the NVC. I haven't filed my 2011 taxes yet. Figured I wanted to wait till the wife shows up and then file joint. I did get an extension letter from the IRS, which basically allows me to file my taxes up until October of 2012. I have already mailed this letter to the wife, along with the last 4 pay stubs, updated letter from my employer and the 2011 W2, to take with her to the interview.

I am hoping this should okay, or do you think the Consulate may ask for a 2011 tax return even if we have an extension from the IRS? Personally, I don't think it would be issue but kind of wanted to get a second opinion.

Nope, shouldn't be a problem at all. Mine did exactly the same thing. I had no issues.

Finally the big day has arrived. Getting prepared for the interview which is tomorrow at US consulate, Mumbai. There's a lot of anxiety of what will happen. Please pray for me folks.

Will update more once i'm done tomm.

All the best.

hey..... regarding I864 Affidavit of Support (AOS) package, which AOS package documents did you bring with you for an interview? Did Mumbai consulate bother to review them again while they were interviewing you?

Hi,

We did DCF,so hadn't submitted our I864 to the NVC. I took the entire AOS packet to the interview. When I submitted the docs at VFS prior to my interview, they accepted all other docs except the AOS - weird! No, the CO didn't review the AOS when she was speaking to me. I expect they did so before I got to the window. My interview only lasted about 3-5 mins.

Have a couple questions here.

My wife has a CR-1 immigrant visa interview on the 10th of July at the New Delhi US Embassy, though we have still not received Packet 4. Every document that is needed for the interview has been provided to the NVC, so the only thing we need is the interview letter to get the medical done.

We contacted VFS, they sent an email with a link to click to download Packet 4 but all that it does is send us to the embassy website which has general information. I just wanted to clarify whether the wife needs to go to the Embassy to get the interview letter, or whether she needs to go to VFS and do they accept walk-ins? What would be the best course of action?

Also, the Embassy's website lists an immigrant visa fee of $230 to be paid. I thought we already paid this fee to the NVC? Can someone clarify?

Would appreciate any assistance..

The interview letter comes to you by post roughly two weeks before the date of interview from the Consulate/Embassy. Write to VFS about not getting the letter.A trip to VFS might help, you don't need an appointment. As for packet four, you don't receive it, you download it from the website if you need to. It really is just a bunch of instructions and a checklist. You do not have to pay money again except for courier charges at VFS when you submit your docs.

Not sure why people explained this PCC process in such a complex way.

Obtaining PCC is super easy, but you need to go to right office.

My passport was issued from UP, and I lived in multiple states in India, I was issued PCC within 4 hours from Passport Seva Kendra, Chennai. Expense: Rs 500 INR PSK Legal Service fee. No agent, No drama! No BS!

My passport was issued from UP, and I lived in multiple states in India, I was issued PCC within 4 hours from Passport Seva Kendra, Chennai

Surprised. My friend went through this process this month. His passport was issued in Calcutta and he moved to Chennai last year. Took him twelve days to get the PCC with a clear report in the system. No fresh verification required.

Why longer wait for someone who got their passport thru Tatkal process? Doesnt make sense to me. If someone goes thru Tatkal process, it just has an option for POST VERIFICATION, which means that local police verification still would be done.

No Verification can be applied if one submitted the Annexure F, but it is not easy to obtain doc. In this case, person who signed Annexure F, he is responsible for that.

Overall, PCC records are checked ONLINE, and it just searches if one has any crime history! That is it!

If someone goes thru Tatkal process, it just has an option for POST VERIFICATION, which means that local police verification still would be done.

Yes, if only said police department is efficient. In a number of cases, it isn't. so, your online records show no data.

If you have a passport that was issued elsewhere mumbai psk said it needed 2 weeks to give me the pcc (general enquiry). I got it in far less time from Chennai.

Not sure why people explained this PCC process in such a complex way.

Obtaining PCC is super easy, but you need to go to right office.

My passport was issued from UP, and I lived in multiple states in India, I was issued PCC within 4 hours from Passport Seva Kendra, Chennai. Expense: Rs 500 INR PSK Legal Service fee. No agent, No drama! No BS!

Why it is made complex? simply put - It can be. You were one of the lucky ones. Smile.

hi just wanted to ask you few things.

1. we have already submitted our affidavit of support i 864 and its supporting documents to NVC and its accepted. do we have to submit a copy of i 864 again to VFS? DO we have to submit again copies of US citizen spouse's (petitioner) Employment letter, pay stub, naturalization certificate, w2 and tax returns?

2. the visa fess of 230 dollars were also made to NVC? do we have to pay in consulate again?

3. if possible can you provide a list of documents that needed to submit in VFS apart from ds 230 , 2x2 photos, marriage certificate, birth certificate, medical report, pcc.

thank you

Hey,

1. If I864 was already submitted to NVC, you don't need to submit it again to VFS. However, if you have a photocopy of the I864 packet including the things you mention, pl carry it. VFS mumbai did not accept my I864 papers and I took it to the consulate where they accepted it. We had not submitted it before.

2. No, you are not required to make another payment

3. Here is the list of docs http://photos.state.gov/libraries/mumbai/395145/pereirals/Packet4-Infosheet-IV.pdf. You also need to pay Rs. 399 to VFS as courier charges even if you opt to pick up your passport yourself. Apart from the forms you mention you will also need to submit affidavits, if applicable to the VFS office. E.g of affidavits include a birth affidavit if your birth certificate doesn't have your name on it or is incomplete in some other respect.

All the best for your interview

Did you choose to get your visa mailed in to your home instead of picking up from Mumbai VFS office in the evening? I recall my sister-in-law had picked up her visa on the same day evening from VFS few years ago, not sure if they have changed the rules after that time.

FYI my wife is not local to Mumbai so we prefer to pick-up the visa on the same day possible to avoid any mail delays.

Yes I did. You can call VFS and can still pick up your passport from their offices. I don't know if it'll be available the same day though. In my case, I tracked my passport on the VFS website the night of my interview and the status said it was still being processed in the U.S consulate. It reached VFS the next day I believe.

Thanks MysticLady! We are going through the Delhi consulate. When my husband got has passport 6 years back, the PSK requested a local police clearance at that time (though the passport office did the work of directly requesting it from his local police station, and my husband didn't have to do anything himself to get it done). And my husband has lived in the same house for the last 10+ years. So I don't know if the PSK will exempt him from the local police clearance since it was already done 6 years back and he has not moved in that time. My husband went to his local police this week, and they said that they wouldn't do it, but that he could talk to some 'DM' in his city (whatever that is?). We are already in the process of filling out that online application, so I hope that will be enough for the passport office in case the DM doesn't help.

If police came home before passport was issued (this is the procedure for regular passport issuance), you should have no problems getting the PCC from the passport office. I did a quick check of the delhi u.s consulate web site (http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov/ivdocforms.html) and it looks like you need only one Pcc from passport office. I suggest your husband make the trip and apply online. He will most likely be issued one with no hassles. There is also a toll free psk number you can call for inquiry.

Thanks for the detailed review of the process. Can you let us know whether you were collecting your stamped passport from VFS after the interview or were they mailing it to you?

I got mine yesterday, by courier, two days after my interview. A big grey package and my passport with the visa.

Hello... I also need further clarification on the police clearance matter, as my husband is going to attempt to obtain his police clearance tomorrow (though he is from Uttar Pradesh). If the passport is 6 months or older, my understanding is that the person needs to get police clearance from the local police department. People here have recommended me to ask my husband to renew his passport, but his passport is about 6 years old and he isn't going to renew it as it's not expired. So I am wondering.... Is there any sort of form that a person needs to bring with him to the police office requesting a clearance letter? My husband says that without a US form requesting police clearance, the police department won't have any reason to issue him the police clearance (or if they will give it to him, they will ask for a huge bribe in the absence of any documentation). He thinks we should just wait until the NVC asks for police clearance documentation. But everybody on this site has been telling me to request my husband to get the police clearance in advance of NOA2 (as my NOA1 should be approved any day now). Is there an online form I can download and email to my husband that shows evidence of needing to get the police clearance? I don't want him to have to go empty-handed to the police station tomorrow and have them asking him to pay thousands of rupees. Thanks!

I don't believe you need this anymore. Just got my GC in the grey pack today (yeh!!). They didn't take my local Pcc. They only took the one from the PSK.

My passport is over 3 years old. Here is the procedure

1. You file a request a the local police station, they ask for 300 Rs DD(at least they did 6 months ago), then the things i mention in my reply post below.. and give you a certificate with you photo pasted on it.

2. Now PSK is a different process, they get a separate application( pay 500 -1000), then check to see if their system is updated with 'police clearance done' when passport was issued. If their system is updated (it usually is if you had gotten your passport under the normal procedure and not tatkal) then they issue you a PCC with only your passport photocopy as proof as long as current address is same as permanent address mentioned in the passport.

3. There is no need to get the local pcc to get the PSK PCC. The local PCC does not affect or change your status at the PSK office.

And since the current rule according to the mumbai consulate website is that you only need one PCC from the local Passport office, why are you even bothering with the local area police station PCC? Pl check your consulate for requirement.

Regards.

I think you missed my 1st paragraph My wife's experience to get PCC from Ahmedabad may not be the same as yours. If local police station at your husband's residence is less strict then they may give PCC without any immigration documents such as NOA2 or NOA1 it never hurts to give it a try. So take any action wisely.

Which city your husband lives in UP state? Someone on VJ may have experience from the same city, world is too small with the internet

This is so true , I had mine done in CBI mumbai (It turned out a wasted effort because the rule changed and they only need one PCC from RPO now). All I had to submit was the DD, my proof of address (tel bill), passport photocopy and a copy of the checklist mentioning the need for the PCC from local police station. I got mine in 10 days. One trip to Police station.

As for Chennai RPO, pretty cool process... just go in there in the morning, submit the application, your passport photocopy and get a receipt. Go back next day and get the PCC.

All the best to you

Been there, done that. Believe me, it is not a process I want to go through ever again

Hi,

Amen to that.

Question - So, I've got all the documents ready, taken 3 sets of colour photocopies notarized as true copies (will three sets do? one for the NVC, one here for the interview and one on hand) Am I missing some other place where these docs need submission?

Thanks.

Hi guys. So I got the NOA2 and waiting for case number to be assigned. Meanwhile I thought to get the PCC. I have my passport from pune and I am living in Bangalore.

What should be my plan of action? Should I need to get pcc from both the offices?

Thank guys and gals

You only need one pcc from a regional passport office. Pune or bangalore is immaterial. However, if your passport was obtained through regular processing and police verification was done prior to approval, then you should get your pcc in one day if you applied at pune. Two to three weeks if you applied at bangalore where you stay currently. If you obtained your passport through Tatkal then you are in for a longer wait and will have to necessarily apply at the place you reside in for fresh police verification to be carried out. I went through this process recently. All the best.

Please read the instruction for I-130. (Son is filing for his mother). He (your brother) need to attach his birth certificate showing the mother's name. In addition to that any old pictures (your brother/mother) may be

shown as evidence.

Your mother's marriage certificate is not registered, you provide affidavit (anyone older than your mom) who has a knowledge have the marriage, any marriage invitation, marriage album, a sworn affidavit by your mom -- all these things will help.

Good Luck!

Yes, I know. I have obtained said affidavits already (as proof of marriage). One from my grandmother (her mother) and one from her natural sister (my Aunt). But, when I read the instructions it says that you need a non-registration of marriage certificate plus two affidavits.

Similarly you need a non availability of Birth Certificate plus secondary evidence of Birth (Two affidavits). I've got two - one from her mother and one from her aunt). This, I've done already.

The photos and my brother's birth certificate with mom's name that you mention, goes under the heading - proof of relationship (to my mom). That is my understanding from what I've read of the requirements.

I don't see why it should be a problem, as long as it is official and looks official. You may do the translation yourself (the laws allow it) but I have known friends who have had it done through court-appointed translators with an official seal. Make a photocopy of the non-availability certificate and have the copy too certified by the registrar's office or, at the very least, get it notarized.

During my interview, the IO retained with him the certified copy (of my non-availability of birth certificate) and did not return it. I am glad I took a certified copy with me, else I would have had to give him the original itself and as we all know, it was such a royal pain to get it in the first place. You will need the original if your mother plans to file for naturalization later.

Hi,

Thanks for that insight! Will do. << Rant>> I should have filed a RT I like my uncle for his marriage certificate - at least he got his on an A4 sheet of paper, only it took him 45 days. I got mine in a week with two wasted trips! <<Rant over>>. The thing is they say they don't provide a certificate of non-registration of marriage. That stumped me. So its just a hand-written statement that a search was made and no-records found with the date, sign and seal of the registrar's office.

Her non-availability of birth is done and its an official certificate, thank God! It looks like they get a lot of request for this, they had a format for it.

Hi All,

My Brother is a USC and is filing for my Mom from NY.I am doing the paper work for my mom's application and have this question. All advice would be appreciated.

My parents' marriage was not registered. So I made a request at the registrar's office to get a no record of marriage'. Well, they gave us one,

only its on the back of the receipt of payment (that we paid for requesting the information). Its signed, dated and sealed. Will this do?

Will this be accepted in the U.S when my brother includes it? This paltry piece of paper by itself was very difficult to obtain! I also plan to

include the notarized translation (the certificate, such as it is, is in the local language)