sojourner99

1 hour ago, missads said:

Hi, this sounds bogus. Maybe you talked to someone who doesn't understand the rules completely? Or, if you tried the application online, healthcare.gov sometimes sends you down the wrong path which screws up the subsidy estimate. In that case, just call and talk to someone at healthcare.gov on the phone, and explain your MIL's situation.

 

Your MIL should get almost the same tax subsidy as last year, if not more. She remains ineligible for Medicaid for her first 5 years on GC (except in CA,) so there should be no change in subsidy/PTC beyond some minimal fluctuation in the insurance premium itself (certainly not zero subsidy.) Please message me if you need help. All the best!

Yup you were correct, it looks like something weird happened and on their second year here you have to change some of your answers from how you answered on the first year on the questionnaire, or else poof your subisidy goes to zero. I updated the questions as appropriate and she now got the full subsidy.

Sorry to necro this thread but as we were able to get the full tax credit last year from the ACA healthcare.gov for my mother in-laws health insurance since she was a recent immigrants in 2022 and didnt qualify for medicaid.

As of this year though it says her tax subsidy will be zero.  I know some tax credits expired but is it really down that much? That's brutal from almost full coverage to zero help.   Has anyone else renewed this year?  Were you able to get any tax subsidies?

We just got notice of the interview for her, but have some upcoming travel after that and trying to figure if it will conflict with her ceremony.  We live in Washington DC, but the Alexandria, VA field office is handling all our stuff.  What I am trying to figure is, will her ceremony be in the DC or VA court (since the difference affects if we will need to altar our travel dates)?

Washington DC courts lists out their exact dates for the ceremonies: http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/sites/dcd/files/2017ceremonydates2.pdf

BUT,

The Alexandria, VA courts have a difference schedule which just says ever third Thursday they do it: http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/resources/naturalization/Alexandria Naturalization.html 

Anyone from DC done this before?  Which did you end up going to?  Thanks.

My wife went back home to see her family about 8 weeks ago on her conditional green card. The card has an expiration date on it of 1/04/16 but when we filed to remove conditions she got that I-751 receipt letter that extends it for one year to 1/04/17, so technically she is fine.

But just last week we were notified we completed the I-751 condition removal process and got the brand new green card while she is still abroad (I'm still here in the States). The condition removal letter came with a warning not to travel outside the US before removing your new card, but we didnt expect her to get it so soon.

So to summarize she left the country on her old green card which at the time seemed fine since it was still going to be 100% valid by her return date which is next week. But since then her new green card just came but she doesn't have it, it is with me. Has anyone been in this circumstance and do you think she will have issues re-entering the country? Does her old card automatically go poof in their system once the new one is issued? Thanks.

As an update we got the NOA that our i485 was approved this week, and just received the Green Card today(1-11-14), less than a month after getting that notice above. Glad the worry was necessary. Hopefully others who got this note will also be as quick.

I see. Ok well thanks for the info.

August 2013 filer here.

My wife received an interesting letter today from the USCIS stating that: 1) her case is a possible candidate for an interview waiver (good); and 2) announcing an unrelated 6 month delay (not so good). We didnt actually file any request about the status of our case so while thats a bummer, I am glad they let us know at least.

Given her case is a possible interview waivers sounds like there is no hiccups with it specifically. But the way the letter is written about the delay makes it sound like its across the board as if they are 6 months behind in general. Has anyone else gotten a similar letter?

Also for anyone that has received one like this before, do you know if their delay estimate is usually accurate?

Exact text of that part of the letter, dated Dec 13th reads:

"Due to workload factors not related to your case, USCIS anticipates a delay in completing your case. Presently, we anticipate that delay to be approximately 6 months from the date of this letter. If you do not receive a decision or another notice of action from USCIS by that date, please contact the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at the number below."

We got the notice of our biometrics appointment and like many people needed to reschedule it since we were away that entire week of the appointment. I sent the rescheduling request back but then the next day read up on the forums here about being able to just walk in instead.

Anyway we tried this and to our surprise my fiance was able to successfully do the biometrics walk in at Wheaton, MD (even though it wasn't even our appointed place). So biometrics is all taken care of now.

Question is: What happens if they now reschedule our original appointment based on the request I sent back? Can we just ignore it or will that screw up some process of theirs and make it look like they are waiting for something to happen and perhaps make it looks like we skipped our appointment? Or should she just show up anyway at the new rescheduled time, even though we already did the biometrics already, just to let them know that? Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Fiancee coming over via the K1 process and now researching what is required for adjustment of status. Looking at the guide on the site here http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1k3aos it appears there is only one document which she needs to bring over from her native country and get translated, her birth certificate. She of course already has a passport where the ID page is in English and has medical results already from the K1 process.

Just wanted to double check with any of those who have been through the process before that this was indeed the only document not needed during the K1, but which is needed for AOS. That sound right? All other documents required for AOS seem similar to what was required for the K1. Anyone have experiences with surprise document requests during AOS that caught you off guard for pieces of info that aren't typical? Thanks.

Thanks, that is always helpful to know too.

My fiancee has her interview soon for the K1. We been emailing every day for over a year, I visited her twice and she can pretty much answer any questions about me so we are not too worried about this part.

Just wondering though from anyone who has been through the interview at the Kiev embassy if there is anything that would be useful for us to know? Any questions that were really a surprise? A request for some documents which you didnt think you had to have? Or anything else. Thanks in advance.

In our case, the Guangzhou consulate contacted her by email.

Oh, though how did they even have her email? I notice there was nowhere asking for it on the 129f or g325. How did they make an initial contact to even get that?

Recently got NOA2 and was reading on next steps. Seems like while I can start getting a few things together it will now be up to State and the embassy in her home country to reach out to her for the next steps in the process. I was curious how will they initiate this? Will they call her or just send her something in the mail? There have been problems before with the mail system in her country so was wondering, thanks.

it has nothing to do with cynicism, the point is the government is well aware that immigration is broken and needs to be fixed. Sending a petition won't change anything, immigration reform is already in the works.

I strongly disagree with this. Without getting into too much detail, I worked closely with the government team who set up that petition site on the White House web page. Not just the people on the technical side but the policy side such as what to do with petitions, how to determine if they should get a response etc. I can tell you that nothing will get higher up agency management attention like getting a message from the WH asking if they've seen the petition on that site getting a lot of signatures, regarding that agency's issue area.

Everyone knows everything is broken, but the reality is that in government some things are more prioritized for fixing than others, and lets face it, the K1 process is not on the top of their list. The more attention an issue gets in government, the more priority it gets, that is the honest reality of it. So I would urge people to take the time to sign that petition. I can even tell you that I have seen issues from those petitions raised at a high level even if they didn't cross the 100,000 signature threshold. Something simple like a news channel picking up the story about one of those petitions even though the signature level is low, can get that issue attention at the agency level. It won't solve the problem, but every bit helps.

So good work on creating that petition, and keep it up. And for anyone that is wondering- even knowing some of the people I do in government, I get no special treatment in this process. Just found out today about NOA2 after 195 days. So I'm in line with the rest of you. Good luck everyone.

I just got NOA2 today, its a miracle. August 2nd, 2012 for NOA1. So a little over 6 months. It will be a nice valentine day present to inform my fiancee of this.

So looks like VSC is getting to the August batches now. I know how frustrating the wait can be and you all have my support for those still waiting. Hang in there. Now on to the next steps....

Now Vermont Serice Center processing July 02, 2012

Ah interesting. Thanks for the update.

Always trying to help! Expect 10 months, be surprised when it comes sooner....just like I first posted. Very simple strategy.

So what's your story?

Well originally just had a question here on VJ. But now I'm mainly fascinated with trying to figure out what drives people on the internet to obsessively need to "get the last word in."

Not me, I selected my wife from an online catalog that I paid $99 for, we corresponded for two months, then I flew to Kiev and met her in person for 10 days and then upon returning we filed for the K-1 (and K-2). We been together for over three years and still going strong. You speak of the uncertainty and uneasiness caused by the USCIS process and know nothing of the hurdles that my wife and son had to go through just to be able to be considered to be here. Your Ukrainian wife expects you to be the man and to know what to do and to do it.

The information I stated earlier was obtained by me during my lunch hour at work just by doing a simple search here on VJ. Get to know where to find the information and you yourself could have answered your own initial question.....No, just now is not the time to ping them....you're a few weeks behind in their timeline, regardless of the publicized average. They are working on end of July cases right now and you're in the early August line.

If you really want to speed up the visa process, then write to your elected officials........Right now they....even your president....is considering legislation to speed up the processing of millions of illegal aliens......what about the legal aliens.....those of us like you who are waiting.....who is speeding up your processing......Want something to rant about....take up that cause.

Interesting, not sure why you responded to my response to a totally different guy who I was trying to show support for. I like how you immediately made the message "about you" then go on a rant about illegal immigration. Some weird thing you got going on there about needing validation and attention from totally random strangers...

I agree, but I am trying to find a glimmer of hope in the long wait. Learning the language, chatting, etc certainly helps pass the time as we wait.

I feel you man, though human beings are creatures of necessity. Had I not had the barrier of the visa journey ahead of me I might have waited and waited like most couples do to make a decision. I knew one couple that "dated" for 15 years then broke up. In a way I've had to go a little more with my gut and instinct rather than over analyze for years on "is she the right one." So going through this ordeal can in a way speed up your own mental processing, even if the visa process itself is slow.

I feel so humbled just now. I've only been around here since 2008/2009, so I know nothing. Good luck on your journey!

Ok. Though not sure how the length of being on a message board corresponds with providing made up information, then getting all frazzled when someone calls you out on it.

Actually, I agree that the wait has benefits. It gives us time to get to know each other better, time to communicate, time to bond to a person-not a photograph, time to learn the language, and time to explore the depth of our relationship. I agree that 10 months is an accurate estimate of the process from filing to arrival. We all want it done yesterday, we see some approved in a couple months and we see others take years.

I will not even start my journey for another three months. Olga and I decided on May for my visit. We wanted to have time to spend together, not just waiting for her to get off work for a couple hours each evening. I will be there May day and Victory Day. I have been in Russia three times during this period, it is one of the most emotional periods to be in Russia. I love Victory Day and the celebration with our allies.

You are right, from all my research 10 months is an accurate estimate of filing to arrival, but not from NOA1 to NOA2. The May Day and Victory Day parades are a fun time to be there. Good luck.

Ummmm....maybe this post????? Read it again, maybe tomorrow after you've rested. My last post to you gave you specific dates and details to help you determine where you are in the VSC queue. Now, to help your blood pressure, go back to my last post to your and tell us what dates and timelines did I give to you? Where does your case fall in terms of where VSC is presently adjucating cases? Factor in the recent holidays (remember them), USCIS was on holiday the entire time....did you take that into account with your math? Recalculate again and tell us when you think your case will be adjucated.....hint probably by the end of this month. Please do come back and tell us if that indeed was the case. I accept your early apology. Chill dude.

Yes, after I called you out for some made-up numbers, either you felt guilty or something, then tried to provide something of value. But it was no more use than what was already posted at that point. Then to help your ego or something you felt the need to throw in some snarky responses, then you seem surprised someone called you out on that.

Main question is: Why do you need my validation so much? A random stranger on an online forum...

You are obviously new to all this. Chill out and keep waiting. There is no way you can "ping" them. Do you really want to know where your case files are? They are in a box, stacked up along with other boxes, boxes and boxes of case documents. They do them one box at a time. It takes on average aboutt 5-6 months.....but you didn't count the holidays did you? They were on holiday then and no one worked on any boxes. You can call and they WILL tell you to call later, in 30-45 days. They really do not know exactly where your case is at, except how it was logged in and how they mark those boxes.

VSC is presently working, on average, NOA1 dates around July 29, Your NOA1 date is in August, so on average, they are not expected to get to your until a couple more weeks.

You really have to learn to be patient since this is only the beginning, you have similar waiting for AOS and then ROC and then of rGC renewal and maybe Naturalization.

Chill out and relax, your documents are just fine and should be worked on soon.....more or less.

What do I need to chill out from? In which post did I seem impatient? My posts have been on trying to determine the average timespan in order to better follow-up with them. I asked a specific question, and everyone else that replied to my post helped to answer that question and/or add value to a previous answer, and I thank them for it, except you, who provided nothing except a condescending response when you were called out. The real question is why don't you chill out? Why do you feel the need to defend your own ridiculous post? You obviously lack any answers to the specific questions I was asking. Why do you feel the need to defend that? Perhaps you should relax and find a better hobby yourself rather than trolling this forums.

I made it up. Everyone is using the average timelines as hard numbers and only causing themselves undo anxiety.

If you knew going in that is would take 10 months but you got it in 6, then you'd be happy. Correct?

NOA2 is only one small step in your Visa Journey....you will be dancing with USCIS for at least four more years.

Get used to the waiting; get a hobby, paint the house, when they are here you all can do it together as you wait some more.

Ok well, feel free to limit your sarcasm and made up numbers to other people's posts then. My original post was quite clear: I've seen things literally fall through the cracks before while working in government. It can get buried under papers on someone's desk, lost in a digital queue, etc. When this happens getting a reminder or "ping" about it can make sure some attention is brought to the item at hand, so that at least it's gotten back on track. I also made clear that my desire about the timelines was so that I could more effectively follow-up. So with all due respect, your condescending post provides absolutely zero value to anyone.

Nope too soon. Wait four more months or so.

300 days between NOA1 and NOA2? While that may be the case in some instances I don't see anywhere listing this 10 month time frame as an average. Where are you getting that from?