travelfairy

I'm coming over from the January filers to say Howdy to y'all. I was worried that my biometrics apt was 6 weeks ago and there's been nothing since, but looking at them, and you, it seems that this is taking it's time. I look forward to seeing all your statuses being updated to "Approved".

I have added my details. I haven't been on for a while, but given how long it's been since my biometrics (Feb 26) I was getting worried. USCIS "Check My Case" doesn't recognize me at all. *sigh*

It makes me feel a little more relieved (though bad for you guys) that nobody else seems to have been approved yet. As long as it gets done by September (when I'm travelling to Europe for a wedding) I'm fine. I might mosey on over to the December filers to see if any of those have been approved.

Interestingly enough, nobody at my place of work has said anything about my GC expiration (which was Feb). I would have thought somebody would have flagged it and chased it up. Looking forward to seeing a sudden rush of approvals for y'all.

California Service Center (17 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
IS63..................12/28/14......01/02/15......01/28/15......--/--/--
OMAR313...............01/02/15......01/05/15......01/30/15......--/--/--
OHLEE20...............01/03/15......01/05/15......01/30/15......--/--/--
CRISPY................01/07/15......01/09/15......02/03/15......--/--/--
TINTIN AND MIKE.......01/09/15......01/12/15......02/19/15......--/--/--(Early Bio 02/09/15)
TETANDSOL.............01/09/15......01/12/15......02/20/15......--/--/--
SK8RPATTY.............01/12/15......01/13/15......02/19/15......--/--/--
CONOR JAY.............01/16/15......01/??/15......02/20/15......--/--/--
MRPAROLE..............01/17/15......01/20/15......02/17/15......--/--/--(Early Bio 02/06/15)
S&JC..................01/20/15......01/23/15......02/18/15......--/--/--
JS&PL.................01/20/15......01/21/15......02/17/15......--/--/--
CANBIRDUSMAN..........01/20/15......01/27/15......02/24/15......--/--/--
N-O-L-A...............01/23/15......01/27/15......02/24/15......--/--/--
JESSIERC..............01/23/15......01/27/15......02/26/15......--/--/--
VEENDEE...............01/26/15......01/28/15......02/27/15......--/--/--
LOOKATTHATGUY.........01/26/15......01/27/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
MAEXCHEN83............01/27/15......01/29/15......03/20/15......--/--/--

TRAVELFAIRY...........01/28/15......01/29/15......02/26/15......--/--/--

Vermont Service Center (11 applicants, 0 approved - 0%)

VJName..............Date of I-751...NOA1 Date....Biometrics.....Approved
JENTUS................12/29/14......01/02/15......03/11/15......--/--/--(Early Bio 03/06/15)
EMMYSAUR..............12/29/14......01/06/15......03/24/15......--/--/--
CIVILSERVANT..........01/02/15......01/06/15......03/20/15......--/--/--(Waiver)
MWLEBOUR..............01/05/15......01/07/15......03/11/15......--/--/--
NEASMIA...............01/09/15......01/21/15......03/19/15......--/--/--
EDDIE TAZ.............01/10/15......01/13/15......03/12/15......--/--/--
JENNJENN..............01/12/15......01/--/15......--/--/15......--/--/--
JOHN AND JOHANNA... ..01/16/15......01/20/15......03/17/15......--/--/--

JONW..................01/26/15......01/29/15......03/17/15......--/--/--
FRODO8404.............01/27/15......02/02/15......03/17/15......--/--/--
EVH5150...............01/28/15......02/--/15......03/25/15......--/--/--


IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.
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Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application.
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 know a lot of people with dual citizenship, and they always enter their country of citizenship on that particular passport. For example, dual Australians/Americans enter Australia on their Australian passport and the US on their US passport. I haven't known a country to ask for multiple forms of identification from its citizens when they are re-entering the country, just the passport is enough, however I have never travelled to Russia so wouldn't know.

Personally, I'd enter Russia on my Russian passport and the US on my US passport.

If you're a Russian citizen, there is no reason why you can't use your passport for entry. The you can produce your US passport to get back into the States. I would suggest that you update your Russian passport to your new name though, just to avoid future hassle.

The waiting is definitely tough - but don't stress about the biological clock - at 34 you still have years of fertility left.

I was able to use my I-797 to extend my driving license for 6 months, which gave me enough time to get my greencard - so try using that.

I think it varies by state though, and also by who is looking after you at the counter.

Regarding EAD, mine took about 6 weeks after my biometrics. Interestingly enough, all my employer wanted was my I-94 once my visa expired, and as that was dated past my visa expiration date, they were happy to keep me on. It won't reflect badly on you if you keep on working, so I'd keep quiet and keep that paycheck coming in - if at all possible. It's your employer's responsibility to make sure they are hiring people in compliance. And to be honest, the govt in cases such as ours is usually happy we are working and paying taxes, particularly if we are pre-citizens. :-)

That's sooo cute!!

As painful as it is, and as difficult the forms are, people bitchin' and moanin' should try the immigration process in France. Makes the US seem like a weekend at the beach.

Patience is good. Understanding that the wheels turn slowly is good. Every country has bureacracy, and I'd rather deal with the in depth paperwork, and waiting, than have corruption and under the desk payments to every person who touches the file.

Awwwww Congrats Travelfairy. Woot Woot!

My experience was very similar. Mine was also very polite but also very methodical. When she came to the long line of questions on one of the forms, my nerves in my face started twitching

Oh dear!! That could give the wrong impression!! Kind of funny in retrospect though. :-)

I don't mind methodical, I like to know they are doing a good job screening people coming in. I was relieved I got a young-ish guy and had chosen to wear a lowish-cut top, though I didn't see him check out the boobs. Discretion was probably a good idea given my husband is 6'2" and he was maybe 5'5".

We did have a minor heart attack when he asked what football team DH supported. Never a good idea to bring up the fact you're a Green Bay Packers fan when you're in Minneapolis Vikings Territory.

Thanks Gokan. I posted a review of the experience under the Saint Paul local CIS office. You'd also benefit from reading the other interviews at the office that you'll be doing your interview at, just in case there is a different vibe.

Congrats! Always a good feeling. :-)

I think because I stopped the greencard process when the marriage fell apart, it wasn't considered an issue. I'm pretty sure my interviewer had gone through my file with a fine toothcomb though before we came in. Also, my I-94 was valid until 2015. And honestly? I'm an Australian getting a greencard in Minnesota - they are probably amazed I would choose to live here over the beaches and sunshine back home. :-) Can't be anything but love. ;-)

Also - didn't meet the DH until after the divorce was final, so no overlap. And we dated for 3 years before marrying.

I'm just so happy and relieved. I feel that a weight has been lifted and we can get on with our lives. I was worried that some small administrative error might trip us up or something might be misinterpreted, but now we can concentrate on the future. Or, as my DH put it, I can swap it out for something new to worry about. LOL

WIll keep checking back to see how your interview goes!!!

BTW - My DH insisted he wasn't nervous, and it was going to be fine, and I didn't need to be as prepared as I was, yet he didn't sleep the night before, and didn't want to talk about our upcoming trip to Australia in the car. He said "Let's just concentrate on the topic at hand." So of course, he was nervous but wouldn't admit it. Though he wouldn't be unhappy about moving back to Australia if I had to go.

Email works. So does http://www.timeanddate.com/ when calculating time zone differences for a call. Also make sure they have an up to date linked in account, and previous employers can sing the foreigner's praises on there.

The USCIS fees are detailed on their website, and are about $1500 in total. Lawyer fees are up to the individual lawyer. I would recommend that if English is your second language, and you can't afford a lawyer to manage your case for you, you hire one to review your completed documents (prior to sending to USCIS). They can tell you if you've missed a field, or misinterpreted something, or used the wrong format. English is my first language, plus I've studied some law at university and my lawyer picked up on things I got wrong in my application so it's worth the money.

I'm not sure how the overstay situation will be handled. If you've been in a relationship with your husband for some time and have the appropriate proof, then this should indicate that he's not marrying you for visa purposes, and that your love and commitment is genuine. This will definitely help your case.

Good luck.

We were just approved. The USCIS officer wasn't interested in any documentation outside of our passports and birth certificates, although we had included a lot of stuff with our original application (divoce and marriage certificates, a ton of photos, evidence of financial co-mingling), though I think it partially depends on your officer.

Good luck.

We were approved too!!! Yipppeeeeee

Posting review shortly.

APPROVED!!!!!

Will post review but include some details here:

Arrived on time but the waiting room was very busy. We were called about 25 mins after our appointment time. Our interviewer was an amiable young man. We made an effort to dress nicely.

He tok us into his office, swore us in and we had a quick chat before going through the forms. We went through every field on every form, and it turns out that we both got our SSNs wrong on one form but correct on the other. He made a lot of notes on the form (such as people I was sharing a house with before I bought my current house - and before I got together with my husband). He also asked for more information about the clubs I belong to.

He also asked us about how we met, where we were living at the time, and our first date. He asked about our ceremony and reception, as well as information about when and how I last entered the country. I got a bit confused because I travel internationally several times a year, and some of hte questions made it sound like they referred to the time I first entered the country to live here (back in 2006).

He didn't ask about my ex-husband, except to confirm that we were divorced.

He wasn't interested in any of the paperwork except for our passports and my birth certificate.

He didn't take my I-94.

He told us he was approving all our petitions and I'd be issued with a 2 year conditional greencard.

I burst into tears and the DH teared up as well.

He was very methodical, but also very polite and very personable.

I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and we can really begin our lives together.

Thank you to everybody who has been on this journey with us. This site has been such a support!

Approved! Will provide review of the interview / local office and update mytimeline. :-) No issues at all.

My I-94 is valid until 2015, although my visa expired in September last year. The MN DMV accepts your I-797 and gives you a 6 month extension. My 6 month extension ends a month after my AOS interview (tomorrow) - so they are cutting it fine!

I also did a travelocity search, and it's about $300 cheaper to fly from VT than from CA, however it looks to bet between 90 min - 2 hour drive each way between Montreal and Burlington, so for me personally a total of 3 - 4 hours in the car, + car hire expenses, gas, and potentially airport parking fees to me wouldn't make it worthwhile. But that's just my personal opinion (and something they might consider at the border).

If you haven't bought the tickets, I'd cough up the extra $$ and save yourself the stress and hassle. If you have bought the tickets, then try and make sure your i's are dotted and your tees are crossed, and if possible organize some business in the US on your return, or on your exit and re-entry.

Hmmm, the USCIS site states that certain persons may transit through the US with a B1 visa, so if you can perhaps prove that you'll just be in transit (i.e your car is parked in the airport parking lot, or you have a rental booked for your return journey with a drop off in CA) then you might be ok. If you also keep receipts from purchasing gas for your car on the day you leave to drive to VT, then that might also show that you're there temporarily, as you drove to the airport from CA on the same day your flight was departing.

If you have permanent residency in Switzerland and don't feel at home in India, are you going to move back to Switzerland with your husband if the US doesn't work out?

2 questions:

1. Which Burlington? There are towns called Burlington all over the US.

2. Why? Why not fly out from Montreal, if that's where you live?

Thanks guys, and Yes for the recordm we're both in US and are planning this and hoping it will go through well. And how long does this normally take after the applications have been submitted for me to get a greencard?

Read the previous post. Valerie said 3-4 months, though it can take longer.

That makes me feel better!

I wouldn't stress, you'll get it all soon enough. :-)