cjbaker16

I knew today would be a good day... a notification popped up on my phone "New Card Is Being Produced"

NOA 21 OCT 2016

I received a text message yesterday from USCIS advising they were still reviewing case and no action had been taken since 21 March 2018. A few days prior to this I received the same text message that said no action had been taken since December 2016 (my appointment biometric date)

Good luck to everyone else 

Hi! I called USCIS yesterday with a simple question about my case which ended up in me being transferred to a tier 2 officer (without even requesting). The tier 2 officer advised that from what he could see CSC were working on applications lodged 20 October 2016 and gave me the speech about their online reporting system that we see isn't always 100% accurate. He told me that the cases were transferred to local offices because of the backlog and that it is likely someone is already working on my application (NOA 21 October 2016). He also advised that it's a multi-player process to approval - they conduct appropriate background checks with other government agencies and sometimes that slows the process down on an individual case basis - I thought that point was particularly of interest with a lot of people wondering how and why cases ahead of theirs are approved sometimes. 

He also couldn't tell me if I would be scheduled for an interview but stated that most I-751 applications do require interview. That's the one thing that seems to stay consistent no matter who you speak with, the implied need for an interview on a broader level. 

The last piece of advice he gave me is the WAC receipt number for the I-751 is the one to be checking. Previously the WAC number for the CRI-89 was the one to watch but they have had a change in how they report/record case work. 

I had to dust off the I-751 application we sent in to refresh my memory of everything submitted since it's been that long. It was a nice little 5 minute trip down memory lane. 

I had recently attended a USCIS discussion through my work and I raised a question about the long processing times for ROC (using a work opportunity to try and gain some insight) - I was able to speak to someone who advised me that my application was on track to be approved by November this year (lodged in CSC). I really wanted to know more about how their processing timeframes work because it seems to be all over the place. I was only told that they are moving toward a better and more accurate reporting system as the one in place now heavily relies on the USCIS adjuticating officer inputting data. That didn't really make sense to me because I almost thought that perhaps not ALL officers input application data which could explain why applications lodged ahead of ones showing on their case processing are being approved.

I was reminded that USCIS is completely applicant funded and so they run it like a business and are here to impove and provide better customer service. I think a lot can be said about that statement but, anyways.

Hi! It's been a while since but now it's time for my AOS to go from conditional permanent resident to the 10 year one (hopefully). I received my letter the other week and in the month's leading up to this point I have started pulling everything together to get ready to file.

I think I have it pretty well covered on what needs to be filed but I was wondering if anyone would be able to talk me through the process of what happens once you send the forms off? I know this has probably been posted MANY times over but I am weary of processes changing and to be honest, I could spend hours reading everyone's posts because there's so much (valuable) information.

I have pulled together thus far;

- apartment lease agreement

- joint car purchase

- travel documents / tickets / photos

- 401K beneficiary policy

- joint car insurance policy

- joint IRS tax filing documents

- photos

- cards (birthday, valentine etc.)

- letters from friends who have known us together as a couple during the 2 year period since last interview

If there's anything else I am missing I would love to know and also to know about what happens - do you attend another Biometrics? Do you need to attend an interview again? How many interviews? Is it more or less stressful than the initial interview?

Thank you so much! (Sorry for being repetitive).

I can vouch for everyone else, I didn't need anything I took with me - it was more an annoyance carrying around such a heavy folder full of stuff but obviously you would take it anyway.

Good luck!

Congratulations… and they're so easy going there - as long as you're prepared and genuine which is obviously the case!

Lodged August 2013

USCIS approved September 2013

Embassy Interview November 2013 > approved

Left Australia February 2014

All up 6 months, but I was very pushy with this and it was top priority.

will ask a mate of mine in LA

cheers

Thank you!!!

Hello

Can anyone recommend or suggest any recruitment and temp agencies I should try in the Los Angeles area? I have been googling but if someone knows a good place I would love the suggestion.

My experience is 8 years in HR, Finance and General Admin .... if that helps respond to my question.

Thank yooooouuuuu

So, I booked my ONE WAY ticket last night to LA.... and I have never felt more nervous and excited in my whole life. I said to my housemate "buying this ticket isn't just buying a plane ticket, it's changing my life. It's sending me away from home, friends and family to get married and live with my love" - maybe a little over the top, but still it's huge.

Andrew couldn't be happier. We had discussed dates and we agreed to two dates so I randomly booked this and sent him a screenshot of the confirmation from Virgin. Best surprise ever!

Now I need to get my mind into thinking about what I call "part 2" of the whole process and all the forms associated with that. Ugh - what a downer on the whole excitement of it all.

Looks like I will have a near Valentine's Day wedding - nice and cozy weather

Edit: Oh, I leave Wednesday February 5, 2014

Thank you. It will probably work out cheaper to just buy a new bed there.

I don't want to sound like a snob because I'm really not but I refuse to fly United. I did that once and never ever ever, ever again. Ever.

This is probably duplicating previous posts but I guess for current info ... what are the costs involved for shipping and which companies do this?

Basically, I want to send my bed over. It sounds stupid but I am kind of attached to it. I figure we need to buy a new bed there, so if the costs weren't toooooo bad, it might be worth considering.

I wouldn't send the mattress but I want the bed frame.

I called Virgin and asked about taking additional baggage. It's $150 for an additional 23kg suitcase. I figure that will work out cheaper than posting and at least I don't have to wait, it will be with me.

I have gotten rid of everything else or leaving other stuff behind with my housemates. But I want my bed........

Side note I am also OUTRAGED at the cost of a one way ticket. I suspect I will buy a return ticket and just not obviously return

So incredibly happy for you -- just got chills!!! I'll be heading down to Sydney early next year for my interview; glad it was a nice smooth process for you. Being in a same sex relationship myself I was worried about the actual interivew part Good luck with your upcoming adventure <3

Good luck with yours!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Welcome to the US!

Thank you and thank you for answering my millions of annoying questions!

Awesomeness!! Really happy for you both. February will be here in no time....it is already December next week!

I know, it seems far but it's not really. So much to organise now too.

Congratulations so excited for u. Can I please ask that when u sent packet 3 back what exactly did u send ? Do we need to send everything on the DSL 1076? Like police and. Medical etc or do we take it to interview .. Thanks and congrats again

I sent back all the forms they requested, police report and I sent back a copy of my medical appointment confirmation and deposit payment receipt - I sent back packet 3 the day prior to my medical and to secure the medical booking I needed to pay a deposit. So I had that information to send back. I took my sealed medical results with me to the interview, as requested in packet 4. I am pretty sure that's the way most people do it.

Congrats! I think you must have been the interview before my fiancé! I'm sure you are still all cloud 9!

Oh really? Were you there too??

Thank you to all other comments So happy now. So much more relaxed too, both of us.

A p p r o v e d ... kinda like the Lady Gaga song Applause, but "approved".

YAY!

The first thing I did was call Andrew and no word of a lie shouted in the street "I AM MOVING TO CALIFORNIA TO BE WITH YOU"

I went to Darling Harbour afterwards and had many, many wines.

We have even pinned an approx time period for me to leave of early Feb. On the one hand seems far away but on the other not so far away. We are just SO happy to have been approved. I need a "So you're leaving Australia" checklist of things to do / organise.

The lady at the interview told me we are the first same sex couple to be approved from Sydney. I asked her twice and she said yes. Is this actually true? I mean, why would they lie to me?

Packet 3 is emailed. I've never heard of anyone not supplying their email address so I don't know what they would do in your situation. You could contact the Sydney consulate with your case number and ask them what to do. Are you sure you didn't include an email address anywhere in the I-129f or the G-1145?

Yes you can get your police check and medical. What state do you live in? This affects your other question (whether they are sent direct to the consulate or to you).

Edit - cjbaker beat me to it!

Oops haha. I almost wasn't going to reply but then I thought, people helped me when I need it so share what I know!!

Hi guys!

This is my first post

Checked USCIS status yesterday and saw that it was in Post Decision Activity and that it was approved on Nov 18 and being shipped to NVC. My US fiance did not receive text or email about this..was he only supposed to have received text/email update if he had signed up for an account on USCIS?

Now waiting for hard copy..

Just a couple of questions

- Is Packet 3 that comes from Sydney US Consulate emailed or mailed via post to me (beneficiary)? I read that Sydney consulate emails it, but I have not provided my email address anywhere in the I-129F, nor did my US fiance, so they wouldn't have our email addresses?

- Can I get my police check and medical done before even receiving the Packet 3? Are these required to be sent back to US consulate or only bought along to the interview at the consulate?

Any other general tips regarding police and medical check?

Thanks so much!

Did you not include the G-1145 in the original submission to USCIS? We did and included my fiancee's email address, packet 3 went to that email address and then Packet 4 came to both of our email addresses. My understanding is that if they do not have an email address they will post it by mail to your postal address on the I-129F. I guess the only annoying thing about that is it will slow you down by a few days.

As for Police Report and Medical what state are you in? I am in QLD and they wouldn't accept my booking without my alien registration number / Sydney reference number. I did my medical on the Wednesday after sending packet 3 and the results were back to me by Thursday afternoon. You want to try and time your medical to as close to sending packet 3 back as possible because it's only valid for 6 months. I booked my medical the day before I sent packet 3 back to Sydney and included my booking confirmation from the medical centre (also paid the deposit and included this in packet 3).

I did my police report about a 6 weeks earlier than I could have. QLD Police advise it can take up to 2 - 4 weeks to receive the report but I had mine back within a week (apparently this is the unofficial norm). Again it probably depends on what state you're in.

Tips for police report ... wash your hands with nice smelling soap afterwards. They stuff they use to get the ink off your fingers stinks

CoNgRaTuLaTiOnS!

Packet 4 received TODAY. Interview Tuesday 26 November!

i received my packet 4 today, was a very quick turn around, i'm sure yours is on its way!

Do you know how jealous of you I am right now! lol

Well, we are almost there...

I received packet 3 from Sydney on 30 October... I spent the best part of 4 hours on 31 October doing all the paper forms and online stuff, got my picture taken, booked my medical which I had yesterday. That was an interesting experience - I felt like an alien at first with all the poking and probing then a monkey with all the movement stuff haha. I had to have one more vaccination since even though I tested immunity for Mumps and Rubella I tested not immune to Measles. I received my medical back today, all good to go.

I checked Australia Post website today, my registered post with packet 3 made it to Sydney today, delivered and signed for.

So I guess now I can just wait for packet 4.....

It literally feels like such a relief. It's been so time consuming making sure I have everything and for the most part it's been smooth but there have been little things I left out, forgot or had to chase up. I am sure as many of you know when you're in a different time zone and different days it's not easy to get the simplest answer on the spot. I have done so much running around and thankfully work have been so good to let me lead this as my main priority.

I am not even nervous about the interview. Maybe that's because it hasn't been scheduled yet... but I just feel everything is there and I am ready to answer any question thrown my way. My soon-to-be Mother-in-law messaged me today to tell me someone in her company is from Brisbane also and did the K-1 visa about 2 years ago, so she was relaying stories and messages on how she found the interview process.

My work have even started to plan a farewell party, they say it's literally that close to all happening.

I guess I just wanted to share this update and say (like many others) that this site has been my saviour. If it wasn't for the example forms, templates and advice of others we would be still back at the intial filing stage scratching our heads, or in debt to a lawyer.

Now we bicker about who will wear the dress

I ended up going to a place called Foto Fast in Brisbane and they did it there... I don't know why but this seemed to be the most complex part of packet 3 for me haha.

I can't believe how many photos you need, I just remembered I need more taken for the medical.

Hi there,

For your first question, you can do either. If you have everything ready right now, go ahead and send everything, including the DS-2301. If you don't, send the DS-2301 now and then send the package with everything else later. If you do the latter, send another copy of the DS-2301 just in case they don't match up your package with the first copy.

For the medical, I would just note on the checklist that the medical is being sent direct to the consulate. Don't worry, they deal with this all the time.

Will they accept a medical appointment confirmation slip and email to verify I have an appointment made for the near future so I can send packet 3 back now?

Sorry if this has been covered already (probably many times I am sure) but I received my packet 3 from Sydney this morning and I am kind of unsure what is the best way to get a photo to upload to the DS-160?

I assume a passport photo taken at the post office would be most suitable ... but what is the best way to upload it?

Or does anyone have any suggestions on how they did theirs?

Any help would be appreciated.

It's too hard to plan a proper wedding when you're apart and of course, how could you plan properly when you don't even know if you're fully approved.

$1070 for AOS! OMG... I thought it was about half that.

You're definitely not alone in this thought process to hold something small and something big later. It's a little unfortunate though it has to be this way for so many but I suppose being grateful it's even an option is good enough!

Haven't got an interview date yet -- still waiting on it

How long did it take you to get your packet 3??? If you don't mind me asking...