drpepper1109

I normally try World Market. Luckily, the Kroger at the end of the road has been revamped and is slowly starting English foods. So far, we only have Bounty in the choc section.

There's a guy in the next town over from us who has a store that mainly does online ordering, but has the store as well. I popped in there with plans to buy TONS of stuff and enjoy future visits. Unfortunately, he was rude and didn't even want to make conversation. So, I left and he's lost out on alot of $$$!

We have a Kroger near us and, as of yet, nothing. No Bountys, no English stuff....nothing.

Also, I'd NEVER seen the UK stuff before in Kroger. I would just look in the "International" or "Mexican Foods" isle and it's there. Very small section.

In Houston, we get PBS which shows Eastenders (x2 episodes) every Sunday. They're from Nov 2001 at the mo, but still better than nothing.

the USCIS send me RFE papers, and i just want make sure that everything is alright cuz we have some problems about the RFE, so i need a immgration lawyer advice for doing the best, so if u got experince with good one who knows his job right, please send me msg am living in small town in iowa, so i have to be calling for legal advice on the phone, so i really appericate anybodies help out here

We used Holmes and Lolly (http://www.fianceevisas.com/). They were always useful and helped us out when we needed information.

HI!

Just wondering if anyone has enquired as to the criteria that has USCIS transfer the file to CSC? I mean, is it based on country of immigrant? Age? Quality/Quantity of materials filed! Is there some common denominator?

I'm just curious if there is anything I can do to speed the process up!

Thanks again!

I heard that it's if your case is convincing or solid enough that they don't feel the need to interview to find out more information. This doesn't mean that those who do get interviewed have a poor case, just that whoever's reviewing it might want to check it out.

Another idea was that some places are too busy and back logged that they send a load of files to the CSC for quicker processing. These would be the well prepared cases where the applicants have provided enough evidence.

Just my opinion. I would be interested in anyone elses thoughts.

Another touch today! A bit later in the day than the others have been. I wonder what's going on...

All that touching and today, nada.. I feel sooo unwanted again

Well, they've been known to work till 9pm! So, you still have a few hours yet.

Another touch for me today.

Just waiting on that approval!

I am also touched today! And so early in the morning! Here's hoping for an approval!

Well this is just too much for me. After 6 months of absolutely nothing. I was touched again today. Me thinks a satchel was lost somewhere or just plain forgotten to be sent, hence all these early - mid september transferees getting the emails yesterday about CSC receiving the files. Honestly, I think when they found Katie_UK's file they found the others as well. Just a theory.....

Kaffy,

I was also touched again today after almost nothing until yesterday! I agree with your theory about Katie's file. It has to be true!

Fingers crossed! I have a good feeling about this.

I finally got an email back from CSC saying that we are waiting on FBI namecheck and, like has been said before, there is nothing they can do to speed this up. At least someone finally talked to me!

Hey!

I just got an email reply from the CSC today saying the same thing. I hope it won't be long!

James.

WOW looks like someone is alive at CSC. Finally after nothing since September 14th when my AOS was transferred to CSC I get 3 emails this afternoon.

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: This case is now pending at the office to which it was transferred.

The I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS that was transferred to our CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER location is now pending there. You will be notified by mail when a decision is made, or if the office needs something from you. If you move while this case is pending, call customer service. We process cases in the order we receive them. You can use our processing dates to estimate when this case will be done, counting from when USCIS received it. This case is at our CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER location. Follow the link below to check processing dates. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

If you have questions or concerns about your application or the case status results listed above, or if you have not received a decision from USCIS within the current processing time listed*, please contact USCIS Customer Service at (800) 375-5283.

*Current processing times can be found on the USCIS website at www.uscis.gov under Case Status & Processing Dates.

*** Please do not respond to this e-mail message.

Sincerely,

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

All I can say is about bloody time. Do I dare dream that a trip home in June may be possible??? Hope all the others there at the top of the list with me get some news soon too. Karen and Joel I'll be watching for you guys.

That's the exact same email I got today. I had also been waiting since 14th September! I also got a reply from the email I sent them. The reply arrived this afternoon and said that I am waiting for the FBI name check, which they "have NO control over". It's something!

Hi all!

Here's some promising news. I got touched today with an update. My case is now "pending" at the CSC! I guess my email a couple of weeks ago helped. This is the first change since the transfer notice in September.

James.

drpepper1109,

My comment was not on British immigration POLICIES, I praised the UK Immigration system for the speed at which they process *most* applications including Settlement due to marriage.

But I completely agree with you on the policies part, educated and technically skilled people find it way more difficult to come to UK than those who can't even speak English!

Sorry! My bad.

I get asked all the time by people i work with if I like living here, and lately I've really had to stop and think, well do I? I come from a country in my opinion just as good as the USA and the only reason I moved here was for my husband ( after all he lived in England a long time and wanted to come "home") so sometimes I wonder why we didn't just stay in England.

katie_UK,

There is no doubt that the UK is as good as the USA, if not better! And the UK immigration system (at least in terms of efficiency) is a thousand times better than the US system...I say that from experience!

I'm sorry, but there is no way the UK immigration system is better than any! It has to be one of the worst. It's almost an open door policy to any country that's first language is not english!

I came back from visiting the U.S. last year and I actually stepped over the taped line...the woman told me to step back past the line, only to call me back immediately! POWER TRIP! What's she gonna do?! Ban me from entering my own country?! It's a joke!

You would think with the amount that is charged for the application fees that we'd get a better service. I don't like the idea that you get feedback on the phone or via email (to the CSC) based on which employee answers. It should be one or the other; feedback or nothing. I know there's alot of people who are getting their pennies worth, hence their rapid approvals.

So far, I'm 5th on the list of people waiting and just hope I don't go any higher!

This has made me paranoid! I'll just buy some cats! They'll kill any intruders!

Jenna,

I got my license using my EAD as ID. It expires in Oct 2007, but my license has an exp. of 2013! If you are yet to get an EAD, you can drive on your UK license for upto 1 year. I did this for 4 months before getting my TX license. The car insurance company also had no problem insuring me using my UK license.

James.

I always go with Lastminute.com. Whoever is cheaper, goto their own website and the tickets are cheaper there. If you're ever going US->UK, priceline.com is good also.

On a side note, when your other half does fly in when he moves out here, don't fly into Houston! I did and it was a pain. Of course, if you have no other choice. That's just my experience.

I normally try World Market. Luckily, the Kroger at the end of the road has been revamped and is slowly starting English foods. So far, we only have Bounty in the choc section.

There's a guy in the next town over from us who has a store that mainly does online ordering, but has the store as well. I popped in there with plans to buy TONS of stuff and enjoy future visits. Unfortunately, he was rude and didn't even want to make conversation. So, I left and he's lost out on alot of $$$!

Hi,

Can you please add: James (UKC/drpepper1109) and Lauren (USC) in Houston, TX.

I'm from Berkshire, if that can be added.

Thanks,

James.

James, my infopass appointment actually went well I think! I wrote about it in another thread, I think the CSC processing dates thread or summat like that. ANyway the officer I had was marvellous I cannot praise her enough, one of the loveliest encounters I've had with immigration! ANyway basically she said that on her computer she saw my file as being in the national records centre in lee's summit. I handed her my receipt notice from california and she told me it had been to california and the was sent back to "the vault" as she called it and is now locked away somewhere. She believes this means I was approved without interview but that someone forgot to order my greencard. She requested to have my file sent to her in St. Louis and told me to make another infopass for this friday as she'll have my file by then.

I also got touched on my AOS yesterday which is rather exciting as the last time was 09/15/2006!

Good luck with everyone's cases, I do hope my case has seen an approval, I'll definitely check back in on friday after my other infopass. And I do hope everyone else high up on the list gets touches and approvals galore!!

BTW drpepper1109 did you ever make an infopass or anything on your case?

Katie

Well, that's cool. Things are looking up!

I did not make an InfoPass appointment yet, but I'm gonna have to now. Do you go there in person or is it a phone call? When I was on the website, it looked like an in person visit.

Maybe my touch was because my file was sat next to yours in the vault?! My last touch was about the same time as yours.

James.

Well, my AOS and EAD (which was approved in Oct) were both touched today (2/10/07)! No change to description, just the touch. Possibly a glitch.

I have the same concerns as others as my medical was in January 2006, so I hope I don't have to re-take as it was expensive in London!

Katie, how did you get on with InfoPass???

The Texas DMV advised me I could drive with my UK license for 1 year after arriving in the USA. I saved her email as evidence, incase there was ever an issue. The car insurance company where happy to put my UK license number on the docs.

When I applied for my Texas license, they used my EAD as ID. The expiration on my license in 2013, which has nothing to do with the 2007 date on my EAD. I don't have my greencard yet, so that couldn't come into play.

James.

Since someone who's above me (M.) was finally approved the other day, maybe I'm expecting an approval within the next week?! Fingers crossed! If the dates mean anything.

It's just so frustrating having to wait for much longer than others. I am guessing this is due to the FBI name check. Are they checking what you've done since entering the USA? It can't be anything before that because we've had that. Someone at a job agency told me there are NINETEEN other people in the town I live with the same name! That is not good news!!!

If there's a way to Infopass over the phone, I want to know about it! I know that 1.5 hours driving each way (assuming no traffic) isn't as far as some have to go to their district office, but it's far enough to be really inconvenient. Unfortunately, in person is the only way I'm aware of to have an Infopass appointment.

Hang in there -- we're in the same FBI name check boat that you are.

Mine's about the same! The Houston office is about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on traffic! I'm sure I've read the people have called InfoPass to discuss, but the option is not on their site.