Fr8dog

7 hours ago, Bernardo Machado said:

Hello There!

 

How % you used from this credit cards in this past 3 years? Was always 10%, more then 30%, what you did?

I always try to keep the total amount down to a minimum. When I only had one card it would occasionally be above 30% by the time the figures were reported to the credit bureaus. But most times it was below 30%. Since getting more cards (with higher limits) it is usually between 0 and 15%. Those times it did go above 30% I would only see a hit of 5 to 6 points. The score would than bounce back to the previous score the next month.

The biggest hit I got was when I got the car loan and the finance officer at the dealer ran 6 applications against my wishes. It showed up as 6 hard inquiries even though it is not supposed to do that). The loan balance had a big impact of course. I took about a 30 point hit but is bounced back in about 4 months.

I was looking for that one but could not find it. In that case, CA appears to demand it (though their DMV site claims its a federal requirement). Though I seriously doubt there is a legal base for that.

There are/were 3 options in California.

Real ID.
Always requires a minimum of EAD and SSN (This is a federal requirement not a state requirement)

Non Federal compliant ID
SSN is NOT required but must be provided if you have one plus I-797 Notice of action.

AB-60
No legal presence documents required.


The Non Federal compliant ID may no longer be available.

I was asked for my passport (one of the very view things she wanted to see). But a valid one is not required, just bring your expired passports with you.

This will have no impact on your N400!!!!

I know this for a fact since I got on after filing and disclosed it during the interview. She asked me how much that was and than chuckled.
Disclose it on the form or during the interview if you have already filed.

During the interview, they will go over every question with you again and you can correct and or add any info at that time.

Does he have any indication where his file is?
What messages/steps did he get on the ROC and his N400
should be something like:
NOA, Biometric, Ready for interview, transfered, interview scheduled (assuming there are no RFE's)

Depending on the where his file is, the N400 usually goes something like this:
NOA, Biometric, transfered, waiting for interview, interview scheduled.

Have him ask the tier 2 of the current location of his file.
It is not uncommon to be waiting this long, but it is not the norm. It could be a case of a file missing data or being misplaced.

It's about as much fun as a root canal. Not really painful but not pleasant either.

Why would you ever volunteer for ROC if you have the option to avoid it?

Some of the drawbacks of ROC (vs straight to the 10 year card)
- Costs more money. Fees, sending the petition, printing and copying, extra appointment at the field office (time lost and travel costs)
- Takes a long time. You would not be the first one that is still waiting on ROC while the N400 window opens up.
- more changes of your file going missing or pieces getting lost.
- running into people/offices that view the 2 year card as a temporary card and therefor not seeing you as a LPR and denying you things (it's not correct but it happens).

The advantages of going the ROC route
- ............Yep, got nothing here for you!

You must provide your SSN if one has been provided.

Not having a SSN is not an issue.

Start here, apparently you can now start your application online

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/

A drivers license application does not void an AOS. Ever!!!!!!!!!!

Or you can go for the AB60 route.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses-identification-cards/assembly-bill-ab-60-driver-licenses/

https://uk.usembassy.gov/information-for-nonimmigrant-visa-applicants-following-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/

...........If you do not fall under one of the exemptions to Presidential Proclamation but you have a humanitarian need for travel, such as for critical medical treatment, or you think you may qualify for another possible exception, please click here to contact us. Please select whether your inquiry is in relation to an immigrant or non-immigrant visa and then select “My inquiry is not covered by information on your website” on the contact form. In your message, please request ‘National Interest consideration,’ briefly outline your reason for travel, and state whether you currently have a valid visa, a valid ESTA or neither....

She can always try but I'm not hopeful.

Mine was extremely relaxed and almost kind of fun. Everybody was really polite and pleasant. All other times I was there people were always polite and professional, but somehow it felt different for this one.
Handed over my passport and green card, was sworn in, answered 6 questions. Read a sentence, wrote a sentence. That was the civics test (may have been 5 minutes). Went over all the question and answers on the N400 petition. Some were updated, some were corrected, some were captured incorrect. And that was it. whole thing took like 15 to 20 minutes.
I was her third and last interview of the day and she found it interesting that all 3 of us were Dutch and all three of us were there for the N400.
She explained why my AOS had not been approved yet and that she would do that after the interview and than would proceed with the approval of the N400. I had a 30 minute drive back to my house and got the approved AOS message before I pulled into the neighborhood.
I hope you get the same treatment. It was refreshing.

The oath ceremony was almost ridiculous. It was one of the first ones after the full lock-down and they went out of there way to get people through. Missing documents, incorrectly filled out. Everything was changed on the spot and nobody got turned away.

1 hour ago, Celebi said:

This was also the link (with screenshot) we sent the HR but they still insisted on an SSN  

Ask HR for the contact info of the legal department as this is not legal and borders discrimination based on national origin. Than casually ask the person for their personal legal representative as she might just be held personal liable.

There is no legal bases for a health insurance company to demand your Social security number.

Here is a link

https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/29/politics/naturalization-fees-judge/index.html

4 hours ago, Statebriga said:

okay so your opinion matches mine.. I guess ill just pay extra.. I am cheap too but USCIS has caused me so much pain that i won't risk prolongering i751.. Rather get deported than live in anxiety for years again, even tho my case is a clean as it can be and i'm still married, but i guess i am just not so lucky.

You may want to do some more research.
I just found this one.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/29/21494628/chicago-immigration-fees-increase-judge-injunction

Not an official link but still worth some extra research

Your link is to a 2019 article.
I did find this one though
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/9/29/21494628/chicago-immigration-fees-increase-judge-injunction

9 minutes ago, Iamornext said:

They are asking for all the documents we already submitted, the lady had the documents in front of her and commented how much  we had submitted. I don’t understand why they are asking for the same document submitted. 

RFE's are triggered for a bunch of reasons and assumptions can set you up for disaster.

Read the RFE than put it aside and read it again several hours later. Also have somebody else read it without giving them your thoughts and see what they come up with. There is a good change you will end up with different views after reading it.

RFE's (as most government documents) are filled with "catch all's" and blanket statements. Just so no one can ever say "well I ws not informed of that"

Don't wonder why they want something you already sent. It may have gotten lost, it may have gotten misplaced it may have been in the wrong format. The interviewer probarbly had to transfer your file to her supervisor and al sorts of things can happen between those two desks. Start gathering the requested documents based on the RFE, not on what have sent previous.

The requested info in the RFE can list exact items or examples. If it says examples, they are just that. You may or may not have all items they give as examples. You may even have different items than are listed. sent what you have, you can't make up stuff.

When unsure about the RFE snap a picture of it (I mean the whole RFE, not just one paragraph) and post it on the forum. We have seen it numerous times where people were convinced they needed to sent one item only for the forum to spot it was something else they were looking for.

Do not forget obvious things like Drivers licenses of both of you. A passport identifies you but does not have the address. They want to see the same address on both licenses or a plausible explanation why they are not the same.

Lastly, RFE's appear to be used sometimes when someone can not make the numbers. When sending an RFE, the application is no longer counted in the stats for the USCIS.

Call if it makes you feel better. However the updates on the site are not known to be very accurate or even true.

Not needed

I did not upload the additional stuff, but brought it with me. Basically I only submitted those files that were required to let me go to the next webpage on the application. I did bring everything with me though.

The moment your N400 has been accepted (NOA), they will start the transfer of your file to the NBC. It normally takes about 10 days to get an NOA, so I'm leaning towards the "you'll be fine", but it's the USCIS so you never know. In theory there is a change that your file will be janked from the field office and sent to the NBC. Than they could decide to cancel your interview and wait for everything to come back and do a combo. It's a very small change but still a change. Personally I would change it, but than again. I'm cheap by genetics.

There are a lot of glitches in the system, it's getting better but still it happens. Keep track of your calls (time and date) and who you spoke with, also keep a record of emails and other correspondence. You correctly did not assume it was glitch and contacted them about it. Now just wait and see what happens with these inquiries and follow up once in a while.

To give you a fun example of a glitch I had on my journey. My combo card was never approved. I got my conditional green card in 3 months so I never needed it. My online file showed both EAD and AP as being denied due to benefits gained from the green card. Than after about a year the AP became active again. It went through al sorts of updates every single time my file was moved or touched. Last time I checked, a few months ago, it showed pending again while my N400 showed, attended ceremony, certificate issued.

Also very really where the notifications on Myuscis and egov accounts in sync. one would say interview scheduled while the other would state petition received.

Unless they separated the two of you during the initial interview, I wouldn't worry too much about it (and even if they did as stated above refusals are rare). It's up to them to proof you are not legit inorder to be denied, not for you to proof you are legit to be approved.

If they do decide to sent you an RFE don't worry about that either. RFE applications are no longer counted in the official backlog and some feel (including me) they are used on occasion to make the numbers look better. Just respond to the RFE even if it asks for stuff already submitted and continue to wait.

They have around 120 days to make a decision so unfortunately you are nowhere near being outside of "normal" times.

As long as you have your combo card there is nothing preventing you from continuing with your life. Do not let this process control your life (easier said than done, but still).

15 hours ago, pablo2752 said:

Just got the letter. It says that I am registered into the SSS system and that I should keep the letter as the proof. 

 

I think that given there is a small chance I might get my green card before my 26th birthday, it'd be a waste of time and money to send them a proof of my F1 status only to re-register. 

As far as I know it's fine to be registered even you are not required to be.

     Keep the letter with the rest of your stuff and leave it at that.

You may need the letter by the time you're filing for the N400.

except for the I-129F, all documents I filed with them I have had NA or N/A for the first part of a section/question only. Never had a problem with it.

You got yourself in a little mess there but nothing that cannot be cleaned up I think.

To get a state ID in Arkansas you need to have the I-551 stamp and a piece of evidence from the second category.

https://www.dfa.arkansas.gov/images/uploads/driverServicesOffice/ProofOfLegalPresenceandId.pdf

To get into a field office for your I-551 you need to show ID. an expired green card (plus your new letter) should do the trick, but it may not.

You stated you filed a new I-751 and got an extension letter with that. Until that application gets a decision, all computer systems will show you are legally in the country.

You do want to get a new passport regardless.

Start working on that as well.

Assuming you are at the ROC part. Affidavits are not required.

Nowhere in the instructions does it say they are. It just lists them as an example of what you could sent in.

They want evidence that you are a couple. Most people use financial evidence for that and back it up with some other day to day info.

We got approved without any shared finances (though we file tax married) or any photos and no affidavits. But I did include a bunch of stuff of me with the kids (from her previous marriage).

We did get an interview, but that was because we did not have one for the AOS and they lost a bunch of stuff from my file.

Edit:

Checking the municipalities website will most likely work better than calling. Do not expect to get correct info from the switchboard operator or even person answering the phone if you get transferred to the correct department. Most if the first and second line employees are temps.

Work backwards. Start at the end result and see what you need to do to get there.

For instance, it is very likely that you do not need a visa to get into the Netherlands and can apply for a residence permit while in the Netherlands without getting married or registered partnership

The IND site will guide you through the process by answering questions and giving you list of required documents.