Katyusha.russia

Hi everyone. So, I went thru my interview today.  I passed the Civics and English language test. The adjudicator recommended me for approval. And I already see the changes in my case status on the www.egov.uscis.gov website. 
 

The whole interview experience was a bit confusing. But I believe this is because of the officer’s personality. He was trying to rush the process constantly watching on the wall clock and was unorganized jumping from one thing to another.  And he was mumbling and reading the questions really fast. So, I would definitely recommend reviewing some interview simulation videos that are available on youtube, just to have an idea what questions you can be asked. Also, he had some technical issues with his computer during my interview. But in the end he approved my application which was the only thing that I cared about. Alltogether it took about 30 minutes. He gave me a paper where he marked that I passed the English language and American history tests, and also the part that my application was recommended for approval. He advised that I should receive a letter in mail within 2- 4 weeks. Let’s see   I am very happy that this part is over. Hopefully they approve it after the quality review and it will be done.
Anyway, I want to say thank you to all you guys for support and help in this long and difficult process, and wish you all good luck and easy interview process.  
 
 
 
 

wow congrats!

Hearty Congrats !

Hi everyone. So, I went thru my interview today.  I passed the Civics and English language test. The adjudicator recommended me for approval. And I already see the changes in my case status on the www.egov.uscis.gov website. 
 

The whole interview experience was a bit confusing. But I believe this is because of the officer’s personality. He was trying to rush the process constantly watching on the wall clock and was unorganized jumping from one thing to another.  And he was mumbling and reading the questions really fast. So, I would definitely recommend reviewing some interview simulation videos that are available on youtube, just to have an idea what questions you can be asked. Also, he had some technical issues with his computer during my interview. But in the end he approved my application which was the only thing that I cared about. Alltogether it took about 30 minutes. He gave me a paper where he marked that I passed the English language and American history tests, and also the part that my application was recommended for approval. He advised that I should receive a letter in mail within 2- 4 weeks. Let’s see   I am very happy that this part is over. Hopefully they approve it after the quality review and it will be done.
Anyway, I want to say thank you to all you guys for support and help in this long and difficult process, and wish you all good luck and easy interview process.  
 
 
 
 

Congrats!!!!!

Congratulations

Thank you! My Field Office is in Greer, SC

My interview was scheduled for 04/30. Shean and Kristina: could you please update the table? Thanks. 

My interview was scheduled for 04/30. Shean and Kristina: could you please update the table? Thanks. 

No way!!!!!!! Congratz!!!!!😍😍😍😍😍

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to share my news. I've got an approval on Jan.04. I am a September 2017 filer (NOA - 09/26/2017), EAC 17363..... No RFE, no interview. Thank you so much for all your support.  It really helped to go thru this stressful journey.  And I wish all the best to those who are still waiting!  

Hi everyone,
Just wanted to share my news. I've got an approval on Jan.04. I am a September 2017 filer (NOA - 09/26/2017), EAC 17363..... No RFE, no interview. Thank you so much for all your support.  It really helped to go thru this stressful journey.  And I wish all the best to those who are still waiting!  

I got my passport with visa and yellow envelope with documents today. It took 6 days after my interview. Going to pay green card fee.
Finally my immigration journey is finished. Well, at least for couple years
Flying to my hubby next week!
Thank you Visajourney friends for all your help and support!
I wish good luck to everyone who is still in the process!

Well the green card is weeks away. Has your husband changed his address on uscis.gov? Also when you arrive at POE you tell the CBP(Immigration officer) your new address.
Also when you pay your $165 Green Card production fee you also will be verifying the address the card goes too. So many places to check. No need to contact the embassy they have nothing to do with it.
By the way congratulations on your approval. Mercies Journeys to you and Welcome to America.

Guys, we were approved after 283 days...
thanks for all your support, prayers and good vibes!!
UnaMexicana

The advice is to expect 10 months and be happy with 5. It looks like you'll get through in 3.5 or 4. The quickest CSC turnaround has been 4 days. Texas Service Center is *averaging* 218 days just for NOA2 (see here: CSC is averaging 31, so 55 isn't really all too far off when you factor in the RFE http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1historical).There are still September 2014 folks waiting for NOA2, and nothing after November 2014 has been touched yet. I'd be counting my blessings, all 55 of them, in your shoes.

I think that people keep mentioning that you could get a job, not because they're telling you what the solution to your problem is, but because you are going to have to prove "extreme hardship" to get the waiver. What you're describing isn't "extreme hardship" because you DO have options---and one of them is for you to get a job. You may not like the job, it may keep you from your family etc, but that's not "extreme hardship" that's being dissatisfied with your current employment and lifestyle which is something that many, many people are. People here are telling you how it's going to look to the decision makers, and I'm inclined to agree. It doesn't mean you can't try, or shouldn't try. But that this approach does not seem to be a winning one.
As for " How can you say someone has been here illegally, when they have always been truthful about their immigration status and have seeked legal help." Because, I'm sorry to say, he IS here illegally and that is why he's having problems. He had a visitor's visa, and he stayed longer than that visa allowed. That is the literal definition of being in a country illegally, and is how the majority of illegal immigrants are here. Yes he tried to get help to avoid that happening, but that help failed. Yes, he's always been honest about it and has been trying to legalize his status, but that still doesn't mean that he is here legally. In fact, if someone is working to become legal, logic shows that they are actually not legal.
So yes,you can try to prove extreme hardship, and you should try. But it sounds like the reasons you're giving aren't going to work. He doesn't have a life to go to in Fiji-- yep, that's a "normal hardship"--most deportees don't have lives to go back to either. You depend on him for money-- yep, "normal" as well. Just about every adult has people depending on them for either money or support (such as childcare/elder care etc). It's especially thin because your household has a third adult--you-- who *could* get a job to support the family. That's something that a lot of deportee's families don't have. I'm not trying to be harsh, and I don't think anyone else is either. Just letting you know how it's going to present to the decision makers.

I don't know your culture and I can't relate? Just because my wife is Filipino and I am American doesn't mean I don't know your culture. I have lived, worked, and resided around Pakistanis,Indians(both North and South Indians), and Nepalis for many years now. I know about the culture and the taboos that are associated with it.
We have tried to help and figure out your father's case for you, but you don't want to take our advice. You just want to belittle us for asking questions and trying to give you some tough love. You want to act like you are the only person that has ever suffered from PTSD and Depression at the same time. I know it is tough trust me I know. I work a full time 40 hour a week job all the while going to school full time to get a Bachelor of Science degree, being a father to my 3 kids and a husband to my wonderful wife.

Yes, your father came here Legally on a visa, he was here Illegally as soon as his visa expired. He then committed a felony and that is the big reason for him to be deported right now. Yes he committed it because he was found guilty of the crime. So he has shown to have morality problem and which the US does not want immigrants with morality issues.
You say you have PTSD and Depression.WELL THAT DOES NOT STOP YOU FROM WORKING AT ALL IN ORDER TO SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY. As I have stated before I suffer from PTSD as well but due to being in Combat in Iraq, I suffered from depression as well for a couple years until I found it in myself to get above that. There are many Combat Veterans like myself who suffer from PTSD and still work in order to provide for our families.
I know people from my time in the Marine Corps that take care of their parents while they are in the Military, and thus the parent is considered the dependent for all intensive purposes. Just because you might have to deploy and be away from your mother for a period of time doesn't mean you shouldn't join.
The point I am trying to make is that you need to go out and WORK. Make more than $350 a week which is well below the poverty level. Get some skills and start supporting yourself, stop pouting about the whoa is me stuff.

I know you are coming on this site to try and get help for your father in hopes to starve off deportation, but you have to realize the vast majority of people on this site are trying to navigate this process legally. So don't be surprised that some people are a little pissed that your father gamed the system and is now trying to stay here indefinitely.
Also I think there is more than what has already been put out if your father was sentenced to a year in prison for DV. I know you say that there was a misunderstanding and he was wrongfully arrested, but if he was wrongfully arrested he could have fought it an won. I know that for a fact because that happened to me with my x-wife, there was a verbal fight and she started swinging on me, I pushed her away and she fell and hurt her back. I take her to the ER and then I am arrested for DV and sent to jail for an automatic 48 hours for a "cooling off period". I fought it in court with no lawyer and it was dropped. So yes it can be done.
Also you say you have PTSD and that's why you can not work. Don't try and play that on here please. There are numerous people that have varying degrees of PTSD that go on with daily life. I am suffering from Combat related PTSD that is verified by the VA and I am living my life and working in order to support my 3 kids and my wife, all the while fighting the demons that are waiting for me when I close my eyes at night.
You are 18/19 years old, pull up your big boy pants and help support your mother. Join the military and add your mother as a dependent so she can get medical she needs. When I was 19 years old in 2003 I was in the Marine Corps and preparing to join the invasion of Iraq. So your idea that you are only 19 doesn't hold weight with me at all.
Sorry I am tough but it is tough love.

Hi guys. I want to share my experience. I hope it helps somebody.
I flew to the US in December 2014 on a tourist visa to visit my husband for Christmas and New Year while waiting for our I-130 to be approved. I had prepared for my trip (letter from my employer with the statement that I was a current employee and was on vacation in that period, my property certificate, my car title documents+translations).
I worried a lot not just because we started the immigration process but also because I had to renew my passport before my trip as I took my husband's last name and my old passport was going to expire in December. So, my tourist visa was issued on my maiden name and it was in the expired passport. As I found an info on the US Embassy site in that case you need to have with you both passports (old and new) and your marriage certificate (in case of your last name change). But Delta Airlines representative who was checking me in to the flight from Germany to the US didn't want to do that because my visa was issued on my maiden name. I was lucky to get an assistance of another Delta airlines security officer. He found the US Embassy representative right at the airport, who checked my documents and in 2 seconds said "OK". I didn't know that in big airports like Frankfurt they have Embassy representatives who can resolve problems like mine.
I was very nervious during my 9 hours trip to the US. But once I was at the Point of entry in Chicago the CBP officer asked me:
1) What is your purpose of visit? I said I was visiting my husband.
2) Where does your husband live? I said in the US
3) Where do you live? I said in Russia. Then he just noticed "Oh, it must be hard to have a long distance relationship". I answered "Yes, it is. We are travelling back and forth to see each other".
4) How long will you stay in the US? I said "Untill January 31".
I noticed I could show him my marriage certificate cause my current last name didn't match my visa info? He just waved (meaning he didn't need it) and told me "Welcome to the US"
That was it!

So had my interview today and was approved, and whilst obviosuly happy this post is not about that, I write this for all those still waiting at TSC, you are not forgotten my friends!
I know the disparity between TSC and CSC processing times isn't exactly the biggest injustice in the world, but it is staggering that an organisation with the funding and size of USCIS can't sort it's s**t out, processing some people in a month while others in a year, for no other reason that geographical location.
I've been through almost a year of hell waiting at TSC while others sail through at CSC in a month or two. And you can say well its over now, or it will soon be forgotten, but I don't forget, and it will take a while for the scars to heal.
Am i being dramatic, well yeah a bit, a lot worse happens in the world, but thats not the point. Being seperated from your loved one for a year while others only face a couple months apart, when those people are paying the same for the same process is ridiculous. There are STILL people waiting at TSC who applied the sae time as me, so this is for you, I feel your pain, I'm praying for you and you are not forgotten, apart from by those working at TSC. For those at TSC, good luck, and god bless, I made it, just, you will too.

Congratulations! I bet it's the best coming Christmas gift for you two