lesleypowers

4 hours ago, Dashinka said:

I agree, the N400 instructions are pretty clear regarding the list of evidence that is required for the interview which is usually repeated on the interview NOA.  Even if that evidence is attached online, it should still be taken to the interview.  As to surrendering the cards the OP may have received, it is my understanding that this happens at the oath ceremony, at least that is where they asked my wife for her EAD and GC.

 

To the OP, sorry you had a less than stellar experience.  It is up to you if you want to file a complaint after your oath ceremony, but at the very least, please provide a field office review here on VJ.

 

https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/

 

Good Luck!

 

 

I totally understand- I was provided with a list of evidence that was required, and I brought all of it to the interview. My concern was that she then asked for a wealth of evidence that was not requested. She seemed to admit this wasn't standard because she actually looked at the letter and said "I can see it doesn't ask for it, but I don't care". In addition when I did provide it she picked it apart in strange ways (for example, our lease renewal was signed by the office manager and not the property owner which she felt invalidated the document). She also quizzed me on things beyond the civics test (lines from the pledge of allegiance, etc). Ultimately it felt that she was deliberately trying to find any reason to decline me.

Anyway, thanks for the well wishes! I'm not sure if I'll complain or not- I'll certainly wait until after naturalization, though. I'll provide a review when I get a minute!

1 minute ago, Luckycuds said:

I would report it if I were you. I would probably wait until I was naturalized  however. I’m sorry you had that experience.

Oh yeah, I'll definitely wait until the Naturalization ceremony! I also forgot she quizzed me beyond my 6 questions on specific lines from the pledge of allegiance which I don't think is supposed to happen? Blah. I am grateful to have the privilege of having English as a first language and that I keep all my important documents saved to my phone; I dread to think how she might treat someone with a communication barrier between them. 

Hi all,

Had my N-400 interview today and was recommended for approval, although I couldn't do a same day naturalization because "their computer system was down". I am not an overly emotional person and have only had positive experiences with staff and officers at this same field office before, but my officer today was so nasty she actually reduced me to tears. I have relayed it to a few friends who are not involved in the immigration system and they are all pushing me to complain, but I'm not sure if it's worth it or not really. Just wanted to relay it here to see if any of you lot find this to be unusual.

I like to think I am a polite and friendly person, and communication has never been a concern during my immigration process as English is my first language. However this officer had it in for me from the get go. If for whatever reason she couldn't understand me she would repeatedly SHOUT at me and had a very aggressive manner. On the two occasions I asked if she could clarify something for me, her eyes practically rolled back in her head with disdain. Unpleasant, but not grounds for complaint. However, once I had passed the exam and gone through the yes/no questions, she began requesting all manner of documentation that was not required on the invitation. She scanned the letter and said "well I don't issue these. I can see they didn't ask for it, but I don't care." I am a woman married to another woman so I couldn't say if that had anything to do with it, but she began requesting all manner of proof of our relationship which I had already provided when I submitted my N-400 application. Again she agreed with me that nowhere in my paperwork did it state I should bring these things along. There was no reason for her to believe our marriage isn't legitimate. I had to practically beg to turn my phone on in order to show her the documentation as a pdf. When I found documents she would repeatedly tell me they weren't what she was looking for despite clear evidence to the contrary, and then request another document. When I showed her them on the screen she would put me through a strange rigmarole of zooming in and out repeatedly despite all the pertinent information being clear on the screen. She told me I would not be approved if I could not provide sufficient evidence for her. Just to reiterate, I already provided all of this information when I submitted the initial N-400 app. Also there was very little signal in the building and she was getting very clearly frustrated and impatient as I worked as quickly as I could to pull up the information she requested. If I had been unable to get my phone working I would have been denied.  Ultimately I was approved which was great, but she again got angry with me as she requested that I surrender all the government identification I had ever been given (old employment card etc)- I said I hadn't brought it as it wasn't listed on the letter, and she said "DID YOU LEAVE IT AT HOOOOOME" in a childlike mocking of my accent. On the way out she was very rude to me and at one point laughed in my face as I got a little disoriented looking for the exit.

All in all it was an extremely hostile experience. Perhaps I sound paranoid but this woman really was just incredibly cruel and unpleasant to me. I was really excited for this experience and left feeling drained and panicked. Just wanted to share and see if this is a typical experience or not, as it was very different from my adjustment of status interview.

10 minutes ago, Elf said:

If you gave them your cellphone number, you'll get texts at every stage of the process.  Mine was straightforward other than the fact that my UK passport had been expired for about five years, and the photo I uploaded was taken with my cellphone by a co-worker.  No problems or hitches at all.  The period between filling out the application online and actually getting it to the Post Office was longer than the period from mailing it to getting the new passport.  The UKPA is astonishingly efficient. 

Mired in the boggy depths of USCIS, I will concede that this is enough to make me feel a tiny bit patriotic to the UK

4 hours ago, Going through said:

The idea of bringing ID to the biometrics is to prove it's you when showing up for the appointment, not to prove your status...the card, although expired, has the date you became a resident/your photo/your name/etc.  which matches their databases.

 

Considering the agent will be able to see that the biometrics appointment is for a i-90 lost card, it's safe to say that they won't expect you to have your current GC with you to show them.  You can't bring what you don't have---but what you DO have is the expired GC and the NOA, so better to bring that then walk in there with nothing.

 

I'm presuming the message was posted on the site early to warn people they were phasing out the online appointments shortly.  This is happening country-wide, so it will become the norm soon.  When the online scheduling is phased out completely for your field office, you can schedule the appointment over the phone (and likely will get an appointment since it's for the passport stamp).

Thanks, that makes a lot of sense and definitely makes me feel better. I was thinking I would have to reschedule the biometrics if I hadn't got an I-551 stamp but perhaps not in that case. I'll wait a couple of weeks to try and book that infopass appointment again.

9 minutes ago, Elf said:

I have no advice or experience with Infopass appointments, but it may be helpful to know that you might get your UK passport back a bit sooner than you expect.  When I renewed mine a year or so ago, I had both the new and the expired passports in my hands just 10 days after the UKPA received the application.

 Thanks, you're actually the second person today to have told me that so that gives me hope! It's a straightforward renewal so crossing all my fingers.

5 minutes ago, Going through said:

Presumably you are getting this message because as it states they are not accepting online appointment scheduling AFTER the next two weeks or so...until then, you'll be redirected to use the online scheduling.

 

For the other question regarding ID....bring the NOA for your recently filed i-90 to your biometrics appointment, and bring the old expired conditional green card.    The expired green card is just that---an expired card...doesn't mean your LPR status is expired.

There are no available appointments within the next two weeks and I need one about 6 weeks out anyway so my passport has time to arrive. I don't understand why it requests that I call, but then when I call it says they don't ever make appointments over the phone. So in two weeks will I just be up creek without a paddle? Am I missing something?

For the I-90 biometrics appointment it explicitly says I have to bring a valid photo ID so I don't think they'll accept the expired card. I understand that it doesn't indicate my residency is expired, but it was a conditional 2yr card which I petitioned to remove the conditions from, so it doesn't offer any proof that I am currently lawfully resident.

Hey everyone, I'm in a really sticky situation and at my wits end trying to deal with it.

I recently lost my green card, unfortunately at around the same time my British passport expired. I do not have any other forms of ID as I can't drive and honestly didn't know state ID cards existed (I know, I'm an idiot). I have already filed my I-90 and applied for my renewed British passport, which involved me posting my expired passport to the UK- it's due to arrive in about 5 weeks. Currently the only ID I have is my old expired conditional green card, which is not valid for anything.

I desperately need to make an appointment to get an I-551 stamp in my soon-to-arrive passport, presumably before my biometrics appointment for the I-90. However, when I try to schedule one online it says "ATTENTION: In two weeks, this USCIS office will stop accepting walk-in requests and scheduling InfoPass appointments for information services. At that time, appointments for document services (such as passport stamps and advance parole) and true emergencies can be made by contacting the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283." But when I call this number to schedule an appointment, it says they no longer make any infopass appointments over the phone and they have to be made online. I've spent 2 hours on the phone this morning going through various menu options to try and speak to a human and am having no luck.

Any advice very much appreciated!

Hi everyone,

I lost my green card recently and it’s extremely expensive to replace as I’m sure many of you know. I am however now eligible to apply for naturalization and was planning on doing so. Will I be able to complete my application without a green card? I have all my other paperwork in order, the letter that came with the green card etc.

Thank you!

Hey folks,

Filed my I-751 in January 2018 and have since had two letters from USCIS stating that there are delays and that the letters constitute an extension on my 2yr green card. I know that you can file for citizenship 3 years from the day you get your green card if it's based on marriage to a US citizen, which for me is coming up in April this year. Am I eligible to apply or do I need to wait to (hopefully) be approved for removal of conditions?

Thanks so much

6 minutes ago, dhon86 said:

Filed last jan.13 till now no biometric appointment, only extension letter.. 

Dhon86- I would possibly suggest calling them as on the phone they told me that it shouldn't take more than 30 days and if it does you're can request that they resend it.

Everyone else- seems like I'm safe! Thanks so much for responding.

Hi folks,

I filed my i751 at the end of January and received the NOA extending my green card for a year 4 days later.  I still haven't received my biometrics appointment letter and have had to call and request it twice. My problem is that based off the WAC number on the NOA, USCIS has no record of me and says they won't have me 'in the system' until a number is generated for the biometrics letter. 

My wife would like to go on vacation with me within the US soon but I am worried about flying, as I have read on here that TSA often don't recognize the extension letter or think its fraudulent, and have held people and had to call USCIS- and if they do they, they won't have any record of me yet. My wife has suggested getting a state ID would be sufficient, and I also have my British passport. 

Any suggestions? 

Thanks!

Sofie

 

Hi folks,

I filed my i751 at the end of January and received the NOA extending my green card for a year 4 days later.  I still haven't received my biometrics appointment letter and have had to call and request it twice. My problem is that based off the WAC number on the NOA, USCIS has no record of me and says they won't have me 'in the system' until a number is generated for the biometrics letter. 

My wife would like to go on vacation with me within the US soon but I am worried about flying, as I have read on here that TSA often don't recognize the extension letter or think its fraudulent, and have held people and had to call USCIS- and if they do they, they won't have any record of me yet. My wife has suggested getting a state ID would be sufficient, and I also have my British passport. 

Any suggestions? 

Thanks!

Sofie

 

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

You don't even need a cover letter. Not a requirement. Skip it. I did and had no RFE, interview, or hold ups. If you insist then leave out that first paragraph. It all about the form and documentation, not a list that probably never makes it out of the mailroom. 

 

Make sure your proof includes dated material that covers the entire time of your marriage. Joint things with 2015 to 2018 dates. Joint healthcare proof from 2015, 2016, 2017 for example. Your earliest joint bank statement, some in the middle, and latest. Show a history of jointness as required. How quick you married doesn't matter to them. "Happy loving marriage" type words doesn't influence them. Don't you think a fraudster could write the same words? Present good hard evidence of living at the same address and mutually sharing money since 2015.

 

"Copy of rent and utility payments made by [beneficiary] to [sponsor]" is kinda weak. Sounds like she is paying you off for her greencard. Both names on lease and utilities with both paying the vendor at various times is more convincing. Work on your evidence and come up with other convincing things.

Thanks for your response Wuozopo. I'll cut down the cover letter.

There's a lot of evidence we simply do not have. I couldn't get on the same healthcare plan or open any kind of bank account until 10 months after I arrived in the country, because of open enrollment, waiting for my employment card, etc. We only opened a joint bank account a few weeks ago. Perhaps this is just a Colorado thing, but when we were filing our Adjustment of Status we called our gas, electric and water and pet insurance providers and they said they were unable to hold accounts for married couples, only individuals. Both our names are only on our phone bill and health insurance. We've paid both our landlords with checks from my wife's account, which is why I transferred payment to her. Although we have evidence that we lived together, our first landlord for 2 years refused to put my name on the lease because he had "rented to a lesbian couple before and they broke up" (seriously). None of this was an issue for Adjustment of Status, though- I thought I-751 was subject to less intense scrutiny?

Is this a "you MUST have this evidence or you will not pass" kinda deal or can they use common sense? We've visited each others families on 9 occasions combined and have plane tickets, photographs and signed affidavits to prove it. I would hope that any rational person could look at the evidence we have and see we have a genuine relationship. We're just young. Honestly, I would imagine it's easier to fake a joint utility bill than it is to spend thousands of dollars over multiple years on flights together to see family?

Thanks again.
 

Hey folks,

About to submit my I-751 and am writing the cover letter. All the example ones I have seen state the date that the immigrant (that'd be me) entered the country, how, and the date of the marriage.  Well; I entered the country from the UK under the visa waiver program with the genuine intent of leaving within the 90 days, but one thing led to another (in the best possible way) and my wife and I ended up getting married a little over 2 months after I arrived. All above board and I got my AoS & provisional green card with no problems- we are very happily married- but I can see that on paper it does seem very quick (we had only been together for about 8 months- when you know you know!). I am wondering if my wording is ok or if its likely to flag attention (we'd like to avoid an interview, obviously).

Side note: Will this evidence be sufficient...? It's really all we have, we're young and have no kids or property yet. We haven't changed our names (for multiple reasons) and didn't have a wedding (couldn't afford it, but we did have a lovely dinner after we went to the courthouse).

Thank you!:

"Dear USCIS Officer:

I am filing a joint Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, with my wife, [Name of Immigrant]. My wife entered the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program on January 13th 2015 with intent to leave on April 9th, but cohabiting over those weeks made us realize how strong our relationship was when under the same roof, and we were married on March 20th 2015. We have remained living together and have a happy and loving marriage. We respectfully request that this petition be accepted for removal of conditions on residence for [Name of Immigrant].

We have enclosed Form I-751, a check for $590 and a biometrics services fee check for $80, and a copy of the permanent resident card for Sophie Birkin. Please also find the following documents enclosed to verify the status of our marriage and ongoing relationship:

• Copy of our marriage certificate
• Copy of documents proving joint occupancy of a rental property
• Copy of rent and utility payments made by [beneficiary] to [sponsor]
• Copies of joint tax statements for the previous two years (2016-2017)
• Documentation showing our joint checking account
• Copies of Chase credit cards showing [beneficiary] as an authorized user
• Documentation showing our joint family healthcare plan with Kaiser Permanente
• Documentation showing our joint family phone plan with Sprint
• Four sworn affidavits by U.S. citizen family and friends, attesting to our relationship and marriage
• Copies of flight confirmations/plane tickets showing trips taken together
• Photographs from various vacations and visits to family (annotated)

You may feel free to inquire at any of the sources of enclosed documentation for validity of their statements. Please advise me if you have any further questions or problems related to this petition. We very much appreciate your time and assistance.

Sincerely,

[Sponsor] and [Beneficiary]"

 

Hi,

I moved house with my wife in February 2016. I submitted the online change of address form immediately. However, it was not until late May that I became aware (through chancing upon someone else mentioning it on VJ) that we had to also submit a physical form I-865. My wife sent it off and a couple of weeks later- June 19th- we received a NOA stating "This notice confirms that USCIC received your request for Sponsor Change of Address. Your address has been updated with the following: [OUR NEW ADDRESS]."

Well, we recently received the letter from USCIC notifying me that the date to submit my I-751 paperwork to remove my conditions was approaching- but they sent it to our old address (our old neighbors notified us). I used the USCIS website to check the status of our address change, and it says "On June 19, 2017, we rejected your Form I-865, Sponsor Change Of Address, Receipt Number LINXXXXXXXXXX, because you did not sign your form. We mailed your case back to you, including any supporting materials. Please follow the instructions to resubmit your case." 

We never received any paperwork stating that the form was rejected. My wife doesn't have proof that she signed it and doesn't remember, but we are always very diligent with immigration paperwork so whether it was signed or not who can say. 

What should I do? Is this going to cause problems with my removal of conditions? I can't call USCIS today as it's Sunday and I'm really worried.

Thanks in advance for any guidance,

Sofie

Hi folks,

I've had my conditional green card based on marriage for just over a year now. When we first filed for adjustment of status, my wife was a full time teacher. However, this year she would like to pursue a masters degree which would not allow her to work full time and so her earnings would be below the threshold we had to meet for our initial application. However, taking into account my income, which is decent, and our joint savings, we have more than enough money to support ourselves. She is considering applying for Medicaid if she enrolls, but I will still have marketplace healthcare and won't be applying for any kind of government assistance.

Is it ok for her to do this? (We both want her to, of course). Do we have to provide proof once again of our income when the time comes to remove the conditions from my green card?

Thank you!

That's a relief, thank you!

Hi everyone,

Does anyone know if the 90 days you're allowed to travel to the US under the visa waiver programme for are from January-December, or if it's 12 months from the date you last travelled? For example, I went to the US for 2 weeks this October just gone- will that reduce the time I can visit after January from 90 days to 76? I'd really appreciate any help as for some reason can't find this information online elsewhere!

Thanks in advance,

Sofie

Thank you so much everyone!

Hi everyone. First time posting here!

I'm a British citizen currently residing in the UK- my fiancée lives in Denver, Colorado. Does anyone have any information on whether I will be able to visit the US on a tourist visa (well, as part of the visa waiver programme) whilst the K-1 visa is processing? Finding a lot of conflicting information online. The only proof I could provide of intending to return to the UK before the tourist visa expires (within 90 days) would be a return flight ticket and proof of address in the UK, as I am recently unemployed and not a student.

I'd really appreciate any advice!

Thanks,

Sofie