Bob1963

Just like my last post, my wife got a letter congratulating her on having her conditional status removed and telling her she is now a lawful permanent resident of the USA and that her new 10 year green card should arrive within 60 days.  The tracking number says it will arrive on Monday

More good news from the United States Government.  My wife's card was mailed today 18 October 2018
 
 

Just like my last post, my wife got a letter congratulating her on having her conditional status removed and telling her she is now a lawful permanent resident of the USA and that her new 10 year green card should arrive within 60 days.  The tracking number says it will arrive on Monday

Just like my last post, my wife got a letter congratulating her on having her conditional status removed and telling her she is now a lawful permanent resident of the USA and that her new 10 year green card should arrive within 60 days.  The tracking number says it will arrive on Monday

More good news from the United States Government.  My wife's card was mailed today 18 October 2018
 
 

More good news from the United States Government.  My wife's card was mailed today 18 October 2018
 
 

Ok Gang  Here is the scoop.
 
Sunday I took the wife on a5 hour drive to Pittsburgh, PA,  to get her green card.  Well we went reported to our 12:00 pm 15 October 2018 appointment 30 minutes early.  I was wearing my Government ID card from the Veterans Administration  so I was waived threw security.  My wife went threw the standard procedures like at the airport except for removing shoes.  Now what was funny was a female agent went into her purse and get this scanned each and every coin SEPERATLY.  She then put them back in the purse ours we smiled friendly like at my wife and we went in.  Dropped of our info pass letter and were quickly called to a window
 
Made friendly chat with a fellow civil servant and as I am a US Navy Retiree and he is a US Marine Corps veteran.  Things went great.  He looked up the case status and was really upset that its been sitting since 9 April 2018.  He explained that after Vermont sends the case to an individual office each person is assigned to a SPECIFIC AGENT.  Some are hot and get cases approved and others are sick, lame or lazy.
 
We talked about the West Virginia DMV not accepting the extension letter for drivers license's but accepting the I-551 in the passport.  Apparently I am not the only person he has seen with the same problem.  Pennsylvania DMV I was told also does not recognize the extension letter but does accept the Green Card and the Stamp.
 
 
Within 30 minutes we had the stamp in the passport and were on are way home to West Virgins.
 
5 hours later after driving threw down pour I get home and open my email to get this letter in the mail. . . . which was sent at 4:38 p.m. 30 minutes after the office closed for the day
 
 
There has been a recent processing action taken on your case.

Receipt Number: EAC17298XXXXXXX

Application Type: I751, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On October 15, 2018, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number EAC17298XXXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.   So either the Agent got some results for me or its a big coincidence.  The agent did tell me when he checked there files that no one in the office had touched my case since it was received on 9 April 2018     Still cost of a hotel room in Pittsburgh $150 Gas to and from Pittsburgh                    $55 Dinner / meals                                          $75       But I got my wife's green card coming     So I am happy.  I did learn it helps to be friendly with the Agent at the window instead of complaining about processing time.   

Ok Gang  Here is the scoop.
 
Sunday I took the wife on a5 hour drive to Pittsburgh, PA,  to get her green card.  Well we went reported to our 12:00 pm 15 October 2018 appointment 30 minutes early.  I was wearing my Government ID card from the Veterans Administration  so I was waived threw security.  My wife went threw the standard procedures like at the airport except for removing shoes.  Now what was funny was a female agent went into her purse and get this scanned each and every coin SEPERATLY.  She then put them back in the purse ours we smiled friendly like at my wife and we went in.  Dropped of our info pass letter and were quickly called to a window
 
Made friendly chat with a fellow civil servant and as I am a US Navy Retiree and he is a US Marine Corps veteran.  Things went great.  He looked up the case status and was really upset that its been sitting since 9 April 2018.  He explained that after Vermont sends the case to an individual office each person is assigned to a SPECIFIC AGENT.  Some are hot and get cases approved and others are sick, lame or lazy.
 
We talked about the West Virginia DMV not accepting the extension letter for drivers license's but accepting the I-551 in the passport.  Apparently I am not the only person he has seen with the same problem.  Pennsylvania DMV I was told also does not recognize the extension letter but does accept the Green Card and the Stamp.
 
 
Within 30 minutes we had the stamp in the passport and were on are way home to West Virgins.
 
5 hours later after driving threw down pour I get home and open my email to get this letter in the mail. . . . which was sent at 4:38 p.m. 30 minutes after the office closed for the day
 
 
There has been a recent processing action taken on your case.

Receipt Number: EAC17298XXXXXXX

Application Type: I751, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On October 15, 2018, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number EAC17298XXXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.   So either the Agent got some results for me or its a big coincidence.  The agent did tell me when he checked there files that no one in the office had touched my case since it was received on 9 April 2018     Still cost of a hotel room in Pittsburgh $150 Gas to and from Pittsburgh                    $55 Dinner / meals                                          $75       But I got my wife's green card coming     So I am happy.  I did learn it helps to be friendly with the Agent at the window instead of complaining about processing time.   

Oh I forgot to include today was my wife's 32nd birthday as well.  The Agent even stopped to wish her a happy birthday.  We met when she was 23  

Ok Gang  Here is the scoop.
 
Sunday I took the wife on a5 hour drive to Pittsburgh, PA,  to get her green card.  Well we went reported to our 12:00 pm 15 October 2018 appointment 30 minutes early.  I was wearing my Government ID card from the Veterans Administration  so I was waived threw security.  My wife went threw the standard procedures like at the airport except for removing shoes.  Now what was funny was a female agent went into her purse and get this scanned each and every coin SEPERATLY.  She then put them back in the purse ours we smiled friendly like at my wife and we went in.  Dropped of our info pass letter and were quickly called to a window
 
Made friendly chat with a fellow civil servant and as I am a US Navy Retiree and he is a US Marine Corps veteran.  Things went great.  He looked up the case status and was really upset that its been sitting since 9 April 2018.  He explained that after Vermont sends the case to an individual office each person is assigned to a SPECIFIC AGENT.  Some are hot and get cases approved and others are sick, lame or lazy.
 
We talked about the West Virginia DMV not accepting the extension letter for drivers license's but accepting the I-551 in the passport.  Apparently I am not the only person he has seen with the same problem.  Pennsylvania DMV I was told also does not recognize the extension letter but does accept the Green Card and the Stamp.
 
 
Within 30 minutes we had the stamp in the passport and were on are way home to West Virgins.
 
5 hours later after driving threw down pour I get home and open my email to get this letter in the mail. . . . which was sent at 4:38 p.m. 30 minutes after the office closed for the day
 
 
There has been a recent processing action taken on your case.

Receipt Number: EAC17298XXXXXXX

Application Type: I751, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On October 15, 2018, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number EAC17298XXXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.   So either the Agent got some results for me or its a big coincidence.  The agent did tell me when he checked there files that no one in the office had touched my case since it was received on 9 April 2018     Still cost of a hotel room in Pittsburgh $150 Gas to and from Pittsburgh                    $55 Dinner / meals                                          $75       But I got my wife's green card coming     So I am happy.  I did learn it helps to be friendly with the Agent at the window instead of complaining about processing time.   

Ok Gang  Here is the scoop.
 
Sunday I took the wife on a5 hour drive to Pittsburgh, PA,  to get her green card.  Well we went reported to our 12:00 pm 15 October 2018 appointment 30 minutes early.  I was wearing my Government ID card from the Veterans Administration  so I was waived threw security.  My wife went threw the standard procedures like at the airport except for removing shoes.  Now what was funny was a female agent went into her purse and get this scanned each and every coin SEPERATLY.  She then put them back in the purse ours we smiled friendly like at my wife and we went in.  Dropped of our info pass letter and were quickly called to a window
 
Made friendly chat with a fellow civil servant and as I am a US Navy Retiree and he is a US Marine Corps veteran.  Things went great.  He looked up the case status and was really upset that its been sitting since 9 April 2018.  He explained that after Vermont sends the case to an individual office each person is assigned to a SPECIFIC AGENT.  Some are hot and get cases approved and others are sick, lame or lazy.
 
We talked about the West Virginia DMV not accepting the extension letter for drivers license's but accepting the I-551 in the passport.  Apparently I am not the only person he has seen with the same problem.  Pennsylvania DMV I was told also does not recognize the extension letter but does accept the Green Card and the Stamp.
 
 
Within 30 minutes we had the stamp in the passport and were on are way home to West Virgins.
 
5 hours later after driving threw down pour I get home and open my email to get this letter in the mail. . . . which was sent at 4:38 p.m. 30 minutes after the office closed for the day
 
 
There has been a recent processing action taken on your case.

Receipt Number: EAC17298XXXXXXX

Application Type: I751, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS ON RESIDENCE

Your Case Status: Card/ Document Production

On October 15, 2018, we ordered your new card for Receipt Number EAC17298XXXXXXX, and will mail it to the address you gave us. If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.   So either the Agent got some results for me or its a big coincidence.  The agent did tell me when he checked there files that no one in the office had touched my case since it was received on 9 April 2018     Still cost of a hotel room in Pittsburgh $150 Gas to and from Pittsburgh                    $55 Dinner / meals                                          $75       But I got my wife's green card coming     So I am happy.  I did learn it helps to be friendly with the Agent at the window instead of complaining about processing time.   

The problem with the back log of approvals is down to two things.  First President Trump is very strict on legal immigration and many people who sailed threw the process under President Obama may have had some things in there record that the new administration is taking a harder look at.  For example if you had some kind of criminal activity on your record in your home country that was previously not an issue now it may be an issue.  If you had some criminal activity in the USA since your 2 year green card was issued that may now be an issue.
 
Also its the 4th quarter of the fiscal year for the US Government.  That means money is running out for the agency's that run the country.  Budgets are tight right now, overt time is not being authorized like it has been in past years due to attempts to balance the federal budget.  On 30 Sept the US government shuts down if a new budget is not approved by then.  This worries me as my wife's extension letter runs out on 24 Oct 2018.
 
If the US Government shuts down all routine business grinds to  a halt, if you had an appointment for a stamp on  day the government is shut down your screwed and may need to re schedule it.  I plan on getting my wife her stamp in late September if need be.
 
 
The final thing is for all of you that have gone to your regional offices to et a stamp.  The people you see sitting at the counters are the front line low level people who deal with customers.  They are not the ones making decision's on your permanent green card.  You don't see them there in fancy offices behind closed doors.  I can say this as a front lone person at another non related federal agency.

My wife arrive back from the Philippines late Saturday Night.  When the flight from Manila landed at Vancouver BC< Canada's airport she got off the plane to go to the US Immigration Facility to clear immigration before the flight to New York.  She was asked to physically present her green card and extension letter.  TSA / Immigration were polite and professional but asked if he she new the extension letter expires Oct 24, 2018.  Wifey told them she knew it did and she was cleared to enter the USA and re boarded the Philippine Airline's flight to John F Kennedy Airport in New York City.
 
After landing every passenger came off the plane I am standing there waiting and waiting when I get a text message that Philippine Airlines lost her suit case.  She them came out tired and exhausted but other wise she was well.
 
Now I am waiting for a green card and a suit case

Speaking as a federal government employee (who works in a different agency) I can tell you the individual office can tailor the rules to meet its own needs as long as it stays within Federal Guide lines.  In short if federal laws says you can get the stamp with in 30 days the individual office has the option of saying that we will give it out 10 or 15 days prior to the expiration.  There still giving the stamp but they have set there own guide lines for giving it.  Same with letting you keep the expired green card / extendtion letter , some will let you keep it as proof of prior legal admission to the USA. No reason to take it from you there not doing anything with it any more   Others will collect it s sayings its expired and the stamp in your passport is all that you need.
 
100% legal but can be very frustrating.

Speaking as a federal government employee (who works in a different agency) I can tell you the individual office can tailor the rules to meet its own needs as long as it stays within Federal Guide lines.  In short if federal laws says you can get the stamp with in 30 days the individual office has the option of saying that we will give it out 10 or 15 days prior to the expiration.  There still giving the stamp but they have set there own guide lines for giving it.  Same with letting you keep the expired green card / extendtion letter , some will let you keep it as proof of prior legal admission to the USA. No reason to take it from you there not doing anything with it any more   Others will collect it s sayings its expired and the stamp in your passport is all that you need.
 
100% legal but can be very frustrating.

Just checked on line again and it now says my I-751 form was received at the local service office where ever that is on March 4, 2018

I filed the first day I was eligible to file 90 days before the expiration in fact I made sure my wifes paper work arrived in Vermont exactly 90 days before expiration. 2 weeks later we got the letter telling us about our biometrics appointment on August 23 2017 .  Since then nothing