Flora Lau Mendez

Woah it's been a long time since I last came here. Has anyone heard of the immediate cheque to people under the Coronavirus relief plan? Here's the link (https://kdvr.com/news/coronavirus/family-of-4-could-get-3k-under-coronavirus-relief-plan-treasury-secretary-says/) 

In the news it says the $1000 would be deposited to citizens only? So how about permanent residents who pay and file tax returns? Are we excluded in the plan? 

I guess no one knows for sure at the stage but I want to know if anyone's wondering and hoping like I do now? 

My GC and my SSC has my maiden name printed just like my passport as well. I was able to change my name on my SSC later at the Social Security Office with no fee. They only needed my birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport and green card.
Then I took my new SSC and applied for a state ID card with my married name.

So the only thing that still carries my maiden name is my GC (and passport of course), and I did a research on that. It is not a must to change my name there so I have decided not to because you have to pay quite a bit for that. I think I can apply for neutralization 3 years later upon my arrival date so I'd better wait.

I just want my all other documents printed with my married name for convenience sake in the meanwhile so that I do not have to change them all after neutralization.

Unfortunately I have never heard of that though. Reasons for expedition are usually medical/financial hardships etc. (I don't think) NVC won't expedite your case due to their own errors because that's what they do everyday- making errors. I was stuck at NVC forever and they kept sending me checklists saying that I hadn't submitted this and that (surely we did). And overtime we called they literally gave us TOTALLY different answers (e.g one would tell us to sit and wait because we were good, nothing was missing or needed from us; and then the other would tell us that something's wrong with my birth certificate etc etc).

You really need a lot of luck in this game. Some got efficient staff reviewing their cases and they got CC very soon and some (like me) are just not so lucky.
Yet, you may call and ask and give it a try. Asking for an expedition wouldn't hinder/slow down your application anyway. Good luck :-)

Did you request to be sent to a supervisor of did they do it for some reasons? In my case, supervisory review was a nightmare and we were stuck forever. Try to talk to a supervisor directly next time.

The local embassy/consulate will notify you shortly after receiving the case.
They either mail you the P4 letter or call you.
In my case, the consulate called and asked me to pick up the letter myself (mailing was an option but I couldn't wait).

Keep checking the status change on CEAC.
You should also have all the necessary documents ready for the interview by now.
Some countries tend to have harsher interviews so be well prepared.
Good luck

What is the next step?

Financial burden can be a reason but you need to be very persuasive on how you word it. You need to attach evidence like Western Union receipts, bank statements, bills, loans statements, mortgage payments etc etc, and it's better if you can show them how the problem of the financial struggle will be solved when you reunite.

Hello,

After the I 130 is approved and my case is sent to the National Visa Center, how would you recommend I draft that letter to help with the expedite process. Yes, financially it has become difficult living apart, but is that in a letter enough to be approved to be expedited? Also, does anyone have a sample of what could be sent over that could have a chance of approval?

Congrats!!! So happy for you guys!
Is your husband flying to the U.S. soon?

That's awesome!

I can say the same for my husband's interview! He was approved!

He came with copies of documents and photos.

But then only looked at and returned to him everything I submitted to USCIS.

My timeline has the full review!

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?cfl=0&id=204542

Approved
I was actually overly prepared. They only looked at ONE picture (I had all kinds of documents with me like the 2000-page thick Skype conversation and such) and a few questions and that's it!!!
The interview lasted for 3 minutes.

Hey, by the way you never told us how your interview went!

Picking the shortest line! Even better!

thank you for the information!

I'm looking forward to it

If it's busy someone may be there organizing the lines. Follow the crowd to the immigration hall. Then pick the shortest/quickest line.

Thanks! As long as we will go through all these together then I will be
I guess we will have to ask for instructions and directions soon as we have landed.
I have read reviews regarding San Francisco POE and it seems there is a counter 20 that says New Immigrant, maybe that's where I will go to

They will send you through the line together. Depending on where you arrive and how busy it is you may wind up in any of the lines. In my case we went through the US citizen line.

Thank you Elf! That's very helpful! Sorry I have just been 'upgraded' from the NVC and Consulate Review section here so I didn't know where to look for the answers Thank you once again!

Hi all

I have never been to the U.S., so 24 NOV will be my first day there.

My husband will fly to Hong Kong to pick me up and then we will go to USA together.
My question is,

will we go to the same line when going through immigration and custom at POE?
OR will they ask me to go to a different line/room?

My husband insists on going together as a couple but I am not so sure.

P.S. My layover is only 2.5 hours, anyone with experiences can kindly tell me if that's enough? (I know the duration may vary but I just want to have a rough idea)

Any suggestions/ words/ experiences sharing are appreciated!

Hi Dave,

thank you for the information! Do you know how long it takes for the inspection of the DO NOT OPEN envelope?

I will be flying from Hong Kong to San Francisco (that would be my POE), then to Tucson.

And there is a 2 hour layover In San Francisco. Do you think it is enough...?

Changing your name is up to you. My wife still uses her maiden name so her GC and passport have the same name. You can change your name for free at the removal of conditions (ROC) stage or at naturalization or never--as I said it is up to you.

When you enter the USA for the first time, you will hand over the brown "DO NOT OPEN" envelop to the CBP officer and they will open it and inspect the documents. Most likely you will be take to secondary inspection--allow extra time if you have a connecting flight. At the end of all this your spousal visa will be stamped and it becomes an I-551 document which is the same document number as the GC (so the endorsed visa becomes your temporary GC). You pick up your luggage and either leave the airport or hand the luggage off to go to your final destination in the US. You pay $165 to the ELIS system to receive the actual plastic GC. Now you live your life in the US for the next 2 years keeping evidence of your marriage and life together with your spouse. 90 days before the GC expires you file to remove the conditions on your GC (ROC)--you file the I-751 form. You might want to take a look at what it requires so you are prepared. Then you receive your 10 year GC and have another year to wait before you can file for citizenship should you remain married and follow all the rules to remain eligible.

Dave

I have the same question too.

I intend to change my name in the U.S. but I have no idea where to begin with.

And how did you ship your dog? Cargo?

do you need an import permit from the U.S.?

what about a health certificate?

Sorry for asking too many questions but this is really a headache and my time is running out

Thank you in advance!

I brought my dog with me and it was not an issue or hassle at all. I just had her most recent vaccination records, and her ownership papers. They did ask for them, and I gave it to the customs officer. He asked nothing more about her

Agree with ZaakirahDemba.
Requesting for an expedite based on this reason will guarantee a high chance of denial.

Usually people file for an expedite due to medical needs and/or financial hardships,
but surely you can go ahead and try

P.S. Good luck Oksmel and ZaakirahDemba with the interviews!

congratulations to all three. I am tempted to do the same. ... Share your example you mail to expedite? my reason is to spend Christmas and New Year with my husband and our son (he has nine months).
do you think this is good?

Peas help me?

Hi we got the automated email the next day for the first time (we made two requets since they denied us the first time). And then for the second time, it took a bit longer but less than a week.

Hope it helps

I think you can actually ask NVC, they have it shown in the system.

When I called NVC, they confirmed with me by saying "yeah I saw your expedite is approved on xx/xx.

So how long did you guys have to wait for the confirmation email saying they had received your expedite request and would look into it? We emailed on Sunday and still haven't even gotten an automated email saying they have received our request.

Oksmel, good luck with your interview on the 19th.

I actually bumped into a friend at the embassy here when I was waiting for my interview!
He's there for his K visa. He told me that they had filed the application on 1 June, and they had mailed him the P4 letter on 22 OCT which scheduled his interview on 2 NOV. That was such a short notice.

The interview was VERY short. Just be confident, and try to make your answers as direct and short as you can. Make enough eye contact and smile make sure you bring enough evidence for the relationship as well!

Hi I think you need to obtain both the clearances from HK and Ph as well?
I know it will take around ONE month for HK police to issue and mail the report directly to the embassy here, so I just went ahead and filed for the report soon I got the welcome letter from NVC long time ago, the validity is one year for HK Police Clearance.
I am not sure about the Ph. one but I think you can actually call/email the police department in Ph and ask. And I also know there are ways for you to obtain the report without you being there, it's actually stated on the website of the department state.

If your expedite request is approved, the local embassy will contact the applicant asap (ideally).
I don't think it is a U.S. number but a local one. For my case, they used a private number (to prevent people calling their direct number I guess).
I missed their first call so they left a voice message saying that they would try to reach me again shortly.

If the status was updated recently again, perhaps it means they got you an interview date,
that's what happened to me after they scheduled me an interview date.
Here's what it says on CEAC:

"Your case is ready for your interview when scheduled at the U.S. Consular section. If you have already scheduled an appointment for an interview, please prepare your documents as directed in your appointment letter and appear at the consulate on the appointed date and time. Otherwise, please wait until you have been notified of your interview appointment. "

I have seen more than one post about embassy's calling you with an expedite request.

What happens if I miss their call?

I am bad about answering a u.s. number I do not recognize.

I have been communicating with them thru email though....

My case has said ready since October 14, and the status was last updated October 21.

Can you call the local embassy and ask?
They just called me directly and immediately after receiving my case.
Good luck

Ok, I need help! My case changed to ready after being in transit for one day only. What I do now? I tried to go to ustraveldocs.com and see if I can schedule my interview , but they saying wait after you get a letter from embassy . Also, they list 3 groups and I think I belong to group 3 ( need VAC and Embassy appointment), but I was scared to proceed further with my choices. What I should do now? Wait?

Congrats! So happy for you!

Next you have to check you visa status, if it is changed from 'at NVC' to 'in transit',
you can actually track your mail on DHL
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/302190-dhl-tracking-from-nvc-to-us-embassy/
this is a very awesome post that teaches you how.

You can also ask me if you don't know how

When the local consulate receives the mail,
your visa status will say 'ready'.

For me, they actually called me on the same day they got my case,
and then they briefly asked me the reasons of my expedite.
Then the lady said that she would talk to her boss the next day and would try to get the earliest available time slot for my interview.

And she called me the next day and said NOV 2nd!
Will have my medical exam tomorrow
It all happened so soon that I still couldn't believe it.
After all, I had been stuck for half a year.
And I am having my interview in half of a month!

My expedite is approved!!!! yay!!! what is next?

Oh hi! It is really hard to find any members from Hong Kong!
I had actually applied for a tourist visa but was rejected and recommended to go for a CR1 instead.

You can, of course, apply for a travel visa while you are waiting your immigrant visa to be approved,
but I would have to say the chance is very little... and very risky as well.
You might be denied entry at POE like the previous member has said.

Guess it really depends on how busy/competent the local embassy is...
Any good news? It shouldn't take that long though...

Still no news for me...Just called NVC, they told me they did send my email to the embassy. 10 days and still no answer.

Congratulations! So basically you are now waiting for their instructions... I have been told that if your case is being expedited, then the consulate will schedule the earliest available timeslot for you.

Please let us know when you got the interview date! I'm really looking forward to it

I got my expedite request approved too on October 7th.

It was sent to the embassy on October 9th, and CEAC showed Ready on October 13th. So I am now waiting on what is next in regards to the interview.