Tween

10 hours ago, starsky said:

As for your access, you might try this new link that's been circulated a few times. Account updates seem to have been ported over there, although do seem to be a little outdated. I hope you and the others get some positive movement soon!

 I have an account there as well, so I'm not too worried the other one has been locked   

6 hours ago, starsky said:

Thanks for the correction, I'll just use your 18mo extension letter from this week for tracking purposes. Amazed you are yet to hear about biometrics. Have you called up their helpline for advice on why?

 

The proximity of your timeline to @Tween is hard to ignore. It's like the middle of our tracking table is a bit of a dark hole?

 

Budget cuts?

I've called the helpline. I filed a query. That's how I got the 18m extension letter back in June, they just fobbed me off with that and "it takes as long as it takes." Meanwhile I sit here growing increasingly paranoid they're dragging their heels because what they really want is to undo my marriage. Any other same-sex couples in here that can make me feel better?

I also noticed my egov.uscis.gov account got locked today. Anyone know/suspect if that because they're phasing that site out or if it's something else to give me cold sweats?

On 8/1/2018 at 9:51 AM, starsky said:

Here's the most recently updated chart that I last changed back in July. 

Slight correction, on 6/22 I got my first 18mo extension letter, then another one this week. I'm still waiting on biometrics.

Got my (second?!) 18-month extension letter today, dated 8/18. CSC. It was basically identical to the one I got in June.

18 minutes ago, MadMax101 said:

Has anyone who filed at the Cali service center recieved their 18 month letter?

I got mine around the 22nd June, dated the 18th (from the CSC). But I'm still waiting on biometrics, so I'm counting myself as behind the curve.

3 hours ago, Alex08 said:

Mine has been showing “At this time USCIS cannot provide you with information for your case. Please contact the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 for additional information.” Since March and it worries me 😪

 

 

Sounds like you're using egov.uscis.gov. Have you tried my.uscis.gov? They're switching over but of course haven't told anybody. That being said, both of mine still show thumbs twiddling and have done since the end of Feb. 

22 hours ago, starsky said:

I don't believe we have you on our tracking table. You are a February filer, correct? If you want to tell me when you filed, date of your first NOA, and when you had your biometrics appointment (or reuse letter), I can add you to our table. Had you already received a 12-month extension or was the 18 month your first? 

Best of luck with everything, I am sure all will go smoothly!

Yes I filed for ROC on 10th Feb. Received NOA (12mo extension) 20th Feb. Nothing since. Opened an enquiry on 8th June after a few phone calls that got nowhere. On the 18th June they sent a letter basically saying "it takes as long as it takes." The 18mo extension was dated the same date (and it's 18mo from the date my green card expired, not 18mo from the 12mo extension). My status is still at "we received your case and will begin processing it." I'm based in St Louis applying via the California Service Center.

I got my 18mo extension letter a couple of weeks ago. Still haven't heard anything since applying, no biometrics. I opened a case to enquire what was going on and just got a stock "it takes as long as it takes" answer, followed by the extended extension letter.

Got an 18mo extension to my green card today, but still no biometrics. Called them and they said there's nothing new to report :/ My inquiry into why I hadn't heard anything since the NOA on 2/20 was closed the day they sent out the extension.

5 hours ago, i_love_rain said:

Same situation for me and the USCIS agents aren't very helpful... i plan to schedule an appointment from the local field office. Thoughts? 

Thank god I'm not alone. No updates since 2/20 when I got my extension letter.

Heh, thanks. That's all what I thought, it was just paranoia setting in as the date in my passport drew nearer

Heh, my I-94 then. I can't keep all these numbers straight in my head thanks!

I know this is probably a really basic question, but I arrived in the US on a K1 visa on 13th Oct, so my 90 days is up on the 10th Jan. We got married at the end of October and filed the AOS forms, which have been received (we've got our I-797s for the I-485, I-765, and I-131). None of the I-797s had anything about my current visa status on them, so am I right in thinking I can stay in the US until we have a decision on the AOS, even though my K1 visa expires in a couple of weeks?

i just came across this. i have my interview in 2 weeks.

what is the difference between 'no trace' and 'no live trace'? my says no trace and i have never done anything, so I even didn't think to research before it.?? and now i am looking at this post?

can someone clarify? thanks

"No trace" = no criminal record.

"No live trace" = no active record. It could mean there's a juvenile conviction there, or one that's been made dormant for some other reason; there is a police record, but not one that will show up without an additional level of clearance.

Thanks all I think I'm probably going to ship the stuff with less value in smaller batches to scoot under the $100 gift/duty limit, and pack up the valuable stuff and get my parents to ship it once I've got that stamp in my passport.

If you want to know what fellow UK people have done, get on the regular website (no phone) and do an advanced search (upper right corner). Search word is shipping and choose United Kingdom forum in the drop down. It is discussed often. Basically you have the right idea....the customs form, your visa and passport to show you are eligible for duty free as a visa holder, and an inventory list of each box. Air freight goes by weight. Cargo container is by the amount of space it takes up. Books will be expensive air freight. Our company had a minimum of one cubic meter and certainly not a half container. They were excellent if you have that much to send . http://www.shipit.co.uk Watch the video.

There's a whole lot of people who just mail off their stuff with no forms and have no problem. Must be easier than we imagine...those of us who research it.

I got a quote from Ship It based on comments in the UK forum. They said their minimum volume was 2 cubic metres, the quote was for £950 and that included a discount. I can post everything for less than £500, so a considerable saving. I'd use FedEx/DHL but given the value of the books involved if I don't get the paperwork right they will charge duty on them, even if they were labelled as a gift. But then do I want to pay £450+ for peace of mind?!

On my above post I explained that.

At least for canada, (you may have better luck in the european forums), people would ship their boxes UPS, anywhere from 1-6 boxes. They'd ship it out the day before or day that they left, they would fill out that form.

Usually that gave them enough time because then UPS would contact them, saying their shipment is being held and to release it, they would need to show that they are in the country, by scanning and sending copies of their stamped visas. Once customs confirmed they were in the US, they released the packages duty free.

It is only duty free if you are sending it to yourself, while you're already in the country. So it'll get held til you can show them you're in the country.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/511688-shipping/

My understanding from CBP is there's a separate set of regulations for Canadians moving to the US. From Europe there is a whole host of forms to fill out and include on the parcel, but they can decide they want to see a copy of my visa and evidence I'm in the country (which is stupid when USCIS says you can ship stuff up to 6mo before you arrive). My issue is if that happens, are a regular shipping company going to have the first clue what to do with my parcel to get it through customs, or is my stuff going to end up in limbo? (or, worse, are they going to want me to pay duty on it all!?)

so I did a little research on how much extra luggage costs...american airlines for example: 1 : free 2. 100 € 3: 200 €

I'm starting to feel lost and desperate...

It's actually more than that with American. It's $100 for the second case, then another $100 if the case is over the weight limit. So if you wanted to take two extra overweight cases, it would cost an additional $300. For three cases, $600.

There's also logistics to consider. My POE will be Chicago, but I'm flying on to St Louis. Traipsing three or more cases (plus carry-on) through security at Chicago from reclaim to where I can recheck the bags would be... difficult.

I'm taking what I can in suitcases, but I've still got rather a lot to ship over. My main concern is if I don't send a single consignment with an export company, what are the chances of one or more boxes being held up at customs or them demanding I duty on them because it's not the way things are normally sent?

I'm talking literally hundreds of books. There's no way I'll get them in a suitcase, or even three.

I'm taking an extra suitcase with clothes, but I'm looking at shipping several hundred hardback books. I won't get many of them on a plane Typically, they're too rare/expensive to simply leave in the UK and replace, too heavy for a suitcase, but not bulky enough for cargo, lmao.

I'm entering America in October on a K1 visa, but I'm struggling to get my belongings over there. My problem is I'm not taking very much (no furniture; mostly books) so I don't need even half the smallest container space an import/export company will sell me. It would be significantly cheaper for me to post everything over to my fiancee, but am I going to run foul of customs if I do that? If I complete CBP form 3299 (Declaration for Free Entry of Unaccompanied Articles) and put that in with the usual customs forms, will that be okay? Anyone got any experience?

Have you submitted your Notification of Readiness form? http://london.usembassy.gov/iv/notification_of_applicant_readiness.htmlIf not, do so now. Once the medical documents are with the embassy and you've completed that form, they'll put you in the interview queue. They say it can take up to 6 weeks from readiness to actually getting the interview letter, most people get the letter within 2-3 weeks for an interview within 6-7 weeks, but YMMV. Each case works to its own timeline.

I had my interview this morning (APPROVED!!!! *flails*) and I forgot my DS-160 (in my defence, it wasn't on the checklist and I was obsessing over that last night and totally forgot the piece of paper I printed out months ago...) Anyhoo, you have to join a queue outside the embassy based on the entry time on your letter (I arrived at 8.15 for a 9am appointment, the queue for 8.30 was halfway across the park, easily over 100 people; the queue for 9am was already 50-deep). A man was going down the lines checking everyone had their appointment letter, passport, and DS-160. I confessed I'd forgotten the last one. He took me out of line, up to the front, manually checked me in (i.e. looked at my interview letter and crossed me off on a paper list behind the desk) and told me to go to the queue for security. Not having that form saved me at least 45 minutes (my friend outside timed how long it took the guy who was behind me in the queue to get to the front!). Despite all the screens inside saying you need the DS-160, nobody asked for it. Inside I still had to wait from 8.30-ish to 9.50 to even get to the handing in documents stage (they seemed to be calling my class of visa slower than the rest, I wasn't out of line from the number I was given), and another hour after that for the interview (which lasted less than 10 minutes).

The documents I needed were the interview letter, passport, print-off confirmation from the courier, UK police certificate (and foreign certs if applicable), long-form birth certificate, letter of intent from my fiancee, I-134, her last tax return (she's self-employed; they asked first for one of her payslips or proof of employment and salary), and one US visa-standard photo (which they scanned and returned to me). They also asked for divorce/name change by deed poll certificates, which didn't apply in my case.

Is your interview date Sept 03 or 23? Your signature says 23.

oops my bad, interview is the 3rd.