swji89

"Technical Assistance" at the first prompt followed by "Technical problem" just worked for me. Operator was actually very helpful in my case!

Hi all,

I have read enough to know it's always a risk asking for your oath ceremony to be rescheduled... but wondered if anyone has had any experience having to reschedule it based on COVID.

Mine is scheduled for January 8th and I received a positive COVID test a couple of days ago on 12/26... looking back, the fever I had on Monday morning (which passed by Monday afternoon) and stuffy nose were probably the start of the symptoms, but I only got tested having lost my sense of smell and taste on 12/24. 

January 8, the day of my oath ceremony,  will be literally 14 days since the test and when I was advised to isolate for 10 days since symptoms started (10 days since 12/24 would be 1/2). I worry about being asked if I've tested positive in the past 14 days when checking in (and not wanting to lie, I'd obviously have to say "yes") but also worry about rescheduling the ceremony and risking having massive issues getting it rescheduled... would it be better to go (10 days after symptoms being the doctor's advise, so I'd be well past that on 1/8) and then get sent away because of my answers to any screening questions, or to risk rescheduling?

I also worry about the "missing your oath more than once" issue as they must have had a computer issue and accidentally scheduled a ceremony for 12/8 and descheduled it on the same day (I received the descheduling notice in the mail, weirdly enough).

I called the USCIS Contact Center (as the N-445 suggested I do if I had COVID-related issues with attending) but they said to just mail the notice back to the office with an explanatory letter... something the N-445 said to do if there was a "reason other than noted above" for needing to miss the ceremony.

I guess it boils down to is it worse to try and reschedule now or to go and potentially be sent home on the day?

On 3/2/2019 at 9:27 AM, GBOS said:

@swji89 - Good luck. Keep us posted.

Happy to report it was my approval letter! As a bonus, my 10-year green card also arrived yesterday. The relief is palpable... although my online case status never moved so obviously isn’t a good judge of where our cases are which defeats the purpose...

Regardless - my entry on this thread can be updated. ROC approved 2/26/19, GC received 3/2/19.

Hopefully not too long to wait for those of you still waiting, especially fellow VSC’ers like myself!

I get the USPS service where they email me photos of the mail that’s coming that day. Getting something today that looks very much like a NOA dated 2/26 (so, praying it’s an approval rather than a transfer notice or a RFE)... online myUSCIS profile not updated at all so not entirely sure what to expect...

3 minutes ago, mrandmrsBRS said:

I thought we had to submit both 🤔

That's what I'm basing it on (document checklist on N400 page on USCIS website)... never sure whether to give too much and risk irritating the officer or do exactly what the instructions say and risk a RFE haha

Speaking of the N-400... looking at the instructions briefly it seems you have to submit statements etc. OR the IRS tax transcripts for the last 3 years under "documents referring to you and your spouse." Is that true? If so, that's huge in terms of prep time.

Can anyone speak to that?

On 1/21/2019 at 3:29 PM, mrandmrsBRS said:

That’s weird. Do you guys think it’s just a glitch? The old case tracker works but idk how accurate it actually is..

Doesn't work for me - just says "at this time USCIS cannot provide you with information for your case."

Zero change on my myUSCIS account - still just says "case was received"

Congrats to all getting their approvals, praying I'll see mine soon!

13 hours ago, k_stacky said:

Are any other January filers deciding not to file N400 and just wait out until after they get their 10 year? I feel like I'm the only one.

I’m probably going to wait, also. One USCIS application ongoing at once is enough for me lol

On 10/27/2018 at 1:54 PM, Meowz said:

Congrats, whoever is it ...  My also started with WAC18072 but nothing yet :((

 I

Is that version of the USCIS Case Status even correct anymore? I remember that we all switched over to the new version behind our individual logins a while ago? No idea if they've started utilizing it again?

Saw this pop up in my daily digest and my jaw dropped.... false alarm, as you were haha!

On 8/20/2018 at 2:35 PM, Tom and SooGyeong said:

According to what I have read, the current drag on approvals in (2017 and the first half of 2018) is primarily being caused by the interview waiver rules being curtailed/enforced on employment I-485 adjustment of status petitions. Before 2017, USCIS was allowed to waive the required interview for employment based I-485 petitions in a majority of cases. Since the beginning of 2017. USCIS is required to include the interview portion of adjudication process for All employment based I-485 petitions. That workload is being handled by the local offices, and as reflected in the number of cases (approved and denied) as posted on the USCIS website. Since the beginning of 2017, the number of petitions adjudicated quarterly has dropped by about 35 - 40%. Consequently, the number of Pending petitions that have been 'rolled forward' has continued to rise as well. My understanding is that as time passes, all petitions submitted will be having that standard applied, and that all petitions will eventually require the interview to take place. Time will tell. But as indicated in the PDF attached here, the percentages of petitions both approved and denied from quarter to quarter has remained fairly consistent. They are just not able to adjudicate as many as before, because of the interview requirements. 

Keep in mind, that the interview requirement has Always been a part of the adjudication process, as required by law. But in the last decade or so, USCIS has been allowed to 'waive' more and more of them. USCIS is also in the process of making the petition submittal process digital, such that all fields must be properly filled in and all documents scanned and attached before electronic petition can be finalized and submitted. This will greatly reduce the adjudication time, eliminate 95% of RFEs, and make the interview the keystone of adjudicating the petition. It is therefore necessary to phase in the required interview portion, prior to launching the streamlined digital petition submittal format. 

At least, that is what the accumulated information that I have dug up indicates.

Case File Progress By Quarter and Year.pdf

Fantastic work - everything makes a lot more sense reading that. 

Also, excellent to hear of the USCIS' move towards online applications. Surprised it's taken them this long.

And, right on topic, I got mine today.

On 6/4/2018 at 6:20 PM, Wuozopo said:

They will issue your passport to expire 10 years from the current one if you apply up to 9 months early. Not sure what happens if you apply 2 years early for a renewal.  You might only get until 2028 on the new one. 

 

Most people say they have no trouble getting the passport taken care of without incident. This might be a good time to renew since you won't need your passport for immigration purposes in the near future. They say it takes four weeks but people on here have reported it was quicker.  It's mostly online now including uploading a photo.  I plan to renew mine in the next week or so. 

Now the USCIS is issuing new extension letters for pending I-751s (extending our stay to 18 months past Green Card expiry instead of 12), I've got more breathing space now... hopefully I'll avoid needing to get the I-551 stamp in the first place.

19 hours ago, Tom and SooGyeong said:

Or, the other side of that coin is that:

Until this measure was taken, when the 11th month of waiting arrived, we were obliged to make an attempt (or several attempts) to gain an Infopass, and after obtaining one, take time off from work to go to the local field office to get the I-551 stamp in our Passport in order to remain compliant. 

This new 18-month extension letter, while not encouraging, at least saves us the extra effort while we continue to wait for our petitions to be approved.

I'm in agreement with this. I was already dreading the stress of trying to get a InfoPass appointment.

Everyone - start letting us know when you new NOA comes through - anxiously awaiting mine, now!

8 hours ago, TabeaK said:

Wow, 5 months passed already. How many more to go? 10?

 

My case status hasn't budged; still says: We received your biometrics fee and will begin processing your case.

Biometrics were back in February.

I'm with you. Concerns me slightly that there's been NOTHING since. It's been so long ago that i went through the K1 and the AOS applications that I bet there were long stretches where nothing changed there, either.

P.S. For anyone concerned, I've used the combo of the expired GC + Extension Letter as proof of identity to fly WITHIN the US without problems. On my outward trip from BHM to JAX, I used my paper driving licence (just had it renewed as my initial one was dated as per my GC) and had a terrible time needing to be patted down and have my bags checked (makes me laugh as neither of those things help prove my identity which the plastic card would've!) so decided to try the GC + Ext Letter combo on my way back and they looked at it and let me through with no problems!

Hi all,

Quick question - my UK passport expires at some point in 2020 (I don't have it in front of me right now, but I believe it to be the latter half of the year, but could be wrong).

As I submitted my I-751 in January, I'm not expecting to get my 10 year Green Card until mid 2019, with my extension letter having expired by then.

While I know the process is to go get a I-551 stamp in my passport (30 days before expiry is it?) to maintain my eligibility for another year while the I-751 continues to be processed, I was wondering whether I should go ahead and renew my British passport now so it is valid for long past 2020 by the time I get to that point.

Issue is I have to send my passport back to the UK to get it renewed which worries me slightly - letting it out of my hands is concerning at any point!

Thoughts and advice?

So I *may* have misread my change of address confirmation letter. The letter says that the "service request" was the change of address request and that the "service request" has been transferred to the CSC to be processed. Does this simply mean the CSC deals with address changes or has my whole petition been sent there? Any ideas, anyone?

A little bit of Googling:

https://www.uscis.gov/news/transferring-cases-vermont-service-center-california-service-center

Seems maybe they are beginning to transfer VSC cases to the CSC anyway  to "balance workloads" - i.e. make both Service Centers as slow as the other!

Honestly, I think it depends on the financial institution in terms of their experience dealing with non-US citizens, and the risk level they are comfortable with.

For example, my wife and I went through 2 lending companies beforew finally finding the third would give us a mortgage without question - and that's with the I-751 and expired GC!

First company said they couldn't lend to me before I'd worked here for two years (I'd only been here about a year at that point), Second company we met with last year could lend to me when I had my 10-year Green Card (lucky we didn't wait for that as I hadn't realized the ROC process took so long). Third company was fine.

Frustrating news today... following moving house (from one address in Birmingham, AL to another address in Birmingham, AL), I filled out the AR11 to change my address online... and I get a confirmation letter (at the new address) saying that the USCIS has recorded my address changed BUT have now transferred my case to the California Service Center as that's the Service Center with jurisdiction on my case.

I'm a bit puzzled as Alabama is under Vermont's jurisdiction, hence why I had to send the I751 there in the first place!

Not that it seems to be making much difference right now (as the VSC estimate time has gone up to 17.5-19.5 months anyway) but to have my case moved to the (generally speaking) slower of the two.... not exactly very encouraging!

Does anyone know if this is typical when addresses are changed, regardless of where you move to?

On 3/12/2018 at 12:45 AM, mrs thb said:

However, all that said, USCIS has transferred many applications to the local offices to assist with the extreme workloads at the service centers so you could have an approval by then. You can check your status in 2 ways. 

Out of interest, how do you know that? It would make sense considering how quickly the local offices process biometrics that they could push some of the main applications their way, also.

On 3/20/2018 at 5:18 PM, Tom and SooGyeong said:

Some of you may remember 14,400 baud rate dial up Internet. It was way back in the early 90's, but it was the fastest thing going. 

By comparison, the 70 Mbs internet speed that I currently enjoy is almost 5,000 faster, and allows me to stream movies. Things are very quick these days, thanks to modern technology, digitalization, etc. USCIS seems to be stuck back in the 14k Baud rate, without reason. Also remember, it is the squeaky wheel that gets greased. USCIS receives in total over 2.2 million petitions of different types annually. So long as those of us who are required to pass through their gauntlet and waiting game sit by quietly, there is No Incentive for them to streamline their system. Further, if I go to a restaurant (that requires me to pay for my meal in advance), and I watch for hours as others come, pay, are served, eat their meal, and go . . . while I sit at my empty table, I am going to get a bit grumpy. If after inquiring of the waiter, 'What's taking so long?', he informs me that perhaps my meal will arrive next week; Then I am going to be a bit MORE than just grumpy. 

 While I realize that 'Time Marches On', and sunrise follows sunset, etc... And I could just go about my daily life and be 'surprised' when as if by magic, our petition is approved and all is well... I am unable to synchromesh that quietly into the gears of my heart and mind. All of my working life has had schedules, fluxuating workloads, deadlines, sudden demands for overtime, innovation, and pulling the occasional rabbit out of my hat to get the job done.

Excuses are like arm-pits . . . everybody has a couple and they usually stink. I am not geared towards 'hurry up and wait'. It is inexcusable, and unacceptable. The status-quo needs to be updated... This is ridiculous.

The main thing is that, despite the unease (believe me, I feel it too and I would love to have that 10 year Green Card and then, a US Passport in my hands right now) we still get to keep on living and working as "normal" here in the US with I-797. I was expecting there to be issues, but my GC expired yesterday and I'm still at work and still getting paid, and I was approved for a mortgage with my I-797 and expiring GC. Now, trying to book an InfoPass statement to get my I-551 stamp if things take longer than a year... now that might stress me out haha!

I think we simply do have to keep moving forward as if everything  will work out because, unless they have a reason to deport us, we really should be fine in the end.

Do you not have a I797? (i.e the letter you should’ve got confirming they’d received your ROC application) -  first line says that the green card is extended for a year and that you are allowed to work and travel?

1 hour ago, Simonbln said:

just calm down and try not to check in here everyday.. guess that helps  

 

I learned that during the K1 process. Totally with you -  checking every day will drive you nuts!

3 hours ago, Tom and SooGyeong said:

As I stated on an earlier post, USCIS started 2017 94,000 I-751 petitions BEHIND on processing. Their inefficiencies landed them 166,000 cases behind at the start of 2018. 

1 step forward and 3 steps backward, they are quickly advancing to the rear. In this digital-everything age, where we can talk instantly around the world for free with  hand-held computesr we call cell phones; . . .where I can check the weather at my In-laws house in Gwangju South Korea, while sitting at my desk in Denver;  . . . where data from the ends of the Earth is at our fingertips INSTANTLY . . .it STILL takes 14+ months to adjudicate a simple stack of evidence?  The Magnitude of That Level of Inefficiency is Staggering.

 

I was thinking about this the other day. Excluding the madness that seems to be occurring with the applications filed at the CSC, considering how quickly they get you in and out of the local USCIS office for the biometrics (at least in my case), I find it strange that they don't just route these renewal applications to the local office - they could look at it and get you in for an interview (if needed) so much more quickly, I'd imagine?

Also, it feels as if ROC takes longer than AOS which seems bizarre too.