jea

After obsessively checking my case online for the last 5 days since my biometrics (July 29), I was surprised to see my EAD was approved today and they are mailing out my card. This may be the happiest day of my life (well, ok, second to our wedding day )

Good luck to everyone still waiting!

J

Isn't that funny! I guess the letters are diferent for each service center. It would be nice if they standardized them!!!

I wanted to put up a quick post to help out any others that may be in a similar situation.

After filing my I-765 (received NOA June 14), I got a biometrics appointment for July 1st, but received the appointment letter only two days before and was unable to travel to Dallas for the appointment. I faxed and mailed my paper in, requesting a new interview date, because there was a box at the bottom that stated if you couldn't make the scheduled appointment, you could reschedule. After waiting 3 weeks and hearing nothing, I wrote a letter and called the 1-800 number a couple of times (without much success).

On Friday, July 28th, I received an appointment letter for an appointment on JULY 22. The envelope was postmarked JULY 26 (4 days after the appointment). In tears, I called the 1-800 number again and the woman suggested I write another letter. I felt this would be futile, so this morning I took all the letters and paperwork with me to Dallas and showed up at the Biometrics center, ready to beg for an appointment. The security guard didn't bat an eyelash at the interview date and it took only 10 minutes for me to be seen and fingerprinted and photographed. When I asked the worker about this interview dates and letters, she told me you have 87 days from the date of the interview to show up for an appointment on Wednesdays or Saturdays. It doeasn't say this ANYWHERE on the piece of paper.

I was glad I decided to drive all that way, but it would have been nice to know this 4 weeks ago. Hope it helps someone else.

Just thought I would give an update on this situation....

I went into the SSA last week to ask about my SSN and the confusing I-94 I received. I informed the woman that I had come in on a K3 visa and showed her the "Work authorized by CBP" on my record of entry, and my SS card. She said if I had those two things "I was good to go" and can work. Interesting....

So Murphy's Law.....I was in Indiana visiting hubbies parents and he was driving up to join for the July 1st/Independance Day weekend. My husband got my biometrics appointment letter on Thursday for a Saturday appointment in Dallas and I could not make it back for then. Husband called the USCIS, faxed the form to the Biometrics office and mailed it in (since mail only wouldn't have gotten there in time). I haven't heard anything since (3 weeks later) and I'm concerned that they have dropped the application, despite our request to reschedule. I called the USCIS number again and all the woman could do was read me some paragrah that says if an appointment is missed, it could be a long time before it is rescheduled. Did anyone else have to reschedule a biometrics? If so, what was your experience?

Thanks!

J,

Very interesting, on several points.

- Which POE was this that you visited?

- What is the expiration date on that EA notation?

- As far as I know, K3s are not entitled to EA incident to status, they must apply using I-765, so the notation is an error.

Those questions aside, where are you now - still in the USA or back in Canada? That Departure Record should be surrendered when you leave the USA, so you shouldn't still have it and it won't do you any good when you come back to the USA to stay.

Yodrak

After receiving my visa and envelope in Montreal yesterday, I decided to drive the relatively short distance to the border to submit all the stuff so that I can apply for the EAD. Everything went smoothly (except I didn't know there was a $6 fee!!!). Now that I'm making all the photocpies for my EAD application, I noticed that on the back of the departure record it states "K3" (with the A number) "Employment Authorized by CBP". I have a US SSN from working in the States 2004-2005....does this mean I am authorized by the CBP to work in the US without submitting the EAD? (This may be a silly question, but I was just curious).

Thanks!

J

I went to the Ogdensberg POE across from Prescott. The Officer told me that the departure recpord would be taken if I fly, but not if I crossed the border by car. I am back in Canada now, and informed the Canadian guard when I was returning that I had crossed to submit my K3 paperwork. She did not request to see my passport or request to remove the departure record. The EA notation is on the back of the I94, and the date on the front is June 5, 2008. The guard didn't appear to be very familiar with the K3 visa in the first place. Makes me a little nervous that the border guards don't know exactly what's going on!!

After receiving my visa and envelope in Montreal yesterday, I decided to drive the relatively short distance to the border to submit all the stuff so that I can apply for the EAD. Everything went smoothly (except I didn't know there was a $6 fee!!!). Now that I'm making all the photocpies for my EAD application, I noticed that on the back of the departure record it states "K3" (with the A number) "Employment Authorized by CBP". I have a US SSN from working in the States 2004-2005....does this mean I am authorized by the CBP to work in the US without submitting the EAD? (This may be a silly question, but I was just curious).

Thanks!

J

I Have a Visa

I had my interview in Montreal on Monday. It went very smoothly. I didn't realize that they started letting people through security at about 8:15, so I'm glad I showed up early to check the place out. I had brought a banana with me but had to leave it downstairs. (I just thought this was funny because they taped a number to it and put it in a cubby hole then gave me a matching number and told me I could pick it up after).

I was very nervous during the wait, and kept kicking myself for not having brought a book or magazine!!! Anything to interrupt the constant looking at the clock. In the end, everything went very smoothly (thanks mostly to everyone on this website!!!). The interview portion was very short - the woman asked a couple of general questions about whether or not I have ever been in trouble with the police or had trouble at the border. Then she asked how my husband and I met. And then she said that everything appeared to be in order and I can pick-up my visa the following day. It was surprisingly painless (except for the waiting times in between each step!!!) I can't stop looking at the new entry in my passport.

A million thank-yous to everyone on this site who has shared their own personal experiences that helped me immeasurably along the way and good luck to everyone else on their journey.

WOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

jea,

Read the I-765 instructions - it will tell you what you have to submit with your application.

Yodrak

It says in the directions I-94 if applicable, but that wasn't really clear to me.

Had my interview in Montreal yesterday and will pick up my visa today!!! I will post more about the interview when I get home, but have a quick question about EAD. I'd like to fill it as soon as possible, but don't plan on going to the States for another two weeks. Do I have to have entered the US to file the I-765, or can I mail it in with fees, photo and a copy of the visa from Canada?

Thanks, J

I have an interview with the Montreal Consulate in Canada and the letter they sent states that the visa is not available until after 3 pm the following day for security reasons. Maybe your situation is the same - the visa has been approved and you guys just have to go back to pick it up tomorrow. Hope this helps and good luck!

J

Congrats Jea, and join the club Scott and I have also been there calling and being told July and we both got ours mine is June 8th and his mid June. Me thinks Montreal phone answerers are secretly working for the anti- depressant companies and are just drumming up business.

LOL...I was just thinking myself they are trying to make themselves look good - I was so upset when I heard July and now that it's June I love the consulate!!!!!!

I'm so excited but don't want to get carried away!!!! I called the Montreal Consulate today (second time this week) and was told my interview was scheduled for June 5th!!!! I am bouncing off the walls, but a bit confused because when I called three days ago they told me June was already booked and my interview wouldn't be until July. Keeping my fingers crossed that this is not an error. Hope this gives others a light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Jea

Hi,

I just checked the automated NVC phone line and they stated that our Immigrant Visa Fee Bill Letter was generated on May 8 and would be mailed out in the next couple of weeks. Does anyone know how much the IV fee bill is?

TIA,

Jea

I thought a post would make me feel better since I know everyone here is going through similar issues!

I contacted the Montreal consulate at the end of March to find out about interview dates. At that time, they told me my interview would likely be scheduled for May. When I hadn't heard anything, I again phoned around April 14 and they told me all interviews for May were booked, and I would likely be scheduled for June. My husband is here visiting this week, so we called to check on the progress yesterday, and they told us that June was now booked and they were scheduling for July. I am still on a waiting list and feeling utterly hopeless and frustrated!! How does this happen? How has the interview gotten pushed back so far?

My husband is thinking of writing a letter to his State Senator. Has anyone done this? Is it useful or not?

Thanks for your help,

Jea

I am curious about the fastest route to employment once the K3 is approved. I have a US SSN from working on a TN prior to getting married. I recently saw a post where someone said if you go to the head SS Branch in Miami you can get your work authorization approved the same day. Is there really any way to fast track employment authorization or do you just have to send in the 765 and wait?

Thanks for the help!!

Thanks for your replies!

I contacted the Montreal Consulate today and they informed me that they received my document checklist in order on March 15th, 2006. The woman informed me that I am on a waiting list. I asked her if she could give me any indication of how the scheduling was going, and she stated that they are fully booked for May at this point.

So the waiting continues!!

I sent my document checklist into the Montreal Consulate in early March, but have not yet heard anything about an interview date. I was wondering if anyone else has received an appointment letter recently and when they are scheduling interviews for.

Thanks!

I have tried to go back and look at some of the other posts to get information, but can't seem to apply other info to our specific situation, so I apologize in advance if this is a repetitive post.

Our K3 case was approved on January 11, 2006. I have sent the documentation checklist in to the Montreal consulate and they have estimated my interview date for May or June. The woman I spoke with could not tell me how far in advance they would send the letter. My husband received a letter stating that our I-130 petition was approved on March 28th. I know that it will be a waiting game for the I-130, and I basically have to repeat all the information gathering and wait for an interview.

My question is, do I go through with the K3 stuff, go to the US and then return to Canada once I am given an I-130 interview? Or should I wait out the I-130? Or should we just apply for an AOS once I'm in the US? The woman I spoke with at the consulate said that she wouldn't advise anyone to go through the K3 route now that I-130's have caught up, and she did not advise a change of status since it would take longer than just waiting for the I-130. Unfortunately I've had so much conflicting information from USCIS and others that I am reluctant to trust what they say!!! Has anyone been through a similar situation? TIA