Sean and Kristina

Yes they send me 1099 and I pay all my taxes. 

Personally I don't think it's embarrassing. Neither is it illegal, like prostitution for example.
 
I don't think anyone ever got in troubles because of that? I assume you're not a minor lol.
I googled a bit, and some attorney said to just describe it as "modeling"?

Good evening everyone,
 
  My wife's oath ceremony was this past Friday (2/15/19) at the Atlanta USCIS office which is really located in Tucker.  We live in Marietta, Ga which is just north of Atlanta.  Her oath ceremony was scheduled at 8:00 am and without traffic would take us about 45 minutes to drive to the office.  Since we would have to be in the thick of rush hour traffic we decided to stay at the DoubleTree hotel which is just across from the USCIS office.  I was not about to take any type of chance of being late for the ceremony!  We got up Friday morning, took a shower, ate breakfast and went across the street to the USCIS office.  Got there at 7:10 and went to the 2nd floor which is where the ceremony is done.  At 8:00 they started the process of getting the future citizens to sit in the front of the room and the family move to the chairs in the back of the room.  They went to each future US citizen and checked them in.  There were 150 people taking the oath that morning and we were told they had another ceremony scheduled for 12:00 that afternoon!  What a proud day that was and yes some tears were shed.  
 
We were told to wait at least 10 days before going to the social security office to change her social security status.  We did head over to the Georgia driver's license office and changed the status of her drivers license.  That took all of 15 minutes. Our next stop will be this Tuesday (post office is closed on Monday for President's Day) to drop off her passport application.  Some post offices require you make an appointment but the one on Gresham Road in Marietta allows walk in passport application drop off from Monday to Friday 8:30 to 3:00.  Yes were are going to pay the extra fee for expedited processing and for express shipping.  Do not really like sending the original Certification of Naturalization with her passport form but that is a requirement.  Yes we already have a number of copies but worked so hard to get the certificate hate to see it leave our hands!  Once we receive the original naturalization certificate back from the department of state we will head over to the social security office. 
 
Looking back we could not have completed this journey (without one RFE) without the help from the great people of Visa Journey.   Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  
 
May God richly bless each and every one of you
 
John and Elizabeth

Good luck.
 
 

Both the new green card and approval letter arrived in the mail today. Literally 40 hours after we got that mobile notification that the card was mailed. 

Someone is taking their job a little bit too seriously...  Oh well, at least it's a good sign that they are processing it and you should have a decision on it soon. 

Both the new green card and approval letter arrived in the mail today. Literally 40 hours after we got that mobile notification that the card was mailed. 

After an entire year of our status not updating on either the old or new USCIS sites, we JUST received a notification that the card was mailed on the iOS app! 
 
CSC filer. WAC181045XXXX

Yeah it’s crazy! We were both just laying in bed watching TV and saw the notification appear on my screen. Then we both started screaming lol

One of my friends filed a divorce waiver April 2017, after her receipt she never checked on her status, she took her mind off it, and said what will be will be. 
 
In August she received another mail saying she will receive letter for i751 interview. In October 2018 she received the letter and went for interview in November, she came home and after a week she received her approval letter and the next day she received her card in the mail.
 
please stop 🛑 checking and checking your status all the time, it is going to give you heart ❤️ attack. Just relax and go around your business. 
 
I filled in Feb 2018 @ VSC.  I don’t check I don’t think about it, and I don’t care about people been approved whilst mine is still pending. 
 
What will be will be. Seriously 😳 am ok, and happy for those approvals, it shows cases are been worked on. 
 
Good luck 🍀👍🏽 to everyone. 

Tier 1 are contractors and they are known as parrots.  They read everything from the screen in front of them, and they do not have any additional information you cannot get from USCIS.gov.  They do have the ability to create a service request for you (some of which you cannot do it yourself online).
 
Tier 2 are real USCIS immigration officers who actually have access to the internal systems (like to see where your physical files are located, or who is working on the files <not that they will ever tell you that>).
 
You have to choose the option to report a problem with your case, and it will get you to the parrots.  You cannot get to Tier 2 officers from the automated system; only the parrots can transfer you.

So I became an LPR on 3rd April, 2013. This meant that according to USCIS' filing calculator I became eligible to file an N-400 on 3rd January, 2018 (plus five years minus 90 days). I filed my N-400 online through ELIS at 2:30am, staying up late because I was excited to finally begin this final chapter in my immigration journey.
 
I hit an early roadblock when the receipt NoA for some reason assigned me an N-400 priority date of the previous day, 2nd January. The "application received on" date was correct since it said 3rd January. I posted about it here more than once, and the consensus seemed to be that USCIS would honour the "received" date, not the "priority" date.
 
It took a year of waiting (thanks, Dallas backlog) but I eventually got my naturalisation interview scheduled for 14th January of this year. I dutifully attended, answered all questions and passed all the tests, but was told a decision could not be made. Well the decision was made tonight, and a denial notice popped up in my online USCIS account. The reason? I applied too early. The notice stated that I applied on 2nd January, 2018, and was only eligible to file on 3rd January, 2018. Again, this wasn't mentioned at the interview, and I brought all my emailed ELIS receipts and other documents showing I filed on 3rd January in case they ever brought it up, but they didn't.
 
So it's been a fun night. After a brief period of shouting, loudly, I began to move into attack mode.
 
What I have done so far:
 
1) Emailed the CIS Ombudsman giving them the entire story, receipts with timestamps showing I applied on the correct date, and all that jazz. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure the Ombudsman is closed right now as part of the partial federal government shutdown, so I'm not really expecting much out of this immediately.
 
2) I'm going to my Congressman's local office tomorrow to give them the story and all the same documents and seeing if they can intercede with USCIS on my behalf.
 
3) Emailed my old lawyer and another lawyer that helped me back in 2013 to see if they can offer suggestions. Not trying to freeload on them; I offered to pay whatever fee they deem reasonable on this, since it's obviously no longer in DIY territory.
 
4) I'll be contacting the two biggest local newspapers, the Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, to see if they're interested in doing a story on this. I figure the more attention I can get on it the more likely I am to get something done.
 
I also have the option of either filing a fresh application, together with its $725 fee and one year wait time, or an N-336 formal appeal of their decision. Fun fact on the N-336: it costs $700 to file, and you will often wait almost as long as it costs to process a new N-400, so they kinda get you coming and going on that one. I'm not ruling anything out yet, but for now I'm hanging my hat on something from 1-4 getting me somewhere on this.
 
So at the end of the day, anyone intending to file for naturalisation on the day they become eligible: DON'T DO IT. Wait a couple of days, then submit. You will avoid all this bull, and can instead deal with some other USCIS bull that will be unrelated to this.
 
Now it's time to write some letters to newspapers and see if I can get anywhere. I will post replies here as to what happens, if anything meaningful does.

Hi guys, after waiting the best part of a year, I finally have something to report.
 
I applied for my N-400 in February 2018. My outstanding I-751 was transferred from the dungeon of CSC in March 2018. At the end of April 2018 I was called for interview on June 5, 2018. I couldn't go as I was abroad on vacation and all flights, hotels etc were non-refundable. I therefore foolishly asked for a reschedule.
June 2018 came and went and I heard nothing. I went to three mis-Infopass appointments in June, July and August and was told each time that it shouldn't be too much longer now, but never heard anything. I got so fed up of the whole thing that I decided just to forget about it and live my life.
 
This Monday with both my I-551 stamp and driving license expiring I had no choice but to make the 90 minute journey back to the office. I asked for another stamp and explained what the situation was. The immigration officer on the front desk said 'Oh, it looks like your application is stuck in our system'. I won't tell you the reply that went through my head. She passed the case to her supervisor and said that he would 'unstick it'. I didn't believe it but managed to leave the office with a further six month I-551 stamp (they point blank refused a year).
Woke upon this morning to an email notification and my interview has been rescheduled to the start of April 2019. Hell or high water will not stop me attending that interview.
 
The lesson of this story ... never ever reschedule anything with USCIS. Suck up any financial loss or inconvenience and attend the appointment.
 
Maybe there is now light at the end of the tunnel.

Let's see what disappointment awaits us today LOL 

@ALIENRJ187 @Unidentified
 
This explanation is available in the adjudication manual used by all adjudicating officers (aka. the adjudication bible).  N-400 file preparation is handled exclusive by the National Benefits Center (NBC) in Lee Summit, Missouri.
 
Once Form N-400 is filed by an applicant, the system runs A# to see if an applicant is still a conditional resident (CR).  If an applicant is still a CR (meaning an applicant has a pending I-751 (marriage less than 2-years)), a file request is automatically initiated to locate and retrieve the I-751 file from the Service Center the file is at.  NBC waits until it receives I-751 file, put it together with N-400 file and transfer it to the field office having jurisdiction over the address supplied by an applicant.  This system is not perfect (well nothing with USCIS is perfect).  Here are four possible scenarios that we know to play out in reality as a result of N-400 filing while I-751 is pending:
 
Scenario #1
In some cases, filing N-400 will effectively delay (and I don't like this term because it is misleading unless you really understand the big picture of how N-400 and I-751 adjudication works together) I-751 adjudication depending on how fast the field office is processing N-400.  For example, if you are in Dallas, TX, this is one of the slowest N-400 processing due to a very large number of immigrants within this field office's jurisdiction.  Currently it runs about 16-20 months.  That said, your I-751 will NOT be adjudicated until you are called for N-400 interview and both cases will be adjudicated at the same time.  This is when you see people on VJ here complain that they filed I-751 in late 2017 and they are still waiting.  The majority of them complain and as soon as you ask, you will find out that they also have a pending N-400 in one of these overloaded office, namely -- Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta etc.  The wait time for N-400 is improving, nonetheless.  N-400 has been and will always be a priority when it comes to field office workload.  This is more true in the election year (even year).
 
Scenario #2
In some cases, filing N-400 will effectively speed up I-751 adjudication.  For example, if you are in West Palm Beach, FL or Jacksonville, FL, this is one of the fastest N-400 processing in the country due to a very small number of immigrants plus army bases (note: the military members and their family members are entitled to an expedited N-400 processing).  Currently for these fast offices, it runs about 4-6 months.  That said, your I-751 will also be adjudicated at the same time when you are call for N-400 interview.
 
Scenario #3
In some cases, filing N-400 will also delay (and this is a real delay) an adjudication of both I-751 and N-400.  The reasons for this delay is the I-751 file has already been opened by the officer (note: once it is opened by the IO, it will not be pulled and transferred to NBC) and is awaiting an adjudication.  This seems like it should happen quickly once the file is opened, but it is not always the case.  Therefore, some people are being called for N-400 interview first, but their I-751 file is still with the Service Center.  So N-400 cannot be fully approved until the IO at the Service Center finalizes and approves I-751, and who knows what could go wrong in that process.  You also see people claims that N-400 pushes the IO to approve their I-751 at the Service Center.  That is just pure luck, if it happens.  This is not true.
 
Scenario #4
In very very unique cases, the I-751 file is stuck in purgatory of security checks (FBI Name Checks, IBIS, Criminal History etc.) or a fraud investigation.  Fraud investigation is unique to I-751 filing because of the widespread marriage fraud (that is what USCIS claims to happen, which I disagree).  The security check delays are much more common among cases in this scenario than fraud investigations are.  The manpower of USCIS just does not support the investigation of marriage fraud, as opposed to other frauds like H1B.  USCIS chooses to fry bigger fishes.  You can see these in their court filing, many of which they put out on USCIS electronic reading room for people to see that fraud will not be tolerated.  Nobody knows how long it takes to process the cases belong to these individuals (whether they are simply unlucky or they are actually worthy of security/fraud concerns).
 
What I am going to say is here are the misconceptions we see here on VJ all the time:
1. File N-400 as soon as you can to speed up your I-751 adjudication.  This is NOT always true.  In some cases, it does, and some cases, it does not.  See above.
2. File N-400 while I-751 will delay your I-751 adjudication.  This is NOT always true either.  In some cases, it does, and some cases, it does not.  See above.
3. File N-400 will force the Service Center to adjudicate my pending I-751.  This is PLAIN WRONG.  USCIS does not care if you file N-400.  To some people, it does happen that way, and that is just pure luck.  Like their file is literally on someone's desk to be approved, as they file for N-400.
 
I am not an immigration lawyer (but I know many); I also don't work for USCIS (but I know a few who does).  I am just a VJ member who also has a pending I-751 filed in March 2018.  I understand the system pretty darn well by studying the manuals and asking questions from the people who actually work the system.  I try my best to be a contributing member of VJ by helping people understand the system and don't believe any misconception of how USCIS works.  Assuming that USCIS follows the logic is correct, but assuming that a result will also be logical and chronological is incorrect.  Processing immigration petition is not a straight pipe where it goes in one way and out another way.  It is very inefficient and bureaucratic.  I am cynical at times you will see on here, just to blow off steam of frustration I too have with USCIS.
 

@ALIENRJ187
 
The work should theoretically be done in chronological (which also means numerical) order.
 
This is the explanation from USCIS official when Vermont had the Service Center open house to immigration lawyers back in 2017 and to the local media in 2016.
 
Files are however put together in a basket (like a USPS mail basket, if you have seen one before), so it goes, for example, EAC180050001 to EAC1810050020 (20 files) in Basket #1, and the next basket (Basket #2) could have another 20 or whatever fits in each basket.  As you know I-751 file is not standard; some people submit loads of documents, while some people submit fewer documents for whatever reason they may have.
 
Each basket is put on a shelf in the file room, and each officer picks up one basket of the Form he/she is assigned to work.  One I/O picks up one and only one basket at a time (and the IO must pick up the first basket in the queue).  The I/0 must finish that by adjudicating (approve, deny), issuing RFE, or transferring the file to a field office for an interview, before he/she can go get a new basket.  If an officer issues an RFE, that particular file stays with him/her until it can be adjudicated or transferred, pending the RFE response from the applicant/petitioner.  So when he/she picks up a new basket, he/she still needs to come back to any open files with outstanding RFE when the response is received back from the applicant/petitioner.
 
That said, you could have Officer A (picking up Basket #1) who works slower than Officer B (picking up Basket #2).  So Officer B would finish Basket #2 before Officer A could finish Basket #1.  Then Officer B would go on to pick up Basket #3, and so it goes.
 
Now imagine there are approximately 80 adjudicating officers (as of 2017) who works exclusively on family-based forms (many other forms including I-751).  So you could imagine how file baskets are out of order everywhere, due to this simple “speed of work” difference.  This doesn’t take into account hundred of other possible issues like - resign, termination, vacation, temporary reassignment, temporary reduction in workforce etc.
 
Hopefully this helps you understand why we see approvals all over the place.

Hi everyone, we woke up to an email this morning saying action was taken on your case, please log in to view" and lo and behold it was new card being produced! WAC180805 CSC.

Received a notification about 30 minutes ago that our ROC was approved today.  This is exactly one year from the date that USCIS received our application.   It's been a long ride and we were getting very frustrated wondering what was happening; it's a great relief.  Now on to the N400 and citizenship!  For everyone who's still waiting, we understand your frustration because it feels like there's no rhyme or reason as to how cases are adjudicated.  We have always believed that our case would be approved because we followed  both the letter & spirit of the law.  For everyone still waiting; be strong, have faith, and trust in the system; it will all work out in the end.

So on the Case Tracker app got notice today that:
 
On February 15, 2019, we mailed your new card for your Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence, Receipt Number WAC18104XXXXX, to the address you gave us.  If you do not receive your new card by March 2, 2019, please go to www.uscis.gov/e-request to request that we send your new card to you.  If you move, go to www.uscis.gov/addresschange to give us your new mailing address.
 
I checked on the egov.uscis.gov website to confirm and that confirms it as well with the same information.  I also went to my.uscis.gov where we have an account, but that one hasn't been updated since we initially sent our case in Feb 2018.  I've been following several numbers before and after ours via the app and every number before us has had updates by now, and everyone after us is still waiting on updates.  So they must separate the numbers into sub categories somehow to follow up on it chronologically based on case type.
 
We are going out of the country in 3 weeks so this is amazing news and timing for us and we are super excited.  I expect the card will come in next week.  Filed at CSC if it helps.
 
One other thing, I got a notice from the Case Tracker app that there was a system wide maintenance last night on Valentine's Day between 9pm and midnight so tracking wasn't available at that time, maybe they are righting the wrongs in the system right now.

@starsky - I am a March 2018 VSC filer, but I am following this thread.  I am a big fan of what you are doing for the group.  Keep your chin up.  The wait sucks, but the wait does come to an end.

Reshma - I personally would not try to imagine the level of stress anyone has.  If you applied in January 2018, both CSC and VSC are working “roughly” around those batches.
 
CSC is actually working on January 2018 to March 2018.  Approvals are randomly all over.  Most people who applied with CSC in October 2017 to December 2017 have their cases transferred to TSC, NSC, and VSC, so they (unfortunately) have to wait longer than those applying after them.
 
VSC is definitely working on the first half of January 2018 applications.  I tracked the movement regularly just to see where I stand.
 
With all of this being said, you must realize that USCIS does NOT always process (approve, deny, RFE) in a chronological order.  So all we can do is wait.

Damn,  just got an update stating that a RFE is on way dated 2/9/2019, unbelievable, I sent in so much evidence, can't believe they want more! This is the first RFE I have got since starting the whole K1 visa process! 

I wanted to share with you all, I got home after a long and stressful day at work, to find in my mailbox that my removal of conditions have been approved, it was dated 01/30/2019

@starsky
 
Didn't have the date in my head when replaying to the thread. Here the info
 
Feb 01, 2018 - Send in ROC Petition to USCIS / CSC
Feb 15, 2018 - NOA1 / 12 Month extension Notice 
May 11, 2018 - NOA2 / Notice to Reuse Biometrics on file
Aug 05, 2018 - NOA 3 / 18 Month Extension Notice
Feb 01, 2019 - ROC Approve
 
We file our ROC Petition with Califronia Service Center
No RFE or Interview
 

@JBEdge and @Heley same here. WAC181045XXXX. CSC filer.