ninamyers

I sent them a copy, no reponse, but they haven't told me to pack my things either, so I think I'm ok!

Quick update - I went to the DMV with the approval letter and they gave me a two month interim license. Just in case any of you are in the same situation.

Anyone received cards/approvals today?

What does everyone's online status say? Mine still says case received and pending...

This is annoying - I want to get my driver's license renewed! Only have 2 days left on my greencard

If you don't have your NOA/1 year extension letter, then it's time to make an Info Pass appointment.

I had one scheduled for last Thursday, but got the approval letter the day before so cancelled it. Infopass is a last last resort, going there is such a hassle! I can live without a driver's license for a while, it's not a big deal. Just means my husband has to pick me up from work more often... Luckily we spent 2.5 years here without a car, so I know how to get around!

This is annoying - I want to get my driver's license renewed! Only have 2 days left on my greencard

Hi all, just got my approval letter today, although the case status online still shows as pending. It looks like the card might not arrive for a while judging by this thread... I didn't receive the NOA1, and my greencard expires in 4 days - do you think the approval letter will be enough for my employer? (they asked to see something that shows I can work after the original expiration date).

I'm sure they'll be fine, just wondered if anyone else was in this situation.

Thanks!

Just show your employer a receipt notice for I-751. It says that your status was extended for 1 year while they are processing your case. And during this year you can work and travel. I actually went to Canada and back with this receipt and an expired GC this January:) Or if you are really worried you can always make an infopass appointment, go to the field office and they will stamp your passport. Though since you are approved already, there is no need to spend a whole day waiting in line for a stupid stamp.

Good luck

Thanks for replying!

That would work... but I didn't receive the receipt notice. I called up USCIS to request a duplicate, but that never showed either. I had an Infopass appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning just in case, but I've cancelled it since I received the approval notice: you're right, I don't want to stand in line for the stupid stamp!! I'm not too concerned really, I'm sure my employer will accept it. The DMV on the other hand... Think I'll have to wait for the greencard to show before I can renew my driver's license!

Hi all, just got my approval letter today, although the case status online still shows as pending. It looks like the card might not arrive for a while judging by this thread... I didn't receive the NOA1, and my greencard expires in 4 days - do you think the approval letter will be enough for my employer? (they asked to see something that shows I can work after the original expiration date).

I'm sure they'll be fine, just wondered if anyone else was in this situation.

Thanks!

We were very surprised to find a letter in our mailbox from USCIS today. Through the window in the envelope we saw a plain white sheet - it wasn't the snazzy NOA style stationary we're used to seeing. The letter states "Congratulations! Your request for the removal of the conditional basis of your permanent resident status has been approved...."

So, having mailed the I-751 on Feb 12, this is quite a delight - 63 days from mailing to approval!! There were no emails received or no additional touches since the biometrics update on March 8. I guess this is as good as it gets.

I know many here have agonized over this process for many many months. I can't say why some petitions are being processed at a record rate while others sit and wait and wait and wait. One day your turn will come.

Good luck all!!!!

M&M

Congrats!

I mailed mine on the same day, and got my approval letter today, with a date of April 16th. I guess that makes me 63 days too! Whoo!

Thank you both - my mind is at ease at least about getting the stamp. I've already scheduled an infopass for April 17, but really hoping I'll be able to cancel that!

Just in case anyone has any advice about the driver's license, I'm in California. They wouldn't give me a license when my greencard didn't match my SSN, even when I showed them my marriage cert. The issue was the other way round - SSN showing my maiden name, and the greencard with my married name.

Is it me, or do they seem to have the most trouble with the NOA1 when removing conditions, when it's really important!

Hi all,

I'm looking for some advice. It seems it's pretty common for people not to get their NOA1 extension letter, and that a lot of people resort to getting the I551 stamp in their passport. I requested a duplicate 2 weeks ago today, but nothing's shown up yet, and i'm getting a little worried. So, I have 2 questions:

1. Will they stamp my passport even though it has my maiden name?

2. WIll the DMV renew my driver's license even though my "proof of legal presence" document doesn't match my social security number?

This is really annoying. I've looked into getting my name changed on my passport, but it's such a hassle, and there's no way i'd get everything ready before the green card expiration date (4-26). The passport application involves me sending both my parents' birth certificates, which they'd have to mail over to me. It's not leaving me much time...

Any advice/experience with this would be welcomed!

Thanks all!

One more thing, my service center is apparently "WSC" - err, where is that?! I sent all my stuff into the California Service Center.

WSC (Western Service Center) = CSC (California Service Center).

Thank you - you can tell I haven't had to deal with USCIS for a while, all of these acronyms are beyond me now!

Hi everyone,

So, i sent all of the paperwork in to remove conditions on 2/12, and the cheque was cashed a few days later. I didn't receive an NOA1, but today I received the Biometrics appointment, scheduled for 3/10/09. This seems a little bit strange to me - has it happened to anyone else? I checked my case online, and it says that they received it 2/13, and has the usual jargon "we mailed you a notice describing how we will process...". Should I request a copy of the NOA1? (Am I allowed to for that matter..)

One more thing, my service center is apparently "WSC" - err, where is that?! I sent all my stuff into the California Service Center.

Would appreciate anyone's help/advice.

Thanks.

I was approved yesterday as well, whoo!

Yay namecheck is done! Only took from beginning of March, so that isn't too bad. If it had been just a little sooner I could've made it to my graduation next weekend!! Never mind, I can start planning my trip[ in July now

Yay!

I'm off to get drunk now.. I'm so glad it's friday!

Congragulations!!! But you know this just ruined our matching timelines. Seriously though it's great to see people getting through the FBI namechecks, it means they now have time to finish ours, haha. Have a nice trip to England!

Haha, yours can't be far behind, can't believe they messed up our matching timelines check your online status again, you never know...

Celebrated rather hard last night, the screen is blurry right now.

Yay namecheck is done! Only took from beginning of March, so that isn't too bad. If it had been just a little sooner I could've made it to my graduation next weekend!! Never mind, I can start planning my trip[ in July now

Yay!

I'm off to get drunk now.. I'm so glad it's friday!

I found that getting the visa was no problem when it came to my hubby's income (they took one crappy copy of a year contract of his), but when it came to adjusting status, they really looked carefully and wanted good evidence of income (Ed didn't have tax returns so it's taken us 2 RFEs to persude them that he does earn enough!)

Hi,

I applied for my AOS on 31st December 2006, and at the same time, applied for EAD and AP. Well after a few notices and a few touches etc etc, I got the biometrics appointment, and then 2 weeks later I received my green card in the mail !!! The "welcome to the US" notice came a week after the green card!! Anyhow, even though my AP is redundant now as I have the card, they are still touching it so must still be processing it !! Crazy. That would make the current timeline 3 months exactly for the AP and still processing.

My friend applied for her AP in November 2006 and received it mid-February 2007 so about a 10 week wait for her.

What stage of the AOS are you at? Hopefully you will have the same luck and get your green card very soon.

Hi,

Well, I had my interview on the 6th March, and was told that I'm still in FBI namecheck, so it could be 2 weeks, it could be 6 months, who knows. I applied for AOS and EAD back in November and received EAD beginning of Feb, so that wasn't too bad of a wait.

Congrats on getting your greencard so quickly! I am jealous

Got my NOA1 for AP today (in FBI namecheck so thought i better get it).

Any input on how long yours took/issues you've had would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Maria x

Bacardi and nicotine..

Probably because most American tourists in the UK don't set foot outside the city.

*cough* thankfully *cough*

Oh good. I knew I was special when my first real UK visit was to Cosham...

Cosham! What a wonderful place to visit. Where I'm from (Southsea) we call Cosham "The North".

Haha Cosham, I lived in Horndean - not far! I remember many friday nights on southsea seafront, or if I really wanted to see a fight, guildhall walk...

I was just about to ask if people usually get a touch or two before then namecheck is done.. I'm not one to obsess over touches usually, but now I've found myself checking it daily! I'm sure I'll get bored eventually..

actually that IS what we have seen, touches prior to completion... but my online status still says that my interview was cancelled/descheduled. i somehow doubt i wwill get touched at the end, but stranger things have happened! and yeah, i rarely check anymore. its always the same.

Ah well, they're still waiting on our tax returns anyway... Got an infopass appointment on Monday so maybe a miracle will happen and they'll have some good news! If it wasn't for the fact that it's so annoying I'd quite enjoy being a part of this little group

I was just about to ask if people usually get a touch or two before then namecheck is done.. I'm not one to obsess over touches usually, but now I've found myself checking it daily! I'm sure I'll get bored eventually..

I am assuming a fellowship is the same as assistantship.

I too have an assistantship, and i had to pay taxes on it throughout the year but I was able to get all my money back after i filed my tax returns.

You are required by law to declare the assistantship money as personal income and he should have gotten a W2 form for it from his school.

now, in order to see if you would have to pay money or not, what you can do is go through filling out a tax return form (1040 or 1040EZ) and see what you end up with at the end; being having to pay the IRS or having to receive money back from them.

The 2006/2007 year he is on assistantship, the first year was what you would call 'a free ride', he didn't have to do anything apart from go to classes, and no tax was taken out of his earnings. This academic year he is being taxed, and he got a W-2, but it only states the assistantship money, not the fellowship!

It would've been so much easier if he'd done the assistantship last year as well...

ok, a fellowship is like a grant or scholarship, and it usually gets applied towards tuition and you do not get taxed on it and you do not get a W2 for it, but you do get some a form for it to use when filing for taxes.

so this year, when he got the W2, he should also have gotten a separate form that lists his fellowships and you would use that form when filing for your tax returns.

in my case, i get money from school and they pay my tuition. I am being taxed on the money that i get paid, but i do not get taxed on the money they pay for my tuition.

Ok, thankyou so much for your help! I really appreciate it. Would the list be on a 1099? He remembers getting one of those...

I am assuming a fellowship is the same as assistantship.

I too have an assistantship, and i had to pay taxes on it throughout the year but I was able to get all my money back after i filed my tax returns.

You are required by law to declare the assistantship money as personal income and he should have gotten a W2 form for it from his school.

now, in order to see if you would have to pay money or not, what you can do is go through filling out a tax return form (1040 or 1040EZ) and see what you end up with at the end; being having to pay the IRS or having to receive money back from them.

The 2006/2007 year he is on assistantship, the first year was what you would call 'a free ride', he didn't have to do anything apart from go to classes, and no tax was taken out of his earnings. This academic year he is being taxed, and he got a W-2, but it only states the assistantship money, not the fellowship!

It would've been so much easier if he'd done the assistantship last year as well...

Hi, I will try to make this as easy to read as possible, it's quite complicated..

So, Ed (my sponsor), earned somewhere in the region of $18000 last year, which is more than required. He didn't file taxes for the 2005 year because he was in England for most of it and didn't earn over the untaxable limit. This meant we couldn't send tax returns in when we sent in the AOS application (which we did in November), so instead we sent in employer letters and contracts for the 2006 tax year.

This was all sent in when we got the RFE, and when we got an interview, we assumed everything was ok. However, the immigration officer was looking through and couldn't find 2005 tax returns (because there aren't any), and didn't read anything in our file, and just asked us to send in 2006 tax returns. Annoying, but ok.

Now, the problem is, from Jan - May, Ed was on fellowship money from his school (USC), which is pretty much invisible to the IRS, and doesn't have to be declared. But, to make the tax returns show that he earned enough last year, he is going to HAVE to declare it, otherwise the tax return will only say $11000 ish...

Has anyone ever filed taxed that included fellowship/scholarship money? Will they make him pay tax on it? Or can they just include it and not charge any tax??

Also, I have scheduled an INFOPASS appointment to discuss this - will they actually be any help? We can take all the evidence we have that he earned money between Jan - May, if the immigration officer we speak to takes this as proof of income, can he sort it out or do we still have to deal with the nasty immigration officer at the interview who asked us for it?

I'm sorry for all the questions, this is just an absolute nightmare!!

Maria x