vbjohn

18 minutes ago, misshepburn said:

Oh Rahill I'm sorry -- keep the faith!

 

vbjohn - Ugh... at least you have some update.. but that really sucks. 

yes it sucks big time  actually we got an update from senator 2-3 weeks back saying our case has reached an immigration officer. was feeling really hopefully. I shouldn't have contacted again. Now i lost my peace of mind huh!!

2 minutes ago, Maryland said:

Hi how long did it take the senator to get a reply from uscis? Thanks 

1 day

Its been almost 200 days (PD Oct 4, 2016) and we are still waiting for approval. Here is the response which we got from Senator when they contacted USCIS

""USCIS records confirms that the case is in pending background check clearance. USCIS is committed to adjudicating these cases in a timely manner while also ensuring public safety and national security. A small percentage of cases have unresolved background check issues that temporarily delay adjudication. Although USCIS makes every effort to resolve such cases promptly, USCIS is unable to speculate when the background check will be completed"" 

I read somehwere in VJ that it can take upto several months just to complete this background check. We are totally devastated to hear this news after waiting already for such a long time. If anybody has gone through similar experience, How long does it took to clear such background check? please share. It would be really helpful!!!

2 minutes ago, lazybones18 said:

curious.. are you petitioning for your husband or wife ?

My wife is the petitioner!!

Its been almost 200 days and I am still waiting for approval. Here is the response which i got from Senator when they contacted USCIS

""USCIS records confirms that the case is in pending background check clearance. USCIS is committed to adjudicating these cases in a timely manner while also ensuring public safety and national security. A small percentage of cases have unresolved background check issues that temporarily delay adjudication. Although USCIS makes every effort to resolve such cases promptly, USCIS is unable to speculate when the background check will be completed"" 

I read somehwere in VJ that it can take upto several months just to complete this background check. We are totally devastated to hear this news after waiting already for such a long time. If anybody has gone through similar experience, How long does it took to clear such background check? please share. It would be really helpful!!!

Its been almost 200 days and I am still waiting for approval. Here is the response which i got from Senator when they contacted USCIS

""USCIS records confirms that the case is in pending background check clearance. USCIS is committed to adjudicating these cases in a timely manner while also ensuring public safety and national security. A small percentage of cases have unresolved background check issues that temporarily delay adjudication. Although USCIS makes every effort to resolve such cases promptly, USCIS is unable to speculate when the background check will be completed"" 

I read somehwere in VJ that it can take upto several months just to complete this background check. We are totally devastated to hear this news after waiting already for such a long time. If anybody has gone through similar experience, How long does it took to clear such background check? please share. It would be really helpful!!!

2 minutes ago, Min & Mark said:

Could you please explain how I could check that ? I updated my PD date and everything but couldn't find that option.

 

you can find your timeline  by clicking on your profile on the top right corner and when u scroll down to the bottom of your timeline you will find 'processing  estimates/stats' which states your estimated approval time range.

btw it says may13 to 24 in your case when i checked ur timeline.

15 minutes ago, shammu said:

Are you guys using android or iOS? Wonder why I can't find a USCIS Case on my iPhone. 

android

23 minutes ago, Beatriz and Luis said:

How can i see that? I have that app too, but i cant find where to do that 

You can find it in 'look up case'. there u ll find an option to select scope (1 to 100 case numbers). Once 1-100 case numbers are displayed, Simply select any case number and 'follow' and it will be saved in 'My cases' which gets automatically updated up to 4 times per day or u can manually reload 'my cases' anytime. btw I am using an android phone.So not sure about apple store. In android market there are similar names .  you have to select one that says 'Aries software studio'

6 minutes ago, Beatriz and Luis said:

What app do you guys use? I have the USCISapp and the case traker.  

App which i am using is called 'USCIS Case'. It gives results of up to 100 case numbers nearby your number and option to follow any case number from this list.

3 minutes ago, miki0630 said:

Good luck.... hope so... mine falls May 4 to 17.. I've noticed it changes when I first register it was 10 to 17 and changed to May 9 going down to May 4..  may be it's because the cases are moving.. let's have faith We will be approved soon.

mine was april last week earlier. yes so it seems cases are moving now. can't restrain myself from checking the app often. Good luck!! we are sooo close to approval!!!!

As per vj timeline my approval date falls between April 13 and 24. Hopefully waiting!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 hour ago, AlviNY said:

Processing date updated - Nebraska Service Center

August 30, 2016

that's really disappointing. So they still have reason to say 'your case is within normal processing time'  

6 hours ago, NotwdwMorocco said:

Msett1 I am beginning to think there is a lot of racial profiling going on. The app shows the case after mine has been approved as of January. I think because my husband is Muslim and comes from an Arabic country it has a lot to do with us not hearing anything. Maybe I am be super sensitive but it feels that way. PD is Oct 12. (Nebraska office) 😕😢

Mine Oct 4. I saved around 30 nearby case numbers in my app for monitoring the progress (all Nebraska, I130, oct 4). Including mine only 4 left to get approved. All the rest got approved within first 2 weeks of april!!

9 hours ago, agripa said:

Hey @vbjohn

 

You really have three options --

 

1. Married Filing Jointly
2. Married Filing Separately AND claim your spouse as an exemption.
3. Married Filing Separately AND NOT claim your spouse as an exemption.

Both options 1 and 2 will save you some money on your taxes, but they REQUIRE you to have an ITIN for your spouse. This isn't difficult to get, but you're going to have to gather some paperwork. First you have to fill out form W7 from the IRS (this is an application for an ITIN number), but more importantly you have to attach a certified copy of your spouse's passport to this application. Certified DOES NOT mean notarized, rather you have to get copy of your spouse's passport CERTIFIED by the issuing agency. I did some research into this and basically in India this means you need to have an apostille-fixed copy of your spouse's Indian passport (see this description on the US Consulate for India website). You can acquire this "apostille" at the following locations according to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (see here for a list of locations). When my wife went to a local office in Bengaluru she was notified that to get an "apostille" sticker will take 15 days minimum! Maybe you can find a place that does it faster, but we could not. Since we started looking into this way too late (and seeing how taxes are due tomorrow), this route will probably not work out for you.

 

Option 3 is far easier. You can fill out your taxes as if you were single and basically state that you are married. Basically, you won't claim your spouse as an exemption for tax purposes. In the field for your spouse's social security number you can just write "NRA" (stands for non-resident alien). With this route you don't require anything at all from your spouse, but you will pay a higher tax bill since it's basically as if you're filing as a single individual. You get none of the tax benefits of being married, but there is far less paperwork involved.

@agripa Thanks a lot for the detailed clarification. Finally we had to go with option 3 which was easy but had to compromise on returns!!

8 hours ago, JessieABC said:

This should answer everything above: 

http://blogs.hrblock.com/2014/07/02/spouse-is-a-non-citizen-which-filing-status-do-we-use/

 

I opted for married filing separately to save the paperwork hassle and will probably amend next year when he gets a ssn.

@JessieABC Thank you!! Finally did filing separately (without claiming spouse as an exemption). By doing so tax return was considerably low. What do u mean by "probably amend next year when he gets a ssn". Is there a possibility to get some returns which we were supposed to get next year?

On 4/15/2017 at 6:54 PM, agripa said:

Oh my God! I just got approved!!!! Soo elated and over the moon, my wife and I were just screaming at each other over the phone.

 

My PD was October 4, 2016. I was at Nebraska the entire time, no transfers or anything. I was approved on April 10, 2017 and received the hardcopy yesterday April 14, 2017. There was no notification online (in fact my status still hasn't changed).

 

Never fear guys, approvals are are on the way for everyone!

congrats   Similarity of our time lines giving me some hope for getting an approval soon!!!

hello all

Its been 6.5 months since my PD and my case is still stuck at Nebraska. I have a couple of questions regarding filing tax return which is due tomorrow. I have seen that there are two options 1) married filing separately or 2) married filing jointly. It seems filing jointly is more beneficial in order to get maximum returns. But how complex is the overall process? Do beneficiary  need an 'Individual tax identification number' (ITIN) for both options or is it just when filing jointly? What are the pros and cons with these 2 options in terms of NVC processing ? It would be great if somebody can give me an insight.

33 minutes ago, Thesmiths2016 said:

I'm a New Zealander and was living in Australia when I filed, they assigned me to Sydney. Nz passport holders can live work and retire in Australia so we are considered residents enough to use their embassy. 

I've since moved and changed to Auckland NZ as my consulate as that's my country of birth where I'm now back while I await this process. 

My understanding is if you're on a temporary visa you can't choose that consulate but if you're like me and can stay in that country without paperwork for the rest of your life you're eligible for that consulate 

Thanks a lot. Now it is clear!!

1 hour ago, VeVe said:

The rest of the sentence ask where they will apply for an immigrant visa. That is why you list the consulate and location. It seems to me, if it's not completed that could result in a RFE.

But i thought it is just for someone who IS CURRENTLY IN US BUT NOT ELIGIBLE for adjustment. May be i interpreted it wrong. 

59 minutes ago, kellyh said:

 

 

May I ask what exactly did you input in section 22? 

If it's not completed, like @VeVe said, it could result in a RFE.

 

Unfortunately i left it BLANK. I thought it is not applicable for us after reading the main heading in line 22 which sayS 'if your relative is in US AND apply for adjustment for status' . And for the subheading 'if not eligible for adjustment....' i thought theree may be cases when someone is already in US but not eligible for adjustment' But what u said makes sense now since i didn't mention ANYWHERE the name of the consulate. Now i don't know how i can convey the consulate name to them. After 6 months and 1 week waiting really hope I won't be getting an RFE  

5 hours ago, lamafiosa69 said:

Hello Everyone:

 

I have great news. I just came home from work and my applications have both been approved. PD 10/18/16. Transferred to Texas notice was 3/7/17. Approval Notice dated 4/4/17. Husband is coming from Dominican Republic with his son. Hopefully depending on the mail many will get the same approval as me. I never called or used the app but I am happy to receive the letters in the mail today. Now to see what the next steps are......

congrats  

7 hours ago, JessieABC said:

Old I-130 wasn't written very clearly. One the left side of that form you'd fill out if you were adjusting status. The right side would be the location of the us consulate where the applicant intends to undergo the interview etc.  

 

quite a numbet ER of people were confused. They updated it in the new forms.

Thank you. I get it now. But my first question remains, Will NVC suggest consulate based on my country of current residence (germany) or country of permanent residence/Nationality (India))? let me know if u have some insight into this

7 hours ago, SabRob said:

I mean..you could but then you'd have to prove that at the time you entered the US you had no intention of adjusting your status while there. You could risk being banned from the US for a number of years

okay thank you. yes this long wait time is much better than taking the risk!!