jtrh

Given coronavirus, it looks like my husband, who came on a K1 visa in late 2018 and adjusted to a conditional permanent residency, might lose his job. 

Is he allowed to apply for unemployment benefits? My worry is the Affidavit of Support that we signed, which seemed to indicate that he would not be eligible for government support. But I'm not sure if that only pertains to things like SNAP food stamps and Medicaid. 

Anyone know more?

I just did some lowkey stalking of everyone who's applied for AOS with the Detroit office. And I'm amazed and happy to see so many people getting interviews scheduled and approved! 

But it's also made me extremely nervous because there are people who applied months after me who have scheduled interviews whereas the status of my application is STILL "Fingerprint Fee received." 

Are there other Detroit applicants out there who sent their app late Dec/early Jan and are still waiting to hear anything? I'm just getting so anxious and frustrated waiting with absolutely zero news. 

13 minutes ago, Meisha&Jake said:

There is people who filed in September, October & November still waiting! Your not the only one, so please don't rain on others parade for their good news!

Don't forget, every field office has different processing times, every state is different, even if you feel its unfair someone was processed before yours, its not the applicants fault...

Nowhere in my post did I blame applicants for this. I did not rain on their parade either, saying I was "happy for people getting positive notifications." 

If I sounded frustrated, it's at the larger system, which makes absolutely zero sense. If applications aren't processed in the order received, it naturally creates concern like mine that something may have gone astray. 

14 minutes ago, TogoAfrica said:

Someone here suggested I use case tracker....it’s an app. You can add your case number and it will notify you of any changes to it. But another feature is there is a search section. You can put your case number in and search 500 case numbers and see what’s happening around you. So what I did, because I wanted to see what was happening behind me and in front of me is I changed my case number to the case number 300 behind me and scanned 500 cases. My real case number was in that scan and then I can look at what’s happening behind me and in front of me. 

 

Along with i went to visa journey September and October AOS filers and read what’s  happening there. It seems September filers are finally getting all there answers. October people are still waiting. So my theory is that’s why November filers and case numbers around me are not being touched because they are working on the rest of September and starting the rest of October filers and keeping up with their quota for December filers. So if that’s the case....us November filers left behind won’t start seeing some action again for a little bit. They need to catch up with old case numbers first. 

 

I have had the stomach bug for the last two days and plenty of time to keep myself busy 😆

Lol I'm december so.... 😅It's confusing though because I go to the Dec and Jan threads and people are getting approved... Also my VJ timeline date has passed!

What's the precise name of this app? I have an iphone and typed Case Tracker in the app store and a bunch come up, none with that exact name...

21 hours ago, TogoAfrica said:

I’m not sure if I’m correct, but my theory is from using case tracker is that the number of days waiting does not matter much. More what matters is what your case number is. For example near my case number I have people from November 14, 23, 26 and December 7. All of our case numbers are near each other. So that’s why some in December get their answers faster then others, just depends on case number and if agents are doing your stack. So what I’m thinking is when I start to see hits around my case number, that’s when I will know they are close to me. Scanning 100 names behind my case number and 100 ahead I can see only 23 have answers. So there are are many of still waiting....each with a different number of days, depending on when they filed and what case number they got. 

How do you find out other people's case numbers though in order to place yourself in a list?

The only information I can see is the VJ timeline updates, and that is just based on people's NOA dates...

Sent date for AOS was Dec 17, NOA1 of Jan 8. 

When I check case status, it still says "On January 8, 2019, we accepted the fingerprint fee for your Form I-485." Our receipt numbers for the EAD and AP say, "On December 18, 2018, we received your Form..," 

We did the biometric appt in early Feb. And yet no update on any front. Our VJ estimated approval date is behind us. Should we be concerned? 

I am happy for people getting positive notifications but I've been waiting longer than many people and have way less updates...

I just got an email from VJ with estimated dates for my AP and EAD. They are June 9 and June 11.

however VJ’s timeline function on the website is estimating my AP and EAD for May 9-May 20. 

Any idea whats happening here? I’ve never gotten a formal email estimating my date from VJ before. 

My EAD likely won't be approved till the second half of May, if VJ timeline proves correct. 

However, I'm bored out of my mind not working AND there are a few great job opportunities in my field that are open right now. I want to try my hand at applying and using a potential job offer for an EAD expedite. 

At the same time, since the field I work in is quite insular, I don't want to stretch the truth about my status and make the expedited EAD sound like a sure thing; this could piss off potential hiring companies in my field in the long run.

People who have applied for jobs while waiting for their EAD, how and when did you communicate your complicated status?

My worry is if I'm not upfront about it in my resumé, it will be seen as a rude surprise down the line. But if I do reveal that I'm not yet authorized to work in my resumé, I won't receive a single callback from employers... 

Hello fellow Detroit officers! My partner came over on a K1 visa and we filed for AOS, EAD, and AP in December. His biometrics appointment was last week. 

Is the next step simply waiting for a letter that our AOS interview has been scheduled? Which seems to be 5ish months for Detroit?

Will the EAD/AP be granted prior to the AOS interview or just depends on how fast they process?

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

 You have to get in ITIN number for your husband. The simplified directions are here, but you will have to read the detailed directions for the application.

1. Complete the joint tax return leaving the SSN blank for him. Remember to report any income he earned in France during 2018.
2. Print the return both sign.
3. Prepare the statement requesting for him to be treated as a resident alien for tax purposes. Print and both sign.
4. Fill out IRS form W-7 to request the ITIN. Follow the instructions. Form W-7  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw7.pdf and Form W-7 instructions:https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw7.pdf
5. Place the W7 on top of the tax forms. Include his actual foreign passport, not a photocopy.

Mail to the office that issues ITINS

Internal Revenue Service

ITIN Operation
P.O. Box 149342
Austin, TX 78714-9342 

 

For FedEx or other delivery services, use this address

Internal Revenue Service ITIN Operation
Mail Stop 6090-AUSC
3651 S. Interregional, Hwy 35

Austin, TX 78741-0000 

 

The Austin IRS center will process the ITIN first, then put the new ITIN on the tax return, then the tax return will be processed. The passport will be returned by mail.

 

Alternately, you can visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center in person and present the identity documents for verification along with the completed tax return. Make an appointment. See the list of centers here. 

https://www.irs.gov/help/tac-locations-where-in-person-document-verification-is-provided

 

 

 

 

 

Super thorough @Wuozopo, thank you! Though I'm super nervous about sending his passport in the mail, esp since it's really the only thing that shows his legal status in this country. 

Also at the risk of sounding like an utter idiot, I totally didn't realize that we would have to claim his foreign income on our return! It isn't taxed, right? He'll be exempt under Foreign Earned Income Exclusion?

My husband came on a K1 fiancé visa in November and applied for his SSN in early December. We still hadn't received it and finally found out why today: DHS did not approve his SSN application because it has somehow confused his record with the record of someone in the US on a student visa. Since my husband's K1 visa expires in less than 2 weeks, we've been told that he cannot reapply for a SSN till work authorization is granted, which looks to be in May according to VJ timelines. 

Beyond the endless frustration with US gov services, I have two questions:

1. How do I file my taxes? I want to file as Married Filing Jointly because I will save a ton; however, the online tax filing software tells me that I can't file jointly without my spouse's SSN.

2. Will my husband be able to work immediately when he gets work authorization even if he won't yet have SSN?

Thanks for any advice. The employee at the SS office said this happens rarely--he's seen like 5 cases in his career. Super annoying that it happened to us. 

2 hours ago, Lebanese23 said:

You have your NOA1 right? what does your status say on the website, say? It will say fingerprint fee was received if they accepted a check.

Yes. It says that they accepted the check. However, the check was not processed because it was voided by me when I believed the package to be lost. 

I have one USCIS officer telling me it’s no problem as long as I eventually pay; another saying the application is automatically rejected if the payment doesn’t go through in the first try. No idea what to believe at this point. 

17 hours ago, l-h said:

Update. Called USCIS today again and got through to tier 2. They said that it still doesn't show any application in the system under my name or A-number. They asked me to e-mail Chicago Lockbox to verify that they received my package. 

Grr!! So frustrating. We also called yesterday and got bad news. The tier 2 officer we spoke to last week apparently gave us a bunch of advice that is completely incorrect. Our first application is dead; once the check isn’t good, it’s automatically declared abandoned by USCIS, just takes some time for them to do so. Which means that all our hopes and dreams are pinned on this second package which still hasn’t been processed 22 days later 😟. The officer told us to call back next Monday since it was still within the 30 day timeframe...

i think i might email as well! Maybe if two people pester them about the Dec 18 Fed Ex delivery signed by the same dude, we’ll see some activity! Can you PM me the email address for Chicago? I don’t know what it is. 

23 hours ago, l-h said:

Still waiting 😑 going to start calling them again next week.

 

Fun trivia: My package was signed by J.Chyba, I googled him and there are stories dating back to 2011 with packages signed by him being delayed horribly.

Omg...our package was signed by the same guy on the same day!!!

And @Lebanese23, the check definitely hasn’t been processed since it was voided! My big worry is we show up at the scheduled biometrics appointment—which is 1 hour away from our house—and they make a stink about it not being paid, even though we have desperately tried to pay it but they just won’t process our second package with a valid check! 

Ah, now you've made me nervous @Lebanese23! 

I mean the USCIS has two packages from us, but the one with the valid check still has not been processed! The weirdest thing is the biometrics appointment based on the first package is scheduled for next week! So we still haven't paid the fees, yet they're going forward with processing it... 

As of now, we, the applicants, are the only ones ringing the alarm and trying to work this out. USCIS seems to be asleep at the wheel. 

@l-h, did you end up getting your NOA1 for the Dec 18 package or are you still waiting like us?

Gosh, it sucks to hear that you're having similar problems, but also reassuring that I'm not alone!

If it helps, here's a little update on our situation:

I called yesterday, 12/31. They immediately put me on the phone with a Tier 2 officer because it sounded messy. Basically what happened is this: our application, which was marked as lost by the USPS, was actually DELIVERED on December 7 (I am FURIOUS WITH THE USPS). However, it was not processed till December 21. In the meantime, since we were informed the package was 100% lost, I cancelled the check in the original package and sent a second one on December 17. This one was confirmed delivered by FedEx on December 18. However, like you, we still have not received an NOA for the second package. The Tier 2 officer told me that we will receive a second NOA when they look at that package, since the people who issue NOAs simply do data entry and aren't going to care if it's showing 2 applications--someone higher up will sort that out.

So if it reassures you, my timeline matches yours: packages delivered Dec 18 still have not been issued NOAs. I think it's a holiday backup. 

However, I will advise you: do not send another package, especially since FedEx confirmed it as delivered!!!! Because two packages have been delivered for us, the Tier 2 officer said it's going to be an absolute mess to sort out. Basically there is a hold on our application until we pay a $30 penalty because our first check bounced (since I voided it when the package was allegedly not delivered) and until we pay the full application fees (which won't be paid until they process our second package, which contains a valid check.) 

So just sit tight, I really do honestly think they haven't gotten to most packages delivered Dec 18 or later yet. What's shocking about that to me is that the VJ timeline is showing that people have gotten NOA for AOS applications that were sent after this date--my experience is that it has been much longer than the VJ timeline!

Our AOS catastrophe continues. I previously posted that we shipped our AOS materials to the Chicago lockbox on December 6. It was never delivered (according to tracking) and the USPS informed me that I should cancel the check of the old package, create an intercept request so that the old package gets sent back to me instead of USCIS if found, and send a new package.  I did so on December 18. 

On December 20, we received the texts and emails announcing that the case was received. However, this morning I got slightly concerned because the check remains uncashed 10 days later. Has anyone else who filed just before Christmas had theirs cashed?? Normally it’s only a couple of days post-NOA1 texts, but I’m hoping processing times are slow due to the holiday...

To further complicate the situation, this morning I checked the case status of my three NOA1 numbers on the USCIS website: the I-485 one says the case was received December 19, but the ones for the AP and EAD say they were received December 7!!! Now I’m flipping out and think maybe the earlier package WAS delivered even though USPS said it was lost and they’re trying to cash the old check which I voided. 

Seriously such a freaking mess. I think I need to speak to a real person at this point, how to best get in contact? I’m afraid that our case file is going to be labeled “Problem File” because the post office majorly screwed up...

Really appreciate everyone's responses here. Thought I'd leave an update in case it's useful to others:

I finally got a hold of the USPS. My package was lost. They have no idea where it's located. The last scan on it is from 10 days ago. Interestingly, the USPS representative told me that she is also investigating three other cases of packages sent to USCIS that have been lost, 2 of which were actually lost AFTER being marked as delivered to the PO Box. 🧐Mine was lost in the Park Forest office just outside Chicago without a trace... 

We are absolutely crushed that we've now lost over 2 previous weeks in the AOS process because of a shipping error of no fault of our own. We are now looking at paying $75++ in order to 1) intercept the previous package in case it turns up 2) cancel the check in the previous package just in case 3) take additional passport photos at CVS 4) reconstitute a new package 5) send it overnight with UPS or FedEx. 

All around a crappy experience, which kinda sucks since the AOS process itself is already crappy enough! Fingers crossed our overnight package arrives swiftly and safely.

2 hours ago, Going through said:

I'm betting on #1, which happens more frequently than you may think.

Keep an eye out to see if the check been cashed.  That's a good way to find out if they've received it...

My fingers are crossed for #1 but this is adding a lot of stress to an already stressful process!

Do you or anyone else remember how soon they cash your check after it's been received? That'll be a good sign but I seem to recall for the K1 visa app, it was cashed around the same time as the NOA1 was sent. 

So last Thursday, I sent our AOS application via USPS Priority Mail to the Chicago Lockbox. The expected delivery date was Monday. My tracking shows that it has been sitting in a Chicago Post Office Distribution Center since Friday. Today I had a USPS employee do some digging to figure out what the hold-up was. Basically, he thinks two things could have happened, the first of which is likelier than the second, but no guarantees:

1. My package actually was delivered to the PO Box (other packages sent to Chicago PO Boxes that arrived to Chicago in the same truck as mine have been marked as successfully delivered) but the postal worker didn't manually scan it so it's showing its last known location

2. My package fell off the sorting machine and is lost for the foreseeable future. 

What should I do? I have no proof of it being delivered to USCIS but I also have no proof that it was NOT delivered to USCIS. If I wait around ~14 days or so to see if I get an NOA1, then I'll have basically lost a month of waiting time during a period when EAD/AP approvals are taking 4+ months. Is there a way to contact USCIS Chicago Office, explain the situation, and get verbal confirmation as to whether or not my package was received?

My partner and I are freaking out here because we're caught between a rock and a hard place. No idea what to do, yet we both feel the urgency because he is already bored out of his mind and wants to get working asap. 

Thanks for advice and/or commiseration, everyone!

2 hours ago, Gibus said:

I tried to expedite an AP recently with, I thought, a solid case. It was denied without even asking for proofs, due to to the high volume of expedite request.

I think it's the same for EAD, a lot of people try to expedite it so, you can try but there's great chances that they will refuse to expedite.

Grrr, that's what I was afraid of! Maybe there would be less expedite requests if they got their act together and it wasn't taking 4-5 months 🤔

Well thanks for the tips. Seems like it's something we can attempt but shouldn't rely on. I'm crossing my fingers that they start processing these faster because it's really tough for a newcomer to the country to sit around and twiddle their thumbs for months when they want to be working and integrating into US culture... 

Hey thanks to both of you. I've been using work authorization and green card interchangeably, but what I'm talking about is the initial work authorization that he gets after marriage on the K1. So the EAD I guess.

Any more info on how the process works?

My fiancé has the K1 visa and is looking to adjust his status to get the work authorization. I've heard whispers that if he is extended a formal job offer in writing before receiving the work authorization, he could send evidence of the job offer in order to expedite his green card. Is this true? What is the process for doing so? And has anyone been granted an expedited card recently given the growing delays?

He is applying for jobs now, and the first thing he'll be asked is "can you legally work in the US?" We want some information that would help him give an informed and reassuring answer to the hiring company. Something like "No, but if you extend me an offer, I can expedite my authorization in X weeks/months."

Thank you!

I'm sure this question has been answered but I can't find where!

Got the notification from NVC that it was being sent to the embassy in Paris on Tuesday. The CEAC website still indicates "In Transit." In the meantime, what can my fiancé do to prepare? Can he fill out the DS-160? Can he schedule an appointment? I'm just trying to streamline this as much as possible but it's SO confusing.

Thank you!

And if anyone has information on the Embassy in Paris, would be très apprécié!

3 hours ago, Lu25 said:

Hello Guys, I'm the beneficiary

My case show still at NVC, our NOA 2 was approved Aug 16th and We got the case Number Sep 05th, we called them.

How much longer will it take to be sent to the embassy? My fiancé didn't receive any email yet!!

 

Hey I have these same exact dates! I'm also surprised at how long this is taking--I looked at VJ's trends page and it seems like most people with our NOA2 date have already been fully processed at NVC.