DGF

10 hours ago, kryptonite said:

This might be a stupid question but, is the "A #" mentioned at the end of the IL the appointment/interview number? Or is this an Alien #?

Yes that's the alien #

Yeaaaaah I wouldn't file WOM. You have actual background that needs to be checked and it's only been a month. 

On 9/18/2022 at 6:49 PM, jgauthi242 said:

Do you say they're expensive because you've filed one?

My understanding was they told you what the fee would be at the end of the process. I think many of them are processed with no fee.

You are correct that some information would be redacted, but it would be very interesting nonetheless to see all the job titles, foreign state of chargeability, etc.

This information could be used as the basis of a class-action lawsuit.

 

At the very least, getting such information and showing that they're basically wasting their time looking at people who don't need to be looked at would be useful. Take my wife's case. She's had AP done on her three times in less than seven years and nothing material has changed. Same company, same projects. Hasn't traveled to any of those "bad countries" since after the first time it was done.

 

I don't deny that AP serves a reason, but the logical thing to do when you have limited resources is focus them towards those attempting to do harm, not 6 month old babies and people in the STEM field. The simple fact that the vast majority of the people they process they let through proves that they're looking at the wrong people.

I haven't filed one myself, no. But I do work with FOIA request results as part of my job and they can be very large. If you request it digitally it'll be cheaper because you don't pay for copies. One I recently looked at was over 1000 pages, so you can see why that would get expensive quickly. The first 100 pages and 2 hours of searching are free apparently and there is also a fee waiver available but you need to prove that it's in the public interest. 

Source: experience and https://first.uscis.gov/content/pdf/USCIS_FOIA_Request_Guide.pdf

On 9/5/2022 at 8:57 AM, ThisIsHell said:

Hi there,

 

I entered the U.S. on a CR1 immigrant visa on Friday at the Montreal airport. The CBP agent in secondary processing at the airport told me they do not stamp visas anymore as a temporary proof of admission pending the green card. He said to instead just print my I94 record with the admission number on it as a proof of legal entry. 

 

However, I can't get an I94 record showing my admission. When I run it with my passport number, it said my last entry was months ago on a B2 visa. When I try to get a I94 with my alien number, there is no record.

 

any help would be appreciated. 

Sounds like an ill informed CBP agent to me. You no longer have an i94 once you are a permanent resident. I'd try to schedule an appointment with your local CBP office to get it stamped. 

FOIA is expensive but can be requested online and is pretty interesting to go through. They do redact them though so I wouldn't expect that the reason for the DS-5535 would definitely be available through a FOIA request. 

On 7/28/2022 at 2:02 PM, mam521 said:

@DGF are you still looking after the FAQ's?  

 

Just an update for those of you with NEXUS cards. 

• Canadian NEXUS offices remain closed with covid excuses on the doors. 
• US NEXUS offices are open. 
• The GOES portal is basically locked down for updates

 

I went to the NEXUS office in WA last week.  The very lovely lady there told me that the GOES system has been locked down since COVID, so if you've submitted them online, nothing has been done with them and no verification of documentation has been done.  She was able to verify and update our greencards AND the new passports Kid2 received during covid.  

 

I had sent an inquiry to CBP about these updates and, of course, they took over a month to update me.  But, they reiterated what the lovely lady at the WA NEXUS Center told me:  

• NAME CHANGE: Please reply to this message with a color image of your passport reflecting the name change. (cbpinfocenter@cbp.dhs.gov)
• CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS CHANGE: Please reply to this message with images of your new passport or Permanent Resident Card (I-551). For U.S. Permanent Resident cards, please provide images of the front and back of the card.
• DOB or GENDER UPDATES/CORRECTIONS: Please reply to this message with a color image of your passport reflecting the correct date of birth and/or gender.
• ADD or UPDATE VISA: Please reply to this message with a color image of the new visa.

Once we receive your attachment, we will escalate this case to request the name update. Escalation processing times are currently 3-4 weeks.

 

The lady at the NEXUS Enrollment Center said to keep the scans to the EXACT size of the document (don't resize) and as close to original as possible so they can verify. 

 

So, that might be helpful for those of you who depend on Global Entry expedites to get into the US (NEXUS lineups seem to be more easily mastered).  I know I have ZERO desire to get stuck in a long lineup coming into the US when I have paid for an expedited traveler option!  

I am, haven't seen anything that needed to be added lately though, but I will add this! 

Another data point, I submitted my NEXUS renewal back in late 2021 and it was recently approved with no interview. They also added my green card to it when they renewed it without me having to do anything. 

On 7/28/2022 at 9:31 PM, Mmk2112 said:

Anyone else can shed some light. Is premium delivery worth it ? If it even makes a difference of one day it’s valuable for me cause I want to fly to US as soon as I have my passport back .. 

This is covered in the FAQ. The only difference is premium delivery is to your door instead of to a canada post location, no difference in speed. 

PACER is a website for accessing electronic court records, separate from USCIS but it would be relevant for a WOM since that is through the courts.

Also, these stories of poor customer service from Goldstein are terrible. I can't speak to their ability as lawyers but they really should be treating y'all better. 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/nvc-public-inquiry-telephone-line-suspension.html

4 hours ago, Budzmaroo said:

My status says issued but undergoing administrative processing. Does this mean it will really take weeks for them to send the passport with the visa? I wasn’t told anything about that yesterday, only my visa was approved. 

Please refer to the FAQ

Also @Hawk Riders I think your inbox is full. 

5 hours ago, Hawk Riders said:

DS5535 limbo seems painfully similar to the covid shutdown limbo we went through with a canceled and eventually 6-mos-later rescheduled interview... you're not alone in the experience of purgatory!

This is very well put, and also not an experience I would wish on my worst enemy. The immigration limbo when there are no timelines is a beast of it's own and it did a number on my mental health. 

6 hours ago, lalove said:

I have questions about entering the U.S. with IR1 visa. I am considering continuing to work remotely for my Canadian employer from the U.S. Is this ok to do from immigration perspective? I know I have to file taxes in both U.S. and Canada and I am ok with that. Also, I am wondering if carrying my work laptop with me across the border at POE is ok? If asked by CBP, can I explain that it is my work laptop and I intend to continue working remotely for my Canadian employer? I know that could be an issue for other visa holders but as an IR1 visa holder I have a right to work in the U.S. immediately after visa stamping so wondering if carrying work related belongings are ok?

Perfectly fine from an immigration perspective. Does you employer know you plan to do this? It can complicate things for them so I'd let them know if they do not know already. Carrying your work laptop is also perfectly fine. You'll have work authorization once you activate your visa so working from the US will be allowed. 

On 4/16/2022 at 7:45 PM, AshEve said:

Hi. I moved my petition from India to Canada after DQ. My interview is on May 4th. Should I update anything in my DS-260 like address..etc.?

You can't edit the DS-260, tell them the changes at your interview.

7 hours ago, ME_RHEDZ77 said:

Just thought of sharing this. No intention to confuse all and mislead to the main topic.

 

Today I received this Newsletter from CIS Ombudsman as a stakeholder. I believe this will be a good news for folks who will be receiving CR1 visa. 

 

Here is another link from USCIS https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-implements-risk-based-approach-for-conditional-permanent-resident-interviews

 

If you think this would be a great information to add to the FAQ for future source, please include it. 

 

This is in fact good news for those who are granted a CR1 instead of an IR1. USCIS is also working towards clearing much of their backlog over the next year and a half or so which is good news for those who eventually want to become citizens. Unfortunately it doesn't have any bearing on those waiting on Montreal haha! 

31 minutes ago, Ksamwise20 said:

I think I understand. If we have my dad as a co-sponsor, submit written lease documents, correspondence with kids new US school, my US bank statements and drivers license renewal and voting info for the NVC stage and if that gets approved, could I move the the US to physically be there (and then travel back and forth to be in Canada) before Montreal schedules an interview?

Just trying to reduce the time that we might be separated as much as possible. 

Lease seems to be what they really like to see. 

I'd check out the later pages of this thread:

2 hours ago, NYQC said:

 

We have submitted all of our paperwork January 28th 2022. We did use a US Immigration lawyer to ensure all is done correctly. With the link of NVC timeline document reviews, it seems as though we should hear back about our DQ'd status soon. Do we get an email or an actual letter in the mail to let us know we are DQ'd and for our interview letter? Also a side question, what is anyones success with using an Immigration Lawyer? Did you notice any difference or boost in time with using one?

We got an email, as did our lawyer, for both DQ and interview letter. Immigration lawyer won't speed anything up, but they're great to have if any complications arise. If anything a lawyer will slow you down as they are working on hundreds of cases and when it comes down to helping someone who is about to be deported, or a spousal visa where everyone is safe, your case isn't going to be the priority. 

4 hours ago, mam521 said:

Wait another week.  If you don't get it, book and appointment at your local SSA office.  Do NOT mail your documents to them to get a number, go in person.  It's 6 in one hand, half a dozen in the other as to whether the SSN is generated and sent, despite checking the box on the DS-260. 

 

 

@DGF I think we need to add this to the FAQ's because it seems to get asked at least once a week.  

This is what is currently in the FAQ:

How long until I get my SSN?

Even if you selected “yes” to receive your SSN on the DS260, you may not get one. If you don’t have your SSN 3 weeks after POE, go to your local social security office (during COVID this requires an appointment) to inquire about it. If you didn’t select “yes”, you’ll have to go in person regardless. It will take about 10 days after that.

Let me know if it needs revising or is out of date and I will gladly update it!

Timely reminder y'all, READ THE FAQ.  

6 hours ago, ohmygod said:

Looks like medical is valid for a year now?

I believe medicals done outside the US (as required when doing consular processing) are still only valid for 6 months. Medicals done within the US (e.g. for AOS) use form I-693 which is different from the form used by panel physicians outside of the US and the validity of form I-693 was extended beyond the 6 months because of the pandemic. 

On 3/24/2022 at 8:29 PM, cgy2cali said:

That's what Dr. Cheema's office told me to do. Maybe it's outdated info? They said are mailing me a CD of the xrays and told me to bring them to POE. Maybe someone who has already crossed the border can confirm?

I didn't need mine. Our lawyer checked in with me after to a) see if Dr. Cheema had said that and b) if I ended up needing it because they'd noticed that no one was being asked for it anymore but the doctors (specifically Dr. Cheema - the lawyer is on the west coast so that's who they'd have most of their cases going to) were still telling people to have it on them. 

6 hours ago, Sarpor4 said:

Entered USA on my IR1 visa Feb 15. I’m 100% sure I checked off on my DS260 to issue a new SSN. After hearing people get there around 2-3 weeks after entering and I still didn’t get mine I called the SS office and they said they had nothing on record. I call USCIS and they said that it’ll come with my green card (which I know is wrong because of what I’ve been reading on here). 
I decided to go and apply for my SSN at the local office and she said she couldn’t because my i94 says I’m still on a B2? Which back in Dec I came on one to visit. 
 

Currently on hold with USCIS but I’m wondering if the border officer never activated my visa?

You don't have an i94 anymore. SSA doesn't know what to do with visas, they took one look at my IR1 and asked me to come back with proof of my work authorization and I had to point out that it says on my visa that it evidences permanent resident status for 1 year. As long as you have your visa and the corresponding stamp in your passport you're good. If you don't, then you'll probably need to go to the nearest USCIS office to get it fixed, but my money is on the SSA screwing up, not USCIS (and that's saying a lot). 

1 hour ago, darth vader said:

1. For those in Ontario, in your experience, is Dr.Mascarenhas in Toronto better than Dr. Lee in Scarborough or Dr. Zatzman in Vaughn? I am hearing that Dr. Mascarenhas has more experience but not sure if/how that matters. If you can share your opinion/information on this, that would be great.

 

2. Regarding COVID vaccination status. FAQ says:

 

I can only get the first dose in a series vaccine before my medical. What should I do?

This is fine (as confirmed by Dr. Zatzman’s office). You will still need to get the remaining doses but your medical will not be

impacted.

 

    Does anyone know if this information has changed? I have both doses but no booster, not sure if booster is required?

 

Thank you!

Booster is not required as it's not part of the CDC's definition of vaccinated. Not sure about second dose tbh, when I wrote that things were still very much up in the air. I believe it'll be treated as the rest of the vaccines which come in a series where if you have the first then you're good to go but need to complete the series once in the US. 

On 3/10/2022 at 11:24 AM, Sunshine022 said:

Hello! 
 

it’s been 110 days since ai entered the US and no physical green card yet. I’ve been calling USCIS but the automated machine won’t let me talk to a customer service representative. Any tips? Or any idea what is happening? Thank you for your help.

Say "lost receipt notice". It'll put you through to a person and they won't know the reason. I had to call them recently and that worked.

For context for everyone else reading: it's no longer a menu where you can select the reason why you're calling but a sassy robot that asks why you're calling and if you don't say the exact right thing (and "help" or "agent" are not the exact right thing) it'll warn you that it's going to disconnect the call and then will actually do so. It's the most infuriating thing to figure out.

37 minutes ago, affy said:

I'm still learning my way through this but as mentioned earlier on when I first came to this thread, we filed directly to MTL through the following exceptional circumstance:

• Short notice of position relocation: A U.S. Citizen petitioner, living and working abroad, who receives a job relocation within the same company or subsidiary to the United States, or an offer of a new job in the United States with very little notice.

Not sure how this effects my timeline in comparison to everyone else, but my CEAC status tracker has said "Ready" since acknowledging our DS-260 and putting us in queue Nov.12th. We might just be taking longer so that the consulate can get caught up in other ways. Could be other reasons as well, but all I can do is speculate. 🤷‍♀️

DCF through Canada is so rare I'm sure neither the NVC nor Montreal know how to handle it properly. However, it shouldn't affect your timeline post I-130 because the rest of the process is the same so if you should have received an IL and haven't, I'd keep following up with them.