hamburgapples

Finaly.... Green Card arrived in the mail, July 21!

It all went a bit strange:

1. Our case was transfered to CSC

2. We recieved an inteview notice??

3. Interview cancelled (went anyway and were told that the name check was holding us up..)

4. Recieved card production email from CRIS July 15th and then card sent from California...

Good luck to everyone else waiting.

Yep, we got this about 2 weeks before our scheduled interview. We went anyway (I think everyone here would agree that you should too just incase), and were told that we were being held up in the background checks.

Our interview was scheduled for Feb 27 and we heard nothing more until July 15th when we recieved an email from CRIS stating that card production was ordered. The card then showed up in our mailbox 5 days later!

Good luck to you not having to wait so long.

I agree that you should go anyway. Hopefully your local office is not too far away.

This same thing happened to us... Our interview was origionaly scheduled for Feb 27 and we recieved the same cancelation notice maybe 2 weeks before (same due to unforseen circumstances... stuff).

We went anyway and were told that unfortunately there was "a hit in the FBI name check". The officer told us to just wait it out and that because of the new laws that we should hear something within 6 months (by August).

Just 5 days ago we got an email from CRIS stating that card production was ordered. Still nothing in the mail yet but that should be any day now.

Obviously another 6 month wait is not what you wanted to hear but on the bright side, getting stuck in the name check used to take ages, and hopefully it only means 6 months now.

Good luck and do keep us posted

Hmm. You never know with the USCIS.

None-the-less, we are very excited indeed! Thanks for everyone's support. We will certainly give an update when we have one,

Robert and Steffi

We sent our I-485 in on November 1st. At some point we recieved an email from CRIS followed by mailed letter that our case was transfered to CSC. Later we recieved an interview notice for Feb 27, 2008... Sometime in the middle of Febuary we recieved a notice that our interview was cancelled. We went at our scheduled interview time anyway and were told that they (local office) had our files but that there was a hit in the FBI Name Check so they cancelled pending that. "You should hear something from us by August."

Well, today we got a "CARD PRODUCTION ORDERED" email notice.

We are extreamly excited about this but at the same time a bit confused. I have never heard of someone who's files are at the local office NOT having to interview.

Has anyone else had this experience or heard of it?

Finally!!! Got an e-mail saying my GC production ws ordered 06-18-08. YAY!!

I think they lost my papers when I had had the EA for a few months already, but Social Security couldn't find me listed anywhere, not even having the EA, which they did see with their own eyes. So, USCIS didn't know anything about me, and so they asked the SS Office to take a copy of the BACKSIDE of my EA card... The officer was so apologetic, explaining they've never had to do it before, etc. etc...

So, I just think they needed the barcode on the back to track my papers...

Finally, my green card arrived in the mail today.

Approval date is 06/17/2008

Congratulations to both of you! It must be all the more sweet after the long wait.

We too filed in November but unfortunately just a couple of weeks before our scheduled interview in Febuary we recieved an interview cancelation notice. We went anyway only to find out that we were caught in the dreaded FBI Background check black hole. The officer did say however that because of the new rules, we should have a new interview scheduled by August and if not that we should come back in...

August is coming up... Time will tell

Once again CONGRATULATIONS!!!

You can find the form online on the SSA website.

However, not sure if you can successfully change her last name to her married name until she either gets her EAD or GC that's issued under her married name. Suggest you do more research here on VJ as there are some posts about other VJers experience about name change with SSA.

That's what we thought too but when we went in after getting the EAD card we were told once again that they were awaiting USCIS approval. It's 4 months since we first went in to have it changed. The last time we went in was a month ago and both times they told us that they were still waiting....

What a cluster f*#$. It seems to me that there is no recourse for the USCIS. That can be very frustrating for us too.

Our origional appointment was scheduled in febuary but that was canceled due to the name check. We went anyway and the the officer we spoke with said that because of the new rules that we should have a new interview within 6 months. He said that at that point they can do some sort of enternal audit on our case and..... They said they'd check our file every Monday to see if the background check went through.

My feeling is that they probably won't check it every week and even if they did I'm guessing that our file is sitting somewhere and it won't be touched until we schedule an infopass appointment in August to inquire about it. And I'll be at that point it will take another 6 months(which is what I believe they give themselves once this "internal audit" is opened.)

Point is.... it is very frusterating to have no control over this part of our lives... especialy when dealing with a system that is admittedly broken.

Hoping for the best but expecting the worst...

On the positive side (and there seems to be a very possitive one here), you SHOULD have your GC in a week or two!!!!

Where we went for our Biometrics as well as InfoPass appointments was at our local USCIS office... which is where interviews take place.

I don't know when the 180 days starts BUT I bet that most will go the full 6 months and then we'll all have to call or make an infopass app. and push them to continue the case.

Our interview was scheduled for 2/27 and cancelled but we went in anyway and were told that our case was held up in the dreaded FBI black hole. The CO we talked to told us about the new law and then looked at something and told us that we should expect an interview by AUGUST. So it looks like at least for us ours didn't start until right when our interview was. BUT he didn't give us an exact date.

Like I said, although I check online every day, I have a feeling that I will be doing this for the next few months and when mid-August arrives, we'll have to push them a bit.

As kim&james stated, "all in namecheck at the moment are test cases", we are all the guinea pigs.

Sounds fairly stress free. Conrgatulations!

Very, very, very common (RFE). Just gather the info that they ask for and get it back to them ASAP to get you case rolling again.

You can translate it yourself, word for word, and then add a "Certificate of Accuracy" stating that you have good knowlege of both languages and that you have tranlated the document to the best of your knowlege.

I have attached the Cert. of Accuracy that we used so you can just follow that as a guide line.

Oops, I just realized that you do need to have the Certificate of Accuracy notarized (basicaly just you swearing to what you wrote), but doing this is usualy going to be must cheaper than paying for professional translation.

You can translate it yourself, word for word, and then add a "Certificate of Accuracy" stating that you have good knowlege of both languages and that you have tranlated the document to the best of your knowlege.

I have attached the Cert. of Accuracy that we used so you can just follow that as a guide line.

A couple of weeks ago we got cancellation notice in the mail for our original interview set for today.

When we went in today we were told that we'd have no interview because either my wife's maiden name or her now married name recieved a "hit" while going through background check. So now it is pending and we will be sent a new interview notice when it clears.

Some info for everyone in this situation:

We were told that every Monday they check the status of all of the pending background checks.

Also the officer we spoke with mentioned the pressure that they are getting over this stuff. He said that they are always getting emails of newspaper articles from around the US talking about this problem and that were beginning to put more pressure on the CIA (that's the agency that he mentioned.. not the FBI) to push the checks through.

He mentioned a new mandate that says that if a check is pending for 180 days, then they start what he called an internal audit on the check.

Also of interest, he said that while it seems silly even to him, they take this stuff very seriously and they very often send officers out into the field to do actual physical observations and checks.... What exactly this means I don't know...

So now we wait. He said that he expects that we'll have a new interview by August... but we'll see.

So close yet...

Good luck to everyone else going through all of the processes.

It's been a while but I am back to report new findings on our case today.

We recieved the transfer notice to CSC a while back and then to our surprise we recieved an interview notice for today, 2/27.

A couple of weeks ago we recieved a cancellation notice but today we went in anyway.

We were told that there would be no interview today and to wait for another interview notice as either my wife's maiden name or her now married name got a "Hit" when going through background checks. "You don't look like a terrorist to me but I guess the CIA has to do some more checking....."

I did ask about our being transfered to CSC and he said he didn't know about that, but that it could very well have been there.... but now it is back at our local office in Vermont.

So.... where that leaves us.... is to go back to the waiting game. Bummer.

Best of luck to everyone.

So please do tell if first, they went to their interview.... and second, if they did go then what happened?!?!?!?

Our interview was scheduled for 02/27 and today we recieved a cancellation notice.

As of now I think that we will still go and see what happens.

Congrats to all those who got approved! here's our update

1/23

*EAD arrives in mail

*Green card approved! (without interview) - received email "card production ordered"

1/24

*Got email "welcome to america" notice has been sent

1/25

*Got driver's license (I know it's not part of AOS, but hey, I'm happy! )

No more paperwork for 2 years! wohoo!

Good luck to those still waiting! things are picking up speed so I'm sure your turn is very very close!

Saludos,

Caro

Felicidades!

Just an update from me...

My status online has not been updated since my biometrics on 12/12/07. Today, I am pleasantly surprised to receive a letter in the mail for our interview, which is scheduled on Feb 20 in Jacksonville, FL.

We are definitely excited.

Good luck every November Filers.

That IS a pleasant surprise! Great news! And the date is so near too. Congrats!

On 12/17 we recieved a case transfered email from CRIS.

Before that we knew that our case was at MSC.

Since that "transfer notice" we have recieved 3 letters in the mail from the USCIS and ALL of them came from the MSC in Lee's Summit.

First came the notice of tranfer, then came an interview notice (that one surprised us!) and now today the EAD card came .

I don't really care where it is as long as it all goes through ok (and it seems to be moving along quite well now) but I don't understand what exactly has been transfered to CSC. Is it just the I-485? And if so then I wonder if it was just transfered there electronicaly or if they have the actual filed forms....

And when we have our interview on next month will our AOS packet be at the local office???

Does anyone know what is really going on with our files?

Wait, before you close this allow me to throw a question into the mix...

When my (now) wife entered the country on a K-1 visa we went to our local SS office and after a little bit of confusion got a SS card ordered. She recieved that a couple of weeks later.

Once we got married and sent in the AOS paper work in her married name we went back to our local office (albeit different from the one where we origionaly went) and filled in a name change application.

After a month without hearing anything we went back in and the woman who we had talked to before said that they denied the name change based on my wife's immigration status.

Just a couple of days ago we recieved an email from CRIS stating that the EAD card production was ordered so we went back in and the person working had us fill out another name change application. Seeing a printout of the email from CRIS stating that the EAD had been issued he said that there shouldn't be a problem now.

This morning we recieved a voice mail from the guy at the SS office telling us that SS won't issue a card until "permanent residence is granted". And the thing that gets me is that the way he said it was that that decision did not come from the local office but from where ever they send the information at some higher up internal office. So it's not like some kook at the local office doesn't know what's going on.

What's more, I don't think the 2 year Green Card is considered "permanent residence".

This makes no sense to me. All we want is a name change so that my wife doesn't have to carry around a marraige certificate when applying for jobs. The problem is that now she has her DL in her married name and the EAD will come in her married name but he SS card still has her unmarried name and I'd imagine might cause some problems....

Your situation is a bit different, from your timeline your wife's I-94 has long since expired, so she needs an EAD card or I-551 to be issued a card in the married name This woman's I-94 has not expired, but the SSA office says he is no longer eligible because she's now married. Hopefully, he will be assigned and SSN before the I-94 is within 14 days of expiring.

Yes - and hamburgapples, your 2 year green card IS considered 'permanent residence'...!

Thanks for that TracyTN. Well, the EAD card showed up in the mail today. As this EAD card was obviously approved at least 3 days ago (and therefore approved at the time that we last requested the name change) I have no idea why it was declined. I mean the guy who we spoke to had no problem running the application with the evidence that we gave him and only found out later on when he tried to push it through the system. It all makes very little sense to me.

Well, anyway I guess we might as well wait till we have the GC as then it won't have any restrictions on that card...

"Oh,hoho,good luck!"... If that was for me, I don't get it steve13.... ?

Congratulations!!!

EAD Card came in mail today!

On 01/09 we got the EAD card production ordered email from CRIS then today we got another one that stated EAD Approved and notice was sent out.

And low and behold the actual card arrived in the mail today. USCIS is a little off with it's emails but hey, I'm not complaining... at least not this time around.

I truly hope this seemingly quickening trend continues for everyone!

Congrats to all who've recently recieved approvals and cards (zzzonzo and sau) and good luck for those who are still waiting...

When my (now) wife entered the country on a K-1 visa we went to our local SS office and after a little bit of confusion got a SS card ordered. She recieved that a couple of weeks later.

Once we got married and sent in the AOS paper work in her married name we went back to our local office (albeit different from the one where we originally went) and filed a name change application.

After a month without hearing anything we went back in and the woman who we had talked to before said that they denied the name change based on my wife's immigration status.

Just a couple of days ago we recieved an email from CRIS stating that the EAD card production was ordered so we went back in and the person working had us fill out another name change application. Seeing a printout of the email from CRIS stating that the EAD had been issued he said that there shouldn't be a problem now.

This morning we recieved a voice mail from the guy at the SS office telling us that SS won't issue a card until "permanent residence is granted".

And the thing that gets me is that the way he said it was that that decision did not come from the local office but from where ever they send the information at some higher up internal office. So it's not like some kook at the local office doesn't know what's going on.

What's more, I don't think the 2 year Green Card is considered "permanent residence".

This makes no sense to me. All we want is a name change so that my wife doesn't have to carry around a marraige certificate when applying for jobs. The problem is that now she has her DL in her married name and the EAD will come in her married name but he SS card still has her unmarried name and I'd imagine might be a bit of a pain....

PS... I piggybacked this the SS Card rant posted a few posts back and got no replies so I decided to give it it's own post here....

Wait, before you close this allow me to throw a question into the mix...

When my (now) wife entered the country on a K-1 visa we went to our local SS office and after a little bit of confusion got a SS card ordered. She recieved that a couple of weeks later.

Once we got married and sent in the AOS paper work in her married name we went back to our local office (albeit different from the one where we origionaly went) and filled in a name change application.

After a month without hearing anything we went back in and the woman who we had talked to before said that they denied the name change based on my wife's immigration status.

Just a couple of days ago we recieved an email from CRIS stating that the EAD card production was ordered so we went back in and the person working had us fill out another name change application. Seeing a printout of the email from CRIS stating that the EAD had been issued he said that there shouldn't be a problem now.

This morning we recieved a voice mail from the guy at the SS office telling us that SS won't issue a card until "permanent residence is granted". And the thing that gets me is that the way he said it was that that decision did not come from the local office but from where ever they send the information at some higher up internal office. So it's not like some kook at the local office doesn't know what's going on.

What's more, I don't think the 2 year Green Card is considered "permanent residence".

This makes no sense to me. All we want is a name change so that my wife doesn't have to carry around a marraige certificate when applying for jobs. The problem is that now she has her DL in her married name and the EAD will come in her married name but he SS card still has her unmarried name and I'd imagine might cause some problems....