Carpe-Diem

Took the Oath today and walked out with the Nat Cert. Have updated my timeline below...

Has been a long but rewarding journey for us, thanks to the friendly and supportive community here at VJ. Couldn't have done it without all of you.

Best of luck to folks still in the process.

N-400: May 2015 Applicants

======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Alex and Sofya...|07/12/12|04/27|05/01|05/05|05/26/15|06/12/15.|06/19/15.|07/21/15.|08/28/15.|Philadelphia, PA (Early FP 05/21)
jacobson00.......|--/--/--|04/27|--/--|05/05|05/28/15|06/01/15.|06/28/15.|07/29/15.|09/21/15.|New York, NY
Leo & Angie......|05/16/06|04/27|--/--|05/04|05/28/15|06/01/15.|07/10/15.|08/11/15.|09/11/15.|New York, NY
pattypea.........|07/18/06|04/28|MnOrd|05/09|05/27/15|05/28/15.|07/10/15.|08/13/15.|09/29/15.|Jacksonville, FL
RaRe.............|12/02/08|04/29|05/07|05/09|05/27/15|05/29/15.|07/20/15.|08/27/15.|09/22/15.|New York, NY
faki.............|02/08/12|04/29|05/05|--/--|05/28/15|--/--/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|San Antonio, TX
Kaskada..........|07/30/12|04/30|05/07|05/11|06/04/15|06/30/15.|07/06/15.|08/05/15.|08/10/15.|Philadelphia, PA

Moe M............|07/20/10|05/01|--/--|05/16|05/27/15|--/--/15.|--/--/15.|--/--/15.|09/17/15.|Norfolk, VA
Gnagnagna........|--/--/--|05/04|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|??,??
lclc11...........|06/10/10|05/04|05/11|05/14|06/02/15|06/04/15.|08/15/15.|09/16/15.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
belgiraj.........|--/--/--|05/05|--/--|05/13|06/05/15|--/--/--.|09/17/15.|10/16/15.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
YJPlove..........|08/03/12|05/07|05/13|05/16|06/01/15|07/06/15.|08/17/15.|09/16/15.|09/16/15.|Newark, NJ
C_May2015........|04/20/10|05/07|MnOrd|05/16|06/04/15|06/04/15.|06/23/15.|07/30/15.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ
ron1305..........|12/02/11|05/08|05/14|05/13|06/09/15|06/11/15.|07/23/15.|08/24/15.|09/19/15.|Washington, DC
dzyrhetom........|01/10/10|05/09|05/15|05/22|06/04/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Greer, SC
Aprilpam77.......|05/10/12|05/13|05/19|05/22|06/08/15|--/--/--.|06/15/15.|07/21/15.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA
spadevil.........|08/01/12|05/15|MnOrd|05/30|06/15/15|07/01/15.|07/16/20.|08/20/15.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
SouthJoe.........|08/07/12|05/15|05/26|--/--|06/19/15|07/07/15.|07/13/15.|08/17/15.|--/--/--.|Mount Laurel, NJ
bappi48..........|--/--/--|05/16|--/--|--/--|06/20/15|06/29/15.|07/13/15.|08/13/15.|09/11/15.|New York, NY
a1v..............|08/13/10|05/17|05/29|--/--|06/24/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA
Hopeful17........|03/13/12|05/18|05/25|05/30|06/19/15|06/15/15.|06/27/15.|08/21/15.|09/25/15.|San Antonio, TX (Early FP 06/11)
xtheory..........|09/16/04|05/18|05/21|05/30|06/19/15|06/26/15.|07/30/15.|09/01/15.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
LaurenNSpongy....|05/26/12|05/19|05/27|05/30|06/15/15|06/17/15.|07/23/15.|08/27/15.|09/19/15.|Washington, DC
jwisdom..........|08/25/06|05/19|05/29|06/02|06/24/15|--/--/--.|07/03/15.|08/04/15.|--/--/--.|Memphis, TN
dudette..........|08/09/12|05/21|05/28|05/28|06/24/15|--/--/--.|07/27/15.|09/16/15.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC (USCIS cancelled 08/28 interview)
love my baby.....|08/24/12|05/26|06/02|06/05|06/23/15|07/24/15.|08/02/15.|09/01/15.|09/17/15.|Atlanta, GA
tjsmkl...........|08/24/10|05/26|06/01|06/04|06/22/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX (Early FP 06/16)
Paul&Adri........|11/26/08|05/29|--/--|06/02|06/26/15|--/--/--.|07/13/15.|08/12/15.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA
ndprulx..........|05/26/06|05/29|06/01|06/01|06/25/15|06/26/15.|07/25/25.|08/26/15.|09/22/15.|West Palm Beach, FL (4yr+1 day rule)

================================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Mayinlove........|09/23/93|04/29|05/04|05/04|05/29/15|06/02/15.|08/31/15.|09/29/15.|--/--/--.|San Diego, CA
AlexAndAndrei....|??/??/12|04/29|--/--|05/05|--/--/15|--/--/15.|--/--/15.|--/--/15.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
kittens_0117.....|06/07/10|05/02|05/12|05/15|06/01/15|06/05/15.|08/06/15.|09/10/15.|--/--/--.|St Paul, MN
kirito...........|07/16/10|05/04|--/--|05/19|06/15/15|06/17/15.|07/13/15.|08/20/15.|08/24/15.|Detroit, MI
honolulu96815....|06/27/10|05/06|05/15|05/16|06/05/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Honolulu, HI
theredbird.......|08/05/10|05/06|05/12|05/15|06/05/15|07/06/15.|07/13/15.|08/17/15.|08/20/15.|Detroit, MI
muhero...........|08/12/05|05/07|--/--|05/13|06/01/15|06/05/15.|07/29/15.|09/02/15.|--/--/--.|Los Angeles, CA
pddp.............|05/30/12|05/08|05/18|05/21|06/10/15|06/12/15.|--/--/--.|08/14/15.|09/23/15.|San Diego, CA
Cali Gal CPA.....|--/--/--|05/09|05/14|05/19|06/02/15|06/04/15.|08/11/15.|09/11/15.|--/--/--.|Los Angeles, CA
CJ0301...........|08/08/12|05/15|05/20|05/23|06/08/15|07/08/15.|08/28/15.|09/30/15.|--/--/--.|San Francisco, CA (Early FP 06/03)(Interview rescheduled from 09/10/15)
Deren & Yamy.....|08/16/12|05/15|05/21|05/23|06/16/15|07/16/15.|08/17/15.|09/17/15.|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL
Kimbear..........|01/07/11|05/15|05/21|05/23|06/16/15|06/18/15.|08/17/15.|09/16/15.|10/01/15.|Chicago, IL
yavuzum10........|08/16/12|05/20|05/28|06/01|06/26/15|--/--/--.|07/17/15.|08/21/15.|09/18/15.|Cleveland, OH
Danu.............|05/11/10|05/22|MnOrd|06/06|07/17/15|07/21/15.|07/28/15.|09/01/15.|09/22/15.|Santa Ana, CA (FP Rescheduled from 06/22)
nikkiki..........|05/24/12|05/26|05/27|06/04|06/23/15|06/26/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Detroit, MI


===========================================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)
===========================================================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Achraf...........|10/03/14|05/04|05/19|05/21|05/02/15|06/08/15.|--/--/--.|07/21/15.|07/21/15.|Fairfax, VA




Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting.
3. Click "Quote" on the most recent/updated posting version of this list.
4. Remove the "Quote Coding" at the top and bottom of the list.
5. Always use [Courier New] Font and font size.[12]
6. Make changes and Add Reply.
7. Please use your VJ name to avoid confusion
8. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen"!

Legend:

GC-Date: The 'Resident Since' Date located on your first green card
Sent: Date N-400 was mailed to USCIS
Cashd: Date your check was cashed by USCIS
NOA: Date you received the official I-797(NOA) notification in the mail
Fprints: Date assigned for fingerprinting
In Line: Date you received e-notification about your interview date
Int Ltr: Date you received the official letter in the mail regarding interview
Intview: Date of your interview
Oath: Date Oath taken
Field Office: Your local USCIS office where you would be doing the N-400 interview
2015 US Passport Application Tracker List

Filled in my dates...

N-400: May 2015 Applicants
======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName.........|GC-Date.|Sent.|Cashd|NOA..|Fprints.|In Line..|Int ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|Field Office
Alex and Sofya...|07/12/12|04/27|05/01|05/05|05/26/15|06/12/15.|06/19/15.|07/21/15.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA (Early FP 05/21)
jacobson00.......|--/--/--|04/27|--/--|05/05|05/28/15|06/01/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY

Leo & Angie......|05/16/06|04/27|--/--|05/04|05/28/15|06/01/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
pattypea.........|07/18/06|04/28|MnOrd|05/09|05/27/15|05/28/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Jacksonville, FL
RaRe.............|12/02/08|04/29|05/07|05/09|05/27/15|05/29/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
Kaskada..........|07/30/12|04/30|05/07|05/11|06/04/15|06/30/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA
Gnagnagna........|--/--/--|05/04|--/--|--/--|--/--/--|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|??,??
belgiraj.........|--/--/--|05/05|--/--|05/13|06/05/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX
YJPlove..........|08/03/12|05/07|05/13|05/16|06/01/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ
C_May2015........|04/20/10|05/07|MnOrd|05/16|06/04/15|06/04/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ
ron1305..........|12/02/11|05/08|05/14|05/13|06/09/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC
dzyrhetom........|01/10/10|05/09|05/15|05/22|06/04/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Greer, SC
Aprilpam77.......|05/10/12|05/13|05/19|05/22|06/08/15|--/--/--.|06/15/15.|07/21/15.|--/--/--.|Philadelphia,PA
spadevil.........|08/01/12|05/15|MnOrd|05/30|06/15/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
SouthJoe.........|08/07/12|05/15|05/26|--/--|06/19/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Mount Laurel, NJ
a1v..............|08/21/10|05/17|05/29|--/--|06/24/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA
Hopeful17........|03/13/12|05/18|05/25|05/30|06/19/15|06/15/15.|06/27/15.|08/21/15.|--/--/--.|San Antonio, TX (Early FP 06/11)
xtheory..........|09/16/04|05/18|05/21|05/30|06/19/15|06/26/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|New York, NY
LaurenNSpongy....|05/26/12|05/19|05/27|05/30|06/15/15|06/17/15.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Washington, DC
jwisdom..........|08/25/06|05/19|05/29|06/02|06/24/15|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|Memphis, TN

Hello fellow VJ'ers. We are back. Adding to the May 2015 filer list. Just mailed application packet today.

Looks like we got approved last night. See message below...

On December 10, 2010, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

My wife had her biometrics done today (10/1) instead of 10/19. Arrived at the Woodside NY ASC by 9:30AM. The security officer mentioned we were early. We told him we are unable to come on 10/19. No problem. He asked her to fill the form and take it to the lady at the counter. The lady checked her info and gave her a ticket, although the place was almost empty. She was called in immediately. We were out in 10 minutes. Yipee!

Yurika & Jim, please update.

We just got our letter for biometrics on 10/19/2010 in New York. Please update September list.

Hello folks, we are also September filers. Please add us to the list under VSC.

RARE...............09/01/10..........09/07/10.......--/--/10........--/--/--....

Thanks TayRivers & Otto und Karin. I thought as much but getting an opinion on VJ forum is invaluable.

We are planning a trip to India next month. My wife's AOS was approved last year and she has her green card in hand.

Her passport still has the I-94 departure portion stapled to it, from when she entered the US on a K1 visa last year.

Does she have to turn it in to airline staff when we leave for our trip?

Since she is already a permanent resident, does it matter at all, if it is not turned in?

Thanks.

My wife got approved for AOS this morning within 2 weeks of submitting the RFE. Just got the "Card production ordered" e-mail.

This was truly an awesome journey, made simple with excellent guidance from VisaJourney & its members.

I will be checking in periodically, but for now I am very busy getting ready to welcome our first child in a few weeks.

Best of luck to everyone still waiting on their approval.

Buksol, this is how we handled the name change.

1. Got SSN in maiden name, soon after POE.

2. Got married in NYC. Her old passport shows no middle name and we wanted to add a middle name.

3. Applied for fresh Indian passport with the desired name. Since the passport office is familiar with your local customs this should be no problem.

4. Went back to SSA and showed them fresh passport and had them re-issue SSN in desired name.

5. Filed for AOS using desired name (using fresh SSN card & fresh passport as supporting docs)

We are still waiting for approval, but I am sure that will work.

Hope this helps.

-RaRe

I noticed that as well. Started over the weekend.

Could be something to do with the forest fires in Linda Yorba which is only 20 miles away from our service center in Laguna Niguel.

chess, that was great of you to do all that work. At least I now know that we are not alone as far as this "lost medical" business is concerned.

I am in the exact same situation as you. My wife received a RFE on Oct 21 from the CSC for the medical form because they are unable to locate her medical records from Dept of State. She has already been approved for the EAS & AP. Since we only have until Dec 2, we have decided not to waste any time fighting this.

We are currently working with the Civil Surgeon to have the I-693 completed. I am planning on contacting the congressmans office if we are unable to make the Dec 2 date (since the new form has so many new requirements).

We are in the same situation as you guys, having to retake the medical exam.

My wife just got a RFE to send the I-693 form again, even though we had sent it in with our original submission. In fact she had used the services of Dr L.E. Arnold for the medical. Since K1 visa holders are exempt from the medical exam while filing for AOS, Dr Arnold simply transferred the vaccination record from the DS-3025 to the I-693 and sent us the sealed envelope, along with a copy for my records.

What is really strange is that the RFE is asking for a full medical exam, with all parts of Form I-693 completed. Also our RFE comes after getting transferred to CSC, which must be quite uncommon.

Since there is no point in putting ourselves at risk by fighting this RFE, we have decided to simply redo the medical and send it in.

This is what our RFE letter says:

A review of the record indicates that you entered the United States pursuant to a valid K1 nonimmigrant visa. All USCIS records relating to you have been reviewed. The U.S. Department of State medical forms DS-2053, DS-3024, DS-3025 and DS-3026 are not in any of those records.

I-693 MEDICAL EXAMINATION: You have submitted Medical Form I-693. However, Part 2 is blank and missing pages 2 and 4. Please submit a properly completed and signed Form I-693. The medical examination must be conducted by a physician who is on the list of Civil Surgeons approved by the USCIS.

Good news for May'08 filers.

I just got 2 e-mails from CRIS notifying me that my wife's EAD and AP were approved.

Now we are looking forward to AOS approval.

Things must be really moving at USCIS these days! Good luck to everyone.

Thanks for the quick response, guys.

I am going ahead and using a middle name on the I-485 form even though no middle name is listed on my marriage certificate.

In any case, anyone can change their name in New York City at any point. And best of all the NYC court system offers a free interactive name change petition program so you don't even need an attorney. You just need to answer some basic questions online and your affidavit is ready in seconds. You can then print it and file it in civil court for a $65 fee. Check the link below...

http://www.courts.state.ny.us/courts/nyc/c...mechanges.shtml

We got married in New York City this week. Our marriage certificate lists my wife with her old First Name and new Last Name (she took on my Last Name), but leaves the Middle Name blank. NYC County Clerk said that since her Indian passport has no Middle Name listed, they cannot print any middle name on the marriage certificate.

However she would like to use a Middle Name of her choice going forward.

Now that I am ready to file her I-485, I have a question. Does the Middle Name field on Part 1 of the I-485 form has to correspond exactly to the marriage certificate (in which case I will have to leave it blank) OR can we slip in a Middle Name of our choice here? Does the USCIS really care about middle names?

Congratulations!

Our Interview Experience Mumbai Consulate (2008-03-05)

7:00AM Reshma arrived in line (20 people already there)

7:30AM Everyone was taken inside the consulate office. For the K visas there is no token number system, you are simply called by name. Possibly because there are so few of them compared to other visa categories. I checked and there are only 25 K1 and 7 K3 visa interviews for all of March 2008. On this particular day, there were 7 K1 and 2 K3 interviews.

8:30AM Reshma was called by name to a counter where an Indian staff member of the consulate collected the Rs. 5,240 ($131) Demand Draft. She was also fingerprinted at that point. He asked just 2 simple questions. Who is sponsoring you? Have you brought proof of relationship? He said that the packet we put together was very well organized. After that he asked my fiancee to wait.

While waiting, Reshma spoke to some other women who were also there for the K1 visa. Some of them were called for the interview with the consular officer before Reshma had her turn and they seemed very happy while they were walking out. So looks like the approvals were rolling in today.

11:30AM Reshma was called for her interview. The consular officer was a young US born Indian lady. She had Reshma take the oath. Then she took her signature on the DS-156K form. She then asked the following questions:

The consular officer did not even look at any of our phone logs, letters, receipts, boarding passes etc.

At this point, she told Reshma: "Your visa has been approved. Welcome to the United States."

Reshma left the consulate at noon. We are now waiting for the passport to arrive on courier.

The courier fees (Rs. 365) should be paid to VFS prior to interview. That is a must. Yes, VFS will accept just the courier fees without you submitting the docs but you are strongly advised to submit everything together.

You will need to drop off your documents at VFS in person anywhere between 10 and 7 business days before the interview. So if you haven't done so already, rush there today and submit it. It is not a good idea to wait for the day of the interview, since VFS helps you sort your documents and make sure they are in order. They would also advise you if anything is missing.

Photocopies are good enough as long as you have the originals for verification.

cuteprince, thanks for your feedback. My fiancee did insist on them accepting the 'Evidence of Relationship' but they told her not to worry and to just bring it with her on the day of the interview. So she had no choice. Anyway, I am not going to worry too much about it.

However I did find a post from someone who also went through Mumbai (and was approved) whose 'Evidence of Relationship' and 'Affidavit of Support' was not accepted by VFS and they had to carry it with them on interview day. So it seems like Mumbai VFS might work differently from New Delhi VFS.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=69665

Wishing you best of luck for your interview.

This is to help any folks who are filing through Mumbai consulate. The system they follow in Mumbai is to submit your documents to VFS (Visa Facilitation Service) anywhere between 7 to 10 working days before the actual interview.

My fiancee went to VFS Mumbai yesterday to submit the required documents for her March 5th interview. She arrived there at 7:30AM. There were 10 people ahead of her. At 8AM they opened the doors and she was called to a counter at 8:10AM. She said they have plenty of counters and are quite efficient.

She had all her papers neatly sorted and bound together as one package with an ACCO binder clip. The VFS girl asked her to hand over the documents one by one in the order she requested. She brought up my fiancee's case on her computer to determine what forms need to be submitted.

VFS accepted the following docs from my fiancee:

Copy of Appointment Letter

Courier Fees (Rs 365 cash)

Copy of Passport

4 Photos (carry at least 6 just in case)(they stick the photos on the appropriate forms for you)

DS-156 (2 copies - both copies signed & dated)

DS-156K (1 copy - do NOT sign)

DS-230 Part I & II (only Part I to be signed & dated)

Birth Certificate (original & copy - original will be returned on interview date)

Previous Marriage (copies of marriage cert + divorce decree)

Police Clearance Certificates (from Passport Office + Police Commissioners Office - both originals)

Affidavit of Support (along with supporting documentation like Naturalization Cert, 2006 1040, 2006 W2, Employment Letter, Bank Letter & Pay Stubs)

Medical Report

VFS asked her to bring the following on the day of interview:

Original Appointment Letter

Passport

K1 Visa Application Fee (Rs 5,240 DD)

VFS Receipt (contains list of docs submitted prior to interview)

Evidence of Relationship (phone logs/e-mails/letters/photos/boarding passes/petitioner's passport copy/receipts etc)

Originals of all documents that you have submitted

They then gave her the checklist/receipt for submitting the docs and paying the courier fee. She was out by 8:30AM.

Now waiting for interview day!

Congratulations!

The electronic security clearance is just a formality every visa applicant goes through. Since the CO has promised approval, you are good.

I think that the box is not truly lost but USPS & Fedex are unable to determine where exactly it is even thought it might be safely on its way.

In my case I was unwilling use USPS and luckily some relatives were flying to Mumbai in December'07 and I sent the package with them.

I would give it another week before starting to assemble another packet. You will have to include a written & signed statement stating that certain irreplaceable originals were lost during shipment and include your USPS receipt to back up that claim. I beleive apart from your boading passes & receipts, all others docs like employment letter, bank letter can be replaced.

This has been a hard process for all of us and these setbacks only add to the misery. But take heart, you are almost there.

Absolutely. She needs your original divorce decree. This is how it will work.

After getting the interview letter, she will be required to submit Packet 4 to VFS at least 10 working days before the interview. That's when she will carry the ORIGINAL divorce decree with her. However, carry it separately (like in a clear plastic sleeve). The VFS staff will match up the photocopy of the decree from your Packet 4 submission with the original and hand your fiancee the original back on the spot.

You are going to need that original again when you get married so tell her to keep it carefully and bring it with her to the US.