emmewalle

USPS apparently delivered my green card via priority mail but accidentally delivered it to the wrong address.

I have been on a goose chase with them to try to locate it. It has been 2 weeks since the delivery; they are unable to find it and keep stalling me. I visited the location they delivered it to and they have been frantically trying to locate it too (it's a school and the entire staff is on it - they actually know my husband as he went to middle school there).

I contacted USCIS and after a few agents with misinformation, they advised that either: I should wait a little longer or just file for a replacement card. I would need to file an I 90 and pay the fee AGAIN. There's also another form I can submit for a fee waiver, which is subject to their consideration.

It would take me 19 months to get a new card and according to them, they've done their job, and it's for me to sort out with USPS or then just apply for it all over again.

This is beyond frustrating, and I've been told this happens A LOT.  

My learning from this is to watch my mail and case tracker like a hawk in the future. When I went from my biometrics, the lady at the office said it could take up to 6 months for it to be printed and delivered. Therefore, I never really kept tabs on my case tracker. I happened to randomly log into the case tracker a few days later to check up, and to my surprise, it was delivered within two weeks but again to the wrong address......

Any advice is helpful. Thank you in advance. 

Hi all,

Apologies if this has been answered already.

I am writing to understand if I can work while waiting for my SSN.

I will start a new job hopefully 1 week after I get my passport back from the embassy where I currently reside. I will travel soon-after my passport is returned to me with the temp stamp (hopefully no AP!). CR-1 case. Moving to California.

I understand that I can work without an SSN (see point 3 on this link) : it's just that it'll take additional steps for my future employer to register me without an SSN, and as long as I can provide an SSN prior to the conclusion of the current tax year (so they can withhold taxes) 

My questions are as follows:

• Is the above understanding correct?
• Is it common for employers to do this?
• Is there a chance the employer refuses to do this additional and asks me to wait it out/rescind the offer?
• How long does it take for an SSN to arrive?

Many thanks in advance!

2 hours ago, Saima396 said:

Is form i864 affidavit of support is necessary to take with us or just the uploaded one is enough.

the one you uploaded to NVC and the new one. upload the new one and take a print out of both.

On 7/28/2022 at 7:18 PM, etrangais said:

Make sure you take with you THE SAME DOCUMENTS you submitted to NVC, even if they expired after you submitted them.

Getting new documents will extend the process

yes but I am planning to upload new docs to CEAC and carry those with me.  new i864, tax stuff, etc. (and i'll carry the old ones too).

2 minutes ago, Misscloud said:

seems good !

u got this !

aww thank you!!

Hi all,

I have my interview in Abu Dhabi in September CR1.  Trying to organize all my documents.  Is there anything I'm missing or need to amend from this list?

Thanks in advance!

On 5/21/2022 at 10:34 PM, Jorgedig said:

You think green cards are only needed for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays?

LOL! I think most people are not experts on topics, which is why they come here to seek clarifications, but thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

Just now, Daphne K said:

You are not allowed to work on any day of the week

oh jeez... thanks a lot for the info!

14 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Horrible.  Bad idea.

It would illegal for you to work in the US while visiting your spouse.  It would be worse if you were working for a US company or servicing US clients. 

Someone doesn't know US immigration laws.   Someone is suggesting you break US laws and put your immigration visa at risk.

BE CAREFUL. 

one more thing - does this apply if I visit once a month on a weekend and work a Friday and a Monday from the US?

2 minutes ago, Daphne K said:

I started looking and applying when I had my visa in hand and my flights booked. This way I knew when I would be available for interviews etc. Had a job interview 2-3 days after arriving in the US and started my job 2 weeks later! 👍🏻

That's awesome! Great to hear that.

I'm thinking to follow what you did. I'm afraid if I get an offer I wouldn't be able to do anything about it!

7 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Horrible.  Bad idea.

It would illegal for you to work in the US while visiting your spouse.  It would be worse if you were working for a US company or servicing US clients. 

Someone doesn't know US immigration laws.   Someone is suggesting you break US laws and put your immigration visa at risk.

BE CAREFUL. 

WHAT. Oh gosh, thank God I posted here. Thanks for the info.

27 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

You can start looking for work whenever you want.  Never too soon to start looking for work.

 

You can only legally start work when you have a green card.  You are free to look for work before that - remember to be truthful on any applications as they apply to you at the moment you apply.  Don't tell employers that you are a green card holder when you are waiting to immigrate to the US.  Inform them of when you can legally start to work. 

thanks for the info.  someone suggested looking for remote opportunities in the interim that'll allow me to visit my spouse every few weeks (we are a 2h flight apart)

When is a good time to start looking for work? What exactly do you need before you are considered 'employable' in the US? I'm waiting for my IL so got lots of time on. my hands; thought I'd get a head start on applications but don't want to start too early where it'd be an issue if I get an offer before my local embassy interview.
 

anyone have any luck on Abu Dhabi interviews? Can someone add me to the Telegram please?

Hi all,

Does anyone know what the status / approx wait times are for the Abu Dhabi Consulate scheduling interviews?

• Petition filed: May 2021
• Petition Approved: Sept 2021
• 1st FE: Dec 2021
• DQ'd March 2022. 

Petitioner is a USC and beneficiary is a Canadian citizen living in the UAE.

Does it make sense to transfer the case to Canada?

Thanks in advance!

E

On 3/11/2022 at 10:44 PM, AR & SA said:

Hello, came across this site which estimates the processing timeline and backlog for each US embassy based on visa category. 

 

Looks like after NVC DQ for a CR1/IR1 visa at Abu Dhabi the estimated wait time is about 6 months. 

 

https://visawhen.com/consulates/abu-dhabi

 

https://visawhen.com/consulates/abu-dhabi/cr1ir1

Thanks for sharing! this seems super long

hey there, any updates on timelines for interview scheduling for the AD consulate? in the same situation as OP...

7 minutes ago, etrangais said:

you will most likely be reviewed and hopefully DQ'ed before tax deadline.

As JeanneAdil said, if the interview is scheduled AFTER 18-Apr-2022, the CO might ask for 2021 taxes

so, just in case

thanks a lot.  how accurate are these timelines? I'm having a bit of anxiety having to wait for so long. totally our fault for not uploading the right docs, i know

1 minute ago, JeanneAdil said:

Processing may be done but then ur case does into the queue waiting for the interview to be scheduled and that timeline is totally unknown

ok, so if we are DQ'ed, and while waiting for the interview date, if the 2021 tax forms are required, can I not just bring that to the interview? 

2 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

and be aware u will need 2021 tax returns as April 18th is soon approaching so get them done ASAP

any interview scheduled after the tax date will need 2021 

thanks a lot! as of now, the nvc time frame looks like they'll likely process by end of March... i'll wait until April 1 to see what they say... guess i cant do much if it goes past this date.  if it does, and we need 2021 tax forms, another 3 months it is

Hi everyone,

Our petition was submitted May 31st 2021, and we were approved in September. We submitted our docs to NVC in September 2021, but accidentally forgot to upload the 2020 W2/1099, for which, we received the much-dreaded FE review notice. Anyways, we submitted those in Dec 2021 (a week after we received the FE notice).

How long does it normally take for them to review this? Do we get back into line (we originally waited 3mo at NVC)? is there a way to request an expedite? 

Thanks in advance!

1 hour ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

I must qualify that I am a Canadian resident and so am only familiar with type of police certificates for those applying within Canada. This is probably the same type required from those outside Canada, but I can't be sure.

 

Details of the type of certificate can be found in the below link, created by @Hawk Riders

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k927pE5wqzTN5n0lPYZ1JQxgbmnzmNWX5hSteyii0BY/edit

 

I have to clarify a few things:

1. Living in Canada, I got my fingerprinting done digitally for purposes of police certificates for IR1/CR1 immigration. There are many agencies here who do this for us, and send it to RCMP. You can look for something similar in Dubai too..

2. I used the Canadian fingerprint card when sending fingerprints to Singapore to obtain Singapore police Certficate (for three purposes - security clearance to work on provincial projects, immigration to US (CR1/ IR1), Canadian citizenship application. Singapore has their own sample cards but they always have accepted fingerprints on the Canadian card.

 

The seal I asked you remove on the image I sent you is to be put by the authority taking your fingerprints. In your case, that is the Dubai Police. The form given by the govt is blank. I do not see a problem in removing teh seal on this picture using photo-editing software.

 

 

thanks a lot! So I did some more research and there are a few forms that look quite similar but have some minor differences; how do I know which is the right form to use? Here are some examples:

1. the one you sent me

2. http://www.thecommissionaires.com/default/assets/File/Fingerprint Service for Canadians Abroad Forms(1).pdf

3. https://www.pweservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/RCMP_GRC_C-216C_Form.pdf

I've now reached out to Commisionnaires, Canadian Forensics Inc & Reliability Screening.  Fingers crossed!

PS,  I have a CPIC done from 2017 via BackCheck for an employment purpose; can I not just use that?

2 hours ago, mave said:

This is the company I used. You can browse the About page to see their RCMP accreditation letter. 

http://www.cicfingerprinting.ca/international.html

 

I'm not sure if there's any expiration on the accreditation so it's good to get the confirmed list from RCMP.

 

thanks! 

12 minutes ago, mave said:

I am a Canadian citizen and I also had to get my PCC outside of Canada. You may contact  CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca to get a list of accredited fingerprinting companies in Canada. Engage one of these companies. They will charge this for a fee for the process of obtaining PCC with RCMP. They will send you a form so you can bring it to your local police office in Dubai to take the fingerprints. Follow the process that your Canadian accredited fingerprinting agency asks for. For me, I had to send my fingerprints to them by courier. At the end, when the PCC is done, RCMP will send to the overseas applicant the PCC by regular mail. 

 

One thing to note is that you must ask your agency to put the purpose of the PCC. There's a detailed description on this in USCIS:

 

Issuing Authority: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format: The Certified Criminal Record Check requested under the Privacy Act is fingerprint-based, but the report does not include an image of the applicant’s fingerprints.

 

Procedure for Obtaining: To obtain this document, you must submit your fingerprints to a local police service or RCMP-approved partner agency.  You must also specifically request the record which includes the “RCMP National Repository entire holdings.” 

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Canada.html

 

THANK YOU! I've emailed them now.  let's see what happens.

12 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

question 2:  always refer to USCIS site for proper answers to questions

 

5.POLICE CERTIFICATES: Each visa applicant at least 16 years of age, must submit an original police certificate:

 from the police authorities of the applicant's country of current residence if the applicant has resided there for at least six months after attaining the age of sixteen;

 from the police authorities of all other countries, except the United States, where the applicant has resided for at least one year after attaining the age of sixteen;

 from the police authorities of any country where the applicant had been arrested for any reason, regardless of how long he or she lived there.

SO i guess I need both;  good thing is I don't need one from the US! I lived there at some point too.

4 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

It is actually not true that Canada does not have a standard form. They do. I got fingerprints done on a Canadian card yesterday. It may be true that they do not care if you use that card.

 

I have a few ideas (none of them tested):

 

1. I found an image of the fingerprinting card online. See attached. Remove the seal at the bottom of the page of the agency in surrey using photo editing software and then print this and take it to the police station in Dubai for them to use.

 

2. I found the following site online that provides RCMP fingerprinting for residents of UAE:

https://www.reliabilityscreening.ca/background-check-united-arab-emirates/

3. Blank FBI fingerprinting forms are available for purchase on Amazon. I also have a Singapore fingerprint form. Maybe Canada won’t care if you use those?

Oh wow this is super helpful! THANK YOU! I would be a bit weary to edit a form for immigration purposes. what card did you use and where did you get it from? what city/country did you do this from and how was your experience? did you face any issues on the TYPE of pcc? i read some previous threads on ensuring the exact pcc is used otherwise they're quick to deny you.

thanks again!