BeansOnToast

Hi everyone,

We received our 48-month letter today. Texas Service Center, case was received Dec 30, 2022. 

9 hours ago, kippenpox said:

Our application was received on December 21st and no updates since then either. We are at SRC, and I think they are now going through September 2021 cases based on search queries...

We are SRC as well, received Dec 30, and no updates either. 

Our letter arrived in the mail today! Obviously, my husband needs to keep the letter on him at all times with his green card, but should he carry the original or a photocopy? I would hate for the original to get lost or damaged...

6 minutes ago, Cilllah said:

I am hoping we don't have an interview either.. But our green card interview was waived and apparently they like to do at least one.

I think our interview is pretty much inevitable, but I’m hoping we’ll get lucky! We’re CR1 and haven’t had an interview with USCIS directly yet, just the one at the embassy. I’ll be pretty surprised if ours is waived, but still hopeful I guess🤷🏻‍♀️

5 minutes ago, OldUser said:

I do not see how you came up with that conclusion. It certainly can be waived, but no guarantees. Good luck in any case!

Here is a screenshot from DHS... This is where I have based my conclusion from. Guaranteed? No, of course not. Perhaps I misunderstood, but the way I inferred it seems that MSC may have a higher possibility of interview. 

Hi all! 
 

I am a filer right on the cusp of Dec/Jan and thought I would keep in touch here as well. I mailed my petition to Phoenix via USPS on 12/27/2022 and it was delivered 12/29. I just received my text message at around 5pm CST on 01/05/2023. We got Texas service center, which I was surprised by since we are CR1! Hopefully a good sign that our interview can be waived. 
 

Best of luck to everyone! 

Just received our text message!!! I’m pretty sure we got Texas (SRC prefix),which I’m surprised by since we are CR1; I was expecting NBC. Hopefully that means we can be part of the “risk-based” approach and have the interview waived. I sent enough evidence for it, that’s for sure lol!
 

To recap:

12/24/2022: 90 day window opened

12/27/2022: Sent via USPS to Phoenix Lockbox

12/29/2022: Delivered

12/30/2022: case marked as “received” when I track the number 

01/05/2023: text message received, money order not cashed yet 

17 hours ago, Mistr said:

I’m kinda freaking out rn. My lawyer sent my petition on 12/23 to the Phoenix lockbox and I haven’t heard anything from USCIS yet. I think I should’ve received the text message or an email by now. I paid the fee with money order so it’s hard to know if they cashed it out or not. 🥹

Mine was delivered on 12/29 and I have not heard anything either. No email, text message, and my money order hasn’t been cashed. I’m trying to give them a little grace because of the holidays, but it is stressful. I was not feeling well when I packed it up and I’m paranoid that I might have done something wrong!😝 You should be able to track your money order; just google which brand it is and it should have somewhere to put in the number on your receipt. 

13 minutes ago, OldUser said:

Isn't it for I-90? Do you have a redacted copy?

It probably is, but I saw people on YouTube including it so I did as well. I did make a photocopy! 

2 minutes ago, Caitlin Kennedy said:

Hi! The "tear-off portion to speed your application" sheet from the green card package - what is this?

When we received the green card in the mail, the paper that it was stuck to had a perforated section on the bottom with barcodes that said, “tear-off to speed your application.” I haven’t seen many people speak of it, but I assume everyone got it as well. And I’m doubtful that it will actually accelerate anything, but I figured I’d include it anyway! 

Hi all! 
 

We dropped our package off at the post office today! Planned on doing it yesterday, but post office was closed. Expected delivery is Friday via USPS to Phoenix lockbox. Seems like we will end up being early January filers. I will still keep in touch here since it’s right on the cusp. 

Also, I’ve seen some discussion about money orders and not being able to track the progress… you should be able to! That’s what we have always used to pay USCIS and never had an issue tracking the ones from the Post Office or CVS. Just google it! 
 

Best of luck to everyone! 
 

11 minutes ago, kec523 said:

If yours isn't enough, I'm utterly SCREWED! 

 

The only thing we have going for us that you don't (and we don't have MANY of the things on your list!) is that we had a baby! Hoping that carries some weight here lol

That should carry a ton of weight, you'll be fine too! Best of luck! 

4 minutes ago, kec523 said:

This is insanely thorough! I think you're going to be just fine! 

So happy to hear that!!! I've been worried that it's not enough 😆

Hi all! Our 90-day window opens up on Christmas Eve, but we will be mailing our packet on December 26. For some context, are CR1 so we did not do AOS and obviously did not have an interview with USCIS. We married in July 2020 and filed I-130 shortly after. My husband entered in March 2021 and received his green card in June 2021.

Here is the evidence we are providing: 

• Money order for $680
• Table of Contents
• G-1145
• I-751 (with N/A written in ALL blank spots)
• Front and back of green card
• The "tear-off portion to speed your application" sheet from the green card package
• I-797C, Form I-751 reminder
• Certified copy of Marriage Certificate 
• Joint Identification Documents including:
  • Foreign spouse's passport bio page/stamps/visa
  • USC spouse's passport bio page/stamps (x2 since name change)
  • Both driver's licenses showing same address
  • Both conceal carry permits showing same address
  • Social security cards
  • Social Security name change application after marriage
• Joint lease agreements from 2020-2023
• Joint Financial Documents including:
  • Copy of voided check naming both spouses
  • Joint Checking AND Savings account statements dated 2020-2022
  • Credit card authorized user confirmations (x3)
  • Letters from various investment accounts confirming joint accounts/beneficiaries
• Joint Property Documents including:
  • Mobile home title and bill of sale
  • Car titles and bills of sale
  • Registration renewal pages and stickers for cars and mobile home
• Joint Utilities including:
  • Joint water and electricity bills from 2021-2022 (foreign spouse couldn't be added until he received green card due to policies; this is noted in evidence)
  • Cell phone bills and call history highlighting phone calls to each other
  • Storage unit bills
  • PO Box application form
• Joint Insurance Documents including:
  • Joint home insurance
  • Joint renters insurance 
  • Life insurance polices for both spouses, naming each other as beneficiary 
  • Car insurance naming both spouses, dated 2020-2023
  • Joint health insurance and related documents (primary care physician, etc)
• Joint College/Work Documents including:
  • Emergency contact forms
  • ACT results showing we took the exam on the same day 
  • Scholarship awards from the same university, showing the same address
  • Financial aid checks showing same address
• 2020-2022 tax documents (have not filed 2023 yet)
• Joint Travel Documents including:
  • Foreign spouse's most recent I-94
  • Plane tickets dating 2018-current
  • USC spouse's passenger locator form for the UK 
  • Hotel itineraries 
  • Train tickets
  • Tour bookings
• Letters and shipping labels to and from family members
• Photographs and social media posts from 2017-current, including captions

Please let me know if there is anything else you would recommend. I am also going to have a couple family members write up an affidavit. I am thinking of writing a quick recap of our entire relationship from 2016-now. 

Best of luck to everyone, wishing you all very speedy processing times!!!!

4 hours ago, Vero Kir said:

thank you so much for this information and taking the time to discribe your situation !!!

we definitely have lots of pictures and documents, that should not be an issue ! 

 

Did he attend the interview in the UK? 

how long is the I-130 taking do far? 

and was he able to visit you again while waiting for the I-130 ?

 

thank you !!!!

He did attend the interview in the UK back in March 2021.
 

Our I-130 processing time was extraordinary and only took 70 days, from late July 2020 to early October 2020. I have no explanation for the time because we did not expedite. Unfortunately, I have to say definitely do not expect such a fast approval. The most recent average times are always on the USCIS website. From there, we waited 4 months for the interview to be scheduled; however, this timeline is country/embassy specific, so some wait much longer or shorter than others.
 

My husband was able to come visit while we were waiting. It was after the approval, but before the interview was scheduled. Again, this was during the UK travel ban so he was questioned a lot at the Delta counter (they even asked about our pending visa),  but CBP still did not seem to mind and asked minimal questions. Of course, my husband was sure to depart the country in a timely manner well before his allowance was up. 
 

Let me know if you have anymore questions! I am happy to answer what I can, although there are lots more folks here with much more knowledge than me!

Good luck! 

This is exactly what my husband and I did on his ESTA. During the UK travel ban, we flew to Serbia for two weeks before coming back here and getting married. Actually, we got married within 2hrs of landing in fear of another lockdown. We were just sure to not tell CBP upon entry that we were planning to marry (they didn’t ask questions anyhow), because I’d heard of them denying entry and instructing to file a K1. We filed the I-130 a week later, and husband then stayed for almost the entirety of his 90 days before returning to the UK. 
 

Anyway, I say that to say that there have been no issues thus far. It wasn’t even mentioned in the interview, probably because we had several years of “bona fide” evidence in addition. Fingers crossed for the same luck when we remove conditions!
 

To my knowledge, there is no specific documentation to disprove fraud simply because you got married in the US. Just be sure to include lots of evidence spanning over a long period of time such as photos, bank statements, rental agreements in Canada, etc. anything you can think of that you have jointly. And definitely do not overstay your allowance while waiting! 
 

Best of luck as you begin this process! 

July 2, 2021: Card delivered. 
 

To recap:

CR1 Visa

Fee Paid: March 16, 2021

POE: March 24, 2021 in Atlanta

Card Produced: June 28, 2021

Card Mailed: June 29, 2021

Card Picked Up by USPS: June 30, 2021

Card Delivered: July 2, 2021

WOW, what a relief! And couldn’t have cut closer to our “deadline” of Monday when we leave to travel! 

On 6/28/2021 at 3:38 PM, Reagan & Vish said:

June 28, 2021: Card being produced.... finally!!! Hopefully not much longer, as we will be traveling for the next few weeks as of next Monday. How long does it typically take to have the card in hand after this notification? 

June 29, 2021: Card mailed. 
 

How did everyone receive their tracking numbers? Neither my husband nor myself have received emails, and the USCIS tracker does not state one. Thanks! 

On 6/22/2021 at 11:21 AM, Reagan & Vish said:

Another update:

 

I spoke to USCIS again and they said that the processing time is no longer 90 days, but has been bumped to 120. Therefore, no inquiries can be submitted and nothing can be done until after 120 days. I guess we will do this all again in a few more weeks… 

June 28, 2021: Card being produced.... finally!!! Hopefully not much longer, as we will be traveling for the next few weeks as of next Monday. How long does it typically take to have the card in hand after this notification? 

3 hours ago, SIRE said:

Thanks for your response. Can I ask, if you received a tracking number, was it for GC & SSN or were there two separate tracking numbers?

 

Thanks for the info. That's a bit strange to not know when it's coming. How long did it take to arrive from the day of POE? 

From memory, I believe it was sometime between 8-10 days. 

1 hour ago, SIRE said:

Hi. Did you get a tracking number for your ssn separately before you received in your mail? 

I did not get any type of tracking or communication before the SSN arrived in the mail; it just turned up one day. I still have not received the green card. 

On 6/14/2021 at 2:34 PM, Reagan & Vish said:

Update:

 

Today marks day 90 and still no case status updates or green card issuance. I contacted USCIS live support, who submitted a referral and issued a reference number. I hope it will not be much longer as we are traveling soon, and I’d hate for the card to arrive and no one be home for a couple weeks. 

I’ve noticed a fairly consistent pattern in this thread that people who pay the fee before POE get their SSN relatively soon, but wait longer for their green card. And vice versa. I surely thought it would be the other way around. Is there any reason for this?

Another update:

I spoke to USCIS again and they said that the processing time is no longer 90 days, but has been bumped to 120. Therefore, no inquiries can be submitted and nothing can be done until after 120 days. I guess we will do this all again in a few more weeks… 

5 hours ago, Fadymaher said:

Did your husband do his biometrics at the POE?

 

No, but he did at the interview which was just two weeks before POE. I assumed they could use those biometrics for the GC. I’ve never heard of that being an issue. How long between your interview and POE? Perhaps they couldn’t if it was a longer period of time. 
 

edit to add:

I am still awaiting a response from USCIS. The agent said I should hear within two weeks. Were you given that information immediately or did they contact you afterward? 

1 hour ago, Fadymaher said:

How did you contact live support , my wife is nearly reaching the 90days mark 

I went on the website and spoke to “Emma,” their virtual automated chat support. There, I asked her to, “speak to live agent,” and she connected me.
 

The first representative was not helpful, she simply instructed me to call their 1-800 number. It is impossible to speak to a real person on that line, I tried multiple times and the automated system even said, “sorry, I cannot help you,” and hung up lol. So do not even bother with that, and if they suggest it, go back on chat and speak to someone else. 
 

I went back on and spoke to another very helpful agent, who submitted the inquiry for me and issued an ID number. They said I should receive an email within 14 days. 
 

Out of curiosity, what was your POE? My husband’s was Atlanta. I wonder if that affects the issuance time, because those from others seem to get their GC much quicker. 

Oh, and when you speak to live support, be sure to space out your numbers otherwise it will be censored and the agent won’t be able to help. Like this: 1 2 3 4 5….. I had this issue with the first agent. Perhaps it is why they couldn’t help. 

Best of luck! 

On 5/9/2021 at 2:37 PM, Reagan & Vish said:

CR1 Visa:

VISA ISSUED: March 15, 2021

FEE PAID: March 16, 2021

POE: March 24, 2021 in Atlanta 

CURRENT STATUS: “Payment Received” (as of March 16)

 

By the looks of it, hopefully not much longer! Congrats everyone on your approvals! 

Update:

Today marks day 90 and still no case status updates or green card issuance. I contacted USCIS live support, who submitted a referral and issued a reference number. I hope it will not be much longer as we are traveling soon, and I’d hate for the card to arrive and no one be home for a couple weeks. 

I’ve noticed a fairly consistent pattern in this thread that people who pay the fee before POE get their SSN relatively soon, but wait longer for their green card. And vice versa. I surely thought it would be the other way around. Is there any reason for this?