Mo_Mati

Hi, just saw that ASC offices have an opening date set. Hoping this mean we'll be moving to biometrics appoint soon. 

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

Received GC yesterday. It is pretty sweet looking

Thanks everyone and good luck to those who are still waiting

Count us as another approved case (after receiving 3 weird requests for a second biometrics!). Approval came through the status update online, today! (can someone update the list for us??)

And, as for us...we never called or started a service request. We did go to an infopass (because we never received the original NOA1 with the extension) and while there they checked and said everything was fine and that there was no documented RFE (ie. nothing was holding up the case). About a month later we got around to sending a letter with a copy of each of the letters and the stamped biometrics noticed to make sure they knew that our case was one of those "weird ones". Don't know if it helped or not...but I am guessing that it wasn't really necessary (since our case was approved with a number of others this week).

So, for what it is worth...that was our story. I think people will be fine Good luck!!

That really stinks, weedebz. What did they suggest you do at this point? I would be furious....

Congrats to all those getting approved! Looks like CSC is moving faster than Vermont this time around....

That IS great news, ManuFred! Lets hope others continue to follow suit! Congrats.

And Happy New Years to everyone

Infopass yesterday. Was told that the letters were sent in error and to ignore them.

Good luck to everyone!

We are in the same boat. After the online status was changed to RFE we have since received 3 of the weird biometrics letters (first on 11/19, two on 11/23rd). DH has an Infopass appt tomorrow to get the I-551 stamp (is it ironic that we never received the original NOA1??).

Just for fun we received TWO MORE letters in the mail today requesting a Biometrics appointment before they are able to keep processing our case (mind you Biometrics was completed on Nov 22nd as we were requested to do in the Biometrics letter) . That makes it a total of 3 of the exact same letters (the first dated Nov 19, both of the others Nov 23rd). Not confusing at all!

DH is going to an infopass on Thursday to get the I-551 stamp (after never receiving the NOA1) and will ask about what is going on. I will be sure to share any important info.

We are in the same confused boat with RFE/Biometric letters being sent. On Nov 19th my husband saw that his online status noted that they were going to send at RFE. On the 22nd he had his Biometrics. November 23rd the online status was updated to state that the RFE letter had been sent. But, today the letter arrived and it was a Notice of Action, stating "Approved Removal of Conditions I89". So weird...cause then it goes on to request his Biometrics saying they cannot keep processing the case until the Biometrics is completed(which he already did).

If anyone calls/goes to an infopass to figure out what the heck is going on I would really appreciate an update. Now I am questioning if an RFE will actually come...or if we are supposed to do anything to follow up. Obviously with a typical RFE you send back the original letter with a response to the request. I am wondering if we should send a copy of the Biometrics letter showing that he has already gone, or something of that nature.

Ahh...USCIS...why do you cause so much stress??

I am going to let someone else do the updating of the list...don't want to screw it up.

Never received NOA1 (do you guys think this is a problem? Is it only the NOA1 that acts as the one year extension when the actual visa runs out?)

Biometrics letter received today...scheduled for 11/22/10 in St. Paul. Does anyone know if you can still try to go in early??

Also, our case still isn't showing up online. Anyone having success with it being online yet?

Thanks Yurika & Jim for the personal attention and Serenity NOW for the answer. So four months, eh? I think we can handle that!

Good to see some of you from when we were filing for AOS. I still can't believe how fast the last two years have passed by!

Good luck to all

We are in! File sent on October 5th and check cashed on the 13th. Still waiting for the NOA1

Anyone know what kind of time frame we are looking at for approval? I have not been keeping track recently, and I get so confused by the timelines on VJ! Anyone have an estimate?

Eat some empanandas, take in as much asado as possible, and enjoy a mariscal to make the time more enjoyable!!

Oh, and ask questions when you have them.

Buenas suerte!

I would follow what is on your GC. My husband's birth certificate and passport (from his home country) have both of his last names. His GC came with only his father's last name. He is now using only his father's last name for documents such as ssc, driver's license, univeristy, etc. When we fly he uses both last names.

We made an infopass appointment which confirmed that his full name (both father and mother's last names) was registered as an "Alternative Alias" and therefore he should have no problem using it while traveling with his GC and passport.

One other option is the Rotary Club International. I have some friends who brought a little girl from Kenya for a few surgeries last year. I do not know the details of the visa or how they covered the finances, but I do know that Rotary was involved. I also know that they had to prove that the surgeries were unable to be performed in her home country or closer to her home country, and that after the surgeries she did go back to Africa.

Good luck

The main homepage is now very similar to before (just updated per your request).

Hey Thanks! Looks great. And, the View New Content section looks better, too.

Thanks for all of your hard work, Ewok, and quick responses.

No one has yet mentioned the "View New Content" and "Popular Topics" buttons. I like these a lot less than what was previously offered (though, I cannot for the life of me remember what the button in that same location used to be called). It seems a lot messier and confusing than the previous option, and the other one was more succinct/had more information (you could look back various pages), etc.

I have the same reaction to the home pages new layout. Something about it makes it seemed "unorganized"....and I am not sure what makes a thread a popular one vs the ones that have been written on recently. Just a lot of headlines on the home page (I prefered getting a glipse about what the topics discussed)

Maybe I need to learn more about this "orange button" that others have discussed....any word on if it is working yet and where it can be found??

Thanks!

Thank you for your prayers.

Para todos con familia en Chile, alguna noticia? Alguien de Concepcion o cerca al epicientro? Esperando buenas noticias...

Por nuestra parte, la familia se encuentra bien. La mayoria en Valpo y Vina, Los Andes, y Cabildo (todo al norte). Todavia tengo un sobrino haciendo servicio militar que no se ha comunicado, y la familia de mi cunado que no hemos podido ubicar en Villa Alemana. Muchas oraciones....

prayers for the journey

Definitely not alone! My husband will complete two years here in May and it is still a struggle. He spent many months intensively working on his English skills, applied to every kind of job under the sun, has worked for a temp agency (with some success), and is now back in school finishing his university degree but trying to find part time work for when he is not in class. He would tell you that finding employment has been the hardest part of his immigration journey, and obviously that effects his morale and sense of self.

Honestly, it really stinks when people say thinks like "well, he can always get a job at a fast food place". umm...actually, no. He has applied, he has gone to interviews for everything from bakerys to restraunts, from cashiers to tellers, from data entry to administrative assistant.....and guess what? There are TONS of people applying for those same jobs because they, too, are out of work and are trying to find something--anything. In our experience, there is no "fall back job" at this point in our economy.

Thanks for all the great thoughts. Definitely a diverse bunch of ideas and suggestions, all of which are appreciated. I will pass along the recommendations and see where she wants to go from there!

I think you hit the nail on the head, NickD. How does she do that? What does that mean to get in line and fight it?

I couldn't figure out if that meant getting a lawyer? Whose jurisdiction is this? What do it mean to fight something like this?

She thought it meant going to the doctor, getting on meds, and getting a letter stating that she was cleared. She did that, and she was cleared to fly domestically. She never knew there was some other process for international flights. So...umm...now what?

A friend of mine (USC) recently received a letter from Department of Homeland Security stating that she is on a "No Fly" list for international flights and therefore will not be permitted to fly at this time (or in the forseable future). This is all stemming from an incident from before 9-11-01 when she had a panick attack and freaked out on a domestic flight. At that time she was put on a "No Fly" list for domestic flights, but has since been able to clear her name by going to a doctor, getting put on anxiety medication, and getting the doctor to write a letter on her behalf stating that she is no longer a risk for such incidences. She was unaware that she was on some sort of International "No Fly" list, and hasn't been able to figure out how to clear her name.

Any ideas? What could be some steps she takes at this point? What is the difference between clearing her name from the domestic no fly list to an international one?

She did call the Dept of Homeland Security and when she asked if there is "statute of limitations" on these kinds of things was told "Well, Ms. Do you think there is a statute of limitation on TERRORISM?" She was also told she could get in line with the thousands of other people who are wanting to clear their name from such lists. Not quite sure what that means in a practical sense.

She is suppose to be flying with her brother to Russia to pick up two children that he is adopting in the next few months.

Thanks for any ideas

Thanks Aubrey. That does answer my question.

Are there any negative consequences for a conditional green card holder using Federal Student Aid? Does it matter if they are grants or loans that are being used?

Obviously, we don't want to have any problems when it comes time to Lift Conditions come September.

Thanks