Mr. Grey

Hi folks,

Back in April, I came back from a vacation to Germany and entered the U.S. with my GC, as always. But for the first time ever, the IO did not stamp my passport. Just swiped the GC, took my picture and fingerprints, and that was it. A matter of 30 seconds. I usually always get the "Admitted" stamp, with the ARC note on it. I asked the officer about the stamp, and she said it's optional since you just need the GC to get into the country, not the passport.

Has this happened to anyone of you before ? Any chance of trouble when I re-enter the country next time ?

I filed, she countered. That's why I will have to be here, in case there are hearings or the final trial.

Hello all,

my story short and sweet: I am the foreign spouse, came to the U.S. in 2008 to get married to my wife. I brought all my savings, furnished our home, and had some starting capital left so we didn't have to worry while I was still on the outlook for a job.

She left me a couple of months ago and filed for divorce. She's assuming that I have major assets and cash reserves, and alleges everything and anything to get a huge slice of the cake. The problem is: I don't have what she's assuming, I barely have the funds to pay for my lawyer. My fear is now that she is dragging this divorce out, goes into discovery, and spends months and $$$$ just to find out what I already know. I already lost my job a couple of days ago, because I wasn't able to focus any more after she left.

My question pertains to the following: we signed an apartment lease, which ends in July 2010. The monthly rent is $1,300. Since I don't have an income any more, I won't be able to pay the rent from January on. Plus, I don't know where to get money to cover basic expenses like food etc. My plan is to go back to my home country soon, but I can't as long as the divorce is pending and she's playing treasure hunt.

Since she and both of her parents filed an affidavit of support with my GC application, I was wondering if they aren't obligated to help me out financially. Of course, it would be a freaky situation to ask my in-laws for financial aid while the divorce is pending. But their daughter on the other hand could just be reasonable and draw a bottom line under this divorce, since there is nothing to get for her. And as soon as I permanently move back to my home country, my GC becomes void and so does their affidavit of support.

Does anyone here have an answer to my question ?

Thanks.

"Current Status: Card production ordered.

On May 20, 2009, 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."

does that mean I'm getting my GC now??

Ja, die Karte kommt bald oder sollte schon im Kasten liegen.

Sach ich doch, dass alles OK ist

I would not freak out about this. They already transferred your case to California back in February (according to your timeline), AND took your fingerprints. So if they had missed anything they would have not worked on your file. I would consider this a stupid computer message, rather that anything substantial.

And for CSC, it took them around 4 months as well to approve my case after transferral, so in early June you should be able to expect an approval.

Kopf hoch, das sieht alles noch gut aus !

Daniel

Hey folks,

Just a quick question to all of you who already received their GC. After your CRIS status changed to "Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident", did the status change afterwards to "Approval notice sent" or did the GC just show up in your mail ?

Daniel

i think there was also a card production ordered status change as well...

CRIS is inconsistent at best... do not rely on it

Mine changed to "Notice mailed ..." immediately, without "Card production ordered". But that was already one week ago, and no "Approval notice sent" or Green Card ever since.

Hey folks,

Just a quick question to all of you who already received their GC. After your CRIS status changed to "Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident", did the status change afterwards to "Approval notice sent" or did the GC just show up in your mail ?

Daniel

Goodmorning sunshine !!! with lots of cookies and cream on top!

My morning started out great! I got a call from boyce and bynum lab.....my 2 hour interview paid off! i got the job - I am so happy. Truly God answers prayers.

Congratulations

Question for everyone. Is there anyone else who filed late Aug/early Sept who hasn't had an interview notice (or approval) come through yet? I guess with two RFEs that kinda pushed us back a bit but I'm getting antsy :/

Yeah, me. Filed on 8/27/08, was transferred to CSC on 10/14/08, and nothing ever since. Oh, besides the "touch" on 1/12/09... I really feel like they forgot me or something, 180 days have already passed since I filed

Daniel

But the bad news is people filing at the same time as you that don't get transferred are getting interviewed and approved quicker.

Case in point:

Out of October filers with interviews. I know of 11 approvals, 1 pending, 13 more with interview appointments.

October filers transferred to CSC. 2 approvals. 16 more in the dark.

Kinda weird that the transfer notice says....in order to speed up processing, we are transferring your case...etc.

I can just emphasize that ! I filed in late August, and my case was transferred to CSC in mid-October. I see September and October filers getting approved every day, some by the CSC, but mainly after interviews. I don't see why not-having-an-interview is so great for everyone here. Most people report about their interview that they're in and out within 30-60 minutes, and the GC follows shortly after that. And the total processing time is shorter. Sounds like a breeze to me.

Current Status: Notice mailed welcoming the new permanent resident.

Email received today!

And in case anyone is interested, we just sent the Vaccination record, didn't have it transcribed.

Congratulations, and thanks for the information about the vaccination record !

Was your case touched on 1/12/2009 as well ?

@SonoranSongbird + DI&JR

Hm, my medical was on April 17, 2008 - right between you guys. So you just included the DS-3025 in your AOS package (vaccination sheet) ? That's what I did ...

Daniel

Congrats Zee,

It's great to see you getting approved - especially after you had to go through another medical.

@ all

Are there any August filers that got approved already and did NOT file I-693, but the DS-3025 instead ?

Daniel

(still waiting for his approval )

OK, Glückwunsch just meant Congratulations. My wife doesn't speak German either, but she did not want to join the forum.

For the CRIS email, approximately what time did you receive it ? I am getting all excited and frustrated at the same time, because so many 1/12 touches are getting approved, but unfortunately, mine is not amongst them. I'm checking the CRIS status several times per day and just want to minimize it by knowing approx. when those emails are sent out

Daniel

Ha, yes, I figured what it meant!

The email came at 12:15 AM, so probably the daily information is uploaded at midnight and then I expect that the emails get generated automatically.

There wasn't any change in the case status online prior to the email.

Now, was your file transferred to your local office, or is it still in California?

California

Glückwunsch :-)

Was your case "touched" on 1/12/2009 also ? And did you get any more touches in the meantime ?

Daniel

Hi Daniel, I am the USC (D) my husband (J) never wanted to join the forum

OK, Glückwunsch just meant Congratulations. My wife doesn't speak German either, but she did not want to join the forum.

For the CRIS email, approximately what time did you receive it ? I am getting all excited and frustrated at the same time, because so many 1/12 touches are getting approved, but unfortunately, mine is not amongst them. I'm checking the CRIS status several times per day and just want to minimize it by knowing approx. when those emails are sent out

Daniel

Application Type: I485 , APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS

Current Status: Card production ordered.

On February 10, 2009, 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. You can also receive automatic e-mail updates as we process your case. Just follow the link below to register.

I was so worried, since we had heard nothing for so long! (He wasn't worried! )

Glückwunsch :-)

Was your case "touched" on 1/12/2009 also ? And did you get any more touches in the meantime ?

Daniel

Hey folks,

It's hard to keep track of it in this long thread, but are there any CSC transferees that got a "touch" on 1/12/2009 and who recently got approved ? I'm still waiting for something to happen with my case.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

Daniel

So that makes TEN Touches on 1/12.

Count me as eleven, my case was transferred to CSC on 9/30 and hadn't been touched since 10/2 until 1/12.

Make it 12. Touched Jan. 12!

Make it 13... first action since the transfer to CSC in september

Ditto ... No. 14

mr.grey..look at my timeline..iam still waiting and had the last touch on 9/18 when i sent me ref back and my case is still sitting on the NBC..no touch no interview letter..nothing....since u are in the timeframe from 6 month u can only wait...i do the same...but i know..we are germans and we are inpatient thats our nature lol

Oh, you're even in TX - so you're in the "greater neighborhood" :-)

Congrats on your passed DL exam - I just called the DPS to ask them about my card, which I have never received in 3 weeks. On your temporary permit, what is the EXP-date of your license ? Mine expires in 6 years, but under "Restriction" it says "P - TEMP VIS ....". Does yours too ?

Guten Rutsch !

Daniel

Howdy !

So far I haven't participated in this thread, but now I'm getting a little impatient.

I filed my AOS/AP/EAD package on August 27, got an RFE from the NBC which I responded to immediately, and the last action was a transfer of my case to the CSC back on October 14. My AP and EAD were approved in the meantime (October 27), but my AOS case has not been touched ever since it arrived in California.

Is this really normal guys ? When you look at my timeline, you'll find that the RFE did not cause a major delay. And the RFE should not really have an impact on this case anyways, since I understand the clock starts ticking new when the case is transferred to California.

I'm just so tired of waiting. Next week I'm visiting my family in my home country and it looks like I have to use the AP again

Help me hangin' in there ...

Daniel

Hey folks,

Just a quick question: I read somewhere that you MAY not be paroled into the country using your AP document, if your I-485 application was approved while you were out of the country. Is this really true or just some horror story someone made up ?

I really cannot imagine that they would turn you down at the POE if they find out that your GC was just approved. If they have the most current status on your status on their screens, I figured they must see the approval date. So whenever they would say "you are a GC holder" I would always respond "I have not received it yet; please check the approval date".

Furthermore, I would not think that USCIS would build such a "trap" without warning you about it.

Any thoughts ?

The German embassy even accepts an expired K-1, along with your NOA1 for AOS. I did it the same way in Houston, and had NO problems whatsoever.

For the bank: they have to accept your old passport, along with a certified copy of / the original marriage license. That even suffices wenn you are traveling into the US with an AP - I don't see why a bank would not accept it.

PM me in German if you have any more questions. I live in Houston too.

Daniel

because of the AOS application, your current "overstay" is not considered.....

Got it. So if I had accrued an overstay of the I-94 before my AOS application was filed, then I'd have a problem, right ? (only if over 180 days)

Daniel

No, my understanding is just any previous overstays ..... though I am not sure I would tempt fate

I think I read a previous thread, where a K-1 waited one year after the wedding before they filed for AOS. They were advised to not leave the country, because the overstay prior to the AOS application would trigger a 3-year ban.

Anyways, you helped me a lot. I wasn't aware that the AOS waiting time is not considered an overstay.

Thanks,

Daniel

because of the AOS application, your current "overstay" is not considered.....

Got it. So if I had accrued an overstay of the I-94 before my AOS application was filed, then I'd have a problem, right ? (only if over 180 days)

Daniel

Hi there,

I have a stupid question about using AP, and cannot find the legal explanation for it anywhere.

I entered the U.S. on the K-1 visa and got married within the 90 days. I even filed for AOS before the 90 days expired (acutally, the NOA1 was issued on day 89).

Exactly why can I use the AP and will not trigger a ban from the U.S. upon re-entry ? I read somewhere that you should not leave the country if you already "overstayed" more than 180 days since your entry on the K-1, because this overstay is on your record and will trigger a ban. But that would mean that you cannot use the AP if you decide to go to your home country after more than 180 days after your I-94 expired. Why is the AP good for 1 year then ?

I "overstayed" 76 days since my I-94 expired. Did anyone else here use their AP for re-entry after such an amount of days and did you get problems when you re-entered ? Is there a legal basis why I can do this ?

Sorry, this is stupid, but I'm lacking the legal requirements for the AP, and unless I know them, I will be VERY anxious on my return in 2 weeks.

Thanks,

Daniel

I just passed the written test for my driver's license here in TX

I didn't study at all and just walked in b/c I saw the parking lot was empty. When I heard that you get 3 shots to pass, I just took the chance. Now the driving test on Friday ... hope I don't get the Autobahn feeling

Gratz!

I'm surprised you even had to take the test. All Patrick had to do was show his German license, his passport with K1 and then I showed my ID and signed a form verifying that he lives with me...and tada! He got his Washington license. This was 2 days after he got here, before we even got married!

Thus far, it's been the easiest part of this process for us

Still waiting on EAD. We went ahead and made an infopass appointment because our NOA is dated 8/11....

We tried that too, but in Texas you have to meet certain ID requirements. The K1 didn't work b/c you need an I-94 that is valid for at least one year, the next best thing is the EAD.

For the test - Germany does not recognize driver's licences from Texas and vice versa, that's why you have to go through both the written and the driving test again. But the good news about that is, they can't confiscate my German DL which cost me thousands of DM (before the EUR came).