Maria P.

I have a friend who also applied online / in June 2022 (FL) / and he got all approved with no issues, no glitches and had oath ceremony in 9 months. I needed lawyer, because I wanted really 'stellar' application (I have a legal complication in my case) , but honestly I feel like I would have done a better job myself and I even caught lawyer's paralegal making 3 mistakes in application 🤦🏻‍♀️ Don't think its completely wasted money, I did get some advice, but if you have attention to detail and you can read USCIS web -> I believe you totally can get away without lawyer for this... agree

Wahahahahahahaa This is sad & hilarious at the same time))) Today - I checked USCIS web regarding waits on i751 out of curiosity - just to see if maybe one year later they got some more work power at Potomac service center and started cranking things faster and ... nope... it is still really bad ))) it will have to be N400 that will pull us all out of it ) ...

Thanks - I could check via that link! Lawyer was sending my N400 - so not sure if they did mail receipt for 751 or not, but they did ask me to provide one, so I assume they did... but now you got me thinking that I better ask my lawyer to provide a copy of everything they sent to USCIS...

Hi @HelsinkiFi & everybody joining the party... I also have used the lawyer and she also said something along the line of 'not trusting online filing because of history of unreliability"... although plenty of people file online and don't have any issues (my friend including - already got approved, filed online), I am not sure if lawyers are just a bit of old school / they have some bad experience with online or they have some industry insider info... Anyway - we mailed the application this week -> it was delivered by FEDEX to USCIS Elgin Lockbox on Wednesday, August 23rd. On Friday (i.e. 2 business days after delivery) - I got a text message "USCIS: Your case was received. RECEIPT # IOExxxxxxxxxx. Official Receipt Notice ( Form I-797C) to follow in mail. Msg & Data rates may apply. DO NOT REPLY". Although it was mailed (paper form application), it appears they have digitalized it (scanned it into the system), based on 'IOE' receipt abbreviation. So I agree with @VJ0617 - 8-9 weeks seems definitely too long. I am still waiting for the mail notice and will give an update when I get it. Since I got the receipt # in text, I could already go check USCIS online tool -> and on Friday Aug 23 ~ showed "case was received and a receipt notice was sent" and now on Sunday (Aug 27) ~ it shows "case is being actively reviewed by USCIS" . Hope it helps)

Fellas, I have questions.... Soooo... I have nothing happening with ROC other than receiving 24month (august 2022) and 48month (march 2023) extension letters in the mail. No update with biometrics, no waived biometrics, nothing... complete radio-silence. I approached my N400 application window in July 2023, and finally assembled and mailed application last week to USCIS... and I have few weird observations... 1) My online USCIS account seemed to remove all case details... Like the cases /receipts from my AOS and ROC are there, but I can't click on them like I could before and see all the dates/breakdowns of notices mailed, interviews appointment/cancellation from 2020 - like it all disappeared... The date for i751 also disappeared... Did anybody else experience this? I am wondering if it is web glitch or it happened because of N400? it seems to be like this for a week now at least 2) I have chosen to file by mail. But got a text today with IOE letters for receipt, which stands for digitally filed applications... Is this weird? 3) I have a question regarding pending I 751, is there a possibility that they will send the N400 to regional field office and forget to send all of the i751 application files/supporting evidence to the same place? Should I follow up on this somehow? or this happens automatically all the time?

Do you still need it? I found some a while ago at Citizenpath, but I haven't used it. N-400-Cover-Letter-with-Pending-I-751.doc

Just venting out - I am getting some sort of anxiety panic attacks after reading about all the "wait stories" from Potomac center and combing through their google reviews, as well as USCIS official "time estimates"... I also noticed that my USCIS online account - shows only "Case Was Received" status, and does not say that I got NOA with receipt (I got letter on Aug 18)... So on top of the Potomac Center fame for all of the bad reasons, I already start to freak out Gosh... like 2 years of this stress?? really... just why... (((

Fellas, having trouble figuring this out: did anybody from August filers get biometrics letter/notification/scheduling - after getting Potomac Service Center receipt?

Fellas, I have an update -> got my NOA letter(24 month extension) in the mailbox yesterday! So my up to date ROC timeline is: 08/05 - sent package via USPS to Elgin PO Box (Carol Stream, IL) 08/08 - package delivered 08/11 - got a text message around 5 pm, with receipt number (no email) 08/18 - got a mail/I-797 NOA, "Receipt Notice" that states application received date: 08/08, notice date 08/11 P.S. My receipt number starts with YSC 🥴 , i.e. Potomac Service Center.... unfortunately

My package was delivered to Carol Stream, IL (USCIS PO Box) by USPS on Monday (6am)/ August 8th, and I still did not get a text or email Am I allowed to start to freak out?

OMG @beloved_dingo, I think your package just triggered my inner perfectionist climax 🥰🤩 This looks super neat. like MEGA neat. So beautiful. If I could redo my package, or make it better - I would change 2 things -> (1) putting Money Check - FIRST thing on top (I attached it to the top of my I751 form, but I have Cover letter as first thing in the package*) and (2) Getting ACCO fasteners. I was in such rush trying to get it done asap (because of filing later than I could have) that I went with paper clips, but I did see USCIS mentioning that fasteners via two holes on top is highly appreciated. Great job, really. This looks stellar. *As I later researched (already after sending the package) -> Elgin LockBox where I had to mail my package - > is sort of a processing center - where they just open parcels, check if u have correct money & signed form, they process money and then distribute it to appropriate regional center. So giving them money as first thing on top of entire package makes most sense.

Mine was probably something 200+ too, I got this file folder from Walmart, and then put all paperwork inside. I printed USCIS # and petition subject/basic info: on top front flap of that folder (my walmart folder had some nice clear pocket for that, otherwise I would just write it using fat permanent marker or print & stick it onto front page of the folder). Inside -> I had printed table of contents (sticked it to the back of that front folder flap, meaning person opening it will see it on the left side and on the right side will be a pile of papers/application). Table of Content had listed document sections (and brief list of documents attached in bullet points) in order that they are put in the package. I used sticky tabs for each section AT THE BOTTOM (USCIS asks specifically not to put them on the side). I used a rule of thumb and general logic, e.g. I had separate sticky tabs for FORM I 751, COPY OF GREEN CARD, Copies of DRIVING LICENSES, but for bulky taxes - i just had one tab TAXES, (not: Taxes 2019, Taxes 2020, Taxes 2021, W2s 2021, W2s 2020, etc.) USCIS specifically asks not to use heavy staples -> I have used small metal clips to clip documents together, as well as Jumbo metal clips to join several similar documents in one section. Example: I printed every other month bank statement from beginning of marriage: each 3 pages of individual monthly statement were clipped with tiny paper clip on top + all of them together (18 statements total) with big jumbo ones from middle of both sides (so they stay together). For mega big sections (e.g. several "blocks of documents" that are related to one another) -> like bank statements, trading account beneficiary disclosures, bank "trustee" disclosures -> I used a rubber band to make sure nothing is displaced. just one thin rubber band holding entire section -> nothing crazy, and nothing that is hard to disassemble or might add irritation/more work to USCIS officer. I did spread out paper clips in different locations, so that package is uniform and not bigger /skewed on one corner/side. I mailed it via USPS. Just brought my folder (I put rubber band around it) to the office and asked for envelope or box that would fit it and they got me some plastic envelope. Shoved it in and sent for a bon voyage hoping for the best... P.S. Please refer to official filing recommendations from USCIS if in doubt: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-guidance/form-filing-tips . M.

👋 HELLO everyone! Gosh, I've just discovered this website and what a wonderful place it is - it's like a private members club of fellow stressed out and waiting comrades , bound by hope, drop of 'freaking out', tiny despair, wild west waiting times & information exchange 🤣 I don't know anybody personally, but I feel like I am sailing that same boat under very same sails and wind conditions and Oy, I hope we all make it )))) _________________ Soooo.... A bit of my pre-story: relevant for anybody who haven't sent the package yet (if you already mailed it, feel free to skip this). I have paid two services (RapidVisa & CitizensPath) to help to assemble i-751 petition(big mistake) , and they both been rubbish, and cutting LONG STORY short -> after losing precious time going back and forth with them (and money), I ultimately "lost my "/ patience, and took matters into my own hands and assembled the package myself, because both companies made mistakes in form filling and have been really bad in terms of communications. They did offer some document advise, and I kinda researched their stuff, USCIS official stuff, dozens of Youtubes and talked to friends who got their stuff approved and consensus was the following: (listed in order of diminishing importance to USCIS) 1) Children born in marriage (strongest bona fide marriage evidence) 2) Living Together (same address on govt. issued IDs/DL, on bank statements, shared bills, mortgage or lease agreements, letters in both names showing residency together, etc.) 3) Joint Financial Responsibilities (TAXES No.1, and JOINT ownership No.2 : physical assets // be it house, cars, scooters, etc. or financial assets // bank accounts, trading accounts, savings, retirement funds, insurances, medical, etc. ) 4) All other evidence ~ the "weak sauce" (or as USCIS classifies it: secondary evidence) / pet ownership, photos, travel together, affidavits, gifts, etc. So far ^ this was the consensus. As far as diving into details, I have heard different sentiments, e.g. "over supplying" vs. "undersupplying" evidence vs. "no such thing as too much evidence for USCIS" and I believe it is individual case/should be evaluated how much of strong evidence you have vs. weak sauce: EXAMPLE: if you don't have mortgage or lease agreement proving u live together, don't have bank accounts together and did not file taxes together, - I guess I would supply all I got, from pictures, to gifts, Christmas cards, concerts together, Facebook posts, affidavits, etc. .... but If the case is strong: u have taxes, accounts, joint property and savings, I would provide less of a "weak sauce", e.g. 10-20 pictures from beginning of marriage and some travels. Affidavits seem to be most hated from what I hear - and they are the last resort when there is not much strong evidence available.... You can check attached PDFs for ideas (this is what RapidVisa and CitizenPath sent me, pretty much you will find same info from USCIS directly, just in different words). Also, this is some good info here: https://citizenpath.com/proving-a-bona-fide-marriage/ _________ I was supposed to file on 21st July (90th day before expiry of GreenCard), but because I lost some time ping-ponging evidence related questions with RapidVisa - I have sent my package ultimately last Friday: August 5th, 2022 via USPS . It got delivered to USCIS Elgin Lockbox box today at 6 am , no text/email yet (we did file with G-1145 form) Hope this info helps and I will share updates. Bona Fide evidence.pdf i751-Filing-Instructions.pdf