CourtAndGrey

That's crazy! I know we have all had our frustrations with USCIS but I guess when you put it in perspective, they are doing the best they can with what they've got.

... I hope...

Same story about who had RFE no updates no mail nothing yet, i read some mid november files had their interview already

We are another RFE case that hasn't heard a dang thing. I am curious though... when I talked to USCIS about the RFE (which was for something we already sent), I was told it would not impact the EAD or AP. When I received the hard copy of the RFE it was only in reference to the AOS and even logging on to the USCIS site showed that the EAD was still active and pending.

Have any of you other RFE folks had the same experience? Did you actually get RFE'd for the EAD?

We got it!!! Valerie received her notice for the initial interview for her AOS. Our interview is February 24th!!! We were shocked to see it in our mailbox last night, because we haven't received any type of updates or touches on USCIS' website. But, we're not complaining!! Just another reason to celebrate the new year!! Yeah! Good luck to all those still waiting to hear anything. EAD is next!!! Hopefully it's right behind.

Hey hawkeye, good to hear from you again. Congrats to you and Valerie! Good luck on the EAD/AP. We're hoping to hear something soon too!

Happy New Year all!! May all your wishes come true!

I wonder when the first new K1 filers will start to post in this thread Let's make a bet.. I say: January 5th

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we all began here...

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! :dance:

Congratulations on all the new approvals and looking forward to a 2009 with ALL of our Green Cards approved!!!

Thanks for adding us to the spreadsheet Rosie. Congrats on your recent approvals!

Hello all!

I'm a little late in finding this thread, but thought I would chime in since we are October Filers as well. We had Biometrics a little over a month ago and are hoping for news soon! It's great to read all your updates and see progress for so many others with similar timelines.

I saw only yesterday that I got approved for my AP, but more important for my EAD!! I am so so happy!

YAY!!! Congrats Pam!!!

I just received my Employment Authorization Card! Tomorrow I'll go get a driver license! (I don't care about the work part, I just want my license right now ) Also, it's strange because I had a feeling I would receive it in the mail today. Maybe I'm psychic!

Wonderful news Cecile! Do you happen to have any feelings about our EAD? Be sure to let me know when you feel them coming on!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Wedding is tomorrow!

Yay Rachel! Beautiful pictures! A HUGE congrats on the wedding, hope all is wonderful down in Cali!

Congrats Cécile!!! You were approved very fast!!!

My AP was approved and I'm still waiting for EAD...

I also want to start driving so I can't wait to have my EAD!!

I also like to stay at home but not that much though... me, my dream is to have a very well paid part time job. I'm a morning person so I don't mind working in the morning and relax in the afternoon! That would be awsome!!

Good choice!

Congrats Cecile and Lucie! We are crossing our fingers for the EAD soon!!!! We are just a few days behind you so maybe we'll have a christmas miracle. Greivin really wants to work and the extra income would be so helpful. This part, for us, is critical.

Hopefully all who are waiting will hear something soon.

Thank you Cecile!

Yes I arrived here fine; very good flight, and I was so glad I booked a direct flight!

The apartment is really lovely and big enough for the two of us. It's been thoroughly cleaned and we bought new pillows and a duvet and sheets. The kitchen is as brand-new and it's going to be fun stocking it with cooking and baking equipment!

We also met with the minister for our wedding and he was absolutely delightful; he had the friendliest face.

YAY! Have fun with all the next steps! I love buying kitchen stuff!

Congrats Rachel! Have a great flight on Wednesday and welcome to the US!!!

:star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

Well for anyone who was following this, the RFE notice came and it was what I had dreaded. When we went for our interview at the Embassy in Costa Rica, they took Greivin's one and only copy of this Birth Certificate and never gave it back. Of course at the time, I wasn't thinking anything of it, I was just so focused on the approval. After the dust settled, I began thinking about that document, but just assumed it was in our Immigration packet that was sealed and in now in the hands of USCIS. Apparently it wasn't and now they need it.

After doing a substantial amount of research, we have determined that a BC can only be issued in the country of birth... not helpful. I have filed a request with the embassy asking them to search their file and if the BC is found, to forward it immediately to us. USCIS said this will be a major issue if it cannot be located. In the meantime, we are exploring the option of his mom or other family in CR going to the Registro Civil and requesting another one. The process to get it, authenticate it, and mail it is unfortunately extremely complex...

So, that's where we're at. If anyone has any suggestions, they would be oh, so appreciated. We'll see where this goes, hopefully soon.

About all those SSN's going so badly... I've been thinking and I could be wrong here but as far as I have seen does this thing only go wrong at people who already got married and already changed their names (if not all of them, then at least most of them).

I was wondering the same thing. Or maybe we just got very lucky. Greivin and I went in to the SS Office, filled out the form they had sitting on the table, took a number and waited. I had brought my entire bag full of binders and forms and envelopes and everything. They called us up and asked for Greivin's passport, and click, click, click, done! We got a letter printed out at that moment and the man said we'd get his card in the mail in a couple weeks.

It was a breeze! The card came later that week and no problems since.

It's horrible that things can't be streamlined to make this process easier for everyone. Maybe we just got lucky or maybe Washington just has their stuff together. Either way, we were thankful, and send our best wishes to everyone still battling the system.

GRRRR...

I was doing so good throughout this whole process, and I just found out something was missing from the I-485 packet and an RFE was sent a couple days ago. I'm crossing my fingers that since we are waiting for the biometrics anyway, our case won't really be held up...

Wishful thinking. Let's see what comes of this in the next few days.

ARGH!

Ok, once you get to that point (several months down the road, as far as I can tell), the CR embassy will get your packet from the NVC (National Visa Center) on the east coast. They will process it and let your husband know when Packet three is available to be picked up. (See my timeline for details on this). If they cannot get in touch with him via phone, they will mail it to whatever address is on file.

We had the same issue, so as soon as the embassy got our package, I was calling every day to see if it was ready for pickup. Once it was ready, I told them he would come and get it and not to mail it. They said no prob, and held it for him at the front door.

(When you get to that point, feel free to let us know, and Greivin can share details).

Hope that helps.

I am glad I could help and remember...Pura Vida!!!!

Congrats Heather!!! Have a great day tomorrow!

:star: :star:

Congats to all the good news here! No news from Blake? Well tomorrow is the big day for Levi and I! I'm so glad its finally here

YAY SUNNY AND GARETH!!!!!

You are both so deserving of this! Enjoy every single second of your time together! I'm so happy for you!

Aww thanks Cecile for posting for me that Gareth arrived safely

We are crazy busy as you all can imagine! Between shopping trips to get stuff Gareth wanted to get settled with, wedding stuff, regular ole errands, house hunting, and lovin' one does not have much time haha!

But he is here and I will try and update a bit more often and of course come back to post wedding photos

20 days until our wedding!!!!

Greivin and I hope to have a second house in Costa Rica. We want to be able to spend a month or two out of every summer down there. We know it's asking a lot from a job, but that would be in a perfect world.

Plus, for all those other months we are here, our friends can use the Costa Rica house for vacations! Anyone wanna make a reservation?

Hey friends,

I have some general questions that I'm sure can be answered in a guide or flowchart... but I can't seem to find one pertaining to after you get the NOA's for AOS/EAD/AP. If you have a link, feel free to respond with that so you don't have to take the time to answer my questions.

If not, here they are:

1) I have sent the packet, and received the three NOA's. At what point do cases get transfered to somewhere? I've seen posts about packets being transfered... is that from Chicago Lockbox to CSC/VSC? Will packets be sent to my local Seattle office? How does one find those dates?

2) How long does it usually take for your case to show up on USCIS Case Status checking site thing? I tried using the case numbers on our NOA1's. but nothing is coming up.

3) I see we will receive the appointment letter for our biometrics pretty soon. This is probably obvious, but just wanted to make sure... it will be just one appointment for all three AOS, EAD, and AP right? I assume we will need to go to our local Seattle office and do biometrics and one stone kills three birds right?

4) Lastly, has anyone heard of doing an EAD expedite in the case of financial hardship? We're fine waiting our turn for AP and AOS, but man we need that second income, and before the holidays would be WONDERFUL.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Congrats on all your updates Sunny! I've thought of you often. How many more sleeps now???

Hey all no pumpkin carving for me yet....dunno if we will this year although daughter been bugging me so we prob will once Gareth arrives.

His visa arrived today no problems so we are sooooo excited! 10 more sleeps!!!

Beautiful invites Rachel! Glad everything is shaping up for you two!

One more month for me now. The days are flying by!

I made my invitations, finally:

Happy Getting Married Day!!! Congrats you two!

Yepz, today was the day.. it is 10.20pm here as I am writing this, we came home about an hour ago and are updating friends and family as we speak (thats why I hop by here too ).

Hey friends! Sorry I've been M.I.A., life has been keeping me busy! As well as my NEW HUSBAND! Hope everyone is doing well. I tried to read through and catch up on all the updates! CONGRATS to everyone!

Just wanted to say to Cecile that our NOA1 is right behind yours for the AOS. I'll be keeping an eye on your timeline and will hopefully follow quickly.

Hope everyone is wonderful and is already or almost reunited with their loved ones!!

2 months? that's pretty long.

On another note, I received my NOA1s for the AOS today. A new waiting game started, but I'm not really waiting at this point. We are together, I like being a housewife, there's still some money on my bank account (not sure for how long though ), so really, I don't feel like I'm waiting for anything. Unless I can't get a driver license with my NOA1. Then yes, I'd be waiting impatiently!

Congrats on getting dates Sunny and WaitForever, great news!

Meanwhile here in Seattle, I AM GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW! I will enjoy the day then focus on the next round of papes grrrrr on Monday. Hope everyone else is doing well!

Wonderful news!!! CONGRATS TO YOU BOTH!!!

:star: :star:

Weeeee! So he called me at 2.14am (7.14 for him) to tell me he just got to the embassy. He was a bit scared about all the guys with big weapons walking around the area...lol...guess he's not used to seeing security guards like that.

Then, at 5.10 (10.10) he called again. He sounded a little worried & quiet...then said "Babe...I am coming to america! OH YEAH OH YEAH OH YEAH..."...here's my half sleepy self, being all "what? weeeee! ah hell you're really out of the embassy that quick?!". His appointment was at 9am. We were expecting him to be there for 2 hours, at least!

They just asked him 3 questions. Then, they said that all the papers were perfect, they couldn't ask for more. I gave myself a pat on the back, since I went through hell organizing that financial folder & obviously had thought the few missing things would screw everything up. ;p

They didn't ask for any proof of ongoing relationship.

When it came to the i-134 #######, the person wanted EVERYTHING. That should of taken quite a bit of load off his back. lol

So happy & tired! I'm going back to sleep. Will fill out my review thingie at some point.

Does the sponsor have to collect all the same finanical stuff for the 864 form? If so, then damn it, here we go again. D: haha

Oh Blake, I know I'm a few days late, but here's a huge CONGRATULATIONS to you and Olga. It warmed my heart to read this post. Congrats to you both and may you travel well and finally have some peace.

:star:

Approved

Olga's visa was approved and everything went smoothly (once we arrived) The previous posts about what to expect were very helpful (thank you Gary and Alla). They did not have even one question for us. Olga's paperwork was flawless thanks to this website and the people who contribute to it. In a little over two weeks Olga and my soon to be stepson will meet me at the airport in Kiev for the journey over. Finally!!!!!

Thank you to everyone for your support, we never would have made it through this process without your support.

Now to celebrate, Ukrainian style.....

Love to all, Blake & Olga

Sorry to hear about your hang ups Cecile. We were also expecting difficulties (being the K1 and all) but we were fortunate to slide through easily enough. I hope your mix up gets resolved soon and you can be on your way! Congrats on the wedding, I dont think I have said that yet.

And to Blake... GOOOOOOOOOOD LUCK with everything! I will send all the happy thoughts I can muster your way. I am so excited for your reunion and for everything it will involve. God speed and please keep us posted!

yeah really I was expecting problems at the SSA, but not THAT kind of problem ^^ what bothers me the most about it is that I can't do anything about it.

Sunny, that was my dress too!!!

Well, it was until they messed up the ordering. I ended up with another one that I like just as much, but how crazy is that! Great minds...

K everyone here is me in my dress....was just holding flower girl sash up mine will actually tie in a bow in back and hang down a bit.....