Liam and Sam

We finally received the GC yesterday. Very snazzy, lol. Good luck to everyone waiting on theirs!!!

Just got our approval letter in the mail today! Greencard should be on its way soon. Woo hoo!! It says the Date of decision was 6/24/11.

Updating our bio date

California Service Center (28 applicants, 1 approved)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

ENHJØRNINGEN.......01/04/11..........01/06/11.......02/01/11........02/10/11....

JEROENANDMICHELLE..01/05/11..........01/10/11.......02/11/11........--/--/11....

VICMO..............01/05/11..........01/07/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

BAYOJONA3231.......01/05/11..........01/13/11.......02/17/11........--/--/11....

YASS...............01/05/11..........01/15/11.......01/31/11........--/--/11....

PSYCHOLADY.........01/07/11..........01/10/11.......02/07/11........--/--/11....

KAYLE..............01/08/11..........01/10/11.......03/03/11........--/--/11....

CAL_FILER1.........01/08/11..........01/10/11.......03/03/11........--/--/11....

CASSI9879..........01/08/11..........01/14/11.......02/28/11........--/--/11....

MRS D..............01/11/11..........01/12/11.......02/07/11........--/--/11....

MELUSINE...........01/11/11..........01/13/11.......02/24/11........--/--/11....

TANDB4EVER.........01/11/11..........01/12/11.......02/18/11........--/--/11....

DEVANJ.............01/12/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

MIDICAT............01/14/11..........01/18/11.......02/28/11........--/--/11....

LUCIANSGIRL........01/14/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

MEGANSH............01/16/11..........01/18/11.......02/25/11........--/--/11....

EARP...............01/17/11..........01/18/11.......02/25/11........--/--/11....

RYANDGRACEY........01/18/11..........01/20/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

FARYAN.............01/18/11..........01/20/11.......02/28/11........--/--/11....

THEATEAM...........01/18/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

BLUE123............01/18/11..........01/24/11.......03/04/11........--/--/11....

METINIL............01/19/11..........01/21/11.......03/07/11........--/--/11....

JMOSBORN...........01/20/11..........01/24/11.......02/28/11........--/--/11....

ALEX AND ANIA......01/21/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

NOEL_JAS...........01/22/11..........01/24/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

MARYNEV............01/24/11..........01/27/11.......03/04/11........--/--/11....

GLADZ..............01/25/11..........01/31/11.......03/04/11........--/--/11....

MARRYME............01/26/11..........01/27/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

Vermont Service Center (30 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

MADELYNE...........12/29/10..........01/03/11.......02/03/11........--/--/11....

SMASHROX...........12/31/11..........01/07/11.......02/08/11........--/--/11....

NICKANGEL2008......01/03/11..........01/05/11.......02/14/11........--/--/11....

PETERSONS..........01/03/11..........01/05/11.......02/03/11........--/--/11....

SUSIELUVSPAUL......01/03/11..........01/06/11.......02/14/11........--/--/11....

NAVIOMELO..........01/03/11..........01/06/11.......02/04/11........--/--/11.... (Late Bio 2/07 due to a snow closure)

JILLA..............01/04/11..........01/07/11.......02/14/11........--/--/11....

MAEVE..............01/04/11..........01/10/11.......02/14/11........--/--/11....

GERRY AND DEBBIE...01/04/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

LIAM AND SAM.......01/05/11..........01/07/11.......03/09/11........--/--/11....

SMOKE..............01/05/11..........01/10/11.......02/04/11........--/--/11....

HONEYBADGER........01/05/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

JESS&ANDREW........01/05/11..........01/??/11.......02/14/11........--/--/11....

MICHELLEMILITZA....01/08/11..........01/13/11.......02/11/11........--/--/11....

MATH MAN...........01/08/11..........01/11/11.......02/08/11........--/--/11....

OJAY...............01/08/11..........01/11/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

WAITHATTER.........01/10/11..........01/14/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

FRANCIS ROHAN......01/10/11..........01/14/11.......02/25/11........--/--/11....

NELLY228...........01/10/11..........01/14/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

M.A.C..............01/11/11..........01/??/11.......02/07/11........--/--/11....

AMAN...............01/13/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

TASHIDELEK.........01/18/11..........01/19/11.......02/18/11........--/--/11....

ISA5521............01/18/11..........01/24/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

SERTINA............01/19/11..........01/25/11.......02/24/11........--/--/11....

ITZY...............01/22/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

TBONETX............01/24/11..........01/27/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

JADE_ARB...........01/25/11..........01/27/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

TRILLIUM13.........01/26/11..........01/31/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

PSIPREZ............01/28/11..........02/01/11.......03/08/11........--/--/11....

THEMONSIS..........01/28/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly

* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

Forgive the ignorant question, but does the timing of the biometric appt influence the overall length of the process? We submitted in late November and have yet to get the letter with a biometrics appt. Does this mean it is likely to go beyond the 3-4 month period??

I would suggest you call USCIS. You are over the 30 day window to receive your biometrics letter.

We had to call the other night and they sent an inquiry to our local office to find out what the hold up is since we are over the 30 day mark (maybe won't do much but at least I can pester them into thinking about our file!!)

I notice your local office is Houston. We are also Houston and it's been over a month since our NOA1. Is your closest office the one on 290? I guess they are over-booked and can't take any more just yet.

Yep, our office is the one right off of 290. I called USCIS and they said they would contact the local office and ask them what the status is. I'm getting worried because Liam is going out of the country in April and I wanted to get the biometrics done before that... if nothing else, maybe I will just show up without an appointment. LOL

Thanks everyone!! I just called and they acknowledged I was over the 30 day timeframe - she put in a request to the local Houston office to send us our info. She said I should have something 30 days.... waiting some more.

Hi guys,

I just called USCIS Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, inquiring about my biometric appointment (NOA1 dated 1/10/2011). The lady said it is usually 30 days, or I have to call them again next week. So they did scheduled an appointment last Friday and all she could say is my appointment would be in March.

Hopefully, the notice will come in the mail this week.

Can you tell me how you ended up speaking with someone? When I entered in our case number the automated service said that my case could not be located.... Please tell me this is normal... It's been over 30 days since our NOA1 date.

Thank you very much for that confirmation.

That is what I understand too.

Phew I seem to have became a Tax expert in a few days. I guess it's kinda easy after dealing with USCIS.

I will have to do some calculation when I get my husband's W2 but I'm pretty sure that for us it will be better to file separatly, at least for this year.

Also note - you are allowed a personal exemption for your spouse if you file married/separate and the non-resident meets certain conditions: a) no income for US purposes b) cannot be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's tax return. The exemption definitely helps out if you're not filing joint.

The first year I did our taxes, we filed married/separate and I included a note that said "My spouse, <name>, a non-resident alien, had no income for US purposes in <year> and cannot be claimed as a dependent on another taxpayer's tax return. Accordingly, I am allowed a personal exemption for my spouse." Signed with my name and SSN For us it just worked out better; their tax year is also different so it was just too complicated to try and let the US tax his worldwide income when he'd only been in the USA for 3 months and hadn't been working. And not to mention he'd had just finished paying taxes in Australia that July.

Updating - just received our NOA!

California Service Center (8 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

JEROENANDMICHELLE..01/05/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

VICMO..............01/05/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

BAYOJONA3231.......01/05/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

YASS...............01/05/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

KAYLE..............01/08/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

CASSI9879..........01/08/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

MRS D..............01/11/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

TANDB4EVER.........01/12/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

Vermont Service Center (17 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

MADELYNE...........12/29/10..........01/03/11.......02/03/11........--/--/11....

SMASHROX...........12/31/11..........01/07/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

NICKANGEL2008......01/03/11..........01/05/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

PETERSONS..........01/03/11..........01/05/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

SUSIELUVSPAUL......01/03/11..........01/06/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

NAVIOMELO..........01/04/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

JILLA..............01/04/11..........01/07/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

GERRY AND DEBBIE...01/04/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

LIAM AND SAM.......01/05/11..........01/07/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

SMOKE..............01/05/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

HONEYBADGER........01/05/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

MICHELLEMILITZA....01/08/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

MATH MAN...........01/08/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

OJAY...............01/08/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

TASHIDELEK.........01/10/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

WAITHATTER.........01/10/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

FRANCIS ROHAN......01/10/11..........--/--/11.......--/--/11........--/--/11....

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly

* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

My check got cashed, I was never so excited to see a check cashed before!!

Our check was cashed yesterday. Woo hoo this means that we made it through the preliminary quality check Now for the waiting... no NOA yet..

I did color photos, but if you can't print in color and your black and whites are clear then it shouldn't matter. You know...aren't all so gray you can't tell who's the husband and who's the puppy. LOL

Your NOAs etc will come to the address you put on the form. I'm still waiting on the first NOA and we have a new address, so I'm certainly hoping they get it right. The check has been cashed, so I guess I'll know before long.

We have a new address in Houston too so I'm wondering if they'll mail the NOA1 to the right place... crossing my fingers!!

Our package was signed for - just waiting on the check to be cashed now.

Thanks everyone. I did come across the sample cover letter recently, and I see how they recommend outlining the various evidence that I will be submitting, so that is helpful. I feel the closer I get to sending the packet, the more questions we have! I filled out the i-751 few weeks ago, but now see that it states "expires 12/31/2010" but when I visit the USCIS website, I do not see an updated form. Am I missing something?

Also, on the example cover letter I came across on VisaJourney, it states, "(K-1 VISA) Name of Immigrant K-1 spouse, A#xxx-yyy-zzz". This line is a bit confusing to me. Obviously it is asking for the name of the immigrant applying but I don't understand if I am to write my husband's name (the immigrant), then "KI", then my name??? Sorry for what seems like a silly question.

Thanks!!

I went ahead and used the form that they have available despite the expiration date. It's not our fault if they don't update the web site with the next version. I just put "(K-1 VISA) Liam Peters and then his A number". But I put my signature line at the bottom of the cover letter and put "US Citizen Spouse". I'm sure they get the idea from all of the documents and the application as well.

We mailed our packet today. Crossing my fingers it doesn't get sent back - tomorrow is the first day of our 90 day window...

I am hoping to send off our packet this week. Just assemblying everything and we should be good to go. I was wondering if everyone just does a cover sheet or is an outline explaining the various documents and pictures required as well? I didn't see anything about this in the assembly instructions. Not sure if pictures need to be dated, and a front page outline of all the evidence is required?

We'll be including a cover sheet with ours that covers what the contents are and any additional note about the item. I put general dates on our photos i.e. "January 2010" that sort of thing.

As far as I have read, the NOA1 says that you are allowed to travel while the case is pending. "Your alien card is extended one year employment & travel authorized."

Just make sure to have the letter with you when you enter back into the USA along with your current Green Card....

We will be filing in early January as well - good thing I checked a few days ago, for some reason I thought it wasn't until Feb!!

My permanent resident card arrived today!

It came in a completely plain envelope instead of the one with the USCIS markings. I guess they must get stolen in the mail even though they have the person's picture and fingerprint on them.

~ Catherine

Feb filers are on a roll!!!

Missing the Dilmah tea too.

That was the first thing I had to find when I got here... I love Dilmah, and nothing else (that I know of) compares to it so I had to find it. None of the supermarkets have any of it, but Amazon of all places sells Dilmah for a pretty reasonable price.

I ordered about 12 months worth so that I don't have to worry about running out just yet

On a more on-topic note, I got the email saying my "approval notice" has been sent. I can't believe how quickly the USCIS have processed this one. I was expecting another 12 months of torture and instead I only had to endure 2 months

Couldn't have done it without all the help from everyone here on VJ so thanks all

Congrats!!!!

Yes.

For the alien: AR-11 Change of Address

For the sponsor: I-865

Thank you!!

We are hoping to move to Austin, TX as soon as possible. Liam has received his greencard already so I don't expect anything in the mail from USCIS again until two years from now when filing for removal of conditions. Do we need to notify USCIS once we have our new address in Austin?

Hello all,

We applied for adjustment of status and EAD at the end of January with receipt dates of February 2nd. We completed biometrics some time ago, but our numbers have never become searchable in the online case status site. I didn't worry about that too much because others said it had happened to them, but according to the Visa Journey timelines almost everyone with a receipt number around out time received work authorization in late March or the first week of April and we hadn't heard anything so I called USCIS today. The woman on the phone said that she cannot tell us anything about the case because our numbers are not even in the database and that we have to wait up to 45 more days for further information on the case!

My husband has work lined up for the summer and we already have an apartment lease signed in the job location and have subleased our own place under the assumption that he would be able to work by June - Should I be panicked here? Is there any other route for finding out what is going on?

Thanks for any help or experiences you can share,

Jillian

Ask to speak with an immigration officer - the people who answer the phone don't have access to your details so they're going to give you the speech about waiting more. Ask to speak with someone else and you should be transferred to someone who can actually view your case in the system and give you some info. We found out that our EAD was approved by calling.

Our case was transferred to the CSC on March 5th and we just got the green card in the mail today with no interview. I am in shock how quickly our case was processed. It seems like they approved the EAD/AP/AOS all in one go - maybe we're the lucky end of a big mistake!

Liam just phoned and said that his Permanent Resident Card just arrived in the mail and the application has been approved. I am in shock - I have to see it to believe it I think. I was definitely expecting a few more months of processing.

Hang in there everyone!!!

Received our Authorization for Parole today in the mail! It says date issued was 4/6/09

we got an rfe for "federal income tax information" because we didn't send in the tax transcripts with the w2 for the most recent year... what did we do wrong? did anyone else encounter this??

Which taxes did you send in? 2007 or 2008? I think they want to see your tax return (plus accompanying W2's) for 2008 - the ones that are due tomorrow..

I did my taxes early and so I just photocopied the 2008 ones and submitted those.

we sent w2 for 2008 only and i stupidly didn't take a photocopy of it... i just called them and he said "sometimes" they request to see the forms again, so basically they lost it. now we have to apply for the transcripts which weren't previoiusly available as we don't have the w2 anymore. we just called the place for transcripts and they aren't answering any calls due to the tax cut off on 15th and to call back after that... we are going on our honeymoon tomorrow, what a great start to it... i am livid.

Can you request another one from the employer? They might be able to print one and put it in the mail more quickly than getting transcripts.