Girona40

It isn't unusual for the AOS interview to take place and the Green Card be issued as soon as the biometrics are done.

When you had your fingerprints done, when the officer sent you down to the ASC, did they take your photograph too? I think you will find that full biometrics includes a photo. If the officer only sent you for fingerprints, the photo may be what they are waiting on.

Sorry that you have had to go back so many times, but you are so close now. As soon as they get your full biometrics done the card will be with you really soon.

I guess it is the same as with any government office - sometimes you get people who are really helpful, other times you get a**holes!

I would get back down there and ask to speak to the same person - put them right on what is required and tell them that you expect to have their full attention this time and for them to refrain from taking calls on a cellphone! If he does the same again, just sit there, patiently, but smile as you tell him that when he has finished his call you would like to speak with his supervisor!

Kaydee, I understand what you are saying, but you are wrong in several comments you make in your post. I don't think people who have commented on this subject are being hypocritical at all. If you read some of their timelines and what they have been through, so far, with USCIS you may understand why they don't agree with anyone being given amnesty for breaking the law, when they have abided by them and been treated so badly. Nobody has a problem with immigration being tough, but what we all want is for it to be fair.

The board hasn't "morphed" into anything. This board is about us - people going through the journey of immigration, visa applications, interviews, fees, petitions, treatment by the USCIS, denials, approvals, etc. - and we are merely commenting on how this effects us, or how we feel about it.

"Well, nobody is asking us to pay back taxes, to leave the country for "a short time" and then re-enter and I'm sure that the hoops these illegals would need to jump through to acquire a green card would make our plight seem like a trip to Disneyland."

You are right there - nobody is asking me to pay back taxes - I have paid them on time since I got here and we have had to pay nearly $60,000 when recently filing our taxes, because we had to cash in various things to pay the attorney's fees to fight the injustice we are suffering at the hands of the USCIS. No, they are not asking us to leave for a "short time" - they are telling us that they want to deport my son, permanently, when he has broken no law!

We have been "jumping through hoops" for FOUR YEARS now to get a Green Card for my son, by taking the legal route and it certainly hasn't been Disneyland for us!!

"To take this hysterical approach of just making them all felons is certainly impractical, as well as un-american.

We just don't treat people that way in this country, period."

It is impractical to make them all felons - IMO they should be returned to their homeland and whoever is employing them should be punished. Don't fool yourself that Americans' don't treat people that way - America has led me to believe I am legally entitled to be here with my family. Then they tell me that my son is to be torn from this family and returned to his homeland - a place where he has nothing now, because I have invested every penny I had in this country. Thanks to what the USCIS is doing to this family, my son would have nothing, no home, no job, no family, nothing at all if he were to be returned. This wasn't something we did, or chose to do, it was something the US Government did to us, by misleading us, by telling us that if we paid this fee, if we filed this form, if we attended this interview, we were entitled to remain here. Then, in the next breath, they tell us "Just kidding! You aren't allowed to stay after all and have to go home with nothing!"

I don't feel sorry for people that come here illegally. My sympathies lie with those that do it legally and still get treated like this.

This Bill is a joke and will not solve anything. They need to invest more money in ICE and DHD in order to enforce the laws that stand at the moment and employ more caseworkers within the USCIS to deal with the horrendous backlogs of legal applications. I think fines should be imposed on employers of illegal immigrants and that money should go towards returning them to their home countries.

In the meantime I have to continue to fight for the rights of this family, and my USC husband to keep his family together in his home country. If they deport my son my husband has no choice but to leave the country of his birth to keep his family together. Now, you go figure why I have no sympathy for people that break the law, continually, and get a break like this from the US Government.

This bill is a joke, all carrot and no stick. Fortunately, the House bill is a lot tougher and hopefully they won't get rolled when they go to conference.

let's hope so....

Let's do more than hope. Let's tell our US Reps that we will not re-elect to Congress those that swore to uphold the law of the land to then turn around and reward those who break it. And let's get our friends and families to do the same. There may be 11 million illegals. But there are many multiples of that in law-abiding, hard-working Americans that are eligible to vote.

Maybe the people still have a voice if they just tried and spoke up.

what if we come up with a standard letter that we can fill in our names and addresses to be able to send to senators/congressmen/the president? there are a lot of ppl that might put their name in and print one out, but not actually compose a letter themselves... i know i have a lot of family in another state that could send to their representatives, but they wouldnt begin to know what to say... we have a big membership here, yes? and all those folks have family and friends that might back them up, yes? it could be a nice number of folks that would oppose... maybe even enough to make a bit of difference and get some of the representatives that are on the fence to go against this bill

I was surprised at how many people I know agreed with me and don't want this Bill passed. I drafted a short letter to my senator and I sent it to everyone in my address book. Every single one of them forwarded it on to their senator's and congressmen and added their signatures. I am sure the more our representatives hear from law-abiding residents of the US, the more notice they may take.

I do think this will effect those doing it legally - the system stinks, yes, but it is going to be even worse with this mess to sort out. How long do you think it is going to take to process K-1's or K-3's AND 11 million applications by illegal immigrants, with the same number of caseworkers? Do the math and tell me this isn't going to effect processing times.

could you post that draft here? thats what i am asking... that we have a letter or something here that ppl have access to... or better yet, a few different letters that say basically the same thing...

Well, this is what my friends sent to their senators and congressmen. I am sure there are people at VJ that will not agree, but for what it's worth all my friends agreed and used this letter to send to their representatives.

"I oppose the Guest Worker Program and Earned Citizenship Bills that are being circulated in Congress at the present time.

I find it incomprehensible that people that entered without inspection, break laws on a continuing basis, do not pay taxes, are a burden to taxpayers, are being considered for immigration benefits whereas legal immigrants struggle with the current laws being applied correctly.

I can only see one thing resulting from such a Bill being passed, further incentive to enter the US illegally.

A family in West Virginia, who are friends of mine, are faced with their son being deported because the USCIS are not applying the rules correctly. What is being done to help them? A US citizen would be forced to leave the country of his birth to keep his family together - yet they did everything LEGALLY.

Please think carefully before you vote for something that has the potential to INCREASE illegal immigration into this country and deter those doing it legally from doing so. There are enough loopholes as it is now in the Immigration system that need closing, before offering benefits to people that break the law."

Wishing you so much happiness in the UK. Good Luck, Safe Trip!

This bill is a joke, all carrot and no stick. Fortunately, the House bill is a lot tougher and hopefully they won't get rolled when they go to conference.

let's hope so....

Let's do more than hope. Let's tell our US Reps that we will not re-elect to Congress those that swore to uphold the law of the land to then turn around and reward those who break it. And let's get our friends and families to do the same. There may be 11 million illegals. But there are many multiples of that in law-abiding, hard-working Americans that are eligible to vote.

Maybe the people still have a voice if they just tried and spoke up.

what if we come up with a standard letter that we can fill in our names and addresses to be able to send to senators/congressmen/the president? there are a lot of ppl that might put their name in and print one out, but not actually compose a letter themselves... i know i have a lot of family in another state that could send to their representatives, but they wouldnt begin to know what to say... we have a big membership here, yes? and all those folks have family and friends that might back them up, yes? it could be a nice number of folks that would oppose... maybe even enough to make a bit of difference and get some of the representatives that are on the fence to go against this bill

I was surprised at how many people I know agreed with me and don't want this Bill passed. I drafted a short letter to my senator and I sent it to everyone in my address book. Every single one of them forwarded it on to their senator's and congressmen and added their signatures. I am sure the more our representatives hear from law-abiding residents of the US, the more notice they may take.

I do think this will effect those doing it legally - the system stinks, yes, but it is going to be even worse with this mess to sort out. How long do you think it is going to take to process K-1's or K-3's AND 11 million applications by illegal immigrants, with the same number of caseworkers? Do the math and tell me this isn't going to effect processing times.

Has anyone brought over the dependent child later with the K-2 visa ?????

Does the child need to be present with the parent at the initial interview or can another interview be set up with the parent and the child ???? What am I asking is will the K-1 visa be issued at the first interview to the finace and then the K-2 issued another time for the child ???

Good luck to all

Brad

No, the child does not need to be present at the K-1's interview. They do need to be listed on the I-129F as a child of the K-1 though. They also need to be issued their K-2 and enter the US within one year of the K-1 applicant being issued their visa.

The "follow to join" child will have a totally seperate application, although based on the K-1 petition from which they derive status.

So, yes, the K-1 would be issued for the parent and the K-2 could be applied and received later, so long as it is within a year of the K-1 getting theirs.

Washington TImes

You know what upsets me? My son entered "legally" and he is being threatened with deportation. 11 million enter "illegally" and they are offered citizenship!

As you know I entered legally as a K1. Now I'm also being threatened with deportation too. My only "crime" was to end up married to an abusive man.

Shona

I truly feel for you, Shona, believe me I do. As I posted the above I was thinking of you and many others that are threatened with deportation when they have done nothing wrong. Nothing!

It seems that the voice of the illegals is being heard, loud and clear. I see demonstrations, supporting the new Bill, reported on the News. I don't see any legal immigrants demonstrating or reports in the media about the unfairness of the system and the situations they find themselves in. I haven't seen one report on the t.v. about the obstacles put in the way of legal aliens, or the problems this Bill is going to cause them.

The backlogs and processing delays are bad enough now. What is it going to be like when they have another 11 million applications to process? Chaos!

Washington TImes

You know what upsets me? My son entered "legally" and he is being threatened with deportation. 11 million enter "illegally" and they are offered citizenship!

You should contact your Congressional Reps and the freaken President and demand an explanation.

Maybe call your local newspaper or TV station?

We have spent years dealing with our Congressmen and women, senators, ombudsman, attorneys and yes, I have even written to the President who just forwards the letter on to the Department of Homeland Security - viscious circle. Nobody seems to be able to answer the simplest question on this.

I have written to the Washington Post, my husband to various other newspapers, nobody wants to know.

Seems that illegals have more of the public's sympathy than those doing it legally!

Washington TImes

You know what upsets me? My son entered "legally" and he is being threatened with deportation. 11 million enter "illegally" and they are offered citizenship!

When I worked at a US Navy base everyone was required to show an official "pass" to get through the gate. Even though the armed guards on the gate knew my face, and exactly what department I worked in, if I forgot my "pass" I was told I had to "sign in" as a visitor, be escorted by someone with a "pass" and was not allowed into secure areas that my "pass" would normally allow me into. Having forgotten my "pass" once, I didn't do it again. Isn't this what security is supposed to be about? She needs to understand that whether people know her face or not, if she isn't wearing the pin, or whatever they have to prove they are who they are, she should expect to be stopped and questioned.

Best of luck, Shona. I hope you find so much more happiness in your new home and that everything sorts itself out for you.

Hugs

Glenys

Pauline, get yourself an INFOPASS appointment and go ask them what is going on.

My daughter came with me, I was on a K-1 and she on a K-2. We had major problems waiting for her FBI name clearance - it took nearly a year according to the USCIS, the FBI actualy sent it within a few days! Anyway, I have since been told that K-2 files stay with the K-1 file, since they derive benefit from the K-1. Your daughter's interview should have been the same day as yours. Only if the child "follows to join" at a later date is their interview later.

If you have received nothing on your daughter's case - don't let it just sit there. There can be major problems for K-2's if they reach certain ages, and in some cases it is the "luck of the draw" if you get through without problems. There is a case at the moment of an 18 year old being refused AOS because the USCIS are not interpreting the rules correctly. Don't leave it - get onto them and find out what they are doing on your daughter's file.

I am thrilled that Wes has a job now. It sounds like the kind of job I would love! Tell him, I envy him!

Not really, Shari. It's been pretty quiet here. Got the "Argument" and a copy of the "Motion to Reconsider" from the attorney. It has now gone to the DC office and, presumably, the AAO.

Whilst the Argument was a good one - putting into a legal document all the things we have been saying to the USCIS - it would have been nice if we had actually seen a draft of the document before it went. The attorney, in several places, put my new last name instead of my son's last name, technically getting his name wrong! I just hope the USCIS can make it out.

I'll let you all know just as soon as we hear anything, but I think it may be several months.

Shona, I recall reading part of your story as you were going through that nightmare. You really have had the most horrendous experience and it is totally ridiculous, in my mind, that you are the one having to fight now to keep yourself and your son here. It is a shame that there seems to be no repercussions for your husband in all this. Sorry, but I really think that there should be some law that at least makes him responsible for you, financially, until you can return to work.

It is situations like yours that show that the whole immigration "system" is messed up! There are people like yourself and my son, who have followed all the rules, and are the ones that are denied and threatened with removal proceedings and yet there are those that deliberately break the rules, knowing that they will be forgiven doing so at a later date. I just don't feel it is right.

I truly hope that you can get through your present situation and that you and your son are allowed to stay. It isn't right that you give up everything at home to come here and marry someone you love, only to find that they are not who you thought they were at all, and you are the one that loses out both emotionally and financially.

Just know, Shona, that nobody here is going to blame you for your overstay. What else could you do? Let's hope that the IJ sees it the same way too and that you soon have some sense of security for yourself and your boy.

Hugs

Glenys

Rebecca, I have only just seen your post and just wanted to say, having two 17 year olds and a 24 year old, that they will be happy with whatever decision you and Wes make, because there are more important things than the style of roof over your head. There is the warmth of a loving, humorous, caring, understanding family. I am sure if your son has learned anything from you it will be just that.

My daughter wasn't sure about moving from England to the US, but she knew that whatever happened I would only ever want her to be happy and would ensure that she was. We went through a few teary days, but when we talk about it now she tells me that it was all for the best and she loves where we are now and how her life has changed for the better.

There is nothing worse than a Mom stressed and worried over financial matters. If that stress can be taken away from you - go ahead and do it. It will benefit everyone in the end.

I don't know about the "family" house though. I have a friend that just moved into his deceased grandmother's house and the entire family seems to feel they have a say in everything that now goes on in the house - it would drive me crazy! I don't know your family, obviously, but I just have a gut feeling this would be risky.

All a bit long-winded, that's me! I guess what I am trying to say is that you have taught your son to be loving and respectful and to know that you would never do anything to intentionally hurt him. This is something that you should not feel guilty about - you are a good Mom and doing it for all the right reasons.

As for your son going to college - there are scholarships that he may well get or he may be able to get financing himself when the time comes. My son's girlfriend is paying off her college loan (which was a horrendous amount, I might add) but it never occured to her that her parents should pay for her college because they simply couldn't afford it. She has never blamed them for that. And..........she didn't live with them for 4 years while she was taking her degree either.

I think you are right to think about it for a while. You have also "planted the seed" now in his mind and I am sure, over the following weeks, you will see him warm to the idea and see that it makes sense.

Good Luck!

Hugs

Glenys

You are meant to submit an AR-11 whenever you change address. You also have to phone the information line and tell them. Well, we filed several AR-11's before they actually got the information on our file! It seemed that they lost every one we sent in and the information line didn't update anything relating to our change of address either. Only by making an INFOPASS appointment and taking the AR-11 to the District Office and insisting that they make the necessary changes on the computer, while we stood there, did our address actually get changed!!

I would submit an AR-11 now and put the correct dates you moved etc. They probably won't even question it.

Myself and my daughter came in on round-trip tickets. They were cheaper than one-way and as far as immigration is concerned they didn't want to see my ticket when I entered, just my visa. If you have a ticket to return they aren't bothered - it refers to you leaving the US and immigration couldn't give a damn about that.

how long it will take to adjust my status?

what AOS mean?

And how's that mean?

In my 1-94 it tells that i should leave the US on 19th of April but it says in fiance('e) visa which is expires on July 2006. So what it means?

If you entered on a fiance visa - you are required to marry the original petitioner within 90 days of entry to the US and then you have to file an I-485 with the USCIS (and pay the fee) to adjust your status to become a "Legal Permanent Resident" so that you can stay.

Well, if you don't condone it we all better stop

You can continue to mock away to your heart's content, if that's what makes you happy. I am just saying that I don't condone it and I have the right to say so.

I get so upset when I see this kind of thing. Twisting the laws of Islam - mocking it. It's no wonder so many people believe Islam has the most ridiculous rules. If they only studied it a bit before coming to their biased conclusions perhaps there would be a little more harmony in this world.

welll.. if Abdul Crazy didn't twist the laws to start with.. I'd think people wouldn't mock the laws either..

That law is begging for some comedy and good old fashioned mocking.

It is never acceptable, IMO, to mock somebody elses' beliefs or faith or to make a particular faith, including it's laws, an excuse for your own comical amusement.

Why not??? That makes for some good material!

How would your fiancee feel if people mocked the laws, faith and beliefs of Peruvians? If they picked on her religion time and time again? Mockery is hurtful and I don't condone it.

Char, I did read your post from start to finish and can sympathise with you totally. Read "my story" under my profile and you will see what I mean. We are lucky enough to be together as a family, but have had the threat of my son being deported hanging over our heads for years. I cannot imagine how frustrated, angry and upset this whole process has made you.

We too have stopped talking to people about immigration - I am sure our friends are bored to death by it all because they just don't understand half of what we are telling them anyway. They think that their government can't possibly be letting this happen to innocent immigrants! Yeah right!

We had problems with my daughter's FBI checks - way back - and it turned out that the FBI had sent them back to the USCIS long ago. They are all done electronically and it wasn't difficult to get another copy of the results sent through. Vermont is the office we deal with and they were extremely helpful, but I really think it depends on which caseworker you get and if you can get them on your side.

I would, seriously, send a fax to this number at Vermont. 802-527-4816/4864 (Send it to both numbers because one of them works and the other does not and I can't remember which!!) Mark it for the attention of Mr. Todd Reader, who is the ACD for Adjudications. Outline, as briefly as you can, how long you have been waiting for adjudication of your case and that it is not acceptable that it should be taking this long. Give a phone number where he should contact you and ask that someone call to discuss the FBI check, and it's whereabouts, with you. This is what we did and we had a wonderful officer from Vermont call and help us. She was really helpful. Oh, and the reason it takes so long to get a document from the mailroom in VSC to the officer concerned is, from what she told me, because THEY have to go and collect documents themselves. They are not delivered to their desks. So, you get a lazy SOB that can't go and collect stuff for a week, that's what the "service" you get!

I hope this helps and I hope tht you get this sorted soon. I can't imagine what it must be like being separated for that length of time, due to no fault of your own. You have been patient, far more than most people in your situation would be and I commend you for that.

If ever you want to get the press involved - let me know - I am considering it myself, especially in the light of the compensations this government want to make for illegal immigrants. It really isn't fair that those doing things legally, by the book and spending a small fortune trying to get through the system.

Good Luck.

The divorce of every husband is effective if he be of a

sound understanding and of mature age; but that of a boy,

or a lunatic ... or one talking in his sleep, is not effective.

Definition from Dictionary of Islam

Unfortunately, the western view on this subject is tainted by reports like this that are just not correct. The "I divorce you, I divorce you, I dicorce you" thing is no different to our "File the petition, grant the decree-nisi, grant the decree absolute". There are spaces of time in between each declaration of "I divorce you" that gives you time to change your mind - just as in our laws.

I get so upset when I see this kind of thing. Twisting the laws of Islam - mocking it. It's no wonder so many people believe Islam has the most ridiculous rules. If they only studied it a bit before coming to their biased conclusions perhaps there would be a little more harmony in this world.

welll.. if Abdul Crazy didn't twist the laws to start with.. I'd think people wouldn't mock the laws either..

That law is begging for some comedy and good old fashioned mocking.

It is never acceptable, IMO, to mock somebody elses' beliefs or faith or to make a particular faith, including it's laws, an excuse for your own comical amusement.

The divorce of every husband is effective if he be of a

sound understanding and of mature age; but that of a boy,

or a lunatic ... or one talking in his sleep, is not effective.

Definition from Dictionary of Islam

Unfortunately, the western view on this subject is tainted by reports like this that are just not correct. The "I divorce you, I divorce you, I dicorce you" thing is no different to our "File the petition, grant the decree-nisi, grant the decree absolute". There are spaces of time in between each declaration of "I divorce you" that gives you time to change your mind - just as in our laws.

I get so upset when I see this kind of thing. Twisting the laws of Islam - mocking it. It's no wonder so many people believe Islam has the most ridiculous rules. If they only studied it a bit before coming to their biased conclusions perhaps there would be a little more harmony in this world.