katraska78

Just an update: We are all back in the U.S.! My stepson's passport arrived at his apartment on June 10 (the Monday after his Wednesday interview). At the airport passport check in Bulgaria, we presented the notarized letter from his mother permitting him to immigrate to the U.S. and no problems there. We had a long layover in London, and when it is just my husband and me, we often go out of the airport, go into town to have lunch, walk around etc. But I started thinking *what if the UK has different requirements for transporting a minor internationally and our Bulgarian letter (translated, yes) wasn't enough ...* anyway, it just wasn't worth the risk for a few hours, so we hung out in the Heathrow "mall" waiting area the whole time. At SFO, the line was short for passport control, we were sent to the "back room" where we heard someone screaming about something (unfortunately couldn't make out exactly what - I think a journalist from the UK being told he had the wrong type of visa), then about 5-10 minutes later, stamped passport given back to us and we were on our way.

We realized once we were outside the airport that it was Father's Day and my husband had the best Father's Day gift EVER!!

We are going to try to apply for his passport today. I have read elsewhere that most officials don't understand this Child Citizenship Act process (even at the airport, the immigration guy was going on and on about his green card - which he is never going to receive since he is already a citizen now), so I will print the information, but I am still pretty sure we will have to go to the main passport office in San Francisco rather than be able to apply at our little post office.

We have only been home for one day, but so far so good. He has tried a burrito and tortilla chips and guacamole (all got thumbs up) and was appropriately horrified by my "soy green tea matcha latte" (green - and smells like grass). We took him for a Costco experience. We have lots of Bulgarian friends around so he has already been given the staples of survival (feta cheese, lutenitza/pepper spread, sausages, and of course tomatoes & cucumbers). I am still not clear what it is he eats regularly - a lot of white bread, that is for sure - so meals are mostly up to Dad for now.

Lots of sight-seeing in the future: San Francisco, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Muir Woods, the coast, etc. I'm not really sure how we are going to get any work done...

I am very lucky that my husband's son is VERY easy-going and really I feel like it has been way too easy so far. The only hard part is about his mother, brother, and grandmother, who are all heartbroken that he is gone. I just feel so sad for them, and so far we haven't been able to get any tourist visas approved. His brother, in medical school, is now very driven to find a way to work in the U.S. for next summer, since he aged out of the family visa category (well we COULD apply for him, pay the $420, wait ~7 years and if he decides to get married in that time, start over again for an even longer wait...) He will also try again for a tourist visa, which would be PERFECT if we can ever get it. He doesn't want to IMMIGRATE here, just visit his father and brother... different topic for a different sub-forum.

Anyway, THANK YOU all so much for the information, advice and support! I learned soooooooooooo much here.

Wow! Great news! So happy for you guys! <3

Hi guys! My husband petitioned my son on December the 7th, 2013. We received an approval notice on April the 19th. We do not have a case number yet, almost 2 months after our approval. I have called NVC numerous times just to be told the same: they don't have the case yet. I have emailed the research email about 6 times. No answer. I sent them the physical copy of our notice if approval to the address I was told to. No answer. I have called the USCIS the same amount of times as the NVC and I've been told the most absurd answers. They even told me I should wait 90 days before I call again. Last week we contacted our Senator and sent her the required form for her to intervene on our behalf, and we were told that that could take several weeks. Also, contacted our Congressman, and faxed the form, and we are going to call him tomorrow and see if he's got some answers for us. At this point we are beyond exhausted and disappointed on how poorly we are treated for a service that we pay a lot of money to get!!! It never ceases to amaze me how much of a toll this process has taken. I hope each and one of you -and me- the best of lucks, and that we may get our case numbers soon!

Congratulations! If it was me I would wait for RFE. If ou send it now it may confuse them and get lost. I can only imagine the amount of files on hand .... Etc. sometimes it is better to respond when asked instead of making it more of an issue.

But that's my opinion

Thank you! That makes perfect sense

I would also wait until they request it. But I highly doubt that they will request it.

Take it to your interview and they can make a copy and add it to your file.

Thank you! That's a great idea!

SUCCESS! My stepson got his visa. Kinda anti-climactic in the end I must say. I have terrible internet access in Bulgaria so here is the update finally.

I tried to go in to the interview. Actually we had checked the day before with the security guard about who could go in, and he said only whose name is on the letter - well oddly enough, it was only my name (as the Agent on the case, the letter was addressed to me) and the beneficiary. Nowhere did the petitioner's name appear. So when we got to the security window on the day of the interview, there were phone calls made, discussion in Bulgarian unfortunately and I got the boot but my husband was allowed to go in. I went back to where my husband's ex-wife/my stepson's mother and his brother were waiting. It didn't seem like they were in there that long, definitely less than an hour.

Apparently the only question they asked my stepson was if he was the name on the petition. The rest of the questions were for my husband: Why didn't you immigrate your son with you when you came in 2008? (Um, the kid has a mother and she would NEVER have agreed to that - it took us 4 years for her to even agree for him to be allowed to visit). How did you obtain your citizenship? (though marriage or otherwise? Odd question as we did his CR-1 through the same embassy, so of course they know). Where is your wife? (HA! your security guards wouldn't let her in.... He told them that I was outside the embassy with his son's mother and brother and they were impressed apparently).

That's all I remember for now. I sent in photos in plastic pages, I think 28 in all from birth until the day before the interview and I am not sure if they looked at them or not.

I will post again if they tell me anything else relevant but overall yeah, not so many questions asked of a child - of course these are the same folks who asked only two questions at my husband's CR-1 interview and they were both to me! But lest you think this is an easy embassy, my husband had the pleasure of witnessing lots of rejections for J-1 and B-2 visas. Lots of unhappy people in there.

Congrats to Lucy as well! Any news from Evoria?

Now for the real issues of bringing a child to the US. First step is actually leaving. My stepson's mother and grandmother are FREAKING OUT that he is leaving. I feel like this evil abductor.... I keep telling them that it is totally up to him if he stays full-time or not, as he will have an American passport... The mother has made me cry twice already, as seeing someone else cry always makes me cry! We aren't leaving for another 10 days, so it will be very interesting times around here...

I'm so happy for you!!! Finally the family together! many blessings and joy!

Hi guys!

So finally today I received my green card in the mail. As you know, I sent my N-400 package with the Approval Notice on the Removing of Conditions, and a copy of my expired provisional green card.

I want to avoid getting an RFE requesting the copy of the card I have just received. Shall I send them a copy of my card with a letter explaining my situation and asking them to add it to my file, or should I just wait 'till I receive an RFE, if I ever get one for that?

Thank you for your advise on this subject. I really want my process to go as smoothly as possible

Hey guys! Just dropping by to check up on you! Hope things start moving a little faster for those of you still waiting. Even though my approval was april 19, 2013, the status of my case wasn't updated on the USCIS website, until this morning, when I got around 6 text messages and four emails saying that the status online has been updated, and that the production of my card was ordered....that I should receive it...within the next 30 days (whatever)

I did applied for citizenship stating that I had not received my green card yet (after a month) and they accepted the file. I'm going in for my biometrics on the 13th. If my card hasn't arrived by then, I'll just take a copy of my approval notice and my expired green card, along with my driver's license and passport.

Be strong guys, the journey is almost over!!! Good luck!

I was dropping by to see how everyone is doing. I've been reading through and it seems everyone is moving right along. It brings back so many anxious feelings for me. I always hated when people were finally done and disappeared. (although I know everyone is busy and wants to go back to a normal life once this is over) but this was totally my outlet while I was going through the process so if anyone has any questions that I might can answer please let me know. Good luck to everyone!

Just an update our 3 yr old has adjusted so well. Better than I could have ever expected. She has learned so much English it amazes me. She speaks mostly to me in English and what she says in Spanish I figure out She still talks to her mom in Honduras about twice a week and she speaks to her half English/ half Spanish. My husband has to get on the phone and translate sometimes. Anyway she is our little blessing and we are so happy to have her home with us.

So happy for you! May God bless your family always! Thanks for sticking around, it's really nice to have someone who's gone through the process before to give us some hope and light on what's going on

Make sure you take your expired green card and a proof that your new green card is on the way (after renewing it) and you should be fine.

I will! Thank you!

Hello everyone!

I got my Bio Appointment Notice in the mail today. It's scheduled for 06/13/13. I have not yet received my Permanent Residence Green Card from USCIS, so I am going to try and take my expired green card, plus the original of the Approval Notice, plus a copy. I really hope I can pull it off. I will keep you posted. Please update the info on my appointment? Thank you so much!!!!

What date are you referring to here? Your check cashed date? You did say earlier it was 5/22. Is that incorrect?

Yes! You're right! I'm very sorry. Thanks for your help.

Updating!!

====================================

-- N-400: MAY 2013 APPLICATIONS --

====================================

===================================

USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox

===================================

UserName............|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|Priority.|Bio......|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice

JD.TH...............|05/01/13.|05/07/13.|05/02/13.|06/05/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|WASHINGTON, DC

LASTJOURNEY.........|05/01/13.|05/07/13.|05/02/13.|06/03/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|BOSTON, MA

TERRY J.............|05/01/13.|05/07/13.|05/02/13.|06/06/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|NEW YORK, NY

MERKIE..............|05/04/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|NEW YORK, NY

OMEGA25.............|05/08/13.|05/13/13.|05/09/13.|06/07/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|OAKLAND, FL

HAPPYKNAPPY.........|05/16/13.|05/23/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|TAMPA, FL

=============================

USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox

=============================

UserName............|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|Priority.|Bio......|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice

CBRNINER............|04/28/13.|05/06/13.|05/01/13.|05/31/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|LAS VEGAS, NV

SUMER...............|05/01/13.|05/07/13.|05/02/13.|05/28/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|CHICAGO, IL

SUZEEGB.............|05/07/13.|05/14/13.|05/09/13.|06/07/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|MILWAUKEE, WI

E&K.................|05/07/13.|05/14/13.|05/09/13.|06/10/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|DETROIT, MI

AYOB................|05/07/13.|--/--/--.|05/08/13.|05/30/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|SACRAMENTO, CA

SIMPS...............|05/03/13.|--/--/--.|05/06/13.|06/04/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|SALT LAKE CITY, UT

MRMRS DRUMMER.......|05/--/13.|--/--/--.|05/08/13.|05/30/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|PORTLAND, OR

CENTURYMAN..........|05/13/13.|05/20/15.|05/15/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|SEATTLE, WA

KATAANDFREDDY.......|05/15/13.|05/22/13.|05/17/13.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|SANTA ANA, CA

=====================================================================

USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Filing Under 319b, 328, or 329 of the INA)

=====================================================================

UserName............|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|Priority.|Bio......|In Line..|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Oath.....|FieldOffice

EXAMPLE.............|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|City, ST

IMPORTANT!

Priority date, Bio date = Date of appointment, In Line = date of letter, Int. Ltr = date of letter, Intview =date of interview, Oath = date of Oath

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll DOWN). Select "QUOTE" at the bottom right of your screen

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* Priority date, Bio date = Date of appointment, In Line = date of letter, Int. Ltr = date of letter, Intview =date of interview, Oath = date of Oath

Thank you, but the correct date is 05-20-2013 not 05-22-2013

Thanks for the link, call Nvc again today, and still they dnt recieve the file.!

Good luck to you too.

I hear you. I did the same. They told me to send the scanned NOA to the research e-mail -yet again-! I spoke to my son. We are going to give it 8 days, if we don't have a case number by then, we're gonna contact our Senator.

I'll keep you posted

I received my I-797C Notice of Action today. My notice day is: May 20, 2013. Received date: May 17, 2013. Priority Date: May 17, 2013. (What is a Priority Date??)

Can someone please update my info? Thank you!

Hi kataandfreddy, i feel you,. My son's petition was approve last april 15, so now its been 1 month and 8 days, and yep i do same thing like you did, send a copy of the approval notice to nvcresearch, call uscis and call NVC every single day.lol.,and got the same response everyday!!!. Its really frustrating.!

Hi!

This is what I found, I hope its helpful:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/278325-how-to-contact-senators-office-for-immigration-related-help/

It is a step by step guide on how to contact your Congressman for his/her intervention on your behalf. Please keep me posted on your results.

Praying for you,

Kata

So ANNOYING. Do you happen to know if the petition was processed at a local office? Seems like those routinely take more than a month to arrive at NVC (they apparently batch them and send them once a month or some similar nonsense).

If you want to get a senator or representative involved, go ask over at the monthly spouse NVC thread to get better information - I can't recall details at the moment (what stage they involved someone) but several members have involved senators and I recall Dianne Feinstein being mentioned. Seems like they got results fairly soon after. It can't hurt to at least contact a senator's offce. Maybe it at least forces USCIS or NVC to locate your files and log them in the system.

By the way - someone on this very thread (thegordons2009) had success sending the Choice of Agent and Address e-mail template using just the USCIS numbers after the NOA-2. Don't know if that helps your case since you know they *don't* have your case logged in the system, but if that actually works maybe it gets you a jump on timing when they finally have your file and generate the NVC numbers?

GOOD LUCK to you in getting this sorted out! I can only imagine how frustrated you are now.

ETA: worriedmominoc - you too! I am sorry you guys have to wait so long ... but everything above applies to you as well... I hope you figure out something to do or that it all works out quickly without you having to do anything else...

Thank you for your advise I'm going to check the spouse thread right now, to educate myself and see if its a good thing to involve a Senator at this point.

Our case was processed at the NBC (it has the MSC xxx xxx xxxx initials and then the numbers) it is really strange, because I have heard that they actually process their cases fairly quickly, but we never know with the USCIS....

Hi kataandfreddy, i feel you,. My son's petition was approve last april 15, so now its been 1 month and 8 days, and yep i do same thing like you did, send a copy of the approval notice to nvcresearch, call uscis and call NVC every single day.lol.,and got the same response everyday!!!. Its really frustrating.!

Thank you for your works. So sorry you're going through the same frustración as we are. I really hope this gets resolved soon

Congrats!! When you get the notice, can you please provide us with your priority date? I'm super excited for you!!!

Thank you! I will give you the priority date when I get it in the mail

Hi guys! So it's been more than a month and the NVC hasn't received my son's approved petition from the USCIS. I have called the NVC every time I had a day off from work and the response is always the same: "we don't have your case number on our system" I have sent the NVC, at their request, an email attaching the approved case Notice of Action, I have also sent a physical copy of it in the mail, with no response whatsoever from the NVC or the USCIS,

Today I called te USCIS -yet again- just to be told that, even though the Notice of Action says that if the NVC hasn't received the case in thirty days, to call them, the system says to call again if I haven't received it in 90 days!!!! I am truly devastated at this point, because this means two more months of waiting on them to feel like doing their freaggin' job!!!!

Does any one know what can I do next? Do I contact my representative? My senator? How do I do that? Is there a template for that? Is it even worthed? Does it work? please help me out, I'm really stressing here...

Oh! ooops!!! haha! and the cheque was cashed today (5/22/2013). We sent a check, from our joint account.

Today (5/22/2013) I received an email:

"Your case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS National Benefits Center for processing. Within 7-10 days by standard mail you will receive your official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) with your Receipt Number NBC*XXXXXXXXX. With the official Receipt Notice (Form I-797) you may visit www.uscis.gov where you can check the status of your case using My Case Status. We suggest you wait until you have received your Form I-797 before checking My Case Status.

This confirmation provides notification of the date USCIS received your case. This notice does NOT grant any immigration status or benefit. You MAY NOT present this notice as evidence that you have been granted any immigration status or benefit. Further, this notice does NOT constitute evidence that your case remains pending with USCIS. The current status of your case must be verified with USCIS.

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE"

Please update Thank you!

So I mailed my N-400 package today Can someone please add me to the list? (I don't want to mess it up! ) I have updated my signature, so all the information is in there. Thank you!

I don't think they will return the package. Worst case is an RFE.

Also attach a copy of your old greencard. That will show the anniversary date.

My intention for my H's app was to send the n400 whether he got his actual new card or not.

I would still work both ends though (ie service requests for new greencard)

Thanks!!! I will do. And attaching the copy of the old Green card is a great idea! I will let you guys know how it plays. Wish me luck. And good luck to all of you

Don't know where I read it ... But I did read somewhere that you can apply for n400 if you haven't heard back from your greencard approval. When you apply for n400 I believe they will cross check it. I would also explain in the cover letter briefly what is going on with the greencard app and attach approval letter.

Yes!!! Exactly!!! And I am attaching the Notice of Approval of my Removal of Conditions, and, in the Cover Letter and the Table of Contents of my N-400 package, I am describing like: "Copy of form I-797 Notice of Approval for the Removal of conditions on my Permanent Residency, card has not yet arrived in the mail." I think I'm just going to mail it, see what happens... I mean, the worst thing that can happen will be them returning the package to me right?

I know that one of the requirements to successfully apply for N400 is to enclose a front and back copy of your greencard. If I were in your position, I would call the 800# and ask for a service request, explaining that I have not received Greencard. When you do call, they might tell you to wait until it's been 30 days, or some ####### like that. I know it's stressful. But still give it a try.

You would definitely need the card throughout the whole naturalization process, because you must present it for when you take your fingerprinting and pictures, you must present it at the interview , and I believe give it back to USCIS for good, at the Oath ceremony. So go ahead and make that call, and try to track it down.

Do let us know how things work out! Good luck!!

Thanks for your answer! I have called the USCIS dozens of times -you know how it is- kept me waiting for more than an hour each time, then treated me like an idiot (making me read the notification where it says the card should arrive in the mail within 60 days, and if I haven't received it by that time, to call again...) it has already been a month from when I received the Notice, and so I thought I might just send in the N-400 for them to start working on it and then just receive an RFE requesting for the copy of the green card....

Hi guys! we are planning on sending my N-400 tomorrow. I have not received my green card in the mail yet, although it has been almost a month since USCIS decided to approve our Removal of Conditions. I was wondering if I could send the application with the Approval Notice from USCIS, as a temporary proof of my legal status??? Will it be be sent back, or would it be accepted and then receive an RFE??? Please, I need your input on this matter, since I don't want to ruin the whole process by doing something wrong?? Thank you very muchj!.