Kittyfang

Thanks for the anecdote. Out of curiosity - why haven't you replied to the RFE? Don't they deny the application altogether if you don't ever respond?

You get 87 days to reply to an RFE. I had to get my doctor to write out a new medical altogether because someone messed up the original one. I just got that and a day after, I got the interview letter. So I debated for a few days what to do. It's doing in the mail tomorrow.

I got an RFE for initial evidence (relating to I485 - cosponsor didnt send a W2) at the same time I got a biometrics appointment letter (relating to I765).

Did my biometrics today thru walk-in. Don't think I can respond to the RFE until next week cuz I'm still waiting on my cosponsor.

Will they order production of my EAD anyway or will the process be frozen?

For what it's worth. I received an RFE, then went to biometrics, received EAD card and interview letter... And I've yet to reply to the RFE. The RFE was for a new copy of the I-693.

Kittyfang - Am I reading your timeline right? Your EAD was approved only 3 days after your Biometrics and you already have your interview appointment?

Thats seems fast ....

It does and, in my opinion, it is. When I received the RFE, there was no information. Just "send us a properly filled and signed I-693". I figured it was a missing signature, but just to be on the safe side, I called USCIS. I spoke to a tier 2 person and they assured me that I would receive a letter, in two weeks, explaning in details what the issue was. The letter I received was a note saying that I had requested Expedite Service. I called again and was told to simply ignore that notice since it was obviously an error.

I am not saying the false expedite request is what is causing my case to be going so fast, but it could be a reason. The other reason could be that our local USCIS office is not very busy.

Kitty,

a bank account has nothing to do with a SSN. I have stated that many times before. You can be a Saudi Arabian oil sheik who never visited the US, living on a yacht harboring in Monaco, ready to transfer $50,000,000.00 from one of your bank accounts in Zürich or Lichtenstein to one in New York, and -- guess what -- you don't need a social security number or Green Card for it.

I -- personally -- have US accounts since 1986 when I first visited Florida as a tourist and since then have opened several US bank accounts for clients who were here in the US on a B1/B2 visa, the last one just a few months back. I never had any problems.

Banking has everything to do with money and business, and nothing to do with immigration, Green Card, and Social Services. Just because a bank drone who dropped out of High School early and has sh*t for brains told you so, doesn't make it true.

Secondly,

the Social Security card does not confer authorization to work. Not in the slightest. If seeking employment, and I-9 form has to be filled out. Here it asks if the person seeking employment is authorized to work in the US. Well, a US citizen is authorized to work, so showing a US birth certificate or US passport covers that. A lawful permanent resident (Green Card holder) is authorized to work. Showing the Green Card or EAD covers that. And somebody with a work visa is authorized to work. Showing the passport with the visa covers that.

Hence, if you are ready to sign up with an employer, you'll have to show your Green Card anyway. You probably don't have to show your SS card though; in most cases providing the number is enough. But even if you show your SS card, it really doesn't matter if it says nothing on it or reads "valid for work with DHS authorization only" because you have the DHS authorization and you need to show it in form of your Green Card anyway!

My Green Card was issued in 1991 and reads: "not valid for employment." I still have it and have never shown it to anybody, although I've been living in the US since 1992 now and have done a lot of things where I had to provide my SSN, including studying at UCLA for 4 years.

Therefore, if it rocks your boat, get another card, but you really don't have to.

Very informative, as always.

All things considered, (if everything goes well)I think I will not "rock the boat". I already made one phone call and not only did it not help, but it messed things up.

Happy New year everyone...I finally received my biometrics appointment letter today. Appointment set on the 25th of January!!

Bravo! Let's count down the days now!

I agree. Our local office is in Ohio. When we went for biometrics, there was only 2-3 people in the room with us. If biometrics are any indication of how busy they are...

Received SSN card. Off to get bank account stuff done.

I hope every one gets some good news in this first week of the year!

We just received my SSN card (yay!). The card say "Valid for work only with DHS Authorisation". I am wondering if that is a permanent thing... and if it will keep me from getting a bank account.

What did you decide to do about the RFE?

I will mail in the sealed envelop and bring the copy... I think. I'm still very confused as to why I got an interview letter while having an RFE, but I've learned to not ask USCIS.

Hey Kitty Congrats!! I thought you'd be more relaxed by now. Haha. From all I've seen here in the forum, you will be well prepared for the interview, I am sure. I won't tell you not to be nervous because I know you can't help it. But I will tell you this, I am sure when it's all over you'll think about how crazy you went and you'll laugh about it.

Good Luck!

Thank you very much! I'm allowing myself a little hope, but not so much that faith decides to kick me in the a$$ for it. All in all...Stress is the best weight loss program!

Our bank accepted marriage certificate from Arizona and my driver's licence with new name on it as adequate to add me to the bank account. I did not need a SSN for driver's licence, just marriage certificate. I need to get my SSN this week.

Carolyn

I think it varies by state. They required an SSN for us. But I just received mine today, so we can get to work on that.

cookieandcreamdon't worry...there are many of us that haven't received interview letters yet. kittyfang is just lucky Her process is going very quickly. It has a lot to do which office is adjudicating your case. Have you done biometrics yet?

I agree. Our local office is in Ohio. When we went for biometrics, there was only 2-3 people in the room with us. If biometrics are any indication of how busy they are...

This made me smile. I was sick for a week before our interview.

Congrats on everything moving so fast!! Almost there!

Thank you very much!

I'm trying not to think about it too much, but I am counting the days!

I get upset stomachs when I am nervous, so, I'm expecting to be fairly sickish on that day... or just plain catatonic!

We stayed in the hotel room down the street from the USCIS office and I barely slept the night before. Thought I was going to throw up the entire time we were waiting to be called and I swear I was shaking while waking down the hall to the office.

Of course the boy was cool as a cucumber!

Looking back, it really was nothing. Trust in your relationship!

Oh yes! I scouted us a nice hotel near the USCIS office. About a minute walk! There is no way in heck we're driving 2 hours from our house to there in the morning, in the traffic, in January... with me in panic mode. Maybe if we had a portable bathroom in our car!

Our household is a little crazy already. Since we received the letter, I keep randomly, and very intensely, asking him random question... "hey honey?" "yes sugar plum"... "WHAT COLOR IS OUR BATHROOM RUG?!"

But honestly, I'm putting things together, pictures, bills with both our names, income taxes. As soon as we get my SSN, we'll go add my name to his bank account.

I would mail it AND bring a copy to the interview!

Congrats on the interview kitty!

/starburst

Thank you! I can't wait... but at the same time, I'm a nervous wreck. My husband isn't sure I'm going to be able to make it to the USCIS office with my sanity intact.

dude, i am sooooo jealous....

i check my USCIS account once a day and there's been nothing since my biometrics appointment....

I know its a different office, but its pretty frustrating......

We haven't had any regular mail for about a week due to the big storm here, I think i may have to call them next week sometime....

Congratulations though

For what it's worth, I didn't get much updates on USCIS. I got one for EAD and I think that's it.

I'm just hoping that the speedy pace is a good sign that, so far, there is no snag.

Wow, that is really quick for you. When does it set for ?

Wish you lots of luck there

In a month... Time just flew by!

Yayyyyy!!!!Congrats!!!

When is your interview?????Time to get busy again!

In a month. I'm busy alright... Busy freaking the eff out.

I have seen posts where the interview letter itself requests and I-693 done for the interview.

My interview letter says to bring an I-693 for the interview, but the RFE says to mail it and NOT bring it at the interview.

I have 83 days from when the letter was mailed, 11/30/10. So, I'm thinking I'll mail it and yes, bring a copy at the interview... It's just so bizarre that I got an RFE and THEN an interview letter, without responding to the RFE.

I received an RFE for I-693 about a month ago. I just got another copy of the medical and was about to mail it when I received my interview letter.

I thought that everything was "on hold" while they were waiting for an RFE, why did I receive this letter? Also, should I mail the response to the RFE or take it to the interview?

Congrats, what was the reason for your expedite if you don't mind me asking

Good luck

There was none. I had received an RFE for a "properly completed and signed I-693" (I had already sent an I-693, but I must have forgot to sign it). I called USCIS to ask what the issue was (so I could correct it properly). The person I spoke to wanted to have someone send me a letter ASAP explaining the issue, instead, she put an Expedite Request in.

Now, I'm wondering if that is what made me get the interview letter... Because I haven't sent in the response to the RFE.

Received letter of Interview!

... I still have the answer to our RFE here. Should I just mail it or bring it with me?

We just received our interview letter!... And we haven't mailed the answer to the RFE yet. I'm wondering if this is because of the Expedited Request (that I didn't want!).

Got the new medical since I received and RFE for the first one. I think the issue was that it was not signed by me. However, paranoia kicked right back on when I was comparing the copy of this most recent medical with the other one and noticed that while they had put down info about Syphilis test, they didn't actually check the little square by it. I'm hoping it won't cause me to receive another RFE (do they even send another one if the RFE response isn't right?)

At any rate, here's for trying to please the government.

Kittyfang-did you get your permit and SSN?? Also see that you got your EAD on 24th. What a great Christmas present!

That was exactly what I said! That my first Christmas present was from the government!

I applied for a SSN yesterday and should receive it shortly. Didn't apply for a learner's permit yet because the BMV office was PACKED!

I've FINALLY received my biometrics after a wait of month and a half ..... I wanted to ask you guys if anyone of you've gone for WALK IN BIOMETRICS .... what is the procedure for it, and is it worth trying ??

I went on the day I was suppose to, but only because the office is pretty far from where I live and didn't want to risk being denied and having made a trip for no reason.

The procedure is to show up with your biometric appointment letter and I.D. and ask them if you can do your biometrics early. It's worth doing it if you have nothing to lose. If you live close by, or if you will be in the area anyway, I'd give it a try. We live 2-3 hours away from that office, so we didn't want to risk it, but had the office been closer, I would have given it a try.

Good luck!

Congrats!

I see on your timeline you are a November filer...that was super fast!

You must be thrilled!

Super excited! I cannot wait to go get a Learner's permit and SSN as soon as those offices are opened next week!