Illinois77

My card arrived today, valid through 2018... yeah!! I'm done waiting for a looong time!!

Thanks everyone for posting your timelines. This has really helped when I started to wonder what was happening (or rather, not happening) with my application.

All the best to you!

Ok, someone works Saturdays at the CA office.....:

I just found the email this morning - Approved & Card production ordered!!! Woohoo!!!

Have a wonderful rest of your weekend... what a beautiful day

The officer who put the stamp in my passport specifically said that I would need the expired green card and the 1yr expired extension letter in order to get through immigration. Maybe you do, maybe you don't. personally I'm not carrying my passport around with me, but I will take it, my GC and my letter when I go to England next month. Although I'm still hoping for my 10yr GC by then.

Yeah, I think we're better off travelling with EVERYTHING. The guy I saw yesterday said I can leave everything at home because Greencard and Ext.Letter are expired anyway, so they won't do me any good. He said all I need is the stamp in my passport. Well

And he also put 'PENDING I_751" in huge letters above the stamp, too. I doubt flight attendants know what that means?! Probably doesn't matter, since the stamp is there.

Forgot to mention by the way, he stamped for 1 year starting yesterday and ending on 4/6/09 (instead of 4/22 which is when my extension letter expires). Not that it makes a huge difference..

Wait, you need to have a travel itinerary to get an extension stamp? I have no plans to travel anywhere but have an appt in Chicago to get an extension stamp next week. Will this be denied to me?

Well, the guy did not really make sense today. He asked why I was there, I said because both my GC and Ext.letter are expiring next week. He nodded, I was certainly not the only one there with this problem. I then mentioned I will travel soon and he immediately wanted to see details. He took my itenerary (and just that.) and vanished to the back for about 5 minutes. Then he came back, and I said that I have another trip planned in August. Then he said "oh, doesn't matter, we will stamp for 1 year anyway".

So no I don't think you have to have any travel plans. I bet you'll get your stamp anyway.

Good luck!

Congrats to Dee and Peter, I'm so excited (look who's after you in the list!!!)

Hehe, and I'm right behing you guys!

CONGRATS to Dee & Peter!!

I can already smell my Greencard... it's just around the corner... I know it!

Interesting "break" in the processing dates though, there were quite a few people "skipped". but I guess they work randomly anyway... hm.

Got my 1 year extension stamp today at the Chicago USCIS office. They wanted to see my travel itenerary, but gave me my expired Greencard and extension letter back 'unharmed' I'm good to go for my trip - yeah.

Nick, ok, I go to https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/index.jsp, and actually log in (you would create a "customer" account). That's where you can also set up email notification etc. for your case.

Once you log on, your case is listed right there and there is a column called "last updated". That's where I see 4/2/2008 and for the longest time it had 3/9/2007. You can't go back and check past dates for updates; you will only see the last date someone updated your case.

Hope this helps!

"and it was touched again for the 3rd times in three days"

See others are using that case was touched phrase, precisely what does that mean? Was it modified, changed, removed, updated, and if, how?

My case was "touched" on April 1st and 2nd.

Nick, basically, when you check your status online and you see a new date in the last update section, "something" was done to your case. I believe that they update simply every time they move it from one end of the desk to another - but eventually, one of those "touches" hopefully means someone is actually looking at your petition...

Thanks for noticing my reply and responding, though! Seriously. I see a lot of people talking past other people on this thread as if they lived in different universes.

I couldn't agree more...

This is where our experience is relevant to some extent. All of us were touched 2-3 times immediately after getting the received and pending email you guys just got.

A-ha. Any approvals after that third "touch" then? Well, we'll see how the NSC saga continues. Or CSC - assuming...

Just back from my day in Chicago. I got my stamp in around 25 minutes. She snipped the corner of my greencard to make it invalid but gave it back to me. There were a lot of angry petitioners. One guy was having a yelling match with one of the immigration officers (who was giving back as good as she was getting) and had to be hauled away by the Chicago police but returned later on. I had no problems, got my stamp and asked if they had any more info on my case but nothing only that it was at CSC now to speed things up.

Good news. thanks for posting - I'm going there next week for the same thing.

I just noticed that my case was "touched" again today. Last night I still had a date of April 1.

...look in this thread: "New processing times, is the USCIS LYing?" and start with the last page.

Look familiar? As I said, though, all of the TSC-VSC Losers® had already received another email about two weeks earlier than this one telling us we were being transfered from TSC to VSC. There's no doubt you have been transferred to CSC.

But by all means, ignore us and our experience and keep running around like chickens with your heads cut off!

Mmh, excuse me, but how would your experience in waiting for TSC help me with my experience waiting for NSC? And, since we did not get a notice it is in no way apparent that our cases were transferred to California. That is the general assumption, but who knows.

It ain't over 'til it's over...

Sounds to me like someone created a quick email blast yesterday... someone is playing catch-up! Hey, that works for me. Won't be in time for me not to go to Infopass next week, but yet, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Why doesn't it say WHERE it was transfered to? I'm guessing California, but what the heck?

That is a secret Tammi..... shhhhhhh don't tell!

Here is an update. My case now states this information. I do not know if it was since I sent an update to my file and a request for it to be transferred to the CSC if possible.... or if its just my turn for something to happen. My case also shows updated 4/1/2008.

Application Type: CRI89, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS RECEIVED

Current Status: This case is now pending at the office to which it was transferred.

Hi!

I JUST got an email from CRIS with the EXACT same information! For the first time since 3/9/2007 my case was updated today. Now - "transferred" - but where? California? They're still keeping that a secret I guess.

I'm just glad my file did not deteriorate and someone was able to pick it up to do something with it. Whatever that may be

@sandeep: CONGRATS on the approval. Somebody is still working those 751s in Nebraska then..!

GC received today ...it took five days !

The good news is :

http://www.nysun.com/article/72897?page_no=2

Good luck everyone !

Holy cow - that's awesome! Congrats!

I just scheduled my next infopass to get my passport stamped before all expires. The saga continues...

Checking case status on line:

"It was reported to us that your IP address or internet gateway has been locked out for a select period of time. This is due to an unusually high rate of use. In order to avoid this issue please take this opportunity to create a Customer account (single applicant) or a Representative account (representing many individuals, such as lawyers, charitable groups, or corporations). Each account allows you to generate a Portfolio of receipt numbers. Building a portfolio containing your receipt number(s) eliminates your need to manually enter the receipt number and extract each case status. You will automatically be emailed changes to each case as updates occur. This email notification will occur within 12 to 24 hours of any progress made for every receipt number contained in your portfolio. There is no lockout feature associated with your portfolio and there is no wasted time on your part checking a receipt number where no advancement has been made."

Anyone else experiencing this statement when trying to check their case status? At least it is something different.

Have you created a portfolio? I think that is what they're asking you to do (instead of checking case# without logging in).

@Nick,

re: Chicago office... I think I paid $12 for parking, just a block South on State street (that's the intersection to the East, right?) there is a garage w/valet parking. The office has security, and folding chairs but my wait was actually pretty short. I was there first thing in the morning, a small crowd had gathered to be let in when they opened but they all went their seperate ways once inside.

Bring a print out of your appointment confirmation and the valid passport for your wife. I would also bring copies of the I751 petition and NOAs and Bio.Appointment letter. Can never have too much, who knows what they'll ask for.

What is your actual local office though? You plug in your ZIP code when scheduling the infopass, so I don't think that you can pick where to go?! GOod luck anyway. I'll be back at the Chicago office in a couple of weeks myself.

@Iansig, congrats on your approval! The squeeky wheel gets the oil... :D It paid off for you. Let us know how quick you actually receive the card.

Few weeks ago I suggested that every single one of us should send a letter to Nebraska asking for an explanation why is taking so long to process our applications and why the older applications were left unattached collecting dust (or even getting lost) while the newer ones were transferred to California and approved within 3 to 4 months

Guess what ....not even one person wanted to join this kind of protest ,more then that someone (I won't name it ) even sad not to do it because it will slow down the process even more ,can you believe that ?????

You won't find any support here as pretty much everyone is willing to put up with this BS. Sad but true !

That was me and I stand to my word!

Oh, and "every single one of us" would be about... hmmm 35 letters? I don't think you'd make a difference that way. If you really want change, vote (or have your spouse vote..) for the right people and address the folks above the service center level. You won't achive anything by bogging down the SC itself. IMHO

Heh, until they transferred us to VSC, my last updated date had been the touch after the biometrics and stayed the same for eight months.

Ok that makes sense, thanks. the date I see when I log on to my case is 3/9/07, a few days after my biometrics - so that's probably when they received and added that to my case? And nothing since.

How can you be so sure that your application will be approved ?

Because I have done nothing that would make me believe I should be denied! My only "crime" was to marry a US citizen, and last time I checked, that is not a reason to deny my application as long as I stay within the government-proposed process!

What are you so scared of? What would you do different if you had the 10 year card now?

The fact that you been approved so far with all the other applications you submitted doesn't mean that nothing can happen ....remember this is US not Germany .The more they drag the process the better ,more complications ....more applications to submit and of course more $$$$$$

Being Canadian I know them very well

Yes, this is not Germany (where, should we decide to live there, hubby and I would simply board a plane, travel to Germany, walk into the local immigration office with our marriage license, and receive residence and work authorization for him!)

Now would you go blindly and invest in a house ,open a business ,have kids WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING ?

Get real man !!

I am a woman.

And yes, I absolutely would.

How do you know that your case has been "touched"?

I check about once a week. Have for a year and nothing - so I should probably switch to checking once per annum...

By the way, I requested a case status update via phone on 1/10/2008 and was told it would take 45 days for me to receive an answer via email - I have not received anything as of today.

Give what up?

I never said I was ok with it. I'm only saying you are wrong if you say that your life has to be 'on hold' and, obvious in your case, miserable because of USCIS. Tell me what you will change as soon as you have the 10 year Greencard in hand, that you could not change now.

'ello Illinois! I really didn't think we'd be in one of these beaurocratic messes once again! ok ... a little advice please ...

I'm having surgery in a couple of weeks (bit of the nasties) and really need to get back to Europe in June becuase mum has had cancer surgery too and, whilst not an emergency she really could do with seeing me .. as I could do with seeing my kids.

Obviously there won't be a nice 10 yr green card arriving before then so .. when should I start trying to move those proverbial mountains to get the stamp?

On the bright side .. March 13th I can send in application for naturalization!!

Hope you and yours are ok ... xox .. Jill

Hey JILL!!!

Yep, we're back in the same boat... can you believe it

I scheduled my infopass online (you can at www.uscis.gov for your local office), you can pick from a range of dates. They give you sort of a calendar. I'd pick a date close to your expiration date, and, to have extra 'ammo' bring the flight confirmation with you to the appointment. And the memo from uscis.gov, posted earlier in this thread, about how expired extensions should be given a 12-month extension stamp at the local offices. You should be good to go.

Oh, and when you schedule, you can only pick from certain reasons for Infopass, I chose the "filed status request w/service center and have heard nothing after 45 days.." - well, I had filed that at the time but was still within the 45 days. Nobody asked.

I hope you are feeling better and that all go well with your surgery, and your mom's!!

Take care,

I.

You're being a simpleton (as are others who are simply brushing this delay off as 'no big deal').

Call me a 'simpleton' if that makes you happy...

This removal of conditions process is a Federal validation of whether or not the Federal government considers our marriages as being valid marriages in terms of Federal immigration law. If the petition isn't approved does it make any sense to go out and buy a house, buy a new car, etc. if there's uncertainly over whether the conditions will be removed? What happens if we go out to buy a house and subsequently the USCIS denies the petition?

I have no reason whatsoever to believe that I will be denied.

People's lives are on hold until the petition is approved. No approval = no more legal right to remain in the United States. That's certainly more annoying than simply getting your vehicle's tags renewed.

My life is not on hold!

Even though my Greencard extension letter is also about to expire we know that a pending petition that was submitted in a timely fashion and accepted by USCIS, will extend cond.residency status for however long they need to process.

As long as the "conditions" are still the same (married, same spouse, not a felon...) there is no reason to belive anyone will not be approved. You were approved the first time around so if your life together has not changed what is there to worry about?

It certainly is a potential disaster much more than denying the K1/K3 because of the fact that even if our spouse is already here there is no guarantee until that approval notice arrives that our lives can go on together in this country.

I don't think it's too much to ask that the government perform a service that was PAID for over a year ago in a timely manner. My stepdaughter's petition was approved in 2 months. Why is it taking 13 months (thus far) just to approve my wife's?

I think the denial of the K3 (I130) would have been a bigger disaster for me!

And, I don't think it's "too much to ask" either but I just don't worry myself sick about it. I am still legally living in the US, working, paying my taxes, and travelling abroad if I feel like it.

I do have to make sure my paperwork is up to date, watch what they're doing (or not doing) and I will have to go through the inconvenience again of travelling to the local office to get my stamp (and really, I only do that because I plan on travelling. If no travel plans in your future, you don't need to get the stamp even).

Do I find this lengthy process ridiculous? Yes.

Do I wish they would process swiftly? Yes.

Do I think the whole world needs to be shaken up and informed about a slow-moving public service office (like that's new...)? Nope, I don't.

My only worry (seems like people are trying to get out of me that I worry about this) is that when travelling abroad after the expired extension date, that I run into airline personnel that is unfamiliar with an expired greencard but valid stamp in the passport. But I'll find out how that goes, soon.

Hi Kristi, if you scroll through this secion a little bit, there are numerous topics on Nebraska... timelines are compared in the "New processing times - is the uSCIS lying" topic on this page. The latest forum approval is from a December 2006 petition, and many of us from January / February / March 2007 have not heard anything.

Good luck!