Mo007

Yep, I linked that above already. I guess you didn't read it.

My efforts, for naught

Thank you always.

I would take a print-out of the DoS' site stating that no documents are available from Somalia.

I found this page on the DoS website on the no documents issue:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9738#docs

Documents

Unavailable. There is no competent civil authority in Somalia. The Government of Somalia ceased to exist in December of 1990. Since that time the country has undergone a destructive and brutal civil war, in the course of which most records were destroyed. Those few records not destroyed are in the hands of private individuals or are otherwise not retrievable. There are no police records, birth certificates, school records etc., available from Somalia. There are no circumstances under which immigrant visa applicants can reasonably be expected to recover original documents held by the former Government of Somalia.

Scheduled infopass appointment on Tuesday. Will know the solution to the birth certificate then.

So nothing? Did you mention she was born in Somalia at all? if you had done that, then you could know if that would be good enough.

So now you can try affidavits from the mom and aunt, but one of your chances to see if it works is already used up. For that reason, I would contact an attorney or make infopass, or both. Good luck.

We will work on the infopass.

What did you do in the initial package, to address this issue?

You could try sending in a letter of explanation, possibly mention the information in http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6a6a218.html although there is no guarentee it will satisfy the RFE.

Is your wife in contact with her parents or any relatives that would have been present at her birth? If so could they could write a letter attesting her birth and have it notarized as a sworn statement.

Is your wife an Australian Citizen, how did she end up there? Perhaps there is some paper trail there that could provide something helpful.

She ended up in Australia because there was a civil war in Somalia, so her parents filed for asylum to Australia. She got Australian citizenship through naturalization.

No, an explanation won't suffice, I am just wondering why you didn't think a lack of BC wouldn't be a problem. Did you mention that Somalia was the birth country or just note mention it at all?

Lots of effort to go fast fast might trip you up. Hopefully not.

DOS says nothing is available from Somalia. http://travel.state.gov/visa/fees/fees_5455.html?cid=9738#docs

I believe that you can write up an attestation of birth written by witnesses to the birth (mother, father, etc) but I might ask a lawyer or at least make infopass to get the details.

How did your wife get Australian citizenship? Is there any record of her being Somali in any refugee documents or the like? Maybe that could help in filling in he gaps too.

Infopass might be the best option at this point.

What country?

Did you try to send any explanation or did you just ignore the requirement?

We just got the yellow letter today, asking to submit the birth certificate.

So an explanation can suffice?

I was posting that thread for ideas that might be relevant/helpful to your cause

My wife's I-485 is at Lee Summit, but not sure if my I-130 is being reviewed there too. Is it possible that concurrent filing is being done at separate offices?? Or same location?

Congrats to the first May approved case by the way!

See this thread for ideas :

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/453793-complicated-ref-please-help/

Will a notary of an affidavit work?

My wife did her 2nd Biometrics today. Business as usual.

Just got this yellow letter in the mail for my wife's EAD application, asking for he birth certificate.

1 problem.

Wife's place/country of birth is not able provide this document, there is no central government there (at this time).

What are other options to get around this RFE?

Thanks

Got the RFE today in the mail.

FBI rejected the first set of fingerprints. Wife has to get another biometrics.

The only thing I can think of now, possible, is another biometrics appointment, since my wife's prints couldn't be captured by the biometric machine very well.

If it is - no surprise there! Smh!

Checked the status of my wife's i-485 case online yesterday.

RFE!

We didn't get the letter yet and we are anxious to find out what they from us to proceed with the case.

Expecting the RFE letter any day now.

It has been about 3 weeks since we filed the i-485 application, wasn't expecting an RFE (if any) this soon. Doesn't it take longer to get RFE? As in closer to final approval date?

More waiting.

I agree with Harpa Timsah. The best thing you can do is wait. Fill your life up with distractions, and don't hang your life up over it. I've learned that though the members of this forum can come across as impatient, newbies are the impatient ones. (I was and still can be one of them). I believe the next stage is the interview, and/or possible approval of employment/advance parole in the process.

My spouse did her walk-in biometrics today. Although her fingerprints were not sharp enough for the reading machine. Agent told my wife USCIS might reject todays prints and request another set of fingerprints, but we won't know for another 48 hours.

Thanks again everyone.

ok - a week has passed - you get any receipt notices, yet?

Got NOA-1's for I-485 and EAD today.

Got the fingerprint appointment letter too. We are doing a walk-in fingerprint this week instead.

What comes after the fingerprinting?

Thanks everyone!

Dude, really. We have told you that waiting is what you do. We told you the next thing is biometrics.

Your online case is going to sit at acceptance until it goes to approval. All those bubbles look cool but they don't actually work or do anything.

Question about I-485 Acceptance stage (which is the current stage of the my spouse's application).

Here is what USCIS explanation:

Since my spouse's application was accepted 3 business days ago, and is still in acceptance stage, does this mean possible RFE? or is this all blanket statement talk?

Thanks

No, early bio does not speed anything up. It will not help.

Not that you asked for my opinion, but you are way too super antsy about this it is going to take a while. You will have to wait. That's just how it is. The more you think that you have super secrets and will be able to be done in a few weeks, the more you will become angry and despondent. Don't think you have super secrets because you don't. Enjoy life with your wife and forget about timelines.

Thanks for the heads-up!

I'm at work now, and educating myself about the process. No secrets, no wasting time against my wife, just ol' fashion curiosity.

I-765 gets approved in about 3 months. You will need biometrics before it is approved (all the same appointment).

We are hoping to do walk-in biometrics, instead of appointments. Maybe that will help.

Yes, it is after biometrics. I received mine about a week after my interview, so it was totally worthless!

So your EAD took more than 3 months?

I also sent I-765 application of employment authorization with the I-485, which was also has a separate receipt number from the I-485.

Does the I-765 gets approved after the Biometrics? or is independant of the pending I-485?

Thanks

Just received 4 text messages and 4 emails from USCIS.

My case has been accepted and routed to the USCIS National Benefit Center for processing.

Yay!

Same here. We are on the same timeline.

Good luck.