niceman123

Thanks, Scott, I will keep trying!!

hi,

I would type up a letter with case number (receipt number), beneficiary's date of birth, beneficiary's name, petitioner's date of birth and name. Then in the content of the email request them to change the name in a correct manner. Notify them that it is currently written like xxx, but it should be written like yyy. Send some sort of poof(i.g. birth certificate, copy of passport) so that they would be able to reassure that it is the same person. I hope this helps. I would also suggest to call them and notify them over the phone about this. once you send them this letter, keep one copy of it to your self and your beneficiary as well. Take it to interview with you just incase if they raise any questions about it, show them that you requested in writing to change the name because they typed it incorrectly. Name should be same on the marriage certificat and passport. Birth Certificate might be different as it is before marriage. First just try to send it without the proofs and call them and see if they already changed the name, if they did not then send it with the proof so you are not giving morethan you need to.

I hope this helps.

Take Care.

Ok, by now you all know I do detailed reviews but I promise this is my last one.

I flew from Calcutta to Chicago (ORD) with two three-hour layovers in New Delhi and Frankfurt.

At the Calcutta Airport, I was asked, "What is the purpose of your travel to the U.S.?" to which I replied "To be with my husband who lives there." The immigration officer then spent a few good minutes looking through every page of my passport. Told me to stand up straight and scrutinized my picture and face (it's an old picture from when I was thirteen). Made some random comments about the visa. When it expired and such.

At Delhi, right before boarding the flight, an official asked to see my "visa file." I wasn't sure what he was talking about but then figured he must mean the yellow POE envelope. I gave it to him, ready to scream bloody murder if he showed any sign of opening it but he just examined it, made sure it was still sealed and then let me board the flight.

Landed at Chicago around 11:50AM EST. I pushed and shoved my way out of the plane (y'know what Indians are like) and got to the Arrivals hall. There were about a good 500 people in queue but only 4 immigration officers so they opened up several more counters. I stood in line for about 1/2 hour before someone pulled me aside when they spotted my yellow envelope. I was told to go stand at counter 51. Of course, I got stuck behind 2 Swedish boys who spoke no English and had filled out none of the required forms on the flight. Argh. So that was another 15 minutes of waiting while the officer helped them fill it out. I got called then. Handed over my passport, the envelope, and customs form. The I-94 is NOT required. No matter what the airlines crew tells you. The officer simply threw mine away. I asked him if it would be possible to update my US address. He said that they would take care of me at customs once I was done with baggage. He returned everything in a bright pink folder after the usual fingerprinting was done and the digital photograph was taken.

I then went to pick up my baggage. Of course, the goddamned conveyor belt was broken so they had lined up about 800 suitcases in the waiting area. Took me about 20 minutes just to locate my two bags from the sea of similar looking/colored bags.

Then I went to the Customs/Exit area. An officer told me to go to counter # 1 since I was traveling alone but another one told me to go #2, which was processing family cases. So I headed over to the "New Immigrants Only" corner. I was asked to keep my folder at the end of the desk. This is when I noticed that my passport was missing. I immediately began to hyperventilate and would've passed out from a panic attack when a blonde, tall officer came running, shouting "SACHINKY? Sachinky's passport? Missing passport?" So I was, like, "OMG, THANKYOU!" Anyway, then I went and sat back in my place. There were about a good 30 Indians or so immigrating so there was a LOT of waiting around while one lone Chinese-American man stamped all the papers/passports and filed them. 8 other customs officers stood around chit-chatting.

One girl couldn't speak any English so she asked me to ask the officer if it would be possible to do theirs first since they had a connecting to Detroit in 10 minutes. I did as she requested and was sufficiently rebuked by a loud, rude, "NO! SIT!"

A LOT of people missed their connecting flights because it took so long so I would reccomend keeping at least 3-4 hours between your POE and next connection.

The officer asked me to update my address. I filled out the form and then he told me to do it online as well. Asked me to go back and sit. Finally, around 2:30PM, I was called up again. He made me sign and fingerprint one form on both sides. He asked me how long I'd been married. I replied, "9 months." So he told me that I would be receiving a conditional GC and pointed to the date printed on my passport and said that Mr. Sachinky and I should "contact Immigration ninety days before that date."

I then finally cleared customs (another baggage screening -- they were opening/checking the baggages of almost all of the new immigrants but thankfully, they didn't open mine). I headed out and spotted Mr. Sachinky who had been waiting very anxiously for the last four hours. He was certain I'd been detained or something. He ducked under the blue line and came running towards me. Then there was a lot of crying (this breaks my cardinal rule of NOT crying in public places), hugging and kissing till a security guy came and told us to clear the area. Very Bollywood.

Hey - this is too qute - I was laughing that security guard had to come and tell you guys to clear the route - this is truly a bollywood scene. I was really laughing when I read this. you guys are too qute.

I believe if you asked for a new number to be assigned and a card to be mailed to you on the DS230, it will be sent to you in 2-3 weeks.

I honestly, couldn't remember what I marked on the final DS230 submitted at the time of the interview (must have filled out about 18 DS230s by the time the whole process was over) so I wanted to go down to the local office directly.

The chicken curry was delicious!

USCIS customer service: 1-800-375-5283.

Thanks Sachi..

No new forms. Just take your passport and they can look you up using your A-number.

Just explain that you entered the country 2 weeks ago and that a SSN is automatically being assigned, u dont want to apply for a new number, and u wanted to check if it has been or not.

If they find ur name and a number has been assigned they can give u a print out and your card should come a few days later.

If they can't find you using your A-number then you need to call USCIS and find out why ur details havent been entered yet

Thanks for the quick reply - by the way do you know the number to USCIS by any chance?

Yes, it should automatically be issued if you checked the box on the DS-230 form. Some people simply go because they want their number sooner. If you wait the 2 weeks they suggest, then go, your details should already be in the system and you should not have to fill out a new form.

You can see how quickly my number was assigned and received if you look at my timeline. But yes, I did visit the SSA as I wanted to keep on top of things and make sure my details had made it there

so, i guess that waite for two weeks after POE and go to SSA and ask them if my info had been transfered in their system and SS number card is in process or not? Would I have to fill out a new form or anything when I go their? what do they ask you? what you actually have to ask them?

Okay! It worked! Thanks a ton, folks. Seriously, you're awesome, all of you! Thankyou!

It was a different lady this time. I told them that I had called USCIS and DOS and they told me that they'd stopped handwriting the A# on the passport at POE (which is what they're trained to look for) and that the Registration Number is the A# they're looking for.

She punched in the 8 digit registration number, preceded by a 0. Worked like a charm. Asked a few questions about my birthplace, date of birth, date of marriage, parent's names, etc. Asked me if I wanted to change my maiden name to my married name, I said no. She said I will receive my new replacement card in the mail in 10-14 days. She obviously kept my old card.

HI,

How are you? I have few questions, so I thought you might be able to help me. My wife, who is in India currently, has her file approved at NVC. I am hoping to receive the interview date very soon. Anyways, can you please advise me that what is the procedure after you get the interview date from NVC? Do they email you anything? I would really appreciate if you can explain in deatil (step by step) so that it would not only help me but any other potential users also who may read this.

Also what is the procedure after you receive the visa and when you arrive in Chicago? What is the procedure a CR1 (my wife) may have to go through at Chicao Airport? As you are a recent individual who came to U.S. on CR1 in Chicago might be able to explain and enlight me by providing good advise and your experience at a Chicago airport.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Best Regards.

HI all,

Do you still have to go to Social Security office to fill out a new form and request a social security number and a card, even though you have asked them to issue a card for you in DS- 230? Should this not already issue a card automatically for an immigrant comming in to U.S. for the first time ever on CR1?

I thought that by checking "yes" on question 43 A and requesting a social security card and by checking "yes" on question 43b to authorize DHS, SSA and other governmental agencies to share information would automatically issue the social security card when individual would come to U.S.A. If I am correct, how many days that individual would have to waite to get his/her social security card in his/her hands?

Please advise,

Thanks.

Yay !!! Time to make some chicken curry !!!

Alls well that ends well..

Stupid SSA employees.

hi can you tell what was the outcome of calling them? Was it somethign they did not receive or they recieved it but did not log in their system and just mailed you the checklist?

Please reply,

thanks,

First of all, congratualaitons to you and your husband.

I have question about I-864, and W2s and tax returns.

I had already sent my I-864, also last three year's tax returns, w2s, current years pay stubs to NVC. Do I still have to send all that to my wife since NVC did not raise any questions here about my I-864? I already had submitted my DS 230 and I am waiting for my wife's interview date to be assigned by NVC. In between I like to find out about the process what does my wife need to do after the interview dates gets assigned by NVC, and do I still have to send the I-864 to her as I already had submitted to NVC, I am well above the requried amount to sponser someonoe like my wife. I had filled out I-130, I am the agent for my wife and all the DS230 package has been sent last week. Now, I guess I just have to call this week and get the date for the interview in Bombay. I am not sure what do I have to do after that.

Please advise,

Thanks.

Okay, here's my very detailed interview review at the Mumbai Consulate on Wednesday May 12, 2010.

I stayed the night at the Kemp's Corner Hotel which is about 10 minutes away from the VFS office. I dressed in well-fitting jeans and a white dress shirt. I wore both my wedding and engagement rings. I got to the VFS at 7AM and was in the bus by 7:10AM. Reached the Consulate at 7:20AM. Stood in line for a bit while they checked our passports and interview letters.

Entered the Consulate for security. The security guard was a b!tch. She grabbed my a$$ several times (like, seriously cupped my boot-ay) and worst of all, took out ALL my papers from their properly color coded folders messed it all up and then gave it back to me in a heaping pile.

Had to stand and organize everything again and then I entered the waiting room. Waited in line for about 15 minutes for biometric fingerprinting. They give you pink tokens for NIVs and wooden tokens for IVs.

After that, I sat in the waiting area till my name was called for the pre-screener at 8:15AM. She was a middle-aged Indian lady.

Questions asked by her:

--Who is calling you to the States?

--What is his name?

--What is your father's name? (She was confused if his middle name was actually his first name)

--Mother's maiden name?

--You studied in the U.S.?

--Where did you meet your husband?

--In India or the U.S.? So you had a F-1?

--What is your husband's name?

--Who did you visit on your previous B-2 visa?

--Where all did you visit?

--What are your qualifications?

--Where did you get married?

--When did you get married?

--Did you have a Hindu wedding?

--Why not?

--You got married under the Special Marriage Act? Was it a court wedding?

--Did you convert?

--Did he convert?

--Where are you currently working?

--How long has he been in the U.S.? (Born and brought up there).

--Is he an American? (DUH!)

--I mean, is he of Indian-American origin? (No, he's white, of Irish descent).

--Are you a Canadian immigrant? (She was confused by my Canadian once-in-a-lifetime-at-the-border tourist visa).

--Have you resided for more than 6 months in any other country other than the U.S.?

--Who is *joint sponsor's name?*

--What does he do?

--Is he married?

--His wife works? What does she do?

--He files taxes jointly?

--Do you have his 2009 tax returns?

--Where is his W-2?

This is when I shoved in another joint sponsorship as my original joint sponsor was being very uncooperative recently and had refused to send his '09 W2s. I wasn't going to deal with a blue slip for missing documents so I insisted she used whichever one had the better/complete information. She kept both of their documents and said that the final decision would be the CO's.

--Who is *new joint sponsor's name?*

--Your husband recently got a new job?

--What kind of wedding did you have?

I offered to show her some pictures but she pulled out the ones I sent in with the I-130 petition and said she already saw them--she just wanted me to tell her.

I also had to turn in a new DS230, as VFS had turned in a photocopied one. She needed the original signature on it. Thankfully, I was carrying an extra one, all filled out. Helps to be prepared!

She then returned a bunch of documents to me (including my originals and everything that had been submitted to NVC) and told me everything looked good and that the CO might want to ask me a few questions. She asked me to go back and wait.

So I waited. For three freakin' hours while all the B-2, F-1 and H-1Bs kept getting called. There is a food counter with sandwiches, chips, and drinks available but I wasn't carrying any cash so I listened to my stomach growl in hunger. Pointer: EAT BREAKFAST before you go no matter how nauseated you feel in the morning!

Finally, I got called at 11:15 AM. The Consular Officer was an Indian-American lady, very casually dressed. I didn't even realize she was the CO. I just assumed she was there to assign the oath. Which she did and then asked me to sign the new DS230. I did. And then there was a less than 5 minute conversation that consisted of the following questions.

--You have 2 previous visas to the US?

--Yes. B-2 in 1999 and a F-1 in 2005.

--Where did you meet?

--Ithaca College, NY. We were both pursuing our undergraduate degree there.

--Is he an American citizen?

--Yes, he is. (*WHY THESE STUPID REDUNDANT QUESTIONS?*)

--How long have you known him?

--We met in Jan '08, started dating end Feb '08 so about two and a half years now.

--How did you meet him?

--His roommate was a friend of mine.

--When did you get married?

--August 17, 2009. (Asked this twice, to ascertain the date, I assume)

--Do you have any relatives in the U.S.?

-- A couple of distant relatives in my extended family but no one in my immediate family.

--When did you graduate?

--May 2009. May 17, I think. (She seemed surprised that my F-1 is valid till July 2010 and that I had left the U.S. much prior to it's expiry).

--How long have you been married?

--9 months. Will be 9 months this 17th.

--Has he visited you since then?

--"No, unfortunately, he's not been able to." She turned to look at me -- the only time she did so, the rest of the time time she was busy typing on her computer.

--Why not?

--"I guess we were naive and thought we would be done in 3-4 months so we didn't really make any plans to meet up -- we didn't think the process would take so long as long as it did, and besides with both of his jobs being recent, it was hard to get time off." She nodded, and said, "yes, I understand that."

--Speaking of which, where does he work?

--Where do his parents live?

--What do they do?

--What are your qualifications?

--Does he have any brothers or sisters?

--Where does she live?

--What does she do?

I responded quickly to each question with short, precise answers. Then, another guy walked in who cancelled my previous visa. The CO said, "Well, your visa is approved!" She didn't look at one thing. Seriously. I dropped 10 lbs of evidence in front of her and she didn't ask to see ONE damn thing.

I was like, "Seriously? That's it? You don't wanna see some pictures? How about some phone bills?"

She said, "Nope, your passport will be sent to you via courier in a couple of days!" So I said, "oh okay, thankyou." And walked out of the booth in a daze.

I was out by 11:20AM, caught the return bus to VFS and was there by 11:30AM.

Thanks again to VJ and the wonderful VJers for all their help, support and good wishes!

I'd just call NVC directly and make sure the operator updates the information regarding your names.

Good luck and join the NVC April 2010 thread,ya?

yea just got it last friday... and found out about the mistake... when is yours? you already have your AOS done and paid all the fees? What do I do now that I already have paid the bills? What is the next step? just mail I-864 and all the supporting documents to NVC after my $70 shows paid on website?

Also, should I get my wife to fill out and mail me DS 230 part 1? I think after I send 864, NVC will send me DS230 PART ONE AND TWO and don't know what else to fill out............. if you have any ideas then do tell me....

THANKS,

Hi,

I have few questions:

1 - My wife and I just received AOS FORMS and I - 864 AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT FEE OF $70.00 We just noticed that they typed my (husband - petitioner's) name wrong. What would be the procedure to correct it?

2- I already took the action of emailing them to correct my name for any further process that they may have at their end and also paid my $70.00 ( in process currently to show as paid). However, in rush I mistakenly typed my last name wrong in the email that I sent to them to request them to correct my name. They had made a mistake on my first name. So I went to my sent folder and forwarded that sent email to them again to tell them to " please disregard the email I jsut sent to you." and re-sent one new email to correct my name with everything correct in it that showed how they have spelled my name wrong and to correct it in the way it is supposed to be. Do you think I did the right thing? Did I confuse the process? Is it going to be a big deal that I made a mistake on my original email? My wife as well sent an eamil out to them to correct my name after I sent a wrong email to them and also sent an email to NVC to make me as an agent for the further process. She also had sent an actual documents to them the same day in post mail to them.

What do you think about the above steps I took? Did I take proper steops? Will I be facing any difficulties in the further process? Will they make me re-do everything since it was a mistake at their part? Will it make the process lenghty now that they have made a mistake and have to correct it? What should be by next steps?

I have started to take steps towards my I-864. Can someeone please explain the next steps to me from I-864 onwards what will happen?

Sorry, I have lots of questions all at ones. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Best Regards.

I understand by reading the other people's questions that DS3032 has some type of barcode, and ganerick DS3032 online does not have the barcode. So even my foreign spouse fills out the form, not sure if it can be sent without barcode as they send the DS3032 with the barcode. I also have asked NVC to send me these information again, and all they tell me is okay it has been sent, we will send again and waite for some time. But, i believe that it should not take morethan two to three days after requesting to resend these information. They are just keep saying okay we will send it to you. I can not even get the invoice identification number over the phone so that I could pay $70.00. It is just not moving forward. When I call at NVC agent, he or she says that we can only request and other department sends the email out for bill and choice of agent form. So, I do not know howelse I can get the bill paid with a correct invoice number that they would create. I also like to pay my $70.00 online, but I can not do so without my unique invoice identification number, and I requested almost 5 times to 6 times to resend them to me. I have been calling them since April 13th to this date and have not received anything in my e-mail. I need an invoice to pay, so that I can pay, but they are saying that it has been sent or it's under request everytime there is a different answer. First they said it has been sent, then it is under a request that need to be sent, today they said it was sent already. It is frustrating and worrying me so much that this will take a long time and it is nothing but a waste of time.

call back to NVC, ask for an 'AOS FEE BILL TO BE EMAILED TO YOU'

You can download the DS-3032 , have yer foreign spouse fill it out.

Forget about it 'coming to you' via email or postal mail.

You get it, You push it in.

ONCE you have the AOS Fee Bill in yer email, you can start paying things online at the payment portal.

Good Luck !

Yes, I have checked my junk box and inbox. My wife is also waiting everyday for the mail man to come and deliver the mail, but no mail and she is also checking her email box to see if anything comes accross. I just called the automated system to see what it says, and it says that they have mailed these information to me and my wife on April 7th, 2010. We still have not gotten it. Not sure what to do. I am worrying that this is waisting my time in the process. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi,

I have two questions:

1 - I was just approved and received my NOA2 on March 31st, 2010 with my I-130 petition and I-129F petition on the same day and my file was transferred to NVC. When I called at NVC on April 13th, they stated that my I-129F has been closed as my I-130 and I-129f do not have any time difference and they run I129F for the petitioners who has a time difference between I-130 and I-129F. (this is supposed to be new thing started I suppose this year) I guess I am okay with that as that makes sense, but is anyone else is running across this situation? Now they are processing only I-130 for me. So I should be getting $70.00 bill for choice of agent fee and my wife should be getting choice of agent form to assign an agent who should get all the further documents in the process.

2 - They also stated that they tried emailing the choice of agent fee to my e-mail address, but it bounced back. When I asked for the e-mail address, it was typed incorrectly in their system, so we corrected it and asked to re-send the choice of agent fee of $70.00. To this date, I still have not received it, and I had called various times their and also added my wife's email address their so they can send her the choice of agent form. They stated that they mailed my wife a choice of agent form on April 7th when they tried to email me a choice of agent fee. But, neither my wife has received anything nor I have received anything. I like to know what should I do now? Can anyone please advise? Do you think that they are just slow and still not processing it? When I called again today, they said that they already mailed me choice of agent fee and my wife a choice of agent form on the 7th and resent it on 13th as well, but we still have not received anything, so they said we will put the request again and re-send these information to you on your email address. I asked for the processing time for these documents to be sent to me and they said first couple of days and then 4-6 weeks at the end of conversation. I am not sure if it should take this long to just send a choice of agent form to my wife and fee to me. Please correct me if I am wrong about my estimate of processing these two items at NVC. Do you think that I am running late on getting these two documents in the usual process? I believe that I should get these two documents within 10 days after they receive my file from USCIS. It is almost a month (less than 10 days left to be a month) since they have received my file from USCIS.

Looking for any help on this, so if anyone knows the answer, please reply. looking forward to some answers.

Thanks,

Hi,

I have two questions:

1 - I was just approved on March 31st, 2010 with my I-130 petition and I-129F petition on the same day and my file was transferred to NVC. When I called at NVC on April 13th, they stated my I-129F has been closed as my I-130 and I-129f do not have any time difference and they run I129F for the petitioners who has a time difference between I-130 and I-129F. I guess I am okay with that as that makes sense, but is anyone else is running across this situation? Now they are processing only I-130 for me. So I should be getting $70.00 bill for choice of agent and my wife should be getting choice of agent form to assign an agent who should get all the further documents in the process.

2 - They also stated that they tried emailing the choice of agent fee to my e-mail address, but it bounced back. When I asked for the e-mail address, it was typed incorrectly in their system, so we corrected it and asked to re-send the choice of agent fee of $70.00. To this date, I still have not received it, and I had called various times their and also added my wife's email address their so they can send her the choice of agent form. They stated that they mailed my wife a choice of agent form on April 7th when they tried to email me a choice of agent fee. But, neither my wife has received anything nor I have received anything. I like to know what should I do now? Can anyone please advise? Do you think that they are just slow and still not processing it? When I called again today, they said that they already mailed me choice of agent fee and my wife a choice of agent form on the 7th and resent it on 13th as well, but we still have not received anything, so they said we will put the request again and re-send these information to you on your email address. I asked for the processing time for these documents to be sent to me and they said first couple of days and then 4-6 weeks at the end of conversation. I am not sure if it should take this long to just send a choice of agent form to my wife and fee to me. Please correct me if I am wrong about my estimate of processing these two items at NVC. Do you think that I am running late on getting these two documents in the usual process? I believe that I should get these two documents within 10 days after they receive my file from USCIS. It is almost a month (less than 10 days left to be a month) since they have received my file from USCIS.

Looking for any help on this, so if anyone knows the answer, please reply. looking forward to some answers.

Thanks,