David & Kezia

You can whine and complain and have your GC denied, or you can suck it up and pay less than $200 for a new medical. The US is not the Philippines. You won't be scammed into taking medicine you do not need (if your x-ray is in fact clear) or give you shots that aren't required (flu).

Oh yes, they do. Search around VJ, and you will see many complaints of people being asked to do and pay for things that they don't really need. My husband is also a nurse, and when we tried to go to that place that they recommended, they tried to give me that flu shot which I don't really want nor require. There are scams everywhere, not just in 3rd world countries.

Hi Everyone!

I just went with David to our AOS interview this morning. We were told that everything is in order except for our missing medical records. We were advised to have another medical exam taken with a civil surgeon, when we were specifically told before that we didn't really need to do that all over again.

I don't want to do the medical exam all over again for several reasons:

1. It's not our fault that they "lost" my paperwork.
   
2. I just had a complete medical with our family doctor two weeks ago and I don't want to go through all that again. My insurance also wouldn't pay for it again. Had I known earlier that was a problem, I would have waited to have that medical done.
   
3. I don't want to go through all the immunizations that the Civil Surgeons make you do all over again, even that out-of-season flu vaccine that isn't really effective anyway and has side effects. They'd probably give me a TB skin test which we almost always test positive for and give us 6 months worth of medication even if your chest X-Ray is clear. Super inconvenient.
   
4. A complete medical exam from a Civil Surgeon is expensive, and I don't want to pay that again.
   
5. I already did it AND IT'S NOT MY FAULT THEY LOST IT, so why should I pay for it in money, stress and time. It was their responsibility/mistake and not mine. I wouldn't have been admitted here in the first place if I didn't have it. I didn't even see what was inside that yellow packet.
   

I've been going all over the internet (not just VJ), and I found out that there has been a lot of missing medical records. The biggest question is why only those papers were missing, of all the papers in the packet, and it has to be the one that costs us a lot of money?

I called up a border supervisor at my point of entry, and he investigated my case and if they still somehow still have my packet there. He called me back and told me that they "hand-deliver" all the packets every Monday or Tuesday, as they did mine Tuesday after my POE, to the local USCIS office where I had my interview. So, if it was there as early as January, why is it not in my folder anymore when all the others from the same packet was there? Super super fishy, especially because there are Civil Surgeons around the local USCIS office and even one on the next building, 50 feet away from their office.

I just called my congressman and will not stop calling anyone until this is resolved. I can afford the CS medical fee, but this is just so annoying and inconvenient, and it smells so much like an ongoing scam so I intend to fight it just for the principle of it.

Anyone there who has experienced the same thing can please respond to this thread and/or PM me their story and some more details, including receipt numbers, A-numbers and contact information. I am considering gathering enough evidence to submit to the ombudsman or to the media, whichever one gives us attention right away.

Yes, this is a call for action. It is time that we do something about this scam that has been going on for years. If the government will not do something about it, I'm sure some media outfit can make an investigative report about it.

Let's unite, fellow VJers!

:-)

Kezia

Huh.. weird, sorry for that.. Happened to me too, except I got an RFE for it, and they "lost" my medical too.. It's up to you but if you're in a hurry, I wouldn't bother waiting for it to turn up since it can take ages.. I redid my medical for $150 and got parts of it paid by my health insurance so I ended up paying less than $100.. I sent it in two days and got it over with right away! Goodluck and God bless

I would do it, except that I just did a complete medical with our family physician 2 weeks ago (which results they don't accept) and I don't want to do all that again. I'm not sure my insurance would pay for that especially because I just did the same tests weeks ago. I also don't want to do the flu vaccine (which is outdated and not really really required), and the TB skin test that would be 90% positive (and they'd make me take medication for half a year) when my lungs are clear as proven by my X-Rays. Some doctors are just so crazy about this and they make you do things that you really don't have to do.

This is just so frustrating, and they are making us pay in money, time and stress for their errors. The ombudsman should be looking into this.

I'll try calling the hospital in the Phils, the embassy there, the POE, and then our congressman here if they can't find anything. I am not doing that full medical exam again if I can avoid it. Besides, my husband is too busy and going through all this is just going to stress him out. We are already stressed out enough and busy with his Mom being in the hospital for the past 5 weeks.

:-(

Kezia

They lost our medical, and now I'm trying to see what we can do without going through all that process again, especially because I just had a complete physical with our family doctor two weeks ago (and they don't accept those results).

Well, I contacted my congressman's office and their immigration specialist has intervened on my behalf. She said we should have an answer by tomorrow.

I honestly think they dont "lose" all these people's K1 packets. If these things are so carefully guarded that they have to be transported in sealed envelopes and you absolutely need them to be admitted into the country, they're full of #######. I think they're too lazy to look for it or request it. They dont give us regular people the ability to call and speak to someone about our case, where our paperwork is, where it goes and what our options are. They can simply keep tacking on fees and force people to bend over and take it out of fear that their loved ones will be sent back. I'm refusing to accept that option. I'm not paying another penny for someone else's laziness or mistakes.

Hi Azura,

What's the update on this? Did you have to do the medical again? Was the congressman's office able to help you out? I was told at the interview today that they also lost mine and I had to do it all over again, even do some immunizations that are not really required anymore including that out-of-season flu vaccine.

I hope that you're still on VJ and can respond to this.

-Kezia

Urgh! Someone somewhere along the line lost my complete physical. I turned over everything at the airport and I didn't get a copy of anything except my X-Ray and vaccination, so now they are telling me to have another physical here AND with a Civil Surgeon, even if I just had a complete physical with our family doctor here in Vegas two weeks ago. :-( If it doesn't turn up in the next few weeks, we are going to have to pay more money for that physical and some CS might require me to have more vaccinations than needed including the out-of-season flu vaccines. Urgh!

On the other note, Officer Gordon at the Las Vegas USCIS office was very nice. She's also related to the former Senator (and Presidentiable) ####### Gordon of the Philippines, who should have been President of the Phils if the people were smart enough.

-Kezia

Finally got a status update on my EAD and AP.

AP is approved and EAD card is on production.

However, my GC interview is on Tuesday, 4 days from now, so I guess I wouldn't even need that anymore.

I'm really happy about it though.

Congrats to everyone! I'm excited about the interview.

:-)

Kezia

How much experience do you have with respect to foreign earned income and accrued income from that work? Having worked for the USG overseas for many years (all taxable income) and for a foreign company overseas (actual income and accrued bonus paid in the following tax year was not taxable). I added a written explanation with my tax form and did not get taxed or audited.

Hi William! What did you write in your explanation?

Had my interview today and was in and out in about 20 minutes! Wonderful.

Was sworn in with my husband at his desk. The officer asked only one question... "So you met at X place how did that happen?"

He then went through my i-485 application to make sure all the information was correct then asked for a copy of our marriage certificate since it got misplaced.

We bought oodles of evidence with us just in case - like joint bank statements, photos, insurance, phone bills etc and he didn't ask to see a thing.

Completely painless and easy. Said I should receive my Green Card in 30 days but I'm sure it will be much sooner.

YAY! xxxx

Congratulations! We almost have the same timeline, except that I haven't heard anything about my EAD/AP yet and my AOS interview is still on the 26th. What I am waiting for right now is a job interview set at 10AM, so I'm browsing websites to keep me from being anxious about it.

I'm still confused.

I am still a Filipino citizen and will continue to be (dual), and the earliest I could get my greencard would be on the first week of August (God-willing).

My sister took over my job days BEFORE I even left for the US. I arrived here on Dec 30, and my sister got the job right after Christmas. Technically, I earned the money for the past 3 years I've been working for them, although the final sale of the company wasn't completed until this April.

Also, I plan to use that income for our big wedding in the Philippines next year, and for our expenses of my inherited properties at home (which would need a lot since they are still in my late mother's and late grandfather's names.)

They already sent my sister's bonus (who only worked about 6 months so far with them), but I still haven't got mine. I am just worried that the longer they delay sending that bonus to me, it will make things more complicated for me. It would mean being taxed more, and I'd get less. My boss kept saying that he's still waiting for his lawyer's response because he also doesn't want to get in trouble, because he's afraid to get misinterpreted that I'm still working from here.

:-(

Kezia

Hi!

I just have a question that I'm not sure if anyone can answer.

My former company has just been sold, and I am about to receive a big bonus from my former employers (as I was a manager before), but I'm still on AOS and legally not able to work here.

I did not really work while in the US, but I worked for an american company from the Phils for the past 3 years until I came here, and I've been very important to the company and contributed a lot to the final sale, so they wanted to give me that bonus (which I'm also very excited about).

I wanted to have that bonus sent to my Philippine USD bank account because it was earned in the Phils and I also need it for my expenses there (like the development of my properties there and for our big wedding next year).

However, my employers are worried that it might be misinterpreted as me still working for them, especially because it is a big amount and I would also be potentially working for the new company that bought our old company (and that's the interview that I'm expecting very soon).

Any ideas on this and the legality of it? My accountant friend says that there is no issue, since it was earned while I was in the Phils and I want to spend it there, and I am not yet a legal resident here.

I hope I can get some feedback on this.

:-)

Kezia

Hey Kezia!

Looks like we're on the same boat here. My time line is:

10/2009 - met online

11/2010 - came here on B1/B2 visa

12/2010 - first meeting in person in Chicago, IL

03/2011 - moved in with him in IN

4/25/11 - got married in Mitchell, IN

5/02/11 - sent AOS packet (I-130/I-485/I-765) to Chicago Lockbox

5/04/11 - AOS packet received by Chicago Lockbox

5/23/11 - Received NOA for RFE (I-693)

5/27/11 - Sent RFE to DHS Lee's Summit, MO

6/02/11 - DHS Lee's Summit received REF reply

6/06/11 - Biometrics done at Louisveille, KY as per NOA schedule

6/24/11 - Received NOA for July 25 interview in Indianapolis

The NBC is in Lee's Summit, MO but your NOA for the interview should be able to tell you the exact USCIS Office nearest you..Las Vegas eh?

Good luck...let us know your experience.

By the way, to all members, in my NOA for my July 25th interview in Indianapolis, one of the docs listed was "any Government-issued photo ID"..which I don't have yet due to no EAD yet so no SSN so no state ID and DL and no car insurance inclusion (hahah!).. so I only have my valid Philippine passport to boot. I'd think USCIS would not expect me to have anything else? Any thoughts?

Thanks and good day!

prep.mac

I already got my letter and the interview is in the Las Vegas local office.

I think your US Visa should qualify for the ID, so just bring the marriage certificate and other Philippine IDs for support.

Good luck!

:-)

Kezia

Yes, that's the only reason. I have a job offer scheduled to start in a couple weeks, so I faxed the job offer letter, my NOA1s and a Privacy Form they have on their website. The Senator's representative submitted my docs to her contact at USCIS and they approved my expedition.

I suggest you try to contact your senator/congressman.

Thanks for the info. I'll better get that paper (job offer) then.

:-)

Kezia

Yes I have a job offer

Is the job offer the only reason you gave them to help expedite you case, or was there anything else?

I have one but I'm not sure if it will help me much at all.

:-(

Kezia

No, your EAD won't be processed any faster just because your interview is already scheduled. You are actually lucky that you have to wait only 2 months for your interview.

I also doubt that they will schedule your interview earlier because your husband can't take PTO. What about unpaid time off, can he take that? If you have to reschedule they will usually schedule you for later date. But you can try and do an info-pass, it won't cause any delays.

Thanks! I know that we are lucky to have the interview set so early. I just hope that we can still get my EAD earlier.

As for rescheduling it, we will see what we can do. I may wait another week for our EAD, and what happens on my job interview. If not, I'll go try to get an info-pass, so that we can hopefully get my greencard right away so that I wouldn't need the EAD anymore.

-Kezia

Hi March filers,

I'm sorry for butting in, but I have some questions for you and from your experiences.

I've just got my interview appointment letter today and it says that my husband has to be there with me. It's set for Tuesday, July 26. My problem is that my husband will be working on weekdays at that time. Is it possible to reschedule earlier, maybe within the next two weeks when he is still under training and still on weekend shift? He just started his new job so it would be bad for him to take PTO time before he is even done training.

Will getting an infopass to have them reschedule me earlier help on this or would it just cause more delays?

Also, for those who got their EADs, did you get yours ahead of your interview appointment? I'm wondering because my interview is set just two months after my NOA (because I did the walk-in biometrics), would it mean that my EAD is also getting processed faster, or if it will go the usual timeframe of 3 months. I AM hoping to get my EAD very very soon, and hopefully before I get my greencard, because I have a very good job opportunity that has been waiting for me long enough and I would hate to lose it just because the government is taking their time giving me my required papers and my employers losses their patience from waiting for me to get authorized to work. :-(

-Kezia

Hi April filers,

I'm sorry for butting in, but I have some questions for you and from your experiences.

I've just got my interview appointment letter today and it says that my husband has to be there with me. It's set for Tuesday, July 26. My problem is that my husband will be working on weekdays at that time. Is it possible to reschedule earlier, maybe within the next two weeks when he is still under training and still on weekend shift? He just started his new job so it would be bad for him to take PTO time before he is even done training.

Will getting an infopass to have them reschedule me earlier help on this or would it just cause more delays?

Also, for those who got their EADs, did you get yours ahead of your interview appointment? I'm wondering because my interview is set just two months after my NOA (because I did the walk-in biometrics), would it mean that my EAD is also getting processed faster, or if it will go the usual timeframe of 3 months. I AM hoping to get my EAD very very soon, and hopefully before I get my greencard, because I have a very good job opportunity that has been waiting for me long enough and I would hate to lose it just because the government is taking their time giving me my required papers and my employers losses their patience from waiting for me to get authorized to work. :-(

-Kezia

I've just got my interview appointment letter and it says that my husband has to be there with me. It's set for Tuesday, July 26. My problem is that my husband will be working on weekdays at that time. Is it possible to reschedule earlier, maybe within the next two weeks when he is still under training and still on weekend shift? He just started his new job so it would be bad for him to take PTO time before he is even done training.

Will getting an infopass to have them reschedule me earlier help on this or would it just cause more delays?

Also, is it possible to still get my EAD before my greencard, at this point?

-Kezia

Hello my friends

I sent my AOS on 5/5/2011 , and yesterday got my USCIS notice for the interview for 7/20/2011 !! 2 months and a half, still no EAD updated.. i really need it ASAP, is that normal to get the interview notice before the EAD ?

Grrr... me too. got a notice for an interview on July 26, which is more than a month away. I need my EAD first, ASAP. :-(

BTW, where is the National Benefits Center? Does it mean that we have to go there?

To all May AOS filers: please add/edit your timeline so everyone of us can monitor what's happening and if we are doing good. You can do it from the dropdown menu under your name on the upper right of this page, and just click the dropdown button and then the My Timeline (add/edit).

Thank you!

:-)

Kezia

UPDATE! I got my EAD/AP card today in mail!! USCIS sent it by priority mail..... The card says it was issued on 5/24, and the letter that came with the card says "DATE 6/4/2011". My online case status says that it was approved on 6/6/2011....so weird. Anyways, for those who saw your online status "approved", you'll get your card soon!!!!

Congratulations!

However, you didn't even fill out your timeline.

Everyone in April, please add/edit your timeline so everyone of us can monitor what's happening and if we are doing good. You can do it from the dropdown menu under your name on the upper right of this page, and just click the dropdown button and then the My Timeline (add/edit).

Hey there,

wow it looks like we all sent our AOS around the same time this is my timeline. do you guys received a letter stating that your case was transferred to your state USCIS office ... the biometrics letter was the last thing i have received ... no changes whatsoever not even online ..im starting to get worried

3/25/11 Got Married

5/3/11 Sent AOS package

5/5/11 Package received signed by; R.Mercado

5/13/11 Received NOA1 (6th day)

5/16/11 Biometrics Letter (8 days)

5/20/11 Walk in Biometrics done

I've got about the same timeline, but I'm getting really really anxious. I called the hotline about 5x already from the past month, but I don't see any updates on my status and they can't tell me anything, not even to tell me that my case has been transferred or assigned to a case officer yet. Grrrr! I have a standing job offer for a long time, and I am worried that my prospective employers will get tired of waiting for me especially since there's been a lot of developments in our company (we just got absorbed by a bigger company), and I would lose that very good opportunity. Grrr! (again)

I'm getting impatient, it's only been 2 and a half weeks but I wish they would hurry up. I'm not concerned at all, just wish the thing would go faster since I have a job waiting or me and I don't know how long my employer is going to wait

http://www.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/Iconsnoozin.gif

I am also getting very very impatient. I did the early biometrics, but I see no movement anywhere. I also have a standing job offer and it's a very very good opportunity. I hope that I will at least get my EAD soon before my boss just gets tired of waiting for me.

:-(

Kezia

I am torn between laughing with the various posts and pitying the OP. We've all known him quite well (and scorned him too) from his posts these previous year, but he keeps on being stubborn and ignoring all the red flags.

opsss... too, sorry

I personally drove quite well in Manila for my 30 hours of driving lessons with A1. I've always been a "backseat driver" so even my first hour was easy except for the usual beginner's trouble with the clutch which I got better at pretty quickly too. I was navigating through difficult streets and highways even before my 10th hour, that my instructor allowed me to go to more difficult areas earlier than usual.

However, when I got here, my husband was just more scared of me driving that he was more nervous than I ever was (even compared to my first time behind the wheels in Manila). He tried to teach me how to drive in a parking lot, but he got impatient and couldn't understand at first how much trouble I was having with his very very old clutch (that actually just gave up this afternoon so he has to replace it tomorrow) that I had a hard time estimating the half-inch difference between full release and half-level, and how much trouble I had estimating distances because I had very poor visibility on his car. It's a 2001 Saturn SC1, a coupe design and more like a sports-car design because you are practically half lying down on your seat.

After a few minutes of arguments and me trying to explain (and him acting like I'm stupid and feeling that I'm the one who wasn't listening to simple instructions even though he was the one who wasn't listening), I finally got him to my seat and to crouch down to my level, for him to see things from my point of view (down below there). He finally realized why I had to align my car to some lines in the street first (on all sides) and compare that to what I can actually see from down that seat (I'm half an inch smaller than 5 feet without shoes), just so that I actually know the dimensions of the car. To me, when the straight line on the road is right below the door level (or wheels) by the passenger's seat, what I can see in front of me (on the front windshield), that line is actually almost to the middle of the windshield, right to a spot by windshield wiper is. When a car is in front of me (2 meters away), I don't see the bottom of the wheels like most people, and I often don't see the top of the wheels or the bumper at all. That's how low I am on that seat. After that, he finally understood how difficult things are for me, especially with the bad clutch and the added trouble of me having to point my feet forward just to push the pedals all the way down.

We finally decided that I wouldn't drive that car until maybe the clutch has been changed (which I am now thankful that it would finally get replaced this week or the next), and I would instead try to drive the Wrangler jeep when he gets the chance to teach me to drive it. The jeep may prove to be better for me because it's higher and has more visibility, and although it is less responsive, it is smaller and the wheels are closer together so it is so much easier to maneuver especially into tight spaces. I am looking forward to driving the jeep (although it's a guzzler) and maybe even the Saturn when the clutch is finally replaced. I am not worried with the streets and freeways itself, because they look to be so much easier than the streets and highways I drove in while I was in Manila.

I am still looking over for a better car for me though, and I plan to buy one next year. Suggestions on the perfect car for me are welcome. Here are my requirements:

- better visibility (especially for a small girl like me) so it should be a little higher from the floor but still reachable for my short feet

- hopefully good with fuel & mileage, so I just might get a electric hybrid although they don't seem to be stable yet

- simple things inside (as I don't need a radio and all those fancy things), although a bluetooth for my phone (and the navigator in the phone) would be great

- low maintenance as I don't know much about cars

- hopefully cheaper (15-24K) and I don't care if they are older

Your comments and advice is very much welcome!

Thanks!

-Kezia