bmiles62

My wife had her Oath Ceremony yesterday and now she is a United States Citizen! It was in Charlotte NC which is about two hours away so we left about three hours early just to be on the safe side. We actually got their about an hour and 20 minutes early. They told us we were welcome to come in and wait so we all went in. (We had a few family members with us.) After we went in they told my wife to sit on one side of the waiting room and then had the rest of us to sit on the other side. About 40 minutes before the event they took some of the people waiting to be citizens and took them to the actual ceremony room. More and more people trickled in until the last ones got there about 12:15. The ceremony was supposed to start at 12:30. Once all of the soon to be citizens were taken out of the room they asked all of the family and friends to join them in the ceremony room. All of the new immigrants were sitting in the middle and the families were told to sit on either side. We were also told that we could get up and move around during the ceremony and take pictures. They welcomed every one and told us what to expect. Then they talked to us all and showed several videos and everyone stood up and all of the new citizens repeated the oath. Later they did the pledge of allegiance and sang a few more songs. It was very moving and well done. After it was over you could hang out and get more pictures. It was actually a very fun time and I could literally feel the pressure of this entire process being lifted off of our shoulders. On a side note my wife took all of her old passports and her green card to turn in. They actually only took her green card and told her to keep her passports. It was nice for her to be able to keep them since the pages she filled in them are such a part of her life. Sorry for the long post but I know that some of you want to know how it works, so there it is at least in our experience anyway.
Thanks to everyone here for the support on this website. I cannot imagine what our journey would have looked like with out the help of all of you that frequent this website.
Thank you Thank you,
Ben
PS. Can someone update my wife's to Oath Ceremony complete?

Hello fellow VJ members and visitors I'm pleased to announce that today we FINALLY
received my wife's NOA welcoming and indicating that her AOS applucation has been approved for permanent residence. It also states her A# which she has had since her K1 visa was approved. We our both very excited since we have waited a loooooong time for this moment. Even more excited since she got approved with no interview. We assume that it is because she came in with a K1 they had a lot more of our information that they bargained for. It was a longer than usual wait time. If you see our timeline. We bothered USCIS so much. Calling and calling and made an info pass appointment because we saw no movement in the check my status portion of the uscis.gov website. But it is finally here. I'd like to thank each and every member in these forums. As each provided a lot of useful tips and suggestions throughout this long process. We know it's not over yet as we have to wait for her green card, it says 30 days, but most say it is received within 7 days. The journey continues ...It is conditional for 2 years and we have to remove conditions a few months before it expires. Hoping we get the 10 year afterward and finally citizenship after 10 years. Thank you all!

Hi guys!
I did my walk in biometrics on Monday and today I just got my notification that im inline for interview! I didn't expect them to be this quick as my actual biometrics appointment is on 6/9. So going early for biometrics do speeds up the process! Im happy everything is going smoothly so far. Hopefully I get my interview letter soon. Goodluck everyone!

First off go take your phone back.

Tuck, I'll share my thoughts and personal experiences, but unfortunately it all comes down to the two of you. At the end of the day the TWO of you will make it work or you won;t. Nobody can do it for you.
Our first three months together were hell, the next three months were slightly less hellish. In the next thee months my wife asked how she can file for divorce. Twice my wife has taken herself to the airport. Marriage made in heaven right?
There is so much at play here that you have no idea about.
I do not subscribe to the idea these girls plan these things out. I think they have every intention of making a life with us. But, the reality of middle class life in the US is very different then they imagine it to be.
Those of us who like to travel and experience new cultures don;t realize how traumatic this move is for family based cultures. We live alone and like. Asians not so much. They love the family, social aspect of their life. Suddenly it's just the two of you. Face it your not that charming after a long day of work.
Most likely she is bored, lonely, and homesick. mostly homesick.
You also need to consider what is going on in the background with her family. Are they pressuring her for money? After all, now she has a rich American husband she should be building a new house for mom, buying motorbikes for her siblings, etc. If she is torn between her responsibility to her family and to you, who does she choose?
I am completely convinced my wife would have left in the first three months had it not been for a couple Thai girls here in town who knew exactly how to handle her. Finding that support system is crucial to the adjustment. You can tell her truths over and over, but they don;t ring true until she can hear it from her sisters. My wife thought I was lying about having to make a mortgage and car payment each month. When the Thai girls told her it was true, then she believed me. She couldn't understand how I could afford to stay in Thailand for months at a time, go out party, eat, tour, etc. but in the US I had to live on a budget. What really made it real for her was finding out the other girls work two or three jobs so they can have a house and car and "stuff".
My wife is very independent. She had her own business. Car, motorbike, etc. she could go and do as she pleases. Suddenly she is completely dependent on me for everything. money, food, transportation. I'm sure you don;t treat her like a slave, but she could easily feel like one.
When my wife asked to go back home for the umbteenth time. I said ok, but we have put so much time into this process please wait until the AP comes through otherwise it's a one way trip. I said the day you get the AP, if you still want to go home I will buy a ticket. The AP arrived, she put it on her wallet and she is still here.
Tuck, this process is much more difficult for her then it is for you. I'm sure there is more going on in the background then you are aware of. You have to be the better person here. Turn a blind ear to what she says and try to hang in there.
If she is intent on self pitty there isn;t a lot you can do. But Phils girls are by nature fun and light hearted. You just need to find that part of her again.
A few ideas:
Get a tablet for her
Set up a facebook account for her
Set up a skype account for her
Get her on the phone with her family
Get her access to native tv programing. Movies, tv shows, etc. If she spends all day looking at soaps, thats ok.
If she won;t go out to meet local Phils natives, ask a few to come to your house. They will know just how to handle her.
Give her an out. Do this and this for me, if you still want to go I will buy the ticket. Give her some control over her life.
*** Self serving Soapbox moment ***
For those of you who do not have a spouse from a poor country. Please refrain from comment like "she planned this" "this doesn't sound right" "she has an agenda" etc. If you come from a wealthy western country, you have a skill and a good job, you have no idea of the dynamics at play here. You need to spend time in these cultures to understand them. Our western morals and attitudes just don't fit in all situations. So please, be supportive and respectful. Give her the benefit of the doubt and let Tuck decide if she is genuine or not.
*** Stepping off soapbox ***

Thanks Miles

I suggest, instead, starting and following through with a Congressional Inquiry.
Engage with an Immigration Liason Staffer Human at a Senator or Congressman's office, then have the ILS human find out exactly where the casefile is, and exactly where the casefile was, prior, as of what date. Don't just ask for casefile status, ask where the casefile is (even if you know of it).

Don't do it.. They don't care as much as you do... You're just a number , waste of time and money .. Wish I didn't use one . Use this site and you'll be fine

Be sure to cancel your return trip after you arrive. Not doing that has caused issues at AOS

I just got my card in the mail. I saw online that it was mailed out on the 4th and it was on a 2 day delivery via Usps. Thank you Saylin for being a part of this journey and best of luck to those waiting.

Yes, you will need to file for ROC within the 90 days before the 2 year green card expires. Once ROC is approved, you will receive a 10 year green card. Read this guide. > http://www.visajourney.com/content/751guide
~ Moved from AOS from Family Based to Removing Conditions- topic about ROC ~

OK so here is a different opinion! It is your wedding day--a civil wedding in a court house does not make it any less special. Wear the dress that you have dreamed of wearing on your day! It is the maid-of-honors job to keep the train off of the snow! Go for it and congrats!

Talk to a seamstress and see if she can add a loop inside the hem so you can pull the train up to carry it off the ground while you are outside. You would put it over your wrist and then just drop it when you hit the door.

Welcome to another monthly thread for NVC! In this first post, you'll find useful links as well as phone numbers/email addresses. In the second post I've compiled a FAQ and at the end summarized the NVC process. Please read through everything before posting questions as it's very likely that your question can be answered by reading through the links and/or FAQ.
Note: Please keep in mind, since NVC required everyone to use the online DS-261 and DS-260 forms starting September 1st, 2013, a lot of the following guides have become outdated. Please use caution.
Here's some guides for those in NVC:

-How Do I Bring My Spouse to Live in the United States

-EZGuideSpouse

-LingChe NVC Shortcut

-NVC for Montreal Beneficiaries - Electronic Processing and New Online Forms

-NVC Electronic Processing [note: if doing EP in China, only optin AFTER the invoicing of the AOS bill]

And some other useful links:

-Country-Specific Documents (choose beneficiary's country from drop-down)

-Eligibility for Electronic Processing (table at bottom)

-Payment Portal

-Online Forms Portal (site to fill out DS-261 and DS-260)

-NVC

-NVC processing times spreadsheet (created by me, Saylin)

-Flowchart for IR-1/CR-1 Visa Applicants (created by me, Saylin)

-Free Passport Photos

-Thread on Ryan H's EP experience through China (lots of information)

Phone numbers:

NVC - 603-334-0700 (press 1 then 5 to speak with an operator) [HOURS: 7am - 12am EST, M-F]
DOS - 202-663-1225 (press 1 then 0 to speak with a visa specialist) [HOURS: 8:30am - 5pm EST, M-F. Closed 11am-12pm on Wednesdays]

Email addresses:

NVCInquiry@state.gov - to email questions
NVCElectronic@state.gov - to email optin for EP and for scanned packages
NVCExpedite@state.gov - to email expedite requests *new email address*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I'm also going to include a few non-NVC process links to help you out for once your case is completed and an interview date is assigned:

-How to Track Your Case Using DHL (use this to figure out what date you need)
-How to Track Your Case Using DHL (use this to figure out how to use the DHL site and input everything)

-General Medical Information
-Country-Specific Medical Information (choose three letter embassy/consulate code from drop-down list)
-Age-Specific Vaccination Requirements (choose age first at top of page)

-Country-Specific Interview Information (choose three letter embassy/consulate code from drop-down list)
-Sample List of Interview Questions
-Thread of Proof of Relationship Evidence Ideas
-Ideas on How to Organize Your Interview Documents
-November 2013 Interview Thread
-December 2013 Interview Thread

lol funny, this is what I've been telling people here, not like the first time around right, who cares if it comes a month later
wow good, we have the same transfer date, guess mine is about to arrive.

It's finally been a very happy birthday for me today. I just woke up this morning and got a text and email from USCIS saying my case was approved. What a relief. Hope the NVC process goes quickly now. My PD is 29/01/2013

Can't believe I can finally say this, but: updating for Saylin!!!
California Service Center (19 applicants, 11 approved - 58%)


VJName...........Date of I-751....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved...
SAYLIN.............04/30/13.......05/02/13.......06/04/13.......08/29/13...(Early bio 5/21, Second bio 6/13, "RFE" 8/13 for criminal record)
OMENDO.............05/01/13.......05/03/13.......06/12/13.......08/22/13...
ANDYNSTEPH.........05/03/13.......05/09/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
TIMOSHA............05/04/13.......05/06/13.......06/05/13.......08/14/13...
BUCUTZAMICA........05/09/13.......05/13/13.......08/06/13.......08/16/13...
-TEREZEE-..........05/10/13.......05/13/13.......06/10/13.......08/16/13...
PATHWAY2GC.........05/10/13.......05/13/13.......06/18/13.......08/27/13...
LOVEU..............05/13/13.......05/23/13.......06/12/13.......--/--/--...(RFE 8/22)
SCHATZIECHARLIE....05/13/13.......05/15/13.......06/12/13.......08/13/13...
SORCHAINE..........05/13/13.......05/15/13.......06/12/13.......08/27/13...
KPTAYLOR...........05/14/13.......05/20/13.......06/19/13.......--/--/--...
PHANG..............05/17/13.......05/20/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
RUSSIAN_SPY........05/17/13.......05/20/13.......06/14/13.......08/22/13...
SARAH ET LUC.......05/20/13.......05/21/13.......06/19/13.......--/--/--...
VANESKYGH..........05/21/13.......05/29/13.......06/19/13.......08/26/13...(Early bio 6/7)
REDRIBBON..........05/24/13.......05/28/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...
SER-ADAM...........05/24/13.......05/--/13.......--/--/13.......08/27/13...
CHEEZEES...........05/28/13.......05/31/13.......06/27/13.......--/--/--...
FORJOSE............05/28/13.......05/29/13.......06/25/13.......--/--/--...


Vermont Service Center (21 applicants, 5 approved - 24%)

VJName...........Date of I-751....NOA1 Date......Biometrics.....Approved...
VOLKAN.............04/30/13.......05/02/13.......06/12/13.......--/--/--...(Early bio 5/28)
KATYA_BG...........05/01/13.......05/06/13.......06/11/13.......--/--/--...
CANUCKBOS..........05/02/13.......05/06/13.......06/17/13.......08/26/13...(Early bio 5/28)
HIKER068...........05/02/13.......05/07/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
MYSTICKAL..........05/03/13.......05/13/13.......06/13/13.......08/21/13...(Early bio 6/12)
WHITELOTUS88.......05/03/13.......05/15/13.......06/18/13.......--/--/--...
DENNN..............05/06/13.......05/08/13.......06/14/13.......--/--/--...
BARKER FAMILY......05/13/13.......05/15/13.......06/20/13.......08/28/13...(Early bio 6/2)
LJJ................05/14/13.......05/16/13.......06/21/13.......--/--/--...
NORWOOD............05/14/13.......05/20/13.......06/18/13.......08/27/13...
UBAMAMA............05/14/13.......05/20/13.......06/26/13.......--/--/--...
MR&MRS.BOO.........05/16/13.......05/20/13.......06/19/13.......--/--/--...
NMERCEDES..........05/17/13.......05/24/13.......06/27/13.......08/23/13...
DINOKEKS...........05/20/13.......05/24/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...(Early bio 6/17)
RAHUL77D...........05/20/13.......05/23/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...
RDBDDS.............05/21/13.......05/31/13.......07/01/13.......--/--/--...
BMILES62...........05/23/13.......05/29/13.......06/28/13.......--/--/--...(Early bio 6/11)
JOYJOHN............05/23/13.......05/28/13.......06/24/13.......--/--/--...
HAYTHAM............05/27/13.......05/28/13.......06/26/13.......--/--/--...
FELO391971.........05/28/13.......05/29/13.......06/27/13.......--/--/--...
KELLY & ROW........05/28/13.......05/31/13.......07/02/13.......--/--/--...


IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.
* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Quote" it, deleting the "quote" tag at the top of the reply page in your reply.
* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.
* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.
* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application
NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter
Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment
Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.
* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly.
* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

I can scan and upload the image here. Give me a few minutes to update everything first, lol
And in South Dakota: no good weather, no ocean, no gorgeous mountains. I did get a relatively fast approval though, all things considered.

It's people like you who remind me what a selfish person I am.

Just a big thanks to Saylin for her support and keeping the May listing up to date!
Hope you get your approval soon!

Today, We got a message from USCIS website that reads as follows:

YOUR CURRENT CASE STATUS FOR FORM CRI89, PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS RECEIVED

On August 23, 2013, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you. If we need something from you we will contact you. If you move before you receive the card, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

Does it mean that we were approved? I'm not sure because it never said we were approved like other people have posted - it just said what I've indicated above.
Thanks

Approval letter and GC received today!
Hoping for fast approvals for all of you guys!

Got our cards in the mail today!=)

Hello everyone! I've been creeping on this forum for a while but I haven't posted anything until today because I wanted to share the good news!
I sent my i-751 package on 05/09/2013, got my NOA on 05/13. For some reason it took a while to get my biometrics apt, I had to call USCIS twice about it and then they finally scheduled me for it on 08/06 (almost 3 months after I filed!). Even though it took so long to get my biometrics done, today I finally received an email from them saying they ordered the production of my card!!!!!! Looks like they're working on May filers! Woo hoo!
This is probably the best day of my life! Good luck to all of you!!!

Wake up, May filers!
I got e-mail tonight: On August 14, 2013, we ordered production of your new card. Please allow 30 days for your card to be mailed to you.
Wishing everybody fast approval!

My wife just passed the interview a few minute ago....the officer asked her 20 plus questions....a few important is how are you guy communicate....how often your husband visit you.....how often your husband send you the money......do you have a proof of his visited.....my wife bring all the chat logs daily that we spend time on atleast 2000 plus pages.....all the westernunion transfer recieved....all the visa that I visit her..........thank you for VJ member help us through the process........GL to you all