carolineden11

I have not received a notice. My online status changed.

I have not received a notice. My online status changed.

Now if only they could manage to send my new card to the correct address...that is the next challenge! lol

The e-mail address I used was vsc.ncscfollowup@dhs.gov.

It didn't actually say it was approved. My online status says "On October 22, 2014, we ordered production of your new card".

That does mean it's approved right?

I e-mailed the Vermont Service Center asking them to make sure my address was updated in their system (I had changed my address online but when I called the USCIS number the agent said my address had not been changed in the system even though I had received letters saying my address was changed and my online case status said it was changed). I never heard a reply from the Vermont service center but two days later, my online case status said they ordered production of my card. I filed late March with NOA dated April 3 and biometrics May 7. I just wanted to let everyone know that e-mailing Vermont might trigger your case to be looked at.

Hi, yeah that's happened to me when I called ....wait until 6 months .. no biometric , so what are they doing???

Wow I thought you definitely would have had a biometric appointment by now! I had mine within about a month. I can not believe how much incompetence we have experienced with my immigration process.

So if the I-751 April filers have not started being approved, does that mean none of the April filers have received an RFE yet? I am asking because I've moved twice since April due to military orders and I am so worried that I may have missed an RFE. I tried calling but they said they wouldn't look into my case until after 6 months.

Ahh I did not know that but after some research yes USPS should not forward government mail, instead bounce to sender.

If sounds like if the folk at previous addresses are on the lookout then you might have been counter productive to set up the mail forward.. wow. Did you cancel the forwarder?

I think the silver lining here is the USCIS should know that the mail was not delivered because it should have been returned. If you changed your address online with the USCIS and they still sent it to old addresses that should have been returned, then you have a good case should that be the case.

But, this all could be for nothing! I would call and find out, cross that bridge if you come to it. It could just be a slow moving case, at least you're hear and there's no real disadvantage! I think the most important thing here is that you're actively seeking updates, not just sitting around 'carelessly'.

Good Luck

I actually set up the forward so that all our mail would be forwarded, not just USCIS.

I called USCIS today and they could not tell if there were any RFEs on my case. They said that they can't look into things further until after 6 months has passed and the only way I can get more information about my case is by making an Info Pass Appointment.

On Visa Journey it says they are currently processing I-751 with a NOA date of March 2nd (mine is April 3rd) for the Vermont Service Center. However the California Service Center is May 17th. I originally sent my application to Vermont but all my change of address notices have come back saying that the information was sent to the California Service Center. I even called and spoke with an immigration office who resubmitted the change of address specifically to Vermont and I still got another notice saying it got sent to California. The immigration office did say it is being processed at Vermont though.

Thank you for your responses. I did submit the address change through the post office. Also the woman who bought our house said she would watch for any mail from USCIS and forward it to me and the friends that we stayed with temporarily are still currently living at their home. So if anything was sent to our two previous addresses then I should find out about it. However, I read that the postal service will not forward mail from USCIS. Any USCIS mail is suppose to get sent back to USCIS. That is what I am worried about.

Hi,

My NOA for the I-751 was in early April and I did the biometrics appointment mid May. Since April we have moved twice due to my husband's military service. We filed with the Vermont Service center but when we filed the change of address through USCIS, both times the letter I received said the address change request was sent to the California Service Center. I am certain I put Vermont when I submitted the address change form. On the USCIS website, my case status says that my address has been changed and the case is under "initial review".

It has now been over 5 months. I am worried that my case may have a RFE that I never received by mail due to all my moving.

If I did receive a RFE, would it show up on the USCIS website when I check my case status? Is there a way to make sure you don't have a RFE?

Also, does it seem like my case is being processed by Vermont or California? If it's California then it seems like my case is delayed compared to other people's timelines here on VJ!

Thank you for your time and advice!

Caroline

I contacted a lawyer over the phone and they said the k1 visa date is correct, not the first time I ever entered the US or the times since the k1 entry. Hope this helps someone in the future!

I called USCIS and they said they were not allowed to answer the question because it would be helping me fill out a form. They told me to contact a lawyer!!!!!!! I should not need a lawyer to fill out a change of address form! This is ridiculous. It's a simple question.

Thank you for your responses!

I don't think it's the most recent entry into the US because the description the USCIS website says "the approximate date when you first entered into the United States". I just don't know if they mean the first time I ever entered into the US or the first time I entered with my k1 visa.

Hi,

I filled out the change of address form online because I am moving (I-751 is pending). The form asked for the "date of entry into the US". If you clicked the little question mark it said "approximate date when you first entered the US". I assumed this meant when I first entered with my K1 visa. However, after submitting the application I started to question my response and thought it might have been asking for the first time I ever entered the US. I grew up on the boarder of Canada and the US so I have crossed many times before and after my K1 visa was issued. Does anyone know what this question meant? I read some other posts on this website and people were saying it was suppose to be the most recent entry into the US. I am very confused and stressed. Any help would be appreciated.

Also, when it asked for the port of entry I was given the choice of Detroit, Detroit Tunnel, or Detroit Bridge. I cannot remember if I entered through the tunnel or the bridge since I have crossed that border hundreds of times. I called USCIS and they told me to call the bridge and tunnel customs. I called and the customs officer said they could not release that information to me. The customs officer told me just to put Detroit on the form. Is that okay? I never thought changing my address would be so complicated.

Thanks,

Caroline

Unfortunately, it did take a really long time to get my AOS approved. I got an RFE because they lost my medical from K1 and I had to redo it at my own expense. It took a while to get the appointment with a civil surgeon so it caused things to be delayed by about a month. Good luck with AOS and hopefully yours will get approved more quickly than mine!

Hi everyone,

I came here on K1 visa and applied for Adjustment of Status in October. I had to go to a biometric appointment in the winter but I was under the impression that I would have an interview as well. Nevertheless, I just received my permanent residence card in the mail the other day (not employment authorization or advanced parole but the actual permanent residence card with a welcome to America brochure). Do I still need to do an interview or did I just skip that step?

Thanks!

Caroline

Thanks for the advice about the medical. I already made the appointment for June 5th. My RFE date is August 1st so plenty of time!

I posted yesterday about USCIS losing my medical and giving me an RFE. In summary, I came here on a k-1 visa (October 2011), which required me to get a medical (done in June 2011). I handed the medical documents in to an immigration officer at my visa interview at the Consulate in Montreal (August 2011). While filing AOS (received November 2011) I sent the vaccine supplement and my RFE states that I don't need to redo that part of the medical (ie the vaccine part is fine and I don't need just the vaccine supplement as some other people have received an RFE regarding). I've been trying to contact my Canadian panel physician to see if I can get a copy of the medical resent but haven't heard back from them. I have a few questions...

1. Does anyone know is Dr. Seiden's office in Toronto will mail you a copy of your past medical exam?

2. My RFE wants me to do an I-693 but if I am able to get a copy (in a sealed envelop) of my medical from Canada which includes forms DS-2053, DS-3024, and DS-3026, will that work instead of getting I-693 done?

3. My medical took place on June 8, 2011. I filed for AOS in November 2011, well within the 1 year period for my medical to be valid. However, I am now coming close to the 1 year mark and likely wouldn't be able to get a copy to USCIS by June 8th. Does that mean I need to redo my physical regardless of whether or not I can get a copy of my medical or is it fine because I filed AOS within 1 year and that's the date that matters? I'm not sure if the medical needs to be valid one year from when I filed (November 2011) or 1 year from when they actually look at your case (ie now).

I called USCIS to try to get help but they are useless. They acknowledge that it didn't make sense and told me to respond to the RFE by saying that I didn't need a medical because I had one already for k-1. From reading posts on VJ, I know people have been denied for doing just that. Infopass is a 6 hour drive and I've heard from others that they also were not helpful in relocating lost medicals.

My RFE date is still 2.5 months away so I have decided to try to contact a Senator and Ombudsman to help locate my lost medicals. If I can't get help within the next couple weeks I will just redo the medical rather than risk being denied. Senator Barbara Boxer is a friend of my mother-in-law and she has already agreed to help with my issue. I know this is a very common problem that is happening over and over again. Even if she cannot help me locate my lost medicals in time, I would like to see if she can do something to prevent this from happening to other people repeatedly. She seems very eager to help, especially since I am a military family. It would be very helpful if other people who have experienced USCIS losing their medicals were to contact her. Please private message me if this has happened to you and I can put you in touch with her. I also urge you to contact the ombudsman (http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/cisomb.shtm).

I find it appalling that so many people have a hard time dealing with immigration. I don't understand why I should have to pay such a high fee for AOS only to have mistakes be made by USCIS at my expense. If any business didn't provide a service that was paid for or if they made a mistake, they would have to pay for the expense of that mistake. However, because we are immigrants, and deportation/being separated from our loved ones is at risk, we often just go along with the ridiculous nature of this process.

My RFE states "the vaccination record has been received by USCIS; therefore, the vaccination portion of Form I-693 does not have to be completed". In other words the vaccination portion of the medical was fine. I did exactly as the instruction said for form I-485.

I don't believe the CBP is the problem since the only thing I am missing is the medical and not the entire contents of the envelope submitted at the port of entry. Additionally, I received my EAD so it must have been forwarded. From what I have read, many people have had this happen because USCIS doesn't look in our A-file for the medical. They just see that a medical isn't included in the I-485 application. Even though it is sitting there in their files, they are too lazy to look for it and the only way to get them to look for it is to get a congressman, senator or ombudsman involved. Unfortunately, that takes time and we have a time limit to respond to the RFE so many people just redo the medical. I think people need to start making a complaint so something can be done about this very common issue.

Hi everyone,

I moved to the US from Canada in October on a K-1 visa then applied for AOS. I recently received a Request for Additional Evidence because USCIS "never received" my medical documents even though I submitted them at the point of entry. I am told that I need to repeat the medical at my own expense. I was appalled to see the pages and pages of other people who have had this happen to them. I can't believe USCIS can be so incompetent with important and expensive documents yet take no responsibility for their mistakes. When I pay $1000 for a form to be processes only to have USCIS not follow their own rules (ie K-1 doesn't need to redo the medical within a year) and lose documents I expect them to be accountable. If we weren't immigrants at the mercy of these people, they would never get away with this. However, out of fear of being separated from our loved ones, many of us just redo the medical and don't complain. This is wasting a lot of money for people who already have spent thousands of dollars and many hours of their time for this redundant process. I plan on redoing the medical since we have a strict time limit and I don't want to risk getting AOS denies but I am incredibly frustrated with this and think we should try to do something about it. Perhaps if the Ombudsman gets enough complaints we can fix it. If this has also happened to you please contact him using the link below...

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/cisomb.shtm

Hi everyone,

I moved to the US from Canada in October on a K-1 visa then applied for AOS. I recently received a Request for Additional Evidence because USCIS "never received" my medical documents even though I submitted them at the point of entry. I am told that I need to repeat the medical at my own expense. I was appalled to see the pages and pages of other people who have had this happen to them. I can't believe USCIS can be so incompetent with important and expensive documents yet take no responsibility for their mistakes. When I pay $1000 for a form to be processes only to have USCIS not follow their own rules (ie K-1 doesn't need to redo the medical within a year) and lose documents I expect them to be accountable. If we weren't immigrants at the mercy of these people, they would never get away with this. However, out of fear of being separated from our loved ones, many of us just redo the medical and don't complain. This is wasting a lot of money for people who already have spent thousands of dollars and many hours of their time for this redundant process. I plan on redoing the medical since we have a strict time limit and I don't want to risk getting AOS denies but I am incredibly frustrated with this and think we should try to do something about it. Perhaps if the Ombudsman gets enough complaints we can fix it. If this has also happened to you please contact him using the link below...

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/cisomb.shtm

Thanks for the support! I seriously really need it right now as I am feeling incredibly discouraged. In addition to this situation my visa application was lost and I was unable to reschedule my visa interview just 5 days after having emergency surgery for a burst appendix. I did the 10 hour to drive and suffered every bump along the way! I think I will call to have a new medical done but I am appalled that this has happened to so many people and that USCIS takes absolutely no responsibility for their mistakes. I have contact the Ombudsman. I know he may not be able to help me since I have a time limit but I perhaps he can do something to prevent this from happening over and over again to other people. If this has happened to you too please contact the Ombudsman. If he gets enough complaints maybe they can fix it! Here is the link...

http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/structure/cisomb.shtm

I'm sorry but I really feel the need to vent. I have had difficulty due to immigration's incompetence (especially the Montreal Consulate) every step of the way through the immigration process. It seems like the lost medical has been a common issue for AOS applicants for at least 6 years. How has this not been dealt with? How is immigration so negligent? I am starting to understand, with the expense, frustration, and stupidity of the immigration process, why there are so many illegal immigrants in this country. I can't wait for my husband to get out of the military so we can move back to Canada.

After reading some other posts, I realize that this is a common RFE. It appears as though my medical record was collected at the point of entry and probably wasn't connected to my i-485 application even though it says you don't have to resend a new medical. My question is, how do you get USCIS to find your medical record collected at the POE? My RFE states that they have my vaccination record so I don't need to submit that part. Alternatively, if I could get my civil surgeon from Toronto, Canada to send a copy of the medical I got done last year, could I just mail that in instead? It's won't be an I693 but it would be all the other forms. Thanks again!