Law Offices of Rajiv S. Khanna, P.C.
Advance Parole Usage: Collecting Statistics...
- Thread starter ari4u
- Start date
I131 photos
Thanks Jenimmi for answering my question. Yes we have gone for interview and the officer said he's happy with everything, but I'm stuck in name check (fp check cleared). I have gotten an INFOPASS to go to my DO on 8/8.
I'm just anxious coz in my experience USCIS has never gotten ahead of its schedule. And part of the frustration is that the ONLY reason why i waited till now to file I131 was because the immigration officer at the local DO said to do so (we told him about the trip at the interview) . Otherwise I would have filed it the day following the interview.
Another question i have for all those who have filed I131 recently: What is the right passport photos to provide, the 3/4 (as in the form instruction) or straight from front? believe it or not, when I got mine taken at Kinko's for the originial I131 application, I had to get into a whole argument with the Kinko's staff because they insisted that they had received communication that "the law has changed and we only take full face now". I tried to explain it's not really for passport, and even show them the instructions. Finally I gave in and took both. Now I'm considering if I should get both sets to go to the DO next week.
What was the other's experience? Thanks very much.
H1B married to USC
DO location: Norfolk, VA
11/2/05: sent applications to Chicago lock box
11/7/05: RD (Day 00)
11/16/05: ND (Day 10)
1/11/06: LUD (Day 65)
2/6/06: Infopass appointment (Day 91), received iEAD (good for 8 mths)
2/14/06: FP notice for 765, 485, notice received on 2/17/06 (Day 102)
3/8/06: FPappointment for 765 (Day 124)
3/9/06: FP appointment for 485 (Day 125) but when requested, they allowed me to do both on 3/8/06
3/14/06: Received EAD in the mail (Day 130)
4/3/05: Received request for initial AOS interview (Day 150)
5/18/06: AOS interview (Day 195), pending name check
7/16/06: Filed I131
7/21/06: ND for I131
8/8/06: INFOPASS appointment to talk to an immigration officer
Thanks Jenimmi for answering my question. Yes we have gone for interview and the officer said he's happy with everything, but I'm stuck in name check (fp check cleared). I have gotten an INFOPASS to go to my DO on 8/8.
I'm just anxious coz in my experience USCIS has never gotten ahead of its schedule. And part of the frustration is that the ONLY reason why i waited till now to file I131 was because the immigration officer at the local DO said to do so (we told him about the trip at the interview) . Otherwise I would have filed it the day following the interview.
Another question i have for all those who have filed I131 recently: What is the right passport photos to provide, the 3/4 (as in the form instruction) or straight from front? believe it or not, when I got mine taken at Kinko's for the originial I131 application, I had to get into a whole argument with the Kinko's staff because they insisted that they had received communication that "the law has changed and we only take full face now". I tried to explain it's not really for passport, and even show them the instructions. Finally I gave in and took both. Now I'm considering if I should get both sets to go to the DO next week.
What was the other's experience? Thanks very much.
H1B married to USC
DO location: Norfolk, VA
11/2/05: sent applications to Chicago lock box
11/7/05: RD (Day 00)
11/16/05: ND (Day 10)
1/11/06: LUD (Day 65)
2/6/06: Infopass appointment (Day 91), received iEAD (good for 8 mths)
2/14/06: FP notice for 765, 485, notice received on 2/17/06 (Day 102)
3/8/06: FPappointment for 765 (Day 124)
3/9/06: FP appointment for 485 (Day 125) but when requested, they allowed me to do both on 3/8/06
3/14/06: Received EAD in the mail (Day 130)
4/3/05: Received request for initial AOS interview (Day 150)
5/18/06: AOS interview (Day 195), pending name check
7/16/06: Filed I131
7/21/06: ND for I131
8/8/06: INFOPASS appointment to talk to an immigration officer
cwtt said:
The photo requirement for USCIS is the same as that of a passport. The staff at Kinkos was right. You should have listened to them. Here is the link
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/04_08_02Photo_flyer.pdf
expedited AP at the DO - tricky bits
So we went to the DO to ask for an expedited AP. And was told that first of all, the one-month information provided by our interview officer was wrong, and he's not in that office anymore. Secondly, I should have applied for my AP at the local DO, not NBC. INstructions didn't say so online? tough luck.
And since I have already submitted my I131 application, they would not let me put in another application for expeditied AP at the local DO. I would need to write to the NBC requesting withdrawal of my first application, get confirmation of withdrawal and use that to submit another application at the local DO.
Just want to share this so that someone else benefit from the information.
So we went to the DO to ask for an expedited AP. And was told that first of all, the one-month information provided by our interview officer was wrong, and he's not in that office anymore. Secondly, I should have applied for my AP at the local DO, not NBC. INstructions didn't say so online? tough luck.
And since I have already submitted my I131 application, they would not let me put in another application for expeditied AP at the local DO. I would need to write to the NBC requesting withdrawal of my first application, get confirmation of withdrawal and use that to submit another application at the local DO.
Just want to share this so that someone else benefit from the information.
cwtt said:So we went to the DO to ask for an expedited AP. And was told that first of all, the one-month information provided by our interview officer was wrong, and he's not in that office anymore. Secondly, I should have applied for my AP at the local DO, not NBC. INstructions didn't say so online? tough luck.
And since I have already submitted my I131 application, they would not let me put in another application for expeditied AP at the local DO. I would need to write to the NBC requesting withdrawal of my first application, get confirmation of withdrawal and use that to submit another application at the local DO.
Just want to share this so that someone else benefit from the information.
Thanks for sharing this experience. My notice date for AP is 7/5 and I am traveling on 10/14. I guess, I will be safe. However, looking at the processing dated of NBC, makes me little uncomfortable.
on 8/3, they were processing ND of 5/8 . When I extrapolate
on 10/3, they will be processing 7/8. So my AP must be processed by then. Add couple of days for mail delivery and I would get my AP just in time.
My plan is to make an infopass appointment around 10/3 and determine what is the status. Usually, they are able to tell if the AP is in print or dispatch.
If they say, that application is still pending, I will have 2 options I guess:
1. Ask for an AP from local office
2. Cancel the trip
Is it right approach? Just want a feeling from my friends on this forum.
Suggestions to memme
I would suggest getting your infopass appointment at least 2 weeks before your travel date. The 2nd part to my DO experience was that they agreed to email the NBC to request for an expedited process(since they can't accept another application, even though we had everything we needed there and then), but said they couldn't guarantee whether NBC will take action, and even if it does, it may take 2 weeks for us to receive it. It took us almost another hour of "negotiating & persuading" (it was such a stressful experience I don't think I will go into detail here) to request them to put in a more compelling email to the NBC.
Now i just received my AP from NBC yesterday in the mail, which is 8 days after visiting the DO. But you may not want to go through the stress and worries.
Get your infopass appointment set up, you can always go online and cancel it if you don't need it later.
Good luck my friend!
cwtt
I would suggest getting your infopass appointment at least 2 weeks before your travel date. The 2nd part to my DO experience was that they agreed to email the NBC to request for an expedited process(since they can't accept another application, even though we had everything we needed there and then), but said they couldn't guarantee whether NBC will take action, and even if it does, it may take 2 weeks for us to receive it. It took us almost another hour of "negotiating & persuading" (it was such a stressful experience I don't think I will go into detail here) to request them to put in a more compelling email to the NBC.
Now i just received my AP from NBC yesterday in the mail, which is 8 days after visiting the DO. But you may not want to go through the stress and worries.
Get your infopass appointment set up, you can always go online and cancel it if you don't need it later.
Good luck my friend!
cwtt
cwtt said:So we went to the DO to ask for an expedited AP. And was told that first of all, the one-month information provided by our interview officer was wrong, and he's not in that office anymore. Secondly, I should have applied for my AP at the local DO, not NBC. INstructions didn't say so online? tough luck.
And since I have already submitted my I131 application, they would not let me put in another application for expeditied AP at the local DO. I would need to write to the NBC requesting withdrawal of my first application, get confirmation of withdrawal and use that to submit another application at the local DO.
Just want to share this so that someone else benefit from the information.
cwtt -
Congrats on getting your AP, finally.
But the thing they told you at the DO, about withdrawl of I-131 at NBC seems strange. When I asked for expedited AP at the DO, we sure already had I-131 filed with NBC a couple of months ago. At the DO, the officer just saw the I-131 Receipt notice sent out by NBC and issued expedited AP, based on the original I-131. That's the case with most others who got expedited AP from their DO.
I wonder why they told you, you have to file a fresh I-131 at your DO? We got the expedited I-131 in April'06. Could it be that the rules have changed now
My Mom's AP experience at POE:
1. Were you subjected to secondary inspection?
Yes
2. Did the officer at the POE take away one sheet (original) of your AP?
No.
3. How long was your wait till you were allowed to go?
About 20 mins. because of people waiting in line ahead of me.
4. Which line did you wait in before you got to speak to the officer at POE? (visitors/residents?)
Visitors.
5. What documents were you asked to show (besides your I-485 receipt)?
Only asked PP, AP doc and new I-94 that I filled out on the flight.
6. I know this is taking my questions too far... Did you overstay your visa and tried to enter US using AP? What was the outcome at the POE?
No overstay.
My Mom was directed to a secondary room when she showed her AP on the visitor's visa line. In the other room, there were a few people ahead of her on the line. When her turn came, the officer asked absolutely no questions, just stamped one copy of AP (gave her the other copy unstamped), I-94 and a page of her PP with the same stamp (validity 1 year from dt of entry) that reads:
Paroled until Aug xx 2007
Purpose: AOS
oh.. and the POE was Newark, NJ.
1. Were you subjected to secondary inspection?
Yes
2. Did the officer at the POE take away one sheet (original) of your AP?
No.
3. How long was your wait till you were allowed to go?
About 20 mins. because of people waiting in line ahead of me.
4. Which line did you wait in before you got to speak to the officer at POE? (visitors/residents?)
Visitors.
5. What documents were you asked to show (besides your I-485 receipt)?
Only asked PP, AP doc and new I-94 that I filled out on the flight.
6. I know this is taking my questions too far... Did you overstay your visa and tried to enter US using AP? What was the outcome at the POE?
No overstay.
My Mom was directed to a secondary room when she showed her AP on the visitor's visa line. In the other room, there were a few people ahead of her on the line. When her turn came, the officer asked absolutely no questions, just stamped one copy of AP (gave her the other copy unstamped), I-94 and a page of her PP with the same stamp (validity 1 year from dt of entry) that reads:
Paroled until Aug xx 2007
Purpose: AOS
oh.. and the POE was Newark, NJ.
Last edited by a moderator:
1. Were you subjected to secondary inspection?
Yes
2. Did the officer at the POE take away one sheet (original) of your AP?
Yes.
3. How long was your wait till you were allowed to go?
About 10 minutes
4. Which line did you wait in before you got to speak to the officer at POE? (visitors/residents?)
Residents, was with USC spouse
5. What documents were you asked to show (besides your I-485 receipt)?
Only asked PP, AP doc and I-94.
6. I know this is taking my questions too far... Did you overstay your visa and tried to enter US using AP? What was the outcome at the POE?
No overstay.
Yes
2. Did the officer at the POE take away one sheet (original) of your AP?
Yes.
3. How long was your wait till you were allowed to go?
About 10 minutes
4. Which line did you wait in before you got to speak to the officer at POE? (visitors/residents?)
Residents, was with USC spouse
5. What documents were you asked to show (besides your I-485 receipt)?
Only asked PP, AP doc and I-94.
6. I know this is taking my questions too far... Did you overstay your visa and tried to enter US using AP? What was the outcome at the POE?
No overstay.
memme said:
Well, my worries are for real now.
Since, I planned to travel on 10/14/2006; I had applied for Advance Parole more than three months back in end of June 2006. RD - 7/3/2006
Considering the processing time of about 60 days based on my previous 2 applications, I felt comfortable and booked my travel tickets for the above planned date.
Now, when I checked the current processing dates, I figured that USCIS is processing cases of 5/29 as of 09/08. This, when projected, means that my case will be processed about a day or two later than my travel date.
It will be unfortunate as this delay of few days will cause severe financial loss to me. Airlines have hefty penalty for a change in travel dates. We being family of three persons, the penalty will be manifold.
Following is the excerpt from USCIS website - http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/fieldoffices/nbc/aboutus.htm. My case would fall in the first criterion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Please keep in mind that expedite requests for applications and petitions will be considered based upon the following seven criteria:
1. Severe financial loss to company or individual.
2. Extreme emergent situation.
3. Humanitarian situation.
4. Nonprofit status of requesting organization in furtherance of the cultural and social interests of the United States.
5. Department of Defense or National Interest Situation (Note: Request must come from official United States Government entity and state that delay will be detrimental to our government.)
6. USCIS error.
7. Compelling interest of the USCIS
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
So far, I have requested assistance from Congressman and Senator. Have sent a letter to NBC. Is there anything else I could do to avoid the trouble?
AP Questions
My wife got her AP a couple of weeks ago and we already have purchased tickets to travel out of the country at the end of October to her home country. I do not feel safe for her traveling by hereslef with AP. Here is the whole story. She was on B2 visa which expired on April 28, 2006. Six weeks before expiration, she apllied to change her status to F1. Then we got married in May and applied for everything on the first week of June. The question I have is whether she is considered someone who overstayed. As far as I understand, since she already had a pending USCIS case, her original visa expiration should not be considered as overstay. Anyone has any explanation on the overstay?? Should she travel on AP under these circumstances? Is there anything to worry about? Is it okay for her to return by herself?
My wife got her AP a couple of weeks ago and we already have purchased tickets to travel out of the country at the end of October to her home country. I do not feel safe for her traveling by hereslef with AP. Here is the whole story. She was on B2 visa which expired on April 28, 2006. Six weeks before expiration, she apllied to change her status to F1. Then we got married in May and applied for everything on the first week of June. The question I have is whether she is considered someone who overstayed. As far as I understand, since she already had a pending USCIS case, her original visa expiration should not be considered as overstay. Anyone has any explanation on the overstay?? Should she travel on AP under these circumstances? Is there anything to worry about? Is it okay for her to return by herself?
jenimmi said:
I went to the local DO on 11th of this month. They were not of any help. All they had to say was, "If you leave without AP, it is your responsibility" ... as if I didn't know that. Later, she asked me to send the letter to NBC.
May be I'll make one more appointment next week and will try to put my case in a different perspective. Hopefully, I will some different officer.
1. Were you subjected to secondary inspection?
YES
2. Did the officer at the POE take away one sheet (original) of your AP?
We only handed him one
3. How long was your wait till you were allowed to go?
30 min
4. Which line did you wait in before you got to speak to the officer at POE? (visitors/residents?)
There was no line (Champlain, NY)
5. What documents were you asked to show (besides your I-485 receipt)?
Passport
6. I know this is taking my questions too far... Did you overstay your visa and tried to enter US using AP? What was the outcome at the POE?
No overstay.
YES
2. Did the officer at the POE take away one sheet (original) of your AP?
We only handed him one
3. How long was your wait till you were allowed to go?
30 min
4. Which line did you wait in before you got to speak to the officer at POE? (visitors/residents?)
There was no line (Champlain, NY)
5. What documents were you asked to show (besides your I-485 receipt)?
Passport
6. I know this is taking my questions too far... Did you overstay your visa and tried to enter US using AP? What was the outcome at the POE?
No overstay.
huatuanjincu
Registered Users (C)
AP questions
Hi,
I have been visiting this forum a lot recently, it is a very good place to exchange information. Thanks to everyone for supporting it.
Here is my story:
came to the country on F-1 visa. Filed I-130/I-485 early this year based on my marriage to a USC. We had a happy interiview back in June, unfortunately the case is pending due to namecheck. I have been waiting for about 4 months. No words yet.
I have to admit that we were very optimistic when we filed, hoping to get GC in half a year. Because of that, we did not file AP. Right now, my grandparents are having serious health problems, I am praying for them everyday. But I also realize I probably should apply for my AP just in case.
Ok, here are the questions:
1. what is my class of admission?
F-1 ? or it refers to current status, I-485 pending?
2. Do I need to surrender my current I-94 (based on my F-1 I-20) when I leave the contury?
3. When you guys came back to states with AP, do you still get a I-94?
4. My school advisor told me that I was still a F-1 until I received my GC. It is a grey area. But that's the official answer from my shool and how they handeled previous cases. I was told to inform them immediately after I plan to use AP. What is going to happen when I come back with AP?
Thanks for your answer and good luck to everyone
Hi,
I have been visiting this forum a lot recently, it is a very good place to exchange information. Thanks to everyone for supporting it.
Here is my story:
came to the country on F-1 visa. Filed I-130/I-485 early this year based on my marriage to a USC. We had a happy interiview back in June, unfortunately the case is pending due to namecheck. I have been waiting for about 4 months. No words yet.
I have to admit that we were very optimistic when we filed, hoping to get GC in half a year. Because of that, we did not file AP. Right now, my grandparents are having serious health problems, I am praying for them everyday. But I also realize I probably should apply for my AP just in case.
Ok, here are the questions:
1. what is my class of admission?
F-1 ? or it refers to current status, I-485 pending?
2. Do I need to surrender my current I-94 (based on my F-1 I-20) when I leave the contury?
3. When you guys came back to states with AP, do you still get a I-94?
4. My school advisor told me that I was still a F-1 until I received my GC. It is a grey area. But that's the official answer from my shool and how they handeled previous cases. I was told to inform them immediately after I plan to use AP. What is going to happen when I come back with AP?
Thanks for your answer and good luck to everyone