Another victim of USCIS’ Carelessness

[JohnnyCash]

JohnnyCash -I know your ability to pick line-by-line of some one's post if they disagree with you on anything and go on with your explanations. People who have read your posts for long are well aware of this.

Evidently and obviously, you haven't read my posts well enough yet and certainly not for long enough as well; otherwise you had not said that I pick line-by-line of someone's post ONLY if someone DISAGREES with me on anything BECAUSE I ALWAYS pick line-by-line to make my posting to cover all the issues line-by-line, whether it is about giving my opinions to someone on their immigration questions or on something that seems wrong to ME. As a matter of fact, if your memory serves you well then you must have remembered about me dissecting each of your questions line-by-line when I answered them in detail many times in past. I did not hear such a statement from you then.

I don't give the damn to whether someone disagrees with me or not, nor it is important to me. I rather focus on giving right and accurate information to people for the sake of their dilema. Show me just one single posting of mine wherein I seemed to have dissected someone's postings line-by-line because of my DISAGREEMENT with them. If I've ever does this, then it was because of providing accurate information as thosands of people read and take advise from this board. On the other hand, I've ALWAYS dissected people's postings in pieces because those postings were made to offend ME. Don't be confused between a disagreement and an offense.

At last, I did not dissect your statements in pieces here because of having some kind of disagreement with you or being felt offensive from you; rather all of my above postings are made to explain your questions and statements better so that other people could also understand how things work with USCIS. I wish you can see that.

 

[needurhelp]

One of the Info line "officers" told me that 2 photo identification(s) are required, but any secondary photo id other than PP issued in her country are not acceptable. My Mom only has her PP which is one Photo id, but she doesn't have a StateId or anything else issued in the US. What do you do for another?
Needurhelp, Simidude and others sponsoring parents - what did you do in your case?

Coming back to the issue at hand and away from ...., only one PhotoID, passport was taken along with the FP letter. As far as I know, they need only one ID. Good luck....

 

[Suzy977]

Coming back to the issue at hand and away from ...., only one PhotoID, passport was taken along with the FP letter. As far as I know, they need only one ID. Good luck....

Yes, I think you're right, I've never heard that CIS asked for two picture ID's.

Is true they ask for different documents (i.e. Passport, GC, etc.) but not all for the purpose of identification but for different reasons.

 

[cherr1980]

Important thing is that the ID that you going to bring has a picture of you, should be valid and unexpired. (well the unexpired I don't know for sure if they really put attention to it, but some ASC pick on it)

Good luck,

 

[jenimmi]

Coming back to the issue at hand and away from ...., only one PhotoID, passport was taken along with the FP letter. As far as I know, they need only one ID. Good luck....

Thank you all - needurhelp, Suzy and Cherr. My mom's PP should be good enough, I guess.

You may have seen this thread already and some of you even responded:
http://boards.immigrationportal.com/showthread.php?t=207404

It's really sad what happened to this person. It's quite likely that if I ignore the fact that my Mom's FP notice is missing, it might very well be like this guys' case - where USCIS claims to have sent the Interview letter and the applicant actually never receives it, and case eventually denied. Although I'm not saying that this happens with every case where notices go missing, but if one is not "watching" the progress of their case closely enough, they might just become "victims" of missing notices.

 

[rex1960]

It’s going to be 2 months soon since I filed I-130, I-485 bunch for my Mother and I still have not received the FP notice, whereas the most recent cases (with Newark, NJ as their DO) have gone for their FP.
...

According to this site https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/officeProcesstimes.jsp?selectedOffice=50
the Newark,NJ DO doesn't process I-130. If you've sent them there, they might have redirected them elsewhere, maybe to MSC or VSC for that matter ????
Just a thought ...

 

[jenimmi]

According to this site https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/officeProcesstimes.jsp?selectedOffice=50
the Newark,NJ DO doesn't process I-130. If you've sent them there, they might have redirected them elsewhere, maybe to MSC or VSC for that matter ????
Just a thought ...

Appreciate your effort, Rex.
I sent the I-130, 485, 131 bunch to Chicago LB, later case got transferred to MSC. The problem right now is that Cust. serv info line "Immig Officers" confirm that a FP notice was sent early Feb from MSC for FP appt @ Newark, which we never received. So, I'm trying to figure out how to sort out this issue and be back on track with FP

 

[rex1960]

Appreciate your effort, Rex.
I sent the I-130, 485, 131 bunch to Chicago LB, later case got transferred to MSC. The problem right now is that Cust. serv info line "Immig Officers" confirm that a FP notice was sent early Feb from MSC for FP appt @ Newark, which we never received. So, I'm trying to figure out how to sort out this issue and be back on track with FP

I somehow can't believe they sent you an FP appointment letter even before they cashed those checks according to your timeline.
Maybe somebody clicked the wrong code in the system and now something shows up as FP appointment which is in fact the Receive Notice ND 02/03...
The Customer Service guy is only as smart as his computerscreen, he doesn't have his hand on your files, does he.

well, anyway, you'll find out sooner or later

 

[jenimmi]

I somehow can't believe they sent you an FP appointment letter even before they cashed those checks according to your timeline.
Maybe somebody clicked the wrong code in the system and now something shows up as FP appointment which is in fact the Receive Notice ND 02/03...
The Customer Service guy is only as smart as his computerscreen, he doesn't have his hand on your files, does he.

well, anyway, you'll find out sooner or later

Yours is a very interesting observation about the checks. That thought crossed my mind too when the date they mentioned as FP notice was the same as the ND. I had wondered if they made a manual error when they entered Feb 3, instead of Feb 13 on their system - which seems to be a more logical date and ties closely with the other timelines for Newark. But again, that's just guessing. My biggest concern as I had mentioned previously is that the FP should be done prior to the Interview. I've been warned enough of the consequences of an interview without FP and the ensuing delays.

I have tentatively decided to wait for a response from MSC to my follow-up letter, before doing a walk-in.

Yes.. I hope to find out sooner or later what's going on!

 

[jenimmi]

Walk in for FP with just the Receipt lr NOA

Has anyone done or heard of a I-485 case, where they did a walk-in for FP without the Biometrics appt letter?

I want to know in general, any (specific) experience when someone walks in for FP, with only the Receipt notice(s) for 130, 485
and a photo Id and
if no prior Biometric appt was ever scheduled.

Another related Q.
Is it possible if FP doesn't get scheduled at all for my mother's case, can she get her AP within the first week of June? Her RD for I-131 is 1/30/06.

Ari4u - in case you're reading this, you've been around quite some time in this forum - do you remember any similar walk-in situation?

Thanks in advance for every one's comments.

 

[ari4u]

Has anyone done or heard of a I-485 case, where they did a walk-in for FP without the Biometrics appt letter?

I want to know in general, any (specific) experience when someone walks in for FP, with only the Receipt notice(s) for 130, 485
and a photo Id and
if no prior Biometric appt was ever scheduled.

Another related Q.
Is it possible if FP doesn't get scheduled at all for my mother's case, can she get her AP within the first week of June? Her RD for I-131 is 1/30/06.

Ari4u - in case you're reading this, you've been around quite some time in this forum - do you remember any similar walk-in situation?

Thanks in advance for every one's comments.

Jen, till Sep-Oct 2005, our receipt notices required us to call the 1-800# and schedule a FP appt with the nearest ASC. We had the freedom to choose the date and the ASC. Due to a huge backlog some applicants got appt dates that were more than 60 days away and they had their own reasons for not waiting that long. There were numerous without-appt-walkins with more success than failures.

Since the last 6 months, USCIS has changed the FP/Bio procedure and started sending out an appt letter which decides the date and nearest location for FP. The success rate for without-appt-walkins dropped considerably as the policy was strict: No appt letter, no FP/Bio. If i remember well, there were a few who slipped through the cracks and were able to get their FP dont without an appt letter. The staff at ASC are contractors and do not have anymore information than you do. You might want to go to the ASC when there is not much crowd and try to wiggle your way in there.

Regarding AP, there is no fingerprinting needed for it to be aprpoved. But going by the trend here, AP chugs along with the EAD most of the time and the EAD needs the FP.
I hope i answered your question.

 

[jenimmi]

Thank you very much, Ari.
There's always something to learn from your posts
I had no clue that scheduling of these appts worked much differently last year - now I can understand why some said (incl. Info line Officers / Reps) that we can do a walk-in. Of course, Info line "Immig officers" were still suggesting me to do what was possible as of last year - and the Info line people always being the last to know any changes with USCIS rules - what else to expect?

So, I guess it will be a very, very slim chance for us to wiggle in and get the FPs taken without appt, especially Newark ASC being so busy all year around. I have already written to MSC requesting re-scheduling of appt and if I don't get an answer from them in a couple of weeks, then will probably try the walk-in route. I just hope it won't be an exercise in futility after driving for almost 200 miles, back and forth.

We did not apply for EAD, so I'm assuming that AP should get approved whenever VSC gets to it. I see that the Proc.Dt for 131 @ VSC is Dec 24 '05. Just curious - if and when our Proc.Dt for 131 becomes current and if we still haven't received AP, is there another alternative except calling the "Info line"?

Ari - do you also have any advice to the situation that we are in right now? (my 1st post on this thread)

 

[jenimmi]

I-485 not found on their system ?!

Whenever I called the Info line, the 1st level Reps were never able to see my Mom's I-485 on their system and would tell me that they are transferring the call to an Officer. After speaking to a couple of these "officers" I thought they were Immig officers at different locations - once the officer told me that she was in California.

Even after reading some posts, I am not able to exactly follow if these so called officers are employed by USCIS like the officers we meet in Info Pass or are these officers also contractors like the 1st level Reps? Can some one clarify?

And the other thing is, when I give the I-485 receipt # to the reps, they say they see the exact same warning message that I see when I try to search the online status. "Check app receipt number. case not found" etc., . What does this mean? Do they have the same level of access like us, outsiders?

 

[ari4u]

Thank you very much, Ari.
There's always something to learn from your posts
I had no clue that scheduling of these appts worked much differently last year - now I can understand why some said (incl. Info line Officers / Reps) that we can do a walk-in. Of course, Info line "Immig officers" were still suggesting me to do what was possible as of last year - and the Info line people always being the last to know any changes with USCIS rules - what else to expect?

So, I guess it will be a very, very slim chance for us to wiggle in and get the FPs taken without appt, especially Newark ASC being so busy all year around. I have already written to MSC requesting re-scheduling of appt and if I don't get an answer from them in a couple of weeks, then will probably try the walk-in route. I just hope it won't be an exercise in futility after driving for almost 200 miles, back and forth.

We did not apply for EAD, so I'm assuming that AP should get approved whenever VSC gets to it. I see that the Proc.Dt for 131 @ VSC is Dec 24 '05. Just curious - if and when our Proc.Dt for 131 becomes current and if we still haven't received AP, is there another alternative except calling the "Info line"?

Ari - do you also have any advice to the situation that we are in right now? (my 1st post on this thread)

For family based cases You should be looking at the NBC timeline for AP processing dates and not the SC. As per NBC, the current processing dates are Jan 25 2006. SC dates reflect the processing for re-entry permits and refugee travel docs and not for your type of application.

As per experience of folks here, the 1800# reps share the same database the online case status site uses (I wont be surprised if they use the same site!!). They tell you what you alreay know and there is very little help you can get with respect to your cases status and progress if you call the I-800#. The IIO who helps you when you go for an INFOPASS appt has access to a little more information than the 1800# rep. If you havent already done this, i suggest you get an infopass appt and visit the friendly neighborhood IIOs

 

[ari4u]

Just curious - if and when our Proc.Dt for 131 becomes current and if we still haven't received AP, is there another alternative except calling the "Info line"?

AP is meant for emergency travel. You can prove your emergency and get AP the same day you visit your DO. Its sad that this facility has been misused by so many people that each DO has developed its own definition of "emergency". Some might want documented proof but some are willing to give on face value. If you dont have an emerency, you would want to wait for the AP to be approved the regular way. Unfortunately there is nothing called Interim AP where you wait for 90 days and march to the DO to get a temporary doc. If i were you, i would take an infopass and enquire about the AP progress if it goes beyond the NBC processing date and you havent heard anything from them.

 

[EricNeesGC]

All right guys and gals…lets stop this argument. Jenimmi patience is the virtue. I agree with JohnnyCash that USCIS, as a department, is doing their utmost best to provide the best service they could but there are some limitations that does hinder them from fulfilling all requests that come in. There are a few employees of USCIS who are careless…agreed…but that does not mean that the whole USCIS is bad. The best thing about this country is that you can always challenge your opponent…may it be the government. In your case, you will (or have already done) challenge the government and trust me…you concerns will be addressed. Missing an FP appointment does not do anything to your case. If your mother’s name is to be on FBI’s hit list, her wait will be eternal (atleast that’s what it looks like from the current going rate). If not, her name will be cleared before USCIS is even able to schedule her for an appointment.

I would like to let you know that there are people on this forum who are waiting for their AOS approval of over 2 years. There are some who have been screwed over and over by USCIS. This is just your first blip. You will get several more and all this is to secure America from terrorists. I am not saying that you or your mother could be a potential terrorist but in the eyes of the law everyone needs to be treated equally. My advice to you would be to stay put…read these posts and act fast…yes stay on their tails. Your mother’s case will be approved soon.

Lastly, I would like to say that whatever USCIS does is not something that you and I need to raise flags about. It is fortunate enough that we are able to stay in this country. Try doing this in Germany and you will know exactly what a headache is. Look at my timeline…should I be upset…no…not even a frown yet. Yes there were a few moments of frustration but I am over those moments and living much more happily.

Eric

 

[jenimmi]

For family based cases You should be looking at the NBC timeline for AP processing dates and not the SC. As per NBC, the current processing dates are Jan 25 2006. SC dates reflect the processing for re-entry permits and refugee travel docs and not for your type of application.

As per experience of folks here, the 1800# reps share the same database the online case status site uses (I wont be surprised if they use the same site!!). They tell you what you alreay know and there is very little help you can get with respect to your cases status and progress if you call the I-800#. The IIO who helps you when you go for an INFOPASS appt has access to a little more information than the 1800# rep. If you havent already done this, i suggest you get an infopass appt and visit the friendly neighborhood IIOs

As always, excellent "to the point" info - Thanks, Ari.

For some reason, when I was looking at VSC for I-130 Proc.Dt for my father (CP), I got confused and started watching I-131 timeline for my Mom too at VSC. Thanks for correcting me. I also saw Cherr's post today in another thread about the same topic - i.e. NBC Proc.Dt for I-131 Family based. So, that's double confirmation
What date should we compare with this Proc. dt - Is it the RD or ND of our I-131?

Another abbr. I'm trying to figure out - Who is IIO? - "Interviewing / InfoPass Immigration Officer" ?

Our Info Pass appt is for March 31st. The online appt confirmation asks us to bring all Receipt notices, whatever supporting docs were filed etc. I don't want to risk taking the originals (such as Birth Certificate) to the appt to give it to the officer - what if he wants to keep them?
Generally for these InfoPass appts, are copies of Supporting docs good enough? Or should we take any originals?

Re: AP - going by the timeline (Jan 25 AP processed now), the Proc. dt for I-131 will most likely become current, by the time we go for the IP appt. If it is current by that time, can we request the officer to approve AP right away? What if it's not current - can we still request AP approval?

My father who is abroad, is currently undergoing treatment before a surgery and my mother has to be with him when surgery is planned. That's the reason we need AP for my mother (and also FP), before such an emergency arises. Can I show my father's Dr's certificate, to get AP for my mother on our IP appt? At the time when we filed I-131 - I did not give this as the reason for AP, but this medical condition is a recent development, although not life-threatening. Any help is appreciated.

 

[ari4u]

As always, excellent "to the point" info - Thanks, Ari.

For some reason, when I was looking at VSC for I-130 Proc.Dt for my father (CP), I got confused and started watching I-131 timeline for my Mom too at VSC. Thanks for correcting me. I also saw Cherr's post today in another thread about the same topic - i.e. NBC Proc.Dt for I-131 Family based. So, that's double confirmation
What date should we compare with this Proc. dt - Is it the RD or ND of our I-131?
ND

Another abbr. I'm trying to figure out - Who is IIO? - "Interviewing / InfoPass Immigration Officer" ?
IIO = Immigration Information Officer

Our Info Pass appt is for March 31st. The online appt confirmation asks us to bring all Receipt notices, whatever supporting docs were filed etc. I don't want to risk taking the originals (such as Birth Certificate) to the appt to give it to the officer - what if he wants to keep them?
Generally for these InfoPass appts, are copies of Supporting docs good enough? Or should we take any originals?
When you go for your infopass appt, they never take any document from you unless they have to. 95% of the cases, they only look at your case and let you know whats going on. The only document they get to keep with them is the infopass appt letter you print from your computer. Also, if you are going there for iEAD, they take your application and copies of whatever supporting docs they need. Dont worry, you wont have to part with your originals

Re: AP - going by the timeline (Jan 25 AP processed now), the Proc. dt for I-131 will most likely become current, by the time we go for the IP appt. If it is current by that time, can we request the officer to approve AP right away? What if it's not current - can we still request AP approval?
You would be told to wait for the document to be approved by NBC as the processing dates are pretty much current for your case. If you have an emergency and need AP right away, you can prove your emergency and walk out of the DO with your AP the same day.

My father who is abroad, is currently undergoing treatment before a surgery and my mother has to be with him when surgery is planned. That's the reason we need AP for my mother (and also FP), before such an emergency arises. Can I show my father's Dr's certificate, to get AP for my mother on our IP appt? At the time when we filed I-131 - I did not give this as the reason for AP, but this medical condition is a recent development, although not life-threatening. Any help is appreciated.
You can try. If you are lucky, you might come across an officer who is understanding and can issue you an AP on the spot.

 

[jenimmi]

Thanks Ari for the v.quick response.

 

[sisieko]

The people who work for USCIS are also human beings like you and I. Thus, you cannot totally rule out for a mistake not to be done by them. Nevertheless, I don’t think that USCIS was careless in your mother’s case, nor I believe you mother is a VICTIM of them as you are saying here. Do you think they purposely picked on your mother to be their “victim”? If so, then why did they send mails to her until NOW? I’ve family members who work for USCIS as adjudication officers, thus I know how tiresome job is this.

A lot of times mails get lost. As for the people on 800 number with USCIS then they are tier 1 and tier 2 operators. Tier 1 are contractor operators, while tier 2 are immigration officers who can give ONLY basic information because they cannot see into more screens to inform you full details of the case as they don’t know the codes to open those screens.

Also, just because someone from Newark was already scheduled for fingerprinting, that doesn’t mean ALL the applicants from Newark area should have been fingerprinted at the same timeframe. Every case is unique and individual. Plus, different clerks and officers work on different cases. Thus, it is totally nonsense to compare a timeline of a case with other people’s cases.

Forget it everything now and just do two things at the same time. First, write immediately to Missouri Center to reschedule your mother’s fingerprints. Secondly, make an appointment with Newark District officer right away and go there on the scheduled appointment date with your mother. Tell them that you are told by two different officers on 800 number that a Fingerprinting Appointment Notice was mailed to your mother on so and so date, but you NEVER received, and you are also advised by them to go to local office to have fingerprinting done. Believe me, they will take your mother’s fingerprints right away on the spot.

Don’t listen to anyone if someone (even immigration officer) will tell you that fingerprinting is not done in local officer or they will do it only with appointment letter or otherwise. I deal with Newark office on a daily basis, thus I know how they operate. But don’t tell them that you already requested Missouri center to reschedule it. If somehow you were to bump with a hardheaded officer at local office, then your request to Missouri would be a back-up plan.

I believe EVERYONE wants to get immigration benefit soon if they could. Plus, having fingerprinted done so soon, doesn’t mean the case will be processed soon too. And it should also be known that a lot of people are struck in name check processing despite of being even women (even older ones) and from countries that have nothing to do with terrorism. Plus, security check is completed within 72 hours after fingerprints are being submitted to FBI, unless someone gets a hit on his/her name in FBI system. While a I-485 case will NEVER be over within 4-5 months anyway.

People should learn to appreciate USCIS for drastically improving their efficiency lately; otherwise an applicant for I-485 used to be asked for fingerprinting 10-13 months later of submitting his/her application. And until few years, I-485 used to take 2-3 yrs in most parts of the country.

Similarly, an application for Naturalization used to take at least 2 yrs until a year ago in NJ, NY and other parts of the country, but now it is wrapping up within 4-5 months in NY and in 6 months in NJ and all other parts of the country regardless of what is the timeframe mentioned on USCIS website for it.

I’ve seen many times people blame USCIS for pending name check, but what these people don’t know or don’t want to know is that USCIS has nothing to do with Name check processing; rather it is FBI jurisdiction. Yes, some officers in USCIS wrongly and fairly treated some people, but one cannot judge whole USCIS based upon those few wrong officers.

This being said, people should learn to have a patience, understanding and appreciate how things have changed lately with USCIS.

So are you saying if one goes without an appointment letter, one can still be fingerprinted? Please make me understand