Anyone been approved in Garden City, NY, recently?

glad to see every1 is hanging there good.
good thing doesn't come ez.
anyone's online status has been changed so far?
gl
 
Is the Garden City (sub) DO really helping, at least in terms of timeline or is it just fuc.king things up?
Also, what is the FBI's criteria for name check (I understand this is the main reason why responses are delayed)? Country of origin? Previous immigration status? USCIS officer's mood? Random?
 
Went today, filed out the inquiry form and told them about forgetting to leave the last page of the affidavit of support form.

He asked me to put the officer's name on the form to get it to him quicker.

I hope I don't get a RFE for that and they are able to put the two together before processing my application.

I'll try to call the officer and follow up to see if he got the last page.
 
Here's what I am going to do:

My husband and I are going to Garden City tomorrow...yes I know... this time for sure!!! Basically, since I know that my case is approved I will try to fight for a stamp. That is my goal for tomorrow. I actually do not care about the actual card, because I know I will get it sooner or later, but I just want to see myself on a plane going towards my home country next Saturday so I desperately need that stamp. I almost lost my hope that it is going to happen but I have to do everything I can anyway... you know how it is... ;)

I contacted the girl from my congresswoman office today and she told me that she still has not sent the request form, because the chef of stuff needs to look over and sign it. She said that it might take a few more days until she can fax the form to Garden City, because she is waiting for that signature :(

So, if things do not go well tomorrow I already scheduled an appointment with Federal Plaza on Monday and I will try my luck there. Actually, my plan is to have a copy of the request form from the congresswoman office when I go there. She is obligated to send it to me and I asked her to fax it to me as soon as possible. So I might have to reschedule it for Tuesday or Wednesday. I hope you are following what I am saying... I am kind of all over the place today :) But anyway... I just figured that if I have something (the congressional request, which will actually be like a legal document) that says that I have been approved, then they should stamp my passport, right? no? What do you think Guys?

OK!!! Good Luck!!!
 
Had my interview on last Dec. at Garden City. 3 months passed I'm still waiting. Try to get help from Congressman next week.

Edit: I was stuck on FBI name checked, and I just called them last Friday and knew that my name check result didn't come back yet, I filed my application last July and had fingerprinted last Aug. FBI is even worse than USCIS for those who got stuck on Name check issue.
 
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sarrebal said:
Also, what is the FBI's criteria for name check (I understand this is the main reason why responses are delayed)? Country of origin? Previous immigration status? USCIS officer's mood? Random?

No idea of it, someone can go throught it pretty fast,but some just gets stuck on it, even they went from the same country and have totally the same background. :confused:
 
lawmanfox said:
No idea of it, someone can go throught it pretty fast,but some just gets stuck on it, even they went from the same country and have totally the same background. :confused:

But I mean...... does everybody get the name checked by FBI or just someone?
 
sarrebal said:
But I mean...... does everybody get the name checked by FBI or just someone?
Everyone who has to go thru AOS!
Just someone get it done faster than the others. reason? don't know, there are no rules for name checks. and u can't rush FBI for doing that, USCIS can't do that either. best advices? fight for a stamp if you can.
 
jdawg9 said:
Went today, filed out the inquiry form and told them about forgetting to leave the last page of the affidavit of support form.

He asked me to put the officer's name on the form to get it to him quicker.

I hope I don't get a RFE for that and they are able to put the two together before processing my application.

I'll try to call the officer and follow up to see if he got the last page.
i personally don't thinkt those two forms delay your processing, unless your file has to be reviewed by supervisor. if the interviewer said everything is fine, that should be it. but ask yourself how much trust you have for USCIS?!!!
 
Thanks Crisz
I really hope you are right. THE USCIS to me is like a street dog that you see biting a lot people so you kind get scared of being bit too and don't trust him :rolleyes: But the mean dog occasionally does some nice tricks and make us happy.
 
question

jdawg,
what did the officer say to you....did she indicate how long you could wait for an answer? cause i see it has only been just over 30 days since your interview. i would wait maybe. we were told 90 days. my lawyer told me it would probably be more like 60.
why not hang in for another month, then go...instead of having the possibilty of making 2 trips if your clearance is still not through?
 
ceecee,
The Garden City DO is 5 minutes away from my house by car so the number of trips there is not of my concern.

The officer at the interview said everything looked good and If i didn't hear from him (via letter) within 10-14 days, he would forward for further processing. He also mentioned something about NVC (national visa center), which I don't know if its the next step or not.

I'll try to call him today and wait for marion's feedback (she is going there today and we had the same officer) to see how to proceed.

I know its been only over a month, i'm just trying to be a little proactive but i guess you are right. Waiting and being patient is the best thing.
 
Waiting too.

This is my fifth week after interview, I am getting less anxious, sometimes so sad that I do not get an answer, but what else can I do? Just wait. Anyway on Monday or Tuesday I will mail a letter to the officer that did the interview.


Ciao.
 
OK I am back!!!

I did not get a stamp, but I have some good news :)

We got to Garden City at around 1.30 and as on the day of the interview there were hundreds of people there, this time there were only maybe 10 people that I saw. (We were in the building for about 20 minutes). It was nice and quiet!!! The information officer was also in a very good mood so that was a plus :) (I did not get to see "my" officer, because as it turned out, there was no need to)

We got to talk to the officer and one of the first things I said was that my congresswoman said that my case was approved but unfortunately nobody is doing anything about it. The words "approved" and "congresswoman" made it so the info officer did not ask any questions and started checking my case on the computer. It actually took him a few seconds to agree that "yes, in fact, you have been approved". He also knew were my file was!!! Supposedly, instead of sending it for the green card processing, they sent it to their archives. The reason why I am so specific about all these details and key words like "approved" and "congresswoman" is that there were a couple of people that I saw who asked about an update on their case and the same info officer told them to fill out a inquiry form (or whatever it is called) "BECAUSE THAT IS THE PROCEDURE" and they were sent home. I guess it is not always the procedure since I did not have to do it :)

Anyway, the officer told us to wait for 10 minutes, because he had to make a phone call regarding our case. He called something "national" (it is probably the national visa center that jdawg9 was talking about) and they are supposed to update the system very soon and once that happens, I will get my green card within 5 days. My husband and I heard the phone conversation he had (or rather part of it), so we know for a fact that he did call like he said he would!!!

I asked about a stamp, but the info officer said that they do not stamp passports in Garden City (which we know is not necessarily true but whatever) and I would have to go to the Federal Plaza office for that.

OK so I will reveal my next plan to you Guys!!! LOL I actually talked to the info officer about it! Hopefully, they will update the system by Monday 12.45 pm (I already scheduled an appointment with Federal Plaza yesterday for that time, but I think I already said that yesterday. I am sorry if I am being repetitive), so that the Federal Plaza office can see that I was approved. Once they see that, they should stamp my passport (that is what the info officer said). If the system will take longer than that, I will still go and argue and ask to get my passport stamped, because why not... And then I will try to make another appointment for Tuesday and so on, until the day when it does not make any sense to fight anymore. You know what I mean? LOL

I know you Guys are probably thinking that I am crazy, because if they actually update the system on Monday, I should get the actual card on Friday or whatever, but I need the stamp as soon as possible so I can get plane tickets as early as possible :)

We will see... I am keeping my fingers crossed!!! I can already see myself on a plane flying towards my home country next saturday. Today I realized that there is a pretty good chance that it is actually going to happen!!! Of course, if I am not able to fly on Saturday I will go on Monday (April 10th), which would be actually cheaper so it would be fine either way... I always try to have a plan "B"

PS. Mona25 I don't know if you realized, but we have something in common :) We both dislike ----- Suzzy ;) She really got under my skin :mad:
 
Good news indeed marion. Gives me hope that if I end up waiting too long as well, I can hopefully do the same! I read somewhere that on Fridays they don't schedule interviews, which is probably why there weren't so many people.

I'm going to wait until end of April to take any actions. I'm feeling a little lazy to do anything about it right now.

But congrats!!
 
marion
wow, that's some great news....you are like almost there. congrats, i'm trully happy for you. thanks for all your insights and sharing the info with so much details, which believe it or not. everything is indeed very helpful to us.

one question though, and you might have answered this a previous post: did anyone tell you or do you know exactly what date your case was approved?

good luck on monday, and hopefully the system will be updated by then..
 
Thank you Guys!!!

jdawg9 I see where you are going with that question... You probably want to know more or less how long it takes "our" officer to approve a case. Unfortunately, I did not ask anyone about that, because I was too occupied with other issues like how to go about getting a stamp you know... Not to say that I am not curios, but maybe it is better that I don't know anyway, cause I would just have to get upset and I don't want to do that...

Guess what? Call me crazy, but last night I purchased plane tickets!!! I am leaving for my home country next Sunday!!! Well, if I don't get my green card or at least a stamp then I will have to reschedule my flight. It is OK though, because the tickets are refundable :) Plan "B" always there ;)

Things look like they are going well, but I am still one of the members of our boat and as I am reading your responds I always hope to hear some good news from you Guys :) Even if I get my green card first, I will come back and support some of you ( ;) ) until the end :)
 
Important Info

GUYS,

If the interviewer said, everything looks good and DIDN't Stamp the folder "your file" with approved, it doesn't mean anything.
If the folder is stamped with Approved, means the interviewer already checked your Fingerprints and FBI status and been cleared already. And you are ready to go. But the next challenge is final internal check @ the DO , they will go over the folder and make sure that the interviewer collected all the required papers, they will make sure the Interviewer decision was OKAY...
this second step called "Internal QA" and it may take between couple of hours to a whole week, depends on their moods...
but I advise everyone, if you see the interviewer actually stamps your folder with approved, then ASK for the stamp that same day and offer that you can stay another 2-3 hours out side waiting for stamp processing. give the interviewer any reasonable reason to send ur folder for passport stamping that day... like Business trip, or pre-planned trip ,or sick relative overseas...
and hopefully you will get the stamp that same day.
but if Officer never stamped the FOLDER, means that Officer has not checked your Clearance yet or unless officer mentions that you haven't cleared yet background of FBI checks.

Hopefully this could help..
Good Luck everyone..

Reminder: F1 status, bring Transcripts and Diplomas to AOS.
 
bklyn2006 said:
GUYS,

If the interviewer said, everything looks good and DIDN't Stamp the folder "your file" with approved, it doesn't mean anything.
If the folder is stamped with Approved, means the interviewer already checked your Fingerprints and FBI status and been cleared already. And you are ready to go. But the next challenge is final internal check @ the DO , they will go over the folder and make sure that the interviewer collected all the required papers, they will make sure the Interviewer decision was OKAY...
this second step called "Internal QA" and it may take between couple of hours to a whole week, depends on their moods...
but I advise everyone, if you see the interviewer actually stamps your folder with approved, then ASK for the stamp that same day and offer that you can stay another 2-3 hours out side waiting for stamp processing. give the interviewer any reasonable reason to send ur folder for passport stamping that day... like Business trip, or pre-planned trip ,or sick relative overseas...
and hopefully you will get the stamp that same day.
but if Officer never stamped the FOLDER, means that Officer has not checked your Clearance yet or unless officer mentions that you haven't cleared yet background of FBI checks.

Hopefully this could help..
Good Luck everyone..

Reminder: F1 status, bring Transcripts and Diplomas to AOS.
THANKS BRKLYN, that is good infor. to know. I definitely will ask if my name check has been cleared, you know sometimes they just don't check it.
 
Marion, congratulations! I hope that everything goes well with you today.
Yes! Definitly that Suzy got into my skin too, but I decided no pay attention to her stupid coments because I have other more important worries that fighting back and forth with her besides that she is an airhead.

Bye!
Good luck!
 
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