GC_ON_WAIT
New Member
Well.. I have been a silent but occasional reader in this forum and did not want to post anything but the good news. Let me make the post a bit interesting to read and more important, useful for the those waiting for their GC.
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Our long journey into this process began way back in 2000. The labor clearance had been relatively quick (by the post 9/11 standards) and the 485 priority date eventually happened in Oct 2002.
Some fond memories...I will not forget the one week spent locked up at home, when I could not even lift my arm after all the vaccination shots. I also can not forget the wait in NY for about 6 hours on a hard winter day(every limb of mine froze), when I waited for the Indian Consulate's 'no record' certificate to place along the affidavit for substituting the lack of birth certificates. (I have to admit that this consulate wait was nothing comparable to the ordeal back at Madras on a muggy morning at 3 AM , along with kids before the American consulate, when I began this odeysey with a H1 back in 1998).
Well, after 3 EADs and 2 APs (the 3rd AP went into some issue because we had to send our passport copies back - the earlier ones sent by my lawyer were not clear as per BCIS) and endless wait and looking for the magic mail, finally the I-485 approval surfaced on July end 2004. This was followed by another 4 AM wait before the INS office for the stamping.
We were getting edgy since almost 60 days had passed with no change in the status msg and hence called the 800 # again.(this was nothing new..we done this many a time during EAD and AP process). We had called the # twice before, after stamping since our welcome letter never showed up and on each time had to go thro' the painful recital of all details and this time when I called I decided to insist on a supervisor and when the supervisor said that there is no record that in the past 60 days to show that we had called, we realized that call center practices can upset anyone's plan. Anyway, the supervisor promised help and true to his word, the magic email - with the card ordered came in a week (not sure whether it happened on its own pace or because of the call). Anyway, after another 3 days, the card was in the post box.
Now, let me add a few things, which are useful for those on the wait :
1) When we had the 2 FP notices, we were able to get the FP done in other places (other than what is in notice), well ahead of time. One of this was not even an ASC of BCIS but a contracted state DPS place, where normally BCIS sent FP notices to local residents. We were told that it all goes to the same DB by the nightfall (if sent digitally or the next day, if sent physically ).
2) We had trouble with one of my wife's EAD when it went undelivered and after this ..we see the 'Address service requested' in the envelope. This means that the mail forward may not work for this.
3) I do not see the 'Address service requested' in the all important GC mail envelope.
4) Our case has been one of the most straightforward..same employer, absolutely same job, same address, no RFE, no issues on anything but the process took its course..rather full course. Looking at the time line of approvals, I must say, we were neither too early nor too late but all along we were edgy since there was always the unknown element. Our advise to all those waiting..constant interaction with lawyers, knowledge of current process (for example, when I saw that the photo standards are changing..we were prepared with both stlye photos - although, we were finally asked for the old GC style ones only ..another TIp..if u find the photographing to be too expensive, with 3 EADs and APs, the bill gets to a nice big figure..try the digital option..a good s/w to size and tile will help..Remember that BCIS does not permit any editing), good followup (the art of calling 800#s and getting the best out of the system is a must..even, after years of practice, I got fooled with the 2 calls as late in the process..like the one after stamping.
5> The last update date is a pretty good indicator of progress. It always may not refelect a corresponding change in the status but everything when some change in date occurred, the process moved by one step...well,eventually it did.
5> I also feel that this process is not going to be as long (going by the current approval rates) for the later day filers and hence it may not be as painful but all the same - patience is one virtue, which I had picked up along the way.
Wishing you all tons of luck..
EAC 03XXX
Priority date Oct 2002
3 EADs, 2 APs
485 approval July 2004
Card ordered 10-19-04
Card received 10-22-04
----------------------
Our long journey into this process began way back in 2000. The labor clearance had been relatively quick (by the post 9/11 standards) and the 485 priority date eventually happened in Oct 2002.
Some fond memories...I will not forget the one week spent locked up at home, when I could not even lift my arm after all the vaccination shots. I also can not forget the wait in NY for about 6 hours on a hard winter day(every limb of mine froze), when I waited for the Indian Consulate's 'no record' certificate to place along the affidavit for substituting the lack of birth certificates. (I have to admit that this consulate wait was nothing comparable to the ordeal back at Madras on a muggy morning at 3 AM , along with kids before the American consulate, when I began this odeysey with a H1 back in 1998).
Well, after 3 EADs and 2 APs (the 3rd AP went into some issue because we had to send our passport copies back - the earlier ones sent by my lawyer were not clear as per BCIS) and endless wait and looking for the magic mail, finally the I-485 approval surfaced on July end 2004. This was followed by another 4 AM wait before the INS office for the stamping.
We were getting edgy since almost 60 days had passed with no change in the status msg and hence called the 800 # again.(this was nothing new..we done this many a time during EAD and AP process). We had called the # twice before, after stamping since our welcome letter never showed up and on each time had to go thro' the painful recital of all details and this time when I called I decided to insist on a supervisor and when the supervisor said that there is no record that in the past 60 days to show that we had called, we realized that call center practices can upset anyone's plan. Anyway, the supervisor promised help and true to his word, the magic email - with the card ordered came in a week (not sure whether it happened on its own pace or because of the call). Anyway, after another 3 days, the card was in the post box.
Now, let me add a few things, which are useful for those on the wait :
1) When we had the 2 FP notices, we were able to get the FP done in other places (other than what is in notice), well ahead of time. One of this was not even an ASC of BCIS but a contracted state DPS place, where normally BCIS sent FP notices to local residents. We were told that it all goes to the same DB by the nightfall (if sent digitally or the next day, if sent physically ).
2) We had trouble with one of my wife's EAD when it went undelivered and after this ..we see the 'Address service requested' in the envelope. This means that the mail forward may not work for this.
3) I do not see the 'Address service requested' in the all important GC mail envelope.
4) Our case has been one of the most straightforward..same employer, absolutely same job, same address, no RFE, no issues on anything but the process took its course..rather full course. Looking at the time line of approvals, I must say, we were neither too early nor too late but all along we were edgy since there was always the unknown element. Our advise to all those waiting..constant interaction with lawyers, knowledge of current process (for example, when I saw that the photo standards are changing..we were prepared with both stlye photos - although, we were finally asked for the old GC style ones only ..another TIp..if u find the photographing to be too expensive, with 3 EADs and APs, the bill gets to a nice big figure..try the digital option..a good s/w to size and tile will help..Remember that BCIS does not permit any editing), good followup (the art of calling 800#s and getting the best out of the system is a must..even, after years of practice, I got fooled with the 2 calls as late in the process..like the one after stamping.
5> The last update date is a pretty good indicator of progress. It always may not refelect a corresponding change in the status but everything when some change in date occurred, the process moved by one step...well,eventually it did.
5> I also feel that this process is not going to be as long (going by the current approval rates) for the later day filers and hence it may not be as painful but all the same - patience is one virtue, which I had picked up along the way.
Wishing you all tons of luck..
EAC 03XXX
Priority date Oct 2002
3 EADs, 2 APs
485 approval July 2004
Card ordered 10-19-04
Card received 10-22-04
