Dual A numbers - lucky me

M

Manyung

Registered Users (C)
My story may not be of much comfort to those of you who have passed your interviews but are awating a decision pending the location of your A file. I had my interview in July of 2002. [Yes.. 2002!!!]

At that time it was discovered that I had been assigned TWO A numbers. This apparenly happened during the approval and processing of my green card application in July of 1980. The Officer advised me that this was something that should have been "sorted out" at the time but never was. I was oblivious to it completely until the day of my interview & we were going through my regular A file. That is the file that my green card is associated with.

In the very first documents related to my green card approval there was indeed a different A number to that which appears on my subsequent documents and the green card itself.

My original green card was conditional for 2 years due to the fact that I had just been married to a US Citizen, that being the basis of my green card approval.

So in 1992, I had to provide documentation showing my marriage was bona fide, which I did and a new non conditional green card was issued. This card had the same A number as the conditional green card. I mention this because again, the INS at the time never picked up the fact that my very original A number was different to the one they'd assigned to my green card.

So.. fast forward to my interview in 2002. I was told that INS would now have to locate my original A file - the one attached to my OTHER A number. So from July 2002 until March 2004 I waited & WAITED. Nothing. Zip.

So I hired a lawyer who managed to get me an interview at the Philly office. I thought this was it. Celebrate! We'd sorted it out & I'd have my oath ceremony scheduled soon etc. Worth the wait I thought!!!

But when I went to interview.. the officer was puzzled as to why I had even been scheduled for an interview at that time. He said " But we're sill looking for that second A-file!!! We're looking really hard but we can't seem to find it.
You'll just have to wait"

I can tell you it took some major self control to contain my emotions at that interview. But I did. I was polite, respectful & pretented to patient.
You can imagine how I felt though!! I'd been waiting for 20 months at that point.

And STILL today Oct 27 2005 I wait. I have a Congressional contact at the Philly office & apparently they have at last given up looking for the other A file & have just cross referenced the 2 A numbers I've been assigned.

I did go for finger prints in September [for the 3rd time now] and am cautiously [foolishly??] confident that I MAY hear something soon.

In any case... mine has been the application from hell. It's been 1278 days since I passed my interview. Every day I look in the mail. Every day I wonder" "Will today be the day?"

It's cruel & unusual & I guess I should take this to the District Court as Publicus recommended in an earlier post.
I just don't know
Despondenet Manyung... the man with A numbers
:mad:
 
Manyung:

I have a few questions on why you may have ended up with two A #s and the delays associated with it. I would appreciate your reply.

1. Did you have your GC in one Service Center and then move to another to apply for Citizenship? Like for example from Texas Service Center to Vermont Service Center.

2. When you applied for adjustment of Status (I-485), did you apply it with a Service Center or applied through Consular Processing abroad or did you do both simultaneously (apprently you can do this if you are already in the US while adjusting status).

3. Do you have any communication from USCIS (Receipt of Notice etc.) for your other A#?

It could be due to multiple Service Centers handling your A file Vs. the same Service Center which may be causing all this delay.

Thanks.
 
Duplicate A-File/number

Manyung,

I am sorry to hear about your long saga about the duplicate A-file/number. I had a similar experience. You may want to search and read my experience.

After a fixed period (3 or 4 months from the time they begin the search for your other A-file), USCIS has to conclude that either the other A-file is missing or the number was created by mistake.

You should put a whole lot more pressure on the local DO thru' your Senator, and Congressman. Send a long certified letter to the District Director and ask them to complete the processing on your case.

Finally, go to your local DO every month, until it's over. Keep taking the InfoPass appointments and make them sick of your face. Remember you just need to find one helpful person over there! Good luck.
 
Manyung

Jay_m & sg_orl
Thank you for taking the time to reply.

In answer to your questions Jay.. Yes there were multiple offices involved in my GC application. I'm from Australia so I applied at the US Consulate in Sydney. The DO for Sydney is Bangkok. The application was dragging so my inlaws in the US contacted a lawyer for me in DC who in turn contacted someone [I think] in Vermont. And it worked! I had my GC in a jiffy after the lawyer did his thing. So.. yes.. Big chance the combination of all that back & forth landed me with my extra A number.

The second A number was in my file before my change of status to that's not an issue. I think Bangkok were referencing the dupe number and Vermont were going by the GC number.

Whatever.. An error like this is understandable. So many numbers, so many applicants, so many errors. It happens. I don't really care how. I just want to sort it out. NOW.

So...
Sg_orl.. I read your story with interest and take inspiration from it. The folks at my local DO are going to pay me to stop bugging them, or make me a Citizen. I'm planning to follow your course of action and am hopeful something will fall into place soon. That "helpful soneone" must be out there somewhere.
Always the optimist! :p
 
Manyung

After waiting 3 years and 3 months from my interview date, TODAY I received my Oath Ceremony letter. I'm to be sworn in on Nov 22 at a local high school. Had you have been within 10 miles of my place, you'd have heard the cheers, the whoops & the hollers. There'll be beer drunk at my house tonight. [It's the Australian in me] :D

I have no "pearls of wisdom" for everyone out there playing the agonizing waiting game. Is sucks. But when it's over, it's the best feeling ever. [Well almost]

My following comments are my opinion only, based on my own experience. My process took a very long time simply because someone, somewhere made a tiny clerical error. They wrote down the wrong A number on one of my forms!! This derailed my whole process, but for a long time I had no idea why
my case was taking so long. I just waited & worried.

I am by nature a trusting & fairly patient person but had I been a little less so, I think I could have had my case resolved 18 months ago.

I did what Publicus & others have advocated. I at LAST got off my ass & started to push this thing. I contacted my congressman who has been fantastic. I wrote letters, I called, I waited in line & when that didn't work, I did it all over again. All the while though I tried to be as polite & respectful as possible. There were moments when I ALMOST lost it though.
I can say I was always 100% honest.

If you have not heard anything after say six months from your interview date, get to work. NOW. Get informed. Get involved. Shake that tree.

Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Be honest, be good, be positive. Ignore advice from "know it alls" likes J Cash who warns of "annoying the authorities". That's complete crap. Like anyone, you'll annoy them if you lie or if you're rude. But it's only natural & expected for you to push if your case drags.

I particularly want to send my best wishes to Publicus and Sony. Your days will come guys. I wish you the very best and thanks for your encouragement to me.

I am feeling honored & humbled being, at last counted as "one of the American People". When the president throws that line into his speech, I can now say: He's talking about me. It's been worth the fight.
Manyung.

PS I can't believe this day has come !! :eek:
 
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Manyung,

CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :D :D :D (it's about time!)

I'm celebrating along with you!!!! :D
 
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Excellent news

Excellent news mate! Congrats...

I had my interview today, passed and got the approval letter with oath letter for Feb 1, 2006 in Boston...Guess we are approval twins...lol

We are heading out to celebrate...

Cheers
-- Gaude
 
I particularly want to send my best wishes to Publicus and Sony. Your days will come guys. I wish you the very best and thanks for your encouragement to me.

I am feeling honored & humbled being, at last counted as "one of the American People". When the president throws that line into his speech, I can now say: He's talking about me. It's been worth the fight.
Manyung.

PS I can't believe this day has come !! :eek:[/QUOTE]
Congratulations Manyung !! :)
I know that you deserve it. I am glad you agonizing story is over. I am sure it's a great feeling. I hope that my story ends just like yours. i am waiting. But you have been wonderful in encouraging me and keep my spirit up. I just want to say thank you and Congratulations.

SONY
 
Manyung said:
After waiting 3 years and 3 months from my interview date, TODAY I received my Oath Ceremony letter. I'm to be sworn in on Nov 22 at a local high school. Had you have been within 10 miles of my place, you'd have heard the cheers, the whoops & the hollers. There'll be beer drunk at my house tonight. [It's the Australian in me] :D
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHA...YEAHHHHHHHHH... GOOD JOB MAN.

Congratulations!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D

Finally...wow. I am so excited for you Manyung. You deserve the best my friend, and you've been an American since 1980, now you will have it on paper. Don't forget to file for a U.S. Passport as soon as possible when you take your Oath. It is a more convenient citizenship proof document. And more importantly, don't forget to vote. Remember those who helped and those who DID NOT.


I did what Publicus & others have advocated. I at LAST got off my ass & started to push this thing. I contacted my congressman who has been fantastic. I wrote letters, I called, I waited in line & when that didn't work, I did it all over again. All the while though I tried to be as polite & respectful as possible. There were moments when I ALMOST lost it though.
I can say I was always 100% honest.

I particularly want to send my best wishes to Publicus and Sony. Your days will come guys. I wish you the very best and thanks for your encouragement to me. :eek:
Click to expand...

My utmost Honor my friend! But an invitation for two to Australia will do! :D

Just kidding! You know, if USCIS knew I will be causing them so much headache, they would've given me my Naturalization a long time ago. I am inciting people to use their right. And I feel good about doing so. Give and you shall receive. Like I said, information is the best weapon to use against this evil empire which knows no right and no justice. Our objective is to bring Justice to the footsteps of USCIS.

And remember: Persistence is the key to success. Look at the success story of Manyung. So in Churchill's word I say: never give up, never give up, NEVER, NEVER.
 
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