orangeandwhite
Registered Users (C)
Yes, this is one of the advantages of AOS over CP.
DV2008--AOS only
- Thread starter ruxy
- Start date
Yes, this is one of the advantages of AOS over CP.
Did u apply for AP?
orangeandwhite
Registered Users (C)
Yes, that was approved yesterday.
Things seem to start moving quickly once the fingerprints are in.
Kool. I made an infopass appointment for tomorrow. I'll see if they'll let me do my fingerprints.
On my AP application, i didn't really give any good explanation as to why i needed one other than i wanted to go see my family back home especially my mom whom i haven't seen in yrs. i hope they'll take that.
Sit tight and get ready for ur interview. Which state are u at??
My AOS Experience
Our AOS applications through DV 2008 lottery was recently approved and we received our Permanent Residence Cards a few days ago. We just feel a big sense of relief more than anything right now. Honestly, I hadn't expected it would be this stressful but what can you do about it when things aren't in your control, where logic doesn't exist, when exception is rather the norm, and when you have to deal with probably one of the least efficient offices in US. In USCIS' defense, they are probably just swamped with workload.
Enough of my ramblings. I will actually get to the point. I was a little unsure about writing this entry as everything I have to say is in the forums somewhere or the other. I dont think I have anything new to add but I thought I would do it anyways because if not anything, it will validate some of the other posts in the forum. While I was browsing the forums, when there were more than 1 posts saying the same thing, I felt more confident about the accuracy.
First the thanks! Everyone who participates & participated in the forum - Thank you! I honestly believe no lawyer has the knowledge base regarding DV cases then is available in this forum. Special mentions to BarbaraLamb & Catseyes! Links to their posts are below. I guess I learnt my ABCs about DV cases from those 2 posts.
Catseyes - http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=229911
BarbaraLamb - http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=215048
My background: Came to US on F1. Converted to H1B. Wife on H4.
Pre I-485 Submission Phase:
- Got First notification letter
- Filled the forms and sent to KCC stating our intentions to do AOS. We filled both forms. I saw there was some debate about do we need to fill the 2nd one if we intend to do AOS. As someone had mentioned, we also called KCC to verify this and the response was 2nd is not necessary for AOS but for any reason if you wanted to switch to CP, it would be easier. We felt why the heck not.
- Did medicals & immunizations
- Paid DV Fees. $375 x 2 for me and spouse. Yes. They just return the form you send with a PAID stamp. It almost looks as if it not ‘official’.
- Prepared I-485 and other documents (Barbara’s post http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=215048 was my reference) & waited for number to be current
AOS Phase:
- Number was current in Nov. Sent package to Chicago Lockbox
- Biometrics appointment letter received along with our receipt numbers
- Biometrics done on 12/07/07
- When we went to the USCIS site to check the status of our case, we could not find our cases. The system would say ‘Case Retrieval Failed!’ or something along those lines. Called USCIS about this. 1st level could not find the case also. Imagine my anxiety! Talked to 2nd level and the officer said the case is there and being worked on. He stated I may never be able to see my case status on the CRIS site. His explanation was issues synchronizing two databases. I run into those issues at work so I guess I had to buy that argument
- One thing about our receipt numbers: it was not the numbers printed on the back of the checks that we sent for AOS fees. Our numbers were 2 above what was on the check. That might have something to do with the whole thing.
- And then waited and waited. While waiting I was browsing the posts quite a lot and some of the odds things I saw were:
o Interviews scheduled before biometrics appointment
o Interviews approved before name check completed
o Some who had filed before us waiting for biometrics
o Some who had filed after us scheduled for interviews
- I guess the point I am trying to make is that there is a certain amount of randomness and luck associated with the process. Hence my rambling about the no logic and exceptions. The best advice I think I can give is PATIENCE for your wellbeing and INFOPASS for your case progress.
- I called USCIS again and they confirmed that my background check has been completed and our case has been transferred to the local field office that would be responsible for the case from now on including scheduling interviews. Our local office was Milwaukee WI. I guess one good thing about not having the ability to check our case status on the site was that the 2nd level officer was a little more forthcoming. Or may be he was having a good day and felt like he wanted to do a good deed.
- Took an infopass around the end of Feb. Didn’t get a whole lot of info. The lady looked at the receipt from the Dept of State. Apparently they knew about the Sept 30th deadline. She said and I quote ‘Your application looks complete I think we are trying to find an interview spot for you’. Good thing right? Except I wasn’t too convinced since she was scrambling all over the place and had no real conviction on what she was saying. She said if we don’t hear from the office in 4 to 6 weeks please come back
- Sure enough, heard nothing so went back mid April. Thankfully it was the same lady and she recognized us. She brought her supervisor into the conversation. They talked and went through some of my documents and said ‘well your documents look complete and we will set up an interview for you for adjudication’. When I asked when that might be. Her answer I can’t tell you that cause I don’t know. Guess we had to be satisfied with that and this time I felt that the lady was genuinely trying to help.
- So went home thinking how many more INFOPASSes?
- 3 days later we got our interview letters for end of April
AOS Interview:
- Got there on time and everything. Was expecting this to be quick and I kind of felt and read also that it was just a formality. Lesson : Don’t assume
- We got grilled for about half an hour. Good thing we had not been out of status or working illegally and things of that nature. The adjudicator looked at pretty much our entire documents. Previous I-20s, H1 papers, Marriage Cert, Leases, Financials, Marriage Photos.
- Then he explained what rights PR holders have and what they don’t. The right for the govt to rescind PR card if involved in criminal activities..blah blah!!
- Now we were certain that we were approved. But at the end he says: ‘Well I have looked at your documents and I don’t see anything wrong with the documents. We will review this case more and give you an answer (could be negative or positive) within 90 days. It could be as less as 25 days. Any question?’ Me and my wife just looked at each other shocked. We tried to coax a Yes/No answer out of him but it didn’t work.
- Went home very dejected as you can imagine. At the start of the day we had thought we were going to be approved for sure today. Now we had to wait again.
- Couple of days letter my wife asked me have you been checking the site for status lately? I said no cause we cant see our cases. She insisted that I do and I did and guess what, we could find our cases and the cases had been approved on the very same day of the interview.
- He could have let us known that we were approved and we would not have had to go through 3 miserable days. But anyways we got approved and a week later we got our Cards as well.
Thanks again to everyone on the forum for your help and support.
Good luck to you all. Have patience and it will happen!
Our AOS applications through DV 2008 lottery was recently approved and we received our Permanent Residence Cards a few days ago. We just feel a big sense of relief more than anything right now. Honestly, I hadn't expected it would be this stressful but what can you do about it when things aren't in your control, where logic doesn't exist, when exception is rather the norm, and when you have to deal with probably one of the least efficient offices in US. In USCIS' defense, they are probably just swamped with workload.
Enough of my ramblings. I will actually get to the point. I was a little unsure about writing this entry as everything I have to say is in the forums somewhere or the other. I dont think I have anything new to add but I thought I would do it anyways because if not anything, it will validate some of the other posts in the forum. While I was browsing the forums, when there were more than 1 posts saying the same thing, I felt more confident about the accuracy.
First the thanks! Everyone who participates & participated in the forum - Thank you! I honestly believe no lawyer has the knowledge base regarding DV cases then is available in this forum. Special mentions to BarbaraLamb & Catseyes! Links to their posts are below. I guess I learnt my ABCs about DV cases from those 2 posts.
Catseyes - http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=229911
BarbaraLamb - http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=215048
My background: Came to US on F1. Converted to H1B. Wife on H4.
Pre I-485 Submission Phase:
- Got First notification letter
- Filled the forms and sent to KCC stating our intentions to do AOS. We filled both forms. I saw there was some debate about do we need to fill the 2nd one if we intend to do AOS. As someone had mentioned, we also called KCC to verify this and the response was 2nd is not necessary for AOS but for any reason if you wanted to switch to CP, it would be easier. We felt why the heck not.
- Did medicals & immunizations
- Paid DV Fees. $375 x 2 for me and spouse. Yes. They just return the form you send with a PAID stamp. It almost looks as if it not ‘official’.
- Prepared I-485 and other documents (Barbara’s post http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=215048 was my reference) & waited for number to be current
AOS Phase:
- Number was current in Nov. Sent package to Chicago Lockbox
- Biometrics appointment letter received along with our receipt numbers
- Biometrics done on 12/07/07
- When we went to the USCIS site to check the status of our case, we could not find our cases. The system would say ‘Case Retrieval Failed!’ or something along those lines. Called USCIS about this. 1st level could not find the case also. Imagine my anxiety! Talked to 2nd level and the officer said the case is there and being worked on. He stated I may never be able to see my case status on the CRIS site. His explanation was issues synchronizing two databases. I run into those issues at work so I guess I had to buy that argument
- One thing about our receipt numbers: it was not the numbers printed on the back of the checks that we sent for AOS fees. Our numbers were 2 above what was on the check. That might have something to do with the whole thing.
- And then waited and waited. While waiting I was browsing the posts quite a lot and some of the odds things I saw were:
o Interviews scheduled before biometrics appointment
o Interviews approved before name check completed
o Some who had filed before us waiting for biometrics
o Some who had filed after us scheduled for interviews
- I guess the point I am trying to make is that there is a certain amount of randomness and luck associated with the process. Hence my rambling about the no logic and exceptions. The best advice I think I can give is PATIENCE for your wellbeing and INFOPASS for your case progress.
- I called USCIS again and they confirmed that my background check has been completed and our case has been transferred to the local field office that would be responsible for the case from now on including scheduling interviews. Our local office was Milwaukee WI. I guess one good thing about not having the ability to check our case status on the site was that the 2nd level officer was a little more forthcoming. Or may be he was having a good day and felt like he wanted to do a good deed.
- Took an infopass around the end of Feb. Didn’t get a whole lot of info. The lady looked at the receipt from the Dept of State. Apparently they knew about the Sept 30th deadline. She said and I quote ‘Your application looks complete I think we are trying to find an interview spot for you’. Good thing right? Except I wasn’t too convinced since she was scrambling all over the place and had no real conviction on what she was saying. She said if we don’t hear from the office in 4 to 6 weeks please come back
- Sure enough, heard nothing so went back mid April. Thankfully it was the same lady and she recognized us. She brought her supervisor into the conversation. They talked and went through some of my documents and said ‘well your documents look complete and we will set up an interview for you for adjudication’. When I asked when that might be. Her answer I can’t tell you that cause I don’t know. Guess we had to be satisfied with that and this time I felt that the lady was genuinely trying to help.
- So went home thinking how many more INFOPASSes?
- 3 days later we got our interview letters for end of April
AOS Interview:
- Got there on time and everything. Was expecting this to be quick and I kind of felt and read also that it was just a formality. Lesson : Don’t assume
- We got grilled for about half an hour. Good thing we had not been out of status or working illegally and things of that nature. The adjudicator looked at pretty much our entire documents. Previous I-20s, H1 papers, Marriage Cert, Leases, Financials, Marriage Photos.
- Then he explained what rights PR holders have and what they don’t. The right for the govt to rescind PR card if involved in criminal activities..blah blah!!
- Now we were certain that we were approved. But at the end he says: ‘Well I have looked at your documents and I don’t see anything wrong with the documents. We will review this case more and give you an answer (could be negative or positive) within 90 days. It could be as less as 25 days. Any question?’ Me and my wife just looked at each other shocked. We tried to coax a Yes/No answer out of him but it didn’t work.
- Went home very dejected as you can imagine. At the start of the day we had thought we were going to be approved for sure today. Now we had to wait again.
- Couple of days letter my wife asked me have you been checking the site for status lately? I said no cause we cant see our cases. She insisted that I do and I did and guess what, we could find our cases and the cases had been approved on the very same day of the interview.
- He could have let us known that we were approved and we would not have had to go through 3 miserable days. But anyways we got approved and a week later we got our Cards as well.
Thanks again to everyone on the forum for your help and support.
Good luck to you all. Have patience and it will happen!
Was at Local USCIS this morning and they let me do my Biometrics today under one condition. i had to wait in line until everyone that had their appointment for 8am was attended to. I did not argue with them. i was fingerprinted 40 mins later.
I guess the race to the finish line starts here.
I guess the race to the finish line starts here.
Thanks Mdx2009! The numbers for Europe becomes current a lot faster than the Asia so I dont think you have to worry too much about it. Your number would have been current in Nov 07 had you had this number for 08. Probably the same pattern will hold for 09 so you will be able to file the 485 in Nov 08.
Now if you did CP, what I think that would mean is that you could have your interview at the consulate sometime in Nov. Knowing what I know now about AOS process, I would suggest CP to anyone who has the time and means to go back to the home country to do CP. Just my personal opinion I guess. The cost of doing AOS is significantly higher than what it would be to do CP I think.
What me and my wife kind of talk about is, well with the amount of money we spent on AOS, medicals & vaccinations, taking time off work for Infopass, biometrics interviews, and finally the anxiety, we could have gone back home and probably spent some time with families and come back with PR much more easily.
have u gotten ur cards yet?
orangeandwhite
Registered Users (C)
Still waiting. Long trip in the mail from Missouri to NY...
haha. i'll be there in the morning.
Johnkent, I don't want to dissapoint you but FBI fingerprints (background) check is not a namecheck at all. It's almost always returned in the same day as requested.
Namecheck usually initiated several days after case received by USCIS (actually after notification date), not after biometrics. And you can't get status of it by phone call to FBI - only infopass
yeah, i knew that and thats why i said i'll be going to make an infopass appointment next wk to check on my bacground check.
Dear All;
I have received my green card last week, and will have some questions.
1-) I have applied to the local Social Security office for a new social security card. They told me that they will send me the new card in 10 days (I will have the same number, but the work authorization text will dissappear).
2-) Also, I have applied my university, and they have updated my records.
3-) I have visited the driver licence office, and they told me that I don't need to do anything.
4-) Is there anywhere else that I need to apply? Like the IRS (for the tax)?
5-) I heard something about "selective services", what is that, do I need to apply?
thanks,
I have received my green card last week, and will have some questions.
1-) I have applied to the local Social Security office for a new social security card. They told me that they will send me the new card in 10 days (I will have the same number, but the work authorization text will dissappear).
2-) Also, I have applied my university, and they have updated my records.
3-) I have visited the driver licence office, and they told me that I don't need to do anything.
4-) Is there anywhere else that I need to apply? Like the IRS (for the tax)?
5-) I heard something about "selective services", what is that, do I need to apply?
thanks,
When u applied for AOS, USCIS actually signs u up with selective services if you are <26years old; But u can also pick up the form at the post office, fill it out and mail it to selective services.
Nah, i don't think there's anything else that u really need to do when uget a greencard.
If i may ask, will ur college be offering you In-state tuition now?
I received my green card today. Those who are still waiting, I wish yours' will be done soon. Only thing is to wait. I understand it's painful to wait so long, but nothing to do. Sometimes you can call to USCIS and mention them that it is time sensitive. Moreover try to talk to an Immigration officer when you call to USCIS, they will make a reminder to the local office and things gets faster then.
I have seen some posts helpful, here are some links.
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showpost.php?p=1500131&postcount=1
http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=229911
http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=215048
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showpost.php?p=1907333&postcount=1265
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showpost.php?p=1891808&postcount=968
This forum is really helpful and informative.
Read all the posts before you submit a new application, you will gain confidence.
Good luck.
I have seen some posts helpful, here are some links.
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showpost.php?p=1500131&postcount=1
http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=229911
http://boards.immigration.com/showthread.php?t=215048
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showpost.php?p=1907333&postcount=1265
http://www.immigrationportal.com/showpost.php?p=1891808&postcount=968
This forum is really helpful and informative.
Read all the posts before you submit a new application, you will gain confidence.
Good luck.