Hello Everybody,
This day couldn't get any better for us.
Both our (my and wife's) cases were approved and an approval notice was mailed today.
I checked my email (with my wife on phone from home), and there were 4 new emails from USCIS. While opening the email, I was contemplating whether it could be a RFE or an approval, turned out to be an approval. The moment can't be perfect than that. Interestingly, me and my wife shared the excitement and the BIG relief at the same time.
Before, I get any further, I want to thank everyone who has helped me (and others) through this ordeal - especially RealCanadian, DengDeng, dsatish, kashmir77, vijayrc and patiencegc.
Special thanks to Rajiv Khanna, for this wonderful site and an excellent representation as our counsel in the ligitation.
Enough of the emotions, lets talk the boring history behind my case(this is a lengthy one, which I am documenting for my own purposes too. Please proceed if you want the details) -
Priority Date : 13-Dec-2000
Case Type: EB3 RIR
LCA Approved : 17-Jan-2001 (PA)
[ So far, my case was cruisin'. Then, came the speed braker to my GC cruise ship. My employer's Immigration Dept said I need new I-94, to file my I-140, which held my case up for 7 months. Then they reverted their stand. ]
I-140 Filed : 14-Aug-2001
I-140 RFE Issued : 10-Oct-2001 (Education Re-Evaluation)
I-140 RFE Replied: 02-Jan-2002
[Yes, my Employer took 3 months to respond "We are NOT going to do a new evaluation. What we have for him is the best" ]
I-140 Approved: 14-Jan-2002
I-485 Filed: 02/22/2002 (What a Nelson!)
EAC # : EAC0213750***
I-765 RFE Received: 04/18/2002 (For my birth certificate)
I-765 RFE Reply Date : Unknown
First FP Date: Apr-2002
[ I got two APs and EADs by Jun-2003. In Jun-2003, I remember seeing few approvals from Jan-02/Feb-02. My wife was vacationing in India at that time, I cut short her vacation and called her to US, anticipating an approval (or) 2nd FP notice. Nothing happenned for another 3 months ]
Switched Employer on: Jun-2003
[ My sponsoring employer was based out of PA. My new employer was based in CA. Similar Job Description and Salary. I didn't file AC21, after reading in this site that it is not a requirement. Also, my new employer refused to pay for an attorney to continue my case. I took a chance and continued the process without an attorney. The old G-28 submitted by my ex-attorney was never revoked]
Second FP Scheduled Date: 08-Oct-2003
Second FP Completed Date: 11-Sep-2003
[ My Case status was never updated up until the approval message (which was today). It all the while showed that my First FP results were received ]
3rd EAD Applied: 11-Jan-2004
Senator Contacted: Feb-2004
Senator : Dianne Fienstein (San Francisco, CA)
Senator's Staff : Stella
[ I should say about Stella here, she is nothing short of stellar. Passionate in her job of helping others. Thanks to her, for staying on top of my case ]
3rd AP Applied: 18-Feb-2004
Senator's office sent request to VCS : 17-Mar-2004
IEAD Applied and Received at Los Angeles, CA : 17-Apr-2004
[ When I applied for IEAD, the immigration officer told me that, the LA office had requested VCS to transfer my case to their office in Jan-2004. Now, that I am applying for IEAD she is going to request again (to VCS) that my case be transferred to LA office, for interview. This scared the heck out of me. However, the LA office issued me the IEAD the next day without an interview. ]
Case assigned to VCS Immigration Officer : 17-May-2004
[ Case_Updated_Date in the USCIS website portfolio wasn't updated. ]
3rd AP approved on : 21-May-2004
I-485 approved on : 17-Jun-2004
Thats it guys. I wish whoever post their approval in the future, don't have to write this much (and definitely don't have to go through so much). My best hope is, someday this forum and rupnet, would become totally obsolete, because folks would get approved with out going through this pathetic, painstaking and horrible process.
Best Wishes to all those who are still waiting (Your day will certainly come. Till then, make sure you have your EADs and AP up-to-date, do whatever you could to speed up your case, support the I-485 litigation, breathe easy and enjoy your life.)
With a sense of great weightlessness (rooting from my relief),
gc_lotto.
(jackpot day)
This day couldn't get any better for us.
Both our (my and wife's) cases were approved and an approval notice was mailed today.
I checked my email (with my wife on phone from home), and there were 4 new emails from USCIS. While opening the email, I was contemplating whether it could be a RFE or an approval, turned out to be an approval. The moment can't be perfect than that. Interestingly, me and my wife shared the excitement and the BIG relief at the same time.
Before, I get any further, I want to thank everyone who has helped me (and others) through this ordeal - especially RealCanadian, DengDeng, dsatish, kashmir77, vijayrc and patiencegc.
Special thanks to Rajiv Khanna, for this wonderful site and an excellent representation as our counsel in the ligitation.
Enough of the emotions, lets talk the boring history behind my case(this is a lengthy one, which I am documenting for my own purposes too. Please proceed if you want the details) -
Priority Date : 13-Dec-2000
Case Type: EB3 RIR
LCA Approved : 17-Jan-2001 (PA)
[ So far, my case was cruisin'. Then, came the speed braker to my GC cruise ship. My employer's Immigration Dept said I need new I-94, to file my I-140, which held my case up for 7 months. Then they reverted their stand. ]
I-140 Filed : 14-Aug-2001
I-140 RFE Issued : 10-Oct-2001 (Education Re-Evaluation)
I-140 RFE Replied: 02-Jan-2002
[Yes, my Employer took 3 months to respond "We are NOT going to do a new evaluation. What we have for him is the best" ]
I-140 Approved: 14-Jan-2002
I-485 Filed: 02/22/2002 (What a Nelson!)
EAC # : EAC0213750***
I-765 RFE Received: 04/18/2002 (For my birth certificate)
I-765 RFE Reply Date : Unknown
First FP Date: Apr-2002
[ I got two APs and EADs by Jun-2003. In Jun-2003, I remember seeing few approvals from Jan-02/Feb-02. My wife was vacationing in India at that time, I cut short her vacation and called her to US, anticipating an approval (or) 2nd FP notice. Nothing happenned for another 3 months ]
Switched Employer on: Jun-2003
[ My sponsoring employer was based out of PA. My new employer was based in CA. Similar Job Description and Salary. I didn't file AC21, after reading in this site that it is not a requirement. Also, my new employer refused to pay for an attorney to continue my case. I took a chance and continued the process without an attorney. The old G-28 submitted by my ex-attorney was never revoked]
Second FP Scheduled Date: 08-Oct-2003
Second FP Completed Date: 11-Sep-2003
[ My Case status was never updated up until the approval message (which was today). It all the while showed that my First FP results were received ]
3rd EAD Applied: 11-Jan-2004
Senator Contacted: Feb-2004
Senator : Dianne Fienstein (San Francisco, CA)
Senator's Staff : Stella
[ I should say about Stella here, she is nothing short of stellar. Passionate in her job of helping others. Thanks to her, for staying on top of my case ]
3rd AP Applied: 18-Feb-2004
Senator's office sent request to VCS : 17-Mar-2004
IEAD Applied and Received at Los Angeles, CA : 17-Apr-2004
[ When I applied for IEAD, the immigration officer told me that, the LA office had requested VCS to transfer my case to their office in Jan-2004. Now, that I am applying for IEAD she is going to request again (to VCS) that my case be transferred to LA office, for interview. This scared the heck out of me. However, the LA office issued me the IEAD the next day without an interview. ]
Case assigned to VCS Immigration Officer : 17-May-2004
[ Case_Updated_Date in the USCIS website portfolio wasn't updated. ]
3rd AP approved on : 21-May-2004
I-485 approved on : 17-Jun-2004
Thats it guys. I wish whoever post their approval in the future, don't have to write this much (and definitely don't have to go through so much). My best hope is, someday this forum and rupnet, would become totally obsolete, because folks would get approved with out going through this pathetic, painstaking and horrible process.
Best Wishes to all those who are still waiting (Your day will certainly come. Till then, make sure you have your EADs and AP up-to-date, do whatever you could to speed up your case, support the I-485 litigation, breathe easy and enjoy your life.)
With a sense of great weightlessness (rooting from my relief),
gc_lotto.
(jackpot day)