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Hi NJBLUE,

thanks for your reply. If you were not in vacation, I would say that definitely it was a very late reply. Please dont take it in a mean way :) .... now, as u may know .... I am married for around 2.5 yrs ... and my PD as u may know it is aug 2002 !!! same situation - my wife cud not take it anymore ....i donno - somehow i dropped applying the visitor visa (for can visitor visa - my wife also wants to drop bcoz people who are well versed in applying canadian visitor visa are not giving positive signs on it either ) ... i am planning to go bak in july ... after 10 yrs in here....am little panicy abt the job environ especially.... anyway... thanks for your reply ... keep posted ....

kamrans, thanks for your last reply ...





Hi mega007

Apologies for the delay. I just got back from India after spending 3 weeks.

I'm thinking to apply for Visitors visa for my wife. I don't have any hope that my wife will join me this year with the current rate. My wife can not take this any more as we already spent apart almost 2 and half years. My PD is JAN 2002 (EB3 India).

I'm also thinking to apply for reentry permit (2 years) and go back to India for 2 years if she does not get visitors visa.

Please let me know your thoughts.
 
Chennai FTJ

After sending all FTJ documents for Spouse and dependent children to Chennai, we have requested for a status update. Here is the response we got from Chennai consulate:

------------------
At this stage, we will be scheduling the interview date and then we will send the information to the applicants.
The case number is - MDRxxxx
------------------

Any comment on the above reply? My priority date is current. Do you think we will receive Packet 3 or they will send straightaway Packet 4? To open the case, they did not ask for I-824, so we did not send them the I-824 receipt.
 
check with them in a week.
call them this time.
also u can check this link periodically. they post next months GC interview case#s in a pdf format under "contact information"
http://chennai.usconsulate.gov/iv_general_info.html
good luck.

After sending all FTJ documents for Spouse and dependent children to Chennai, we have requested for a status update. Here is the response we got from Chennai consulate:

------------------
At this stage, we will be scheduling the interview date and then we will send the information to the applicants.
The case number is - MDRxxxx
------------------

Any comment on the above reply? My priority date is current. Do you think we will receive Packet 3 or they will send straightaway Packet 4? To open the case, they did not ask for I-824, so we did not send them the I-824 receipt.
 
Hi,
Here is the situation,

My husband got a GC right after we got married in 2004 (Dec 2004). I was in India at that time and he didn't get a chance to add me to his petition. He did a Follow to Join, filed I-824 (approved in Jun 2005), and filed Packet 3, created a case file in Chennai consulate, but then the dates got retrogressed (EB3 with PD 04/01/2002).

After a frustrating 18 month period (Oct 2006), I got a H1-B and I'm currently working in the US.

Now my question is, what are my options to get a GC?

1. Wait until my priority dates are current (for FTJ) and wait for the call from Chennai consulate?
2. Apply for 485 when the priority dates are current?

Both these options depend on EB3 priority dates which is not going to happen any soon :(

I have a masters degree with 4 years experience, so can I some how get in to EB2 queue and port over my PD? I know that my spouse's 485 is already approved and chances of porting is remote, but I'm just taking a long shot to see if there is an option which would reduce my waiting period.

Thanks for all your responses.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
http://shusterman.com/pdf/824.pdf

Kamrans, I think I found the PDF you mentioned. I couldnt find it in this thread anywhere but I did some googling and came up with the state department cable where it indicates that posts must accept petitions from I-140 beneficiaries with the I-824 receipt notice. I'm attaching it to this post in case anyone needs it as well as linking it where I found it. I've emailed this pdf to my consulate to see what they think. They want me to wait until probably August when the TSC would have finally worked on my I-824 application and I really don't want to wait that long if I dont have to. They assured me that their IV wait time is less than 2 weeks yet they want me to wait another 4 months for no good reason. It's not like they're one of the overworked consulates. It usually only takes a few days to obtain a visa in my country.

http://shusterman.com/pdf/824.pdf

Thanks for the help!
 
I feel relief because now Im living in the US together with my family. Guess what? Me and spouse manage our visa process by ourselves without help from attorney. I didn't have idea how to manage it, so I read some stuffs of the internet (I remember the one that help me understand about how to come to US, it is at http://www.migrate.us.tc ) , but luckily I've spouse who is smart in manage this visa process step by step. It took about 1 year to proceed (instead of 3 months) because I had to wait until give birth of our first child. After I got my visa, me and my spouse had to manage our baby's passport. Very complicated process, but everything was done. Im so glad. And now Im just waiting to apply for citizenship.
 
Happy Easter To One And All!

HI KAMRANS, JUDEX AND BISDAKDREAMER:

Got the approval of my dependents 1-824 last March 13 and still waiting for the letter from Usembassy Manila for an appt maybe. My husband has mailed the DS 230 and that paper DS 2001 I think, last January yet, still no letter from embassy till this time.

Will it be good if we contact again Mnl embassy? what would be the best thing to do? hope you can advice us what to do next... thanks in advance!

Is this kind of waiting will take us years to wait? remember my priority date is sept 2006 and I do hope a new update for you judex and bisdakdreamer is coming your way to inspire us too! Kamrans whats the latest news about the retrogression? thanks so much in advance for replies!

God bless us all!
simala2006
 
hi simala,

you dont have to contact embassy manila, our case is on the process, we just need to pray for the retrogression to end. when the retrogression ends, thats the time to call the embassy for more information on your case.

there is no update on my case, its because of the retrogression... :mad: remember that i should have got my interview this June... i planned to apply for a tourist visa this month, but i canceld it coz my wife will be coming home this May, yahoooo! :) remember that she left the Philippines 3 days after our marriage, we did not have a honeymoon... :( now is the time for it! :)

update on retrogression? none! dont know when it will be lifted. but hope soon... pray!

judex



HI KAMRANS, JUDEX AND BISDAKDREAMER:

Got the approval of my dependents 1-824 last March 13 and still waiting for the letter from Usembassy Manila for an appt maybe. My husband has mailed the DS 230 and that paper DS 2001 I think, last January yet, still no letter from embassy till this time.

Will it be good if we contact again Mnl embassy? what would be the best thing to do? hope you can advice us what to do next... thanks in advance!

Is this kind of waiting will take us years to wait? remember my priority date is sept 2006 and I do hope a new update for you judex and bisdakdreamer is coming your way to inspire us too! Kamrans whats the latest news about the retrogression? thanks so much in advance for replies!

God bless us all!
simala2006
 
FTJ - Process & Approval

After reading through a lot of the posting on FTJ, we wanted to share our experience of the green card process. Here are the relevant details of the process:--

1. PD 1999
2. EB2
3. 485 filed - Dec 01
4. First FingerPrint- Feb 02
5. Got married Feb 02. Wife comes on H4
6. 485 filed for wife April 02.
7. Received EAD, AP for Self and Wife, June 02
8. Wife's fingerprintin (1st) June 02.
9. RFE for employment/salary received and responded to in July 03
10. 2nd FP (self) - August 03
11. Sent a letter to Senator for case enquiry - end of Jan 04.
12. Green card approval (self)- Feb 04 begining.
13. Blessed with a daughter - Feb 04
14. 2nd FP (wife) - end of Feb 04
15. Card in the mail - April 04.
16. Wife travels to India May 04 on vacation ( no AP in hand. cannot come back now).
17. Talk to lawyer about our situation. He said wife's gc will be denied but we can use FTJ at a later date. We decide when the child is a little older we will for for FTJ.
18. Wife's GC denied due to abondonment of process in June 05.

FTJ
====
1. Filed FTJ (184) Sep 06
2. 184 Approved Nov 06 (just before thanksgiving).
3. Receives letter from Mumbai Consulate with DS form part I - dec end 06.
4. DS Form Part I mailed in middle of Jan 07.
5. Begin Collecting Papers (w2, 1040, birth certificates etc)
6. Wife receives a letter from Mumbai consulate on Feb13 that her IV interview is scheduled for March 13th.
7. Compelete collection of relevant documents (police, medical etc) and submit to VFS on Feb 27th.
8. Prep wife for visa interview.

InterView
=======
This is my wifes recollection of the events of the day.

Date March 13th.

1. Arrive at the consulate at 7:15 AM with relevant doucuments - passport, draft, interview letter.
2. Shows interview letter and sits in the hall.
3. Called around 9:30 to the window. Submits draft, evidence of suppport, 1040, w2, my employment letter to the person.
4. Draft is returned to her as the amount is not correct. The guy says to got for the interview and submit the draft to VFS after the interview.
5. Called for interview at noon. Indian lady interviewing. Conducts the swearing in and asks the following questions:--
a. What is your husbands salary?
b. What visa did you use to go to the US the first time?
c. How old is our daughter?
6. Says everything is fine, but she cannot issue the visa because as the draft amount is not correct. Gives a paper which states why the visa is not issued. Asks my wife to submit the new draft, with the paper that she gave and the her passport to the VSF.
7. Out of the Consulate by 12:15 PM.
8. Gets the new draft ready (takes a while) and goes to VFS. They are cloed for the day.
9. Submits the the draft, passport and the INS paper from consulate on the 14th (wednesday)
10. Papport and the sealed envelope received on Saturday 3/17

TRAVEL
======
Travel date March 23rd.

1. Did not know if she needs to get IT clearence from Mumbai. Decided against it.
2. No questions asked at Mumbai airport.
3. Filled only the customs form before landing in US.
4. Stood in the Citizen/permanent resident line at aiport.
5. Sent to a special room. Index fingerprint taken. Passpport stamped. The sealed envelope submitted.
6. Card received in the mail 4/7/07.
==========================================================

We hope our experience will help folks who are in the same boat.

Thnx.
 
Thanks kababayan, I'm happy for you!

Then its the best month of the year for you! You deserve the best honeymoon ever kababayan! God bless you for your kind advices really, you don't know how helpful and a source of inspiration you are for us here in this thread of FTJ hopefuls!

Cheers and may our dear good Lord bless you and your wife a fruitful blessed gift come this May, you know what I mean,hehehe!

I always trust in God's holy hands in creating wonderful miracles in all things! Yeah, I am indeed praying for the lifting of this retrogression, I know it will be coming not only for us but to all of those out there who are reading these posts... Amen!

Simala2006
 
Maybe we have good news upcoming!

We heard from here that there will be good upcoming results by May for us! How true this might be will be for all us to pray for! The lifting of the retrogression might be this coming May! Hope this will come true... Lets continue to pray co-threaders!

God bless us all!
Simala2006
 
Simala

hi simala,

can you please post the link or be specific with your info, i haven't heard or read any info regarding the retrogression...

if the retrogression is lifted, i will wait for 1-2 months for my PD to get current again(hope so), then add another 120 days for the Interview date. simala, if your PD is 2006, I think you still need to wait for months for your PD to get current coz i thinks its a first come first served basis again. but dont worry, atleast we are on the process...

kamrans, where are you :) we miss you on this thread... please update us regarding retrogression and the CIR.

thanks,

judex

We heard from here that there will be good upcoming results by May for us! How true this might be will be for all us to pray for! The lifting of the retrogression might be this coming May! Hope this will come true... Lets continue to pray co-threaders!

God bless us all!
Simala2006
 
Hope this is true!

Hi Judex! I do hope and pray this is true! I got this news from an agency here in California which is coming from their group of lawyers, its just something worth waiting for,,, sorry Judex, we have still to pray for this but this might be something! I know it is different with mine, I mean, we still have to wait but I do hope there will be a way for it to move faster though, I got my greencard in 38days remember, so I am still hoping and praying the visas for my family will go through, who knows it will be faster this time!

I still believe in miracles kababayan! Anyway, all of us must count our blessings, we are into waiting, so it means, we have something upcoming! Let us continue to support in prayers!

It might be kamrans is in vacation too! He deserves to rest a while with all the help he has done to all of us here, hehehe! thanks Kamrans!

God bless us all,
Simala2006
 
The intial time is around 3 weeks for them to respond. Initially they will send you packet 3.5 to fulfill all the requirements and then after they recieve all the docs they will call you for the interview Not every consulate works the same way but this is the process that they usually follow.

Good Luck.

After sending all FTJ documents for Spouse and dependent children to Chennai, we have requested for a status update. Here is the response we got from Chennai consulate:

------------------
At this stage, we will be scheduling the interview date and then we will send the information to the applicants.
The case number is - MDRxxxx
------------------

Any comment on the above reply? My priority date is current. Do you think we will receive Packet 3 or they will send straightaway Packet 4? To open the case, they did not ask for I-824, so we did not send them the I-824 receipt.
 
In your situation you should proceed with GC for yourself based on your EB2 as india EB2 is at 2003 and EB3 is having no hope at all. With no change in present laws it will take around 3-4 years to touch 2002 in EB3 category. Your GC based on EB2 may come soon depending on when you will get your name check cleared.

Good Luck.


Hi,
Here is the situation,

My husband got a GC right after we got married in 2004 (Dec 2004). I was in India at that time and he didn't get a chance to add me to his petition. He did a Follow to Join, filed I-824 (approved in Jun 2005), and filed Packet 3, created a case file in Chennai consulate, but then the dates got retrogressed (EB3 with PD 04/01/2002).

After a frustrating 18 month period (Oct 2006), I got a H1-B and I'm currently working in the US.

Now my question is, what are my options to get a GC?

1. Wait until my priority dates are current (for FTJ) and wait for the call from Chennai consulate?
2. Apply for 485 when the priority dates are current?

Both these options depend on EB3 priority dates which is not going to happen any soon :(

I have a masters degree with 4 years experience, so can I some how get in to EB2 queue and port over my PD? I know that my spouse's 485 is already approved and chances of porting is remote, but I'm just taking a long shot to see if there is an option which would reduce my waiting period.

Thanks for all your responses.
 
Send your docs to the embassy and see what they say. If they dont accept it then you cannot do it .. no matter if its written in any law book. You can try and if you get it you may be the lucky one. Not all consulates works the same way.

Good Luck.

Kamrans, I think I found the PDF you mentioned. I couldnt find it in this thread anywhere but I did some googling and came up with the state department cable where it indicates that posts must accept petitions from I-140 beneficiaries with the I-824 receipt notice. I'm attaching it to this post in case anyone needs it as well as linking it where I found it. I've emailed this pdf to my consulate to see what they think. They want me to wait until probably August when the TSC would have finally worked on my I-824 application and I really don't want to wait that long if I dont have to. They assured me that their IV wait time is less than 2 weeks yet they want me to wait another 4 months for no good reason. It's not like they're one of the overworked consulates. It usually only takes a few days to obtain a visa in my country.

http://shusterman.com/pdf/824.pdf

Thanks for the help!
 
Great news. Hopefully you will get the citizenship without any issue. Congratulations to both of you.


I feel relief because now Im living in the US together with my family. Guess what? Me and spouse manage our visa process by ourselves without help from attorney. I didn't have idea how to manage it, so I read some stuffs of the internet (I remember the one that help me understand about how to come to US, it is at http://www.migrate.us.tc ) , but luckily I've spouse who is smart in manage this visa process step by step. It took about 1 year to proceed (instead of 3 months) because I had to wait until give birth of our first child. After I got my visa, me and my spouse had to manage our baby's passport. Very complicated process, but everything was done. Im so glad. And now Im just waiting to apply for citizenship.
 
Wait for a month and then contact them or you can visit the embassy so that you can get the answers to all questions you have. Why dont you call the visa specialist?


HI KAMRANS, JUDEX AND BISDAKDREAMER:

Got the approval of my dependents 1-824 last March 13 and still waiting for the letter from Usembassy Manila for an appt maybe. My husband has mailed the DS 230 and that paper DS 2001 I think, last January yet, still no letter from embassy till this time.

Will it be good if we contact again Mnl embassy? what would be the best thing to do? hope you can advice us what to do next... thanks in advance!

Is this kind of waiting will take us years to wait? remember my priority date is sept 2006 and I do hope a new update for you judex and bisdakdreamer is coming your way to inspire us too! Kamrans whats the latest news about the retrogression? thanks so much in advance for replies!

God bless us all!
simala2006
 
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