We got our I-551 stamp at SFO today. We read on the discussion board about the photo shop opposite INS office, so we did not get any pictures done before. It was expensive there ($13 for 2 photos instead of $16 for 6 which we got earlier in San Jose when applying for EAD/AP) but hey, the company pays, so why bother
We reached Sansome X Washington at 9:15AM. Found a garage 2 blocks from INS office, $2.50 for 20 min. The one opposite INS was $4 for 20 min. Went to the photo shop. Got the photos done in 10 min, were standing in line at 9:40AM. There were about 15 people.
Went in for the security check. Just before we were about go in, a few people with 10AM and 10:15AM appointment people came in. So, we waited for a few minutes. Were inside at 10AM. Dropped the approved notices in the slot. Our names were called within 2min. The announcer had big trouble saying my name. Took him 4 times to get it right. So, we were laughing by the time we were at counter 19. A very nice african american lady was at the counter. She took our passports and EADs.She did not take our APs. She then took our finger prints and signatures. Asked us to wait a few minutes. Within 3-4 minutes we were called back. She handed us over passports over. We were out by 10:20AM. We were waiting inside for just enough time for me to read 4 pages of the book I took with me in expectation of a long wait. It was altogether a quick and pleasant experience.
A quick note for those people driving from the South Bay. The morning traffic is not that bad on US 101N. We drove from San Mateo to the INS office in just about 45 minutes. You can even find some public parking if you go around the streets surrounding the INS office.
Overall, my GC process went through quite smoothly. It took 1 year and 9 months for the whole process and I called the IIO only 3 times, once to change the address, once to confirm the change and one to enquire about FP results. The only minor glitch was a delay in getting my FP, which I got 3 months later than most of my colleagues who applied with me got. But I got my approval at the same time as they did, so I did not lose much.
This forum has been a great help to me during the process. It helped solve a few of the INS mysteries and it helped me stay sane by keeping me updated about the status of others in my situation.
Now I can stop worrying about my green card and concentrate on my GMAT which I am taking this weekend.
Thankyou all for the help and info you provided.
Pcee, now that Ciba is retiring for a while, do you think you could add a column,"Plastic Card" to the tracking list, starting with the April mailers?
We reached Sansome X Washington at 9:15AM. Found a garage 2 blocks from INS office, $2.50 for 20 min. The one opposite INS was $4 for 20 min. Went to the photo shop. Got the photos done in 10 min, were standing in line at 9:40AM. There were about 15 people. Went in for the security check. Just before we were about go in, a few people with 10AM and 10:15AM appointment people came in. So, we waited for a few minutes. Were inside at 10AM. Dropped the approved notices in the slot. Our names were called within 2min. The announcer had big trouble saying my name. Took him 4 times to get it right. So, we were laughing by the time we were at counter 19. A very nice african american lady was at the counter. She took our passports and EADs.She did not take our APs. She then took our finger prints and signatures. Asked us to wait a few minutes. Within 3-4 minutes we were called back. She handed us over passports over. We were out by 10:20AM. We were waiting inside for just enough time for me to read 4 pages of the book I took with me in expectation of a long wait. It was altogether a quick and pleasant experience.
A quick note for those people driving from the South Bay. The morning traffic is not that bad on US 101N. We drove from San Mateo to the INS office in just about 45 minutes. You can even find some public parking if you go around the streets surrounding the INS office.
Overall, my GC process went through quite smoothly. It took 1 year and 9 months for the whole process and I called the IIO only 3 times, once to change the address, once to confirm the change and one to enquire about FP results. The only minor glitch was a delay in getting my FP, which I got 3 months later than most of my colleagues who applied with me got. But I got my approval at the same time as they did, so I did not lose much.
This forum has been a great help to me during the process. It helped solve a few of the INS mysteries and it helped me stay sane by keeping me updated about the status of others in my situation.
Now I can stop worrying about my green card and concentrate on my GMAT which I am taking this weekend.
Thankyou all for the help and info you provided.
Pcee, now that Ciba is retiring for a while, do you think you could add a column,"Plastic Card" to the tracking list, starting with the April mailers?