Hi. According to online status, BCIS sent me the approval notice yesterday (remarkably, only six days after receiving my "additional evidence" documents which they had previously requested). Since I am going on a three-week vacation in two days, I doubt it will arrive before I leave. In case it doesn't, I need to know what this notice really says and/or comes with. I worry that there may be something I would have to do while I'm away. Please help.
FYI: I applied in June 1998; did fingerprints in March 2003.
Also, since we are on the subject of traveling back to our home countries, I am so confused about whether I am allowed to travel with my national passport or not. I actually thought I did but then I started reading all of your, usually fear-laden e-mails, and now I'm worried too. Can someone who knows please explain it to me once and for all. There is a lot of back and forth on this debate. All I know is that everyone I know who got their GCs a couple or so years ago has been traveling with their national passports and going home when they please. I mean, if that's not the case, what is the point? Are we really free then? Besides, we've all waited for years, some of us decades, to go home, and in many countries situation has changed for the better (certainly in mine).
So what is the problem? And why are so many of you so afraid to admit that you want (and probably will) go home at some point? I wish more of you would talk about it as if you weren't so afraid. Because, really, it's so ok. I refuse to accept anything else after spending a whole decade living like a prisoner. All this senseless waiting did was made me appreciate my roots more and realize that no matter who runs my country or how, it will always be my home. And no GC or American citizenship could change that.
Again, thanks to all of you who try to help whenever I post something. You trully seem like a caring bunch, and I wish you all the best, especially those still in waiting.
Mirela
FYI: I applied in June 1998; did fingerprints in March 2003.
Also, since we are on the subject of traveling back to our home countries, I am so confused about whether I am allowed to travel with my national passport or not. I actually thought I did but then I started reading all of your, usually fear-laden e-mails, and now I'm worried too. Can someone who knows please explain it to me once and for all. There is a lot of back and forth on this debate. All I know is that everyone I know who got their GCs a couple or so years ago has been traveling with their national passports and going home when they please. I mean, if that's not the case, what is the point? Are we really free then? Besides, we've all waited for years, some of us decades, to go home, and in many countries situation has changed for the better (certainly in mine).
So what is the problem? And why are so many of you so afraid to admit that you want (and probably will) go home at some point? I wish more of you would talk about it as if you weren't so afraid. Because, really, it's so ok. I refuse to accept anything else after spending a whole decade living like a prisoner. All this senseless waiting did was made me appreciate my roots more and realize that no matter who runs my country or how, it will always be my home. And no GC or American citizenship could change that.
Again, thanks to all of you who try to help whenever I post something. You trully seem like a caring bunch, and I wish you all the best, especially those still in waiting.
Mirela