RD_OCT2001
Registered Users (C)
As some of you guys might know, my greencard case (RD: Oct 2001) was approved on Feb 1st, 2003. I went to get the greencard stamp (I-551) on the passport yesterday and this ended my whole greencard journey (of course, I will wait for the physical greencard, but that is irrevalent and not too important).
Here is complete details of my case and hope that can provide some helpful information for you guys....
-->Sep of 1998:
started the greencard process by filing for Labor Certification (LC).
-->March of 2000
Reduction in Recruition (RIR) was allowed as an alternative mean to get the Labor Certifcation. Thus, filed the RIR in March of 2000
-->Some time in Mid year of 2000
Was told by INS to withdraw one of the LC applications. After deep consideration, decided to withdraw the LC application filed in 1998 and keep the RIR filed in 2000. (i.e. Wasted about one and half year)
-->Some time towards the end of 2000 or begining of 2001
Got my LC throught RIR and filed the I-140.
-->About August time of 2001
I-140 got approved and now gathering information for I-485. Was deciding whether I should go for Consular Processing or regular I-485. At the time, I was thinking of Consular Processing since there are a lot of application filed for I485 at the same time since the "official backlog" suddenly disappeared.
-->Then comes the Sep 11st, 2001 event which is making us all INDIRECT VICTIMS.
Para legal kept convicing me NOT to do the consular processing as I will have to leave the USA to have the interview. Considering all of those security measurement developed after Sep 11, 2001. She ABSOLUTELY advised me for a I485 simply because it is safer.
-->Then comes the Anthrax scare which slows down all those document delivery between the para legal and me...
-->October of 2001.
Decided to go for I-485. Completely abandon the idea of consular processing. Did my medical as well and filed it together with the I-485.
-->Jan of 2002
Done with the finger print.
-->The processing time for I485 seems to be rather acceptable (around 9 or 10 months) toward the second half of the 2002. Then comes the stupid security computer system upgrade in INS to get a mandatory clearance from FBI...We did NOT see any approval for near 2 months....
-->Keep checking the status online everyday but keep seeing "we received your finger print...blah, blah, blah..."
-->Feb 1st, 2003.
Decided NOT to check the status for a week after checking it on Jan 31, 2003.
-->Feb 5th, 2003.
Could not resist the temptation of 1 week. Fooled myself that 5 days break of not checking is enough... And guess what, the online status said that it was approved on Feb 1st, 2003. The very first day I stop checking...
-->Feb 10th, 2003
Went to pick up the approval notice in midtown manhattan myself. Did not want to have any chance for the approval notice to get lost by messengers. (I have never lost any thing while messenging..but I figured, it is the approval notice and too important for any risk, even 0.00001% of chance)
-->Feb 14th, 2003 (Stamp experience)
Approval notice said I can do stamp on any Friday. Thus got to the Federal Plaza in NYC at 7:00am on the very first Friday available, Feb 14th, 2003.
There are 2 lines there. The long one is for the Broadway entrance. The short one is for the worth street entrance. To get the stamp, BE SURE to get into the short line (which is for the Worth street entrance).
The approval notice said Room 1-102. However, apparently, it changes to Room 300 on the 3rd floor recently. Got to the Room 3-300 at 7:45am. The door will NOT be opened until 8:00am.
Also, the approval letter asked you to bring:
a) passport with I-94 card
b) the approval letter
c) 2 ADIT style pictures.
---------------------
However, the fact is that you need to bring your EAD card too, if you have any. (see my detail steps below)
---------------------
Step 1:
A clerk will collect your approval notice and ask you to have a seat.
Step 2: Then your name will be called and a clerk will ask you to write down a new street (which could be different than the address on your approval notice) where you want the card to send to. Asked for your birthday then asked to be seated again...
Step 3: Then your name will be called again...Asked to turn in your EAD card which was not mentioned on the approval notice. Did the finger print, and signed some paper/card. Asked for passport, 2 ADIT style pictures. then Asked to be seated again.
Step 4: Your name will be called again. This time, you are given your passport back with the greencard stamp on it. was told that the physical card will take anywhere from 6 months to 12 months. The stamp is good for 1 year but can be re-stamp again, if you for whatever reasons, the physical card did not arrive within a year....
But again, the physical card is irrevalent. THE FACT OF MATTER IS THAT YOU WILL BECOME THE PERNAMENT RESIDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES from the very moment you got your stamped.
It has been around 5 years since this long journey started. Just like most of us here, we all experienced frucstration/anxiety/etc...or some sort from this greencard process. Now that I am going to sign off from this board, I want to wish everyone good luck.... This board and the people here has been very helpful...
Regards
Here is complete details of my case and hope that can provide some helpful information for you guys....
-->Sep of 1998:
started the greencard process by filing for Labor Certification (LC).
-->March of 2000
Reduction in Recruition (RIR) was allowed as an alternative mean to get the Labor Certifcation. Thus, filed the RIR in March of 2000
-->Some time in Mid year of 2000
Was told by INS to withdraw one of the LC applications. After deep consideration, decided to withdraw the LC application filed in 1998 and keep the RIR filed in 2000. (i.e. Wasted about one and half year)
-->Some time towards the end of 2000 or begining of 2001
Got my LC throught RIR and filed the I-140.
-->About August time of 2001
I-140 got approved and now gathering information for I-485. Was deciding whether I should go for Consular Processing or regular I-485. At the time, I was thinking of Consular Processing since there are a lot of application filed for I485 at the same time since the "official backlog" suddenly disappeared.
-->Then comes the Sep 11st, 2001 event which is making us all INDIRECT VICTIMS.
Para legal kept convicing me NOT to do the consular processing as I will have to leave the USA to have the interview. Considering all of those security measurement developed after Sep 11, 2001. She ABSOLUTELY advised me for a I485 simply because it is safer.
-->Then comes the Anthrax scare which slows down all those document delivery between the para legal and me...
-->October of 2001.
Decided to go for I-485. Completely abandon the idea of consular processing. Did my medical as well and filed it together with the I-485.
-->Jan of 2002
Done with the finger print.
-->The processing time for I485 seems to be rather acceptable (around 9 or 10 months) toward the second half of the 2002. Then comes the stupid security computer system upgrade in INS to get a mandatory clearance from FBI...We did NOT see any approval for near 2 months....
-->Keep checking the status online everyday but keep seeing "we received your finger print...blah, blah, blah..."
-->Feb 1st, 2003.
Decided NOT to check the status for a week after checking it on Jan 31, 2003.
-->Feb 5th, 2003.
Could not resist the temptation of 1 week. Fooled myself that 5 days break of not checking is enough... And guess what, the online status said that it was approved on Feb 1st, 2003. The very first day I stop checking...
-->Feb 10th, 2003
Went to pick up the approval notice in midtown manhattan myself. Did not want to have any chance for the approval notice to get lost by messengers. (I have never lost any thing while messenging..but I figured, it is the approval notice and too important for any risk, even 0.00001% of chance)
-->Feb 14th, 2003 (Stamp experience)
Approval notice said I can do stamp on any Friday. Thus got to the Federal Plaza in NYC at 7:00am on the very first Friday available, Feb 14th, 2003.
There are 2 lines there. The long one is for the Broadway entrance. The short one is for the worth street entrance. To get the stamp, BE SURE to get into the short line (which is for the Worth street entrance).
The approval notice said Room 1-102. However, apparently, it changes to Room 300 on the 3rd floor recently. Got to the Room 3-300 at 7:45am. The door will NOT be opened until 8:00am.
Also, the approval letter asked you to bring:
a) passport with I-94 card
b) the approval letter
c) 2 ADIT style pictures.
---------------------
However, the fact is that you need to bring your EAD card too, if you have any. (see my detail steps below)
---------------------
Step 1:
A clerk will collect your approval notice and ask you to have a seat.
Step 2: Then your name will be called and a clerk will ask you to write down a new street (which could be different than the address on your approval notice) where you want the card to send to. Asked for your birthday then asked to be seated again...
Step 3: Then your name will be called again...Asked to turn in your EAD card which was not mentioned on the approval notice. Did the finger print, and signed some paper/card. Asked for passport, 2 ADIT style pictures. then Asked to be seated again.
Step 4: Your name will be called again. This time, you are given your passport back with the greencard stamp on it. was told that the physical card will take anywhere from 6 months to 12 months. The stamp is good for 1 year but can be re-stamp again, if you for whatever reasons, the physical card did not arrive within a year....
But again, the physical card is irrevalent. THE FACT OF MATTER IS THAT YOU WILL BECOME THE PERNAMENT RESIDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES from the very moment you got your stamped.
It has been around 5 years since this long journey started. Just like most of us here, we all experienced frucstration/anxiety/etc...or some sort from this greencard process. Now that I am going to sign off from this board, I want to wish everyone good luck.... This board and the people here has been very helpful...
Regards