Walk-in @ VSC

S

Shaf

Registered Users (C)
Does anyone know what sort of inquiries and applications can be made walk-in window of VSC. Also, are they open on saturdays?

I happen to be driving on I-89 right past St.Albans, VT tomorrow ... and was thinking if I should stop there and inquire on my case. Now I don't know if they will entertain a normal inquiry on a pending I-485 [RD May 2003]. I want to check if the necessary checks ... FBI and IBIS name checks have passed the hurdles. Also I want to update my address as two calls to the USCIS has not been successful. They take down all the info ... but when I call again, they say they don't have any record of an address change!

The walk-in window will stop functioning from Sep 1, 2004. So your prompt input would be very helpful!
 
I read elsewhere in the forums (sorry dont have the link now) that walk-ins were not of much help. Someone reported that the lady there was quite sympathetic of case being delayed etc.. But, she was not of any better help than someone you can reach at the NSC 1800 number.
But, thats just one I read. Someone here might get you a better experience.

Good luck.
 
Walk-in Appointments

Shaf

I don't know much about walk-in appointments at VSC, except that they are being phased out on September 1st. So if you are going to try it, you need to be quick!!

VSC Updates (from the USCIS website)
The Vermont Service Center will no longer conduct business on a walk-up basis as VSC planning to close public window as of September 1, 2004 permanently.

RPB8260
 
The greatest thing since sliced bread

Go to the walkup window as long as they still have it.

My wifes case is rather complex and we had to sort some issues out with VSC. So, we made the treck up to St Albans to go to the walkup window while it still exists.

No line !!! I thought I was in a weird dream. An INS office without a line ??

The ladies are very friendly and competent. After 10 minutes they had the physical file pulled and the adjudications supervisor along with it. They had to do a number of phone-calls and get hold of people who were in meetings, but in the end they said the case would get adjudicated (positive or negative) TODAY.

Of course I didn't believe a single word they said.

But guess what:

At 11pm tonight I got the emails:
-- Your I140 is approved
-- Your I485 is transferred to the local office for interview

So, by all means, if you have complex issues with your case, try to go up there to the walkup window WHILE IT STILL EXISTS. (While we were waiting for them to come back to us, a young lawyer from NY haggled with them on a number of pending cases.)

The ladies at the window are friendly. They might not be familiar with all the intricacies of the cases, but at least in our case they were able to track down the people who did.

It is worth the trip, believe me. Without us going up there the case would have continued to languish in a dark corner of the shelves.

It is such a shame that they want to do away with the walkup window. I asked the ladies, they apparently were not given any specific reason as to why they won't be manning the window anymore.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hadron, thanks a lot for your encouraging reply. I did drive past St Albans, but I was terribly out of my schedule, so I couldn't stop. But the drive is nice and I don't mind taking another trip before Sep 1.

Question is: Are they open on saturdays by any chance? And what are their times on weekdays? Also, will they entertain a normal inquiry about my case? I want to ask them about the status of the various checks and specifically about NSEERS compliance. My EAD/AP applications were badly outdated until very recently ... but last week they got approved.
 
> Are they open on saturdays by any chance?

Don't think so.

> And what are their times on weekdays?

I don't remember anything posted there. I would guess it is 9-5. We were there at 10.30am and there was nobody else until 11 or so.

> Also, will they entertain a normal inquiry about my case?

Yes, the difference to the online system and the call-center morons is that they have access to the official internal computer system, (the one that reflects adjudicators comments and the actual status) I think it is most useful to go there if you are past the expected timeframe for an action but for some reason nothing happens.

> My EAD/AP applications were badly outdated until very recently
> ... but last week they got approved.

Same story here.
 
Hadron,
Looking at your post, I am planning to take a trip to VSC. My case has been pending for almost 33 months. I live in NJ and taking the risk... What additional documents did you carry other than notices...
 
> Looking at your post, I am planning to take a trip to VSC. \

I can't promise you that it will help anything.

> My case has been pending for almost 33 months.

It sounds like this might be one of the cases lost on someones shelf. Maybe they can locate it and find out what the hangup is.

> I live in NJ and taking the risk...

The risk is an awfully long ride in the car for nothing. It is scenic allright. (I89 until you hit the St Albans exit. About 1/2 mile into town you can turn left into 'Lower Welden Street', past the railroad tracks, make a right onto some street that starts with an 'H'. There is a driveway with a security guard on the left, he will direct you to the visitors parking spots.)
You have to go through a metal detector, so no small change in your pockets.'

> What additional documents did you carry other than notices...

I just had the receipt notices and a letter the attorney had already sent to them before.
In your case, I would take a photocopy of your original filing and support documents.


Oh, and one more thing. On the way back, the Border Patrol had set up a roadblock/checkpoint approx 50mil to the south of Burlington. So, it might be a good idea to take your passport with your visa or your EAD along in case they stop you. I would think that they mainly look for people smuggling pot, but you never know.
 
Thanks Hadron for your quick reply. Are there any places to stay nearby. I am planning to leave on sunday afternoon, and visit VSC on monday morning around 9.30am..
 
There is an econolodge just down the road on US7.
287 S. Main St. , St. Albans, VT, US, 05478
Phone: (802) 524-5956 Fax: (802) 524-5956X131

Please, please, don't hold me responsible if going to the service window doesn't work for you. It worked spectacularly well in my wifes case, but that doesn't mean it works for you. (For the first hour or so, they thought I was my wife's attorney. Maybe that helped to get them moving)

Be friendly and insistent. They might try to just print out the status message and send you on the way. Insist in a friendly way that they locate the file and give you the information noted on the file (I noted a sticky note on the file with my most recent address for example )

Btw. if your attorney goes to the service center, they have to provide him/her with the original file to read through it.

Try not to get upset if they can't help you, the fact that you drove up from NJ doesn't mean a thing to them.
 
hadron said:
There is an econolodge just down the road on US7.
287 S. Main St. , St. Albans, VT, US, 05478
Phone: (802) 524-5956 Fax: (802) 524-5956X131

Please, please, don't hold me responsible if going to the service window doesn't work for you. It worked spectacularly well in my wifes case, but that doesn't mean it works for you. (For the first hour or so, they thought I was my wife's attorney. Maybe that helped to get them moving)

Be friendly and insistent. They might try to just print out the status message and send you on the way. Insist in a friendly way that they locate the file and give you the information noted on the file (I noted a sticky note on the file with my most recent address for example )

Btw. if your attorney goes to the service center, they have to provide him/her with the original file to read through it.

Try not to get upset if they can't help you, the fact that you drove up from NJ doesn't mean a thing to them.
Click to expand...

Hadron,

Did they say any thing about your wife name check?
 
rapide1, plesae post your experience here. I may also drive up to VT if I hear something positive from you. Thanks.
 
hadron said:
Go to the walkup window as long as they still have it.

My wifes case is rather complex and we had to sort some issues out with VSC. So, we made the treck up to St Albans to go to the walkup window while it still exists.

No line !!! I thought I was in a weird dream. An INS office without a line ??

The ladies are very friendly and competent. After 10 minutes they had the physical file pulled and the adjudications supervisor along with it. They had to do a number of phone-calls and get hold of people who were in meetings, but in the end they said the case would get adjudicated (positive or negative) TODAY.

Of course I didn't believe a single word they said.

But guess what:

At 11pm tonight I got the emails:
-- Your I140 is approved
-- Your I485 is transferred to the local office for interview

So, by all means, if you have complex issues with your case, try to go up there to the walkup window WHILE IT STILL EXISTS. (While we were waiting for them to come back to us, a young lawyer from NY haggled with them on a number of pending cases.)

The ladies at the window are friendly. They might not be familiar with all the intricacies of the cases, but at least in our case they were able to track down the people who did.

It is worth the trip, believe me. Without us going up there the case would have continued to languish in a dark corner of the shelves.

It is such a shame that they want to do away with the walkup window. I asked the ladies, they apparently were not given any specific reason as to why they won't be manning the window anymore.
Click to expand...

Does it make sense if I walk in (with 485 ND in 2003)? My 140 is cleared and I haven't received FP notice yet. There has been no activity in my case for 6 months now.
 
Is this the place to go?

Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden St.
Saint Albans, Vermont 05479

I am planing to go sometime next week -Leave really early in the morning and come back same day -Anybody wants to join (Princeton, NJ-->St. Albans, VT-->Princeton, NJ)?
 
I am from Lawrenceville, still haven't decided if I should go. I contacted Jon Corzine this Wednesday, initiated status inquiry last Wednesday.
 
Mailarvin: I can come with u

Hi mailarvin,
do shoot me an email if you are serious about driving down to vermont next week.My email id is kewlmarc@yahoo.com.Once you write an email to me I will contact you and also send you my contact details.
I'm in NJ too Jersey City area so it will be easy to coordinate with you.
Thanks..
 
> Did they say any thing about your wife name check?

5 weeks after FP the online status said something like 'the results of your FP have been received and processing has resumed' It wasn't one of the issues I was concerned about

> Does it make sense if I walk in (with 485 ND in 2003)?

I doubt it because they will just tell you (verbatim) 'we are processing 8/26/02 today, you won't hear from us until xxyy'. This is what they told a guy who was there while we were waiting. I think, only if you are past one of their published dates that they will become active.

> According to Yahoo maps it is 8 hr drive from Princeton...

You should be a bit faster than that. You might want to take the NY througway and take the bridge/ferry accross lake champlain.


> Vermont Service Center
> 75 Lower Welden St.
> Saint Albans, Vermont 05479

Yep,
I posted directions somewhere in my earlier posts. Note that the parking lot entrance is on some street with an 'H', (maybe Hotchins).

Good luck everyone, the girls at VSC will hate me for kicking this wave off.
 
Dear Rapide1 and Hadron,
I am in MD and would be interested in joining one of you guys. My RFE is lost and I would like to get a copy of it from them.
I could drive to NJ and go from there with you guys. I would prefer if we left at around 2-3 am Thu Aug 26th early morning, reach St Albans by 9am Friday 27th and come back soon after on Friday eve. Please let me know if either of you is keen on this timings and schedule. Please PM me.
Thanks
 
Driving to VT - MAILARVIN and RAPIDE1

...Ooops I meant to send the message to MAILARVIN and RAPIDE1, Ignore my message HADRON.
Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top