HELP needed - AOS denial

[lisa71 0]

Thanks again - most people.

drmartmar, your suspicious tone is not appreciated. Can you actually read? Let me post it again for you.

we are having a big wedding reception in 3 weeks and people flying in from all over the place. The way the letter is worded, says I won't be here for the renewal of vows and reception.

Do you understand what the terms RENEWAL OF VOWS and WEDDING RECEPTION mean?

We were legally married within 4 weeks of my arrival. We married in a private, confidential registry ceremony. We planned a big reception and to renew our vows in front of friends and family on 01 July. We chose to wait this long to ensure our house was finished, our kids were settled and all our OS family and friends could be here. In our eyes that will be the day we celebrate our union

[grouchy 0]

Something similar happened to us, we filed a motion to reopen and got the case reopened. You could either get a lawyer to do it or do it yourself (see my posts on the Britexpats site). BUT remember you have 30 days from the date of the letter advising you of denial to file MTR---STRICT. We also got our Congressman involved.

Don't flip out too much--this happens more than you might imagine. Just get moving on the MTR.

[Reba 2]

All the best of luck to you Lisa, I'm sure you'll get it straightened out. Also call your state Senator(s), their offices should have an immigration liase that may be able to help you in sorting this out. I know our state senator's office was instrumental in helping us along every step of the way.

*hugs*

[Yodrak 7]

dmartmar,

You need to read more carefully - lisa did not write that she's planning a wedding.

Yodrak

I am beside myself with worry, as we are having a big wedding reception in 3 weeks and people flying in from all over the place. The way the letter is worded, says I won't be here for the renewal of vows and reception.

Well, how did you first get married?

Planning a wedding AFTER your AOS interview would look suspicious to me too.

[lisa71 0]

OK, here's an update on where things are at. I spent around 2 & 1/2 hours on the phone to an Immigration Officer yesterday. She was lovely and very helpful. For those who may go through the same problem, I am going to post what I was told. She advised me of the following:

1. It is a little known fact, and certainly not something you will find on the USCIS website, that if you do not have your name ON your mailbox, the US Postal may not deliver mail from the immigration department to you. The reason for this, so I was told, is that mail from the immigration department is considered to be highly sensitive and confidential. This little known fact doesn't explain why I received mail from them up until we were transferred to the CSC. Also, why we received the denial letter, but not the letter about the transfer or the letter for the appointment. It's probably the USCIS 'get out of jail free card'. "Oh, you didn't have your name on your mailbox? Then it's not our fault!"

2. As stated by others in this thread, we have the right to file a motion to re-open our case. We will try to do this tomorrow at the San Francisco office - the office that denied us. We have collected supporting evidence to prove that we have not abandoned our case. The evidence, for those interested, includes wedding invitations, letters from friends and family attesting to our ongoing commitment and involvement in our community, catering contracts for the wedding reception etc. All of this, we hope, should prove that two people investing all this time and effort would not abandon a case and simply blow off the most important interview to date.

3. If the motion to re-open is denied, we will have to start the process again. Let's hope that doesn't happen!

Thanks again to everyone who was supportive.

[lisa71 0]

Just a few hours 'til we hit the SF office. Am bumping this up in case anyone has some further info.

[Not Available 0]

I am beside myself with worry, as we are having a big wedding reception in 3 weeks and people flying in from all over the place. The way the letter is worded, says I won't be here for the renewal of vows and reception.

Well, how did you first get married?

Planning a wedding AFTER your AOS interview would look suspicious to me too.

Wedding RECEPTION. Please read more carefully before you attack a person.

Just a few hours 'til we hit the SF office. Am bumping this up in case anyone has some further info.

Good luck Lisa! It will all work out!

[WalCruz 0]

Good luck, Lisa!!!

Everything will be alright!

[Nkem 0]

I am beside myself with worry, as we are having a big wedding reception in 3 weeks and people flying in from all over the place. The way the letter is worded, says I won't be here for the renewal of vows and reception.

Well, how did you first get married?

Planning a wedding AFTER your AOS interview would look suspicious to me too.

Wedding RECEPTION. Please read more carefully before you attack a person.

Just a few hours 'til we hit the SF office. Am bumping this up in case anyone has some further info.

Good luck Lisa! It will all work out!

I know Dmartmar for this too bad ..

[elyjack 0]

Sorry to hear about your troubles but it is definitely not the first time I've heard this same story.

I find it odd that they suggest you send your application via certified mail but they reply via regular mail and then just assume you received it. I could tolerate this if they would update the online web-site when they touch your file but they don't ever update ours so if a letter gets lost in the mail we would have no way of knowing about it (and since we just did a change of address, that's a real worry I have).

I noticed the wording on the biometric appointment letter said if you didn't show up for the biometrics they would assume you had abandoned your petition and it will be denied. For the life of me I can't figure out why they would do that! What if you didn't get the letter, or some unforseen circumstance kept you from making the appointment? Having paid good money for the application why would they assume the applicant was abandoning it? Can anyone imagine a private business getting away with this kind of behavior? It would be like buying a piece of furniture which you are supposed to pick up at a certain time but for some reason you can't make it so they assume you didn't want it after all, won't give it to you, but keep the money any way.

[amancd 0]

hi, lisa71

I hope everything is working out ok. Just wondering if the denial letter you recieved mentioned removal procedures or if just told you that you must leave. I've heard that if they start removal procedures, it's harder to get things done (re-apply, etc.)

I'm sure everthing will be fine..i'll be praying for you.

[bedoskyjv 0]

move to an area that is over populated with the illegal mexicans no one will bother you, they wont pick you up, I C E doesnt want to be bothered,double standards being used by our govt!!!! not fair so just play by their rules they use for illegal mexicans you will be better off!!!they have more rights than the legal us citizens

[timelena 0]

I wonder why everyone relies so much on the post system here. In my country I would never send a check or credit card by mail! And frankly if I were given a choice I would never do it here.

At the post office of my in-laws there are always problems. They get letters addressed to their neighbors, and sometimes the neighbors come and bring letters addressed to my in-laws.

Don't know if it helps, but if your post office is not reliable either, it could probably make sence to get the letters from your neighbors describing the situation.

[elyjack 0]

1. It is a little known fact, and certainly not something you will find on the USCIS website, that if you do not have your name ON your mailbox, the US Postal may not deliver mail from the immigration department to you.

Say What? I have never in my life had my name on my mailbox and I have rarely known anybody who did.

[meauxna 15]

move to an area that is over populated with the illegal mexicans no one will bother you, they wont pick you up, I C E doesnt want to be bothered,double standards being used by our govt!!!! not fair so just play by their rules they use for illegal mexicans you will be better off!!!they have more rights than the legal us citizens

hi,

My personal request is that you not make stereotypical statements like "illegal mexicans". I am 100% sure that you do not know which brown man is mexican and which is not, or the legal status he holds.

Your post is offensive.