I-751: 9 Months+...Still no 10yr green card...

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Ok, it's been 9 months+ and I still haven't received the actual physical 10yr green card yet.

So it's "Round 3 of Expediting/Inquiring" as to what is going on here for my case....(note: round 1: expedite by phone January 2009 denied, round 2: expedite via in-person and e-mail by local Congressperson April 2009 case approved with letter but no green card yet, round 3: expedite by phone today May 2009 about green card)

Frustrated at the situation, we (my husband D actually) decided to call the mis-information line for me today, and this is what happened:

D: (phones the 1-800 number, and using the "rotary phone" method, and manages to talk to a representative on the phone after waiting 10-20 minutes on the line)

Representative: (speaks in Spanish.)

D: English please.

Representative: You have reached the USCIS...blah blah blah...What is your case number?

D: (states my case number)

Representative: Is this for Removal of Conditions?

D: Yes. But it's for my wife Ant, and I'm her husband D.

Representative: What is the a-file number?

D: (states my a-file number)

Representative: Has your case been approved yet? (Ant thinking: Shouldn't you know that already?), as according to our updated records it says that it's pending to where it has been transfered to (Ant thinking: Gee, I guess you should update the records again...)

D: Well the case has been approved but we haven't received the green card yet

Representative: When did you file?

D: August 21, 2008

Representative: When was it approved?

D: April 15, 2009, according to the date on this approval letter from the CSC (reads some of the contents of the approval letter on the phone) which was sent to us by regular mail. But my wife needs the card for travelling and she needs to travel back to Canada before it's too late in her high-risk pregnancy. As well, getting this card will ease her concerns and worries if she gets that sooner, as she's been waiting for 9 months already.

Representative: Since it's been more than 30 days since you were approved, so I'll make an inquiry e-mail inquiry about this. Meanwhile, she can still travel with the expired 2yr green card and NOA (Ant thinking: Been there done that...as if I didn't know that already)

D: We have travelled before with it, but they made her feel as though she was the problem for not having her 10yr green card, and she doesn't want to travel again without it.

Representative: What is your e-mail address, home address, and telephone number?

D: (gives them our e-mail address, home address, and telephone number)

Representative: I'll make a service inquiry about your case. Here is the reference number (gives reference number), and if you don't here from us in 45 days then you can inquire again.

Representative: Is there anything else we can help you with? (Ant thinking: Send the damn card already!)

D: Not for now. (writes down reference number)

Representative: Thanks for calling the USCIS...Have a nice day....

Isn't it funny that "We have to tell the USCIS to do their jobs and tell them to update our files and that we know more about the status of our case than them", D and I thought after that phone call. No wonder it's called the "mis-information line" here. Is this what we pay our $545 and wait so long for? Bad service, indeed!

Nevertheless, the representative on the phone today was quite nice about things, and hopefully this phone call will result in me getting my actual 10yr green card asap!

So my I-751 story continues, as I still wait for my actual 10yr green card.....What a waste, indeed!

Ant (Still waiting for card 9 months+, Still waiting for Baby 9 months...)

[antda 13]

P.S. As for why I need to go to Canada again soon: To borrow (more like beg and plead from family and friends) for an extra $670 cash loan needed to file for US Citizenship in August 2009 (Thanks a lot USCIS for leaving me broke and further in debt!.... )

[LA80 3]

Hello Ant,

I have read your other topic while you waiting (found it very amusing, humorous and encouraging) for your approval and yes, this is sooooo unfair that it makes me sick. I am waiting for my 10 year GC as well. After filing I-90 and waiting for almost 4 months, I think I am going crazy. Have you received "card production ordered" e-mail yet? Honestly, I think something is going on with their card production department, or 10 year GC take more time to be produced than 2 year GCs (I say this because it took them only 6 days to send the wrong one). And what annoys me most is that time period they always give: come back in 30 days, 45 days, 60 days...I hope you find strength to overcome USCIS bureaucratic procedures and get your GC as soon as possible. You well deserved it.

Edited May 19, 2009 by LA80

[CanAmCharlotte 0]

Ant,

It seems like some of us just can't catch a break with this process. Now it seems that the 10-year greencard production has slowed to a crawl for most people. Ugh. How much more are we expected to endure? I met with my Congresswoman's Immigration Specialist to help push through the I-751 and on the same day, I applied to the Ombudsman (I figured I would cover all bases). As luck would have it, I was approved the very next day so it's very doubtful that my running around had any effect. Now I feel if my card production drags on, I can't very well go back to these people again. They'll think I'm nuts! Actually this process may very well have done that for me already.

Check this out....my approval decision date was May 6 and my online case status now says on May 15 my petition to remove conditions was received. Good grief. I really think they need to either take this ridiculous case status update off the website or make it meaningful. Only my approval letter says to wait 60 days for the card. Like you, I want to go to Canada for a visit but I hate bringing that darn temporary card with a bunch of letters.

Please let us know when you receive your card or if there is anything more you're going to do to get these folks off their butts.

Jo-Anne

[jasminelily 1]

Hello Ant,

How's the baby today?

I'm not even going to say "Hang in there", you've been hanging long enough with a high risk pregnancy and frustration after frustration. I don't think I can take 10% of what you're experiencing right now, no I can't deal with USCIS with pregnancy at the same time, I don't have the guts to try, plus I'm still young. I sure hope that the inquiry would help you get that darn 10 yr GC in your hand soon enough. I remember when I was doing I485 two years ago, the GC came within a week of the approval letter, really don't know what happened after that. Is the government really that broke? I don't know. But I'm 110% sure not all of the application fee goes towards our cases, some went to the war, some went to bail out unsavabe auto makers, etc. That's why we need transparency but I'm 200% sure that we'll never get that. Simply speaking, if we're having the transparency right now, none of this would be happening and seems like the only commnunication channel left is the Senator/Congressman route. You probably would have to use it again if this inquiry doesn't draw any result.

As for me, still no news, still waiting. Life goes on.

jasminelily

[antda 13]

Hi LA80,

Thanks for reading my posts and liking such. Glad that you and other find it entertaining, and yes it helps me by writing such too. I agree, this is so unfair and makes me sick too (figuratively and literally). I still haven't received my "card production ordered" e-mail yet, and more likely than not, at this rate, I don't care if I ever get that e-mail. All I need at this point is the actual physical plastic 10yr green card, as that's what I paid $545 and waited 9+ months for. Too bad we can't get refunds and/or some type of compensation for this, as this is bad quality service, indeed! Lol...I think all of us here on VJ at some point or other have gone crazy over some point of the immigration process. But I figure that "if we're all crazy together", then it makes the process somewhat easier. I agree, there is definitely something wrong with their card production department. What the heck is the hold up there? How long does it take for some idiot to press a button and order a card? I don't understand the consistency there either, as likewise, it took me 1 week to get a 2yr green card after being approved, and yet it takes 1 month+ if not more to get a 10yr green card after being approved, even though both cards contains more or less the same information on it. And yes, it is annoying about the time period to "come back again" that they give, and that we have to "tell them to do their job" and made to feel like we're the ones to blame, just because of their delays.

Likewise, I hope you find the strength to overcome the USCIS too. I hope you get your new green card soon too, and good luck on the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant (Still waiting for card 9 months+, Still waiting for baby 9 months....)

Hello Ant,

I have read your other topic while you waiting (found it very amusing, humorous and encouraging) for your approval and yes, this is sooooo unfair that it makes me sick. I am waiting for my 10 year GC as well. After filing I-90 and waiting for almost 4 months, I think I am going crazy. Have you received "card production ordered" e-mail yet? Honestly, I think something is going on with their card production department, or 10 year GC take more time to be produced than 2 year GCs (I say this because it took them only 6 days to send the wrong one). And what annoys me most is that time period they always give: come back in 30 days, 45 days, 60 days...I hope you find strength to overcome USCIS bureaucratic procedures and get your GC as soon as possible. You well deserved it.

[antda 13]

Hi CanAmCharlotte/Jo-Anne,

(Grrr....my computer disconnected from the internet....so I have to re-type this reply again, to the best of my ability....)

Congratulatons on your recent I-751 approval! Glad to hear that contacting your congresswoman's immigration person helped your case being approved as soon as possible, especially more so that your case is "outside of their normal processing times". I agree, "just waiting to see what happens" wouldn't have helped much at this point, and you did the right thing there by contacting these political officals. After all, we vote (that is if we ever get to the citizenship stage) for them to do help us, so why not use their help when we need it the most?

Funny, that I was in NC last week to visit family, but I'm back in NYS this week....Oh well, maybe next time we can have an in-person approval celebration the next time around...(lol...by the way, be careful driving around NC this weekend, as the NASCAR races are in town....)

Lol...my online status says the same thing too (petition to remove conditions was received), despite ebing approved already on April 15th. I agree, they should update their system and/or take it down completely if it serves no updated purpose at all. With the time that they spent 'updating' their system, they can get more done instead. Likewise, the mis-information telephone line says the same thing too, so on that note, they are overall not updated on their cases at all. Lol..I find it amsuing too, that "we know more about our case than they do". Shouldn't they be the ones doing their jobs, instead of us doing it for them?

Likewise, I want to go to Canada for a visit again too (actually more like I have to, so that I can afford citizenship). I don't want to be harassed and making me feel like the problem when I cross the border, because their delays, just because I don't have my 10yr green card yet. As well, I can only travel up to a certain point in the pregnancy, and with the new stricter border rules coming up....Thanks a lot USCIS, for ruining my travel plans again! Nevertheless, if you do go back to Canada (by the way, if you don't mind me asking, which part of Canada where you originally from?) for a visit, good luck on your trip and hope that you don't have any problems there.

Likewise too, my approval letter says that should wait 60 days too. But after 30 days past approval (and 9 months+ of waiting overall), I'm frustrated of waiting for them yet again, so I called them, after waiting a "reasonable period of time" afterwards. I encourage you and everyone else too, who have been waiting 30+ days after approval and not having received the card to inquire about their case too.

Yes, I will let you and everyone else here on VJ about if I hear any new news about my card and/or actually get the card in the mail. I'm giving them until June 1st...and afterwards....methinks I'm going back to my congressperson again for additional help(sigh...inquiry/expedite round 4....this is crazy!)....

Good luck on the rest of your immigration journey. Hope you get your 10yr green card soon too. And yes, do keep us updated here on VJ as to what happens next with your case too.

Ant (Still waiting for card 9 months+, Still waiting for baby 9 months....)

Ant,

It seems like some of us just can't catch a break with this process. Now it seems that the 10-year greencard production has slowed to a crawl for most people. Ugh. How much more are we expected to endure? I met with my Congresswoman's Immigration Specialist to help push through the I-751 and on the same day, I applied to the Ombudsman (I figured I would cover all bases). As luck would have it, I was approved the very next day so it's very doubtful that my running around had any effect. Now I feel if my card production drags on, I can't very well go back to these people again. They'll think I'm nuts! Actually this process may very well have done that for me already.

Check this out....my approval decision date was May 6 and my online case status now says on May 15 my petition to remove conditions was received. Good grief. I really think they need to either take this ridiculous case status update off the website or make it meaningful. Only my approval letter says to wait 60 days for the card. Like you, I want to go to Canada for a visit but I hate bringing that darn temporary card with a bunch of letters.

Please let us know when you receive your card or if there is anything more you're going to do to get these folks off their butts.

Jo-Anne

Edited May 20, 2009 by AntandD

[antda 13]

Hi Jasminelily,

Lol...I'm "barely hanging in", but "I'm still hanging in there". I'm definitely beyond the point of frustration with the USCIS and with other negative stressful things that are going on in my life too. Lol...don't worry, you don't have to live my life and you don't have to try either. Lol...I may be young chronological-wise, but methinks that my life has made me lived beyond my biological years. Meawhile, you should enjoy your life and take things a day at a time, as in the end the USCIS is not worth worrying about (gee, maybe I should take my own advice here too...).

On the bright side, the pregnancy has helped me be more happier and more persistent about things, as I realize too that I have another life at risk here. Being on VJ has helped me too, as with dealing with immigration issues has been a lot easier when there is such a supportive and friendly online here to talk about such issues.

I hope too, that this recent inquiry will help me get that 10yr card soon. Well, if it doesn't help overall, at least it makes them more aware of their incompentency and bad service overall. As I mentioned before: I'm giving them until June 1st...and afterwards....methinks I'm going back to my congressperson again for additional help(sigh...inquiry/expedite round 4....this is crazy!)....

Lol...I don't think that the government is broke (in fact, I think it's the opposite, where they are too rich for their own good). It's too bad that the government is spending time and money with other issues, some of which are more of a waste and unrecoverable. I think that most governments and/or businesses are like that, so it's no surprise there, really. The thing about the monolopy of a government though, is that there is barely anybody else to "complain and solve problems" to when there are concerns with such. So sad to say, they have to "run our lives in some ways, and we can do nothing about it". For immigration issues though, there is the "final resort of the senator/congressperson political route" to go, so there is some hope there at least. Lol..."politics fighting with politics", now that's funny and productive, indeed!

Yes, I will let you and everyone else here on VJ about if I hear any new news about my card and/or actually get the card in the mail. Good luck on the rest of your immigration journey. Hope you get your 10yr green card soon too. And yes, do keep us updated here on VJ as to what happens next with your case too.

Ant (Still waiting for card 9 months+, Still waiting for baby 9 months....)

Hello Ant,

How's the baby today?

I'm not even going to say "Hang in there", you've been hanging long enough with a high risk pregnancy and frustration after frustration. I don't think I can take 10% of what you're experiencing right now, no I can't deal with USCIS with pregnancy at the same time, I don't have the guts to try, plus I'm still young. I sure hope that the inquiry would help you get that darn 10 yr GC in your hand soon enough. I remember when I was doing I485 two years ago, the GC came within a week of the approval letter, really don't know what happened after that. Is the government really that broke? I don't know. But I'm 110% sure not all of the application fee goes towards our cases, some went to the war, some went to bail out unsavabe auto makers, etc. That's why we need transparency but I'm 200% sure that we'll never get that. Simply speaking, if we're having the transparency right now, none of this would be happening and seems like the only commnunication channel left is the Senator/Congressman route. You probably would have to use it again if this inquiry doesn't draw any result.

As for me, still no news, still waiting. Life goes on.

jasminelily

Edited May 20, 2009 by AntandD

[antda 13]

P.S. As for the Baby, he's doing well, healthy, and is very active (ouch...he's kicking me as I type). By the way, you and everyone else can view the baby's ultrasound photos on my webpage (follow the link on my signature below to the "family and baby photos" page). As well, feel free to leave a message on my "guestbook" on my site too. Thanks.