January 2010 AOS Filers

[Calypso 464]

Please don't think the average time to get a biometric letter is just 2 weeks and get disappointed when it doesn't arrive by the 14th day. I know that based on these forums, you'd tend to think from all the postings that if your letter doesn't come in 2-3 weeks you are SOL. As you can see from my timeline, it took us almost a month (28 days) to get ours... and I felt so silly for worrying when I saw that our actual letter was dated so much earlier than when it arrived. I honestly think that the letters go out in batches... The day I received my letter, I saw a bunch of other postings the same exact day.

I know that I tend to overanalyze things based on what I see here on the forums.. and in reality, the people on the forums (us included) are probably the type A filers... We are just a small percentage of filers and we need to keep that in mind. I'm trying not to get overanxious myself right now because I see people who filed 20 days before me get their interview letter and then I start thinking that in 20 more days I should get mine. It's not fair to do that to myself.. i have to be patient and let the forms, notices, and interviews happen when the USCIS says so.

This is very true. I have learned this during my K1 experience. I hope though that things really move fast for us all at this point.

[menina 50]

Please don't think the average time to get a biometric letter is just 2 weeks and get disappointed when it doesn't arrive by the 14th day. I know that based on these forums, you'd tend to think from all the postings that if your letter doesn't come in 2-3 weeks you are SOL. As you can see from my timeline, it took us almost a month (28 days) to get ours... and I felt so silly for worrying when I saw that our actual letter was dated so much earlier than when it arrived. I honestly think that the letters go out in batches... The day I received my letter, I saw a bunch of other postings the same exact day.

I know that I tend to overanalyze things based on what I see here on the forums.. and in reality, the people on the forums (us included) are probably the type A filers... We are just a small percentage of filers and we need to keep that in mind. I'm trying not to get overanxious myself right now because I see people who filed 20 days before me get their interview letter and then I start thinking that in 20 more days I should get mine. It's not fair to do that to myself.. i have to be patient and let the forms, notices, and interviews happen when the USCIS says so.

Yeah I know I need to settle down. I actually had no idea that 14 days was standard for the biometrics. I was actually thinking we would have to wait for awhile, but when I saw our touch on the 28th of January along with other filers, and then saw one receive biometrics right away, I figured that ours was coming as well. Other January filers from my service center have their appointments next week, so that is what got me concerned about possibly not receiving the letter. I can see them being mailed out in batches. I also saw that some people had very little notice before their appointment. I am a teacher and need enough time to arrange for a sub and get off work to take my husband, so if I don't know enough in advance, there could be a problem. My students have special needs so it is especially important that I be there for them. I am definitely guilty of overanalyzing the timelines though. Thanks and good luck on your journey.

[vespa rossa 0]

Hi there,

We just got an email/text saying that our case has been transferred to CSC for processing -- anybody know why this happens and what it means? We're in NYC and applied to VSC for our K-1 Visa...am hoping this isn't a bad sign.

Any experience with this?

Thanks!

[MARM 7]

Hi there,

We just got an email/text saying that our case has been transferred to CSC for processing -- anybody know why this happens and what it means? We're in NYC and applied to VSC for our K-1 Visa...am hoping this isn't a bad sign.

Any experience with this?

Thanks!

Congrats vespa rossa, this is a good sign

This means your case will be processed without an interview for AOS!

[SSON 0]

Wow.... I see some cases (first group of cases for January 2010 filers) get transferred to CSC. That's exciting... Congrats! I hope my cases get transferred to CSC and get approved without an interview.. but based on what I have seen from 2009 filers' spreadsheets, it appears that H-1B visa holders don't get transferred to CSC. My case hasn't been touched since 1/28/2010.. I'm checking the website and my mailbox everyday... obsessively.... I should relax a little... I'm so glad that we can share our feelings on this forum though... May everybody's case move forward quickly!

[Laura & Kyle 16]

Yeah I know I need to settle down. I actually had no idea that 14 days was standard for the biometrics. I was actually thinking we would have to wait for awhile, but when I saw our touch on the 28th of January along with other filers, and then saw one receive biometrics right away, I figured that ours was coming as well. Other January filers from my service center have their appointments next week, so that is what got me concerned about possibly not receiving the letter. I can see them being mailed out in batches. I also saw that some people had very little notice before their appointment. I am a teacher and need enough time to arrange for a sub and get off work to take my husband, so if I don't know enough in advance, there could be a problem. My students have special needs so it is especially important that I be there for them. I am definitely guilty of overanalyzing the timelines though. Thanks and good luck on your journey.

OMG, I know what you mean by the whole timing thing, especially with being a teacher. I used to teach special education and it was harder to make sub plans than just being there to teach them myself! I'm still in the school system as a "teacher," but I'm now in a cubicle working with online courses. We had 7 days notice of the biometric appointment. I still have to take sick days, but I lucked out this week because we have had snow days. I can't tell you what a relief it was to have those 8 hours of "sick" time back. I wish you the best, menina!!

[menina 50]

OMG, I know what you mean by the whole timing thing, especially with being a teacher. I used to teach special education and it was harder to make sub plans than just being there to teach them myself! I'm still in the school system as a "teacher," but I'm now in a cubicle working with online courses. We had 7 days notice of the biometric appointment. I still have to take sick days, but I lucked out this week because we have had snow days. I can't tell you what a relief it was to have those 8 hours of "sick" time back. I wish you the best, menina!!

Oh cool that we have special ed teaching in common. Awesome that you got the snow to give you a day off. We don't have snow here (usually) in CA, but I can just imagine the mess we would have if it suddenly got that cold. I used to live in Utah, so I have experience in the snow, but for those who don't...yikes. Good luck to you too! I can't believe some January files are already being transferred to CSC. I guess that is good news for the rest of us that things are moving quickly now.

[F & J 21]

Hi everyone!

I've been checking the mailbox as before, expecting an RFE but thankfully, nothing has come. I really hope we don't get an RFE... After my biometrics experience, I've just gotten really sad (read about it below). On a happier note, I got touches on the I-485 and I-765 after the biometrics appointment yesterday. Finally!

Here's how my biometrics appointment went:

I showed them my military I.D. and privilege card because it was my only I.D. in my married name but for some reason the guard didn't really know what it was even though there was USA stamped all over it and it clearly stated United States Uniformed Services (I figured that it was an I.D. issued by the U.S. government and should've been accepted, *sigh). I had to show them my passport, K-1 visa with I-94, and my marriage certificate. I had a bit of a problem with my name. I followed the Philippine naming convention with regards to women taking their husband's name and I was told that I was not supposed to do this as the American naming convention is different. I was told that following the Philippine naming convention where you drop your middle name (your mother's maiden name) and take your father's last name as your new middle name then your husband's last name as your new last name would in effect be a name change that has to be done at court. The lady who looked over my I.D.s still processed my biometrics with the name as it was on my ASC notice and said that it will be up the USCIS officer if they let me use my married name on the green card. I really hope it won't be a problem because I know everyone else who did the name change on their AOS had no problems using their "Philippine" married name. Did anyone else do this?

Anyway, the Biometrics appointment went well. Fingerprints were all good and the very nice lady who took them told me that I shouldn't worry, I won't have to come back. Yay!

We did get a lot done yesterday so it was all good. We dropped by to see my mother-in-law at work and then we got to see our accountant (even though we didn't have an appointment, yay!) - another problem with my name here. Our accountant only used one of my first names because we're e-filing and you can only put so many characters in the name field. Hopefully it'll be okay - she said the system might have me with 1 first name and then 2 middle names. That actually makes sense. Anyway, it should still match what's on my Social Security Card.

@ MI.PI

I'm really sorry, I didn't get to ask whether they accept walk-ins. But the office didn't seem very busy so they might be able to accommodate walk-ins. After the whole I.D. thing, I was afraid to ask any more questions.

@ everyone

Congratulations on the updates and transfers!!!

I've updated the Spreadsheet

Edited February 4, 2010 by Fatima and Jim

[Andrelle 1]

Here's how my biometrics appointment went:

I showed them my military I.D. and privilege card because it was my only I.D. in my married name but for some reason the guard didn't really know what it was even though there was USA stamped all over it and it clearly stated United States Uniformed Services (I figured that it was an I.D. issued by the U.S. government and should've been accepted, *sigh). I had to show them my passport, K-1 visa with I-94, and my marriage certificate. I had a bit of a problem with my name. I followed the Philippine naming convention with regards to women taking their husband's name and I was told that I was not supposed to do this as the American naming convention is different. I was told that following the Philippine naming convention where you drop your middle name (your mother's maiden name) and take your father's last name as your new middle name then your husband's last name as your new last name would in effect be a name change that has to be done at court. The lady who looked over my I.D.s still processed my biometrics with the name as it was on my ASC notice and said that it will be up the USCIS officer if they let me use my married name on the green card. I really hope it won't be a problem because I know everyone else who did the name change on their AOS had no problems using their "Philippine" married name. Did anyone else do this?

Wow...they're kinda strict when it comes to changing names. I was also worried about my hyphenated name (my last name-hubby's last name). This is what we put in the marriage cert and forms but when I got the NOA they didn't put hyphen just space so it won't match our marriage cert. We just decided to write them a letter about this. Hope they will put hyphen next time they send me a letter to avoid discrepancies. Glad your biometrics went well!

[Tina&Roland 4]

Our Indiana marriage certificate is somewhat different - it has my maiden name and husband's name. It's official looking with the signature of the judge who married us and a seal. When we asked how I'd change my name, they said I had to go to SSA office. So that's what I did. After that, there were no problems with any document being in my married name.

I also have two hyphens in both my legal first name and married last name, and neither showed up on the NOA for the AOS. I just think it doesn't process properly.

[MI.PI 7]

@ MI.PI

I'm really sorry, I didn't get to ask whether they accept walk-ins. But the office didn't seem very busy so they might be able to accommodate walk-ins. After the whole I.D. thing, I was afraid to ask any more questions.

Don't worry about it. I understand how you must be feeling after your experience with regards to the name change. Sorry about that. Seems like they are really making an issue about it here in Michigan, must be a state law or something. Remember I sent you a private message about the other Michigan couple who had the same problem? I am afraid I will encounter the same when I have my biometrics appointment. Funny thing is, when we got a certified copy of our marriage certificate from the county clerk, we inquired about that name change issue and asked them what we should do but they are not even aware of it. Then when I applied for my state ID, they did not make a big deal about my name, so my state ID has my maiden name as my new middle name and my husband's name as my new last name. Oh well, I guess we ought to do what we ought to do but you had your biometrics done already so that's one step forward and something to be happy about

[F & J 21]

Don't worry about it. I understand how you must be feeling after your experience with regards to the name change. Sorry about that. Seems like they are really making an issue about it here in Michigan, must be a state law or something. Remember I sent you a private message about the other Michigan couple who had the same problem? I am afraid I will encounter the same when I have my biometrics appointment. Funny thing is, when we got a certified copy of our marriage certificate from the county clerk, we inquired about that name change issue and asked them what we should do but they are not even aware of it. Then when I applied for my state ID, they did not make a big deal about my name, so my state ID has my maiden name as my new middle name and my husband's name as my new last name. Oh well, I guess we ought to do what we ought to do but you had your biometrics done already so that's one step forward and something to be happy about

When I changed my name on my military I.D., they didn't make a big deal about it either. Now I'm really worried about it. I was trying to look for the message you sent me but can't find it anymore Do you know what happened to that Michigan couple? Did they go through the court to get her name changed? I guess worst case scenario, we'd just have to get it changed in court.

All of my military-related documents (I.D. and privilege card, my husband's life insurance policy, health and dental records, etc.) are now in my married name and I'm worried that this might cause problems if they don't approve the name change during the AOS.

I also read another thread where they had changed the name during the AOS but during Naturalization, the USCIS officer crossed out the father's last name and replaced it with the mother's name and she would have to do the "judicial oath ceremony" to get her name officially changed according to Philippine naming convention. *sigh...

Edited February 4, 2010 by Fatima and Jim

[Tina&Roland 4]

Actually I went back to check my K1 visa and they didn't put a hyphen in my name where it was supposed to be, which is stupid. My Canadian passport shows the hyphen, but neither the visa nor my I-94 has it. I suppose hyphens are a non-issue?

[MI.PI 7]

Do you know what happened to that Michigan couple? Did they go through the court to get her name changed? I guess worst case scenario, we'd just have to get it changed in court.

I think the name change issue came out during their interview. They got the AOS approval but they were told that the name on the green card would be that of her mother's name as her middle name and her husband's name as her new last name. They were asked to file for a legal change of name in court so they can change the name on her green card. They made a post about it here in vj, will try to look for it and post it here so you would have an idea what they did.

[F & J 21]

I think the name change issue came out during their interview. They got the AOS approval but they were told that the name on the green card would be that of her mother's name as her middle name and her husband's name as her new last name. They were asked to file for a legal change of name in court so they can change the name on her green card. They made a post about it here in vj, will try to look for it and post it here so you would have an idea what they did.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

I'm going to look into the forms required for a name change petition. I think it's $150 in Michigan but you also have to be a resident of the particular county you file in for at least a year. If it does become an issue, I'll still have to wait to file it until July this year.