How to deal with USCIS

[parker101 1]

I found that dealing with USCIS is not as horible as we think. there are some great ways to work with them and reduce the waiting time and RFE even avoid interviews.

Take care of what you have control on and leave the rest to them. ie:

Know what you are going to send.

READ instructions on the form(s) you are going to send.

WRITE down keys things: total fees, requirements, evidences, address

ENSWER all questions from top to bottom if some not applicable to you, put N/A. avoid leaving blank.

ORGANIZE, and be clear on your case; be professional ie: cover letter, fees, forms, requirements, evidences, etc... the better job you do this one you will not only avoid RFE but the IO will see that you are prepared and he/she will not spend time digging, and spending time, or put a side your case because he/she has to work hard. I've heard that IO usually work on the easy fast then the rest later.

SEND copies and leave the your self one and Originals.

Dont give to much or Less and DONT IGNORE requirements

MEET the deadline, avoid rushing.

If you are hiring a lawyer, do not settle without shopping around. Ask friends or here and critics (online) and interview him/she.

I hope this help someone there and if I forgot something, please share with us.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

You missed sending the fee's.

and you should put "read and understand the instructions..."

[NickD 202]

Being lucky is also a factor, see you just posted AOS, misplaced our application twice, once for the I-751 and the second for the oath ceremony. Become buddy buddy with your senator, only get a runaround when dealing directly with the USCIS. So add, be lucky, that includes them not misplacing your application, not running into traffic jams or worse yet, accidents that block the interstate for miles, because if you are one minute late for an appointment, they can reject you. And being lucky is getting a reasonable IO.

Regardless of how unreasonable, always have to be super nice and from experience, better to send too much evidence than just one piece short, that one piece can cause major delays in processing. If given an appointment, drop everything to keep it, rescheduling can cause severe delays. Of course, no appointments are mutually agreed upon, when they say come, you jump. Also be 100% honest in your forms, don't try to hide anything, can really cost you, no matter how minor. Not because of the severity of the offense, but because you lied.

[parker101 1]

Also, take care of what you have control on. if your case gets out of processing time, dont delay to make an inquery.

[NickD 202]

Also, take care of what you have control on. if your case gets out of processing time, dont delay to make an inquery.

It's inquiry, and don't even bother attempting to contact the USCIS or ombudsman, waste of time and you get the run-around. That is why I said contact your senator, mine happened to be on the finance committee of the USCIS, he got things done, instantly.

Been there, done that, kind of thing. How about getting an oath letter in my e-mail just two hours after I called him, with a letter of apology.

[~Johnny~ 27]

I found that dealing with USCIS is not as horible as we think. there are some great ways to work with them and reduce the waiting time and RFE even avoid interviews.

Take care of what you have control on and leave the rest to them. ie:

Know what you are going to send.

READ instructions on the form(s) you are going to send.

WRITE down keys things: total fees, requirements, evidences, address

ENSWER all questions from top to bottom if some not applicable to you, put N/A. avoid leaving blank.

ORGANIZE, and be clear on your case; be professional ie: cover letter, fees, forms, requirements, evidences, etc... the better job you do this one you will not only avoid RFE but the IO will see that you are prepared and he/she will not spend time digging, and spending time, or put a side your case because he/she has to work hard. I've heard that IO usually work on the easy fast then the rest later.

SEND copies and leave the your self one and Originals.

Dont give to much or Less and DONT IGNORE requirements

MEET the deadline, avoid rushing.

If you are hiring a lawyer, do not settle without shopping around. Ask friends or here and critics (online) and interview him/she.

I hope this help someone there and if I forgot something, please share with us. <img src="http://www.visajourney.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

Yeah and don't forget to slip a hundred dollar bill in each little G325 passport photo baggie.....

[Gliukaz 0]

I don't agree. I think they are terrible.

I have fit a wall dealing with USCIS Immigration and asylum office. My asylum case that was made on 6 of December. I had an interview on 15 of January 2011. I have received a letter on a same date saying that my case was referred to immigration court. I haven’t received any letter what so ever for 5 months. (Normal course of action is that I would get an court hearing in 2 weeks). I have called Anaheim office on many occasions. Have called court and went to court but they said that they haven’t received anything. They referred me to NSCIS office in Los Angeles Olive street 8th floor. I managed to find my case in NSCIS. They have held my case for 5 months and after 10 visits to that office they told me that USCIS made some sort of mistake and they have to send my application back to USCIS. It’s been over 180 days since I applied for asylum and I’m not able to apply for EAD and temporary Social security (I can’t drive because I can’t get license without social, I can’t rent an a apartment, I can’t open bank account, I can’t work and support my-self, I can’t do nothing) cause my EAD clock was stopped when you transferred my case to the Judge. But Judge never received it and USCIS got my case back and keeping it now, but refusing to start my EAD clock again. I would like to know why exactly it was returned from immigration Judge, why my clock was stopped and not resumed from the date it was stopped if my case is back to USCIS Anaheim office. I didn’t anything to stop my clock, and did everything on time.

Bottom line is that USCIS saying that they have my case but don't know what to do with it. And I can't get any other info form them. They are saying there is some sort of issue, computer mistake so I'm stuck somewhere in between court and USCIS. Surely you would a assume that they would at least know the law.

[Egypt's Heart 6]

Liter of Tequila, few limes, and salt, best way to deal with USCIS. Im stocking up for my roller-coaster ride with USCIS.

[dwheels76 5,468]

WOW Bethy & Amr' you are in my city and I am about to enter this race called immigration status. It's been 6 weeks 1 day today we have been married. I am in Nigeria now with my husband but will be leaving to come back and start the filing in two weeks. Wish I could file from here but just a visitor.

So let the games begin. I pray its not a long separation and a quick interview which I will fly in for. Have you been told of timelines? I have been given as long as 10 to 12 months (OMG). I pray not.

Have the list of items to stock up on sounds good. Save me some. Good luck and God bless you.

[Kehinde 45]

Good luck I married a Nigerian and because the country is so corrupt my husband was not able to come to America right now they sent our petition back for review. So don't expect him to come on his first interview. He will get his first interview exactly a year after you file. Try to go with him during his first interview and that will help show that you are in a bona fide marriage. I was not able to attend my husbands interview so we had no proof. "Keep hope alive"

WOW Bethy & Amr' you are in my city and I am about to enter this race called immigration status. It's been 6 weeks 1 day today we have been married. I am in Nigeria now with my husband but will be leaving to come back and start the filing in two weeks. Wish I could file from here but just a visitor.

So let the games begin. I pray its not a long separation and a quick interview which I will fly in for. Have you been told of timelines? I have been given as long as 10 to 12 months (OMG). I pray not.

Have the list of items to stock up on sounds good. Save me some. Good luck and God bless you.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Hello Everyone and Greetings,

Have another question about this process. I will be leaving at end of August to go back to the states for a few weeks than coming back to Nigeria to live with my husband and work. What I have seen I think is the USCIS and NVC process is basically all online. I would not have to worry about waiting around the mailbox.

I have a UPS store mailbox so I can always get mail there and get it forwarded. I guess I am asking is everything virtually an online notification? I read yesterday they are starting in a week online DS230 and DS3032 forms. Figure about time I get to that step I will get to use also. Nigeria was not listed yet.

Okay well just have a few dozen more pages to add to my novel (369 pages to submit). It's funny someone stated too send too much or too little evidence. WOW like who knows that magic number. The quantity and quality depends on who and what you have to prove. I have seen some get approve just showing a marriage certificate. Oh well Thanks all.

[dwheels76 5,468]

Good luck I married a Nigerian and because the country is so corrupt my husband was not able to come to America right now they sent our petition back for review. So don't expect him to come on his first interview. He will get his first interview exactly a year after you file. Try to go with him during his first interview and that will help show that you are in a bona fide marriage. I was not able to attend my husbands interview so we had no proof. "Keep hope alive"

Hey Olami,

I am still here in Nigeria I will go back August 30th. Its been glorious. I am sorry your stuff has gone to AP. I have 3 friends here waiting in AP all married to 9ja men. It's horrible what they do and I don't know why they do it. I won't let the country or their tactics scare me though I look at this Visa filing like a competition. I have read some things and the record for things getting through NVC, 11 days (haven't seen one for getting through and approved through USCIS). So I say we are innocent you prove us Visa people we are not. I know God has this. Have a great day and keep me posted K.

Edited July 30, 2011 by dwheels76