CBP Officer at POE Lost my Husband's K1 Packet!!

[Dodi 69]

My now husband came in with his K1 on October 6th. His POE was in Chicago, and they processed him in what seemed to be correctly. They wrote K1 in his passport on 3 places (on the face of his visa, on the I-94 (though not on the line of the stamp) and behind the I-94 where they stamped the passport entry again.

When he was entered into the SAVE database, they entered him as a B2 Visitor, not a K1. They also seem to have completely lost his file.

We went to the local USCIS office on an InfoPass appt on Monday to see if they could help us (at the insistance of the SSA office - they're the ones who discovered the error) and they couldn't even find him in the system until we pulled out our NOA2 and used the old EAC case number. No packet logged in after his POE.

We went to our local CBP Deferred Inspection location today and the CBP Officer (Steenburg) fixed the computer mix-up for us, but when I asked him about Peter's hard copy packet, he said he'd check, because the USCIS should have issued him a welcome letter within 2 to 3 weeks of his arrival and if we'd not gotten that, chances are they didn't have his packet. He looked in the system and Peter's packet was nowhere to be found. He said he'd bet that it's lost, 80% chance at this point, with the margin closing rapidly. He told us he called the USCIS office and that they told him they'd have to reconstruct the packet using my copies and hope for the best.

Hope for the best?? I jumped through all of their hoops to get him here. I dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's. We paid our money, we waited, we got his visa and now we're just supposed to hope for the best because one of their gubmint employee slackers misplaced his file???

We need to file for his AOS, but without them having his original file, how are they going to process it? This delays us even further, and he can't work!! I'm supporting 4 people on my own!! This is really irritating. And of course, to contact my local Representative for assistance means calling Mary Fricking Fallin. What a joke.

[milimelo 4,487]

My now husband came in with his K1 on October 6th. His POE was in Chicago, and they processed him in what seemed to be correctly. They wrote K1 in his passport on 3 places (on the face of his visa, on the I-94 (though not on the line of the stamp) and behind the I-94 where they stamped the passport entry again.

When he was entered into the SAVE database, they entered him as a B2 Visitor, not a K1. They also seem to have completely lost his file.

We went to the local USCIS office on an InfoPass appt on Monday to see if they could help us (at the insistance of the SSA office - they're the ones who discovered the error) and they couldn't even find him in the system until we pulled out our NOA2 and used the old EAC case number. No packet logged in after his POE.

We went to our local CBP Deferred Inspection location today and the CBP Officer (Steenburg) fixed the computer mix-up for us, but when I asked him about Peter's hard copy packet, he said he'd check, because the USCIS should have issued him a welcome letter within 2 to 3 weeks of his arrival and if we'd not gotten that, chances are they didn't have his packet. He looked in the system and Peter's packet was nowhere to be found. He said he'd bet that it's lost, 80% chance at this point, with the margin closing rapidly. He told us he called the USCIS office and that they told him they'd have to reconstruct the packet using my copies and hope for the best.

Hope for the best?? I jumped through all of their hoops to get him here. I dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's. We paid our money, we waited, we got his visa and now we're just supposed to hope for the best because one of their gubmint employee slackers misplaced his file???

We need to file for his AOS, but without them having his original file, how are they going to process it? This delays us even further, and he can't work!! I'm supporting 4 people on my own!! This is really irritating. And of course, to contact my local Representative for assistance means calling Mary Fricking Fallin. What a joke.

Welcome letter after POE is only issued to those who activate CR-IR visas.

As your husband is K-1, he wouldn't get a welcome notice until he successfully adjusts status and that is still down the road for you. So I don't believe your packet is lost but probably waiting for AOS submission so it can be joined with it - in the meantime, it's probably gathering dust in some USCIS storage place.

Edited November 3, 2010 by milimelo

[pushbrk 12,913]

Welcome letter after POE is only issued to those who activate CR-IR visas.

As your husband is K-1, he wouldn't get a welcome notice until he successfully adjusts status and that is still down the road for you. So I don't believe your packet is lost but probably waiting for AOS submission so it can be joined with it - in the meantime, it's probably gathering dust in some USCIS storage place.

Could be but if really lost, just file the AOS, EAD and AP. EAD and AP shouldn't be delayed and USCIS will just have to figure out how to deal with the fact the file is lost. CBP and USCIS are both part of Dept. of Homeland Security, so they'll work it out somehow. Expect delays for all but EAD and AP though.

[Aztec&Taino 144]

My now husband came in with his K1 on October 6th. His POE was in Chicago, and they processed him in what seemed to be correctly. They wrote K1 in his passport on 3 places (on the face of his visa, on the I-94 (though not on the line of the stamp) and behind the I-94 where they stamped the passport entry again.

When he was entered into the SAVE database, they entered him as a B2 Visitor, not a K1. They also seem to have completely lost his file.

We went to the local USCIS office on an InfoPass appt on Monday to see if they could help us (at the insistance of the SSA office - they're the ones who discovered the error) and they couldn't even find him in the system until we pulled out our NOA2 and used the old EAC case number. No packet logged in after his POE.

We went to our local CBP Deferred Inspection location today and the CBP Officer (Steenburg) fixed the computer mix-up for us, but when I asked him about Peter's hard copy packet, he said he'd check, because the USCIS should have issued him a welcome letter within 2 to 3 weeks of his arrival and if we'd not gotten that, chances are they didn't have his packet. He looked in the system and Peter's packet was nowhere to be found. He said he'd bet that it's lost, 80% chance at this point, with the margin closing rapidly. He told us he called the USCIS office and that they told him they'd have to reconstruct the packet using my copies and hope for the best.

Hope for the best?? I jumped through all of their hoops to get him here. I dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's. We paid our money, we waited, we got his visa and now we're just supposed to hope for the best because one of their gubmint employee slackers misplaced his file???

We need to file for his AOS, but without them having his original file, how are they going to process it? This delays us even further, and he can't work!! I'm supporting 4 people on my own!! This is really irritating. And of course, to contact my local Representative for assistance means calling Mary Fricking Fallin. What a joke.

Oh, no! What a pain! After what you have been through, with the lawyer's bad advice and all, now this! My sympathy is with you. At least you are together now, right?

As far as you having to support 4 people, you knew that he would not be able to work immediately with the fiance(e) visa because he would need to wait for the approval of his EAD. So, I hope he is the best cleaning man, cook, househusband, and masseur ever!

Best wishes!

[Dodi 69]

Yes, I was aware that he wouldn't be able to work until he got his EAD, which is about 60 to 90 days at the moment. However, having to reconstruct the packet is pushing us back even farther, so now we don't know how long it will be before he gets his EAD. It makes the situation much worse financially.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Dodi,

I know it's hard, but it is not time to panic, yet. Honestly, I really doubt that they would just throw out immigration papers at the POE. I'm sure all of the immigration packets go to the same place, and yours probably went there as well. As was mentioned, you don't get any letters when a K-1 enters. It's in your court to apply for AOS. Do as you can on your side, and with this knowledge, do it sooner rather than later so at least you don't have to be wondering about stuff for very long.

Even if it's lost (I actually don't think it is, myself, given what you've said - maybe something got left out), you can't do anything about it. Keep up your side of the deal (by applying for AOS), and see what happens. We're all here in case you need help later.

(breathe in, breathe out) You guys are together now, and you'll be able to stay together, so that's the most important thing!

Edited November 3, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My now husband came in with his K1 on October 6th. His POE was in Chicago, and they processed him in what seemed to be correctly. They wrote K1 in his passport on 3 places (on the face of his visa, on the I-94 (though not on the line of the stamp) and behind the I-94 where they stamped the passport entry again.

When he was entered into the SAVE database, they entered him as a B2 Visitor, not a K1. They also seem to have completely lost his file.

We went to the local USCIS office on an InfoPass appt on Monday to see if they could help us (at the insistance of the SSA office - they're the ones who discovered the error) and they couldn't even find him in the system until we pulled out our NOA2 and used the old EAC case number. No packet logged in after his POE.

We went to our local CBP Deferred Inspection location today and the CBP Officer (Steenburg) fixed the computer mix-up for us, but when I asked him about Peter's hard copy packet, he said he'd check, because the USCIS should have issued him a welcome letter within 2 to 3 weeks of his arrival and if we'd not gotten that, chances are they didn't have his packet. He looked in the system and Peter's packet was nowhere to be found. He said he'd bet that it's lost, 80% chance at this point, with the margin closing rapidly. He told us he called the USCIS office and that they told him they'd have to reconstruct the packet using my copies and hope for the best.

Hope for the best?? I jumped through all of their hoops to get him here. I dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's. We paid our money, we waited, we got his visa and now we're just supposed to hope for the best because one of their gubmint employee slackers misplaced his file???

We need to file for his AOS, but without them having his original file, how are they going to process it? This delays us even further, and he can't work!! I'm supporting 4 people on my own!! This is really irritating. And of course, to contact my local Representative for assistance means calling Mary Fricking Fallin. What a joke.

A K-1 does not get a "welcome letter" until he files for AOS. The CBP officer is a #######.

File for your AOS as normal.

Yes, I was aware that he wouldn't be able to work until he got his EAD, which is about 60 to 90 days at the moment. However, having to reconstruct the packet is pushing us back even farther, so now we don't know how long it will be before he gets his EAD. It makes the situation much worse financially.

You do not need to reconstruct anything. Send the AOS. Sleep well.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Could be but if really lost, just file the AOS, EAD and AP. EAD and AP shouldn't be delayed and USCIS will just have to figure out how to deal with the fact the file is lost. CBP and USCIS are both part of Dept. of Homeland Security, so they'll work it out somehow. Expect delays for all but EAD and AP though.

My guess is nothing is lost, but if it is USCIS will address it then, as you state, Pushbrk. I would not lose sleep over anything that a guy that thinks a K-1 gets a welcome letter after arrival thinks. He clearly has no clue how it works or where your packet is.

Just file the AOS

[USAUKHUNNY 0]

Sorry to hear about the confusion with your paper work. Just keep in mind how lucky the two of you are to be together again. No more waiting to see each other. No more waiting on this process and that process before you can be united. I envy you!