I-751 May 2016 Filers

[Poobee 10]

14 minutes ago, Shumai said:

I did call them and they said they couldn't submit a service request as my case is still within normal processing time frame (the VSC is processing April cases based on USCIS website). I'm not surprised to hear all that and I really didn't expect to hear anything useful from USCIS (after all these years' waiting). The only thing I could do is to get an infopass and get a stamp. But we're living two hours from the field office and I have to take time off from work. My employer hasn't asked me for any proof of green card extension (they didn't ask last year), so I am debating to schedule an infopass this month or wait for next month. Geez, I really hate their low work efficiency.

 

 

 

27 minutes ago, Lavazza_K said:

I had to schedule for call back since all T2 officers were busy, then I couldn't take the call... I will probably call back tomorrow. Ok, thanks for the info! I guess it might take longer than 5 days to get it from the day status changed? 

 

Did you contact them again to let them know of the situation? I hope they are quick enough to find out that they forgot to put down the unit # and ship it right back, without you having to do anything.

 

I did contact them but they said they can't do anything because they haven't received the card back. So I have to call back when they do. I just got a text that my case was updated but I checked and no change from the last update. Frustrating 

[Lavazza_K 9]

6 minutes ago, Poobee said:

 

 

I did contact them but they said they can't do anything because they haven't received the card back. So I have to call back when they do. I just got a text that my case was updated but I checked and no change from the last update. Frustrating 

Y'know, strangest thing, i just got a text update too but nothing changed online, I think the text update was for my earlier updates when it changed to card mailed, or even card produced. So I'd say ignore that. Their text notification function is probably from the Stone Age..

[Lavazza_K 9]

32 minutes ago, Shumai said:

I did call them and they said they couldn't submit a service request as my case is still within normal processing time frame (the VSC is processing April cases based on USCIS website). I'm not surprised to hear all that and I really didn't expect to hear anything useful from USCIS (after all these years' waiting). The only thing I could do is to get an infopass and get a stamp. But we're living two hours from the field office and I have to take time off from work. My employer hasn't asked me for any proof of green card extension (they didn't ask last year), so I am debating to schedule an infopass this month or wait for next month. Geez, I really hate their low work efficiency.

 

 

I see.. The infamous "nothing we can do because it's normal" response. Hopefully your N-400 will help them speed things up!

 

My understanding is as long as you are with the same employer, they won't pull another inquiry on your employment status, unless they are doing a Form I-9 internal audit, which doesn't happen on an annual basis because it requires work hours and budget to do so. And even if they do, USCIS still has you as legally authorized to work, so I don't think it would trigger an issue. But I would still get a stamp at least before the extension expires.

[Shumai 6]

2 hours ago, Lavazza_K said:

I see.. The infamous "nothing we can do because it's normal" response. Hopefully your N-400 will help them speed things up!

 

My understanding is as long as you are with the same employer, they won't pull another inquiry on your employment status, unless they are doing a Form I-9 internal audit, which doesn't happen on an annual basis because it requires work hours and budget to do so. And even if they do, USCIS still has you as legally authorized to work, so I don't think it would trigger an issue. But I would still get a stamp at least before the extension expires.

Thanks for the advice! Yeah, getting the stamp is the right thing to do. Sometimes I can't help but thinking maybe the mail will arrive tomorrow.  

Edited June 5, 2017 by Shumai

[Poobee 10]

3 hours ago, Lavazza_K said:

Y'know, strangest thing, i just got a text update too but nothing changed online, I think the text update was for my earlier updates when it changed to card mailed, or even card produced. So I'd say ignore that. Their text notification function is probably from the Stone Age..

They need to update their systems. Now the tracking shows that the green card was sent back to Atlanta and arrived today at the USPS location. I'm monitoring it very closely this time, I signed up for the usps text alerts. Fingers crossed!

[MnMJourney 28]

Hi All,

 

A bit late to share the news as I haven't had the chance to get back on this and post - but hopefully the late news is still helpful to some still waiting.

 

While on vacation in Cancun, I received e-Notifications that my card is in production on 5/09 Came back on 5/10 through JFK - same secondary inspection process, but noticed that the officer wrote "LPR" on my passport instead of the usual "ARC" on my stamp. Came back home and found the hard copy approval letter date 5/01 - assuming I received it as early as 5/05. Received e-notifications on 5/11 that my card was in production and finally received my 10Y GC on 5/15 356 days later. I waited a little to apply for citizenship, then got caught up with other things. But was able to send out my package on 5/24 and received a PD of 5/25. 

 

Glad that this process is over, and on to the next. But thought I'd share a few things here before moving on. My case was fairly straightforward, filed for AOS from an H1-B while I had a employer sponsored application started already. Our AOS was filed a few months shy of our 2Y anniversary - in retrospect, should have waited the extra few months before filing to avoid this whole debacle, but had some time to put the app together and went for it. By the time the ROC rolled around, we were married for almost 4 years and had a 1YR old son. So our app was really around that - added some new travel pics to the AOS material that we had already submitted with some baby pics. From a financial perspective, submitted joint bank accounts, insurance coverage for the family, and retirement accounts showing my wife and son as beneficiaries, which were all AOS material, simply updated. So I think in our case, it was just a matter of getting an officer to review to docs and make a decision. Glad VSC caught up a little towards the end, still took almost 12 months. 

 

Another thing I will mention as it does come up quite often is travelling while ROC is ending. I travel internationally quite often and dreaded being in a position of having to convince an ill-informed airline employee to let me board with an NOA. So about 4 months after applying I made an INFOPASS appointment and asked for a I-551. The Officer I spoke to was an older Jamaican lady - and she was very nice. She was quite adamant that I would have no problems coming in with CBPO. I explained that the CBPOs aren't my concern, but the airline agents were, and after a short conversation she was happy to stamp my passport. I will say that the stamp made boarding flights into the US much easier. Doesn't really help at CBP as you'll need to go to secondary regardless. I made over 5 trips with the stamp at JFK, ATL and MSP.

 

JFK, is the worst experience - as you're usually in there with 15-20 other people, some looking quite unsavory. Takes about 30-45 mins to be processed, however the last time I landed a number of flights from Korea had landed. There were a lot more people in the secondary and it took over 2 hours to clear. Officers are quite rude, due to the volume and the types of people they have to deal with. 

 

ATL is slightly better than JFK, officers little less rude and there is lower volume going into secondary despite it being a bigger airport. processing time was also 30-45mins.

 

MSP was by far the best - I was literally the only person sent to secondary - they even allowed my wife and baby come wait in there. Officers were genuinely nice - and actually apologized that I had to go to secondary.

 

Glad  won't have to do that again, and can go back to using my Global Entry. The secondary was by far biggest the inconvenience of this process - hated being treated like a criminal in JFK. Par for the course I guess, but felt bad there were some old people that couldn't speak English and get sent to secondary just to get barked at by officers there. 

 

Lots of things to complain about in this process, but really there's no point as many of you know it's simply a waiting game. Since my process is over, I'll indulge in a little bit of complaining. Given that these are Federal benefits, it shouldn't matter where you apply, processing times should be the same. The fact that CSC was breezing through apps while it took VSC 3-6 months longer was unjust. Of course we now know the government's solution to that was to slow down CSC instead of trying to cut down processing times at VSC. Regardless, the uneven processing times are not ideal. I foresee myself complaining about my N400 process as NYC is month or two behind Newark which is less than a couple of miles away. And NYC's oath process is different, so someone in Newark can potentially get naturalized 3-4 months earlier than a NYC applicant. Seems the process needs some improvement. Anyway - enough complaining for now.

 

For those of you that haven't gotten an approval yet, I wish you all the best and hope for an expedited approval. To all others, hope to see some familiar faces in the N400 forum.

 

Cheers!

 

[Nikkosan 127]

All's well that ends well!

 

I just wanted to say that I also travel internationally quite frequently, and to this day, I have yet to experience being sent to secondary with my expired GC and extension letter. The CBP officer simply checks his screen, process my entry, and I'm out of there usually in a few minutes.

[Lavazza_K 9]

14 hours ago, Poobee said:

They need to update their systems. Now the tracking shows that the green card was sent back to Atlanta and arrived today at the USPS location. I'm monitoring it very closely this time, I signed up for the usps text alerts. Fingers crossed!

Awesome! Glad they did it fast this time! Shouldn't be any issue this time.. you can also call the location up and tell them you will be picking your mail up, if you are close.. I did it when they sent me my EAD since we were moving.

 

Friend went to check my mailbox this morning and found the mail sitting in there! Woohoo! Guess informed delivery doesn't include priority mails..Please leave an update when you get your card!

[MnMJourney 28]

40 minutes ago, Nikkosan said:

All's well that ends well!

 

I just wanted to say that I also travel internationally quite frequently, and to this day, I have yet to experience being sent to secondary with my expired GC and extension letter. The CBP officer simply checks his screen, process my entry, and I'm out of there usually in a few minutes.

Thanks for sharing. The first time I traveled back (into JFK), I remember the CBPO saying "You know you have to go to the secondary, right?". I recall at the time I was taken aback, as I hadn't read about it here, so I put it on the fact that I was at JFK. But then it happened at ATL and MSP so I just assumed that it was standard for those travelling with a I-751. The only thing that I can think of now is that you're from a VWP country? Or it could be that you traveled with the extension letter versus a temp I-551? Moot point for me now, but guess it could be helpful for others here to find out.

 

Cheers!

 

 

[Nikkosan 127]

Just now, MnMJourney said:

Thanks for sharing. The first time I traveled back (into JFK), I remember the CBPO saying "You know you have to go to the secondary, right?". I recall at the time I was taken aback, as I hadn't read about it here, so I put it on the fact that I was at JFK. But then it happened at ATL and MSP so I just assumed that it was standard for those travelling with a I-751. The only thing that I can think of now is that you're from a VWP country? Or it could be that you traveled with the extension letter versus a temp I-551? Moot point for me now, but guess it could be helpful for others here to find out.

 

Cheers!

 

 

I'm honestly not sure!

 

I also always get back into the country through MIA, so that's maybe how they do things there?!?! LOL

 

I do remember having to go (TWICE!) into secondary when I was waiting for my temporary green card to arrive and was traveling with the Notice of Potential Interview Waiver letter, but that was it, not one instance afterwards.

 

The only thing I can think about is that I belong to the Global Entry program (if you're not a member, you should definitely look into it since you also travel a lot!), and that may be the difference? I doubt it, but I was just surprised to know how different your POE experience is compared to mine.

 

Best of luck on your N400 process; I can't truly wait for ALL of this to be over!

[MnMJourney 28]

1 hour ago, Nikkosan said:

I'm honestly not sure!

 

I also always get back into the country through MIA, so that's maybe how they do things there?!?! LOL

 

I do remember having to go (TWICE!) into secondary when I was waiting for my temporary green card to arrive and was traveling with the Notice of Potential Interview Waiver letter, but that was it, not one instance afterwards.

 

The only thing I can think about is that I belong to the Global Entry program (if you're not a member, you should definitely look into it since you also travel a lot!), and that may be the difference? I doubt it, but I was just surprised to know how different your POE experience is compared to mine.

 

Best of luck on your N400 process; I can't truly wait for ALL of this to be over!

 

Could be MIA. I've had GE since I got the conditional GC so I can rule that out. Guess  we'll never know the mysterious ways of CBP! The kiosks won't process you after the GC expires, so I have to go through the regular line and then herded off to secondary. Looking forward to using GE again, though!

 

Anyway - good luck to you as well, and wishing you all the best, cheers!

[coolchicn 5]

Is anyone else still waiting at VSC? 

I called them yesterday and they stated that our application is still within processing time. Arrrgghhh

[Shumai 6]

18 hours ago, coolchicn said:

Is anyone else still waiting at VSC? 

I called them yesterday and they stated that our application is still within processing time. Arrrgghhh

I am still waiting and I also live in Georgia.

[Shumai 6]

Has anyone that filed in May 2016 got approved in June? I just looked at the google spreadsheet and haven't found any new VSC approval. Hopefully they are not skipping us and move on to the June 2016 cases.

[Kris-Sy 6]

1 hour ago, Shumai said:

Has anyone that filed in May 2016 got approved in June? I just looked at the google spreadsheet and haven't found any new VSC approval. Hopefully they are not skipping us and move on to the June 2016 cases.

Hi Shumai - June filers from VSC are getting approved.  I am one of them