i-751 April 2016 Filers - Part 2 (merged)

[MyHeartWillGoOn93 8]

8 hours ago, nightingalejules said:

Ah, the USCIS and their processing dates.... it depends who you ask. As you've noticed, the posted dates are "current as of December 31, 2016." They're always at least that far out of date. It's right there on the screen - always at least 6 weeks out of date. However, if you call USCIS tomorrow and ask them what date they're working on, they will say "VSC is working on December 28, 2015" as though that was posted today and accurate as of today. It is to USCIS' obvious benefit to post dates that are old, but treat them as if they were current, since that buys them more time in which they can claim that our case is within the normal (current) timeframe.

We know that if those dates are actually accurate, and if we are still seeing people with similar dates getting approved now, then that means the office has not kept up with I-751 applications at all, and are, in fact, losing ground. (Since we would expect to see approval dates 1 1/2 months later than the date posted from 1 1/2 months ago, and, anecdotally, based on VJ's approval data, they're not)

Hopefully, you're right. Hopefully, VSC, if it's even keeping up, should be processing Feb 2016 applications NOW, since they were processing December cases in December. Actually, ideally, they'd be processing late Feb/ early Mar applications now, because that would mean that they're making headway on the backlog of cases. But there isn't really a way to know that, unless the data that VJ collects starts to bear it out.

We know that 2 years ago, when many of us were waiting for I-130 approvals for CR1 visas, there was a massive backlog at USCIS that meant many of us waited for a year or more to be able to move to the US. All of those of us who had been married for less than 2 years at that time, as well as all the K-1/AOS path CR1 applicants, are now up to do Removal of Conditions. 

We're in the same backlog, it seems, and who knows when it will end.... And all of us who want to get citizenship in time to vote in the mid-term elections will be stuck in it again. Sigh......

I think it is exactly a year apart because February 2016 filers are getting approved but they probably don't change the date because some December 2015 filers are still waiting! Ugh... wish I could predict the future haha!

[Sukie 1,464]

9 hours ago, MyHeartWillGoOn93 said:

I think it is exactly a year apart because February 2016 filers are getting approved but they probably don't change the date because some December 2015 filers are still waiting! Ugh... wish I could predict the future haha!

I agree with your theory, MyHeart.  I think they keep the LAST-MAN-STANDING date as the "processing" date on the website.  We could test it, I supposed and see if all the November 2015 filers at VSC are through and complete.

 

Sukie in NY

[MyHeartWillGoOn93 8]

A VSC March filer just got approved! Hopefully not long now for most of us.

[lucybelle 453]

I contacted my senators and congressman to ask them to inquire on my behalf.

 

Probably won't do anything, but worth a shot!

[Private One 44]

3 hours ago, MyHeartWillGoOn93 said:

A VSC March filer just got approved! Hopefully not long now for most of us.

Not much longer in deed. Hoping that's the case for all of us but history has taught us different.  I think you were spot on with your theory of the processing dates.  

[balmoral 0]

Good news that a March VSC applicant has been approved. My wife and I contact USCIS yesterday just to ensure that we didn't miss anything in the mail. Our fear is that an RoE letter got lost somehow but it seems everything is still in process.

 

Hopefully everything is in order and everything will be processed without any concerns.

[BrianK 1]

My card was mailed Jan 31st, but it's feb 27th and no card - what should I do?

[jolyn69 28]

12 hours ago, BrianK said:

My card was mailed Jan 31st, but it's feb 27th and no card - what should I do?

try to call the USCIS to find out .Its been a month already.I received my GC 3 days after they changed my status.Hope you can get it soon

[Cowface 5]

I am planning to file for N400 on April.

My concern is however, if the ROC is not approved on time where it forces me to get an 551 stamp...

I can't do it because the consulate of Korea won't renew my passport because I didn't serve in military.

 

Any chance or option where USCIS provides alternatives for 551 stamp on your passport? I'm sure they won't do it on an expired passport

[Sukie 1,464]

I found this article that might help...http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/how-to-renew-a-south-korean-passport-in-the-us.html

 

It appears that you CAN renew your South Korean passport - but you must do it in person at one of the consulates.

 

Good luck!

 

Sukie in NY

 

[Cowface 5]

25 minutes ago, Sukie said:

I found this article that might help...http://www.us-passport-service-guide.com/how-to-renew-a-south-korean-passport-in-the-us.html

 

It appears that you CAN renew your South Korean passport - but you must do it in person at one of the consulates.

 

Good luck!

 

Sukie in NY

 

I did call Consulate of ATL several times about it. Their answer was clear that since I did not serve in the military in Korea (which btw is the law). I'm not allowed to renew my passport.

[Sukie 1,464]

8 minutes ago, Cowface said:

I did call Consulate of ATL several times about it. Their answer was clear that since I did not serve in the military in Korea (which btw is the law). I'm not allowed to renew my passport.

Wow.  So Korea revokes the citizenship of males if they do not serve their mandatory time in the military?

 

I'm also assuming that you now will have trouble entering Korea - you would have to use your US credentials and not your Korean ones.  Just curious - if you returned to Korea, would you be allowed to renew it, or have they made you stateless now?

 

I am really sorry if this is the case.

 

Sukie in NY

[Cowface 5]

30 minutes ago, Sukie said:

Wow.  So Korea revokes the citizenship of males if they do not serve their mandatory time in the military?

 

I'm also assuming that you now will have trouble entering Korea - you would have to use your US credentials and not your Korean ones.  Just curious - if you returned to Korea, would you be allowed to renew it, or have they made you stateless now?

 

I am really sorry if this is the case.

 

Sukie in NY

I appreciate your concern Suki. Men must serve in military for 2 years by law in Korea. You are allowed until the age of 25 for international travel and after that the process for overseas travelling becomes complicated and extremely difficult. The consulate can renew my Korean passport only if I choose to be enlisted in the military and go back to Korea. Otherwise, I am basically stuck here unless I become naturalized and obtain a US passport. To me, it was a tough decision being gay and Korean at the same time. I can say it wasn't an easily made decision. Just like many other immigrants who come here legally or not.

[Sukie 1,464]

1 minute ago, Cowface said:

I appreciate your concern Suki. Men must serve in military for 2 years by law in Korea. You are allowed until the age of 25 for international travel and after that the process for overseas travelling becomes complicated and extremely difficult. The consulate can renew my Korean passport only if I choose to be enlisted in the military and go back to Korea. Otherwise, I am basically stuck here unless I become naturalized and obtain a US passport. To me, it was a tough decision being gay and Korean at the same time. I can say it wasn't an easily made decision. Just like many other immigrants who come here legally or not.

Being part of a same-sex couple, I know how hard the choices are.  Even if you are free to travel, there is always the constant choice of "which country should we be in".  As Australia does not recognize our marriage, we are spending most of our time in the US right now, though we may end up in Australia when we cannot travel any more.  Two countries, two cultures, two families-of-origin.

 

It is too bad you cannot perform some other type of service for the Korean Government (such as work in a consulate here in the US and/or teach language skills) and satisfy the two-year military requirement.  I wish you and your partner the best in your journey, and know it will be a relief when you and my spouse can get their US citizenship and passport.

 

Sukie in NY

[NYC.RSA 25]

I hear some people are already submitting N-400 before ROC is complete.

 

Is that ok to do?