USCIS visit

[Nafis8 115]

Hello everyone

 

I came to US at the end of May on K1.

Me and my now husband got married in June. Because of some health related issues I couldn't get some shots I needed for I-693 for a couple of months. So until the time we got the whole AOS package ready my K1 visa got expired. We sent my package on September 30, a month later after my I94 got expired. It's been 2 weeks since then and we still didn't get any updates on our case🤷‍♀️

 

So why I am telling this. Today we got a surprise visit from USCIS. At 8:20 in the morning they knocked at our door and we were still sleeping at that time. My husband opened the door, there were 3 men and they asked if they can come in and see me. (I don't know if they had warranty, didn't even think about at that time). We let them in. They asked if we filed I485, because my visa is expired. So I just showed them the whole folder of all forms I filled out for my AOS package on laptop and receipt from UPS that has the address of Chicago Lockbox with a date on it. They took a picture of it. And one of them was making notices on his paper. They didn't check anything else inside the apartment, were friendly and had casual talk with my husband and then left. Oh and they said they are checking us because I am from Uzbekistan. I didnt know it is considered as high fraud country🤷‍♀️

 

That was so unexpected that I've just started realizing that it could be something serious. Is there anything to be worried about? 

 

[Ed&Midori1031 330]

Sorry that occured to you and your husband!  Coming into your home like that can be very uncomfortable.   You are technically "out of status" but since you filed for AOS already and have proof it's been received by USCIS, there's notthing to worry about too much.  

 

[Crazy Cat 41,834]

No reason to worry.  You have authorized stay while the I-485 is being adjudicated......

[geowrian 22,337]

Unnerving, but sounds like you'll be fine. Thanks for sharing.

[Prizm123 1,086]

that is very weird, like they are just looking for trouble

[WaterLeaf 200]

How would you know / confirm they are USCIS?

[Canerican 242]

5 hours ago, WaterLeaf said:

How would you know / confirm they are USCIS?

When they know at your door, you have a right to ask who they are and to see their badge to ensure they are immigration authorities. 

 

8 hours ago, Prizm123 said:

that is very weird, like they are just looking for trouble

USCIS is not looking for trouble, it has been posted here that they do home visits once in a while. This is even more reason for a K-1 visa holder to adjust status (AOS) within the 90 days of their I-94. There have been two instances where K-1 visa holders have been arrested and taken to jail as they are out of status and did not adjust status. This is the risk you take if you do not adjust within the 90 day period. The traffic stop/incident is below:

 

There is another instance I remember where the person got stopped at an immigration checkpoint, was arrested for being out of status and taken to jail. Although the situation exists I am unable to find the forum it is under at this moment. I don't say these things to scare people but to show that they can happen. 

Edited October 17, 2019 by CDN(ON)-USA(VT)

[Unlockable 7,314]

8 hours ago, Prizm123 said:

that is very weird, like they are just looking for trouble

Not looking for trouble. They are just doing doing their jobs and doing checks. Like the OP posted, they simple asked to see documents proving the OP are on track with the rules for them to become a permanent resident.

 

Home visits are not uncommon. We have had plenty of people on here report about them. And a very small few of them resulted in an unpleasurable experience. There have always been field agents (not to be confused with ICE). You just may not have heard about them because they are a small segment of immigration.

[Crazy Cat 41,834]

What struck me was the fact that they were not looking for evidence of bona fide relationship (which is usually the case for home visits), but they were interested in whether she had filed for adjustment of status.....I guess USCIS can "come looking for you"........just another reason why people should not delay filing that I-485.

Edited October 17, 2019 by missileman

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

Wow...That is a little unnerving on one hand for you and your husband. On the other hand it is reassuring that they are following up on cases where someone may be using the K1 visa to enter the country for other purposes than what it is designed for. I don't think Uzbekistan is a high fraud country but I think it might be on another list. Good Luck)

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

According to USCIS site

https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/directorates-and-program-offices/fraud-detection-and-national-security/administrative-site-visit-and-verification-program

Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program

USCIS started the Administrative Site Visit and Verification Program in July 2009 as an additional way to verify information in certain visa petitions. Under this program, immigration officers in the Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (FDNS) Immigration Officers make unannounced site visits to collect information as part of a compliance review.

 

But i agree with the above you should have seen ID and badges for all 3 before they entered your apartment

FYI   your K1 visa expired the moment you entered the USA  / it is a one time entry visa

[portorusa 431]

The USCIS  has nothing better to do than searching for K-1visa overstays, good grief! What a waste of the taxpayers money😬

[Crazy Cat 41,834]

7 hours ago, portorusa said:

The USCIS  has nothing better to do than searching for K-1visa overstays, good grief! What a waste of the taxpayers money😬

It has been said that visa overstay is the biggest source for illegal presence.......How do you propose to solve the issue other than seeking them out?

Edited October 17, 2019 by missileman

[Dashinka 24,487]

38 minutes ago, portorusa said:

The USCIS  has nothing better to do than searching for K-1visa overstays, good grief! What a waste of the taxpayers money😬

Considering visa overstays (not just K1s) are a bigger issue than illegal border crossings, I wish it was taken more seriously.

 

To the OP, thanks for the information, it is always a good thing to relay some of the rarer activities of USCIS.

 

 

Edited October 17, 2019 by Bill & Katya

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

1 hour ago, missileman said:

It has been said that visa overstays is the biggest source for illegal presence.......How do you propose to solve the issue other than seeking them out?

In that case i wish they would find the K1 woman who left her fiancee standing at the Atlanta airport a few years ago

she text him that customs was not allowing her to enter and was  sending her home.  As he was leaving,  he saw her in a car with someone else.  I felt so sorry for this guy as we all spend so much time and money for the process.  It is a shame some misuse it  for ruin for the  honest ones.

 

I think these type of cases is why USCIS has to investigate