It's been a while...can I apply for ROC?

[Suze1 366]

Whenever you send something to USCIS, it is important not to jump-the-gun, even by a day.

Because of multiple time zones,  one has to make sure that USCIS does not receive something TOO EARLY or TOO LATE, measured by the time zone USCIS uses.

So, sometimes waiting an extra day or two can ensure that you will not be too early, given the multiple time zones risk.

 

Edited March 14, 2020 by Suze1

[Vuvuzela 6]

2 hours ago, Vuvuzela said:

90 days/~30= 3 months. You can do the math from here.

1 hour ago, Scandi said:

Many people make this exact mistake, they think 90 days is the same as 3 months, and therefore overstay their ESTA or send their ROC too early.

  

agree that's why I put the "~" to denote approximation.  a month is not 30 days every month. in the case of the OP,  filing 2 month before green card's anniversary date using the 30d/m approximation will not hurt her since it is not too close to either side.

[MrMizo 144]

Okay I get the drift now, my only issue is what if we are currently overseas at the time?

[Mike E 11,739]

4 hours ago, MrMizo said:

Okay I get the drift now, my only issue is what if we are currently overseas at the time?

Then send it 89 days from expiration so that the international date line doesn’t mess you up. 

[geowrian 22,337]

USCIS will use the date received to determine if it was file within the 90 day window.

Never rely on the courier's stated date. No guarantee actually ensures the package will be delivered on a certain date. Obviously things arrive late sometimes, but I've seen them arrive early too.

The issue I have with non-USCIS calculators is I don't know if they count the dates inclusively or exclusively. This can lead to off-by-1 mistakes (so filing 91 days before expiration). Unlikely, but if it's not my code and not official , I don't trust it with something like this.

I agree it's better to just wait an extra couple days to avoid any possibility of error (on my part or theirs).

Edited March 15, 2020 by geowrian

[Stevephoto 230]

There is a (sadly) infamous case here on VJ where the poster used the online submission the exact date he/she qualified but was rejected because if the time zone issue. It got resolved, but it was a huge headache. This process takes an uncomfortably long time, so 1 or 2 days later won't matter...but one hour early MIGHT matter. Wait the day or 2 and use either USPS next day air or similar courier of your choice with signature confirmation. Best of luck to you.

[NikLR 13,227]

14 hours ago, MrMizo said:

Okay I get the drift now, my only issue is what if we are currently overseas at the time?

Will you be back before the expiration?

[Mike E 11,739]

12 hours ago, geowrian said:

USCIS will use the date received to determine if it was file within the 90 day window.

Never rely on the courier's stated date. No guarantee actually ensures the package will be delivered on a certain date. Obviously things arrive late sometimes, but I've seen them arrive early too.

The issue I have with non-USCIS calculators is I don't know if they count the dates inclusively or exclusively. This can lead to off-by-1 mistakes (so filing 91 days before expiration). Unlikely, but if it's not my code and not official , I don't trust it with something like this.

I agree it's better to just wait an extra couple days to avoid any possibility of error (on my part or theirs).

If you don’t trust an online calculator to be correct to the date then why do you trust it to be correct within 2 days?

 

If the “official” USCIS calculator is wrong I have my doubts USCIS will accept early filings outside the window.  

 

[geowrian 22,337]

7 hours ago, Mike E said:

If you don’t trust an online calculator to be correct to the date then why do you trust it to be correct within 2 days?

Because off-by-one errors are both a combination of a very common programming mistake along with a misunderstanding of exactly what is being counted.

 

For instance how many days are between March 1st and April 1st? It's 31 is you count March 1st (inclusive) but not April 1st (exclusive). It's 30 if you treat both exclusively. It's 32 is you count both inclusively.

A calculator that just spits out 30 may not be technically wrong, but it may not be telling you what you are actually looking for either. Maybe to get the accurate result, you're supposed to specify March 1st and March 31st.

 

7 hours ago, Mike E said:

If the “official” USCIS calculator is wrong I have my doubts USCIS will accept early filings outside the window. 

I noted that I believe the official calculators are fine. They are expected to use the same inclusive/exclusive rules that USCIS actually uses for adjudication.