MY VISA JOURNEY COMPLETE: PASSPORT/CARD IN HAND, SHIPPED WITHIN A WEEK

[JeanneAdil 6,491]

 

Congratulations 

and please register and vote

remember to change status at SS office to citizen

[RunTheRoad 75]

12 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

 

Congratulations 

and please register and vote

remember to change status at SS office to citizen

Thank you. I've already registered to vote. Just waiting for the SS offices to reopen to update status

[little immigrant 801]

I'm glad everything worked out and thank you for the tip with the autofill the passport application. I can't remember how I did mine but I'll definitely keep this in mind for future applications. I became a citizen in 2017, long before the pandemic 😊

Edited August 4, 2020 by little immigrant

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

58 minutes ago, kline19 said:

the barcode in auto-fill form and a hardcopy file seems to be identical so I am not sure how they could track data from the barcode.

The QF code at the upper left of the "form filler" has the page 1 information embedded in it.

You'll notice when filling out the online, it will generates a final form at the end to download, and print

 

The printable PDF does not. You might be confused with editable PDF.

Edited August 4, 2020 by NEW CITIZEN

[RunTheRoad 75]

12 minutes ago, NEW CITIZEN said:

The QF code at the upper left of the "form filler" has the page 1 information embedded in it.

You'll notice when filling out the online, it will generates a final form at the end to download, and print

 

The printable PDF does not. You might be confused with editable PDF.

This is correct. The QF code will be generated only after you complete the entire application, so it essentially contains all the info that the staff would otherwise have to manually enter into the database. For the same reason, if you complete via the Form Filler, get the QF code, print the application and then make changes by HAND to the printed application, there is a very good chance that those changes may not be reflected in your passport, because it is assumed that the bar code already has all info embedded. 

[onek 306]

20 hours ago, RunTheRoad said:

Today, I completed the final step in my visa journey. I received my passport and passport card via separate mailings. Naturalized on July 8, applied for passport July 22, via my local NJ post office, standard processing. So, essentially, within eight business days!

 

I want to thank this wonderful VJ community for all that it has done for me: right from the time of my AOS  in 2012 down to this moment, when my immigration journey is at its final stop. Love you all and may this community go from strength to strength.

 

For those of you asking how I got my passport in such record time, my answer is I honestly do not know. I had braced myself for a very long wait time, reading from other timelines. What MAY HAVE helped is that I did not submit an application filled by hand, but one that used the online Form Filler which lets you download the completed application form along with a bar code that practically eliminates manual labor from the processing time. It looks like my passport went straight to printing (the same day my check was cashed). I have been reading that when you hand fill an application, the staff then has to manually enter data into their database and that takes a very long time, due to reduced staff hours. Trust me, automation does have its benefits, so go ahead and use the Form Filler. My passport was shipped from the Little Rock, Arkansas regional office.

 

To all those of you nearing the end of your journeys too, congratulations and see you on the other side. To those halfway there, more power unto you and godspeed! I remain forever grateful to the relationships this group fosters.

 

Congratulations 🎊🍾🎈🎉 

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

2 hours ago, RunTheRoad said:

This is correct. The QF code will be generated only after you complete the entire application, so it essentially contains all the info that the staff would otherwise have to manually enter into the database. For the same reason, if you complete via the Form Filler, get the QF code, print the application and then make changes by HAND to the printed application, there is a very good chance that those changes may not be reflected in your passport, because it is assumed that the bar code already has all info embedded. 

I just reprinted my application, the barcode at the bottom is the same as the PDF 

Page 1 bar code DS 11 C 09 2013 1

 

Page 2 bar code DS 11 C 09 2013 2

 

The QF is only page 1 information.

 

So they still have to enter page 2 by hand.

 

[HRQX 4,145]

3 hours ago, little immigrant said:

thank you for the tip with the autofill the passport application. I can't remember how I did mine but I'll definitely keep this in mind for future applications.

Note that for most renewals it's with a different form (Form DS-82) and can be filed by yourself by mail:

You'll have to send in the actual passport book or passport card in your possession with Form DS-82. That's where having both passport book and passport card comes in handy because you only have to send one of them in to process the renewal.

Edited August 4, 2020 by HRQX

[kline19 102]

On 8/4/2020 at 1:45 PM, NEW CITIZEN said:

The QF code at the upper left of the "form filler" has the page 1 information embedded in it.

You'll notice when filling out the online, it will generates a final form at the end to download, and print

 

The printable PDF does not. You might be confused with editable PDF.

Ok thanks. I was looking at the wrong location i.e., on the bottom right corner. I see there is a QR on the top left corner. I am guessing the QR code would probably encode information of both pages since (I think) it is generated after the form is completely filled out. 

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

8 minutes ago, kline19 said:

Ok thanks. I was looking at the wrong location i.e., on the bottom right corner. I see there is a QR on the top left corner. I am guessing the QR code would probably encode information of both pages since (I think) it is generated after the form is completely filled out. 

No, I scanned it.

It contains only page 1 information, not page 2.

I just printed my son's application, and same results.

 

 

[RunTheRoad 75]

UPDATE: I also received my Naturalization Certificate back in the mail today, exactly ten business days after I received my passport. So glad that it was not lost in transit. 

[little immigrant 801]

On 8/14/2020 at 1:19 PM, RunTheRoad said:

UPDATE: I also received my Naturalization Certificate back in the mail today, exactly ten business days after I received my passport. So glad that it was not lost in transit. 

Glad to know everything worked out. Thanks for updating. Now you have peace of mind. 

[NEW CITIZEN 151]

On 8/14/2020 at 12:19 PM, RunTheRoad said:

UPDATE: I also received my Naturalization Certificate back in the mail today, exactly ten business days after I received my passport. So glad that it was not lost in transit. 

That was the downside to a fast passport turnaround!!!